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Optimized Schwarz methods are iterative domain decomposition procedures with greatly improved convergence properties, for solving second order elliptic boundary value problems. The enhanced convergence is obtained by replacing the Dirichlet transmission conditions in the classical Schwarz iteration with more general conditions that are optimized for performance. The convergence is optimized through the solution of a min-max problem. The theoretical study of the min-max problems gives explicit formulas or characterizations for the optimized transmission conditions for practical use, and it permits the analysis of the asymptotic behavior of the convergence. / In the first part of this work, we continue the study of optimized transmission conditions for advection-diffusion problems with smooth coefficients. We derive asymptotic formulas for the optimized parameters for small mesh sizes, in the overlapping and non-overlapping cases, and show that these formulas are accurate when the component of the advection tangential to the interface is not too large. / In a second part, we consider a diffusion problem with a discontinuous coefficient and non-overlapping domain decompositions. We derive several choices of optimized transmission conditions by thoroughly solving the associated min-max problems. We show in particular that the convergence of optimized Schwarz methods improves as the jump in the coefficient increases, if an appropriate scaling of the transmission conditions is used. Moreover, we prove that optimized two-sided Robin conditions lead to mesh-independent convergence. Numerical experiments with two subdomains are presented to verify the analysis. We also report the results of experiments using the decomposition of a rectangle into many vertical strips; some additional analysis is carried out to improve the optimized transmission conditions in that case. / On a third topic, we experiment with different coarse space corrections for the Schwarz method in a simple one-dimensional setting, for both overlapping and non-overlapping subdomains. The goal is to obtain a convergence that does not deteriorate as we increase the number of subdomains. We design a coarse space correction for the Schwarz method with Robin transmission conditions by considering an augmented linear system, which avoids merging the local approximations in overlapping regions. With numerical experiments, we demonstrate that the best Robin conditions are very different for the Schwarz iteration with, and without coarse correction.

Let Ω be a Lipschitz domain in Rᴺ,n ≥ 3, and L = divA∇ - B∇ be a second order elliptic operator in divergence form with real coefficients such that A is a bounded elliptic matrix and the vector field B ɛ L∞loc(Ω) is divergence free and satisfies the growth condition dist(X,∂Ω)|B(X)|≤ ɛ1 for ɛ1 small in a neighbourhood of ∂Ω. For these elliptic operators we will study on the basis of the theory for elliptic operators without drift terms the Dirichlet problem for boundary data in Lp(∂Ω), 1 < p < ∞, and the regularity problem for boundary data in W¹,ᵖ(∂Ω) and HS¹. The main result of this thesis is that the solvability of the regularity problem for boundary data in HS1 implies the solvability of the adjoint Dirichlet problem for boundary data in Lᵖ'(∂Ω) and the solvability of the regularity problem with boundary data in W¹,ᵖ(∂Ω for some 1 < p < ∞. In [KP93] C.E. Kenig and J. Pipher have proven for elliptic operators without drift terms that the solvability of the regularity problem with boundary data in W¹,ᵖ(∂Ω) implies the solvability with boundary data in HS1. Thus the result of C.E. Kenig and J. Pipher and our main result complement a result in [DKP10], where it was shown for elliptic operators without drift terms that the Dirichlet problem with boundary data in BMO is solvable if and only if it is solvable for boundary data in Lᵖ(∂Ω) for some 1 < p < ∞. In order to prove the main result we will prove for the elliptic operators L the existence of a Green's function, the doubling property of the elliptic measure and a comparison principle for weak solutions, which are well known results for elliptic operators without drift terms. Moreover, the solvability of the continuous Dirichlet problem will be established for elliptic operators L = div(A∇+B)+C∇+D with B,C,D ɛ L∞loc(Ω) such that in a small neighbourhood of ∂Ω we have that dist(X,∂Ω)(|B(X)| + |C(X)| + |D(X)|) ≤ ɛ1 for ɛ1 small and that the vector field B satisfies |∫B∇Ø| ≤ C∫|∇Ø| for all Ø ɛ Wₒ¹'¹ of that neighbourhood.

Spending on robot surgery is expected to increase by $17 billion in the next 6 years. This new surgical treatment has challenged hospitals with higher costs and varying performance. Healthcare executives struggle balancing the adoption of medical innovations with managing healthcare costs. This dilemma can be further complicated by industry structures relative to capital-intensive medical innovations. This research explores the interaction between industry structure and customer value. Specifically, how can hospitals apply an understanding of supplier industry structure and customer value to improve the value of a robotic surgery program (RSP)? This industry study represents an exhaustive longitudinal review of over 15 years of public data relative to robotic surgery, across three distinct time periods. Within the research, industry structure is evaluated using Porter’s 5-forces model. A framework based upon contributions from Grönroos as well as Menon, Homburg, and Beutin is introduced to assess customer value based upon clinical, financial and strategic (CFS) value. The implications of periodic industry structure on customer value were examined to identify opportunities for hospital executives to increase RSP customer value. There were several empirical and theoretical findings from this research. First, in the face of increasing industry structure the identification of favorable forces may create opportunities to increase RSP value. Secondarily, exploring customer value through the lens of core, add-on, relational and transactional benefits in the sub-context of CFS value aids in the identification of market power influences on customer value. The implications of the absence of high levels of relational and transactional benefits without high levels of core and add-on benefits may influence avenues of pursuit in improving RSP value overall. The research also suggests that clinical and strategic value was present despite varying degrees of industry structure. Finally, this study represents an empirical joint analysis of industry structure and customer value in robotic surgery. Some proponents may find the introduction of an integrative model for measuring customer value in robotic surgery, applicable to other capital-intensive medical innovations or disruptive technologies at large.

The thesis is an exploration into the ways in which island communities living in coral reef environments value the surrounding reef resources. This research is conducted in seven communities in the Maldives. A qualitative approach is used as this inquiry involves gaining insight of human perceptions and behaviours. Discussions and interaction with participants in community activities and participant observation were the main inquiry methods used. Specifically, the research focuses on sand from the beach, coral from the house reef and fish in the island lagoon. The exploration of reef values show that multiple reef values exist and they are constantly changing. How communities interact with the resources and how the communities itself had changed over time contribute to this change in resource value. Physical and social factors, such as resource type, availability and location, physical characteristics of islands, community size, and socio-economic conditions, contribute to the changing reef values. Based on these changing values, it is recommended to go beyond one formal governance rules that fits all. Instead local adaptations based on local ways of valuing need to be considered. A most notable change impacting reef values is the migration of families to the capital. This reduces their interactions both with the reef environment and other community members. In addition, the current globalised education is causing the development of a predominantly globalised worldview among the present generations. In this new worldview, the sacred is separated from the secular. Thus, spiritual and moral beliefs have become isolated from resource management practices. I also find it of concern that local worldviews are being negated at the expense of concern for the global environment. I highlight the importance of schooling to instil knowledge about our local environments and local worldviews. It is also through education we can re-integrate the sacred into our practices and such changes need to be starting at an individual level.

There has been a recent increase in research investigating the relationship between values and value congruence in the workplace and how this leads to positive organisational outcomes. This study investigated the congruence between employees’ values and their perceptions of organisational values, and how this relates to the organisational outcomes of job satisfaction, work engagement, person organisation fit and resilience. Participants were asked to rate eight values related to the workplace, in relation to how they thought about the values individually and how they perceived their organisation rated the eight values. These ratings were then used to analyse the relationship between values and value congruence and each of the four organisational outcomes. The proposed relationships were tested using data collected from an online survey of 120 employees from nine New Zealand based organisations. The results of hierarchical regression analyses showed that values and values congruence is significantly related to job satisfaction, work engagement, person organisation fit and resilience. However the significant relationships were dependent on certain values for each of the four outcomes. Which implies certain values are more salient for each of the outcomes. The results were also discussed in terms of the practical implications for organisations and areas of possible future research.

This thesis begins by outlining the theoretical and empirical foundations of the economics of innovations. It then proceeds by analysing four econometric issues in the measurement of technological knowledge embedded in patented innovations and modelling the statistical relationship of the value of patented innovations originating in the G-5 countries overtime. This thesis contributes to the economics of innovation literature in four areas: (1) a comprehensive review of the proxies available to elicit the value embodied in patented inventions (2) a direct comparison of regression estimates based on citations count dependent variable versus citations-weighted dependent variable (3) an introduction and application of Regression Tree and Graphical Modelling methodologies to model patented inventions (4) estimation of the fluctuations and associations in the values of patented innovation in the G-5 countries using patent citations.

Examensarbete är utfört på GKN Aerospace Applied Composites (ACAB) där produktionsflödet för fyra produkter har kartlagts. Idag upplever företaget svårigheter med att hålla leveranstiden för dessa produkter, dessutom upplevs verkstäderna som ostrukturerade. GKN Aerospace Applied Composites tillverkar idag flertalet produkter i komposit till både den civila och militära marknaden. För detta examensarbete har flödet av tre stycken radomer och en storlek av tryckkärl kartlagts. Tryckkärl är en produkt som tillverkas i större volymer och har ett flödesorganiserat produktionsupplägg. Radomerna är kundorderspecifika produkter som endast tillverkas i enstyck eller mindre volymer. Detta innebär att radomverkstaden är funktionellt organiserad. Med ett varierande och växande produktsortiment ökar kraven på produktionsplaneringen och hantera kombinationen av de två olika produktionsuppläggen. För att kunna ta fram förbättringsförslag för framtiden har en analys genomförts av produktionen. Förbättringsförslagen resulterar i studiens rekommendationer och förbättringsplan till ACAB. Den metod som använts är Value Stream Mapping (VSM), som är en metod i Lean filosofin. Denna metod används för att eliminera alla former av slöseri genom att identifiera värdeskapande och icke värdeskapande tid. För att sammanställa en VSM för respektive produkt genomfördes en datainsamling som bestod av intervjuer, observationer och uppmätningar av flödenas avstånd. För varje produkt identifierades problemområden med tillhörande förbättringsförslag, dessa förslag på åtgärder och rekommendationer resulterade i ett framtida alternativt flöde för produktionen. Historisk data har analyserats av genomloppstider, en medeltid för varje process har beräknats ur äldre order för respektive produkt. Som en riktlinje för dagens produktion har ACAB idag standardtider som de planerar leveransdatum efter. Beräknade medeltider har satts i förhållande till standardtiderna för att kunna urskilja vilka processtider som överstiger eller understiger dagens riktlinjer. I de alternativa flödena presenteras åtgärdsförslag för att kunna förbättra verkstädernas layout genom att förkorta de uppmätta avstånden. Utöver jämförelse av tider och avstånd presenteras övergripande åtgärder som 5S och kontinuerlig utbildning av personal. Generellt för båda produktionerna har jämförelsen mellan medeltider och standardtider visat att standardtiderna behöver korrigeras. Korrigeringen av tider medför inte kortare genomloppstider utan bidrar till en bättre planering av leveransdatum. Däremot förväntas de förändringar av layout och organisering som föreslagits för respektive verkstad reducera genomloppstiderna.

Abstract Problem background and problem discussion: The increased demands on companies and their ability to operate sustainably has made corporate social responsibility (CSR) a very hot topic in modern society. The academic debate has yet to put a definite answer on whether the engagement in CSR activities has a positive effect on a company financially. Previous research on stock listed in Sweden indicate that there is a positive relationship between environmental performance and that there is an asymmetry in how it is valued across company sizes. However, there has not yet been any research made into what impact size has on the value relevance of social CSR ratings. This will be tested by drawing from resource-based theory and legitimacy theory. Research question: How is the value relevance of social ratings affected by accounting for company size? Purpose: The purpose is to examine what effect the inclusion of corporation size has on the value relevance of social CSR ratings. Theory: The study primarily utilizes Stakeholder theory, the resource-based theory and legitimacy theory. Method: This is a quantitative study in a panel data setting with a deductive research approach. The practical method is a regression analysis that assesses the value relevance of CSR measures at the OMX Stockholm for the years of 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2013. The study encompasses 349 Small-, medium- and large-sized companies and has a total of 1429 observations, which have been subject to statistical significance tests. Results and analysis: The results show that social, environmental and overall CSR ratings are value relevant and associated with lower market values. There also seems to be little impact on results by including company size as a variable. Furthermore the results of this study differ from previous research, implying that results are very sensitive to changes in the regression model. Conclusion: The results of the study lead us to believe that size has little impact on how value relevant social ratings are. This implies that regardless theory such as the resource-based and legitimacy theory these cannot be supported in practice among Swedish firms listed at OMX Stockholm. Furthermore, our method gives different results with regard to previous research done on the Swedish market and indicates that there is a negative relationship between CSR ratings and market value.

Enterprise risk management (ERM) is a widely studied management control process, representing an important advancement from the traditional methods by which firms control the risks they face. This study steps back from attempts to quantify the relationship between ERM and firm performance. Instead, it explores how non-financial institutions with significant time and resource commitments to ERM configure those resources to effectuate a downside-upside duality as ERM is adopted, using for the first time in ERM research the theoretical lens of ambidexterity as a dynamic capability. This duality is the simultaneous engagement in mitigating existing and emerging risks while pursuing new value contributions from risk management processes. Empirical evidence indicates that the downside-upside duality is asymmetric, and challenges exist in quantifying the upside. The upside value component is most closely associated with raising the level of the risk discourse in firms. This is accomplished structurally by establishing new ERM-focused organizational subunits, and contextually by stretching capabilities. Dynamic capabilities emerge as firms sense, seize and reconfigure resources in the operationalization of ERM to supplant core competencies associated with traditional modes of risk management. Practitioners will gain from this research a richer understanding of the fit, form and function of ERM informed by empirical data and extrinsic theory.