Environmental, Social and Governance measurements have significantly increased in usage due to growing concerns for environmental and sustainability problems in today’s world. However, with no commonly agreed-upon criteria for ESG ratings, the scoring measure creates confusion both at the investor and company level. Besides, ESG agencies have different processes and parameters for measuring ESG compliance, which contributes to the problem. The study examines four ESG rating agencies’ rating models and ESG scores to get a better understanding of deviations in ESG scores among Nordic companies. By also studying the correlation amongst ESG scores and market capitalizations in firms, the paper hopes to shed light on if any relationships exist between them. Our results show that the four major ESG raters in the study showed a weak to a non-significant correlation against each other. The maximum correlation found was 0.419 between Thomson Reuters and MSCI. RobecoSAM and MSCI showed the lowest significant correlation at 0.291. Sustainalytics was detected not to show any significant correlation with the other raters. Correlation among market capitalization and ESG Raters was detected to not correlate to a greater extent. Only one ESG rater, RobecoSAM, showed a significant size to score-correlation at 0.278 with market capitalization. Thus, market capitalization does not seem to have any significant influence on ESG agencies’ decisions to set scores. Précising the study’s findings, the raters’ methods deviate from one another, but also how ESG raters make use of underlying factors.

This dissertation aimed to investigate the utility of the ex-Gaussian approach to estimating intraindividual variability (IIV) of response times (RT) in diagnosing attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children ages 6 to 13 years old. Higher IIV is consistently noted in children with ADHD, but also with other disorders commonly associated with impairments in attention. Firstly, the relationship between IIV and attention abilities was investigated both in relation to parent ratings and participants’ objective performance. Secondly, IIVs utility as an objective measure for supplementing behavioural ratings in the diagnosis of ADHD, a diagnosis which is currently primarily assigned based on informant interviews and ratings of attention, was assessed. Participants included 46 children with ADHD and 58 children without ADHD. Children completed computerized tasks to estimate IIV and assess inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity. Parents completed questionnaires aimed at assessing attention and hyperactive/impulsive behaviours of participants. Analyses revealed that IIV was predictive of parent ratings of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity as well as the number of omission errors made by participants. Regarding diagnostic utility, IIV significantly predicted group membership (ADHD vs Control). However, IIV did not improve diagnostic accuracy when parent ratings were used, such that parent ratings were superior at determining diagnosis. Overall, current results support the use of IIV, based on the ex-Gaussian approach, as an objective measure of attention problems such that it appears to be superior to omission errors on sustained attention CPT-type tasks. Additionally, while parent ratings of attention impairment remain the best predictor of ADHD diagnostic status, IIV may be helpful in determining when further assessment is required in the absence of those ratings. / Graduate / 2021-06-17

The purpose of this study is to investigate the usefulness of statistical decomposition measures in the prediction of industrial bond rating changes. Further, the predictive ability of decomposition measures is compared with multiple discriminant analysis on the same sample. The problem of this study is twofold. It stems in general from the statistical problems associated with current techniques employed in the study of bond ratings and in particular from the lack of attention to the study of bond rating changes. Two main hypotheses are tested in this study. The first is that bond rating changes can be predicted through the use of financial statement data. The second is that decomposition analysis can achieve the same performance as multiple discriminant analysis in duplicating and predicting industrial bond rating changes. To explain and predict industrial bond rating changes, statistical decomposition measures were computed for each company in the sample. Based on these decomposition measures, the two types of analyses performed were (a) a univariate analysis where each decomposition measure was compared with an industry average decomposition measure, and (b) a multivariate analysis where decomposition measures were used as independent variables in a probability linear model. In addition to statistical decomposition analysis, multiple discriminant analysis was used in duplicating and predicting bond rating changes. Finally, a comparison was made between the predictive abilities of decomposition analysis and discriminant analysis.

This thesis presents a broad historical and modern overview of teacher supervision by school administration. Areas of needed improvement and suggested solutions for them are indicated.

Diploma thesis is a proposal for measures to increase performance and efficiency of VMT ECOPACK s.r.o. supply chain. The aim is optimalize logistics, material flows for manufacturing proceses and propose an evaluation system for suplier ratings. The theoretical part explains foundations and contexts from logistics and supply chain. The analytical part is devoted to acquaintance with the company and evaluation of its current production systems from the supply chain and logistics point of view. The practical part responds to identified shortcomings and suggests a way of evaluating suppliers, implementing an ERP system, unifying suppliers and optimizing supplies.

Masters in Public Administration - MPA / This study is about the application of a negotiated model of training needs analysis in the Registry/Messengers" Division of the Cape Town City Council. The negotiated model of training needs analysis is predicated on the formation of the performance evaluation committees. These committees comprise the assessees, the line managers, the peers and the trainers. Their primary responsibility is to address issues of performance ratings, causes of performance discrepancies, training solutions and/or non-training solutions in the key performance areas of individual employees who belong to the various job families. The study argues that the current application of the traditional model of training needs analysis in the RegistryfMessengers' Division which is both "menu-driven" and "line management-driven", is not scientific and participatory in form and nature. The study has four objectives. The first was to give some background to the RegistryfMessengers' Division. This painted a picture of the organisation, management and functions of the RegistryfMessengers' Division. The second objective was to provide a conceptual framework of the study by examining the existing literature on the contending models of training needs analyses, namely, the traditional model of training needs analysis and the negotiated model of training needs analysis, in public organisations. The third objective was to adopt and apply the negotiated model of training needs analysis in the RegistryfMessengers' Division. The fourth objective was to recommend the institutionalisation of the negotiated model of training needs analysis in the RegistryfMessengers' Division in “particular and the Cape Town City Council in general- given the fact that its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. The study concludes inter alia, that th~ current application of the traditional model of training needs analysis in the Registry/ Messengers' Division should be replaced by the negotiated model of training needs analysis considering the fact that the latter allowed the collective and scientific determination of the training needs of the employees. The study then recommends the adoption of the negotiated model of training needs analysis in the Registry/ Messengers' Division in particular and the Cape Town City Council in general. However, the following factors and issues need to be taken into account to ensure the effective implementation of the negotiated model of training needs analysis in the organization, for example, educating the employees about the new approach to training needs analysis; identification of key performance areas; conducting an organization wide training needs analysis; development of performance standards for the key performance areas; formation of performance evaluation committees in the various job families; and agreement upon the performance rating scale

This descriptive correlational study examined the relationship between high school band directors' teaching style and personality and their ratings in marching and concert band festivals using the Five-Factor Model of personality and Gumm's Music Teaching Style Inventory. The sample (N=176) consisted of 46% of all high school band directors in Florida. Criterion variables included marching and concert festival ratings, state concert band ratings, Florida Marching Band Coalition marching competition scores, frequency of attendance of these last two events, and the balance between marching and concert band. Predictor variables included thirty personality facets and eight teaching styles. Four demographic variables included gender, experience, academic degree, and primary instrument. One predictor, Time Efficiency, stood out as having particularly strong correlations with all of criterion variables. Regression models produced the following findings: 23% of the variation in concert band ratings can be explained from Time Efficiency, Immoderation, Music Concept Learning Assertiveness, and Nonverbal Motivation; 22% of the variation in marching band scores can be explained by Time Efficiency, Music Concept Learning, Imagination, Modesty, Cheerfulness, and Anxiety; 20% of the variation in participation in state Florida Bandmasters Association concert band festival participation can be explained by Time Efficiency, Positive Learning Environment, Immoderation, Music Concept Learning, Group Dynamic, and Assertive Teaching, and 11% of the variation in FMBC competitive marching band event attendance can be explained by Time Efficiency, Nonverbal Motivation, Dutifulness, and Modesty. Most subjects (84.3%) were balanced, while the remaining 15.7% were marching oriented. There was no significant difference in marching ratings between groups, although balanced subjects scored significantly higher in concert band and attended significantly fewer marching competitions. A discriminant function selected four predictor variables with a significant effect: Assertiveness, Immoderation, Adventurousness, and Emotion (Wilks' λ = .84, χ2 = 23.42, df = 4, p less than .001) which was able to successfully predict group membership 72.3% of the time. Recommendations include emphasizing the concert band as the core and playing concert music all year. Directors may benefit from being cognizant of their personalities and teaching styles which may enable them to modify their behavior and practices when appropriate to be more effective teachers.

This dissertation deals with one aspect of how city officials respond to community needs. It is about the decisions of governments on how to secure the financial resources needed to fulfill their obligations to the public. The study explores the factors that influence officials' decisions to issue debt. It is different from other municipal bond studies in that it focuses on the behavior of bond issuers rather than bond investors and the rating agencies.

Thesis advisor: Thomas Chemmanur / My dissertation consists of three chapters. In the first chapter, I analyze the impact of firms' innovation success on their corporate financial policies. I hypothesize that innovation success reduces the information asymmetry facing firms and, through the information channel, affects their capital structure and dividend policies. I measure innovation success using the quantity and quality of patents. I show that firms with higher innovation success face lower information asymmetry, measured using analyst coverage, dispersion, and forecast error. Further, I show that firms with higher innovation success have lower leverage ratios; have a greater propensity to issue equity rather than debt; and have lower dividend payout ratios. I establish causality using instrumental variable analyses with patent examiner leniency as an instrument for patent grants. In the second chapter, co-authored with Thomas Chemmanur, Xuan Tian, and Qianqian Yu, we analyze the impact of trademarks in entrepreneurial firms' success. We hypothesize that trademarks play two economically important roles for entrepreneurial firms: a “protective” role, leading to better product market performance; and an “informational” role, signaling higher firm quality to investors. We develop testable hypotheses based on the above two roles of trademarks, relating the trademarks held by private firms to the characteristics of venture capital (VC) investment in them, their probability of successful exit, their valuations at their initial public offering (IPO) and in the immediate secondary market; institutional investor IPO participation; post-IPO information asymmetry; and post-IPO operating performance. We test these hypotheses using a large and unique dataset of trademarks held by VC-backed private firms. We establish causality using an instrumental variable (IV) analysis using trademark examiner leniency as the instrument. For private firms, we find that the number of trademarks held by the firm is positively related to the total amount invested by VCs and negatively related to the extent of staging by VCs. We show that the number of trademarks held by a firm increases its probability of successful exit (IPOs or acquisitions). Further, for the subsample of VC-backed firms going public, we show that the number of trademarks held by the firm leads to higher IPO and immediate secondary market firm valuations; greater IPO participation by institutional investors; a lower extent of information asymmetry in the equity market post-IPO; and better post-IPO operating performance. In the third chapter, co-authored with Thomas Chemmanur and Jinfei Sheng, we develop testable hypotheses and empirically analyze the effects of outside investors having access to soft information such as online employee ratings from the Glassdoor website on firms' financing and investment policies. We find that higher online employee ratings are associated with larger equity issue announcement effects; a greater propensity to have positive announcement effects and to issue equity rather than debt to raise external financing; higher investment expenditures; greater equity issue participation by institutional investors; and better long-run post-issue operating performance. We establish causality using a difference-in-differences methodology relying on the staggered adoption of anti-SLAPP laws across U.S. states. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2020. / Submitted to: Boston College. Carroll School of Management. / Discipline: Finance.

Second language (L2) learners of English must learn to produce English phonemes, words, and sentences. These L2 learners make many errors when learning English; they may change the place or manner of articulation, insert vowels, or delete consonants. Obstruent sounds, such as fricatives, affricates, and stops, can be especially difficult for L2 learners. This study analyzed native English speakers’ perception of the quality of obstruents produced by native Mandarin Chinese and Korean speakers. Target words containing obstruents had been produced in three different tasks: in a carrier phrase, in a paragraph, and in a spontaneous speech sample. Obstruents were produced in word-initial position and word-final position. Raters with differing levels of expertise listened to these words and rated the perceptual quality of the obstruents within the words. This study found that overall, English obstruent productions by native Mandarin and Korean L2 speakers learning English were rated most clear when produced in word-initial position in a carrier phrase or a paragraph. The lowest ratings given were of obstruents in word-final position in spontaneous speech. No significant differences were found for listener expertise level. Combined with future research, results from this study will help educate the field of second language instruction as to how the speech of Korean and Mandarin learners of English is perceived. It also provides additional information on the effect that listener expertise has on the judgment of L2 speech production.