| 1. |
- Johansson, Malin, et al.
(author)
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Key drivers and obstacles for performance among forest harvesting service contractors - a qualitative case study from Sweden
- 2021
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In: Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0282-7581 .- 1651-1891. ; 36, s. 598-613
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The extensive outsourcing of forest harvesting operations means that the operational performance of contractors has an immense impact on the forest industry supply chain. This study describes perceived drivers and obstacles for strong performance in harvesting service based on semi-structured interviews with four production supervisors and eight contractors. The analysis of interview data revealed a wide array of factors considered to drive or hinder the performance. The factors were categorized into five types: Capability, Incentives, Commitment, Involvement and External factors. Factors concerning Capability, especially resources and competence, were most frequently considered by production supervisors as both drivers and hinders. The contractors considered most commonly Incentives to affect performance, especially motivation and strategy, as drivers and the economy as hinder. Both parties considered lack of resources as hinder to performance. For competence, relationship and collaboration interface, on the other hand, the two parties had different views on whether they acted as drivers or hinders. The knowledge presented in this paper is of interest to researchers or practitioners who wishes to understand the complexities underlying successful harvesting service performance. The insights can contribute to the reshaping of business practices to better target and leverage the mechanisms that most strongly affect performance.
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| 2. |
- Johansson, Malin, et al.
(author)
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The need for flexibility in forest harvesting services - a case study on contractors' workflow variations
- 2023
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In: International Journal of Forest Engineering. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1494-2119 .- 1913-2220. ; 34, s. 13-25
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In many parts of the world, contractors account for the main share of harvesting work. Harvesting is characterized by innate complexity and volatility, and this can affect contractors' workflow and ultimately their profitability. Thus, there is certainly a need for flexibility in harvesting service provision and procedures, but our current knowledge about contractors' workflow variations are limited. This study investigates workflow variations in harvesting services by comparing monthly variations between contractors' workload in terms of harvested volumes and the time spent on operations. The data originates from 77 machines belonging to contractors and their harvesting of 6.6 million m(3) of roundwood in Sweden during a two-year period. The results indicate differences between contractors' workflow variations which can be attributed to the number of machines, machine sizes, and the workload in harvested volume and hours. These findings are relevant for guiding both the customer and contractor in this business relationship, and they could also serve as a basis for further research on the need for flexibility to effectively increase and decrease volume production in harvesting services.
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| 3. |
- Kons, Kalvis, et al.
(author)
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Business success factors of Latvian and Swedish forestry contractors
- 2022
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In: International Journal of Forest Engineering. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1494-2119 .- 1913-2220. ; 33
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The economic viability of forestry contractors is a long-term topic of debate among forest sector professionals and researchers. The forestry contractor business depends heavily on the primary buyers of their services, with a plethora of factors influencing successful business. A survey of 110 forestry contractors from Latvia (LVA) and Sweden (SWE) indicate that the skillfulness of employees, teamwork, good collaboration with business partners, treatment of employees, demand, favorable weather conditions, quality of work, good contract rates, investment in new machinery, and experience in the sector were important factors for success in the forestry contractor business. However, there are differences between the two countries in business-influencing factors. Entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and financial indicators such as net turnover, net profit, return on assets, return on sales, and the number of employees were significantly higher for LVA forestry contractors. At the same time, net profit per employee and net turnover per employee were` significantly higher for SWE forestry contractors.
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| 4. |
- Kronholm, Thomas, et al.
(author)
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A framework for characterizing business models applied by forestry service contractors
- 2019
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In: Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0282-7581 .- 1651-1891. ; 34, s. 779-788
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Forestry service contractors' performance have been found related to how they organize their business. For benchmarking purposes, it is thus of vital importance to have a tool that can capture the relevant characteristics of a firm's business model and structure the information in a useful way. The Business Model Canvas (BMC) is a well-established tool that has frequently been used to describe business models in other industries than forestry. Thus, the aim of this paper was to identify which of the BMC components are the most relevant when comparing business models applied by forestry service contractors and provide a framework for characterizing their business models in a structured and comparable manner. The research process also identified which questions are critical to capturing the relevant content of the included business model components. The adapted framework was tested by interviewing forestry service market experts in Sweden, Finland, Scotland and Ireland about the business model characteristics in their respective countries. The result was a seven-component BMC framework with a number of key questions associated to each component. The paper concludes that the proposed canvas framework is a structured and practical approach for characterizing business models applied by forestry service contractors.
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| 5. |
- Kronholm, Thomas, et al.
(author)
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Characterization of forestry contractors' business models and profitability in Northern Sweden
- 2021
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In: Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0282-7581 .- 1651-1891. ; 36, s. 491-501
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Forestry contractors have doubled their share of work in Swedish forests since the 1990s and have thus become important actors in the industry's supply chain. Yet, their profitability has often been low. It is essential for a firm's success to have a well-functioning business model. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterize business models currently used by forestry contractors and identify differences in the contractors' financial performance in relation to a chosen business model. A survey was sent to all limited liability companies in northern Sweden that were registered to carry out logging or silviculture. One hundred and ninety-eight contractors responded, and their financial performance was analysed based on information in financial statements. The study highlights that there are clear differences both within and between contractor categories in relation to several business model components, as well as their financial performance. Logging contractors had the lowest profitability, measured as return on assets, and also a lower solidity and liquidity compared to silvicultural and mixed service contractors. The largest logging contractors tended to have a better and more stable profitability than small ones, although the differences were small and varied between years. However, a negative trend in profitability was identified for all contractor groups.
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| 6. |
- Kronholm, Thomas, et al.
(author)
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Characterization of Swedish forestry contractors’ practices regarding occupational safety and health management
- 2024
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In: Forests. - 1999-4907. ; 15
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Forestry has many dangers, and much effort has been put into supporting accident prevention by developing legislation and certification systems. In Sweden, forestry contractors have an important role in developing and maintaining a good working environment for the employed forestry workers. The objectives of this study were to describe forestry contractors’ current practices regarding occupational safety and health (OSH) management and identify variations in relation to the contractors’ characteristics and finances, as well as to highlight areas that need improvement. In 2023, data were collected through a survey distributed to 1200 limited liability companies registered to perform logging or silvicultural services, with a response rate of 22%. Multi- and univariate analyses were performed to compare contractor groups, and the results show that larger companies had more well-developed and formalized routines and guidelines for their operations. Geographical differences were also identified; for example, employees in the north were more likely to have access to staff facilities when working in the forest. However, no clear connection between OSH management practices and the contractors’ finances could be demonstrated. The study concludes that there is a need for improvements in OSH work within the industry because many companies do not meet all of the formal requirements that exist today.
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Kronholm, Thomas, et al.
(author)
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District Council Members and the Importance of Member Involvement in Organization Renewal Processes in Swedish Forest Owners' Associations
- 2013
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In: Forests. - : MDPI AG. - 1999-4907. ; 4, s. 404-432
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The objective of this paper is to examine the organization renewal process in forest owners' associations and the role of members in this process. Based on 15 qualitative interviews with district council members in a forest owners' association, we describe the characteristics of today's elected member representatives in terms of their motives for volunteering, their relationship with the organization, and the organizational practices and routines of the renewal process. It is shown that most district council members are traditional forest owners with a family history within the association and that the district councils are therefore not representative of all member groups. We thus argue that it will be important for the renewal process that the associations carefully consider how they want to be perceived by both current and potential members in order to encourage the involvement of different owner groups. The election committees, which prepare the elections to the councils and board, play an important role in the associations' renewal processes and must become more active in their search for suitable candidates.
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
- Kronholm, Thomas, et al.
(author)
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Elucidation of young adults’ relationships to forests in northern Sweden using Forest Story Cards
- 2017
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In: Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0282-7581 .- 1651-1891. ; 32, s. 607-619
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- As Swedish family forests' owners are ageing, large proportions of ownership will soon be transferred to new owners. However, little is known about forest-related views and expectations of the younger generations. Since forests are economically, ecologically and socially important in Sweden there is increasing interest in elucidating their perceptions and intentions. This paper addresses this issue by exploring young adults' relationships with forests during childhood, current attitudes toward forests and forestry, and their future hopes and intentions regarding forests. Results of focus group sessions with young adults in northern Sweden, using Forest Story Cards to aid the discussions, show that their relationships with forests are intimately connected to their home environment and family matters. Their selections and comments indicate that both their current relationships and childhood experiences of forests are strongly linked to recreational activities, while they are less familiar with forestry operations. The youths appear to have consistently positive attitudes toward and value forests, but their attitudes toward forestry are more diverse, encompassing both positive and negative associations. They also regard environmental aspects of forests and the possibility to offer their children the same forest relationship they enjoyed as important issues for the future.
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