Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Value Added Statement does not provide any information that does not already exist in the income statement. It only arranges the information and adds a new item, salaries and wages, to highlight the value created by the company and how that value is distributed amongst stakeholders. This information would assist users in their evaluation of the economic performance of the organisation. The study set out to show the composition, calculation and the reconciliation of both Cash Value Added Statement (CVAS) and the Value Added Statement (VAS). A database has been created for the years 1990-1998 for all the companies that published the CVASNAS during that period. The differences between CVAS and VAS can be determined by: a) Non-cash items (excluding depreciation). b) Movements in non-cash components of working capital. c) Differences between an income statement and cash flow statement relative to : • Extra-ordinary items • Exceptional items • Abnormal items • Associated income • A few sundry items Individual reconciliation was performed per company per year for the period 1990 to 1998 to enable the balancing of the CVAS total (Total A) with the VAS total (Total B)- see the example on Figure 3.1 to Figure 3.3. Items in both eVAS and VAS were then expressed about the two totals (see the line, Total A) to arrive at the common size for both CVAS and VAS (Tables 1(a) and 1(bj). Descriptive statistics were performed in order to find out how much each item constitutes to the value added. Due to the large amount of data, the initial raw data was excluded from the study project and is only available in the databank. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Toegevoegdewaardestaat verskaf geensins enige inligting wat nie reeds in die inkomstestaat verskyn nie. Die doel daarvan is slegs om inligting te rangskik en voeg nog 'n item by, nl. salarisse en lone. Die doel hiervan is om die waarde wat die maatskappy geskep het, uit te lig en ook hoe daardie bepaalde waarde onder belanghebbers verdeel word. Hierdie inligting kan gebruikers help by die evaluering van die ekonomiese prestasie van die betrokke organisasie. Die ondersoek dui die samestelling, berekening en die rekonsiliasie aan van beide die Kontant- Toegevoegdewaardestaat (KTWS) en die Toegevoegdewaardestaat (TWS). 'n Databasis is saamgestel vir die tydperk 1990 - 1998 vir alle maatskappye wat gedurende hierdie tyd KTWS/TWS gepubliseer het. Die verskille tussen KTWS en TWS word bepaal deur: a) Nie-kontant items (uitsluitend waardevermindering). b) Die bewegings in die nie-kontant komponente van bedryfskapitaal. Die verskille tussen 'n inkomstestaat en kontantvloeistaat met betrekking tot: • Buitengewone items • Besondere items • Abnormale items • Geassosieerde inkomste • Enkele diverse items Individuele rekonsiliasies is uitgevoer per maatskappy per jaar vir die tydperk 1990 - 1998 vir die balansering van die KTWS se totaal (Totaal A) met die TWS se totaal (Totaal B) - kyk na die voorbeeld in Figuur 3.1 tot Figuur 3.3. Items in beide KTWS en TWS is dan uitgedruk ten opsigte van die twee totale (kyk na die lyn, Totaal A) om by die gemeenskaplike grootte vir beide KTWS en TWS (Tabelle l(a) en l(b)) uit te kom. Beskrywende statistiek is gebruik om vas te stel hoeveel elke item bydra tot die toegevoegde waarde. Weens die geweldige hoeveelheid data/inligting, is die aanvanklike rou-data van die ondersoek uitgesluit. Dit is slegs beskikbaar in die databank.

This study proposed a new topic in exploring what factors cause most Chinese customers not continue to use their healthcare wearables after purchasing. Based on the framework of “the self-regulation of attitudes, intentions, and behavior” (Bagozzi, 1992), which is used to determine what factors impact satisfaction and how satisfaction can in turn impact stickiness, this study developed a new research model and proposed seven hypotheses. And based on the theories, firstly, this study used interview technique to understand what practical factors people think about would affect consumers’ satisfaction and stickiness towards healthcare wearables in China. Secondly, combined theories with all the hypotheses and the interview results, this study applied survey method to collect empirical data. As all the constructs were validated with exploratory factor analysis and reliability analysis, then the model was tested with linear multiple regression. The findings showed that the proposed research model fits in testing in this study, as three factors (value, quality and trust) have significant effects on Chinese consumers' satisfaction and stickiness towards healthcare wearables consumption. This study suggested that healthcare wearable companies need to put more emphasis on maintaining and increasing consumers’ trust, should continually improve consumers’ satisfaction, and should emphasize more on how to improve consumers’ attitudes of value and trust instead of putting more efforts on quality. These study results can help healthcare wearables companies make correct marketing strategies by putting efforts and resources on more valuable aspects, meanwhile, can help Chinese people to really improve health by using healthcare wearables.

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My thesis examines the nature and value of knowledge and normative implications of its value. With this in mind I examine Greco’s account of knowledge in detail and consider whether it convinces. I argue against the account on a number of fronts; in particular I argue against Greco’s treatment of the Barney and Jenny cases. In doing so I draw on the dialectic in the literature and go beyond it by showing how his treatment of those cases is such as to raise problems for his treatment of other cases. More specifically I argue that Greco’s treatment of the Barney case is such as to threaten his treatment of standard Gettier cases and his treatment of the Jenny case threatens his treatment of the Careless Math Student case. I also consider an alternative virtue epistemic approach offered by Pritchard which I reject. In attempting to overcome the challenges that the Barney and Jenny cases pose I articulate an alternative account according to which what I call “epistemic grace” is a requirement of knowledge. It is via this epistemic grace requirement that I also account for the value of knowledge. Recognition of the value of knowledge serves as the basis for the articulation of the notion of epistemic environmentalism. With epistemic environmentalism in view, trust is analysed and its significance to the gaining of knowledge, albeit knowledge of a certain kind, is considered. Finally, the normative implications of epistemic environmentalism are laid out in a framework to show how findings in epistemic value theory relate to approaches that can provide a basis for justifying intervention or non-intervention in the assisting of the attaining or holding of epistemic goods of value.

Mischlingskinder, also referred to as brown babies were the illegitimate children of African American occupation soldiers in post-World War II Germany. The complexities of their existence are often discussed in the context of national identity, racial identity and diplomacy. Their existence in Germany presented social struggles for the children as well as their mothers as a post Nazi German began towards society of racial acceptance. A few cases, through the cooperation of both the US and German government, some of the children were eligible for adoptions by African American families in America through the Brown Baby Adoption Plan. A thematic analysis was performed on 20 archived newspaper articles to uncover the different themes in which the children are discussed. My question is whether these themes connect to a lager theoretical concept of the “priceless child”. The results uncovered themes in which the brown babies were discussed which included their treatment in Germany, neglect, adoption and arrival in adoptive homes. The narratives of the children change over time in relation to the specific themes.

In Quality Management and Total Quality Management (TQM) customer focus and customer value creation is of importance and in organisations it is of high priority. Quality Management has had an internal focus when it comes to customer value creation but in the 21st century there is a need for an outward orientation and to go beyond the organisational borders. Also an increasing interest in social, societal and environmental issues can be seen, for instance by customers, organisations, quality awards and within the quality area. An area that considers these issues is the societal entrepreneurial sector.   The purpose of this thesis has been to contribute to the knowledge and understanding about customer value creation from a system view. Additionally the purpose has been to contribute to the development of Quality Management. In order to fulfil the purpose, case studies have been performed. Cases within the societal entrepreneurial area have been studied and seven studies have been performed. Data have been collected through interviews, direct observations, participating observations and documents. All data have been collected empirically except in one study where a literature case study was used. The data were analysed through tools such as process mapping, attribute value mapping and rich picture process maps combined with analytical methods for case study research. The research journey started out from TQM and an internal perspective on customer value creation. As the studies went on, the system borders became wider as other areas important to customer value creation were identified: the customer value creating system went from an internal perspective to include an external perspective.    The findings contribute to earlier research findings and give a comprehensive and simplified picture of a complex phenomenon and an opportunity to understand customer value creation from a system view. This thesis provides an overall map of the customer value creating system. Additionally it contributes to the development of Quality Management by expanding the view on customer value creation to include both an internal and an external oriented perspective. It also contributes by suggesting a fifth step in the quality management movement ´System Quality Management´ that considers social, societal and environmental factors through continuous improvement before, during and after value creation for customers. Further it contributes with a developed view on customers and the concept of customer value creation.   The overall map provided includes three areas. Growth and development of societal entrepreneurial initiatives. The result shows important components for the creation of societal value based on the growth and development of societal entrepreneurial initiatives. Included are the processes, input and output important for societal value creation from unidentified needs until societal value can be delivered, management process and support process fields.  Customer value creation in the customer sphere.  Customer value has been found to be created beyond the use or purchase of a product or service. Value has also been found to be created for those that are not in direct contact with an initiative or its product or service. Customer value has been found to spread into society like ripples in a complex system of value creation. And Value Ripple Logic has been developed to describe this phenomenon. Management role in customer value creation. The management’s role in value creation has been found to be of importance in the creation of customer value in an indirect way through interaction with the surroundings and the initiative.  Factors and behaviours have been found which are connected to the leaders and their essential management processes along with their input and output.   The findings presented in this thesis have considerable potential for development. Further studies need to be done within the area concerning how customer value is created and to achieve an even more comprehensive picture of the customer value creating system and the suggested fifth step. The results presented in this thesis are a contribution to the knowledge and understanding about customer value creation from a system view and the development of the Quality Management. / <p>Vid tidpunkten för disputationen var följande delarbeten opublicerade: delarbete 6 accepterat för publicering och delarbete 7 inskickat.</p><p>At the time of the doctoral defence the following papers were unpublished: paper 6 accepted for publication and  paper 7 submitted.</p>

Recent literature in religious epistemology has overlooked a significant debate in mainstream epistemology. In short, theories in religious epistemology have failed to consider the value problem. This essay, then, hopes to rectify this omission by arguing that one of the most influential accounts of religious epistemology - reformed epistemology - fails to adequately account for the value of knowledge. I argue, however, that a reasonable way out for the reformed epistemologist comes by way of endorsing the achievement thesis. The achievement thesis, put simply, states that knowledge is valuable because it is a cognitive achievement - unlike, for example, mere true belief. The central question of this essay, then, is this: Is Knowledge of God a Cognitive Achievement? In order to better answer this question I highlight two different ways in which one can understand the nature of cognitive achievements. First, a cognitive achievement can be understood as success from ability that is always primarily creditable to the agent. Or, second, a cognitive achievement can be understood as success from ability that is jointly creditable to the agent. Both, I argue, are compatible with knowledge and the achievement thesis. Whether knowledge of God is primarily or jointly creditable, however, will depend on the way in which one understands the role the agent plays in the belief forming process. Given the nature of reformed epistemology, I argue that knowledge of God is the kind of achievement that is jointly creditable. Further, and central to the argument, I argue that the reformed epistemologist is in a good position to meet the requirements for the strong achievement thesis. The strong achievement thesis argues that an achievement should be understood in terms of overcoming some obstacle whereby the agent's belief is the result of some ability that can be credited to the agent. The account I propose not only meets the requirements of the strong achievement thesis, but also retains a distinctive feature of reformed epistemology - namely, that the belief in God can be said to overcome the obstacle of cognitive malfunction that, as the reformed epistemologist argues, is brought about by sin. It's an achievement becasue it overcomes an excessively hostile environment (what I call the maxi-environment) that is not conducive to belief in God given the cognitive consequence of sin. In the end, it is possible to provide an account of reformed epistemology where the value of knowledge (over and above mere true belief) is adequately demonstrated.

Following an attempt to harmonize the U.S. GAAP and IFRS a new IFRS standard became mandatory in the EU known as IFRS 13 “Fair value measurement” in 2013. The new accounting standard aims to decrease inconsistencies with fair value measurement by introducing new disclosure requirements for fair value assets with no active market (level 3). This study investigates how well Swedish listed firms have complied with the new disclosure requirements, and whether their compliance level has affected the information asymmetry between market participants. The sample consists of Swedish listed firms from Nasdaq OMX within the banking, forestry and real estate industry where fair value assets on level 3 are prevalent. The result revealed that Swedish firms had increased their compliance level with the disclosure requirements; furthermore, the regression analysis indicated a negative relation between an increase in disclosure level and information asymmetry after controlling for some variables. However, since the result was not significant suggestions for future research is to increase the sample size outside of the Swedish context.

published_or_final_version / Mathematics / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Possessing the knowledge to hedge energy price risks properly is essential and crucial for running a long-term business. In the past, many hedging instruments have been invented and widely used. By using these derivatives, decision makers reduce the price risk to a certain degree. To apply these hedging instruments to the perfect hedging strategies correctly, it is necessary to be familiar with these tools in the first place. This work introduces the financial tools widely applied in hedging, including forward contracts, futures, swaps and options. It also introduces the hedging strategies used on energy hedging. Since individuals are creating strategies according to their unique risk appetite and collected information, this work presents three risk appetites and a method of distinguishing valuable information. With the contribution of this thesis, future works can be done in the field that connect the information valuation and energy hedging by changing the behavior in each risk appetites’ hedging ratio. / text