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An assurance calculation is a Bayesian alternative to a power calculation. One may be performed to aid the planning of a clinical trial, specifically setting the sample size or to support decisions about whether or not to perform a study. Immuno‐oncology is a rapidly evolving area in the development of anticancer drugs. A common phenomenon that arises in trials of such drugs is one of delayed treatment effects, that is, there is a delay in the separation of the survival curves. To calculate assurance for a trial in which a delayed treatment effect is likely to be present, uncertainty about key parameters needs to be considered. If uncertainty is not considered, the number of patients recruited may not be enough to ensure we have adequate statistical power to detect a clinically relevant treatment effect and the risk of an unsuccessful trial is increased. We present a new elicitation technique for when a delayed treatment effect is likely and show how to compute assurance using these elicited prior distributions. We provide an example to illustrate how this can be used in practice and develop open‐source software to implement our methods. Our methodology has the potential to improve the success rate and efficiency of Phase III trials in immuno‐oncology and for other treatments where a delayed treatment effect is expected to occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates how various service quality dimensions affect customer satisfaction in commercial banks across Nepal. The objective of this study is to examine the impact of key service quality dimensions (responsiveness, empathy, assurance, communication, and overall service quality) on customer satisfaction in commercial banks in Nepal. A survey-based quantitative approach was employed, collecting data from 399 customers in Nepal. The study utilizes multiple linear regression analysis and hypothesis testing to determine the relationship between these factors and customer satisfaction. The results indicate that communication, assurance, and service quality positively influence customer satisfaction, with a moderate mean score of 2.317949 out of 5 and moderate variability (SD = 0.479612). These three factors are key contributors, accounting for 41.5% of the variation in satisfaction, whereas empathy and responsiveness have weaker or insignificant impacts. The study concludes that enhancing communication and service quality is crucial for improving customer satisfaction, which is essential for sustainable growth in Nepal’s financial sector.

Purpose: In recent times, stakeholders have called on corporate organizations especially those charged with governance to embrace full disclosure on non-financial issues, especially sustainability reporting. Based on this premise, this study aims to examine the influence of corporate board and assurance on sustainability reporting practices (SRP) of selected 80 firms from 8 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Design/methodology/approach: To measure the corporate board, the authors use both board variables and audit committee variables. Also, the authors adapted the sustainability score model as used by previous authors in the field of sustainability disclosure to measure SRPs. The analysis was done using both ordered logistic regression and probit regression models. Findings: The results show that the combination of board corporate and assurance has a positive and significant impact on the sustainability reporting practice of selected firms in sub-Saharan Africa. Practical implications: The study places emphasis on the need for strong collaboration between the corporate board and external assurance in evaluating and enhancing the quality of sustainability disclosure. Originality/value: The study bridged the gap in the literature in the area of corporate board, assurance and SRP of corporate firms which has received little attention within sub-Saharan Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The paper analyses the challenges and potential benefits that stem from the relationship between an auditing firm and the companies engaged in mandatory sustainability reporting from the companyʼs point of view. Methodology/approach: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of Polish companies that engage in mandatory non-financial disclosure. Findings: The evidence collected through the interviews suggests that cooperation with an auditing company that goes beyond the minimum normative requirements brings benefits to the reporting company while also improving the non-financial reporting process, as well as the companyʼs awareness. This is particularly true for companies that started their non-financial reporting experience when it was not mandatory, as they were able to gradually adopt and grasp the related potential benefits. Research limitations/implications: A significant limitation is that the research was conducted on a small sample. To draw broader conclusions, the sample should be expanded to include additional companies. Originality/value: The paper provides empirical evidence on the relationship and cooperation between companies and auditors in the field of non-financial reporting, focusing on the conditions that enable the potential benefits of this relationship to materialize. Such relationships can be essential drivers that foster a sustainability culture within companies.

Early in 1 John, the author portrays authentic Christian living as involving honest and ongoing acknowledgment of one’s sins, God’s forgiveness of the same, and the cleansing from all unrighteousness (1:8-9). However, later in the same letter, while seeking to distinguish his opponents from those who were the true children of God, he says: ‘No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him’ (3:6); and ‘those who have been born of God do not sin, because God’s seed abides in them; they cannot sin, because they have been born of God.’ (3:9). These latter statements stand in tension with his earlier statement which says that anyone claiming to be without sin is a liar. In one place he rejects sinless perfection, in the other he appears to assume it. In this article these apparently contradictory statements are examined and a possible resolution of the tension existing between them is suggested.

Le marché des assurances a été libéralisé en RD Congo depuis l’an 2015, après une longue période de monopole de la SONAS. C’est ainsi que le Code des assurances a été élaboré depuis cette année pour être promulgué à 2016 conduisant à la création de l’Autorité de Régulation et de Contrôle des Assurances (ARCA, en sigle), structure chargée de la régulation et du contrôle de toutes les entreprises d’assurance. Devenues nombreuses sur le marché, nous nous intéressés à l’analyse des mécanismes de gouvernance mis en place par deux entreprises d’assurances, l’une publique (la SONAS) et l’autre privée (le Groupe ACTIVA Assurances RDC SA), afin de comprendre leur impact sur la performance desdites entreprises. L’examen de la situation présente une bonne mise en pratique des mécanismes de gouvernance au sein du Groupe ACTIVA Assurances RDC SA qui place la satisfaction des clients au premier plan. Ceci fait que le groupe réalise une bonne performance durant trois années étudiées, soit de 2019 à 2021, avec tous les indicateurs positifs. Son chiffre d’affaires a connu une croissance de 205,74% à 2020 et de 38,12% à 2021. De l’autre côté, la SONAS fait face à une mauvaise application des mécanismes de gouvernance et connait des résultats négatifs pendant toute la période. Son chiffre d’affaires a d’ailleurs diminué de -5,49% à 2020 pour se ressaisir à 2021 avec une croissance de 24,54%.

Copyright of Informacion Comercial Espanola Revista de Economia is the property of S.G.E.E.I.P.C., Secretaria de Estado de Comercio, Ministerio de Industria, Comercio y Turismo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Zeszyty Teoretyczne Rachunkowości is the property of Stowarzyszenie Ksiegowych w Polsce Rada Naukowa and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The global supply chain is a complex system of systems made up of and relying on other complex systems of systems (SoS) to achieve its goals. To take a typical example, Enterprise A is supplied essential parts on a regular basis to manufacture its products. To place the order requires global financial systems, integrated email systems, the internet, multiple telecommunications systems, and supply software provided by large companies. To deliver the parts may require air and maritime transportation systems, the rail network, interstate highway systems, road haulage companies, state and local transportation systems and so forth. When any of these complex systems fail, the impact can be global, and the results catastrophic. Recent examples include the shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during the COVID pandemic, computer chip shortages delaying the assembly and sales of cars, and, most recently, the baby formula shortage. These were due to disruptions in the supply chain caused by an overreliance on single sourced suppliers who failed to deliver, transportation disruptions, outsourcing of critical parts, supplies, medicines to distant countries, and/or an overreliance on "Just In Time" for inventory management. This is the case of placing too many eggs in too few baskets, and often just one basket. Counterfeit or substandard parts and products can enter the supply chain via graft, breaks in chain of custody, or carelessness. This has included critical mechanical parts on aircraft, chips containing spyware, and substandard or out of date medicines substituted for the real thing resulting in serious illness and death. This complex SoS needs to be examined, studied, and understood in the same way as a mission critical system; threats, vulnerabilities, and risks need to be identified and mitigated and assurance cases defined to ensure a solid and reliable supply chain. This paper will look at the supply chain of an example factory system to determine how some of these problems can be predicted, prevented, mitigated, and solved using the UAF, RAAML and assurance case techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INCOSE's Systems Engineering Vision 2035 sets a goal that security will be as foundational a perspective in systems design as system performance and safety are today. Such a design needs to be inherently secure (i.e., eliminate hazards, susceptibilities, and vulnerabilities to the extent possible and control the remaining ones are, while still enabling the system to meet performance requirements) and provide a basis for necessary security functionality. This paper discusses a principled approach and concepts for creating such a design. Activities for secure design across multiple MITRE sponsors and work programs with desired outcomes to the Vision 2035 goal inform. These activities include community outreach through workshops and public review of publications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Water & Landscape (WAL) / Agua & Territorio (AYT) is the property of Editorial de la Universidad de Jaen and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This research focuses on the dynamic landscape of today’s competitive market, where production management must meet clients’ expectations for high-quality products and shorter lead times while managing internal disruptions due to inevitable defects and unpredictable equipment failures. Achieving these operational goals without compromising product quality, missing deadlines, or experiencing production disruptions is essential for minimizing operational expenses. The study examines the dynamics of the system’s operating costs through the development of models, mathematical formulations, optimization techniques, and algorithm proposals. It demonstrates the system’s convexity and establishes the optimal batch time for implementing the proposed methodologies. The research results show relevant failure costs of 3.51 %, overtime added costs of 4.57 %, outsourcing setup costs of 0.73 %, outsourcing variable costs of 41.82 %, quality-related costs of 2.98 %, in-house variable costs of 40.42 %, and in-house holding costs of 3.55 %. The study develops strategies for optimal overtime use to meet production targets without excessive labor costs and provides a structured framework for making informed outsourcing decisions that balance cost savings with quality and reliability considerations. Overall, the research provides a robust framework for reducing operational costs while maintaining or improving the quality and reliability of manufacturing processes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study whether and how the monitoring quality of the board of directors is associated with the choice of providers of assurance for sustainability disclosures. We also examine whether this relation depends on companies' economic, legal, and social environment. In an international empirical study considering five categories of assurance providers, we find that key board attributes, including board size, frequency of board meetings, CEO separation, proportion of women on the board, and the existence of a sustainability committee affect the type of assurance provider chosen by companies. Overall, companies with higher board monitoring quality are more likely to appoint a Big 4 assurer for their sustainability disclosures. Companies with a sustainability committee are more likely to engage an engineering firm, while firms with more board meetings are more likely to appoint an expert assurer. Moreover, we find that companies based in countries with strong environments are more likely to engage an external assurance provider, particularly a Big 4 assurer or an engineering firm. Overall, our results indicate that international sustainability disclosure assurance choices depend on corporate governance practices, as well as countries' economic, social and legal environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We review the recent literature on the assurance of Extended External Reporting published since the review published in 2021 in the Journal of International Financial Management & Accounting. Our review includes 50 articles published between 2020 and August 2023 across 30 journals ranked A*, A, or B on the Australian Business Deans Council 2022 Journal Quality List. We find that the literature continues to be dominated by positivist studies investigating the determinants and consequences of assurance. Studies on determinants examine carbon assurance, ownership, governance, and institutional themes. The consequences studies included in our review examine reporting‐related outcomes and investors' decisions. Other (qualitative) studies we reviewed examine issues such as assurance providers seeking meaning in their work and their attempts to promote assurance beyond merely a verification tool. We highlight several avenues for future research that could inform the work of standard setters and regulators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on institutional and signaling theories, this paper investigates country‐and firm‐level impact of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on the European Union (EU) companies' decision to have sustainability reporting assured prior to the implementation of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). The dataset consists of 960 companies based in the EU and covers 2020–2022. The total number of observations equals 2880. The research focuses on SDGs‐related factors influencing companies' assurance decisions such as the countries' advancement in SDGs implementation represented by SDG SCORE and companies' efforts toward the SDGs achievement captured with SDG INDEX. The data are analyzed using descriptive statistics and the fixed effects regression model for panel data. The results of the study indicate that SDGs impact companies' assurance decisions on both levels. Larger companies tend to opt for assuring their sustainability reporting more frequently, while those operating in environmentally sensitive industries display greater hesitancy in this regard. The research findings suggest adding SDGs to the wide range of factors identified in previous literature as determinants of the differences in sustainability reporting assurance. Company managers should increase their efforts to achieve the SDGs, as this might promote the use of assurance. The involvement of government agencies, national accounting and auditing associations and standard setters in the implementation of the SDGs can be useful in facilitating the transition from voluntary to mandatory implementation of assurance under the new CSRD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bayesian predictive probabilities have become a ubiquitous tool for design and monitoring of clinical trials. The typical procedure is to average predictive probabilities over the prior or posterior distributions. In this paper, we highlight the limitations of relying solely on averaging, and propose the reporting of intervals or quantiles for the predictive probabilities. These intervals formalize the intuition that uncertainty decreases with more information. We present four different applications (Phase 1 dose escalation, early stopping for futility, sample size re-estimation, and assurance/probability of success) to demonstrate the practicality and generality of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the early 1990s, tensions loomed large on the Korean Peninsula unlike the disintegration of the global confrontations and the movements to open the former Soviet socialist world brought about by the post-Cold War conflict structure. Despite the signing of the Inter-Korean Basic Agreement in 1991, the North Korean nuclear issue that emerged drove the Korean Peninsula into a crisis, and its resolution through the US-DPRK Geneva Agreement also failed to produce ultimate results. This study explores the reasons behind the strategy of assurance pursued by Washington failed under such circumstances. In particular, this research examines the aspects of both assurance and deterrence of Washington’s policy toward Pyongyang. Shedding new lights on assurance as an imperative part of successful deterrence, this study aims to provide policy implications for future policy toward North Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The overarching aim of this study is to determine how distinct climate change management practices (CMPs), ranging from the establishment of carbon targets to the adoption of renewable energy and carbon assurance, resonate in the realm of corporate reputation (CR). The study sample comprises US S&P 500 companies (2016–2018). Reputation insights are obtained from the Global RepTrak® Pulse of the Reputation Institute, and data on the adoption of various CMPs are extracted from Carbon Disclosure Project reports. Logistic regression analysis shows that the findings underscore the pivotal role of absolute carbon and renewable energy use targets in enhancing CR. However, the effects of CMPs on CR vary with carbon trading regulations and intensive sector affiliation. The main findings hold after the Heckman selection model is used as an endogeneity technique. This research offers valuable insights to corporations that seek to strategically manage their reputation amidst the challenges of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: We interviewed 30 assurance professionals in the United States regarding how and to what extent non-Big 4 firms incorporated technologies into assurance engagements during the COVID-19 pandemic. Informed by technology acceptance models, our findings show that the pandemic played an accelerator role, prompting an open attitude toward experimenting with technologies in assurance engagements. This experimentation increased perceptions of the usefulness of technology in engagement efficiency, given easier and faster evidence gathering. However, the readiness and security of clients' systems remain barriers in evidence gathering. Assurance professionals perceive technology as useful in producing better quality evidence evaluation, with usage stymied by challenges related to source data integrity, naive use of tools, and distrust of outputs limiting the extent of change in evidence evaluation. Our study indicates more modest technology gains in evidence evaluation than in evidence gathering during the pandemic due to barriers with higher stakes, often tied to assurance conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Zeszyty Teoretyczne Rachunkowości is the property of Stowarzyszenie Ksiegowych w Polsce Rada Naukowa and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The digitalization of most businesses through the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) presents a great threat to many professionals asking themselves if their skill set will still be relevant in the future. The purpose of the research was to understand if AI is ready to replace assurance, governance and risk management professionals in Southern Africa and across the globe. The author critically assessed the role of governance, assurance, and risk management professionals in business and the realities of emerging technology deduced from the author's many years of practical work as an assurance professional. The methodology applied in this study was a narrative approach as the author wanted to gather the views of the conference participants and keep the audience engaged by asking questions during the conference session. The main findings of the paper were that governance, assurance, and risk management play a critical role in business strategy as corporate governance influences investment strategic decisions. This article challenges professionals to embrace and optimise innovative technologies to remain relevant in their areas of influence and expertise. In conclusion, businesses are encouraged to be more innovative and embrace entrepreneurship during the 4th to 5th Industrial Revolution (4IR to 5IR) transformation to improve efficiencies and customer experience (Paschek et al., 2019). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainability information has become an important component of financial statement users' information needs. Over time, a mosaic of sustainability reporting standard setters and standards have emerged with users, regulators, and government creating pressure for firms to disclose ESG (environmental, social, and governance) information. Given the fragmented disclosure landscape, in 2020 the IFRS Foundation released a consultation paper proposing they create a sustainability standards board and develop a single set of standards. This study examines the expectations users, preparers, and the accounting profession have for sustainability reporting through their comment letters on topics such as the need for a single set of sustainability standards, the standards' initial subject matter, the choice of single or double materiality, and the desire for assurance on sustainability information. Our analysis documents a common desire for a single standard setter and standards. However, there is a lack of consensus and significant differences in opinions pertaining to the initial subject matter of the standards and the approach to materiality. The analysis also suggests an inverse expectations gap whereby the accounting profession is misunderstanding the level of assurance demanded by users and preparers. Subsequent Foundation actions compared to our analysis portend challenges in achieving uniformity in sustainability reporting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, I extend the use of probability of success calculations, previously developed for fixed sample size studies to group sequential designs (GSDs) both for studies planned to be analyzed by standard frequentist techniques or Bayesian approaches. The structure of GSDs lends itself to sequential learning which in turn allows us to consider how knowledge about the result of an interim analysis can influence our assessment of the study's probability of success. In this article, I build on work by Temple and Robertson who introduced the idea of conditional probability of success, an idea which I also treated in a recent monograph. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the fintech applications in the field of different bank fund transfer services for free is the Flip application. There were 59% positive comments which meant that customers felt that the Flip fintech application provided satisfaction with their use, and there were 41% negative comments that some of the obstacles experienced by users were usually related to tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, empathy and assurance. This study aims to determine the effect of the dimensions of E-service Quality on E-satisfaction. The results of the respondents who received as many as 100 respondents. Data processing using SPSS v26 software. The results of the descriptive research show 1) E-satisfaction is in the good category. 2) Tangibles are in the good category. 3) Reliability is in very good category. 4) Responsiveness is in the very good category. 5) Empathy is in the very good category. 6) Assurance is in the good category. 7) Tangibles with e-satisfaction have a very weak correlation, the determination value is 3.3% and Tangibles have no effect on e-satisfaction. 8) Reliability with e-satisfaction has a weak correlation, determination value is 8.6% and Reliability has no effect on e-satisfaction. 9) Responsiveness with e-satisfaction has a weak correlation, determination value is 10.6% and Responsiveness has no effect on e-satisfaction. 10) Respondents' empathy for e-satisfaction has a weak correlation, the determination value is 5.9% and empathy has no effect on e-satisfaction. 11) Assurance with e-satisfaction has a moderate correlation, the determination value is 16.9% and Assurance has an effect on e-satisfaction. 12) Simultaneously the e-service quality variables, namely tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, empathy, and assurance, have a positive and significant influence on e-satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Exposure Draft for Proposed International Standard on Sustainability Assurance (ISSA) 5000 has been issued by the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) because there is increasing demand by stakeholders for assurance of sustainability information. Our recommendations include: (i) a more flexible approach to ethics and quality management instead of the requirements for standards that are at least as demanding as the accounting profession's standards; (ii) more differentiation between the requirements for limited as opposed to reasonable assurance and (iii) more cautious use of the term materiality and clearer definitions of the different materiality concepts to avoid potential confusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Companies are increasingly reporting and assuring sustainability information. Once the decision to assure is made, a company must choose an assurance provider, but should the company use the same firm as its financial statement auditor or a different assurance provider? Lu, Simnett, and Zhou (2023) find that perceived independence concerns deter companies from choosing the same provider, while a provider's assurance expertise and higher levels of information integration between the financial statements and the extended external report both increase the likelihood of using the same provider. Companies using the same provider for both services benefit from higher financial statement audit quality without paying significantly higher audit fees. The findings of this research are useful for companies in deciding whether to employ their financial statement audit firm to also provide assurance of extended external reports. The findings also have implications for auditors and standard-setters/regulators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The development of airlines owned or managed by private parties today shows a fairly high development so that the level of competition to get customers is increasingly difficult. One of the strategies carried out by airline management is to provide optimal service, it is expected that those who provide flight services will meet the expectations of their customers, able to win the competition which ultimately gets maximum profit. Purpose: This study is intended to determine the results of service quality on the satisfaction of Airline clients in Tanzania, especially Precision Air Limited customers Method: The explanatory study designed the data collected using interview method of 4oo customers of Precision Air Limited, non-probability sampling procedure was used to select a sample of respondents from the target population, multiple regression analysis to answer the research objectives. Key information in the study was collected through questionnaires, interviews, and observations. Pearson correlation was carried out to assess the strength and direction of linear relationships between variables, multiple regression models at a significance level of 5% were used to determine the relationship between dimensions of service quality and customer satisfaction Results: The results in this study show that the findings spread that the five spheres of facility excellence are positively related to customer satisfaction. Relying on multiple regression results, it was found that the significance value of each independent variable was tangible 0.674, reliability 0.001, assurance 0.449, and empathy 0.000 Conclusion: It can be concluded that service quality is seen from three dimensions: dependability, receptiveness, understanding have a positive and significant effect on client satisfaction. Two dimensions: tangibility and guarantee as part of it have a positive effect but do not have a significant effect on customer satisfaction of Precision Air Limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organizations dealing with mission-critical AI based autonomous systems may need to provide continuous risk management controls and establish means for their governance. To achieve this, organizations are required to embed trustworthiness and transparency in these systems, with human overseeing and accountability. Autonomous systems gain trustworthiness, transparency, quality, and maintainability through the assurance of outcomes, explanations of behavior, and interpretations of intent. However, technical, commercial, and market challenges during the software development lifecycle (SDLC) of autonomous systems can lead to compromises in their quality, maintainability, interpretability and explainability. This paper conceptually models transformation of SDLC to enable affordances for assurance, explanations, interpretations, and overall governance in autonomous systems. We argue that opportunities for transformation of SDLC are available through concerted interventions such as technical debt management, shift-left approach and non-ephemeral artifacts. This paper contributes to the theory and practice of governance of autonomous systems, and in building trustworthiness incrementally and hierarchically.

The dangers associated with the entanglement of nuclear and conventional forces have become an area of increasing concern. In this article, I survey the growing nuclear-conventional entanglement risks in Northeast Asia as well as the ways in which entanglement is driving a new era of nuclear arms racing in response. In order to better manage the risks of nuclear crises occurring, I outline the need for a greater emphasis on assurance policies to match the current focus on making deterrent threats. Given the high chance of such crisis nevertheless occurring in Northeast Asia in the years ahead, I make the case for developing what I call “crisis management interoperability” between allies armed with nuclear and strategic non-nuclear weapons. Such interoperability is aimed at ensuring that the difficult task of crisis signalling is not further complicated by alliances with entangled nuclear and conventional forces.

Le secteur d’assurances en République démocratique du Congo, en sigle « RDC », a été jusqu’il y a peu marqué par la disparité des lois, parfois obsolètes et inadaptées aux conventions internationales en la matière, et par le monopole accordé à la Société Nationales des Assurances, « SONAS » en sigle. En effet, créée par l’ordonnance loi n° 66/622 du 23 novembre 1966, la SONAS s’est vue octroyer le monopole des assurances par l’ordonnance du 2 juin 1967, pour finalement être régie par l’ordonnance-loi n° 194 du 5 mai 1978 en tant qu’entreprise publique à caractère technique et commercial. Malheureusement, ce monopole a connu plusieurs inconvénients que sont notamment :  La non diversification des produits ;  L’anéantissement total de la concurrence ;  La non satisfaction des consommateurs d’assurances ;  La sortie exagérée et non justifié des fonds ;  La domination totale du marché ayant comme conséquence le maintien à contre cœur du preneur d’assurance ;  La non application de la technique appropriée etc… Partant du dysfonctionnement dudit secteur, arrivera vers les années 2015, la libéralisation du secteur d’assurance à travers la loi n° 15/005 du 17 mars 2015 portant code des assurances. Partant de cette libéralisation, on peut parler de la coassurance avec création des plusieurs sociétés d’assurances. En coassurance, le risque est partagé de façon horizontale, c’est-à-dire que l’assureur va proposer à un ou plusieurs autre(s) assureur(s) de couvrir une partie du risque. Par exemple, une usine pourra être assurée pour la moitié par l’assureur A, les compagnies B et C couvrant chacune ¼ du risque. Les 3 co-assureurs se partagent la prime versée par le client au prorata de leur part et interviennent en cas de sinistre dans la même proportion. Le tarif de la coassurance est fixé par l’assureur à l’origine du contrat appelé police collective (dans notre exemple l’assureur A) et que l’on désigne sous le nom d’apériteur ou encore de société apéritrice est le gestionnaire en cas de sinistre. Aussi, avec l’avènement de la libéralisation, les assurés sont sécurisés à travers l’indemnisation car, la matérialisation de la coassurance est certaine contrairement à l’époque du monopole.

L'assurance résulte d'un mécanisme financier induit par les exigences de protection des patrimoines contre les risques. Elle est donc liée au développement du commerce et aux transformations sociales. Au contraire du Banquier, l'assureur de dommages ne s'engage pas à faire fructifier et à reverser les fonds confiés par ses clients, dans le cadre d'une opération de capitalisation. Moyennant le versement d'une prime, cet assureur s'engage à régler une indemnité proportionnelle au dommage subi (principe indemnitaire) du fait d'un risque déterminé. Dans la mesure où il n'y a pas corrélation entre le montant des primes perçues par l'assureur, et l'indemnité éventuellement versée à l'assuré, toute opération d'assurance repose obligatoirement sur l'existence d'un aléa. Le législateur colonial n’a pas organisé le marché des assurances ni réglementé la profession d’assurance, tout comme il n’a pas formulé les normes devant gérer le contrat d’assurance. Il a laissé le marché et l’opérateur d’assurance évoluer suivant les règles du droit commercial général, et le contrat d’assurance soumis au droit commun de contrats, ainsi qu’aux usages des marchés étrangers d’assurance. Nous estimons que la libéralisation du secteur d'assurance est fructueuse et cela de deux points de vue : social et économique. La libéralisation implique l'existence sur le marché des plusieurs opérateurs et ces derniers permettent aux assurés d'avoir plusieurs choix sur leurs assureurs, et que l'Etat pourra contrôler rigoureusement les entreprises privées que publiques dans l'indemnisation des sinistres survenus, ou une perte, ou un évènement, d'une part et d'autre part, le secteur d'assurance est pourvoyeur d'emplois. Du point de vue économique, la libéralisation ouvre la porte aux investisseurs, qui apportent des capitaux essentiels à la construction de l'économie et sa croissance.

Research aims: This study aims to present empirical evidence on the effect of social responsibility disclosure on real earnings management and the role of assurance in this relationship. This is based on a paradox, i.e., companies that publish standardized corporate social responsibility disclosures to project ethical business practices are also associated with accounting and financial scandals. Design/Methodology/Approach: This study was conducted on non-financial sector companies in developing countries that are members of ASEAN-4, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines, which issued GRI-based social responsibility disclosures in the period 2013-2019, amounting to 285 companies with a total of 859 observations. Research findings: The results demonstrated that companies with standardized social responsibility disclosures tend to reduce their real earnings management practices. However, the assurance variable mitigates the negative effect of corporate social responsibility on real earnings management, implying that assurance provides false credibility. In an additional analysis, the samples were grouped based on board structure. The findings of this study are consistent with two-tier board structures, suggesting that a one-tier system provides better information quality. Theoretical contribution/Originality: The originality of this study lies in a comprehensive measurement of social responsibility disclosure variables using an index that gauges a combination of accountability and performance aspects. Furthermore, this study takes into account assurance as a variable representing the credibility of information, which surprisingly moderates the negative effect of social responsibility disclosure on real earnings management. Practitioner/Policy implication: The findings of this study underscore the importance of standardized social responsibility disclosure in mitigating managerial opportunistic behavior. The findings also highlight the need to enhance the assurance function to prevent its use as an opportunistic management tactic.

This work proposes methodologies for ensuring the trustworthiness of high-risk artificial intelligence (AI) systems (AIS) to achieve compliance with the European Union’s (EU) AI Act. High-risk classified AIS must fulfill seven requirements to be considered trustworthy and human-centric, and subsequently be considered for deployment. These requirements are equally important, mutually supportive, and should be implemented and evaluated throughout the AI lifecycle. The assurance of trustworthiness is influenced by ethical considerations, amongst others. Hence, the operational design domain (ODD) and behavior competency (BC) concepts from the automated driving domain are utilized in risk assessment strategies to quantify different types of residual risks. The methodology presented is guided by the consistent application of the ODD and its related BC concept throughout the entire AI lifecycle, focusing on the trustworthiness assurance framework and its associated process as the main pillars for AIS certification. The achievement of the overall objective of trustworthy and human-centric AIS is divided into seven interconnected sub-goals: the formulation of use restrictions, the trustworthiness assurance/argument itself, the identification of dysfunctional cases, the utilization of scenario databases and datasets, the application of metrics for evaluation, the implementation of the proposed concept across the AI lifecycle, and sufficient consideration of human factors. The role of standards in the assurance process is discussed, considering any existing gaps and areas for improvement. The work concludes with a summary of the developed approach, highlighting key takeaways and action points. Finally, a roadmap to ensure trustworthy and human-centric behavior of future AIS is outlined.

Ce travail de recherche, cherche à répondre à la question suivante : quels sont les déterminants de la structure de capital des compagnies marocaines d’assurances ? Pour se faire nous avons mené une étude empirique en utilisant des techniques économétriques originales, notamment l’estimateur des moments généralisés et des tests statistiques appliqués en fonction des hypothèses d’homogénéité et de stationnarité des variables utilisées sur une population composée de 17 compagnies d’assurances marocaines, au cours de la période 2011-2019. Les résultats de notre modèle empirique ont révélé que le taux de rentabilité significativement négatif sur la structure du capital des compagnies d’assurances marocaines. Contrairement à la rentabilité, l’impact de la tangibilité est significativement positif. Sur la base des résultats du GMM, l’étude a montré un effet négatif insignifiant de la croissance sur structure du capital des assureurs marocains. Pour ce qui est de la taille, de la liquidité et du risque, celles-ci ont un impact significativement positif sur le ratio d’endettement, tandis que l’étude a trouvé que la variable provisions techniques a un effet positif mais statistiquement non significatif sur la structure de capital des compagnies d’assurances marocaines. Cette étude conclut que la rentabilité, la taille, la tangibilité, la liquidité et le risque sont des déterminants de structure de capital des compagnies marocaines d’assurances.

The market presupposes an intelligible whole, a system or a network of sales-purchase links between various economic agents that are united by interdependent relationships on the one hand and in antagonistic relationships on the other, each economic entity has its own interest in mind that wants to apply it. The market involves a confrontation between the bearers of demand and supply, through which the price of the economic commodity that is the object of exchange is deduced. Because through insurance, a professional commercial company assumes the task of taking over the event produced, instead of the premiums charged to natural and legal persons who are insured. Insurance acts as an insured against the negative consequences of the occurrence of a certain incident or complex event, thus insurance appears as a means of protecting yourself from threats. Insurance business is conducted in a framework called the insurance market. In this article we have highlighted the evolution of the national insurance market over a period of five years to highlight their growth trend. Initially, I briefly reproduced some definitions and specific features of the insurance market, later I defined the concept of insurance and its specific features with an emphasis on the principle of reciprocity and the basic division of insurance according to the information taken from the specialized literature. Later, I made a brief presentation of the evolution of the insurance market in Romania based on the information extracted from the asfromania website, in the analysis I inserted the evolution of the gross premiums underwritten, the specific market share of insurance companies, the structure by insurance classes and highlighted the top 5 insurance companies according to gross premiums written.