scholarly journals Determining the embeddedness of sustainability claims in strategising: A comparative study of the ALSI 40 companies

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Pretorius ◽  
C. Le Roux
Keyword(s):  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Comprehensive Evaluation ◽  
Evaluation Process ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Measurement Tool ◽  
Point Scale ◽  
Strategy Formulation ◽  
Specific Element ◽  
Compliance Requirements ◽  
A Company

Purpose: To determine the level of sustainability embeddedness in strategising by investigating the public and external communication of companies. Problem investigated: The extent to which sustainability is embedded in the elements of strategy formulation and implementation (and not merely surface-level statements and claims) Design: The researchers designed a measurement tool and scale, the Strategising for Sustainability Index (SSI), based on researched elements of strategising and recent literature on the topic of sustainability and strategy integration. Merit for strategising for sustainability was given to a company on the basis of its fulfilling the relevant criteria. The JSE Top 40 listed companies on the All Share Index as of March 2011 were selected as a purposive sample. Each company's data and each element of the scorecard were judged on a Likert-type five-point scale, with higher scores indicating higher levels of embeddedness in the strategy. A comprehensive evaluation sheet was used to judge the presented data individually and independently for each element of the scorecard instrument. Findings: Ten elements were found relevant and represented: compliance (2 elements); strategy formulation (4 elements); and strategy implementation (4 elements). The findings show wide variation in overall scores. Almost all companies satisfied the compliance requirements but variations were observed in both formulation and implementation embeddedness. The SSI tool has discrimination value despite a relatively complex judging process. The proposed SSI measurement challenges other determinants of sustainability performance, as it incorporates embeddedness of sustainability in strategising. Knowing the level of this could guide management towards directing resources away from 'over-invested' strengths related to sustainability. Considering the scores for the different elements of the instrument would help to prioritise the 'sustainability spend'. Furthermore, the SSI tool directs attention to how sustainability is incorporated in the strategising process. Originality and Value : The measure of the level of embeddedness of sustainability in strategising has not been done before. This study addresses the possible 'window-dressing' claims surrounding sustainability and highlights those companies who have successfully demonstrated that sustainability is not just for reputation purposes and is, in fact, part of their operating as a listed company. Conclusion : Firstly, it was possible to use the SSI framework and the evaluation process and apply it to the sustainability reporting and claims for each firm. Secondly, each element could be judged on the unique scale for the specific element. The SSI measurement tool can be used to describe the level of strategising embeddedness. The SSI tool's framework is based on input of literature and on the foundation of strategic principles. The 5-point scale on the SSI tool serves to describe the achievement of a company for each element. The sustainability claims of these companies varied in embeddedness in the process of strategising. The score is lower for the formulation elements, raising the question of whether some projects are possibly implemented ad hoc to score points, without being necessarily formulated as part of strategy

An Analytical Study On Financial Planning And Strategy Formulation

2019 ◽  
Vol 118 (9) ◽  
pp. 28-34
Author(s):  
Dr P. Govindasamy ◽  
Dr.H. Premraj
Keyword(s):  
Financial Planning ◽  
Product Line ◽  
Financial Forecasting ◽  
Strategy Formulation ◽  
Wealth Maximization ◽  
Corporate Growth ◽  
Financial Plan ◽  
New Business ◽  
Future Income ◽  
A Company

Financial Planning and Forecasting is the estimation of value of a variable or set of variables at some future point. A Financial forecasting exercise is usually carried out in order to provide an aid to decision – making and planning of any line of business for future developments. This paper focuses insurance segments and tailored all the key areas of attention are such as assets, liabilities, marketing, human resources, expenditures, digitalization and technology inclusion, etc., all in one term called as wealth maximization. Financial planning and forecasting represents a blueprint of what a firm proposes to do in the future. So, naturally planning over such horizon tends to be fairly in aggregative terms. We need to focus on common elements which include economic assumptions, target forecast, proforma statements, asset requirements and the mode of financing the investments and so on. A financial plan can also be an investment plan, which allocates savings to various assets or projects expected to produce future income, such as a new business or product line, shares in an existing business. Financial forecast and financial plan can also refer to an annual projection of income and expenses for a company, division or department. This can also be an estimation of cash needs and a decision on how to raise the funds, such as through borrowing or issuing additional shares in a company. Forecasting is also used by outsiders to value companies and their securities. This is the aggregative perspective of the whole firm, rather than looking at individual projects. Growth is a key theme behind financial forecasting, so growth should not be the underlying goal of corporation – creating shareholder value is enabled through corporate growth.

Performance and Scalability Assessment for Non-Certificate-Based Public Key Management in VANETs

2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pei-Yuan Shen ◽  
Maolin Tang ◽  
Vicky Liu ◽  
William Caelli
Keyword(s):  
Key Management ◽  
Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Comprehensive Evaluation ◽  
Public Key ◽  
Secure Messaging ◽  
Evaluation Of Performance ◽  
Management Regime ◽  
Verification Process ◽  
Hoc Networks

Current research in secure messaging for Vehicular Ad hoc Networks (VANETs) focuses on employing a digital certificate-based Public Key Cryptosystem (PKC) to support security. However, the security overhead of such a scheme creates a transmission delay and introduces a time-consuming verification process to VANET communications. This paper proposes a non-certificate-based public key management for VANETs. A comprehensive evaluation of performance and scalability of the proposed public key management regime is presented, which is compared with a certificate-based PKC by employing a number of quantified analyses and simulations. In this paper, the authors demonstrate that the proposal can maintain security and assert that it can improve overall performance and scalability at a lower cost, compared with certificate-based PKC. The proposed scheme adds a new dimension to key management and verification services for VANETs.

Kurzweil Reading Machine: Evaluation of Model One

1978 ◽  
Vol 72 (10) ◽  
pp. 415-418
Author(s):  
Lawrence A. Scadden
Keyword(s):  
Comprehensive Evaluation ◽  
Evaluation Process ◽  
Tactile Display ◽  
Final Report ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Reading Material ◽  
Stage Of Development ◽  
Early Fall ◽  
Blind Individuals ◽  
Evaluation Project

In summary, the evaluation of the KRM has demonstrated that this approach and this specific machine can permit immediate access to printed material by most blind individuals. The greatest limitation at this stage of development is related to the confidence level that many users have placed in the ability of the machine to read various kinds of reading material. This factor has limited the use of the machine as an aid to employment of blind people. It is believed that many of the problems identified in the evaluation process can be overcome with further research and development of the KRM. The evaluation of the KRM by blind and sighted individuals throughout the country has led to the unanimous conclusion that further investigations with improved models of the KRM are warranted. The software in the existing models should be improved to eliminate some of the problems identified above. Hardware changes should be made to eliminate other identified problems. The concern regarding the lack of use of the KRM by employed blind individuals residing close to existing machines probably cannot be alleviated until reading machines of this kind can be located within the actual employment situation. Blind individuals are not willing, nor should they be, to travel to where machines are located in order to read work related materials. Other alternatives, including sighted readers, can be utilized within a work setting. This conclusion suggests the necessity of reaching the point at which speech-output reading machines can be affordable by individuals. Postscript: Since the completion of this evaluation project and the submission of the final report to the supporting governmental agency and to the manufacturer, KCP announced plans for Model Three of the KRM, a desk-top unit. The design includes most of the recommendations suggested in this report such as a hand-scanning option, a small tactile display to assist in format recognition, automatic contrast control with manual override capability, and a spell-next-letter feature. In addition, KCP announced several innovative features. The new model will permit the improved speech synthesizer to speak at rates up to 250 words per minute. Model Three will also have the capability of attaching to a braille embosser to provide direct print to braille conversion. The unit can also be attached to a computer to provide immediate full vocabulary output for computers. A new program is being developed to be used with all KRM's to permit the reading machines to be used as high-powered, programmable, scientific calculators. The new models and programs are scheduled for distribution in early fall 1978. Comprehensive evaluation of these advances is planned.

scholarly journals Accountability on Sustainability in Central and Eastern Europe: An Empirical Assessment of Sustainability-Related Assurance

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 27-52
Author(s):  
Oleh Pasko ◽  
Inna Balla ◽  
Inna Levytska ◽  
Nataliia Semenyshena
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Multinational Enterprises ◽  
Central And Eastern Europe ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Provider Type ◽  
Accountability Standards ◽  
Coding Rules ◽  
A Company ◽  
Big Four

The paper explores how companies from Central and Eastern Europe adopt assurance practices to provide accountability for sustainability. Drawing on modified coding rules from prior research, a conventional content analysis of 36 assurance statements companies from nine countries was conducted. The results imply differences in the content of reports, processes, and implementation of the standards. Exclusively large and multinational enterprises from the energy sectors domiciled in Poland and Hungary are a typical portrait of a company from the study’s sample, striving to issue and assure sustainability reporting. Of the nine countries represented in the study, sustainability assurance statements of companies from Poland, Hungary, and Romania tend to excel in terms of quality. The vast majority of assurance providers belong to the Big Four, who use ISAE3000 as opposed to AA1100AS. Yet, irrespective of the assurance provider type, stakeholders are neglected. It is argued that just transferring the experience of financial auditing to the field of sustainability, which, by and large, has taken place, is not an option. Authors state that following this route, we are heading in the wrong direction, and in technical terms, the wider proliferation of AA1100AS and its principles, with greater emphasis on reasonable assurance as opposed to the limited and enhanced role of stakeholders, are vital to get back on track. The paper contributes to the emerging literature on accountability standards and stresses the need to enhance sustainability-related assurance.

Research on Comprehensive Evaluation of Service Capability of the Third-Party Logistics Suppliers with AHP and Gray Entropy Theory

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Li ◽  
Xuhua Pan ◽  
Mingxiao Li ◽  
Gang Wang ◽  
Zhixin Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Evaluation System ◽  
Evaluation Method ◽  
Comprehensive Evaluation ◽  
Evaluation Model ◽  
Evaluation Process ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Third Party Logistics ◽  
Comprehensive Service ◽  
Service Capability ◽  
Capability Evaluation

To solve the problem of third-party logistics (3PL) evaluation and selection, a hybrid method with AHP and gray theory is proposed. First, the literature review about the 3PL evaluation method and technology is introduced. Furthermore, TPL comprehensive service capability evaluation system is established from aspects of service, time, cost and enterprise qualification. Besides, a comprehensive evaluation model process with gray entropy and AHP is introduced. Finally, a detailed evaluation process of 3PL supplier service capability in F company is introduced by an example, and the results show that the evaluation method in the paper is helpful to choose the TPL for logistics outsourcing.

scholarly journals Developing and implementing communications strategies: A descriptive model

1988 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-32
Author(s):  
Loma A. Hill ◽  
A. A. Archer
Keyword(s):  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Effective Communication ◽  
Communication Barriers ◽  
Corporate Image ◽  
Issues Management ◽  
Power Bases ◽  
Media Planning ◽  
Corporate Goals ◽  
A Company ◽  
Communications Strategies

The world-wide environment, but particularly the South African environment today has created a growing need for businesses to communicate effectively with their stakeholders. The number of stakeholders interacting with companies has burgeoned, their demands have become greater and the need for change is critical. As these pressures increase, the need for companies to communicate effectively will grow. In South Africa the possibility for misunderstanding is compounded by communication barriers such as the socio-political system, diversity of cultures and languages, as well as the many different levels of education. In an environment such as this the need for effective communication is so great that a company can clearly no longer rely on ad hoc, reactive communications to facilitate the achievement of corporate goals. In order to ensure effective communication a company needs to have an overall communications strategy which has its roots in corporate goals and strategies. Developing and implementing communications strategies involves many complex considerations such as the identification and analysis of stakeholders and their power bases, issues management, corporate image and culture, crisis communications planning, media planning and dealing with communication barriers. This article provides a suggested framework for integrating these and other considerations into the development and implementation of communications strategies.

scholarly journals Reconfigurability Evaluation of Multifunctional Intelligent Boom Sprayer Based on Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Luqiang Ma ◽  
Youlin Xu ◽  
Jiaqiang Zheng ◽  
Xiang Dai
Keyword(s):  
Analytic Hierarchy Process ◽  
Comprehensive Evaluation ◽  
Evaluation Process ◽  
Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation ◽  
Analytic Hierarchy ◽  
Evaluation Result ◽  
Validity Test ◽  
Good Evaluation ◽  
Product Function ◽  
Hierarchy Process

Multifunctional intelligent boom sprayer is a development direction of boom sprayers, and it could satisfy needs of precision and variable spraying and achieve aims of sustainable development of pesticide spraying, ecological protection, and efficient plant protection by reconfiguring its structures. Therefore, the evaluation of multifunctional intelligent boom sprayer reconfigurability has a role in improving product reconfigurability while reducing product function redundancy and production costs and reducing product function redundancy and production cost. In order to comprehensively evaluate the reconfigurability of a multifunctional intelligent boom sprayer, this paper established an evaluation index system and realized the evaluation process by using fuzzy comprehensive evaluation, analytic hierarchy process, and validity test. The evaluation result would avail to directly and effectively guide product optimization and upgrade process in accordance with quantitatively analyzed evaluation indexes of intelligent boom sprayer reconfigurability by using mathematical methods such as analytic hierarchy process and validity test in evaluation process. The index system was formed from six components, which were key design information, quality, cost, efficiency, intelligence, and operational capability. Index weights were calculated by the analytic hierarchy process. Finally, a multifunctional shiftable boom intelligent sprayer was evaluated for product reconfigurability improvements by using the evaluation method. Reconfigurability evaluation result of the multifunctional shiftable boom intelligent sprayer belonged to "good" evaluation interval by the calculation of formulas. There was further room to improve product reconfigurability, as the membership degree in the “good” evaluation interval was below 0.5. The study could provide a scientific basis for improving the reconfigurability, technical performance, and operation quality of products in intelligent boom sprayer design. In addition, it may be possible to decrease the arbitrary nature of subjective design factors and support economic and ecological goals when businesses upgrade products.

Comprehensive Evaluation System and Elements for Hydrocarbon Traps

2014 ◽  
Vol 962-965 ◽  
pp. 112-116
Author(s):  
Guo Min Chen ◽  
Quan Wen Liu
Keyword(s):  
Evaluation System ◽  
Evaluation Method ◽  
Comprehensive Evaluation ◽  
Evaluation Process ◽  
Evaluation Theory ◽  
Hydrocarbon Trap ◽  
Hydrocarbon Traps ◽  
Precision Trap ◽  
Comprehensive Evaluation System ◽  
Main Components

The hydrocarbon trap evaluation is theoretical guidance for the practical exploration of hydrocarbon traps, the present complicated exploration targets requires the conclusion of hydrocarbon trap evaluation more scientific and reliable so as to adapt to the requirement of high frequency, high precision trap exploration. With the guidance of system theory and modern scientific evaluation theory, modern hydrocarbon traps evaluation has already become a system engineering, which obviously characterized by the comprehensive evaluation, quantitative evaluation and comprehensive decision. In this paper the comprehensive evaluation system for hydrocarbon traps has been established, it indicated that the comprehensive evaluation tends to be a whole procedure which involves such aspects including evaluation contents, data, methods, techniques, and evaluation process specifically, so its main components includes: evaluation object characteristics, theoretical guidance, evaluation contents, methods, techniques, and database establishment. Furthermore, it emphasize closely on the analysis of the exploration objects, focus on the comprehensive geological research, supported by scientific exploration and thinking and computer technology, considered evaluation method and technology research as the key contents, and finally enable to provide reference for the modern hydrocarbon trap exploration when it appear to become increasingly complicated and subtle.

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