Tensions in corporate social responsibility in Finnish small and medium sized enterprises

Abstract. This thesis studies the tensions owner-managers of Finnish SMEs face when engaging in CSR activities, as well as how those tensions are experienced and managed by the owner-managers. It takes a paradox approach to tensions, as it understands that tensions are innate to CSR and consist of competing goals between the dimensions of CSR — economic, environmental and social. The study aims to open up the understanding of paradoxical tensions in CSR and their influence on the management of SMEs. The thesis begins with a literature review of the CSR concept, introducing its chameleon nature and historical changes. The concept is then further specified to fit the Finnish and SME context, before moving to introducing tensions in CSR and their management. The thesis uses a qualitative approach and the data was gathered by interviewing owner-managers of five Finnish SMEs. As CSR is becoming critical for many companies and they find ways to integrate CSR to their businesses, it’s evident that they will also growingly face tensions in their CSR engagement. The findings of this study provide information in the different levels, change and context that paradoxical tensions manifest in as well as between the traditional CSR dimensions. The findings suggest that Finnish SMEs face tensions between the individual goals of owner-managers and the company’s or industry’s goals or requirements. Paradoxical tension further manifest in the changes that take place to introduce more responsible practices, as well as between the long-term goals and short-term needs. To manage tensions, the results suggest that SMEs integrate CSR to their core operations in order to act responsible and not to use CSR as an additional entity to maximise profits. Integration is utilised to strive for a balance between the competing goals of CSR. The study demonstrates that Finnish SMEs mainly use proactive strategies to manage paradoxical tensions where a balance is not possible, which reduce or prevent the occurrence of tensions. Contrastingly, some owner-managers are reluctant to acknowledge the tensions due to their impact to the core business, thus denying or justifying the tensions by moving it to a level that satisfies different stakeholders and shareholders. In this way, they convince themselves and others that as the company operates on a responsible basis, no tensions arise. The results further emphasise the usage of formal measurements, reporting or certificates to demonstrate CSR engagement, going against the previous understanding of SMEs informal CSR activities

Radiation and Potential Barriers of a 5D Black String Solution

By using a massless scalar field we examine the effect of an extra dimension on black hole radiation. Because the equations are coupled, we find that the structure of the fifth dimension (as for membrane and induced-matter theory) affects the nature of the radiation observed in four-dimensional spacetime. In the case of the Schwarzschild-de Sitter solution embedded in a Randall-Sundrum brane model, the extension of the black hole along the fifth dimension looks like a black string. Then it is shown that, on the brane, the potential barrier surrounding the black hole has a quantized as well as a continuous spectrum. In principle, Hawking radiation may thus provide a probe for higher dimensions.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication on MPL

The Real Scalar Field Equation for Nariai Black Hole in the 5D Schwarzschild-de Sitter Black String Space

The Nariai black hole, whose two horizons are lying close to each other, is an extreme and important case in the research of black hole. In this paper we study the evolution of a massless scalar field scattered around in 5D Schwarzschild-de Sitter black string space. Using the method shown by Brevik and Simonsen (2001) we solve the scalar field equation as a boundary value problem, where real boundary condition is employed. Then with convenient replacement of the 5D continuous potential by square barrier, the reflection and transmission coefficients ($R, T$) are obtained. At last, we also compare the coefficients with usual 4D counterpart.Comment: 10 pages,6 figures.To appear in Int. J. Mod. Phys.

Time variable cosmological constant of holographic origin with interaction in Brans-Dicke theory

Time variable cosmological constant (TVCC) of holographic origin with interaction in Brans-Dicke theory is discussed in this paper. We investigate some characters for this model, and show the evolutions of deceleration parameter and equation of state (EOS) for dark energy. It is shown that in this scenario an accelerating universe can be obtained and the evolution of EOS for dark energy can cross over the boundary of phantom divide. In addition, a geometrical diagnostic method, jerk parameter is applied to this model to distinguish it with cosmological constant.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figure

Experimentação de genótipos de trigo para duplo propósito no Paraná, em 1999.

Introdução; Material e métodos; Resultados e discussão; Matéria verde; Matéria seca; Rendimento de grãos; Ciclo e altura; Características agronômicas.bitstream/item/157857/1/FL-07263.pd

Resultados da experimentação de genótipos de trigo para aptidão a duplo propósito no Paraná, em 2000.

bitstream/item/84114/1/CNPT-BOL.-PESQ.-6-01.pd