This dissertation addresses the question of choosing the best information alternative in engineering decisions. The decision maker maximizes his expected utility under uncertainty where both the action he takes and the state of the environment determines the payoff earned. The decision maker has an opportunity to gather information about the decision environment a priori at a certain cost. There might be different information alternatives, and the decision maker has to determine which alternative offers "better" prospects for improving the decision. Any decision environment that is characterized by a finite number of outcomes and a discrete probability distribution over the set of outcomes is a lottery. We analyze the value of information on a single outcome and determine the attributes in each piece of information that maximizes its value. Information is valuable when the decision is changed after gathering information. We show that if the number of optimal actions taken under different outcomes scenarios is finite, the decision maker does not require the perfect information. Further, we analyze the relation between the value of information and its determinants, and show a monotonic relation exists for a restricted class of information bundles and utility functions. We use different approaches to evaluate information and analyze the cases where preference reversals occur between different approaches. We observe that a priori pricing of information does not necessarily induce the same ranking with the expected utility approach, however both approaches agree on whether a given piece of information is valuable or not. The second part of this dissertation evaluates information in both static and dynamic coinsurance problems. In static insurance decisions, we analyze the case where the decision maker gathers information about the severity of the risk events and perform ranking of information bundles in a specific class. In dynamic insurance problems, we make a case study to analyze different physical risks that the production facilities are exposed to. The information in dynamic insurance problems involves more detail with regard to the timing of the multiple risk events. We observe that information on events that pose relatively good scenarios for the decision maker have value, however, their value may diminish as their probability of occurance decreases. The decision maker purchases more information as the profitability of the product increases and less information as the initial wealth increases. Furthermore, the decrease cost of insurance does not necessarily make information more valuable as the value is directly related to the change in the decisions rather than the cost of taking a specific action.

Disclosure risk assessment of statistical data, such as frequency tables, is a prerequisite for data dissemination. This thesis investigates the problem of disclosure risk assessment of frequency tables from the perspective of a statistical institute. In the research reported here, disclosure risk is measured by a mathematical function designed for the data according to a disclosure risk scenario. Such functions are called disclosure risk measures. A disclosure risk measure is defined for frequency tables based on the entire population using information theory. If the disclosure risk of a population based frequency table is high, a statistical institute will apply a statistical disclosure control (SDC) method possibly perturbing the table. It is known that the application of any SDC method lowers the disclosure risk. However, measuring the disclosure risk of the perturbed frequency table is a difficult problem. The disclosure risk measure proposed in the first paper of the thesis is also extended to assess the disclosure risk of perturbed frequency tables. SDC methods can be applied to either the microdata from which the frequency table is generated or directly to the frequency table. The two classes of methods are called pre- and post-tabular methods accordingly. It is shown that the two classes are closely related and that the proposed disclosure risk measure can account for both methods. In the second paper, the disclosure risk measure is extended to assess the disclosure risk of sample based frequency tables. Probabilistic models are used to estimate the population frequencies from sample frequencies which can then be used in the proposed disclosure risk measures. In the final paper of the thesis, we investigate an application of building a flexible table generator where disclosure risk and data utility measures must be calculated on-the-fly. We show that the proposed disclosure risk measure and a related information loss measure are adaptable to these settings. An example implementation of the disclosure risk and data utility assessment using the proposed disclosure risk measure is given.

The banking sector is central to the economy, but has recurrent dysfunctions. Following the Global Financial Crisis of 2007-2009, regulators have attempted to reform governance in banks. However, previous empirical studies on the effects of governance structures have important gaps. Using an econometric framework with novel simultaneous equations models and new dependent variables, I investigate whether corporate governance and ownership have significant effects on bank risk and performance. I employ a novel data set combining financial data from the Bankscope database with governance and ownership data collected painstakingly by hand from annual reports and Basel Pillar 3 disclosures of UK banks over the period 2003-2012. My findings are supported by interpretation of relevant literature and are summarised as follows (stated along with policy implications in parentheses for which features of banking should be encouraged, based on normative assumptions stated in section 9.3). My work shows that the effects of a particular ownership or governance structure can be attributed to the ways in which categories of decision-maker within the bank are empowered by that structure, and that factors relating to information processing capability have important effects. Mutual and foreign ownership each have negative effects on risk and return because of managerial incentives and information asymmetries, respectively, without either affecting provision of investment to the wider economy. A foreign parent also increases the probability of bank failure (implying mutuality is socially beneficial while foreign ownership is not). A higher NED ratio reduces the probability of bank failure, as does having a remuneration committee, because of greater accounting for risk in decisions (implying they are desirable). The presence of an independent Chairman increases risk because it weakens CEO accountability and confuses decision-making (implying it is undesirable). An independent CRO (as a full Board member) may have similar effects. A higher proportion of Directors with no previous financial services experience increases both returns and the probability of failure because of weaker use of information (implying it is undesirable). Permission to use IRB models lowers risk and return because it provides information to empower risk-averse agents, again without affecting credit provision to the wider economy (implying it is desirable). I report other novel findings on effects of ownership, governance, remuneration and size. These results can guide bank reform.

Assignment (MRek)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / Bibliography. Also availabe via the Internet.

This diploma thesis deals with the review of the current state of the information system in the firm, which focuses on localisation. The paper defines theoretical terms which are necessary to in order to understand the area of information systems with regard to its structure and operating. The environment of the firme is described together with the analysis of the information systém in use. With the information collected from the analyses and the questionere we are able to identify the risk areas. The identified risks are treated on the basis of severity by proposing changes and then economically evaluated.

This diploma thesis analyzes the information system named TDoC, which is operated at company Siemens, s.r.o., Industrial Turbomachinery, subsidiary company. The theoretical part focuses on defining the theory and history of information systems and databases, as well as on the description of the risk analysis. The aim of this work is to analyze the current state of information system, assessment of the condition, finding risks and propose measures to improve the current situation and elimination the risks.

The title of this diploma thesis is Assessment of Information System Effectiveness for Financial Activities and Proposal of Changes for Improvements. The aim is to propose changes, which could help to improve the current state of the information system used in the company's processes and to eliminate perceived risks. The first element describes the basic theoretical concepts related to information systems and information technology. Then the current state of the examined information system, from which the second part of the work is reflected and determined. The second part contains analyses and methodologies, which will ensure the achievement of the set thesis aim. In the same part, the proposals or recommendations that will lead to the improvement of the current situation are identified. In the final part, the outputs of the thesis are discussed and economic evaluation of the changes is prepared.

This diploma thesis deals with the assessment of the information system of the company SAbis Logistics s.r.o. The current system is analyzed using various analyzes and based on the results of the analyzes, changes to the information system are proposed, which should lead to streamlining the company's processes.

The master thesis deals with the information system. It contains an analysis of the current state of the system and there are used methods of risk analysis. Based on these analyzes and methods it is developed design of information system for company, which deals with the processing of biological waste. The thesis includes some practical solutions to problems related to the management of business processes.

The aim of this thesis is to describe and analyze the information system of the company, which deals with the processing and sale of metallurgical material. Various analyzes will be used to evaluate the individual parts of the system, on the basis of which proposals for changes and measures, which should lead to better overall efficiency of processes, will be created in the final part.