Tesis sobre el tema "Long-tail line of business"

A Case Study on Long-tail Risks and Risk Mitigation in Risk Management.   How can Allianz Global Corporate and Specialty (AGCS) make best use of risk mitigation measures for drafting product liability policy wordings? A case study on Triclosan as a possible Endocrine Disruptor with the potential for Mass Litigation.   With external forces, the insurance industry has been facing issues since before  9/11 but the evolvement of risk managers and risk management programs in organizations has become a standard for all corporations due to the realization of the potential impact these external forces and risks possibly possess. These programs have emerged to reduce the risk and uncertainty factor that organizations are facing. The factors have been identified in previous literature, as the regulation through authorities (Carroll et al., 2016), the customer relationship that to a certain degree even embraces risk (Kerr, 2016), the agency risk in risk taking (Eling & Marek, 2013). In terms to prepare for these risks, the corporations need to go through a rescaling of their business which was associated with the establishment of Risk Management Processes on all levels (Thislethwaite and Wood, 2018). As such, the rescaling in general can be seen as a Risk Management (RM) structure that would framework the communication of risk in a company.   The insurer AGCS is studied on its Risk Management (RM) processes, especially in the fourth phase of RM which is the phase of risk mitigation or reduction. Here it has previously been identified there being no other possible ethical actuarial mitigation methods for long-tail risks (Carroll et al., 2016). Therefore, a risk with such categories was studied with the study on Triclosan. Triclosan is a widely spread and commonly used chemical substance with certain and uncertain causations that can pose several risks with one of them being the possibility of mass litigation. The underwriter tool to mitigate such long-tail risks has been defined as the policy wording which can be used to create an optimal contract in the product liability insurance to reduce the risk of mass litigation.    To answer the above research question, this study has taken an interpretivist stance and the form of a quantitative study to follow the framework of Yin’s (2009) case study approach. With the goal to research the meaning behind a phenomenon, rather than to quantify a phenomenon, the use of semi structured interviews with experts of the insurance industry was conducted. These experts were found in the departments of Allianz Risk Consulting, Underwriting, and Claims.    The findings, similarly to the previous research that has been discussed in the introductory chapter, found that there are certain macro forces that shape the risk mitigation phase and here the influence on the policy wording within was touched upon. It was found that regulations do play a vital part and pose as leverage for the insurer and a pillar that would carry the weight of policy wording. It has further been identified that the costumer relationship and the costumer strength in the market are responsible for a functioning risk mitigation and also that certain demands stemming from the market, will shape the product liability insurance. While the more specific answer to the research question was, yes, the corporate insurer should cover triclosan related risks on a claims-made basis, with serial-loss clause and a retroactive date, there would be other factors that influence the policy wording. The grounded theory that has been established in this research is thus;    To manage liability insurance coverage for long-tail risks, product liability policy wording language needs to reflect main pillars as being used for comparable base materials. This includes but is not limited to claims made trigger, retro-active dates and other coverage elements. Macro forces and drivers of the policy wording, include but are not limited to, costumer strength, market demand, risk perception and market regulations. To ensure a successful risk management on an enterprise level for coverage of long-tail risks, the above factors have to be accounted for when offering product liability coverage.   Based on the aforementioned theory, Triclosan is a manageable risk from a corporate liability insurers perspective, hence insurance coverage can be given under product liability policy wordings.   Here it is proposed that further research be conducted on the identified macro forces and their impact on the product liability insurance and the more general RM in organizations. Also, it is proposed to research such a possible framework for including the costumer in the process of risk mitigation in terms of reducing the risks form where they start with the starting point being at the costumer. This is a future vision that as such would need further research to reach scientific saturation.

This paper examines the long-run aftermarket performance of Swedish IPOs between 2000- 2016, including two market downturns (the burst of IT and housing bubble). The main objective is to investigate whether performance is explained in terms of firm maturity, which is the main contribution to existing literature. Hence, the final sample of 96 IPOs is ranked by the level of RE/TA ratio, a categorization defined by the life-cycle theory of dividend payouts proposed by DeAngelo et al. (2006). To assess the long-run performance of the different IPO portfolios, two methodologies are applied: BHAR and the Fama-French Three Factor regression. The main finding is that the Swedish IPOs underperform their benchmark reference portfolios 12, 24 and 36 months after the offering. Young IPOs, with low RE/TA, outperform on a one- year basis while no significant results were found for old IPOs with high RE/TA. On a longer term, young IPOs underperform their benchmarks while old IPOs outperform three years after the initial issue. There is no support that younger IPOs exhibit a higher level of underperformance in comparison to older IPOs in the long-run.

The primary purpose of this investigation was to examine the perceived development of life-long learning skills of Division I student-athletes and their non-athlete general student peers. Using grade point averages and graduation rates, athletics administrators are constantly evaluating the academic performance and growth of student-athletes by comparing their results with those of non-athlete general students. Though these traditional metrics are useful in many ways, there is little research on the self-reported development of life-long learning skills. Due to a changing global economy, employers are less concerned with the knowledge students possess at graduation and are more interested in a student’s ability to adapt to changes, think critically, and acquire information on their own and apply this new knowledge in an effort to create solutions to existing problems in a team based environment repeatedly over time. Collectively, these skills can be described as life-long learning skills. The Capacity for Life-Long Learning Index (CLLI), which is comprised of fourteen items from the College Student Experiences Questionnaire (CSEQ), purport to measure students’ perceived gains on academic skills relevant to life-long learning. This study compares scores on the CLLI for several different variables, including student-athletes, non-athlete general students, gender, class, and ethnicity to determine whether there were differences in the perceived gains in life-long learning skills. On the basis of the results of this study, the following conclusions seem warranted: 1. There were no significant differences in the CLLI score for student-athletes and non-athlete general students. viii 2. There were significant differences between the CLLI scores for female students, both student-athletes and non-athlete general students, and their male counterparts. 3. There were significant differences between the CLLI scores for senior students, both student-athletes and non-athlete general students, and their freshman student counterparts. 4. There were no significant differences between the CLLI scores among students of different ethnic groups. "

In the best of worlds, all marketing is relevant.

This study brings light to and creates understanding for how to capture the opportunities for target marketing, given by resent technical development and improvement.

Customers often perceive marketing on the internet as annoying, embarrassing, repetitive and sometimes even noisy. Companies have problems to focus their marketing efforts towards the areas which give most value for the marketing investments. The conflict between companies pushing the marketing messages to their customers, who are trying to avoid them, a growing mistrust is feed.

Well established businesses are challenged by new companies cutting in between the content providers and their customers. A new business model using the Long Tail phenomena is shaking the old media houses’ business position.

Smartphones and netbooks are merging into mobile devices, which release a number of opportunities for target marketing. This study states that mobile devices are personalized and as a consequence, open for the possibility of target marketing towards individuals. However, there are identified obstacles to overcome. One challenge lies in the balance between marketing benefits and preventing violation of the customers’ personal integrity.

From literature and case studies, light is brought to the state of practice of rules and regulations, old media houses Schibsted and Aftonbladet, search engine provider as Google and a marketing agency, Mobiento Mobile Marketing. 

Trends and best practices stick out as more important in order for a company to become a successful target marketing actor. A “target marketing house concept” points out four significant areas for companies to benefit from the power of target marketing in mobile devices.

Trough out of this study, protection of the personal integrity and personal data has been pointed out as a key factor for a mutual and trustful customer relationship. This is considered to be as a precondition, both for behaviour segmentation and for a joint rewarding customer dialogue.

Approved for public release; distribution in unlimited.
This thesis represents a cross Systems Command (NAVSEA/NAVAIR) developed product. The product - the Sunset Supply Base (SSB) system - provides a complete system for addressing the risks and supportability issues involved with Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) products in Navy combat and support systems. The SSB system was implemented on three Navy combat weapon systems at various phases of the product development life cycle. The main body provides to the Program Management Offices (PMO) and other decision makers, a high level summary of performance expectations. Appendix A - The Sunset Supply Base Architecture - identifies at a high level of abstraction a collaborative architecture providing a roadmap for design and development of the SSB system. Appendix B - The Systems Engineering Development and Implementation (SEDI) plan - is a prescriptive or "How to" manual describing activities that have been used to successfully implement the SSB system. Appendix C - Business Case Analysis (BCA) - presents the data collected as a result of SEDI plan implementation then addresses the business/programmatic attributes showing the viability and value proposition possible through the SSB system. Appendix D - The Marketing Plan for the SSB system - defines methods and practices necessary to establish the SSB system as the alternative of choice.
Chemical Engineer, United States Navy
Systems Engineer, United States Navy

The purpose of this research is to investigate the effectiveness of an Information Literacy intervention administered to first year Faculty of Business students at Rosebank College Cape Town. The exponential nature of information has led to students having access to abundant information which often comes unfiltered. This requires them to be in possession of life long competencies to find and apply this information to solve problems. Recent shifts in pedagogy and curricula have also precipitated the importance of independent learners who are capable of constructing their own knowledge. Student centred methods of teaching employed in tertiary institutions such as, problem based learning, evidence based learning and inquiry learning have necessitated the importance of Information Literacy training towards the development of independent learners. The study assesses the baseline incoming skills of the Faculty of Business students. Two intervention workshops are conducted for the experimental cohort and a post-test is administered. After the post-test the results of the control and experimental group are compared. The study uses the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Information Literacy Standards for higher education as a theoretical foundation. The standards are applied as benchmarks when assessing the Information Literacy competencies. The study explores the following research questions:  Are the Information Literacy interventions administered to the first year business faculty students effective and do they meet the proposed outcomes?  What are the existing Information Literacy competencies of the incoming students in the Faculty of Business?  How should Information Literacy programmes be delivered?  Are the ACRL standards a reliable tool to assess Information Literacy skills and the effectiveness of the interventions administered? The study found out that offering Information Literacy interventions would result in students accumulating these skills. This is supported by the difference in scores between the control group and the experimental cohort. However it must be noted that Information Literacy training is not an event but rather an on-going process.
Magister Bibliothecologiae - MBibl

Bakgrund: Generation Y riskerar få en lägre pension i framtiden än de som går i pensionidag. För att upprätthålla en acceptabel levnadsstandard krävs därför att de själva tar stortansvar för sitt pensionssparande. Det finns dock stor risk att deras finansiella beslutpräglas av beteendefinansiella faktorer och deras nivå av finansiell bildning. Utöver detfattar personer i olika demografiska grupper olika finansiella beslut. Generation Ybeskrivs dessutom som otåliga och har visat sig ha dåliga finansiella vanor. För att enacceptabel levnadsstandard ska kunna uppnås för Generation Y även då de är pensionärerär det därför viktigt att förstå vilka faktorer som kan påverka deras långsiktiga sparande. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hur beteendefinansiella faktorer,finansiell bildning samt demografiska faktorer samvarierar med svenska Generation Y:slångsiktiga sparande. Metod: Studien genomfördes med en kvantitativ metod där empiri i form av enkätdatabearbetats. En linjär multipel regressionsanalys har genomförts för att undersöka hur debeteendefinansiella faktorerna kortsiktighet, självkontroll och övertro, finansiell bildningsamt demografiska faktorer samvarierar med svenska Generation Y:s långsiktigasparande. Även t-tester har genomförts för att undersöka om skillnader för det långsiktigasparandet samt för de beteendefinansiella faktorerna förekommit för olika grupper. Slutsats: Studien visar att de beteendefinansiella faktorerna kortsiktighet, självkontrolloch övertro, samt den demografiska faktorn sysselsättning hade en statistiskt signifikantsamvariation med Generation Y:s långsiktiga sparande för studiens urval. Det fanns ävenstatistiskt signifikanta skillnader i nivå av kortsiktighet och övertro för olikademografiska grupper.
Background: Generation Y is at risk for a substantially lower public retirement incomparison to today's retirees. Therefore, it is of great importance that Generation Yunderstands the necessity of private savings to be able to maintain a sustainable standardof living throughout their lives. However, Generation Y's financial decisions might beinfluenced by behavioral biases, financial literacy and various demographic factors. Inaddition, Generation Y is described as impatient and have been found to haveunsustainable financial habits. For them to maintain a sustainable standard of livingthroughout their lives, it is therefore of great importance to understand what factors thatcorrelate with their long-term saving behaviour. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to examine how behavioural biases, financialliteracy and demographic factors correlate with the long-term saving behaviour amongthe Swedish Generation Y. Methodology: To adequately approach this study a quantitative research method hasbeen applied. The data was collected from a survey. A linear multiple regression analysiswas performed to examine the correlation between long-term saving and behaviouralbiases, financial literacy and demographic factors. Furthermore, t-tests were performedto examine the differences in the level of long-term savings and behavioural biases amongsub-groups. Conclusion: The study concludes that the behavioural biases present bias, self-controland overconfidence, and the demographic factor occupation had statistically significantcorrelations with the long-term savings of the Swedish Generation Y with regard to thesample in this study. Furthermore, there were statistically significant differences in thelevel of present bias and overconfidence in different demographic groups.

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This research is contextualized in the current domestic scenario: Brazil is going through a unique moment that will culminate in two athletic events of worldwide repercussions: the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and the Olympics in 2016. These events impact several areas, including the fitness industry, which in its expansion takes advantage of the visibility generated by such events. With that in mind, the objective of this research was to analyze alternative business models in the fitness industry so as to contribute to its expansion. The alternative model selected was CrossFit, which international growth positions it as the unconventional fitness option of greatest expression, although it is not well known in Brazil.
Esta pesquisa está contextualizada no cenário nacional atual: o Brasil passa por um momento singular que culminará em dois eventos esportivos de repercussão mundial: a Copa do Mundo de Futebol em 2014 e as Olimpíadas em 2016. Estes eventos geram impactos nas mais diversas áreas, inclusive na indústria de fitness que, em sua expansão, aproveita a visibilidade gerada por tais acontecimentos. Tendo isto em vista, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi analisar modelos alternativos de atuação no setor de fitness de maneira a contribuir para sua expansão. O modelo alternativo selecionado foi o CrossFit, cujo crescimento internacional o posiciona como a opção de fitness não convencional de maior expressão, ainda que pouco conhecido no Brasil.

Den här studien har undersökt vilken betydelse långvariga relationer har för samarbetsformerna mellan eventföretag och leverantörer i evenemangsprojekt. Studien utförde semistrukturerade intervjuer med eventföretag för att få en djupare förståelse. Sex framgångsrika eventföretag intervjuades, företagen hade antingen blivit nominerade eller vunnit branschtävlingen Gyllene Hjulet. För att skaffa sig en förståelse av vilken betydelse långvariga relationer har för samarbetsformerna har teorier om samarbete utgjort grunden för den teoretiska referensramen. Samarbetsformerna undersöktes med de fem samarbetsvariablerna: avsikt, symmetri av fördelar, interaktion, engagemang och förtroende. Teorier om projektlivscykeln och långvariga relationer förekommer också i den teoretiska referensramen. De fem samarbetsvariablerna undersöktes i projektlivscykelns faser; förstudie, planering och avslut för att undersöka samarbetet innan och efter genomförandefasen i evenemangsprojekt. Teorierna om långvariga relationer är i huvudsak till för att redogöra längden och fördelarna med att ha en långvarig relation. Studien kom slutligen fram till att de långvariga relationerna påverkar samarbetsformerna genom att arbetsprocessen blir effektiviserad och kvalitén på leveransen blir högre. Resultatet innebär att långvariga relationer har en positiv påverkan på samarbetsformerna och det gynnar både eventföretagen och leverantörerna.
This study has examined what significance a long-lasting relationship has for the forms of collaboration between Swedish event companies and suppliers in event projects. This study executed semi-structured interviews with event companies to accomplish a deeper understanding. Six successful event companies were interviewed, the companies had either been nominated or won the industry competition called Gyllene Hjulet. To acquire an understanding of the significance of a long-lasting relationship for the form of collaboration, theories about collaboration were included as the foundation for the theoretical frame of reference. The form of collaboration was analysed with the five collaboration variables: intention, symmetry of benefits, interaction, engagement, and trust. Theories about the project life cycle and long-lasting relationships are also included in the study’s theoretical frame of reference. The five collaboration variables are investigated through the phases in the project life cycle: initiation, planning and closure with the intention to study collaboration before and after the execution phase of the event projects. Theories about long-lasting relationships are mainly applied to define the length of the relationship, as well as what are its benefits. The study finally concluded that the long-lasting relationships affect the forms of collaboration by making the work process more efficient and the quality of the delivery higher. The result investigates that long-lasting relationships have a positive impact on the forms of collaboration, and it benefits both the event companies and the suppliers. Disclaimer this study is written in Swedish.

The thesis focuses on the analysis of the impact of the inflation uncertainty on the reinsurance pricing, particularly on its measures of risk. Vector autoregression models are used to predict the medium-term inflation and simulate different inflation paths. The consideration of various scenarios of future inflation captured by the stochastic modelling increases the value at risk (VaR) and the tail value of risk (TVaR) of mean ceded loss to the reinsurer. The thesis founds that the inflation uncertainty measured by the stochastic inflation matters and it is important from risk management and hedging perspectives. As a result, additional loadings could be added to the price for the mitigation of the inflation risk. Although the effect of stochasticity of the future inflation is not significant on mean loss, it is the case for the risk of measures, especially for the contracts with high retention relatively to the underlying exposure. JEL Classification F12, F21, F23, H25, H71, H87 Keywords reinsurance pricing, inflation forecasting, inflation risk, long-tail line of business Title Macroeconomic Uncertainty: An Exogenous Risk in Reinsurance Pricing

碩士
臺灣大學
高階公共管理組
98
Digital projection has been extensively used for the companies, education institutions, and home theaters. The projector lamp is the key component but also a highly priced consumable parts. Currently, there are more than 3000 different models of projectors in the market. The emergence of its uniqueness and lock-in design from the manufacturing to the sales contributes to the various specification requirements in consumption, as a result, the formation of the supply chain –Long Tail Effect. The new business model is attributed to the creativity and strategies to create more opportunities in the market. The global demand for the projector is as many as 7M in 2010. It continues to grow in 10% to 15% yearly. The demand for the lamps is at double-digit growth yearly as well. The identification of manufacturing structure and any restrictions of projector and its lamp through “Five Force Model” analysis is encouraged to create the interaction platform between suppliers and customers, thus to pursue the convenience of customers for one-off consumption. The innovation and creativity are encouraged by leveraging the blue ocean framework strategy and ERRC structure to accomplish the objectives in creating the real innovative value. Streamlining all these strategies and analysis by Arclite Optronics Corporation has demonstrated the great success to the new business with solid foundation. Its sound and solid business performance is demonstrated with a number of financial indicators, such that breakeven was achieved in 36 months after the establishment of the company, and EPS of 3.58 and 40% of ROE on 2009, allowing the initial Public Offering (IPO), in addition, it is also in a process of a listed company in the stock market. Incorporating with long-tail effect and Blue Ocean Strategy for operational model is the key of success to those industries with high consumption rate, for instance, projector lamps, toners, battery, vehicle bulb, filter and so on. Additionally, this also preserves the environmental resources in usage by extending the lifetime of equipments with reasonable price and optimizing the consumption rate.

碩士
國立臺灣大學
國際企業管理組
95
Since 1996 Taiwan’s telecommunications market has been fully liberalized. The mobile communications business, which is vigorously developing for the past ten years and was regulated under the ‘light touch’ principle, has become the most successful model of the national telecommunication policy. With keen competition among 2G and 3G operators and number portability service, the mobile industry in Taiwan has been saturated and stepped into the “Little Profit Age”. Most mobile operators are seeking new models of service and expanding existing services, so as to achieve a win-win goal between service providers and users. To enable the resources adequately to be used in a high productive sector, the “80/20 Law” is usually adopted in conventional business. But based on the “Long Tail” found by Chris Anderson, the “80/20 Law” would probably be modified under the circumstances of Internet development and low cost of searching ways. He found that non-mainstream products can compete with the mainstream ones only if the big channels exist. The revenue of international roaming business is not as high as other sectors of telecommunications business; however, we found that the international roaming business meets the curve of Long Tail. After analyzing the three forces of forming a long-tail market, we discovered that international roaming itself is a virtual e-commerce to provide pure digital products for users and its marginal cost of inventory and marketing is nearly zero. In addition, the outbound or inbound roamers can easily use the roaming services through recommendation and searching machines under the structure of international interconnection and bilateral agreements. Besides, we also found that international roaming meets all nine principles of establishing a long-tail business that Anderson indicated. To confront the challenge of network industries, we cannot make a decision under the thinking of “economics of scarcity” by way of ‘segmentation, target and position’ to predict the result; in the contrary, we can use the “economics of abundance” to make everything available for consumers and help them find it. In that way, the business can earn the maximum benefit and long-lasting development.

碩士
國立高雄第一科技大學
風險管理與保險所
97
In the highly competitive environment, the advantage of Insurance Industry is based on the ability to train, to maintain and to use the talents. Therefore, the motivation of said research is to study the training program of insurance sales persons and to realize the professional abilities for this career. The primary purpose of said research is to figure out necessary personalities of insurance sales persons in Taiwan, and to promote Insurance Industries’ competitiveness by assisting training suitable personnel. As well said research is trying to provide training references for Insurance Industry by examining the difference between sales persons from various backgrounds about training programs and principles of endurance management in this industry.

碩士
逢甲大學
風險管理與保險研究所
99
Taiwan is in a stage of accelerated aging. There is increasing demand for elderly people’s retirement medical care and for patients’ life guarantee during their sickness period. Taiwan’s insurance coverage includes pension insurance and retirement pension, which can make up for economic shortage in retirement. Meanwhile, health insurance can make up for the deficiency in medical expenses compensation provided by national health insurance. Buying long-term care insurance can help secure a long-term care during sickness in older age. The research purpose of this issue is combine long-term care insurance and health care institutions. Following the research motivation making the care of aging population transfer from family to long-term care institutions, giving aging population have a quality life. Life Insurance Company use Cross-industry alliance method to structure long-term care insurance. As a result the insured that purchase long-term care insurance get more added values. Life insurance companies have formed cross-industry alliance to begin planning and promoting long-term care insurance in a hope to provide value-added services to policy holders. Life insurance companies, as the first-hand gatekeeper to take responsibility for policy holders, cooperate with prestigious care institutions to screen good care institution for policy holders.

The long-term care institutions provide both health and social care services, which help patients with dependencies perform their activities of daily life. Additionally, these institutions provide treatment, rehabilitation, and clinical supervision to the patients. With the aging population, chronic diseases, and dementia increasing, the demand for this type of care is expected to increase. Under this context, the principal aim of this research is to analyse if there is an association between the patients’ perceptions of the overall perceived service quality of the long-term care institution in study and the health-related quality of life of the patients. For that, it was used a questionnaire composed by 3 sections (relating to the personal characteristics; the assessment of health-related quality of life by QALYs through EQ-5D-3L; and the assessment of perceived service quality by SERVPERF and additional dimension and items) that was administered to 35 patients in two different moments (initial and approximately 30 days after). The statistical procedures used for data analysis were: descriptive statistics, multiple linear regression, hypothesis testing, and correlation coefficients. The findings suggest that the tools used are both reliable, and that in fact there is no association between the overall perceived service quality and the health-related quality of life in this long-term care institution. In general, the personal and service characteristics do not influence neither the perceived service quality or the healthrelated quality of life. This study presents some limitations, so the results cannot be generalized.
As instituições de cuidados continuados prestam serviços de cuidados de saúde e apoio social, que ajudam os pacientes com dependências a realizar as suas atividades diárias. Além disso, estas instituições oferecem tratamento, reabilitação e supervisão clínica aos pacientes. Com o aumento do envelhecimento da população, das doenças crónicas e de demência, é esperado que a procura por este tipo de serviços também aumente. Assim, o principal objetivo deste estudo é analisar a existência ou não de uma associação entre a qualidade de vida dos pacientes e a sua perceção da qualidade do serviço da instituição de cuidados continuados em estudo. Para tal foi utilizado um questionário composto por 3 secções (referentes às características pessoais; à avaliação da qualidade de vida pelos QALYs através do EQ-5D-3L; e à avaliação da perceção da qualidade do serviço através do SERVPERF mais uma dimensão e dois itens adicionais) que foi aplicado a 35 pacientes em dois momentos diferentes (inicial e aproximadamente 30 dias depois). Os procedimentos estatísticos utilizados para análise dos dados foram: estatística descritiva, regressão linear múltipla, teste de hipóteses e coeficientes de correlação. Os resultados sugerem que as ferramentas utilizadas apresentam consistência interna e que, de fato, não há associação entre a perceção da qualidade do serviço e a qualidade de vida dos pacientes. Em geral, as características pessoais e as características do serviço não influenciam, nem a qualidade do serviço percebido, nem a qualidade de vida dos pacientes. Este estudo apresenta algumas limitações, logo os resultados não podem ser generalizados.

The thesis explores the factors affecting the availability and utilization of work-life balance programs in Canadian workplaces and how employee involvement and participation programs can help employees balance their work and life. The introductory chapter provides background information on the importance of balancing work and life. It outlines chapters two, three, and four and reveals the overarching theme that unites them. Chapter Two explores how business strategy affects the availability of work-life balance programs. This chapter uses the 2003 and 2004 Canadian Workplace and Employee Survey to demonstrate that product leadership business strategy is positively related to the likelihood of adopting work-life balance programs (i.e. employee assistance programs, fitness and recreation centers). Cost leadership strategy is shown to be negatively correlated to the adoption of these programs. This study also finds that high performance work systems mediate the relationship between business strategy and employer responsiveness to work-life balance issues. Chapter Three investigates how a company’s family-friendly culture affects the likelihood of an employee’s use of parental leave. Using a national representative and linked employer and employee survey, this study finds that a long-hour organizational culture, which is revealed through managers’ work hours, discourages new parents from taking parental leave. This study also finds that when managers work long hours, it has a greater negative effect on the probability of male employees taking parental leave than female employees. Chapter Four discusses how participation in decision making (PDM) can help employees balance the demands from work and life. Using Karasek’s (1979) job demand-job control model, this study finds that PDM can reduce work-life conflict, but the reduction only works for employees who work long hours. For those employees who work short hours, PDM increases their work-life conflict. Chapter Five summarizes the empirical results. Implications for employers, labour unions, and policy makers are discussed.

São inegáveis as alterações a que a sociedade tem sido sujeita, sobretudo nos últimos anos. Estamos constantemente a ser bombardeados com novas informações veiculadas através das tecnologias digitais. A teoria defendida há instantes começa imediatamente a ser posta em causa devido ao impacto das transformações introduzidas na nossa sociedade por uma nova geração de tecnologia informática social - Web 2.0. Estas mudanças permitem que as pessoas partilhem informação, colaborem em projetos e construam comunidades virtuais sem que, para tal, encontrem qualquer tipo de limite, seja temporal ou espacial. O contexto empresarial não está alheio a estes impactos e alterações. O presente trabalho de projeto pretende demonstrar os resultados da investigação levada a cabo sobre o eLearning em contexto empresarial numa Grande Empresa Nacional (GEN), denominada ao longo deste trabalho de projeto de Inov@r, pois por questões éticas o seu nome não pode ser divulgado. Foram exibidos, para tal, referenciais e fundamentos sobre o tema com base no estudo de caso desenvolvido até à atualidade e que tiveram por base o conceito e o âmbito da Supervisão Pedagógica e do Modelo Pedagógico Virtual da Universidade Aberta que apresenta um modelo de eLearning consolidado com caraterísticas de fácil integração e adaptação ao eLearning tradicional utilizado neste contexto empresarial específico. O principal objetivo deste trabalho de projeto passa por destacar as caraterísticas, a estrutura e a forma de aplicação do eLearning colaborativo e cooperativo passíveis de serem utilizados em contexto empresarial. Acredita-se, portanto, que a partir das propostas apresentadas, estão criadas as condições para que, no contexto empresarial, a formação contínua online seja cada vez mais uma realidade utilizando um modelo de eLearning colaborativo, cooperativo e interativo, capaz de motivar e facilitar a adaptação do indivíduo num mercado de trabalho que se sente mais exigente. Tendo por base a investigação previamente realizada pela equipa de investigadores da Universidade Aberta, pretendeu-se (re)desenhar a estrutura didático-pedagógica do curso de formação contínua “Atendimento ao Cliente” ministrado na empresa de acordo com os pressupostos do Modelo Pedagógico Virtual desta mesma universidade. Os resultados apurados permitiram perceber que é fundamental intervir em toda a estrutura pedagógica vigente de forma a dar mais autonomia ao eFormando, sem descurar a presença do eFormador e do eSupervisor. O grande desafio está em conseguir efetuar as alterações necessárias sem que isso intervenha na missão, nos objetivos e nos valores da empresa garantindo, assim, o sucesso e a competitividade da mesma.
Our society has been subjected to changes, especially in recent years, which are undeniable. We are constantly being bombarded with new information guided by modern technologies. Because of the impact of transformations that are introduced in our society by a new generation of socially informed technology, recent theories are on trial. These changes allow people to share information, collaborate in projects and build up virtual communities within which they do not find any type of limits, neither in time nor in space. Business contexts are not immune to these types of impact and changes. With our current project we intend to show the results of the investigation conducted via eLearning within a business context inside a home big company, denominated throughout this work project as Inov@r. References and arguments are based on the case study developed till now on the concept and scope of Pedagogical Supervision and on the Virtual Pedagogical Model of the Open University, which presents a consolidated eLearning model with features that are easy to integrate in and adapt by traditional eLearning features used within this specific business context. This project’s principal aim is to highlight characteristics, structure and applicative form of collaborative and cooperative eLearning that can be used within a business context. Therefore, we believe that conditions have been set, so that within a business context online learning will always be a reality via a model of collaborative, interactive eLearning capable to motivate and facilitate the individual’s adaptation to a global increasingly demanding job market. Based on previously research carried out by the researcher team from the Open University, our intention is to (re)design the didactic-pedagogical structure of the "Customer Service" course, taught by the company, according to the assumptions of the Virtual Pedagogical Model of this same University. The results allowed us to realize that it is fundamental to intervene in all pedagogical structures used by the company in order to give more autonomy to the Student, without neglecting neither the Teacher nor the eSupervisor. The greatest challenge is to be able to make the necessary changes without interfering with the company's mission, objectives and values, thus guaranteeing its success and competitiveness.