Background and problem: The impact on the stock market of macroeconomic factors have been analyzed in several earlier studies. These are forces constantly changing and thereby they contribute to changing the supply and demand of stocks. The fact that macroeconomic variables have affected the top performing stocks of the OMXSPI during 2004 – 2018, in terms of performance, plays an important part of the study. Different authors have recognized different factors to affect the stock price development and there has not yet been established an explanation of the determinants of stock prices. Purpose: The purpose of the study was to identify the stocks that continuously have had a development superior to the OMXSPI, and therefore have contributed the most to the development of the OMXSPI during 2004 – 2018. Moreover, the study analyzes the drivers that have contributed to the performance of these stocks. Furthermore, the study clarifies which factors that have contributed to the development of the P/E and the EV/EBITDA of the top performers. Methodology: The study followed a quantitative and deductive approach. The Swedish stock market was analyzed with a focus on the OMXSPI were the top performing stocks of this index were identified through a screening process. Moreover, the top performers were put against the OMXSPI in different time periods to compare the performance. Furthermore, multiples of these top performers and the sectors which they trade in were calculated in order to compare the multiples to each other, with the purpose of analyzing them relative to each other in different time periods. Conclusion: From the findings it could be established very similar patterns between the top performers and the OMXSPI. The difference mainly being that the top performers in every sequence experienced a superior development than the OMXSPI, but also greater declines during short sequences. Moreover, the tables displayed remarkable returns of the top performers and the aggregated top performers traded at premium levels in all analyzed time periods.

This thesis examines the process of new product development for small firms, aiming to specify what separate top performers from the rest. Every year, thousands of new products are introduced to the market. Yet, 75 % to 90 % of all products launched suffer from failure. Prevailing theory is founded on examinations on large firms, which differ significantly from small firms in terms of financial and human capital. This gives reason to suspect that prevailing theory fail to serve the specific needs of a small firm. In this study, previous research is summarized in a theoretical framework. A set of survey questions was sent out to 2,287 managers in Swedish small manufacturing firms. A research model was developed to help analyze and interpret the 156 complete responses. 32 significant variables separating top performers from the rest were acknowledged and three factor areas were specified in a framework for small firm new product success. The findings of our study indicate that prevailing theory fail to serve small firms. We conclude that small firms benefit from focusing to simplify rather than adding to refine, and that this is strongly correlated to the limited financial and human resources of a small firm.

<p><strong>Datum: </strong>2009-06-30</p><p><strong>Författare: </strong>Rönnlund Josefin</p><p><strong>Nivå/utbildning: </strong>Master Thesis, Management</p><p><strong>Handledare: </strong>Owe R. Hedström</p><p><strong>Titel: </strong> How to keep with the War for talent? A comparative study between talent management in Company X and literature suggestions for identification of talent</p><p><strong>Problem: </strong>The need for talent management and a company's assets in form of Human Capital creates the demand of consultant firms and their services. The problem for companies today is to keep their up with the war for talented workers, and the way leadership talent is managed in the company is crucial for gaining competitive advantage. The research problem in my study is to identify how companies can manage talent within their organization successfully and by doing a research within a specific company, compare findings in their different organizational levels.</p><p><strong>Syfte:</strong> To investigate talent management processes in one company known for their success in the area of talent management and compare different views on talent management that might exist in different levels. My paper aims to value their talent management processes, and if there are gaps that could be filled and methods that could be developed.</p><p><strong>Metod: </strong>Qualitative method through six interviews and by doing a comparison between empirical findings and theory</p><p><strong>Resultat/slutsatser:</strong> talent management processes are very well developed in this business line in Company X, and in some areas they are even better than what literature suggests. They need to keep encouraging their personnel to take challenges and rotate. They also need to have a clear understanding of the roles in the organization, the responsibility of top recruitment and development. The areas that are in need of further development are leadership development, learning and training. Even if they have grasped the importance of these factors, they have some difficulties implementing right methods for reaching their targets. The company should encourage their employees to take challenges to be able to discover who can learn the most from them.</p><p><strong>Sökord: </strong>talent management, key personnel, high flyers, top performers, human resource and human capital management, identification of potential, talent development and high performers.</p><p><strong>Omfång, sidor:</strong> 82</p><p><strong>Antal ref/källor:</strong> 43</p>

Datum: 2009-06-30 Författare: Rönnlund Josefin Nivå/utbildning: Master Thesis, Management Handledare: Owe R. Hedström Titel: How to keep with the War for talent? A comparative study between talent management in Company X and literature suggestions for identification of talent Problem: The need for talent management and a company's assets in form of Human Capital creates the demand of consultant firms and their services. The problem for companies today is to keep their up with the war for talented workers, and the way leadership talent is managed in the company is crucial for gaining competitive advantage. The research problem in my study is to identify how companies can manage talent within their organization successfully and by doing a research within a specific company, compare findings in their different organizational levels. Syfte: To investigate talent management processes in one company known for their success in the area of talent management and compare different views on talent management that might exist in different levels. My paper aims to value their talent management processes, and if there are gaps that could be filled and methods that could be developed. Metod: Qualitative method through six interviews and by doing a comparison between empirical findings and theory Resultat/slutsatser: talent management processes are very well developed in this business line in Company X, and in some areas they are even better than what literature suggests. They need to keep encouraging their personnel to take challenges and rotate. They also need to have a clear understanding of the roles in the organization, the responsibility of top recruitment and development. The areas that are in need of further development are leadership development, learning and training. Even if they have grasped the importance of these factors, they have some difficulties implementing right methods for reaching their targets. The company should encourage their employees to take challenges to be able to discover who can learn the most from them. Sökord: talent management, key personnel, high flyers, top performers, human resource and human capital management, identification of potential, talent development and high performers. Omfång, sidor: 82 Antal ref/källor: 43

This study explores the financial performance measurement of South Africa's Top Companies. It aims to find a conclusion on the research problem, that is 'Do South Africa's Top Companies use the available arsenal to measure their financial performance?' Commerce and industry are the cornerstones of the economy of a country. This study purports to contribute to the ways and means of minimising the risk of business failures due to the resultant effects on the economy. The sample comprises of sixty companies. The sampling frame is the first hundred companies of the Financial Mail 200 Top Performers for 2004. The arsenal that is available to measure financial performance is researched in the financial literature. Mainly, this covers ratio analysis and interpretation, and the bankruptcy prediction models. To arrive at a conclusion on the research problem, a research instrument is developed from the host of financial ratios in the literature, including the bankruptcy prediction models. The research instrument comprises of popular ratios that are also found to be 'logical', as well as the ratios that make up the Z-Score bankruptcy prediction model. The instrument is called the Ratio Map and Z-Score and is applied to test the financial strengths/weaknesses of the Top Companies. In addition to the Ratio Map and Z-Score, the measures applied by the Top Companies as 'highlights' are analysed. This is done to determine the extent at which the measures unearth the strengths/weaknesses of the Top Companies. The conclusion drawn is that the Top Companies do not utilise the available arsenal to measure their financial performance. The supporting evidence is that the most frequently applied 'highlights' measures by the Top Companies cover only one area of the many financial fields of a company, that is, share performance. On the other hand, the analyses per Ratio Map and Z-Score have not revealed major material weaknesses in the financial position of the Top Companies. It is proposed that: ïf  More information be given in the notes to the financial statements to facilitate meaningful analysis; and ïf  A follow-up research study be done to assess the trends of the Top Companies. / Business Management / D.Comm. (Business Management)

This study explores the financial performance measurement of South Africa's Top Companies. It aims to find a conclusion on the research problem, that is 'Do South Africa's Top Companies use the available arsenal to measure their financial performance?' Commerce and industry are the cornerstones of the economy of a country. This study purports to contribute to the ways and means of minimising the risk of business failures due to the resultant effects on the economy. The sample comprises of sixty companies. The sampling frame is the first hundred companies of the Financial Mail 200 Top Performers for 2004. The arsenal that is available to measure financial performance is researched in the financial literature. Mainly, this covers ratio analysis and interpretation, and the bankruptcy prediction models. To arrive at a conclusion on the research problem, a research instrument is developed from the host of financial ratios in the literature, including the bankruptcy prediction models. The research instrument comprises of popular ratios that are also found to be 'logical', as well as the ratios that make up the Z-Score bankruptcy prediction model. The instrument is called the Ratio Map and Z-Score and is applied to test the financial strengths/weaknesses of the Top Companies. In addition to the Ratio Map and Z-Score, the measures applied by the Top Companies as 'highlights' are analysed. This is done to determine the extent at which the measures unearth the strengths/weaknesses of the Top Companies. The conclusion drawn is that the Top Companies do not utilise the available arsenal to measure their financial performance. The supporting evidence is that the most frequently applied 'highlights' measures by the Top Companies cover only one area of the many financial fields of a company, that is, share performance. On the other hand, the analyses per Ratio Map and Z-Score have not revealed major material weaknesses in the financial position of the Top Companies. It is proposed that: ïf  More information be given in the notes to the financial statements to facilitate meaningful analysis; and ïf  A follow-up research study be done to assess the trends of the Top Companies. / Business Management / D.Comm. (Business Management)