Corporate Social Responsibility and Firm Performances: bridging innovation and financial outcomes to stakeholder theory

This thesis aims to investigate if and how the attention towards stakeholder groups affects ability and strategy of firms and corporates on innovation and performances. The framework of the Stakeholder Theory is assumed as reference for the origin and concept of Corporate Social Responsibility. On this basis, specific attention is dedicated to empirical studies on a database created by the research group at the University of Genoa in cooperation with the Italian Ministry of Economic Development. The data of the firms are analysed by means of clustering techniques and bivariate probit model Results offer implications from both theoretical and practical points of views. In particular, the links between practices in Corporate Social Responsibility and corporate innovation are empirically confirmed and economically addressed, also putting into evidence how commitment in Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives increase the probability to innovate in product and in process. The results outlined in the thesis show that a holistic approach towards Corporate Social Responsibility is the key factor in order to the achieve effective performance of innovation and to foster product and process innovations. Firms are expected to implement Corporate Social Responsibility practices in all Corporate Social Responsibility areas, without neglecting any stakeholder and, in the ideal situation, the innovation outcomes and the firm performances results closely linked to the ability of firms to anticipate and meet the stakeholder needs. Finally, beside the insights to corporate strategies, the thesis offers a methodology to support banks in the calculation of default probability of firms by exploiting the positive inter-linkage between Corporate Social Responsibility and finance and risk. Based on Basel Standards and including fields monitored through Corporate Social Responsibility indicators, the proposed approach allows understanding of corporates\u2019 capabilities to create value and demonstrate low risk of claims, fines and default

Improving energy modeling of large building stock through the development of archetype buildings

12th Conference of International Building Performance Simulation Associatio

Building Typology Brochure - Italy. Fascicolo sulla Tipologia Edilizia Italiana

Si illustra la struttura della tipologia edilizia nazionale sviluppata nell'ambito del progetto europeo TABULA, con particolare riferimento alla definizione degli edifici-tipo per la zona climatica compresa tra 2100 a 3000 gradi-giorno, che rappresenta il 52% dei comuni italiani. Sono inoltre presentati i dati relativi alla tipologia costruttiva e impiantistica italiana. Una sezione specifica del libro, organizzata sottoforma di schede illustrative, è dedicata all'analisi energetica degli edifici-tipo, con l'indicazione del risparmio energetico conseguibile a seguito di interventi di riqualificazione sull'involucro edilizio e sull'impianto termic

Monitoring and Benchmarking in Telecom Fixed-line Switching Plants

A set of all electric telecommunication fixed-line switching plants were monitored in order to analyze the energy use for telecommunication equipment and air conditioning system. Indeed these energy systems need a great deal of energy; air conditioning get to 30-40 % of the total energy use. The aim of the study was to apply tools for energy management and to define strategies aimed at making these systems more energy efficient. With the aim of simulating the typical energy behavior of the system and identifying the opportunity for energy savings measures, a numerical model was carried out . The mathematical relationship among the measured data was obtained by means of statistical analysis. The energy consumptions were linked to the main influencing factors. The study shows that such mathematical model accurately reproduce the energy behavior of the switching plants. In addition, indexes to track the performances of HVAC and electrical systems and energy management tools are applied and propose