Two Cities, Curious Minds: Graduate Research at Three Universities
Designed as a friendly competition among the Telfer School of Management (University of Ottawa), Sprott School of Business (Carleton University), and the Department of Administrative Sciences (UQO), this event will provide a unique opportunity for students to feature an aspect of their research that is innovative from the perspective of business transformation – all the while competing for up to $6500 in cash prizes!
Date: Wednesday, September 25, 2019
Time: 2:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.
Location: Telfer School of Management, Desmarais Building, room DMS 12102
International Corporations, Human Rights, and a New Workforce
By Lidiane Cunha
International corporations have great economic power and along with that, far-reaching impact on labor conditions and human rights protections in the countries in which they operate. Despite the existence of universally adopted guidelines on human rights by the United Nations, policies and decisions relating to human rights are left to the discretion of corporate leaders. Unfortunately, competition and short-term financial concerns can lead organizations to ignore unethical practices.
Such unethical practices however do not resonate with the strong moral values of Millennials, a generation that will account for 50% of the workforce by 2020. Through charitable interests and engagement with the community, Millennials may constitute a powerful force of change from within.
What’s this research project about?
Magda Donia, an Associate Professor at the University of Ottawa's Telfer School of Management will address fundamental questions regarding consistency of organizational actions with international human rights norms as outlined by the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Leading an interdisciplinary team of international collaborators, she has been awarded a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Insight Development Grant.
Who will gain from this research?
Professor Donia’s research program aims to advance knowledge in the area of business and human rights from the employee and organizational perspectives:
“Our findings will benefit organizations, their employees, as well as the societies in which they operate. Given the discretionary nature of the UN Guiding Principles on human rights, an understanding of ensuing employee workplace outcomes may provide a compelling incentive for organizational compliance, one that makes moral as well as financial sense.”
The Telfer School of Management is committed to developing cutting-edge research in a variety of topics in management. As our faculty continues fostering research excellence, the Telfer School community and partners also benefit from valuable insights with impact.
Learn more about the SSHRC Insight Development Program.
Supporting the Backbone of Canada’s Economy: SME Growth and Financing Programs
The driving force of Canada’s Economy
Small and medium sized businesses (SME) make up over 99% of the Canadian economy, employing more than 10 million individuals in Canada, or almost 90% of the total private labor force. Supporting the growth of SMEs is therefore critical for the country’s economic prosperity. The government and financial institutions have developed programs to lend capital to new entrepreneurs so their businesses can continue growing and creating jobs.
However, researchers still lack a comprehensive understanding of how SMEs develop from growth intention to realization. They similarly do not know about the impact of financing programs on this trajectory. What happens to young and growth-oriented SMEs that cannot access financing?
What’s this research project about?
Who will gain from this research?
This research program will be among the first studies to look at the impact of entrepreneurs’ inaccessibility to financing on the growth of their businesses. As the researcher will also examine policy interventions that facilitate access to financing for SMEs, Professor Nitani’s findings will be of great value to policy makers. Ultimately, she hopes her findings will support programs that contribute to more active business creation and growth in Canada and elsewhere.
The Telfer School of Management is committed to developing cutting-edge research in a variety of topics in management. As our faculty continues fostering research excellence, the Telfer School community and partners also benefit from valuable insights with impact. Over the next weeks, we will give an overview of the five research projects that received the prestigious SSHRC Insight grant in 2019.
The Impact of Fossil Fuel Divestment Movement on the Global Financial Industry
A worldwide movement against fossil fuel investments
The "fossil fuel divestment" movement is one of the fasted growing campaigns fighting against climate change. Through this global movement, activists pressure investors to sell off assets from fossil fuel related companies and, in some cases, to invest those assets into carbon-neutral and renewable energy companies.
To date, over 1000 institutions worth almost $ 8 trillion dollars have committed to diverting from fossil fuel, coal, and gas companies. However, researchers know very little about how divestment campaigns operate and how they frame climate change. More importantly, how do divestment campaigns pressure the global financial industry into shifting investments away from fossil fuel industries towards renewable energy organizations?
What’s this research project about?
Who will gain from this research?
Professor Himick’s team will build a comprehensive database and make it available to researchers and the community. Her project can guide everyone involved in this tipping point for the global financial industry.
“Our insights will support members of divestment movements in developing more effective strategies that better address the interests of targeted investors. Similarly, if we can better understand the role that divestment movements play, this knowledge can guide asset holders and investors in their investment decisions,” concludes Professor Himick.
The Telfer School of Management is committed to developing cutting-edge research in a variety of topics in management. As our faculty continues fostering research excellence, the Telfer School community and partners also benefit from valuable insights with impact. Over the next weeks, we will give an overview of the five research projects that received the prestigious SSHRC Insight grant in 2019.
A More Comprehensive Way to Track Hedge Fund Risks
Measuring hedge fund risks
When stock market exchanges and other traditional forms of investments underperform in the market, investors look for portfolio diversification, lower risk, and steady returns on stock investments. A popular alternative is investing in hedge funds such as pension funds, banks, and universities' endowment funds.
How we measure and monitor the risks associated with hedge funds is crucial for the stability of the financial market. However, the current statistical measures are inappropriate especially because they do not take into account the dynamics of risk during financial crises. Finance researchers believe that more comprehensive measures are needed to better track hedge fund risks.
What’s this research project about?
Who will gain from this research?
Insights gained from Professor Racicot’s research will contribute to the academic debate about hedge fund risks. As his novel model will measure and track risks associated with hedge funds and the tail risks of other financial institutions, his project will also benefit central banks and policy-makers who need to develop strategies to maintain the stability of the financial market.
The Telfer School of Management is committed to developing cutting-edge research in a variety of topics in management. As our faculty continues fostering research excellence, the Telfer School community and partners also benefit from valuable insights with impact. Over the next weeks, we will give an overview of the five research projects that received the prestigious SSHRC Insight grant in 2019.
