Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Institutional environment quality'

The diploma thesis focuses on a broad issue of the institutional quality and its impacts on a real economy. It summarizes important theoretical approaches involving not only institutions and their influence on a behavior of economic subjects (New Institutional Economics, New Comparative Economics), but also a behavior of politicians (Public Choice Theory) as they contribute to the formation of the institutional environment notably. The thesis pays to a historical outline, consequences and the evolution of institutional environment in the countries of Central Europe (The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary). The analytical part of the thesis focuses on the qualitative analysis of the most significant elements of the institutional environment in the countries mentioned above: the security of the private ownership and its observance, the law enforcement, the corruption rate, the quality of entrepreneurial environment, the effectiveness and the quality of a regulation and not least the governance effectiveness on government and private level.

The purpose of this study is to have an in-depth understanding of the importance of the institutional environment for financial development in 43 Sub-Saharan African countries during the years 2004-2018. Using new institutional economic theory (NIE) we study how the four institutional factors Control of Corruption, Rule of Law, Political Stability and Absence of Violence, and Voice and Accountability affect financial development. We also survey how the effect of institutional factors varies when there are either high, medium or low levels of corruption. Empirical results show a positive linear relationship between all institutional factors and financial development. However, when corruption levels are high the correlation between institutional factors and financial development varies and has a weak linear relationship. Inferential statistics results from a fixed effect regression model with robust standard errors shows; when we control for the financial environment, Political Stability and Absence of Violence is the only indicator for the institutional environment that has a positive significant effect on financial development. We thereby conclude that the institutional environment, mostly political institutions, are important for financial development.
Syftet med denna studie är att få en djupgående förståelse av institutionell miljö för finansiell utveckling i 43 Subsahariska afrikanska länder för åren 2004–2018. Med hjälp av den nya institutionella ekonomiska teorin undersöker vi hur de fyra institutionella faktorer Kontroll av Korruption, Rättsstat, Politisk Stabilitet och Frånvaro av Våld och Röst och Ansvarsskyldighet påverkar finansiell utveckling. Vi undersöker också hur effekten av institutionella faktorer varierar när det finns hög, medium eller låg nivå av korruption. Empiriskt resultat visar ett positivt linjärt samband mellan alla institutionella faktorer och finansiell utveckling. Däremot, när korruptions nivåerna är höga är korrelationen mellan institutionella faktorer och finansiell utveckling varierar och har ett svagt linjärt samband. Resultatet från inferentiell statistik med fixed-effektregressionsmodell med robust standardfel visar att; när vi kontrollerar för den finansiella miljön, kvarstår endast Politisk Stabilitet och Frånvaro av Våld som en indikator för institutionell miljö som har en positiv signifikant effekt på finansiell utveckling. Vi konstaterar därmed att institutionell miljö, särskilt politiska institutioner är viktiga för finansiell utveckling.

Based on theory and copious empirical evidence, environmental economists have recognized the dependence of environmental conditions on economic growth. This dependence is well enumerated in the EKC Hypothesis, which asserts that there exists an inverted U-shaped relationship between measured per capita income and measured level environmental quality such that, economic growth initially portends danger to the environment owing to initial economic pressures, which eventually improves beyond certain threshold of growth. During the initial stages of growth, however, environmental conditions arguably could be made impervious to economic pressures when governments take stiffened stance to strengthen institutions and make them more effective. On the strength of the above thoughts, we have attempted in this empirical work to probe into new evidence on the role of institutions in modulating and moderating the gruesome effects of growth on the environment in the context of Nigeria. While pursuing this empirical course, the study, like others drew on theoretical framings of the classic EKC hypothesis and adopted the ARDL methodical procedure to estimate baseline and interaction models. However, unlike previous studies carried out in Nigeria, the current study adopted a broad- based approach by converting and aggregating the three pervasive environmental pollutants (CO2, NO2 and CH4) in Nigeria into single unit of measurement by means of their CO2 equivalent. Given the core of the study, two models- baseline and interaction- have been estimated and examined based on the conventional statistical and econometric criteria. The results from the baseline model led to the conclusion that EKC holds for Nigeria while those from the interaction model revealed that institutions are important in the environmental project as they play significant role in moderating the harmful effect of economic growth on the environment.

Дисертацію присвячено актуальним науковим задачам з розвитку теоретичних положень та практичних рекомендацій щодо формування інституціонального механізму управління якістю навколишнього середовища з урахуванням економічних основ. Сформульовано поняття «інституціональний механізм управління якістю навколишнього середовища». Розроблено концептуальні основи зазначеного механізму та удосконалено підхід до управління якістю навколишнього середовища. На основі адаптувань зарубіжних методів розроблено інтегральний індекс якості навколишнього середовища, який є інформаційною основою для прийняття управлінських рішень в галузі охорони якості навколишнього середовища, модель оцінки впливу екологічних інвестицій на якість навколишнього середовища та є інформацією для підтримки управлінських рішень на етапі планування екологічних інвестицій. Запропоновано модель оптимального вибору проектів на охорону навколишнього середовища. При цитуванні документа, використовуйте посилання http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/35844
Диссертация посвящена решению актуальной научной задачи и теоретических положений для обоснования практических рекомендаций по формированию институционального механизма управления качеством окружающей среды. Анализ экономико-экологической ситуации, которая сложилась в Украине, свидетельствует об обострении взаимосвязей в сложной системе «общество – окружающая середа». На основе анализа и синтеза категорий («качество», «управление», «институт», «механизм»), понятий («окружающая среда», «институциональный механизм», «управление качеством», «механизм управления») и терминов («качество окружающей среды», «управление качеством окружающей среды», «институциональный механизм управления») сформулировано комплексное понятие «институциональный механизм управления качеством окружающей среды». Формирование экономических основ механизма управления качеством окружающей среды базируется на концептуальной основе институционального механизма управления качеством окружающей среды, которая учитывает государственное регулирование провалов рынка, а также ключевые вопросы и пути их решения в области повышения качества окружающей среды. На основе обобщения отечественных и зарубежных подходов к теории управления предложено использовать комплексность, кластерность и экосистемность, что составляет «холонистический подход». Предложенный подход осуществляется с помощью приказов и распоряжений для достижения поставленных целей в процессе улучшения качества окружающей среды, направлен на процесс организации управления и интеграцию связей природы с социальными и экономическими целями экономических агентов как взаимодополняющая система. Данный подход является основой для реализации принципов управления качеством окружающей среды в разработанных экономических основах формирования институционального механизма. Предложены экономические основы формирования институционального механизма управления качеством окружающей среды, которые включают инструменты и методы повышения качества окружающей среды, на основе количественной оценки качества окружающей среды для Украины и оптимального распределения ограниченных экологических фондов на проекты охраны окружающей среды для улучшения качества окружающей среды. Для разработки интегрального индекса качества окружающей среды в Украине проведен анализ существующих методов оценки качества и предложен адаптированный интегральный индекс. Данный индекс учитывает социальные, экономические и экологические особенности Украины. Предложена модель количественной оценки влияния экологических инвестиций на качество окружающей среды, которая характеризует взаимосвязь между объемом инвестиций в охрану окружающей среды, качеством окружающей среды, рыночным управлением, зеленым валовым внутренним продуктом и заболеваемостью населения. Установлено, что изменение интегрального индекса качества окружающей среды влияет на социально-экономическое состояние страны, которое отображается зеленым валовым внутренним продуктом и количеством заболевших. Приведенная модель является инструментом обоснования управленческих решений на этапе планирования объема инвестиций в области управления качеством окружающей среды. В результате проведения экспериментов установлен необходимый объем инвестиций для улучшения качества окружающей среды, который обеспечит увеличение зеленого валового внутреннего продукта и сокращение заболеваемости населения. Для эффективного распределения инвестированных средств, предложена модель оптимального выбора проектов по охране окружающей среды. Данная модель основывается на функции полезности, которая отображает возможные направления вложения капитальных инвестиций в охрану окружающей среды. Реализация выбранных проектов даст возможность повысить качество окружающей среды за счет наличных денежных средств. При цитировании документа, используйте ссылку http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/35844
The thesis is devoted to actual scientific tasks for the development of theory and practical recommendations for the creation of institutional mechanism of quality management of environment based on economic fundamentals. The concept "institutional mechanism of quality management of environment" is formulated. The conceptual bases of this mechanism is developed and approach to environmental quality management is improved. On the basis of adaptation of foreign methods the index of quality of environment is developed. The index is the informational basis for management decisions in the field of environmental quality. The model of an assessment of influence of ecological investments on environmental quality is offered. Model is information to support management decisions at the planning stage of environmental investments. The model of an optimum choice of projects on the environment is offered. When you are citing the document, use the following link http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/35844

Due to the fact that corporate environmental reporting (CER) is largely voluntary and unregulated, practice has evolved in the absence of a meaningful conceptual framework. This lack of a normative theory stating what should be the content of CER as well as the methods for measuring reported information being largely volumetric or content based, is advanced as a major limitation in the existing literature. In this study, the wellestablished conceptual frameworks for financial reporting are adapted as the basis for a CER conceptual framework in which four characteristics of CER indicate its quality. Empirical methods for the measurement of such characteristics are also adapted from the financial reporting literature. The main aim of this research is to use the adapted framework to examine the extent of variation in the quality of CER and then to test its applicability to the key motivational theories. The empirical work involves a panel of US and UK firms over a two-year period. This allows cross-sectional comparison to be made between different financial accounting regimes (rules- vs. principles-based) as well as permits examination of the development of CER over time. Further, the empirical work is extended to investigate the interrelationship between the financial and environmental performance of a firm. Evidence in support of the legitimacy and institutional theory explanations for disclosure motivations is comprehensively found through the measures of the qualitative characteristics identified. That is, the use of a novel CER framework based on financial reporting quality here enables a more robust understanding of the reporting behaviours than previous work. Moreover, evidence for CER variation owing to the differences in financial reporting regimes is found and thus, it is reasonable to assert that the culture of financial reporting, to some extent, informs the nature of voluntary non-financial reporting. However, perhaps owing to the short time frame of the investigation, evidence of financial rewards from being environmentally effective or through providing CER is not found. The findings from this research will be of interest to preparers and users of corporate environmental reports as well as to policymakers, particularly in terms of enabling them to assess the quality of reporting and its level of fit with their expectations. Moreover, they also shed light on the link between environmental performance, as manifested in carbon emissions, and what is reported.

Cette thèse étudie théoriquement et empiriquement les interrelations entre la santé de la population, la dégradation de l'environnement et le développement économique, ses conséquences pour les pays en développement, et fournit certaines réponses en termes de politique économique. Elle est subdivisée en deux parties. La première partie s’intéresse à la relation entre l’environnement, la santé, et les inégalités. Elle analyse dans un premier temps l’hypothèse selon laquelle la dégradation de l'environnement pourrait être considérée comme un canal supplémentaire par lequel les inégalités de revenu affectent les taux de mortalité infantile et juvénile (chapitre 2). Nos travaux théoriques et empiriques montrent que les inégalités de revenu affectent négativement la qualité de l'air et de l'eau, et cela à son tour dégrade la santé de la population. Par conséquent, la dégradation de l'environnement peut être considérée comme un canal non négligeable à travers lequel les inégalités de revenu influence l’état de santé. Il est ensuite démontré que les émissions de dioxyde de soufre (SO2) et celles des micro-Particules (PM10) sont en partie responsables des grandes disparités dans la mortalité infantile et juvénile au sein des pays pauvres (chapitre 3) .En outre, nos résultats soutiennent l’idée selon laquelle les institutions démocratiques jouent un rôle de protection sociale en atténuant cet effet pour les classes de revenu les plus pauvres et ainsi réduisent les inégalités de santé provoquées par la pollution. La deuxième partie évalue le lien entre la santé, l'environnement et la croissance économique. Le Chapitre 4 évalue l'effet de la santé (charge globale de la maladie, maladies transmissibles et paludisme) sur la croissance économique. Ce chapitre montre que les indicateurs de santé, lorsqu'ils sont correctement mesurés par l'écart entre l'état de santé actuel et une situation de santé idéal où toute la population vit à un âge avancé, indemne de maladie et d'invalidité, et lorsqu’ils sont convenablement instrumentés, ont un impact négatif significatif sur la performance économique. Les conséquences de ces interactions sur la convergence économique des pays pauvres vers leur état régulier, sont théoriquement et empiriquement analysées dans le dernier chapitre. Il en ressort que la dégradation de l'environnement réduit la capacité des pays pauvres d'atteindre leur état régulier, renforçant ainsi notre argument théorique selon lequel l’amélioration de la qualité de l'environnement joue un rôle considérable dans le processus de convergence économique. En outre, la dégradation de la qualité de l'air et de l'eau affecte négativement la performance économique, et l'état de santé demeure un canal important par lequel la dégradation de l'environnement agit sur la croissance économique même si elle n'est pas le seul. L’hypothèse de la courbe environnementale de Kuznets (EKC) est également vérifiée
This dissertation investigates theoretically and empirically the interrelationships among population’s health,environmental degradation and economic development, its consequences for developing countries, and someeffective policy responses. The first part explores the association between health, environment, and inequalities. Itfirstly analyzes whether environmental degradation could be considered as an additional channel through whichincome inequality affects infant and child mortality (chapter 2). Theoretical and empirical investigations show thatincome inequality affects negatively air and water quality, and this in turn worsens population’s health. Therefore,environmental degradation is an important channel through which income inequality affects population health. Then,it is shown that sulphur dioxide emission (SO2) and particulate matter (PM10) are in part responsible for the largedisparities in infant and child mortalities between and within developing countries (chapter 3). In addition, we foundthat democratic institutions play the role of social protection by mitigating this effect for the poorest income classesand reducing the health inequality it provokes. The second part is devoted to the link among health, environment,and economic growth. The effect of health (global burden of disease, communicable disease, and malaria) oneconomic growth is assessed in Chapter 4. This chapter shows that health indicators, when correctly measured by thegap between current health status and an ideal health situation where the entire population lives to an advanced age,free of disease and disability, and when accurately instrumented have significant impact on economic performance.The consequences of these interrelationships on the convergence of poor countries towards their steady state aretheoretically and empirically investigated in the last Chapter (chapter 5). It is found that environment degradationreduces the ability of poor countries to reach their own steady state, reinforcing our argument according to whichenvironment quality improvement plays a considerable role in economic convergence process. Moreover, thedegradation of air and water quality affects negatively economic performance, and health status remains an importantchannel through which environment degradation affects economic growth even if it is not alone. The EnvironmentalKuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis is also verified

This paper evaluates the effectiveness of the institutional framework of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the implementation and enforcement of nonpoint source (NPS) pollution control measures in the state's urbanizing areas. The institutional framework is developed primarily around the existing governmental framework. The federal, state and local roles are examined in terms of the relevant legislative and executive NPS control activities already taking place. The judicial function is considered in terms of constitutional guarantees of protection of private property and the potential for liability stemming from the implementation of structural and nonstructural best management practices (BMP's). Three generic categories of BMP's are evaluated in light of this institutional environment: on-site BMP's, off-site BMP's and nonstructural BMP's. Where they are relevant, various subcategories of the institutional environment are examined: mechanisms and responsibility for financing and maintenance, managing future urban growth and mediating interjurisdictional arrangements. The introduction and first four chapters develop this material and the final chapter is an analysis of the existing state programs (the Erosion and Sediment Control Law and the State Water Control Board's voluntary Urban NPS Control and Abatement Program). The product of this analysis is the conclusion that both state programs analyzed are weak due to a lack of state oversight. In addition, the Erosion and Sediment Control Program could be strengthened by amending the law to add a viable "stop work" order and by defining violations as being civil rather than criminal (misdemeanors) violations.
M.S.

The main aim of this study was to explore and describe the circumstances on the ground concerning employability of Environmental Science (ES) graduates in Botswana and to provide evidence that would either confirm or refute claims that graduates in Botswana, in general, are not employable. The second aim of this study was to describe whose role it is to enhance the employability of graduates. Furthermore it was also the aim of this study to investigate whether or not employability audits could be used as a quality assurance mechanism to ensure the employability of graduates in Botswana. These issues were investigated using the contextual framework of employability which explains the quality of higher education in relation to employability of graduates. This research reports on the findings of a case study of the Environmental Science programme offered by the Department of Environmental Science at the University of Botswana which was conducted in June 2012. The study revealed and confirmed gaps among ES graduates in the knowledge, skills and competencies required for the world of work. As a result of these gaps, ES graduates were found not be immediately employable without further on the job training. This created a lot of discontent among employers interviewed. The study concluded that higher education should go beyond providing education for the general development and well-being of individuals and address issues related to employability of graduating students. Conflicts in the possible roles of higher education and industry in enhancing the employability of ES graduates in terms of the changing expectations of the world of work were identified. The study highlighted the possible role of employability audits in enhancing employability not only of ES graduates but all other graduates in Botswana. Furthermore the study recommended that employability audits should be introduced in the tertiary education system of Botswana as a quality assurance mechanism. It further recommended collaboration and partnership with industry as key to the success of any measures put in place for the enhancement of the employability of graduates in Botswana.
Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2014.
tm2015
Science, Mathematics and Technology Education
PhD
Unrestricted

A comercialização de produtos florestais não madeireiros (PFNMs) popularizou-se como atividade promotora do desenvolvimento socioeconômico de comunidades florestais com baixo impacto ambiental. Há evidências, contudo, de que a exploração possa produzir efeitos ecológicos e socioeconômicos negativos, sugerindo que é necessário monitorar tais iniciativas. A comercialização frequentemente ocorre em áreas remotas e em contextos de pobreza, como é o caso de muitas daquelas da Amazônia brasileira. Desta forma, é necessário que o monitoramento restrinja-se a avaliar os efeitos evidenciados como mais comuns em estudos anteriores. Este estudo revisa e sintetiza as evidências científicas dos efeitos da exploração de PFNMs sobre parâmetros ecológicos e socioeconômicos e, a partir daí, indica aqueles mais relevantes ao monitoramento. O estudo também levanta até que ponto o monitoramento é implementado no contexto da Amazônia brasileira e avalia quais os parâmetros importantes e viáveis de monitoramento neste caso específico. Para isso, foram realizadas revisões sistemáticas da literatura e a consulta a profissionais da área através do método Delphi. Os resultados indicam que efeitos ecológicos negativos são frequentes, principalmente quando se coletam folhas ou cascas. Alterações em órgãos ou processos fisiológicos e a taxa de sobrevivência dos espécimes explorados são parâmetros que devem ser monitorados, em particular quando se coletam frutos e partes vegetativas. Para todos os tipos de PFNMs, o tamanho e a estrutura populacional são parâmetros prioritários ao monitoramento. A riqueza de espécies da comunidade explorada merece atenção, principalmente quando se coletam frutos. Para os aspectos socioeconômicos, efeitos positivos foram mais frequentes que negativos. A contribuição da renda monetária obtida com o comércio na renda total, a regularidade de ingresso desta renda e o papel dos PFNMs como recursos de salvaguarda são parâmetros do capital financeiro prioritários ao monitoramento. Para o capital social, o empoderamento feminino, a coesão de grupo e o acesso aos benefícios gerados pela comercialização devem ser monitorados. Na Amazônia brasileira são poucas as iniciativas de implementação do monitoramento da comercialização de PFNMs. Embora este seja considerado importante, existem dificuldades que derivam principalmente da falta de apoio institucional, políticas de incentivo e de recursos financeiros. Os profissionais participantes do Delphi consideram que os parâmetros ecológicos mais importantes a monitorar neste contexto são o tamanho e a estrutura populacional do recurso explorado, o aumento da taxa de mortalidade, a quantidade total de recurso extraída e a técnica de coleta utilizada. Para os parâmetros econômicos, aspectos do mercado, como o preço pago ao coletor, a demanda e a qualidade do produto, bem como a renda monetária obtida pelos indivíduos são os parâmetros considerados mais importantes. Por fim, para os aspectos sociais, os efeitos na cultura, na qualidade de vida e na organização interna da comunidade foram priorizados. Os profissionais indicam que é viável estabelecer o monitoramento dos parâmetros levantados.
Amazon, non-timber forest products, ecological effects, socioeconomic effects, monitoring.

碩士
國立臺中科技大學
會計資訊系會計與財稅碩士班
100
Recently, international capital markets have increasingly been hinged. Investors go beyond the borders to seek for investment opportunities, while corporates expand its footprints into developing countries and emerging economies for capital raising. Therefore, it would be imperative to establish universal principles of financial accounting in response to the globalization of capital markets. By statistics, International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) has been adopted in 123 countries as the end of 2011. As IFRSs has not yet been adopted in Taiwan, however, we took mainland China as an example instead in our study. Moreover, according to institutional theorists, the forms and business models of corporates are mainly shaped by factors such as politics, regulations, social norms and cultures. We found the developments of Chinese government performance audit are conspicuously different by region; to reflect such differences, we elaborated our research by dividing mainland China into 31 categories (provinces or cities). We set 2003-2010 as the time horizon for this study. The object of this study is to discuss whether IFRSs adoption in China and its institutional environment make differences on the quality of accounting. Our empirical research achieved two conclusions: 1) IFRSs adoption in China should significantly improve the accounting quality and 2) IFRSs and institutional environment should synthetically influence the quality of accounting as well.

This thesis examines the impact of hierarchical complexity on corporate opaqueness and how this relationship varies under the moderating effect of corporate diversification, quality of the home country institutional environment and the host country institutional environment. I hypothesize that increases in firms’ hierarchical complexity are related to greater corporate opaqueness between the firm and outside investors on the capital market. Using a sample of US firms spanning 5 years from 2012 to 2016, I find a statistically and economically significant, positive relationship between hierarchical complexity and corporate opaqueness. The results of the thesis further imply that the impact of hierarchical complexity on opaqueness is alleviated when there is related corporate diversification and an increasing quality of the host country institutional environment.
Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, Business School, 2019

This paper investigates how family ownership, control and management influence market reaction to M&A, both under different economic conditions and under distinct institutional backgrounds. Using a database of 381 acquisitions, performed by firms from 11 European and North American countries between 2005-2015, I conclude, through univariate and multivariate analyses, that family firm resilience is not observed in M&A, with acquisitions being perceived as opportunistic in bad times. On the contrary, I observe that family firms significantly outperform their non-family peers in good times and that shareholder protection is a key determinant of M&A value when acquirors have distinct ownership structures.

碩士
國立雲林科技大學
建築與室內設計系
103
Because people with dementia remain long-term memory, so people with dementia in a familiar living space can best support their normalization of life, creating a family-like environment as the basic principles of care for Alzheimer's sufferers. In retrospect international empirical literature related to the development of dementia care and noted have tended to living unit concept of a case by case, take a small scale like "home" atmosphere of life in dementia care unit is the ideal features to inmate enjoy family life and routine mode, so the service provided by the organization as an object is changed to an individual object. This study aims to (1) survey of Taiwanese unit care environment, in order to understand Taiwan people with dementia care unit environment status. (2) explore the environment issue unit care and the environment quality of life of Taiwan, as a reference to improve the environment of care for people with dementia. Research Methods The literature review, research prevalence survey, observation recording method, index check method. Selection elderly care facilities have dementia care unit Mode 2, the status of the environment for environmental analysis, as well as the quality of the living environment assessment analysis. Research :( A) The unit will focus on environmental care unit into a region, in order to leave the Prevention of Alzheimer's sufferers. (B) Care environment in the cell, so that people with dementia can live in family activities. (C) Nostalgia nostalgic space situation and nostalgia facility setting, interact with people with dementia. (D) Set OT space for individual partitions. (E) Construction of sensory stimulation when environmental element, should be taken to avoid animal pattern. (F) Set the instruction marks should be used with dementia easily recognizable elements, and on the need for continuity in the wall or floor. (G) Spatial arrangement unit affects the interaction between people with dementia, and public space can have diverse leisure activities. (H) External window of reality-oriented facilities, should pay attention to it because of the sun and glare of sunshine. (I) Wandering space setting will lead to different units generated between interactive. (J) Units have set service management facility, will lead to the environment "in public, semi-public, semi-private and private hierarchy of" no clear distinction.

碩士
國立高雄大學
都市發展與建築研究所
101
In a developed city , in order to to improve the environment quality in the early developed area , urban renew is necessary. At present, urban renew in Taiwan aims at the reconstruction of a building itself. Also, in order to urge the constructor and the residents to participate the urban renew, we tend to increase floor area as an incentive. Therefore, we forget the purpose of urban renew is the improvement of environment as a whole and differences among areas. With more floor area, more residents moved in certainly bring pressure to infrastructure surrounding the construction where urban renew enacted and make environment quality worse. Therefore when talking about urban renew, we not only concern the renew construction itself but also the area surrounding. Unfortunately, at present people only deal with the renew construction and choose to ignore the surround area. This research collects and analyses factors affecting urban environment based on documents. Through analytical network process and survey from experts, it confirms correlation and weight among those factors in order to construct a system to explain how they affect each other and environment quality in Tapei city. Besides, with geographical information system I design a map to show how those factors scattered in different area in Taipei city. Afterwards, using overlap method combined with the system , we evaluate environment quality in Taipei city. Finally, this research review current urban renew regulation enacted in Taipei. In order to make a proposition concerning surrounding area and differences among areas.

Dissertação de mestrado em Engenharia Industrial (área de especialização em Qualidade, Segurança e Manutenção)
Atualmente, as organizações, a nível mundial, procuram, cada vez mais, legitimar perante as partes interessadas a sua atuação responsável nas três dimensões do desenvolvimento sustentável, ou seja, na dimensão económica, ambiental e social. Neste sentido, as organizações portuguesas tem vindo adotar a certificação dos sistemas integrados de gestão, (qualidade, ambiente, segurança e saúde do trabalho), como forma de demonstrarem o seu compromisso para com o desenvolvimento sustentável. O objeto de estudo da atual investigação fundamenta-se na comunicação do compromisso para com o desenvolvimento sustentável, no âmbito da análise dos conteúdos estratégicos que são publicados e divulgados no website institucional, por 540 organizações portuguesas certificadas em qualidade, ambiente e segurança. O enquadramento teórico é suportado por três teorias organizacionais: a teoria institucional, a teoria da legitimidade e a teoria dos stakeholders, comumente associadas na literatura a processos de divulgação de informação. O método de investigação apoiou-se na técnica de análise de conteúdo, para explorar os compromissos assumidos pela gestão de topo, aquando da aprovação das declarações da visão, missão, valores, objetivos, princípios de negócio, estratégia empresarial e políticas da organização. Entre os compromissos para com o desenvolvimento sustentável analisados, constatou-se que os três mais frequentes são relativos aos clientes (consumidores), recursos humanos (colaboradores) e melhoria contínua. O perfil da organização em que a comunicação do compromisso para com o desenvolvimento sustentável é mais proeminente, carateriza-se por agrupar organizações com elevado volume de vendas, que assumem a forma jurídica de sociedade anónima (S.A.), que se localizam nos distritos de Lisboa ou Setúbal, que se designam por entidades públicas, que pertencem a um grupo membro do BCSD Portugal e que publicam relatórios (contas e sustentabilidade) na Internet.
Nowadays and worldwide, organizations seek increasingly legitimate its responsible behaviour to stakeholders in three dimensions of the sustainable development, the economic, environmental and social dimension. In this sense, the Portuguese organizations have adopted the certification of integrated management systems (quality, environment, occupational health and safety), in order to demonstrate their commitment towards sustainable development. The object of study of current research is based on the communication of commitment towards sustainable development within the analysis of the strategic content that is published and disclosed in the institutional websites of 540 Portuguese organizations certified in quality, environment and safety. The theoretical framework is supported by three organizational theories: the institutional theory, the legitimacy theory and the stakeholder theory, commonly associated in the literature to disclosure of information processes. The method of investigation relied on the content analysis technique to explore the commitments made by top management when adopting statements of the vision, mission, values, goals, business principles, corporate strategy and policies of the organization. Among the commitments towards sustainable development analysed, it was found that the three most common are related to customers (consumers), human resources (employees) and continuous improvement. The profile of the organization in which the communication of commitment towards sustainable development is more prominent, is characterized to group organizations with high volume sales, which take the legal form of public Iimited company or corporation (PLC), which are located in the districts of Lisbon or Setubal, which are called public entities, which belong to an group member of BCSD Portugal (Business Council for Sustainable Development) and which publish reports (accounts and sustainability) on the Internet.

The work environment in financial institutions where deadlines, budgets, routine work and performance issues are common can compromise most people’s sense of happiness. Therefore happiness in the workplace rarely manifests without significant effort from employees. Successful organisations need employees that will do more than their job requirements and go beyond expectations i.e. perform organisational citizenship behaviours (OCB). In light of the increasing interest in positive psychology the study aimed to focus on happiness and psychological capital (PsyCap) to find ways to enhance employees’ positive psychological states to achieve positive organisational outcomes such as OCB. The study therefore aimed to determine whether a relationship exists between happiness, PsyCap and OCB amongst employees in financial institutions. The study also sought to determine the predictive value of happiness and PsyCap in predicting OCB. Furthermore the moderating effect of PsyCap was assessed to determine the extent to which PsyCap moderated the relationship between happiness and OCB. A cross-sectional research design was used in the study. The researcher used a sample of 185 (N = 185) employees from a financial institution in Durban, South Africa. The researcher used five questionnaires in the study. A biographical questionnaire created by the researcher, the Orientations to Happiness Scale (OHS) used as the first measure of happiness, the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) used as the second measure of happiness, the Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ), and the Organisational Citizenship Behaviour Questionnaire (OCBQ). The main findings of the study indicated that there were practically and statistically significant relationships between happiness (measured by the OHS), PsyCap and OCB. More specifically relationships were found to exist between happiness, the two PsyCap factors (hopeful-confidence and positive outlook) and the OCB factors (altruism, courtesy, sportsmanship and civic virtue). A significant finding was that happiness measured by SWL showed no significant relationships with OCB or the OCB factors thus indicating that happiness measured by orientations to happiness was a better measure of happiness for the employees in the financial institution. Happiness and the PsyCap factors were found to hold predictive value for some of the OCB factors. In determining the moderating effect of PsyCap it was found that only positive outlook significantly moderated the relationship between happiness and one of the OCB factors, civic virtue. The study has focused on happiness in the workplace and its relationship to organisational constructs such as PsyCap and OCB. The results of the study can therefore be deemed to be beneficial to managers in financial institutions and employees themselves. The study has made a significant contribution by highlighting that employees in a financial institution consider orientations to happiness (pleasure, meaning, and engagement) to be a more compelling measure of happiness in determining the likelihood to performing OCBs at work as opposed to satisfaction with life as a measure of happiness. Thus the orientations to happiness were concluded as being a more appropriate measure of happiness for employees in a financial institution in relation to OCBs. By focussing on employee’s level of happiness, how employees conceptualise happiness and the benefits of happy employees to the organisation, this information can provide organisations with a better understanding of employees and suggest to organisations to consider finding means to enhance happiness in the workplace. Happiness and PsyCap have shown to be related to positive organisational outcomes such as OCB which lead to organisational effectiveness and success. Therefore of specific relevance is enhancing the PsyCap of employees to achieve desired outcomes such as OCB. The findings can be used to prompt and encourage organisations to develop interventions that increase employee’s PsyCap and to focus on employee well-being and happiness.
Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

The study set out to investigate the factors influencing turnover among professional staff in some selected NGOs in Malawi. Using qualitative and participatory methods, the study used the levels of complexity model to analyse the factors leading to the problem of staff turnover in the selected NGOs. The main findings were that: · Professional staff turnover was 50% within a period of 18 months across all the NGOs interviewed. · For the professional staff, the main factors contributing to staff turnover were: ineffective organisational policies, systems and procedures; poor relationships and communication; and poor organisational values and culture. · In addressing the problem, NGO leaders tend to concentrate on efforts to improve salaries and other monetary benefits; and training opportunities. In order to more comprehensively address the problem of staff turnover among the professional staff however, NGO leaders must adopt a process or an Organisation Development (OD) approach.
Public Administration & Development Studies
M.A. (Development Studies)