1. |
- Berglund, Magnus, 1968-
(författare)
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Third-party logistics providers : towards a conceptual strategic model
- 1997
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The purpose of the study is to: 1. develop a model for studying the strategies of third-party providers, and 2. preparing empirically supported hypotheses regarding the TPL providers strategies. Empirical data has been gathered from 21 Australian, European, and North- American targeted TPL providers, all recognized as large, innovative or influential industry representatives.The thesis propose an empirically supported model for studying positions or for positioning of TPL providers, based on both served markets and internal industry variables. Further, the TPL providers expected development, the values delivered to clients, and activity and capability for supply chain integration are explored.The results of the study indicate that the TPL providers in general have similar strategies, and expect to develop in similar ways. The main values provided to clients are Cost and the possibility to Focus on Core, and the main mechanisms for creating that value are Operative Competence and Systems Development.
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2. |
- Björkegren, Charlotte, 1971-
(författare)
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Learning for the next project : bearers and barriers in knowledge transfer within an organisation
- 1999
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This study concerns knowledge transfer within an organisation. More specifically this encompasses knowledge transfer between projects and the organisation in which the projects are performed. The study has been conducted at STORA Corporation, a large Swedish industrial organisation within the pulp and paper industry, where two major investment projects at two different mills, divisions, and countries have been carried out. Through visits to the mills and by conducting interviews with participants from the projects a thematically structured story illuminating events related to knowledge transfer has emerged.The thesis concludes that different types of knowledge are developed within a project: process- and product-related knowledge, project-organising knowledge and technical knowledge, meaning that even though the end product differs between two following projects, experiences and knowledge from previous projects can be utilised in projects with similar procedures. Since there is no natural transfer mechanism between projects, because of their temporary nature, knowledge transfer becomes problematic. Through the concepts of knowledge bearers and knowledge barriers, this problem is addressed.The study actualises the importance of having a dual approach to project management, i.e. to not only focus on the traditional dimensions of time, cost and quality, but also take into consideration what the experience gained in one project can mean for the efficiency of the next project. From the view of the company as a whole, therefore, the metaphor of projects as learning experiments is introduced emphasising the explorative character of projects, i.e. gaining knowledge that can be exploited in the next.
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3. |
- Kroslid, Dag
(författare)
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In Search of Quality Management : Rethinking and Reinterpreting
- 1999
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Quality Management has, in addition to its establishment as a management discipline of organisational and industrial importance, instituted itself as a topic of national concern with nationwide surges and contractions in the dissemination of practices. Empirical data are examined in this thesis in relation to the current status and historical development of such trends among twelve leading industrial nations. In the interpretation and analysis of the country data, a model based on a new theoretical framework is introduced. The framework is abstracted from an extensive literature review concerning the historical development of ideas in Quality Management. It postulates that the development of the field has been in accordance with two distinct schools of thought, the Deterministic School of Thought and the Continuous Improvement School of Thought. The ability of the proposed dual-path framework to overcome main criticism against Quality Management is also elaborated. The comparative analysis shows that China, Japan, South Korea, Sweden and the United States, in terms of current national approach, predominantly position themselves within the Continuous Improvement School of Thought. Similarly, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Norway, and Saudi Arabia relate more to the Deterministic School of Thought. In addition to this classification, the comparison of the historical development patterns also reveal nuances so far unaccounted for in empirical studies. On a more general level it is then discussed how the proposed framework accommodates a synthesising of other studies on current status and historical development. Empirical data on the attitudes and beliefs of bluecollar workers in the twelve countries are also presented. In this analysis it is revealed that the two schools of thought in certain areas provide a basis for interpreting bluecollar workers' expressions of attitudes and beliefs in Quality Management. In the final part, it is described how the whole research process extends beyond the identification of the dual-path framework in terms of empirical evidence, knowledge and perspectives on Quality Management. A number of future research issues are also discussed, both in relation to the proposed and alternative frameworks.
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4. |
- Kroslid, Dag, 1972-
(författare)
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Quality management : National or global driving factors
- 1998
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Around the world Quality Management is commonly regarded by industrialists and academics as a management concept that encompasses the potential in any organisation of developing into a company-wide philosophy with a profound focus on stakeholder values and improvement processes. However, there are mounting evidence that Quality Management has developed into an important strategic issue also on a national level, and that some leading industrial nations have enjoyed significant gains in the post War era by means of nation-wide progresses in Quality Management. In this thesis organisation is therefore substituted with nation state as the unit of analysis, with the ultimate objective to gain insight into how quality management movements in the industrialised world develop and prosper. Based on empirical data from the Cross-cultural Quality Management Research Project, a bird' s?eye view of Quality Management is taken in twelve leading industrialised nations. Comprehensive descriptions of Quality in Australia, Brazil, Germany, Japan and Sweden are given in order to identify what national driving factors that currently have an influence on national quality management movements, whereas China, Great Britain, Italy, Norway, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and the United States are assessed on a more overriding level with an objective to determine the factors' scope and characteristics. The existence and influence of national driving factors in Quality Management was firstly discovered in the mid 1980s by one of the field's pioneers, Dr. Joseph M. Juran, and a core task in this thesis is to re-examine the identified factors current applicability. The outcome is a proposed set of national driving factors, embracing economy, national quality societies, people, certification bodies, industrial structure, organisation and its quality function, and government. Although, these national driving factors are found to be common to all countries, they are genuinely national in the sense that the national context by and large determines the factors' character and influence. To gain insight into how national quality management movements in the industrialised world develop and prosper, it is therefore recommended that focus be direct towards the national context with its national driving factors. The factors are powerful explanatory variables that so far have largely remained an untapped fountain of knowledge within the field of Quality Management.
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5. |
- Lindström, Jörgen
(författare)
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Chefers användning av kommunikationsteknik
- 1996
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Under senare år har affärsmiljön för de flesta företag förändrats i snabb takt samtidigt som informations- och kommunikationstekniken genomgått en snabb utveckling. Den förändrade affärsmiljön kan tänkas förändra arbetssituationen för exempelvis chefer. Eftersom tidigare studier visat att ett mycket väsentligt inslag i chefers arbete är kommunikation skulle den nya tekniken kunna användas för att möta denna förändring i arbetssituation. Syftet med den här studien är mot denna bakgrund att skapa en förståelse för chefers inställning till och användning av kommunikationsteknik.Studien har huvudsakligen genomförts genom intervjuer med chefer i två företag. Totalt har sexton chefer och sju medarbetare till dessa chefer intervjuats. De i studien intervjuade cheferna upplever en arbetssituation som är mycket tidspressad, med fragmenterade arbetsdagar, ett högt kommunikationstryck och ont om tid till ostört arbete. Vidare uttrycker respondenterna av en mängd olika skäl en stark preferens för kommunikation ansikte mot ansikte. Denna preferens är delvis en följd av att arbetsuppgifterna ibland är så komplexa att de kräver ett personligt möte för att kunna hanteras effektivt. En annan mycket viktig aspekt är de symboliska faktorerna, att chefen genom att närvara personligen signalerar att en viss fråga, en viss enhet, en viss kund etc. är viktig för organisationen.Vad gäller användandet av kommunikationsteknik så förefaller det av studien att döma som om modern teknik i ganska liten utsträckning används för att minska resande och lätta på arbetsbördan för den studerade kategorin människor. Detta tycks bero på att man av sociala, symboliska och andra skäl vill och behöver träffas personligen. Dessa krav och önskemål på kontakter ansikte mot ansikte tycks vara så starka att inte ens mycket sofistikerad teknik kan ersätta den typen av kontakter. Det tycks i stället närmast vara så att teknikutvecklingen ökat mängden kommunikation genom att kommunikation via exempelvis mobiltelefon eller elektronisk post till viss del adderats till den tidigare kommunikationen.
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6. |
- Lindström, Jörgen, 1967-
(författare)
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Does distance matter? : On geographical dispersion in organisations
- 1999
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- In the discussion on organisations and organisational form, several concepts have appeared to denote what is said to be new organisational forms. These concepts many times imply a geographical dispersion of organisations. The changes to organisational structure-and notably geographical dispersion-are often seen as enabled by developments in information and communication technology (ICT), developments providing us with tools that make it possible to communicate and handle information over geographical distances "better" and more "efficiently" than ever before. Thus, it is implied that distance is dead or at least losing in importance for organisations.In this thesis, however, it is contended that distance is still an important concept and the aim of the thesis is to gain an understanding of the possible importance of geographical distance for the design and management of organisations. More specifically, it focuses on how different communication modes-basically face-to-face as compared to technology-mediated communication-affect the process of organising. This is discussed both on a general level and with a special focus on the role and work of managers.It is concluded that distance is still a very important fact in organisational life. Basically, this is because social interaction through technology differs in fundamental ways from social interaction face-to-face. Even if many tasks can be handled through technology-mediated communication if considered in isolation, the picture changes when all tasks are considered simultaneously and over time. Then the necessity of having shared frames and a common set of significant symbols and the difficulties involved in creating, recreating, and maintaining these via technology imposes a lower limit on the amount of face-to-face interaction necessary.
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7. |
- Rehme, Jakob, 1967-
(författare)
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Sales coordination : development of customer teams in ABB Sweden
- 1998
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The purpose of this licentiate thesis is to contribute to the body of knowledge of the development of customer teams for key customers in industrial selling.The study covers issues of why customer teams are formed, the interaction between the team and the customer, as well as the organisation and development of the customer team. The focus of the study is contained in the following questions:What are the affecting factors and motives for the coordination of sales?What are the characteristics of the customer team work set-up?What are the results of the customer team work?The method employed was to compare two case studies of customer teams. The customer teams consisted of sales engineers from various ABB companies in Sweden. The two teams were formed for the customers Svedala-Arbrå and ABS Pumps. The empirical material was analysed primarily by comparing the two customer teams, using theories on coordination, combined with an analytical model on sales teams.A model was developed, describing the affecting factors on customer teams, the customer team work and the effects of the customer team.To increase shares in the already saturated market, was one of the most important drivers for the formation of customer teams. The customers in this study affected the customer team work primarily in terms of how the work was to be organised. Interdependence between selling companies and their sales conditions greatly affected the customer team work.The two teams were found to have differences in their characteristics. The first customer team followed guidelines more closely, had a more comprehensive approach with a larger customer team, and were more focused on the development of long-term relationships than the second team. The second customer team had more of a contingency approach towards its task. This team was also smaller, and the number of customer team participants was allowed to vary over time. For this customer team the most important aspect was the coordination of products in terms of technical as well as commercial issues.A number of customer team effects were found in the study. Of special importance were the tangible factors, such as the economic results, the product and system adaptations, and the intangible factors, such as the relationship development. In the border zone between the tangibles and intangibles were the synergetic effects which resulted from the joint type of sales activities.
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8. |
- Söderlund, Jonas, 1971-
(författare)
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Globala tider : om deadlines och kunskapsintegration i komplexa utvecklingsprojekt
- 1998
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Komplexa utvecklingsprojekt ställer utmanande krav på effektiv kunskapsintegration mellan funktionsområden för att dels uppnå ett välintegrerat system, dels för att hantera krävande tidplaner. Uppsatsen söker med detta som utgångspunkt skapa fördjupad förståelse av 'deadlinens' och 'kunskapsintegrationens' innebörd och betydelse i dessa sammanhang. Studien baseras på en abduktiv fallstudieansats där två fallstudier inom Volvo Personvagnar resp Ericsson Radio har genomförts.Uppsatsen utvecklar två övergripande referensramar för att förstå komplexa utvecklingsprojekt. Den första för att identifiera viktiga dimensioner av sådana organiseringsprocesser i termer av å ena sidan olika typer av komplexiteter, å andra sidan av olika typer av felproblematiker. Utifrån denna referensram diskuteras 'kopplingslogiken' och 'responsivitet' som viktiga aspekter för att förstå deadlines och kunskapsintegration i dessa typer av projekt.Den andra övergripande referensramen söker forsta kopplingslogikens innehåll, vilket görs utifrån en analys av deadlinen som ett slags global tid som ställer krav på etablering av globala arenor for att hantera kopplingen mellan lokala kunskapsprocesser. Dessa globala arenor visar sig ha en viktig funktion för att både bevisa lokal kunskap och för att upplösa lokala tidshorisonter. Analysen syftar till att utveckla ett språk for att första komplexa utvecklingsprojekt i termer av koppling av lokala kunskapsprocesser och lokala tidshorisonter.
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9. |
- Tjäder, Jimmy, 1971-
(författare)
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Projektledaren & planen : en studie av projektledning i tre installations- och systemutvecklingprojekt
- 1998
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The IT industry is a growing sector in today's economy. System development forms a substantial part of this sector. System development is traditionally performed in project form. Planning system development projects is infamous for estimations which can be up to several 100 percent wrong. These projects appear to be chaotic when the static view of the project is related to the turbulence which characterises actually performing it. The project manager is the person who bears the greatest responsibility for "maintaining control" of the work under these condition. The aim of this thesis is to increase the understanding for how the project manager solves this task in practice, i.e. managing the project under dynamic conditions.The study consists of three system development projects where the project managers have been interviewed once a month during the period January to June, 1997. In total 17 interviews have been performed. Information has also been gathered from documents, meetings, electronic mail, etc.In the project manager's world work is pursued at a high tempo, where optimistic plans must be followed and problems that arise must be quickly solved. The focus is on the immediate present. In this thesis we discuss how the roles of the assignment and of the plan affect the project manager's way of running the project. The study shows that the nature of the assignment influences which principles the project manager uses to check the results of the work performed and in what forms information is exchanged with the client. Another observation is that the degree of uniqueness of the assignment, i.e. to what extent there is previous knowledge about how to perform it, influences how the project manager directs the project. The study shows that when the plan is given an unobtrusive role, profession-based, non-project-specific management gains greater significance. Certain limitations of plans are presented: only known activities are planned and it is difficult to make updates under dynamic conditions. Another limitation of plans which is often overlooked often involves the unconfirmed assumptions the plan is based on. These are central for the relevance of the plan, but are normally not followed up. The plan can be given an alternative role as a tool for mediating a common view to the team members performing the project. The members' actions can be co-ordinated through such a common view, with the risk of cognitive blockage in individuals arising.
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10. |
- Wasner, Reine, 1970-
(författare)
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The Outsourcing PRocess - Strategic and operational realities
- 1999
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The combination of shorter product life cycles, increased product complexity, and resource !imitations in conjunction with the globalization of the economy puts immense pressure on corporations to become more efficient, or leaner, in their operations (Alexander 1985, Sanchez 1997, Harryson 1998). One way of managing such competitive pressures has been tooutsource certain acrivities and focus internally on what has popularly been termed core competenciq thus enabling expansion and growth without having to carry the entire financial burden This is especially true for the increasing number of firms that have assumed (whether by choice or as an imperative) the systems integrator role, which implies migrating upwards in the value chain. Examples include the electronics, aerospace and automotive industries GJimonian 1990, Mclvor, Humphreys & McAleer 1997, Prudente 1999). Numerous inclustry surveys; e.g. Andersen Consulting Vinkleman 1997), KPMG (Ailott & Law 1997; and PA Consulting Lonsdale & Cox 1997), testify to the frequent occurrence of outsourcing and Drucker (1994) also recognizes the advent ofoursourcing:Not in a very long time .. have there been as many new major management techniques as there are today: downsizing, outsourcing, total quality management, economic \0alue analysis, bcnchmarking, reengineering. Each is a powerful tool. But with the cxceptions of outsourcing and reengincering, these t0ols are designed primarily to do differcntly what is already bcing donc. Drucker (1994) p. 95In defining thc boundarics of thc f irm, make-buy decisions help shape the very identity of firms by determining the fundament from which ro creare competitive advantage. Make-buy decisions represent a complex set of considerations, facrors, and tradeoffs; and once made will have long-term consequences, changes becoming problematic because of the high switching costs typically involved. Conceptually, make-buy decisions reflect a firm's overarching straregic directions and are grounded in definitions of core competence. Fine & Whitney (1996) suggest that core competence areas are becoming less stable as the business environment is changing at an ever-faster pace and propose that the process of conceiving make-buy decisions should be considered a core competence in its own right. Under such conditions, the challenge for corporations then becomes how ro continuously adjust to and effectuate new outsourcing strategies depending on prevalent core competence considerationsPrevious research on the phenomenon of outsourcing has mainly focused on strategic. considerations, (i.e. what? and why?). Nevertheless, the process of carrying out the transfer of an activity from being internally controlled ro becoming externally managed (i.e. how?), may prove ro be equally difficult because of interdependencies at the operational level.Probert, Jones & Gregory (1993) point ro the failure of many companies ro integrate the make-buy decision inro the overall manufacturing strategy and the findings of Brown & Eisenhardt (1997) in their study of companies competing in highly dynamic and unpredictable markers, i.e. requiring frequent changes, show that managers devote a vast majority of their time analyzing a transition (e.g. a shift from one product development project, advertising campaign, or season of merchandise to the next; or entering and Jeaving markers, absorbing new acquisitions, launching new alliances, and bringing volume production on line), and only very limited time on planning the actual transition, integration or implementation The effects of outsourcing are far reaching, both in terms of physical, temporal, and organizational reach. Physically because there is an inherent complication of losing control as an activity is turned over to an external vendor. Temporally because it is difficult to judge how conditions will change over time and organizationally because outsourcing involves transferring a make-buy decision from the strategic to the operational leve! and transferring an activityfrom one organization to another. It is to this relatively neglected domain ofoutsourcing that the focus of this work tums.The purpose of this licentiate thesis is to contribute to an increased understanding of the phenomenon of outsourcing and its effects on the transfer of activities From my general purpose three main research questions can be formulated:What is outsourcing in a manufacturing industry context,How can the outsourcing process be charactcrizecPWhat are the critical factors that affect and are affected by the outsourcing process?
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