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| 2. |
- Gelin, Gunnar, et al.
(author)
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Networks, ICT-levels and work conditions as determinants of developmental processes in SMEs
- 2000
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In: <em>Proceedings NES-2000 - At the gateway to Cyberspace - ergonomic thinking in a new millenium</em>. ; , s. 181-184
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper discusses how social networks and ICT-structures in combination mayinfluence and set conditions for work environment/work organisation changeprocesses in small and medium sized enterprises. To begin with an integrativemodel is presented, followed by some empirical illustrations from an ongoingresearch and development project including about sixty small enterprises in thenorthern part of Norway and Sweden. An underlying theme is that many workplace change processes are context specific: goals, how the processes aremanaged, and participation tend to differ between different company types.
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| 3. |
- Landstad, Bodil, et al.
(author)
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A statistical human resources costing and accounting model for analysing the economic effects of an intervention at a workplace
- 2002
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In: Ergonomics. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0014-0139 .- 1366-5847. ; 45:11, s. 764-787
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The study had two primary aims. The first aim was to combine a human resources costing and accounting approach (HRCA) with a quantitative statistical approach in order to get an integrated model. The second aim was to apply this integrated model in a quasi-experimental study in order to investigate whether preventive intervention affected sickness absence costs at the company level. The intervention studied contained occupational organizational measures, competence development, physical and psychosocial working environmental measures and individual and rehabilitation measures on both an individual and a group basis. The study is a quasi-experimental design with a non-randomized control group. Both groups involved cleaning jobs at predominantly female workplaces. The study plan involved carrying out before and after studies on both groups. The study included only those who were at the same workplace during the whole of the study period. In the HRCA model used here, the cost of sickness absence is the net difference between the costs, in the form of the value of the loss of production and the administrative cost, and the benefits in the form of lower labour costs. According to the HRCA model, the intervention used counteracted a rise in sickness absence costs at the company level, giving an average net effect of 266.5 Euros per person (full-time working) during an 8-month period. Using an analogue statistical analysis on the whole of the material, the contribution of the intervention counteracted a rise in sickness absence costs at the company level giving an average net effect of 283.2 Euros. Using a statistical method it was possible to study the regression coefficients in sub-groups and calculate the p-values for these coefficients; in the younger group the intervention gave a calculated net contribution of 605.6 Euros with a p-value of 0.073, while the intervention net contribution in the older group had a very high p-value. Using the statistical model it was also possible to study contributions of other variables and interactions. This study established that the HRCA model and the integrated model produced approximately the same monetary outcomes. The integrated model, however, allowed a deeper understanding of the various possible relationships and quantified the results with confidence intervals.
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| 4. |
- Landstad, Bodil Johanne, 1965-, et al.
(author)
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Change in pattern of absenteeism as a result of workplace intervention for personnel support
- 2001
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In: Ergonomics. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0014-0139 .- 1366-5847. ; 44:1, s. 63-81
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim was to investigate whether a preventive intervention carried out in a predominantly female workplace, that of hospital cleaners (consisting of a group of 97 women), had any effect on patterns of absenteeism. As a background, a model for analysing complex patterns of absenteeism, including sickness absences, was also developed. A further aim was to study the interactions between different forms of absenteeism. Comparison was made with a reference group consisting of employees in the same job category who only received the customary personnel support. For individuals in the intervention group who were <42 years of age, total absence due to sickness decreased. In a multiple regression analysis, the contribution from the intervention to the decrease was significant at the 5% level. This change was particularly obvious in those who had a previous history of high absence due to sickness. No clear relationship was shown between short-term absenteeism and the interventions applied. For those who were > 42 years, short-term absence decreased for those who had been in the same jobs for a long time. The combination of increased age and experience showed a tendency to enhance this decline in short-term absenteeism due to sickness. For those > 42 years, and who at the same time have a previous history of high absenteeism, long-term absenteeism due to sickness seemed to be increasing. Increased experience tended to reduce this increase in long-term sickness absence. This combination of different effects possibly indicated the presence of a process of selection which determined who remained in the job as opposed to those who did not. An important conclusion is that different forms of absenteeism need to be looked at in parallel, and at the same time multivariate statistical analysis needs to be carried out to determine the different interactions between the factors.
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| 5. |
- Lithander, Jörgen, et al.
(author)
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The King of the Forest as a Money-maker: a case study of entrepreneurship from northern Sweden.
- 2003
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In: <em>The Nordic Scottish Universities Network for Rural and Regional Development</em>. ; , s. 17-34
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- It is common to emphasize the important role of entrepreneurship when issues like job-creation and long-term survival in rural areas are discussed. How then could such an entrepreneurship look like? Is it possible to use the characteristics of a sparsely populated area, nature and the local culture, as resources for entrepreneurial activity? In this paper I will present and analyze an unusual way of making a living, a micro enterprise in Orrviken, a rural area in the county of Jämtland. The enterprise (Moosegarden) is based upon the elk, a big wild animal in Sweden also called "the King of the Forest". It is no overstatement to say that the elk is an important part of the local and regional culture. The elk is used as a heraldic symbol and in tourist guides, and elk-hunting is almost to be considered as a popular movement in the northern part of Sweden. The entrepreneur Sune has built an elk-farm, a large enclosure with approximately ten elks of different age. The enclosure is beautifully situated with a view overlooking a big lake and a mountain area. Sune's business concept is however not only to let people (mostly tourists) get in close contact with the elks. Sune has in fact also figured out a method to produce exclusive "elk-paper" made of droppings from the elk! This paper has attracted much attention in many countries. The elk-paper is also refined and used in the production of "money", Christmas cards, business cards, etc. Even the milk from the elk-cows is taken care of and sold as an exclusive beverage, a kind of potion. In 2002 Moosegarden attracted almost 13 000 visitors. Sune, the entrepreneur, has succeeded with his idea and the elk has become a double producer of money, indirectly by attracting paying visitors and directly through the elk-paper-based money. Some relevant theories of entrepreneurship are presented and tested against the case study in order to answer questions like: How can an entrepreneurial process look like in a rural area? To what extent can and can not "classical" entrepreneurial theories explain the process? What are the driving forces, the powers that compel a person to start a company?
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| 6. |
- Sandberg, Karl W., et al.
(author)
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E-service to citizens and companies in rural areas
- 2004
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In: The International Journal of the Computer, the Internet and Management. - 0858-7027. ; 12:2, s. 1-10
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The county of Västernorrland and Jämtland, like most of the remote and rural areas in the Northern Periphery, face common challenges consisting of limited economic resources, high sickness rates and major recruitment needs in the future. Developed eservice may be one of the solutions to these problems: a solution especially well-suited to sparsely populated areas. In this paper, we have summarized the exciting current challenges and opportunities in the domain of e-governmental services and indicated some areas of special interest for promoting the transition to an information society with enhanced e-services for the rural citizens. There are increased interest in e-service and the will to improve the services offered to citizens and the business community.
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| 7. |
- Sandberg, K W, et al.
(author)
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Information technology and learning strategies in small enterprises
- 2000
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In: Behavior and Information Technology. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0144-929X .- 1362-3001. ; 19:3, s. 221-227
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim of the paper is to define and explain information technology strategic dispositions and competence development within small enterprises. Small enterprises are a heterogeneous group of firms and for that reason, a universal explanation of strategic dispositions and learning strategies makes it advisable to draw upon a diverse range of methods, practices and approaches. `Competence ergonomics' that fosters learning, empowerment and participation offers the flexibility within which to frame this strategy description. Introduction of information technology into small enterprises is treated as being of strategic importance to the future growth and survival of a firm. Methods and theories now being used in The Swedish National Institute of Working Life's (Arbetslivsinstitutet) Balanced Information Technology Project are those described. The Project is located in the area of Ostersund, Sweden where small industries have the need to adopt information technology as a means of promoting continuing competitiveness
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| 16. |
- Vinberg, Stig, 1954-
(author)
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Healthy performance in small enterprises : studies of organizational determinants
- 2003
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Licentiate thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This thesis presents explorative studies aimed at contributing to more knowledge about relations between organizational factors such as aspects of leadership, learning, psychosocial working environment and quality, and relations between these factors and outcomes related to organizational and health performance, in small enterprises. The main focus is not on particular relations in isolation, but on a whole set of factors and the relations between these. The background of the studies is that several public authorities and researchers have discussed that a good working environment and work organization could be related to increased workplace health and organizational performance. However, only a few of all proposals have been transformed into actions, although small enterprises are seen to have difficulties to carry on development processes due to limited resources and knowledge of such processes. The presented studies and analysis are two-level, using both organizational level data for fifty-two enterprises and individual data for the leaders and co-workers (1090 individuals). The empirical findings give support for probable links between healthy work organizational factors and outcomes related to organizational and health performance. Other findings are that several organizational factors are inter-related, and that it is possible to find grouping of enterprises on two general dimensions. This may give support to those working with a concept-driven or holistic change strategy by integrating several aspects, in small enterprises.
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| 17. |
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| 18. |
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| 19. |
- Vinberg, Stig, et al.
(author)
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Information technology levels, competence development and performance in Swedish small business enterprises
- 2000
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In: Behavior and Information Technology. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0144-929X .- 1362-3001. ; 19:3, s. 201-210
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper analyses relations between leaders' and co-workers' competence, IT-levels and organizational aspects within ten small business enterprises in Sweden. Data from questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were used for statistical data analyses organized in four steps. A result is that IT-levels and change competence go together with higher levels of educational investment, and that companies with high levels on these aspects also tend to have a proneness for joining change programs. Another finding is that the higher the rate of IT in a company, the lower the incidence of musculoskeletal problems among employees. The study shows that an increase in leader change competence, a flat organization, a higher leader than co-worker change competence, and an ongoing program contribute significantly to profit per capita at the company level. The analysis model seems to give a good integration of the results, but underlying mechanisms must be dealt with in future research.
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| 20. |
- Vinberg, Stig, 1954-, et al.
(author)
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Networks, ICT level and social consequences : an integrated model for small and medium sized enterprises
- 2000
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In: Ergonomics for the New Millenium. - San Diego : Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. - 0945289138 ; , s. 567-570, s. 567-570
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper focus on conditions and relationships between factors in small and medium sized enterprises related to organizational change and information technology level using an integrated and empirically founded model. Data come from a study of small and medium sized enterprises in the northern part of Sweden. The design combines a quasi-experimental approach with ideas on concept-driven development and network building research. Concepts and data analysis are multi-level - an individual level with leaders and co-workers in the enterprises as units, and an organizational level, with the enterprises as units. Empirical results of network activities, ICT-level, change competencies, ergonomic and psychosocial tension are presented and related to other relevant research
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| 21. |
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