Yes / This paper aims to establish a link between aggregate organizational resilience capabilities and managerial risk perception aspects during a major global crisis. We argue that a multi-theory perspective, dynamic capability at an organizational level and enactment theory at a managerial level allow us to better understand how the sensemaking process within managerial risk perception assists organizational resilience. We draw from in-depth interviews with 40 managers across the UK’s food industry, which has been able to display resilience during the pandemic. In sensing supply chain risks (SCRs), managers within both authority-based and consensus-based organizational structures utilize risk-capture heuristics and enact actions related to effective communications, albeit at different information costs. In seizing, we found that managers adhere to distinct heuristics that are idiosyncratic to their organizational structures. Through limited horizontal communication channels, authority-based structures adhere to rudimentary how-to heuristics, whereas consensus-based structures use obtainable how-to heuristics. We contribute to the organizational resilience and dynamic capabilities literature by identifying assessment as an additional step prior to transforming, which depicts a retention process to inform future judgements. Our study presents a novel framework of organizational resilience to SCRs during equivocal environments, by providing a nuanced understanding of the construction of dynamic capabilities through sensemaking.

This thesis studies the adjustments and adaptations in the International Key Account Management (IKAM) strategies of Swedish Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in recent worldwide geopolitical tensions and crisis conditions towards their suppliers (Key Accounts). The tensions have sharply shifted the world economy, supply chains, and international business relations. Since SMEs form the majority of the Swedish economy, a large proportion of the focus of these SMEs is on international trade; hence, understanding the strategic responses to these challenges is essential.  The study will be conducted through a qualitative multiple-case method, featuring six business cases with different backgrounds who possess broad experience and knowledge in international trade and IKAM. The interviews will allow the research to further understand the challenges and adaptations that have been made when managing supplier relationships during crises outside of the theoretical. Through semi-structured interviews, the research will provide key factors that have affected the IKAM strategies, showcasing the importance of strategic flexibility, adaptability, and proactiveness when dealing with crisis management.  Key findings indicate that, over time, SMEs will need to become more strategically flexible, adaptable, and proactive when applying IKAM practices. Notable adjustments are the reshoring of production closer to Sweden, the diversification of the supplier base to reduce risks, and increasing preparedness for crises by giving more emphasis to communication and relationship management. The dynamic capabilities needed to assure organizational resilience are emphasized in the presented study. The conclusions developed are subject to the dynamic nature of IKAM practices vis-à-vis global uncertainties and, therefore, it provides actionable insights beneficial for Swedish SMEs to navigate future crises more effectively. As such, the current insights have added new dimensions not only to theoretical but also practical learning and have provided invaluable implications for increasing the resiliency and sustainability of SMEs in the international business environment.

Purpose – The upcoming workforce of Generation Z brings new perspectives to the workplace, while also demonstrating a short-term organizational commitment. This creates a challenge for employers to create a sustainable employee retention. The purpose of this study is to enrich the literature on Gen Z employee turnover, particularly focusing on how companies can manage the rapid and unpredictable turnover associated with Gen Z and the factors that influence how long these employees choose to stay. Method - This explorative single-case study examines a global retail company operating in Sweden. A total of 22 interviews were conducted in three waves, and the analysis was performed using thematic analysis. Findings - In the study, four hygiene factors, three motivators, and four actions for these factors were identified for companies to consider to retain Gen Z. Additionally, a framework was developed to illustrate what actions and dynamic capabilities companies should possess along the employee’s journey from recruitment to exit to lower turnover vulnerability. Theoretical contribution - This study deepens understanding of Gen Z employee retention, turnover vulnerability, and motivation theory. It highlights the balance between retention and turnover and introduces the concept of expectation management, which demonstrates how motivators can shift to hygiene factors based on communicated expectations. Additionally, it emphasizes the role of recruitment in aligning employees with company characteristics to improve retention and explores the dynamic capabilities needed to enhance organizational resilience against turnover. Practical implications - This study offers managers insights into Gen Z employee values, emphasizing job advancement, growth opportunities, and salary as crucial retention factors. It provides a framework to mitigate turnover vulnerability by managing expectations and ensuring motivators remain effective. By utilizing this framework, managers can understand the retentionturnover relationship and enhance resilience by focusing on early relationship building, dynamic employment forms, and knowledge retention. Proactive measures in recruiting the right people are also recommended. Limitations and future research - Generalizing to a broader population may be questioned due to the study's focus on one company and lack of comparative analysis across different businesses and countries. Excluding former employees could also lead to a biased view. Future research should address these limitations by incorporating comparative generational analysis and multicase studies. Additionally, investigating the gig economy and strategies to enhance employee effectiveness could provide further insights into employee retention.

Background: AI in Purchasing and Supply Management (PSM) enhances business operations but faces challenges in adoption due to limited research and AI readiness assessment. Although existing research explores AI's potential, the issue of assessing and achieving AI readiness in PSM remains underexamined. Exploring this gap is crucial to understanding how AI can effectively transform procurement processes and improve strategic operations.  Purpose: This study aims to identify and evaluate the essential capabilities that PSM organizations need to develop for AI readiness, using a dynamic capabilities framework to provide insights for both academia and practitioners.  Method: Grounded theory is applied for its flexibility and constructivist principles, allowing theories to emerge from the data collected through semi- structured interviews, providing a comprehensive understanding of AI readiness in PSM. The primary data consisted of 13 interviews with AI users, implementers, and developers.  Conclusion: Identified capabilities needed for successful AI implementation in PSM, include robust technological infrastructure, effective AI governance, and the importance of communication and continuous learning. The study concludes that AI readiness in PSM requires a holistic strategy and dedicated leadership to align technology, strategic goals, and people.

Purpose - This study explores how knowledge exchange between sales and marketing can enhance data-driven marketing initiatives for firms in the high-tech process industry. Additionally, the study aims to identify the factors that drive alignment and collaboration between sales and marketing interfaces from a dynamic capability perspective. Method - This master's thesis is an exploratory study with an inductive approach. 10 qualitative interviews were conducted with employees from a high-tech process automation company, specifically those working in marketing and sales roles. The interviews follow a semi-structured approach, and a thematic analysis was performed to examine the empirical findings. Findings - The study emphasizes the significance of collaboration, knowledge exchange, and functional alignment between sales and marketing, in the context of data-driven marketing and the sales lead generation. By applying a dynamic capability framework, the study sheds light on how firms can leverage knowledge exchange and functional alignment to capitalize on market opportunities and gain a competitive advantage.  Theoretical and practical contributions - The study delves into the underexplored realm of data-driven marketing within the high-tech process industry, particularly focusing on the intricate dynamics between sales and marketing functions during the lead generation process. Through its analysis, the research not only enriches theoretical understanding but also offers practical insights for managers in the high-tech process industry, providing some recommendations to enhance collaboration, knowledge exchange, and optimize data-driven marketing initiatives. / Syfte - Denna studie undersöker hur kunskapsutbyte mellan försäljning och marknadsföring kan förbättra datadrivna marknadsföring initiativ för företag inom högteknologisk processindustri. Dessutom syftar studien till att identifiera de faktorer som driver linjering och samarbete mellan försäljning och marknadsföring, ur ett perspektiv från teorier inom Dynamic Capabilities.  Metod - Denna uppsats är en explorativ studie med en induktiv ansats. 10 kvalitativa intervjuer har genomförts med anställda på ett företag inom högteknologisk process automation, specifikt de som arbetar inom marknadsföring och försäljning. Intervjuerna har följt en semi-strukturerad metod och en tematisk analys har genomförts för att undersöka de empiriska resultaten. Resultat - Studien betonar vikten av samarbete, kunskapsutbyte och funktionell linjeringen mellan försäljning och marknadsföring, i kontexten av datadriven marknadsföring och sales lead generation. I studien har teorier inom Dynamic Capabilities belyst studien, mer specifikt hur företag kan utnyttja kunskapsutbyte och funktionell linjeringen för att utnyttja marknadsmöjligheter och skapa konkurrensfördelar. Teoretiska och praktiska bidrag - Studien utforskar det underutvecklade området datadriven marknadsföring inom högteknologisk processindustri, med särskilt fokus på de komplexa dynamikerna mellan försäljnings- och marknadsförings funktioner under processen för sales lead generation. Genom sin analys berikar forskningen inte bara den teoretiska utan erbjuder också praktiska insikter för chefer inom högteknologisk processindustri, med rekommendationer för att förbättra samarbete, kunskapsutbyte och optimera datadrivna marknadsföring initiativ.

Critical infrastructure provides essential services to the maintenance and progression of societal functions. Due to its importance, critical infrastructure is, to a larger extent, at threat of and subject to antagonistic attacks, such as IT-attacks and cyber-attacks, during times of geopolitical instability. As a result, critical infrastructure providers face externaland internal pressures to build resilience to ensure the continuous provision of essential services. Despite this, and despite the established research field of critical infrastructure resilience, the organizational resilience of critical infrastructure providers has not been properly addressed. Through the lens of the Dynamic Capabilities Framework, the purpose of this study is to provide an insight into how critical infrastructure providers build resilience capabilities prior to adversity in the current geopolitical context. Despite their noted significances, the organizational resilience building of critical infrastructure providers and how organizational resilience is built prior to adversity are under-researched. To develop an understanding of this phenomenon, we conducted a qualitative study on six Swedish critical infrastructure providers using semi-structured interviews using a grounded theory inspired research strategy.With our findings, we discovered that in the face of geopolitical instability, critical infrastructure providers (1) build the sensing capability of observing and identifying adversity by developing situation awareness. This capability is developed by utilizing the internal expertise of selected employees and by building relationships with the external network to gather information. Furthermore, to develop the seizing capability of preparing for adversity in the given context, we found that critical infrastructure providers (2) develop multi-level human resource competencies through communicating clear expectations and responsibilities, providing education to employees, and by cultivating and establishing a safety culture. Additionally, the preparation capability is developed through (3) strategic preparation by developing scenario plans, action plans, and by collaborating with the external network. Lastly, critical infrastructure providers’ capability to prepare is developed by (4) investing capital into organization-wide physical security. With this study, we contribute novel insights of the phenomenon of the organizational resilience building of critical infrastructure providers. In the end, we have found that the organizational resilience building of critical infrastructure providers deviates from existing assessment and suggestive frameworks within the research body on organizational resilience. Accordingly, our findings have generated practical insights to managers of critical infrastructure providers, and an increased understanding to policy makers of how critical infrastructure providers approach resilience in the current geopolitical climate.

無論是台資企業、陸資企業、國外的百年企業，都有其興衰的過程，有的企業還在困境中找出路，有的企業正開始扶搖直上向高峰發展，有些百年企業經過組織變革重新調整戰略而存活下來，但也有不少品牌企業最後走向衰敗。古希臘哲學家赫拉克力特說：「唯一持續不變的事情就是變」，當環境在變、科技在進步、人類的消費行為在改變時，企業該如何掌握未來，並得以在詭變的環境中開創新局。 本研究在探討個案公司成長轉變的歷程，由貿易商一路演進到有研發能力的製造商，其發展的過程中，不斷的累積資源、吸收市場資訊、透過與顧客的合作開發提升自身的研發技術能力，透過學習來強化其核心能力，並在快速變遷的產業環境中，隨時調整其應變能力，來因應環境的考驗，有學者稱此能力為「動態能力」，透過動態能力在定位、程序及路徑的持續演進與發展來累積及強化企業競爭的核心能力，漸漸地與競爭對手拉開距離。 近來大陸的競爭對手陸續冒出，以削價競爭方式掠奪市場，在低階產品已成一片紅海。個案公司有鑑於消費者對於更小且更快的電子產品需求，將會帶動新的創新進展，並進一步由於電腦、通訊設備產業上溫度控管解決方案的需求擴大面向及LED照明散熱墊、熱傳導材料的需求增加，很多民生用電子產品和通訊設備、電源單位、航太等各種產業都需要導熱介面材料。削減能源消費量的節能型設備的需求，使得市場需求愈來愈大。個案公司該如何避開紅海競爭，並在專注核心產品的開發、核心能力的積蓄及動態能力的培養，這將是促成其成長的主要動能。

The corporate political activity field has focused on the study of political capabilities that allow firms to influence governments and regulators. Building on previous studies, this thesis examines a set of capabilities that allow host firms to adapt to rather than influence political environments. Specifically, this set of adaptive political capabilities can be used by firms to confront host country political contexts in emerging economies that share two characteristics: authoritarian regimes and weak institutions. The findings of this thesis show that host firms can develop and use adaptive political capabilities rather than political capabilities to start and sustain their operations in this type of political contexts. This entails attuning firm processes, structures, and practices to local norms and political behaviors, rather than attempting to shape the host country political environment in its own likeness. Our results suggest host firms can develop adaptive political capabilities to enhance their strategic repertoire when starting or sustaining operations in emerging economies with such characteristics. Our contribution is that by using mixed methods, we provide and test several exploratory propositions that support the conceptualization of a framework to guide the development of adaptive political capabilities by host firms and we make explicit a taxonomy of corporate adaptive political strategies that can enable firms to envision how they can adapt to host political contexts.

There is consensus about a need to reduce the amount of green-house gas emission in the electricity industry to be able to deal with the probable consequences of climate change. This necessitates extensive investments in technologies used to generate electricity from renewable energy sources (RES-E). To stimulate such investments, governments have enacted several policy instruments. However, the outcomes of these instruments are mixed. This thesis delineates two reasons for the different effects of policies. First, the development of the renewable electricity industry hinges on a set of driving forces that differ across regions, through the years and for different actors. Given that, policy instruments are not only driving forces behind the renewable electricity industry and can thus by themselves not explain its development. Second, RES-E investors comprise a heterogeneous group of actors whose perceptions of business opportunities vary substantially and are also based on a variety of driving forces. Hence, RES-E investors may react differently to changes within the electricity industry, as well as to government policies that aim to create a more sustainable electricity industry. Garnering a better understanding of these reactions is therefore important as they influence the pace of transition to a more sustainable electricity industry. This is an interdisciplinary study that brings together several theories and research areas. First, using the technological innovation system perspective, it identifies systemic driving forces behind the development of the renewable energy industry that will also accelerate the electricity industry transitions to sustainability. To gain a better insight into the role of policy instruments as such as well as in relation to other driving forces, this thesis explores what factors are accounted for in attempts to assess the instruments’ performance. Second, drawing on sustainability transition studies and dynamic capability theories, this thesis seeks to explore which firms are willing to contribute—and capable of contributing—to sustainability transitions in the electricity industry. The thesis argues that good forecast and policy plans need to be built on a solid understanding of the firms that change the structure of the electricity industry through their RES-E investments. This thesis leverages a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods. Empirical data are collected through two extensive literature reviews on the driving forces of the renewable energy industry development in Europe, a longitudinal case study on a European multinational energy company, and statistical analyses of data on RES-E investors in Sweden. The thesis makes theoretical, methodological, and empirical contributions to this area of research. The findings explain what motivates the development of the renewable energy industry; who competes in the renewable electricity industry; and what the future renewable electricity industry may look like. The thesis outlines implications for policies, for managers as well as for renewable energy technologies. / <p>This research was conducted within the framework of the “European Doctorate in Industrial Management” - EDIM - which is funded by The Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) of European Commission under Erasmus Mundus Action 1 programme. </p><p>QC 20160119</p>

二十一世紀是一個環境變遷快速的時代，組織必須隨時掌握外部環境與內部環境的變化，以快速回度環境與市場需求，維持其競爭優勢。因此，本研究主要目的即以動態能耐觀點為基礎，發展適用於學校組織動態能耐評量工具，進而以之做為評估學校組織動態能耐之工具，並對國內之高級中學與高級職業學校進行調查，以瞭解當前高中職之現況，並提出結論與建議。 在量表發展上，本研究以文獻分析與德懷術進行指標建構，完成後並以信度分析、探索性因素分析及二階驗證性因素分析來檢證其信度與效度。最後發展而成之量表共計七個層面，分別為行政整合、定位、科技應用、學習、創新、知識管理與策略彈性。研究結果顯示本研究所發展之「高中職動態能耐量表」具有良好之信度與效度，可做為高中職之動態能耐評量工具。在高中職之動態能耐現況部分，則採用調查研究法在進行，分層隨機抽取60所公私立高級中學及高級職業學校，共寄出996份問卷，回收有效問卷為690份。調查結果以t考驗、變異數分析等統計方法進行資料處理。 本研究之主要發現有以下幾點： 一、高中職動態能耐量表具有良好之信度與效度，且可由七個層面47個細項指標加以評量； 二、高級中學與高級職業學校之動態能耐沒有顯著差異； 三、私立學校之動態能耐高於公立學校，在「位置」、「知識管理」與「策略彈性」等三個層面之差異達統計顯著水準； 四、成立歷史較悠久之學校具有較佳之動態能耐。； 五、規模太小之學校其動態能耐偏低，競爭優勢不如規模較大之學校； 六、偏遠地區之學校其動態能耐明顯低於都市與鄉鎮地區之學校； 七、男性學校教育人員之動態能耐知覺明顯高於女性學校教育人員； 八、年齡較大之學校教育人員其動態能耐知覺顯著高於年齡較小者； 九、擔任行政職務之學校教育人員其動態能耐知覺高於一般學校教育人員； 十、不同教育程度之學校教育人員其動態能耐之看法沒有顯著差異； 十一、資深之學校教育人員其動態能耐知覺程度明顯高於資淺之學校教育人員； 十二、高中職在「科技應用」層面之表現最佳，而在「知識管理」層面之表現則有待改善。 根據以上之研究結果，本研究提出以下建議，以供未來量表應用、在教育行政機關決策、學校運作與未來研究時之參考： 一、對學校組織動態能耐量表應用之建議 1.應善用動態能耐量表做為組織進步之學校營運引導指標。 2.應進一步確認量表與模式之適當性。 二、對教育主管機關之建議 1.應隨時監控大環境之變化，擬定適當之政策並快速將訊息傳達給學校單位。 2.應致力降低偏遠地區學校與都市、鄉鎮學校之差距。 3.應適度調整公立學校與私立學校之教育資源分配，以使學生享有平等之教育資源。 三、對高級中學與高級職業學校之建議 1.應建立完善之資訊蒐集系統，以強化學校之動態能耐。 2.應增加學校成員參與行政事務之機會。 3.應加強行銷策略，以增進學校信譽資產之優勢。 4.應定時檢視學校之優勢與劣勢，以避免核心僵固的情況發生。 5.應建立學校之知識管理分享文化，以增進創新之能量。 6.應設法留住優秀與經驗豐富之學校教育人員。 四、對未來研究之建議 1.就研究對象方面，可擴大研究對象。 2.就量表施測方面，應佐以相關客觀資料與專家學者之評比進行結果分析。 3.就研究方法方面，在專家意見整合方面可改用焦點團體法或腦力激盪法；在意見調查方面可兼採質化方法。 4.就研究工具方面，可進一步進行量表之修正與驗證。 5.就研究內容方面，可研究動態能耐與其他變項之關係。 / The dynamic capabilities approach is promising in terms of future research potential and as an aid to management endeavoring to gain competitive advantage in increasingly demanding environment. Dynamic capabilities identifying new opportunities and help organizations organize effectively and efficiently in regimes of rapid environments changes. The term ‘dynamic’ refers to the capacity to renew competences so as to achieve congruence with the changing outer environment; the term ‘capabilities’ emphasizes the abilities in appropriately adapting, integrating, and reconfiguring internal and external organizational skills, resources ,and functional competences to make the requirements of a rapidly changing environment. The purpose of this study was to develop an inventory of dynamic capabilities that apply to the senior high schools and senior vocational schools in Taiwan. This research was conducted under two processes. At first, the fundamental indicators of the inventory were constructed under the groundwork of literature review and Delphi method. The inventory was examined with several statistical methods such as reliability analysis, exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. The result showed that the self-constructed dynamic capabilities inventory was with good reliability and validity. Secondly, the inventory was sent to 996 senior high schools’ personnel in Taiwan and 690 valid questionnaires were returned and analyzed by SPSS For Windows 12.0 version at .05 significant level. Statistical method such as descriptive statistics, t-test and one-way ANOVA were adapted to data analysis. Major findings include the following： 1. The dynamic capabilities inventory that constructed by researcher is with fine reliability and validity and could measure schools’ dynamic capabilities with seven dimensions. 2. There is no difference between the dynamic capabilities of senior high schools and senior vocational schools. 3. The dynamic capabilities of the private schools are significantly higher that the public schools. 4. Schools that with longer history have greater dynamic capabilities. 5. The small- scoped schools have less dynamic capabilities. 6. Schools that located in remote area have less dynamic capabilities than the schools located in the city. 7. The perception of dynamic capabilities of male school personnel is significantly higher that the female school personnel. 8. Elder personnel have higher perception of dynamic capabilities than the younger personnel. 9. Personnel serve in administration sections have higher perception of dynamic capabilities than the personnel who are not served in administrative sections. 10. Educational background is not a decisive element to the perception of dynamic capabilities. 11. The senior school personnel have higher perception of dynamic capabilities. Based on the findings, several recommendations were made for the application of DCI-S, for the superior authorities, for the senior high/vocational schools as well as for further research.