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The present thesis aims to give an overview on alternative forms of work and the current coworker in regard to gender, age, profession, and motivation to work in a coworking space. The growing number of coworking spaces available to an increasing number of workers explains and justifies the analysis of a current inventory. The economic and social changes influence the way people work. Younger generations and university graduates, in particular, are disproportionately engaged in non-standard employment relationships. This development in connection with the detachment of work and workplace opens up possibilities of alternative forms of work. Coworking spaces are only one example resulting from this change but will be the focus of this thesis.
The following research question is being asked: Coworkers, who are they and how are they using this alternative form of work? To answer the research question, a quantitative survey was conducted which addressed current coworking members.
The results showed that coworking spaces are mainly used by young academics who work as freelancers or self-employees. Coworking spaces constitute an alternative to home-office for various professional groups. Thereby, the alternative form of work is preferred over traditional offices. Considering the increasing number of atypical employment relationships, mobile workers, and coworking spaces it is most likely that these spaces will gain in importance and will impact the world of work in the future.
This thesis as well as the survey results are interesting for coworking space owners, for companies, and for politicians.
This thesis analyzes the stock prices of German companies during the Covid-19 pandemic. The first part of the thesis concentrates on the theoretical background on stock prices, their value, and how investors make an investment decision, which is all covered by academic literature. In the second part of this thesis, the author answers the question, whether investors experienced herding behavior on the German stock market during the Covid-19 pandemic, by conducting multiple empirical tests. Here, the methodology uses daily closing prices and cross-sectional absolute deviations to conduct regression models, which test specifically for herding behavior. The results imply that investors did not significantly herd around the market during the observation period from 1st June 2019 to 31st May 2021. Due to the never-before-experienced global health crisis, analysts and investors faced great uncertainty. They focused more on private information, because the opinions of others changed rapidly, just like the surroundings during the pandemic. This paper provides key insights about investors herding behavior during the last two years in Germany.
This paper examines the short-term effects of tax inversion announcements on inverting firms´ share prices, and thereby analyses the value creation of inversion activities. For the analysis, the paper looks at a sample of 41 inverted U.S. firms during the time period of 1994 to 2015. To quantify the stock returns related to inversion announcements, event study method has been implemented. Using the parametric t-test, the paper finds evidence indicating that the announcements of tax inversions have a significant negative impact on firm value with -4.8%. 16 out of 41 investigated firms show value changing effects associated with inversions. The highest impact on stock prices are captured directly on the announcement day. Furthermore, the performance of pharmaceutical and Irish incorporated deals indicate positive market reactions with 7.30% and 5.9% respectively.
Analysis and Economic Development Initiatives for Chilean Cities Facing Dictatorship Consequences
(2022)
Studies on the empirical validation of beta-return relationship postulated in the CAPM has a relatively long history. The first study was conducted by John Lintner in 1965, shortly after the introduction of the model. In one of the recent studies, Malcolm Baker (forthcoming) examines two portfolios, one consisting of the 30% of U.S. stocks with the lowest beta, another of the 30% with the highest beta. By the end of the period, the low-beta portfolio significantly outperforms the high-beta portfolio (Economist, 2016).
Following two recognized testing methods developed by Lintner (1965) and Fama/MacBeth (1973), this bachelor thesis examines the nature of the relationship between beta and return for the German stock market. The sample periods observed in this study range from January 1973 to May 2016 depending on the testing method. The obtained results are then compared with the outcome of the previous studies for the European stock market. The analysis reveals that the relationship between beta and return is insignificant in most of the models. These results are consistent with the European stock market, if the unconditional cross-sectional analysis is considered.
The paper under consideration focuses on the network approach to internationalization. According to it, the choice of a country to which a firm internationalizes as well as the market entry mode are influenced by bilateral relations, i.e. firm’s networks. The aim of the given thesis is to explore the influence of bilateral relations on the internationalization process of the selected enterprises in the wind power industry.
As to the methodological framework, in line with the aim of the research paper under consideration the deductive approach has been applied. In order to answer the research questions and to meet the research objectives, the author decided to use the multiple-case study holistic design method, i.e. the research spreads over three world’s largest enterprises in wind power industry and focuses on every case in its totality.
The empirical part proves that bilateral relations do influence the internationalization path of the selected enterprises. Additionally, due to the fact that wind turbine producers under study are conglomerates, they are characterized by a relatively higher degree of resources commitment than non-conglomerate companies.
This thesis carries out an analysis of initiatives set forth by Mauricio Macri, president of Argentina, in an attempt to rebuild the nation’s economy and to strengthen its competitive position in a global perspective. Key findings indicate that Macri inherited a challenging economic environment from his predecessor Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. Her protectionist policies and import restrictions have weakened Argentina’s position in the globalized world. Hence, Macri faces a serious challenge of boosting growth and employment and at the same time lowering inflation and guaranteeing the citizens’ welfare.
In response to the ailing economy, Macri has implemented a vast amount of policies trying to revitalize the country’s economic standing. He removed trade barriers and eased foreign exchange controls, he ended the publication of falsified economic data, he cut costly subsidies to reduce the fiscal deficit, he negotiated a successful agreement with holdout creditors and restored Argentina’s access to capital markets. By doing so, he sent a signal to the world that Argentina is back on the global stage and open for business.
Notwithstanding Macri’s efforts to repair the damaged economy, he has faced a storm of criticism and a sharp decrease in his approval ratings. Foremost, because his reforms are seemingly leading Argentina’s economy down the wrong path. However, the results reveal, that Argentina’s recovery from its recent recession is beginning and that the economy is seen to rebound in 2017.
The subject of this bachelor thesis is the increasing number of brand cooperations in the luxury fashion industry with the simultaneous increase in Generation Z customers. This thesis aims to discover why and to what extent luxury fashion companies must adapt their marketing measures to reach this new generation of luxury buyers. In ad- dition, the question is to be answered whether brand cooperation can be used as an ideal marketing instrument to address Generation Z. To be able to answer these ques- tions detailed literature research will first be conducted to subsequently confirm, refute or supplement the findings by conducting a qualitative study in the form of expert interviews.
Product placement relates to the purposeful integration of promotional content into a non-commercial context. It has become a very common practice during the last two decades. In search of alternative means to protrude in times of advertising bombardment, commercial clutter and sensual consumer overload with traditional advertising, marketers have assigned increasing awareness to non-traditional means of communication like product placement. This tool has enabled marketers to hybridize entertainment with advertising, a perfect condition to subtly convey product plug via a mainstream media like a movie to the unsuspecting and unbiased viewer who might possibly soon be transformed into a loyal consumer.
Can product placement trigger this transformation? The phenomenon product
placement seems to have immense potential available, a reason to analyze product placement in this thesis. The paper provides the reader with the conceptual foundations and theories to grasp product placement and aims at pointing out its five major possible advertising effects on the consumer which are attention, emotions and motivation, attitudes, perception and processing as well as learning.
Furthermore, it seeks to examine the relationship between the instrument and possible changes of consumers’ purchase intentions.
This research paper provides a combination of theoretical and empirical examinations of the available frameworks and actual practices in the field of city branding. Two interrelated topics are considered: firstly, what the city branding frameworks, characteristics, and stages are, and, secondly, how the current branding strategies of Sofia compare with them.
The study uses a sequential qualitative multi-method design that incorporates secondary data analysis and two rounds of semi-structured interviews. This was achieved by analyzing 3 case studies, as well as collecting primary data from 6 expert participants from 6 organizations.
The interviews and case study analysis confirmed the general framework structure suggested in literature but pointed out a few particular stages that require specific attention. The crucial role of research, the essentiality of the brand characteristics of authenticity, coherence and continuity, the significance of the branding organizational setup, and the power of the brand related city development, emerged as the most important elements of building a coherent city brand image and identity.
Sofia’s branding endeavors were found to be in accordance with the general framework but barely in its research stage. Even though past branding efforts and organizations might not be considered successful, the current structure and plans are promising. Nevertheless, the stages beyond the brand definition are not yet clearly planned and structured. A recommendation for Sofia derived from the results of this research would be to set an even more specific long-term plan for the branding implementation, as well as the rigorous adherence of all efforts to the three abovementioned branding characteristics.
Business Model 2.0 - Developing a KPI-Based Business Model Approach for Early-Stage Start-ups
(2019)
This bachelor thesis deals with the topic “Business Strategies in Argentina: a Pharmaceuti-cal Industry Analysis” and carries out a qualitative analysis of the influence of location factors on business strategies. The aim is to answer how location-specific factors of the Argentinian macro- and industry environment have influenced business strategies of phar-maceutical firms in the country and whether a change in location factors also results in a change of business strategies. A closer look has been taken on the period after the Argen-tine crisis of 2001/02 until 2015.
Key findings are that protectionist policies of Kirchnerism have strongly influenced busi-ness strategies of pharmaceutical firms and hence their performance in the country.
There has been a shift towards a stronger performance of local firms over multinationals while more than 60% of the market has been dominated by national firms in 2010. The Generic Law of 2002 has led to many copies in the industry especially performed by na-tional firms copying from MNEs. The industry has further become more important on im-ports while import restrictions imposed by Cristina Fernández de Kirchner have triggered a disinvestment strategy of MNEs and a relocation of their activity to other countries favour-ing national firms. The business environment is highly complex and dynamic in Argentina and requires a constant assessment of external changes and the competition by pharmaceu-tical firms in the country.
However, a strategic consistency and implementation is still missing among the industry and firms have to better define their strategies in the market. The recent governmental change towards a more neo-liberal government leaves more space for an ongoing analysis of how new business environmental conditions will affect pharmaceutical firms in the coming years and whether there might be a return of MNEs to the country.
Introduction – The purpose of this study is to answer the following research question: how may B2B event marketing change and develop in a post-pandemic world? The objectives presented are two: find an answer on how B2B events may change once the virus will be eradicated and provide efficient guidelines to B2B companies that have adopted events as a main strategy.
Literature review – From the experiential economy term coined by Pine and Gilmore to the new technologies released in the B2B event industry; this chapter focuses on the evolution of experiential marketing, in particular on the rise of B2B events.
Methods – A two-case comparative case study was employed as the primary method of in- vestigation: two B2B events in two different settings (in-person versus virtual) will be taken into consideration. The research tools adopted are expert interview and the content analysis on secondary research.
Results – One final key learning has been discovered after the analysis of the two events: there are certain aspects in face-to-face events that cannot be replaced in a virtual setting and there are some virtual aspects that can enhance greatly the in-person event format. Discussion – The discussion of the results will help the researcher to fulfil the two objec- tives of this paper. Expectations and limitations of the research will also be outlined. Conclusion – The achievement of this research has been succeeded fully.
Keywords of the research: B2B events, experiential marketing, virtual, face-to-face, co- rona virus
Cash, Less Cash and Cash-less: An Analysis of the Preferred Payment Methods in Germany and Sweden
(2019)
This paper focuses on the preferred payment methods in Sweden and in Germany. The current trends will be explored to find out which differences there are in regards to this matter and why. A cross-country analysis is made considering the costs, safety, and other important features of cash versus non-cash payment methods. Sweden is considered a country that is using less and less cash, almost on the way to becoming a cashless society. Germany on the other hand has stayed loyal to their Euro-banknotes and coins, with it being the most popular method at point-of-sales transactions. This is due to their different social norms, which have been shaped by their countries’ histories.
Is Germany going to follow in Sweden’s footsteps and turn away from cash?
No, not any time soon.
The following bachelor thesis discusses and analyzes the People’s Republic of China's growing interest in investing in Africa. China has used the opportunity of foreign direct investment to strengthen its economy and grow its influence abroad. The main focus of this thesis is to assess China’s direct investments in the Republic of Cameroon and the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s private sectors and the impact that it has on the two respective countries. The purpose of this study is to explore Chinese investor’s engagement in Africa, specifically in Cameroon and Nigeria. The goal is to analyze the effect Chinese foreign direct investment has on the selected countries and to determine whether the existing Sino-African relationship is a modern form of imperialism or a productive partnership. Through a cross method between a meta-analysis and a case study, the thesis will examine whether Chinese engagement in Africa is a win-win situation for all countries involved. The comparison of different China-funded projects in Cameroon and Nigeria makes it clear that trade deals with China have prospered the economies of both respective countries and created a win-win situation rather than a modern form of imperialism.
The study examines the relationship between team development stages, team coaching and managerial coaching and its effect on the employees and team alignment. Previous researched has shown the influence of team development stages on the team growth and understanding of their identity role in the team. The understanding of the coaching process helps to recognize the outcome and the role of the coaching on the one hand the individual and on the other hand the team as a whole. Two case studies regarding the outcomes of team coaching clarified the issue with the indi-vidual in the organization and the business environment. The important contribution of this thesis is to highlight the affect and the mixture of team development, team coaching and managerial coaching on the team align-ment. Many research before showed the impact of team alignment to the success of the company or the organization. This thesis hypothesized that team coaching, managerial coaching and team development stages they all together play a role in the alignment of the team and increase the or-ganization success. A qualitative approach was pursed with experts inter-view in order to use their explicit and implicit knowledge. As predicted, the findings from the research revealed the influence of the three elements on the team alignment and the organizational success. The paper concluded that team coaching, managerial coaching and team development all to-gether are a powerful tool to create team alignment in the organization and influence the organization success.
Comparative analysis of the sustainability of centralized and decentralized transportation networks
(2020)
Consumer behaviour changed with the emergence of the Internet. Thereupon, companies are facing new challenges as well as opportunities in terms of online marketing. While it became more difficult for firms to analyse the importance of each channel during a customer-online-journey, mastering this process on the other hand, provides the opportunity of reducing advertisement costs by targeting the appropriate customer segments. Hence, this research analyses the difficulty, which marketers face in regard to research shoppers and the perceived importance by consumers of the channels used in a customer-online-journey. Moreover, this research investigates in the influence of demographic consumer characteristics and purchase involvement on consumers’ online channel choice. The findings do not support the existence of research shoppers, since the significant majority of the consumers make the purchase through the same channel, which they have used during their information search. The hypotheses, which analyse the correlation between consumers’ demographic characteristics as well as purchase involvement and consumers’ channel choice are only partially accepted. Age reveals a significant correlation with online channel preference relating to e-mail and direct search. Further, gender indicates a significant correlation with channel preference regarding social media. The latter, as well as search engine indicate a significant difference in the perceived relevance by consumers, who show different purchase involvement. The findings of the research contribute to the literature by answering a research gap on consumers’ online channel choice. Marketers benefit from the implications drawn by the findings in order to conduct online segmentation.
The following Bachelor Thesis is firstly concerned with the topic of short selling and the impact it has on a company and its 's stock price while presenting its ability to help market liquidity, price discovery, and price efficiency. To present the twofold of the matter, this paper aims to portray short selling as a risk management tool by diversifying a company's portfolio and identifying the risks for the market. In the fourth chapter, democratizing finance is described, particularly the access to trading platforms, and the potential risk on market efficiency is analysed in depth. These matters then intersect in the following chapters by considering the intentions the retail investors had to increase their holdings in a failing company and then posing the question of whether the short position held by institutional investors was reasonable and sophisticated. This paper finds evidence that the majority of new retail investors entering the capital market belong to Generation Y (1981-1995) and Generation Z (after 1995). Furthermore, there are implications for believing that the easy access and zero-commission trading contribute to the surge in the market, thus concluding that the democratization of finance enables more non- professional traders to participate in the capital market.
Referencing the Financial Crisis of 2008, the paper's objective is also to find a direct tie between the impact on those affected and the participation in the 2021 collective investment in Gamestop. This paper, however, did not find any self-sustaining evidence that the Financial Crisis of 2008 was their [retail investors] primary motive to invest. Lastly, there is an analysis of the potential developments in the financial market due to more market participants and the potential market manipulation.
Some of the major challenges which leaders are facing nowadays are an increasing degree of digitalization as well as managing workforce diversity. Recently, a new type of leadership, digital leadership, has emerged but a uniform definition and the specific competencies required have not yet been established. Hence, the main purpose of this thesis was to identify the competencies and leadership styles that are expected from leaders in times of a multigenerational workforce in the digital age. Moreover, the thesis analyzed the perceived impact of digitalization and the importance of digital leadership competencies for subordinates. In particular, the existence of generational differences with regards to leadership and digitalization were examined. Prior studies have explored the topic of digital leadership from a corporate perspective by focusing on insights from higher level managers and executives. However, this thesis took a new approach by using a quantitative survey among members of the general workforce ranging from Baby Boomers to Generation Z. The results showed that transformational leadership is the most suitable leadership style in times of digital transformation and multiple generations in the workforce. Leaders who support personal development, possess strong communication and networking skills, and accept mistakes are the most valued today. Regarding digital competencies, leaders are expected to show openness towards new trends, effectively use digital tools, and implement the company's digitalization strategy. Although the study provided evidence for a few generational differences with regards to leadership and digitalization, the effect sizes were rather small. In addition, the study has shown that independent of age all members of the workforce acknowledge the impact of digitalization on private and professional life and therefore desire a leader with strong digital leadership competencies. The thesis contributes to the growing body of literature on digital leadership and allows managers to better understand the diverse needs and expectations of a multigenerational workforce. In addition, the findings can also serve as a basis for leadership development programs and recruitment processes.