http://hdl.handle.net/10468/1122 Sun, 29 Oct 2017 22:54:11 GMT 2017-10-29T22:54:11Z http://hdl.handle.net/10468/4850 Privacy by Design: Informed consent and Internet of Things for smart health O'Connor, Yvonne; Rowan, Wendy; Lynch, Laura; Heavin, Ciara Check: I accept the terms and conditions and privacy policy statements associated with this technological artefact! The informed consent process is becoming more of a challenge with the emergence of Internet of Things (IoT) as data may be collected without the digital health citizen being aware. It is argued in this paper that the first phase for universal usability of IoT within the smart health domain is to ensure that digital health citizens (i.e. user of technology) are fully aware of what they are consenting to when they register an account with such technological artefacts. This point is further reinforced by the proposed ‘Privacy by Design’ requirements associated with the forthcoming General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This paper proposes some practical approaches which should be considered when designing and developing IoT for data collection and data sharing within the health domain. Tue, 19 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10468/4850 2017-09-19T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10468/4028 Merger arbitrage in Germany McDermott, Ian; Mulcahy, Mark This paper analyses the risk and return characteristics from a merger arbitrage trading strategy in Germany for the first time. The extant literature focuses mainly on data sets from Anglo-American based jurisdictions with mixed results. We argue that because in Germany i) acquisition laws bias consideration toward cash bids thereby decreasing the uncertainty of announced transactions (versus share offers) and ii) the Aufsichstrat (supervisory board with employee participation) has corporate governance oversight over any proposed merger such that only bids tacitly approved by it are likely to be announced in the first instance, a merger arbitrage trading strategy in a German setting will have different risk and return characteristics. To estimate the significance of merger arbitrage returns we construct a realistic measure of risk arbitrage which factors in transaction costs and other practical limitations encountered by arbitrageurs employing this strategy. We also construct two additional portfolios, an equally-weighted portfolio and a value weighted portfolio, for comparison purposes. The results show that the practical risk arbitrage manager portfolio fails to outperform on a risk-adjusted basis indicating that insofar as the German setting yields benefits in the form of lower risk, these are properly priced by the market. Thu, 01 Jun 2017 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10468/4028 2017-06-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10468/4077 What is the cost of faith? An empirical investigation of Islamic purification Hutchinson, Mark C.; Mulcahy, Mark; O'Brien, John Based on the Qur'anic prohibition against interest (riba), this paper quantifies the true cost of purification for the first time. The extant literature focuses on the performance of various Islamic portfolios but the returns of these funds are pre-purification. This is a significant oversight given that, for some scholars, the entire permissibility of the industry rests on purification. By comparing the impact on returns of three purification methodologies we show that purification adversely and statistically significantly impacts portfolio returns and that the choice of purification methodology also matters. Our results are robust to alternative portfolio construction methodologies and standardised tax rates. The implications are that purification is not a trivial matter for compliant Muslim investors — comprehensive shari'ah compliance has a significant faith and financial implications for compliant Muslim investors such that it could be argued that, by ignoring the impact of purification on returns, the findings of the extant literature are incomplete. Sun, 28 May 2017 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10468/4077 2017-05-28T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10468/4711 An empirical investigation into the use of Lean Six Sigma in a complex, resource constrained environment Healy, Joseph O. This dissertation examines the use Lean Six Sigma (LSS) in a Complex Resource Constrained Environment. In particular, three distinct research topics are analysed: the impact on Stakeholder Theory and LSS when operating in an environment where customer needs are not the most salient; the impact on LSS when operating in a complex environment and; the impact on LSS when operating in a resource constrained environment. The research findings show that customer needs will only be fully satisfied by LSS project outcomes where customer needs are more salient that that of other stakeholders. The findings also show that in a complex environment there is a role for the use of both simpler, useful and familiar LSS tools and techniques as well as more complex and advanced tools and techniques. The research classifies these tools and techniques and identifies the tools and techniques used in a LSS project aimed at implementing a financial system. A project roadmap in this regard is also provided. The research shows the role of tools and techniques associated with the Implement and Control phases when utilising a Design for Lean Six Sigma (DfLSS) approach. It highlights three key enablers for successful deployment in such projects; a structured approach, good communication and a clear customer focus. The research shows the appropriateness of Public Service organisations deploying LSS. The findings show that resource constraints affect the execution of LSS projects and impact on LSS Project outcomes. LSS practitioners must employ upfront, open and honest communication to set expectations. In addition, the findings show that in resource constrained environments, practitioners should focus on achieving the best LSS outcomes given the resource constraints. The research also contributes to the expansion of the Theory of Constraints into the Public Sector in the context of the execution of a LSS project. Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10468/4711 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z