1. |
- Kaddoura, Mohamad, 1993, et al.
(författare)
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Is Prolonging the Lifetime of Passive Durable Products a Low-Hanging Fruit of a Circular Economy? A Multiple Case Study
- 2019
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Ingår i: Sustainability. - Switzerland : MDPI AG. - 2071-1050. ; 11:18
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Extending the lifetime of passive products, i.e., products that do not consume materials or energy during the use phase, by implementing product-service systems (PSS) has a potential to reduce the environmental impact while being an attractive and straightforward measure for companies to implement. This research assesses the viability of introducing PSS for passive products, by documenting five real product cases of prolonging the lifetime through repair or refurbishment and by quantifying, through life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle costing (LCC), the change in environmental and economic outcome. The environmental impact (measured as global warming potential over the life cycle) was reduced for all cases because extraction and production dominated the impact. This reduction was 45–72% for most cases and mainly influenced by the number of reuses and the relative environmental burden of the components whose lifetime was prolonged. The costs for the company (measured as LCC from the manufacturer’s perspective) decreased too by 8–37%. The main reason that costs reduced less than the environmental impact is that some costs have no equivalent in LCA, e.g., administration and labor costs for services. The decreases in both LCA and LCC results, as well as the willingness of the companies to implement the changes, demonstrate that this measure can be financially attractive for companies to implement and effectively contribute to a circular economy.
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2. |
- Onufrey, Ksenia, 1985, et al.
(författare)
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Transformation in a mature industry: The role of business and innovation strategies
- 2021
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Ingår i: Technovation. - : Elsevier BV. - 0166-4972 .- 1879-2383. ; 105:July 2021
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper investigates how business and innovation strategies explain companies' responses to transformational pressures in a mature industry. The analytical framework combines two perspectives on business and innovation strategies: competitive position and resource position. Based on an embedded case study of eight companies in the Swedish pulp and paper industry, the paper contributes to previous innovation literature by connecting companies' innovation responses to their business and innovation strategies. Most notably, it reveals a new type of ambidextrous innovation strategy, i.e. “market-driven exploitation”, and shows that the responses by incumbent companies in the pulp and paper industry are the result of deliberate and justifiable strategic choices rather than path dependency and inertia. The study also confirms the value of integrating the two perspectives on strategy. On the one hand, the explanations provided by each perspective overlap with the other, so that they together provide a more nuanced understanding of the companies’ choices and activities. On the other hand, the perspectives complement each other, so that one perspective explains observations that cannot be explained by the other. The results of the paper inform both managers and policy makers about the trade-offs involved in changing a strategic direction while retaining core capabilities.
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3. |
- Gremyr, Ida, 1975, et al.
(författare)
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The roles of quality departments and their influence on business results
- 2021
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Ingår i: Total Quality Management and Business Excellence. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1478-3371 .- 1478-3363. ; 32:7-8, s. 886-897
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study explores the various roles of quality departments and investigates whether their roles have different influence on business results. Based on a survey of quality managers in 211 Swedish organisations, the analysis identifies four roles of quality departments: firefighters, auditors, process improvers, and orchestrators. The roles vary in their predominant adoption of Quality Management practices ranging from a narrow scope focusing on quality management systems to a broader scope, based on multiple practices. An analysis was performed to identify how each of the identified roles influences business results. The results show that quality departments with a broad focus, combining both explorative and exploitative quality practices, contribute the most to business results.
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4. |
- Martin, Jason, 1969-, et al.
(författare)
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The Many Meanings of Quality: Towards a Definition in Support of Sustainable Operations
- 2020
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Ingår i: Total Quality Management and Business Excellence. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1478-3371 .- 1478-3363. ; In Press
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The concept of quality accommodates a range of perspectives. Over the years, various conceptual definitions of quality have reflected the evolution and trends marking the history and development of quality management. The current and widely accepted understanding of the concept of quality focuses on customer-centric notions, where meeting or preferably exceeding customer needs and expectations defines quality. However, societal drivers such as sustainability and digitalisation require a perspective on quality that is inclusive of a broader range of stakeholders to serve current and future societal needs. The purpose of this paper is to elaborate on the concept of quality as practiced and extend this understanding in a framework designed to include objective and subjective aspects from a broad range of stakeholders. An integrated conceptual framework offering expanded views on the foundations for defining the meaning of quality is suggested. This framework is centred around the notion of quality-in-use, which offers a way to guide and enhance the actual practices of Quality Management. It incorporates two dimensions for understanding quality; form, which covers the constructive or predefined dimension and scope, which covers the single actor or multi-interested parties dimension. Four major perspectives on quality-in-use are presented: Quality-as-customer-value, Quality-as-agreed-delivery, Quality-as-ecosystems-integration, and Quality-as-society-values.
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5. |
- Klofsten, Magnus, 1959-, et al.
(författare)
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Support and development of small and new firms in rural areas : a case study of three regional initiatives
- 2020
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Ingår i: SN Applied Sciences. - : Springer. - 2523-3963 .- 2523-3971. ; 2:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper is based on qualitative analysis and addresses the important topic of small business entrepreneurialism in rural areas and its special conditions and needs. Our aim is to present examples of and suggestions for how to encourage firm start-ups and the continuation possibly also the development and growth of existing firms. The paper is based on three cases that illustrate (1) challenges in the support system in rural areas, (2) various forms of support that could be used in rural areas, and (3) expectations that are eligible to put upon support activities designed for rural areas. The main findings are that (1) that successful support of rural businesses requires a critical mass of regional entrepreneurs, firms, and support actors, (2) diversity is critical, and the various actors must be coordinated to carry out the desired measures effectively, (3) expectations for growth and orientation of the firms must be realistic because broad support is more important than targeted support, and (4) we were able to show that a cross-boundary collaborative work culture that avoids both thought silos and business silos and places no value on prestige should pervade all areas of business support.
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6. |
- Ollila, Susanne, 1968, et al.
(författare)
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Action research for innovation management: three benefits, three challenges, and three spaces
- 2020
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Ingår i: R and D Management. - : Wiley. - 0033-6807 .- 1467-9310. ; 50:3, s. 396-411
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Given that the innovation landscape is changing, and new forms of organization and management are emerging, this study discusses the potential benefits of action research for innovation management (IM) as it provides closeness to living emergent systems, generates rich insights as well as knowledge for both rigorous theory development and change in practice. Drawing from a large‐scale action research study involving a complex collaborative organizational construct, we outline three challenges from employing action research: the process is both reflexive and progressive, the researcher is both an outsider and an insider, and the outcome is both general and specific. A model of three social spaces (the action research space, the academic space, and the practitioner space) is proposed to address the challenges and assist in navigating the multitude of processes, roles, and outcomes associated with action research. The study argues that action research for IM is well suited to exploring tacit aspects of practices and processes in the emergent or shifting study contexts to transform practices through interventions. Thus, if implemented carefully by experienced researchers, it can provide valuable data that are indispensable for theory development in the field of IM.
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7. |
- Elg, Mattias, 1968-, et al.
(författare)
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Digitalisation and quality management: problems and prospects
- 2021
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Ingår i: Production Planning and Control. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0953-7287 .- 1366-5871. ; 32:12, s. 990-1003
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Digitalisation provides both challenges and opportunities for Quality Management (QM). The purpose of this study is to identify various roles QM practitioners play in digitalisation initiatives to uncover the challenges and potential of QM's digitalisation journey. This issue is addressed through an analytical framework that stresses two dimensions: the exploration and exploitation of digitalised QM processes and value creation, which is performed by the customer or in interactions facilitated by the provider. Through a multiple-case study of four large Swedish organisations, we propose six different challenges and corresponding roles for QM. Further, the study identifies challenges of digitalisation affecting both exploitative and explorative practices throughout an organisation's value creation process. This research contributes to the existing literature with empirical evidence on the challenges induced by digitalisation, an area often discussed but not as often studied empirically.
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8. |
- Germain, Eloïse, 1992-, et al.
(författare)
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Science parks as key players in entrepreneurial ecosystems
- 2023
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Ingår i: R and D Management. - Chichester, United Kingdom : Wiley. - 0033-6807 .- 1467-9310. ; 53:4, s. 603-619
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study explores the crucial role of modern science parks in the creation, development, and management of entrepreneurial ecosystems. Thus, it has developed a conceptual framework for analysing the role that science parks could have in developing an entrepreneurial ecosystem. We interviewed several stakeholders in the entrepreneurial ecosystem oriented towards sustainable production. The study design comprises three levels of analysis: 27 nodes, 7 themes, and 3 aggregate dimensions. While a science park can play a key role in creating, developing, and managing an entrepreneurial ecosystem, we find that its success largely depends on the level of cooperation among the key stakeholders. This study provides new insights into (i) how we can better comprehend the emergence of linkages to develop entrepreneurial ecosystems and (ii) how science park managers and regional policymakers can better examine the role of key stakeholders in envisioning, configuring, and enabling regional entrepreneurial ecosystems. When studying science parks, it is important to use a holistic approach, focusing on the key players in the entrepreneurial ecosystem - science parks and their stakeholders - and knowing how and when to intervene.
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9. |
- Martin, Jason, 1969-, et al.
(författare)
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Fit for purpose? Exploring competence in quality management
- 2019
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Ingår i: International Journal of Quality and Service Sciences. - : Emerald Group Publishing Limited. - 1756-669X .- 1756-6703. ; 11:3, s. 317-333
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose : The purpose of this paper is to use competence theory to explore the fit between actual competencies of quality management (QM) practitioner and the perception of QM competence needs in organisations. Design/methodology/approach : This paper is based on a cross-case quantitative study design featuring a survey of QM practitioners (n = 249) within eight large Swedish organisations. The research instrument was a questionnaire covering seven themes within QM. The analysis is based on descriptive statistics. Findings : The results show that while the perception of formal QM competence may seem sufficient, the evolving nature of QM requires knowledge, skills and attitudes that are also apt for more external and explorative perspectives. There is a bias towards competence for exploitative QM rather than explorative QM. Organisational logics preserving and possibly reinforcing a perceived “competence lag” in organisations are identified and described. Originality/value : Few empirical studies within QM explore the competencies required for QM practices. This paper contributes to QM research in providing arguments for adopting the competence theory as a foundation for organising current and future QM work.
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10. |
- Bergek, Anna, 1973
(författare)
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Diffusion intermediaries: A taxonomy based on renewable electricity technology in Sweden
- 2020
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Ingår i: Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions. - : Elsevier BV. - 2210-4224 .- 2210-4232. ; 36, s. 378-392
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The purpose of this paper is to explore the characteristics and activities of intermediaries that are involved in innovation diffusion and, thus, contribute to the acceleration of sustainability transitions. The paper develops a taxonomy of four types of diffusion intermediaries based on official firm registry data on intermediaries involved in renewable electricity technologies in Sweden, which differ from each other in terms of business activity width and sectoral coverage. An analysis of the intermediaries’ business descriptions shows that: (1) most intermediaries are not exclusively involved in intermediation and many are active in several sectors, (2) the relative importance of different intermediation activities varies between different types of intermediaries, and (3) diffusion intermediation has a technology-specific component. These findings imply that researchers and policy makers should not treat diffusion intermediaries as a homogeneous collective. Moreover, there might be an (unexploited) potential for intermediaries and policy makers to exploit cross-sectoral learning.
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