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- Cöster, Mathias, 1969-
(författare)
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Beyond IT and Productivity : How Digitization Transformed the Graphic Industry
- 2005
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This thesis examines how IT and the digitization of information have transformed processes of the graphic industry. The aim is to show how critical production processes have changed when information in these processes have been digitized. Furthermore it considers if this has influenced changes in productivity while also identifying other significant benefits that have occurred as a result of the digitization. The debate concerning the productivity paradox is one important starting point for the thesis. Previous research on this phenomenon has mainly used different types of statistical databases as empirical sources. In this thesis though, the graphic industry is instead studied from a mainly qualitative and historical process perspective.The empirical study shows that digitization of information flows in the graphic industry began in the 1970s, but the start of the development and use of digitized information happened in the early 1980s. Today almost all types of materials in the industry, for example text and pictures, have developed into a digital form and the information flows are hereby more or less totally digitized. A common demand in the industry is that information produced should be adaptable to the different channels in which it may be presented. The consequences from use of IT and the digitization of information flows are identified in this thesis as different outcomes, effects, and benefits. The outcomes are identified directly from the empirical material, whilst the resulting effects are generated based on theories about IT and business value. The benefits are in turn generated from a summarization of the identified effects.Identified effects caused by IT and digitization of information include integration and merging of processes; vanishing professions; reduced number of operators involved; decreased production time; increased production capacity; increased amount and quality of communication; and increased quality in produced originals. One conclusion drawn from the analysis is that investments and use of IT have positively influenced changes in productivity. The conclusion is based on the appearance of different automational effects, which in turn have had a positive influence on factors that may be a part of a productivity index. In addition to productivity other benefits, based on mainly informational effects, are identified. These benefits include increased capacity to handle and produce information, increased integration of customers in the production processes, increased physical quality in produced products, and options for management improvements in the production processes. The conclusions indicate that it is not always the most obvious benefit, such as productivity, that is of greatest significance when IT is implemented in an industry.
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| 2. |
- Fryk, Pontus, 1979-
(författare)
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Modern Perspectives on the Digital Economy : With Insights From the Health Care Sector
- 2009
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- During the last decades, extensive investments in IT have been made more or less within the majority of the existing industries. This development presents both opportunities and risks with regard to organization and change. The main purpose of this thesis is to investigate these new conditions spawned by digitization, and to examine why many of the anticipated benefits have failed to come about. This is done through historical and contemporary studies – together with informed speculations about the future – with health care as the empirical setting. The research presented here consists of four articles and a revised licentiate thesis. The findings from the studies suggest that despite both academic and practical calls for research that simultaneously considers IT, digitization, organization and organizational change – there is still a lack of such efforts. Furthermore, the results indicate that IT has to be contextualized and broken down into sub-types, a taxonomy or typology, depending on the specific situation. Also, the present stage of digitization determines the conditions for utilization of IT. This also has to be considered. Another conclusion is that digitization, in fact, has lead to increases in productivity. But traditional financial measures are not always suitable for measuring the impact of IT on productivity. The first steps towards being able to really measure the effects from IT and digitization are to establish common standards and nomenclatures in organizations, and to consolidate existing IT systems so that they generate compatible and informative data and information. By doing this organizations are also better suited to define, visualize, measure and evaluate important processes. In turn, they can start becoming truly process oriented. The thesis presents some possible modern implications from IT and digitization as well. For instance, simulation and digital reward systems can be fruitful management tools. They do however demand a compatible and well thought through IT infrastructure and that the generated data and information is aligned with the overall strategies and visions. The empirical component of this research is based on the health care sector in Sweden, which is one area. However, it is argued that the findings are relevant to other industries as well. This because most large and complex organizations that deal with IT and change run into the problems and opportunities discussed in the presented studies. If we really come to understand how IT-implementations affect organization and change – and vice versa – huge benefits can be realized. The treatment of patients and the situation for medical staff can be improved. Also, the national economy can be boosted due to various export advantages and better public health. Similar benefits can also be achieved in other types of organizations. Through its holistic and pluralistic approach regarding research and methodology, together with the rich empirical descriptions, the thesis presents original and valuable insights for both academics and practitioners. It primarily puts forth investigations of the implications of the reciprocal relationship between IT and digitization on the one hand, and organization and organizational change on the other.
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| 3. |
- Sundberg, Klas, 1967-
(författare)
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Atlas Copcos strategi och styrning : Verktyg som ger guld
- 2009
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Licentiatavhandlingen analyserar den strategi och styrning som bedrivits vid Atlas Copco sedan 1980-talet. Detta ger kunskap om hur ett traditionellt svenskt industriföretag anpassar sig till en turbulent omgivning med hård internationell konkurrens. Atlas Copco är ett industriföretag med kompetenser omkring tryckluftsteknik, gruv- och anläggningsmaskiner och industriverktyg. Det har en komplexitet i strategisk inriktning, organisatorisk struktur och styrning som gör det lämpligt som studieobjekt inom forskningsprogrammet Strategi, styrning och konkurrenskraft (SiSK). Atlas Copco är ett klassiskt svenskt företag som under sin 136-åriga historia utvecklats till en global aktör genom de produkter och lösningar som skapats och erbjuds marknaden. Utifrån dagens verksamheter är det möjligt att spåra omfattande strategiska och organisatoriska förändringar som stegvis genomfördes från slutet av 1960-talet fram till inledningen av 1990-talet. Studien är retrospektiv där fallföretagets strategiska utveckling och styrning i efterhand studerats. Som utgångspunkt i analysen har valts en tentativ modell om strategisk kongruens och integrerad styrning. Avhandlingen bygger på insamlat material om företaget i form av årsredovisningar och andra skriftliga källor samt intervjuer med 25 nuvarande och tidigare befattningshavare vid företaget. Studien visar att fallföretaget kan uppvisa strategisk kongruens på olika organisatoriska nivåer och att denna kongruens stöds av en integrerad styrning som till sin karaktär är både formell genom traditionella system för ekonomi- och produktionsstyrning men också informell genom att en särskild kultur byggts upp runt företagets verksamheter och hur de ska bedrivas. Studien ger specifika implikationer för fallföretaget när det gäller strategi och styrning som är intressanta för andra företag och organisationer. Detta gäller särskilt hur starkt fokuserade verksamheter kan styras och utveckla långsiktiga konkurrensfördelar. Studien har finansierats av Jan Wallanders, Tom Hedelius och Tore Browaldhs stiftelser. Dessutom har finansiellt stöd erhållits från forskarskolan Management och IT (MIT).
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