The Architecture, Engineering & Construction industry (AEC) is considered one of the largest sectors worldwide and complexed due to the complexity and uniqueness of construction projects. In contradiction to other industries, AEC illustrates high fragmentation, resistance to change, and significantly lower adoption rate of new technology solutions than other industries. The highly disruptive nature of the upcoming technological revolution of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) in the AEC sector and the need for effective implementation of technological innovations is reified in the concept of Construction 4.0. The technological wave that is expected to arise with the 4IR may subsequently entail both opportunities and threats in technological, organizational, individual, societal and sustainability perspectives. This thesis focuses on two major steps. The first step is the assessment of the AEC industry towards the successful implementation of 4IR in the industry. The second step is dedicated to a horizontal and vertical integration of Construction 4.0 contemplating the social perspective of technology. Qualitative research methods such as literature review and interviews using the PESTELE framework have been applied to gather data that will be analyzed with TOE and Social Construction of Technology Theory (SCOT). This study has realized the necessity to develop a comprehensive approach of the AEC industry based on the societal structure and identified the need for horizontal and vertical assessment of the involved social and professional groups. / Arkitektur, teknik, och byggindustrin (AEC) anses vara en av de största sektorerna världen över och komplexa på grund av byggprojektens komplexitet och unikhet. I motsats till andra industrier illustrerar AEC hög fragmentering, motståndskraft mot förändringar och betydligt lägre antagande av nya teknologilösningar än andra industrier. Den mycket störande karaktären hos den kommande tekniska revolutionen i den fjärde industriella revolutionen (4IR) i AEC sektorn och behovet av ett effektivt genomförande av tekniska innovationer förnyas i begreppet Construction 4.0. Den tekniska vågen som förväntas uppstå med 4IR kan därefter innebära både möjligheter och hot i tekniska, organisatoriska, individuella, samhälleliga och hållbarhetsperspektiv. Denna avhandling fokuserar på två huvudsteg. Det första steget är bedömningen av AEC-industrin mot ett framgångsrikt genomförande av 4IR i branschen. Det andra steget är tillägnad en horisontell och vertikal integration av Construction 4.0 som överväger teknikens sociala perspektiv. Kvalitativa forskningsmetoder som litteraturgranskning och intervjuer med PESTELE ramverket har tillämpats för att samla in data som kommer att analyseras med TOE och Social Construction of Technology Theory (SCOT). Denna studie har insett behovet av att utveckla ett omfattande tillvägagångssätt för AEC-industrin baserat på samhällsstrukturen och identifierat behovet av horisontell och vertikal bedömning av de involverade sociala och yrkesgrupperna.

No description available.

Studien ämnar att skapa en djupare förståelse för arbetet med gatubarn i Kilimanjaro regionen, Tanzania, samt undersöka verksamma faktorer för att främja barnens levnadsvillkor. Det empiriska materialet har samlats in genom fyra semistrukturerade intervjuer med socialarbetare från organisationen Amani Centre for Street Children. En tematisk analys användes sedan för att analysera empirin utifrån social konstruktionism, symbolisk interaktionism, identitetsskapande, kommunikationsteori och empowerment. Studiens resultat antyder att samhället har en negativ syn på barn som bor och lever på gatan, vilket leder till stigmatisering och illa behandling. Denna syn, tillsammans med barnens liv på gatan och tidigare erfarenheter i hemmet, påverkar deras självuppfattning. Trots låg självkänsla och självförtroende har barnen utvecklat en känsla av självständighet och handlingskraft för att överleva på gatan. Detta gör det svårt för dem att anpassa sig till ett liv på center, vilket utgör en av de största utmaningarna för organisationen. Slutligen framkom det att organisationen använder olika strategier i arbetet med den utsatta gruppen, inklusive ekonomiskt stöd, olika utbildningar, individuellt anpassade stödprogram samt samtal med kuratorer. Genom att identifiera strategier, framgångsfaktorer och utmaningar i arbetet, syftar studien till en fördjupad förståelse för socialt arbete i en annan kontext än den svenska, samt förbättra situationen för denna sårbara grupp. / The study aims to create a deeper understanding of the work with street children in Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania, and to investigate effective factors to promote the children's living conditions. The empirical material has been collected through four semi-structured interviews with social workers at the organization Amani Centre for Street Children. A thematic analysis was then used to analyze the empirical data based on social constructionism, symbolic interactionism, identity formation, communication theory and empowerment. The results of the study suggest that society has a negative view of children living on the street, which leads to stigmatization and mistreatment. This view, together with the children's life on the street and previous experiences at home, affects their self-perception. Despite low self-esteem and self-confidence, children have developed a sense of independence and agency to survive on the streets. This makes it difficult for them to adapt to life in a center, which is one of the biggest challenges for the organization. Finally, it was found that the organization uses different strategies to work with the vulnerable group, including financial support, various trainings, individualized support programs and counseling. By identifying strategies, success factors and challenges, the study aims to deepen the understanding of social work in a context other than the Swedish one and improve the situation for this vulnerable group.

“Queering Polyamory: Configurations, Public Policy, and Lived Experiences” explores polyamory, a relationship “lovestyle” that involves more then one loving partner, while taking a close look at the social construction of modern day queer polyamory including marriage and sex law. The author states that queer polyamory is socially constructed due to its inclusion of self-identifying gay men, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, gender-variant, omnisexual, pansexual, and queer individuals. This thesis includes a study of participants involved in queer polyamorous relationships. The study concludes that a population that engages in queer polyamorous relationships is diverse in regards to demographics; this is to say state of residence, age, gender, ethnicity, religious/spiritual affiliation, sexual identity and/or orientation, and relationship identity and/or orientation and ways individuals come to be part of queer polyamorous relationships. The study looks at how “out” the participants are and how public policy is affecting the lives of those who engage in queer polyamorous relationships. In conclusion, this study suggests future research options and ways society and public policy can begin to alleviate some of the stressors those in queer polyamorous relationships feel due to public policy and morality law. / M.S.

No / In this article we explain how the development of new organization theory faces several mutually reinforcing problems, which collectively suppress generative debate and the creation of new and alternative theories. We argue that to overcome these problems, researchers should adopt relationally reflexive practices. This does not lead to an alternative method but instead informs how methods are applied. Specifically, we advocate a stance toward the application of qualitative methods that legitimizes insights from the situated life-with-others of the researcher. We argue that this stance can improve our abilities for generative theorizing in the field of management and organization studies.

Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka förskollärares föreställningar om sin handlingsfrihet att använda digitala teknik samt synliggöra deras syn på teknikens möjligheter och utmaningar i undervisningen. Studien utgår från Priestleys modell av Agency med illustration av tre huvudområden med iterationella, praktiskt utvärderande och projektiva dimensioner. Enligt Priestley innebär att uppnåendet av agens alltid sker i konkreta och specifika sammanhang och förståelse av ett fenomen är beroende av kontexten som är ständigt föränderliga över tid (Priestley et al., 2015). Studien tar sin utgångspunkt i den kvalitativ metod i form av semistrukturerade intervjuer. Det insamlade materialet från intervjuerna genomgått en tematisk analys genom att transkriberats, sorterats, reducerats och argumenterats. Studiens resultat presenterades genom tre huvudteman där tema belyser olika kontruktioner. Det första temat betonade förskollärarnas syn på teknikens användning för lärande, och digital teknik sågs som en pedagogisk resurs, främjar kreativitet och språkutveckling samt tekniken upplevde som okontrollerbara. I det andra temat framkom att förskollärare kände sig osäkra i sin interaktion med digital teknik, hade vaga digitala kompetenser och visade brist på intresse för digitalanvändningen. Det tredje temat handlade om förskollärare i samkonstruktion med tekniken kan det leda till skolifieringsagent, programmeringsagent, kritiska agent och dokumenteringsaktör. Slutsatser som kan dras från studien är att tekniken är föränderlig och det innebär att förskollärare bör kontinuerlig hålla sig uppdaterad i utvecklingen. Digital teknik är en integrerad del av samhället och det är viktig som förskollärare att känna till barns rätt till digitalt lärande.

This essay aims to identify if Swedish family law workers construct parents differently based on gender in custody investigations, and if so, whether it influences the workers assessments or not. Previous studies have shown that the gender of parents play a role in how they are viewed by social services. Assessments made by the family law are fundamental for the courts’ judgement of parental ability. The possible consequences of the identified constructions of gender in the custody investigations is a social work based on simplifications and the reproduction of gender norms. The study used a qualitative approach based on a critical discourse analysis to analyze 18 custody investigations. Our conclusions show that family law workers indeed construct gender of parents differently within custody investigations. They are constructed differently within, among other things, identified attributes of the mother and father, care, violence and cooperation difficulties. The mothers were often constructed as emotionally driven. Fathers on the other hand were often constructed as authoritarian. Parental care and faulty parental care were also constructed differently between mothers and fathers. Lastly, different constructions regarding risk factors and perceptions of victims of intimate partner violence were identified. Many constructions played a part in how the parent was assessed.

In this research project the research participants and I embarked on a journey through the "desert" of unemployment. I was introduced to the research participants at Jacob's Well, a ministry for people "between jobs" The effects of unemployment on a male's identity were explored, as well as the pastoral response of caregivers to people "between jobs". A phenomenological study was undertaken in which interviews with the participants formed the basis of the research. The structured section of the interviews was guided by the research questions, but the largest part of the interviews was about the participants' personal journeys "between jobs." The role of a ministry like Jacob's Well, catering for people "between jobs", was highlighted and recommendations for practical theology and pastoral praxis were made. / Practical Theolgy / M.Th. (Practical Theology with specialiisation in Pastoral Therapy)

In this study an ecosystematic approach to sports coaching is forwarded. This approach is illustrated using the analogy of an ecology of ideas. Ideas informing the life span of a coach within an elite team are explored. The researcher engaged four subjects in conversations the life span of a coach in an elite team. these conversations are viewed as co-constructions of realities. The coach abides within a team for a limited time. he or she enters an existing ecology of ideas, which can contribute to, or detract from, the efficacy of the coach in a team. This ecology of ideas evolves as aold meanings shift and new meanings emerge. These menings are explored in this disertation. An awareness of the ecology of ideas within a team can inform the coach to perturb the ecology of ideas in a direction that is mutually qualified as successful / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical psychology)

A sociological approach is used to analyze incidences of extreme opportunism in financial markets. Through an analysis of arguably the most widely publicized "rogue" trader events in recent history, a determination is made of the validity of explaining these events as aberrations, attributable to the actions of "rogues". The primary focus is the role of structural factors underlying these incidences of extreme opportunism in financial markets. A diverse range of documentary and other sources is used to avoid any form of bias as far as possible. It was found that structural factors act as countervailing forces to inhibit such behavior or as motivators and facilitators acting as catalysts for extreme opportunism. The balance between these factors largely determines the level of opportunistic behavior in a particular environment. Extreme opportunism is therefore not an aberration or "rogue" occurrence but a manageable phenomenon intrinsic to the social structural context within which it occurs. By conceptualizing these factors as countervailing forces one is forced to view structural factors, like compensation structures and formal and informal restraints, relative to one another and no longer in isolation. This realization translates into the conclusion that restraints and oversight systems for example, should be designed relative to the relevant motivators and facilitators in its area of application. In an environment where traders of highly geared financial products are motivated with multimillion USD incentive packages, a low budget oversight system and inexperienced regulatory staff, is clearly not the appropriate tools to control and manage extreme opportunism. / Criminology / D.Phil. (Sociology)