| 1. |
- Järvenpää, Anna-Therése
(författare)
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How to promote innovation from an organizational control perspective : A case study of a public infrastructure client
- 2022
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Within the infrastructure sector, a public client can have various roles and responsibilities that extend beyond its own organization, such as stimulating and supporting innovation. As an infrastructure project is seldom standardized, the client needs to procure each contract based on the relevant uncertainties and complexities for that specific context. To encourage a contractor’s compliance with the client’so bjectives, the client employs some degree of organizational control. When a public client procures all its infrastructure from contractors, it also needs to find ways of eliciting innovative solutions from the suppliers. Therefore, a public client needs strategies to both promote innovation by the contractors and direct and oversee the contractors’ work to ensure the deliverables meet the project’s objectives. The demands for increased innovation in the construction sector in general needs to be handled concomitant with the client’s need to check that the contractor delivers accordingly to the client’s objectives and demands. The overall purpose of this thesis is to explore the relationship between organizational control and promoting innovation by a public infrastructure client. More specifically, it explores how a public client can promote innovation by its contractors from an organizational control perspective. The theoretical background is provided by an organizational control framework (Ouchi, 1979; Aulakh et al., 1996), i.e. a client can manage and steer an agent via three different control systems: process, output, and social. The empirical data is derived from 47 semi-structured interviews, complemented by observations, from10 different infrastructure projects. The client (The Swedish Transport Administration; STA) is the same for each project, but the contractors differ. Two types of contractor are represented: contractors that have not worked with the STA before (“unfamiliar contractors”), and contractors that have worked with the STA before (“familiar contractors”). A majority of the contract type is design-build. Four appended papers, each presenting a public client perspective, provide the basis of the thesis. Previous findings that the client’s role is important for promoting innovation is explored further in this thesis from an organizational control perspective, emphasizing the role of the public client. It is important that during the procurement phase the client tries to find the right balance between achieving the intended objectives and creating space for innovation. Ex-ante planning is important, because how the client writes the control mechanisms into the procurement documents, and later the contract, has a direct effect on the opportunities for innovation by the contractors.In addition, the client has to manage the project in a way that does not cause irritation of frustration for the contractor, or hinder their work, thus supporting the view that organizational control should be enabling instead of coercive, so that the client’s input encourages innovation rather than creating obstacles. In addition, when adding a relationship history perspective on organizational control, an unfamiliar contractor (i.e. a contractor that has not worked with the client before) can find process control unsuitable and social control confusing, which means output control is probably the most appropriate approach to take when working with unfamiliar contractors. However, just relying on procurement strategies such as a design-build (DB)contract in combination with strict functional demands is not enough to promote innovation. Furthermore, a collaborative setting only seems to lead to innovative solutions if the client regards innovation as a mutual task and utilizes the collaborative setting for innovative co-creation. From the client’s perspective, the practical and managerial implication of this thesisis the importance of finding a balance between giving the contractor space to be innovative in the execution of the contract, and at the same time making sure that the requisite end product is delivered. The results of this thesis suggest that the client does not hand over the “how” to the contractor when it comes to executing the project, as would be expected in a DB contract. From the contractor’s perspective, the responsibility for innovation within a DB contract can be confounded by the client’s use of social control, by which the client may encourage discussions and collaboration regarding innovative solutions but blur the line over responsibilities. This could explain why social control often fails to have a positive impact on innovative output.
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| 2. |
- Kanoni, Stavroula, et al.
(författare)
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Implicating genes, pleiotropy, and sexual dimorphism at blood lipid loci through multi-ancestry meta-analysis.
- 2022
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Ingår i: Genome biology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1474-760X .- 1465-6906 .- 1474-7596. ; 23:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Genetic variants within nearly 1000 loci are known to contribute to modulation of blood lipid levels. However, the biological pathways underlying these associations are frequently unknown, limiting understanding of these findings and hindering downstream translational efforts such as drug target discovery.To expand our understanding of the underlying biological pathways and mechanisms controlling blood lipid levels, we leverage a large multi-ancestry meta-analysis (N=1,654,960) of blood lipids to prioritize putative causal genes for 2286 lipid associations using six gene prediction approaches. Using phenome-wide association (PheWAS) scans, we identify relationships of genetically predicted lipid levels to other diseases and conditions. We confirm known pleiotropic associations with cardiovascular phenotypes and determine novel associations, notably with cholelithiasis risk. We perform sex-stratified GWAS meta-analysis of lipid levels and show that 3-5% of autosomal lipid-associated loci demonstrate sex-biased effects. Finally, we report 21 novel lipid loci identified on the X chromosome. Many of the sex-biased autosomal and X chromosome lipid loci show pleiotropic associations with sex hormones, emphasizing the role of hormone regulation in lipid metabolism.Taken together, our findings provide insights into the biological mechanisms through which associated variants lead to altered lipid levels and potentially cardiovascular disease risk.
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| 3. |
- Kilersjö, Christer, et al.
(författare)
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Optimering av solelnytta genom smart mikronät och brukare
- 2023
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Rapport (populärvet., debatt m.m.)abstract
- Denna rapport redovisar det fortsättningsprojekt som bygger på pilotprojektet ”Utveckling av helhetslösning för solel i bebyggelsen”, som genomfördes vid Eksta Bostads AB med delfinansiering av Energimyndigheten under åren 2016–2019. Syftet med fortsättningsprojektet har varit att utvärdera alternativa och metoder för att öka lönsamhet i solcellsanläggningar i bebyggd miljö. Metod fördetta har varit installation av mikronät, baserat på likströmsteknik liksom upprättande av en modell för involvering av brukare. Modellen bygger på Blockchain-konceptet och är utvecklad för området för mikronätet liksom Ekstashantering av eldistribution och brukarhantering. Eksta ser stort värde i genomförandet av detta utvecklingsprojekt. Projektet harskapat kunskap kring hantering av delning av el, både gällande strategiskplanering av energidistribuering liksom tekniska lösningar. Under installation och idrifttagande av mikronätet har utmaningar kopplat till hård- och mjukvaror påverkat installationen och driften av mikronätet i Fjärås. Felaktiga funktioner var vid detta projekts avslut ännu inte lösta. Av dessa anledningar har den tekniska utvärderingen av mikronätet begränsats. Resultaten visar dock att egenanvändningsgraden för producerad solel inom mikronätet är 87 % för tre månader. Detta är något lägre än det teoretiskt beräknade värdet för samma månader, som visade 98 %. Anledningen till detta resultat härleds till de bristerna av systemets komponenter. Utvärderingen visar dock att det finns en potential för ökning av detta värde. Detta projekt har även bidragit till fler resultat, där kunskap kring processen för utvecklingsprojekt har byggts. Lärdomar har varit att det är av stor vikt att samordna samtliga projektpartner inför uppstart av ett utvecklingsprojekt, så att det finns en samsyn kring projektets mål och en etablerad samverkan. Inom projektet har även potentialen för att utöka befintligt mikronät med flersolcellsanläggningar samt möjligheten att inkorporera fler byggnader och laddstationer för elfordon utvärderats. Resultat visar att det finns potential för att installera mer solcellseffekt med fortsatt hög egenanvändning och därmed bibehållen lönsamhet.
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| 4. |
- Lindsjö, Anders, et al.
(författare)
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Effekt av normaliseringsperiod för avrinning med avseende på koncentrationerna av jordbruksläckaget
- 2021
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- SMED utgör en förkortning för Svenska MiljöEmissionsData, som är ett samarbete mellan IVL, SCB, SLU och SMHI. I denna studie analyseras de för jordbruksmark i PLC-beräkningssystemet beräknade närsaltsläckagehalternas variation med ändrad avrinning. Studien fokuserar dels på betydelsen av normaliseringsperiodens längd för medelavrinningens storlek och läckagekoncentrationerna av kväve och fosfor och dels på variationen i avrinning mellan delavrinningsområden och motsvarande variation i läckagekoncentrationer. Dessutom presenteras en analys av extrema nederbördshändelsers betydelse för fosforläckaget. Studien baseras på de med NLeCCS-metoden beräknade normalläckagen av kväve och fosfor för 22 läckageregioner i Sverige och avrinningarna för HELCOM/PLC7. Normaliseringsperioder på 12, 20 och 30 år för beräkning av medelavrinning jämfördes. Vid val av 20-åriga normaliseringsperioder istället för 30-åriga avvek medelavrinningen med upp till 3-12% för de 22 läckageregionerna i Sverige. Motsvarande värden för 12-åriga normaliseringsperioder var 7-23%. Läckagekoncentrationernas variation med avrinning analyserades för 5 utvalda läckageregioner. Läckagekoncentrationer beräknades för ett spann av medelavrinningar baserat på den variation i avrinningen som återfinns i de delavrinningsområden som ingår i de utvalda läckageregionerna. Vid val av 20åriga normaliseringsperioder för avrinningen istället för 30-åriga avvek kväve- och fosforläckagen 0 till ±3% för de utvalda läckageregionerna. Motsvarande avvikelser vid val av 12-åriga normaliseringsperioder var ±1 till ±8%. För att undvika avvikelse i läckaget från åkermark vid beräkning av normaliserad belastning bör således en 30-årig normaliseringsperiod för avrinningen väljas. Kan en avvikelse tolereras kan en 20-årig normaliseringsperiod väljas medan ett val av en 12-årig normaliseringsperiod endast kan väljas om en stor avvikelse kan tolereras. Analysen av enskilda extrema nederbördshändelsers påverkan på fosforläckaget visade på en stor påverkan, särskilt på fosforförluster via ytavrinning. Resultaten visade ett behov av att reducera enskilda extremt höga dygnsnederbördstillfällen i de meteorologiska tidsserierna för att befrämja jämförelsen mellan läckageregioner och för olika tidsperioder.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Steinhardt, Dale, et al.
(författare)
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The structure of emergent prefabricated housing industries : a comparative case study of Australia and Sweden
- 2020
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Ingår i: Construction Management and Economics. - Abingdon : Routledge. - 0144-6193 .- 1466-433X. ; 38:6, s. 483-501
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Prefabricated housing is a disruptive innovation struggling to take hold in a traditional complex product system (CoPS). It is quicker to produce and has improved environmental performance compared to traditional housing. CoPS have more dense and complex network connections than commodity industries, making disruptive innovation more difficult. Effective relational capabilities can achieve the coordination necessary to address this challenge. The prefabricated housing industry needs to develop a structure that drives these capabilities. Using a case study methodology, the structure of the industry is examined in two contrasting countries, namely Australia and Sweden, as they represent an early and late stage of industry emergence, respectively. A new framework is proposed for this purpose, enabling a repeatable, orderly and comprehensive disaggregation of industry structure to examine the latent drivers of relational capability. The main empirical contribution is to (1) describe an industry that is yet to be formally recognized by national statistical agencies and (2) show how the adoption of prefabricated housing can be accelerated. The study found that younger industries need a focused industry association with diverse membership to act as an effective system integrator. © 2019 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
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| 7. |
- Widén, Kristian, Associate Professor, 1972-, et al.
(författare)
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Implementering av solcellsanläggningar i svensk stadsbyggnad – hinder ur ett aktörsperspektiv
- 2021
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Rapport (populärvet., debatt m.m.)abstract
- Resurshushållning i kombination med småskalig, egen- och närproducerad el i direkt anslutning till där behoven finns har stor potential för att kraftigt reducera användandet av fossila energikällor. För att säkerställa detta krävs en snabbare ökning av implementering av solelanläggningar liksom andra innovationer i den byggda miljön. Tekniska egenskaper så som exempelvis verkningsgrad och eller teknisk utveckling för att möjliggöra montage eller installation är inte längre hinder för implementering. Tekniken är mogen, finns tillgänglig på marknaden och solcellsprojekt är lönsamma över tid. Ökningen i installerad effekt de senaste åren härrör dock till största del till en ökning av solcellsparker. Den stora potentialen för utbyggnation i den bebyggda miljön kvarstår.Det övergripande målet med projektet var att identifiera, analysera och finna samband mellan hinder som står i vägen för ökad implementeringstakt av solcellsanläggningar i svenska flerbostadshus och lokaler. Projektet har genomförts i tre arbetspaket; (1) workshopar och intervjuer för att få en grundläggande förståelse för vilka hinder som finns för en generell implementering av solcellsanläggningar i den byggda miljön, (2) verifikationsworkshop och (3) analys av den data som samlats in i de två försa stegen.Givet antalet aktörer som påverkar implementeringen samt antalet aspekter som måste hanteras, framstår implementeringen av solcellsanläggningar som komplex, vilket är en utmaning. Det är många aspekteter som ska hanteras av flera aktörer och som förändrar deras vedertagna processer eller medför helt nya uppgifter. En annan utmaning som tydligt framkommit är bristen på kunskap, både hos sig själva och hos andra och i alla faser av projekten. Det är dock beställarens kompetens som ses som mest kritisk, framför allt kopplat till förståelsen av hur implementering av solceller påverkar projektprocessen. Kopplat till utmaningarna kring komplexitet och brist på kunskap framkommer ytterligare upplevda utmaningar gällande både byggprocessens genomförande och externa regelverk, som tydligt påverkar implementeringen. Eftersom solceller fortfarande är förhållandevis nytt har kompetensen inte etablerats, vilket i sin tur leder till osäkerhet kring ansvar. Detta blir extra tydligt i den komplexa processen, där många aktörer är involverade.Avslutningsvis, det finns fortfarande mycket som behöver göras för att förenkla implementering av solcellsanläggningar i byggd miljö. Detta till trots implementeras allt fler solcellsanläggningar i byggd miljö och det går även mot att vara en naturlig del i byggandet.
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| 8. |
- Winkler, Charlotta, 1976-, et al.
(författare)
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Challenges to business ecosystem alignment when implementing solar photovoltaic systems in the Swedish built environment
- 2023
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Ingår i: Building Research and Information. - London : Taylor & Francis. - 0961-3218 .- 1466-4321.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Implementing solar photovoltaic systems in the built environment (BEPV) is critical for the construction sector’s contribution to mitigating climate change. While previous studies give various insights into innovation implementation, the challenges to value co-creation by construction actors remain underexplored. By studying the alignment of business ecosystems implementing BEPV in the Swedish built environment, we address this need. Drawing on the cumulative experience of construction actors, this study demonstrates how knowledge mislocation, knowledge deficits, cultural discrepancies, insufficient building codes, frequently changing regulations, and implementing a highly embedded innovation can disturb ecosystem alignment. The study contributes to the ecosystem literature, scholarly discussions of innovation implementation in complex construction projects, and the PV diffusion literature by offering insights into the realignment of ecosystems involving value co-creation by actors from previously unconnected industries. The study links PV diffusion research to the construction management literature by exploring the cumulative experience of implementation at the micro level. We highlight the significant industry reconfigurations required to accommodate a deeply embedded technological innovation, reconfigurations going beyond the challenges of implementing systemic innovations encumbered by fewer material dependencies. We also emphasize the critical importance of industrial interaction, coordination, and learning to accelerate the sustainability transition.
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| 9. |
- Winkler, Charlotta, 1976-
(författare)
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Client orchestration for the implementation of energy innovation in construction
- 2024
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This thesis aims to explore value creation from energy innovation in construction through implementation. The construction sector significantly impacts the environment. Buildings’ energy demand for heating and cooling accounts for 20% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions. Innovation is needed to reduce the sector’s contribution to climate change. This thesis focuses on energy-related innovations that reduce our dependency on fossil energy sources. For an innovation to give value, it must be put to use through implementation. In the construction context, the implementation takes place in inter-organisational and temporary project settings where interdependent actors collaborate to create value. The process of innovation implementation is affected by the innovation’s characteristics and the context of its implementation. The more complex the innovation, the more challenges the implementation process might involve.Clients in construction are central when it comes to change, and their ability to adapt to changing factors depends on their innovation capabilities. For the industry to meet climate-related challenges and contribute to the energy transition in the built environment, knowledge of the implementation of energy innovations and clients’ innovation capabilities must be developed.The aim of this thesis was realised by studying the characteristics and challenges of energy innovation implementation and clients’ innovation capabilities to orchestrate the activities required to meet these challenges. The characteristics and related challenges for implementation were explored by studying solar photovoltaic systems installed in the built environment (BEPV) as a case. The study identified several barriers to BEPV implementation and subsequent requirements for client orchestration. Due to a long history of implementing energy innovations, the real estate company of the municipality of Kungsbacka, Eksta Bostads AB, was chosen as a case in which to study client orchestration.This thesis draws on the literature on systemic innovation, innovation implementation, and ecosystem perspectives. The literature on systemic innovation helps us study and understand the implementation of energy innovations. The business ecosystem framework serves as a lens through which to study value co-creation in construction projects, and the innovation ecosystem perspective can be applied to study a client’s innovation capabilities to orchestrate activities for value creation. This thesis offers several contributions. First, it offers insights into systemic innovation implementation in construction by describing the characteristics of systemic energy innovations that display a high complexity requiring collaboration required in both the process and the innovation as such to implement systemic energy innovation in construction. Second, this change leads to the requirement that a client should act as a focal firm to orchestrate collaborative activities beyond project management. Third, this thesis offers empirical evidence that implementing energy innovations involves understanding implementation as part of a larger innovation process, not as an isolated process. Rather, the innovation process is highly dependent on the ecosystem orchestration, which in turn depends on a client’s innovation capabilities. As such, the thesis contributes to the ecosystem orchestration literature by demonstrating that client innovation capabilities enable orchestration that involves activities within and between projects and engagements across industry boundaries. In this way, the thesis builds our knowledge of the innovation process in construction, specifically, that the client is a central actor in realising value creation from innovation. The research shows how a client’s activities contribute to innovation diffusion in the construction industry and that these activities are anchored in a strong long-term strategy and a holistic view of sustainable development. These activities consist of formal and informal working methods and wholehearted engagements at an individual level, at which trust and long-term relationships are essential.Finally, by providing insights into the construction industry’s challenges in contributing to the energy transition in the built environment, this thesis offers policy suggestions regarding changes and adaptations in regulations and building norms to facilitate the implementation of energy innovations in construction projects, and to initiate educational arrangements and identify roles for key actors who can connect innovation development to innovation implementation for value creation.This thesis addresses the United Nations’s goals for sustainable development, specifically goals 7, ‘affordable and clean energy’, and 11, ‘sustainable cities and communities’.
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| 10. |
- Winkler, Charlotta, 1976-, et al.
(författare)
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Explaining barriers to the alignment of business ecosystems implementing solar photovoltaic systems in the built environment
- 2021
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study aims to identify barriers to the alignment of temporary business ecosystems for solar photovoltaic systems in the built environment (BEPV) in the Swedish construction sector and explain these barriers in terms of how they impact ecosystem alignment. We identify three barriers; the high degree of radicalness of BEPV innovation, the lack of BEPV related knowledge among actors and inapt conventions for BEPV. The study contributes to the business ecosystems literature through insights from a novel sector that reveals how challenges related to temporality, incumbency and actor diversity impact ecosystem alignment. The study also highlights the critical role of formal conventions for ecosystem dynamics. We further provide new insights to the study of construction management, as the business ecosystem lens offers a systematic explication of the complexity of construction projects and highlights the need to pay attention to the alignment of ecosystem elements in order to successfully implement innovations. The study highlights implications for policy and business concerned with the diffusion and implementation of BEPV.
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