| 1. |
- Hansson, Magnus
(författare)
-
From dusk till dawn : three essays on organizational closedowns
- 2005
-
Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This thesis present three essays on organizational closedowns, where productivity effects under uncertainty and threat on the single-firm level is in focus. On a broad level, this thesis aims to develop better explanations of the process of organizational closedowns. More specific, this thesis aims to outline a theoretical foundation for studies of organizational closedowns, unfold a closedown process and extend the explanations of productivity effects during closedowns, in different contexts. This is done in three essays on organizational closedowns. These three essays have different methodological settings and it is argued that it is through the application of a variety of methods, that strength is obtained and supportive to the explorative endeavor that was carried out. The first essay is based on a critical review approach of the classical Hawthorne experiments. The second essay is based on a single case-study and the third on a multiple case-study in combination with a statistical analysis of the productivity development during the closedown processes. In the first essay of this thesis a theoretical foundation is outlined from a recontextualization of the Hawthorne experiments that serve as a base for the following essays. By applying a closedown perspective, it is possible to view the Hawthorne experiments from a new perspective, where it is claimed that there are several similarities to these experiments and situations where a threat of or decision to closedown is present. The Hawthorne experiments were initially seen as a closed system, laboratory experiments instead of action experiments of daily operations. Analyzing the prevalent threat, in both the Hawthorne experiments and the settings where the Horndal as well as the Closedown effect have been observed it has been evident that productivity has increased. Threat can act as both a motivator and demotivator, and as shown in research on the Closedown effect, employees become sensitive to the managerial setting and information provided, why productivity tend to fluctuate. It is argued that the Closedown effect is a productivity increase effect that occurs, considering the entire closedown period. In the second essay a single case study of a single-plant closure is unfolded. By following the closedown process of the firm critical events are tracked in order to explain the fluctuations in productivity. Throughout the closedown process productivity continued to increase as well as an all-time high was recorded. It was evident from this case study that the workers are highly sensitive to the management’s actions and way of providing information. The retrenchment program that was offered to the workers was of high importance in the initial phase of the closedown process, whereas it became diminishing in the latter phases. Supporting findings of previous research uncovered changes in psychological responses, structural settings, changes in cognitive and motivational manifestations as well as behavioral consequences. Increases in the operative space of the workers, innovative skills, workers autonomy, efforts and productivity were distinct behavioral consequences of closedown decision and develop during the closedown process. From this study both an empirical and a theoretical model for further research is suggested. In the third essay of this thesis a multiple case-study is presented. Contrary to the case study presented in the second essay these cases are characterized by a Non-Social responsible managerial setting. That is, the management did not provide any supportive activities for the workers in the closedown process. The Closedown effect is statistically significant in all the cases. There is a need for an analytical distinction of the phases of the closedown process, in terms of the primary advanced notice period and the secondary countdown period. Based on the analysis, and with this distinction, we are able to conclude that the productivity increase effect can be anticipated during the countdown period. From this article a theoretical elaboration on both the Closedown effect as well as distinctions on certain terms valid for a detailed analysis of the closedown process is provided. From the three essays the results are distilled as they are discussed respectively according to the theoretical and the empirical conclusions. From this the interrelationship between the results of the essays are discusses divided according to the managerial behavior, individual behavior and productivity development. In addition, a separate section presents the normative and practical implications from this research. At end and in line with a methodological triangulation the discussion on suggestions for further research provide a range of potent alternatives on future research on organizational closedowns.
|
|
| 2. |
- Hasche, Nina, 1974-
(författare)
-
Developing collaborative customer-supplier relationships through value co-creation
- 2006
-
Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The purpose of this study is to create understanding of the value co-creating process in business relationships, where the dyadic relationship is in focus and both the customer’s and the supplier’s view of the value co-creating process is of interest. In the introductory chapter, it is assumed that the ultimate goal of business logic is to create value, and value co-creation can be regarded as the essential reason why a customer and a supplier engage in a business relationship. Value is created for both the customer and the supplier, but co-created value does not necessarily have to be shared between the interacting parties. In this thesis, the customer’s and the supplier’s intentions for engaging in a value co-creating process are investigated as well as how the value co-created is perceived by the interacting parties. Theories about exchanges and interactions create the theoretical foundation of the interpretation of relationships and the interplay between organisations in this thesis. By gathering input from the value literature, the conceptual framework is further elaborated and a conceptual model of the value co-creating process is presented. A case study has been carried out to obtain an in-depth picture of the value co-creating process in customer-supplier relationships. During the autumn of 2000, the customer, the Technical Office in Zeta Municipality, invited subcontractors to a public purchasing process regarding maintenance of the water and sewage system. “Subcontracting” of municipal activities was relatively uncommon at the time. The supplier, Alpha, had experience of maintaining hydropower plants but the firm had no practical knowledge of maintenance of water and sewage systems. Thus, the situation was new for both parties when they engaged in a value co-creating process in January 2001. The investigated relationship between the Technical Office and Alpha shows that both parties’ intentions for engaging in a value co-creating process can be interpreted as expected value and desired value, where the expected value can be understood as the counterparty’s minimal expectations and the desired value as the features adding value to the counterparty. The Technical Office and Alpha had different intentions for engaging in a value co-creating process. Furthermore, the investigated relationship illustrates that the Technical Office and Alpha perceived the value co-created as expected value, desired value, unanticipated value and received value. Both partners had expectations and desires regarding the relationship, both parties provided unanticipated value to the relationship and both partners received value from the relationship. In this study, expected value, desired value, unanticipated value and received value are given empirical content. The investigated case also shows that most of the value co-created was not shared between the interacting partners and that perceived value changes depending on situation, but also over time. Moreover, the relationship between the Technical Office and Alpha shows that value co-creation can be viewed as a process through which collaboration is achieved.
|
|
| 3. |
- Härström, Malin, 1990-
(författare)
-
How institutions matter in MA research : a literature review
- 2019
-
Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- It is currently popular to study management accounting (MA) from an institutionalist perspective. Such a perspective is premised on that ‘institutions matter’; so that notions of social structure, agency and linkages in between them thus become central. While readings of the institutionally oriented MA-literature reveals interesting and insightful contributions about MA, they also unearth concerns regarding diversity and fragmentation in conceptualization and modelling. Therefore, the purpose of this licentiate thesis is to identify, classify and synthesize how ‘institutions matter’ in extant MA research and, based on this, suggest avenues for future research.To do so, this licentiate thesis entails a review of 34 empirical institutionally oriented MA studies. The findings entail ‘answers’ to 4 particular review questions regarding current (1) Conceptualizations of MA, (2) Overall explanatory models of agency, (3) Social roles of MA and, (4) Sources of MA practice – questions which are all derived from what I refer to as ‘A Basic Model of institutional theorizing (ABM)’.Overall, this review provides maps which are previously not pursued for this literature for the areas of each respective review question. Within such broader achievements, it identifies five ontological approaches to a relationship between social structure and agency instead of the established three. It also adds four social roles of MA previously not discussed for this literature. Finally, it suggests a uniform set of ‘sources of MA practice’ unlike the current literature that typically separates sources of continuity, change, homogeneity or heterogeneity respectively. The thesis concludes with a discussion of key findings and contributions, based on which a number of avenues for future institutionalist conceptualization and modelling of MA are suggested.
|
|
| 4. |
- Johanzon, Conny
(författare)
-
Hur bra är våra processer? : Värdering av den inre effektiviteten
- 2006
-
Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This study investigates possibilities for measuring efficiency in service processes. Although there has been considerable research around service processes over the last 25 years, concepts of measurement and evaluation of service processes are rare.The aim of the study is to identify different factors that can affect service efficiency in order to provide a practical, useable model for evaluating the performance of certain service processes. To develop a framework for further research, two service processes are analyzed. These processes were "Student examination writing" at Örebro University and "Passenger Ground Service Delivery" (PGSD) at SAS Ground Services. These processes were used to discover background factors which then structured a search of relevant research literature.Four factors were found in the studied processes, namely lead-time, flexibility, capability and resource utilization. These factors, and relations among them, are used to construct an evaluation model.The model is validated by testing in seven groups with members who are familiar with the analysis of service processes. The conclusion from the tests is that the model can be used for evaluation of service processes.
|
|
| 5. |
- Lagin, Madelen
(författare)
-
Assumptions of retail price strategy and price tactic decisions
- 2015
-
Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This licentiate thesis sets out to analyse how a retail price decision frame can be understood. It is argued that it is possible to view price determination within retailing by determining the level of rationality and using behavioural theories. In this way, it is possible to use assumptions derived from economics and marketing to establish a decision frame. By taking a management perspective, it is possible to take into consideration how it is assumed that the retailer should strategically manage price decisions, which decisions might be assumed to be price decisions, and which decisions can be assumed to be under the control of the retailer. Theoretically, this licentiate thesis has its foundations in different assumptions about decision frames regarding the level of information collected, the goal of the decisions, and the outcomes of the decisions. Since the concepts that are to be analysed within this thesis are price decisions, the latter part of the theory discusses price decision in specific: sequential price decisions, at the point of the decision, and trade-offs when making a decision. Here, it is evident that a conceptual decision frame that is intended to illustrate price decisions includes several aspects: several decision alternatives and what assumptions of rationality that can be made in relation to the decision frame. A semi-structured literature review was conducted. As a result, it became apparent that two important things in the decision frame were unclear: time assumptions regarding the decisions and the amount of information that is assumed in relation to the different decision alternatives. By using the same articles that were used to adjust the decision frame, a topical study was made in order to determine the time specific assumptions, as well as the analytical level based on the assumed information necessary for individual decision alternatives. This, together with an experimental study, was necessary to be able to discuss the consequences of the rationality assumption. When the retail literature is analysed for the level of rationality and consequences of assuming certain assumptions of rationality, three main things becomes apparent. First, the level of rationality or the assumptions of rationality are seldom made or accounted for in the literature. In fact, there are indications that perfect and bounded rationality assumptions are used simultaneously within studies. Second, although bounded rationality is a recognised theoretical perspective, very few articles seem to use these assumptions. Third, since the outcome of a price decision seems to provide no incremental sale, it is questionable which assumptions of rationality that should be used. It might even be the case that no assumptions of rationality at all should be used. In a broader perspective, the findings from this licentiate thesis show that the assumptions of rationality within retail research is unclear. There is an imbalance between the perspectives used, where the main assumptions seem to be concentrated to perfect rationality. However, it is suggested that by clarifying which assumptions of rationality that is used and using bounded rationality assumptions within research would result in a clearer picture of the multifaceted price decisions that could be assumed within retailing. The theoretical contribution of this thesis mainly surround the identification of how the level of rationality provides limiting assumptions within retail research. Furthermore, since indications show that learning might not occur within this specific context it is questioned whether the basic learning assumption within bounded rationality should be used in this context.
|
|
| 6. |
|
|
| 7. |
- Stockhult, Helén, 1968-
(författare)
-
Medarbetaransvar – ett sätt att visa värderingar : Ett konceptualisering av medarbetarnas ansvar och ansvarstagande i callcenter
- 2005
-
Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Stockhult, H. (2005) Medarbetaransvar – ett sätt att visa värderingar. Enkonceptualisering av medarbetarnas ansvar och ansvarstagande i callcenter.(Employee responsibility – a way of expressing values. A conceptual study ofresponsibility and how it is assumed in call center). Written in Swedish. ÖrebroStudies in Business 1. 219 pp.The focus of this study is on responsibility and how it is assumed in call centers.Call centers have developed during the last few decades and they are representinga new way of providing customer service. In scientific management there is asharp division between the planning and the execution of work. This division isalso very evident in most call centers today. But managers today often implicitlyexpect employees to take responsibility for more than the ascribed work task.The employees also expect a working situation where they are trusted with a lotof opportunities to take responsibility. In the light of these facts, the question thatshould be answered in this study is: In what ways are employees takingresponsibility in the call center organization?The knowledge acquired is based on theoretical assumptions aboutresponsibility. It is assumed that responsibility is partly given to the employee bymanagement, but also assumes responsibility on the basis of other criteria, thatcome from within the individual. The theories of responsibility are used forinterpreting actions in the call center organization. Empirically the study includestwo call center organizations. One of the call centers is mostly selling products orservices for other companies. The other call center is a nordic bank that givessupport to and sells products to the customers of its own.The results from the study confirm that besides the responsibility given bymanagement, the employees assume some other responsibilities that they perceiveas their own, self-imposed, responsibilities as employees. These self-imposedresponsibilities include responsibility for the customer, for the colleagues and foronesself. To assume these self-imposed responsibilities, the employees must tosome extent, act in reverse regarding the responsibilities given by the employer.Another conclusion is that the role of the group manager is important for the callcenter operators’ way of assuming responsibility. The last conclusion is thatalthough employers often state that they want the employee to take personalresponsibility, this favourable attitude does not show in the call center practice.
|
|
