The problematization of waste surplus informed numerous decisions on local, national and international levels. However, the waste pollution problem is far from being solved. This paper attempts to explore an alternative way of organizing waste using the Actor-Network Theory, which argues for equality between humans and nonhumans. We are taking this approach and recognising the role of waste as an essential actor in the decision-making process around waste management. Based on a case study of a second-hand shop, so-called Överskottet, where wasted materials are being transported and processed by people with special needs. We showcased how these alternative ways can be implemented. This shop is part of a collaboration between the Waste Management Department and the Social Services Department of Gotland’s municipality, namely, Region Gotland. This collaboration is a perfect example of the connection between the material and the social. In our study, we are analysing connections between waste and humans on different levels (i.e. municipality departments, humans and wasted materials) and show how these connections create a collaborative network that has both social and environmental impact. We account for factors that strengthen and factors that weaken, thus destabilising the collaboration network. Finally, we highlighted how these collaborations require adapting the existing policies surrounding waste management.

During the first half of the 20th century, lake lowering was a common practice for agricultural drainage in Sweden. Although this phenomenon led to drastic changes in the Swedish landscape, it has been remarkably understudied. Furthermore, previous research on lake lowering, and on the adjacent subject of hydropower, has mostly taken a social constructivist approach. In contrast, the aim of this study was to generate a posthumanist, symmetric account of a lake lowering project, where the non-human actants involved in the network were seen to act. This in order to better understand the driving forces and power relations emerging in a large technical project. The study took the form of an actor-network analysis of the lowering of Lake Tämnaren in the south-east of Sweden. The analysis consists of a chronological account of the project between the years 1923-1967. During the years predating 1950, investigations into both material and social matters were carried out by two engineers who became spokespersons of the many collectives of actants affected by the lake lowering. In the years between 1950-1953 when the project was carried out, the spokespersons’ accounts of reality were challenged, with varying results. After the works had been completed, the question of maintaining a suitable water level in the lake remained controversial and concerned managing the newly built dam. In brief, the conclusions of the study highlight the role of material agency in transporting and changing power between actants in a network. Forms of material agency were for example: the lake flooding, the hardness of soil, or the floodgates of a dam remaining open.

The technology of Building Information Modelling (BIM) is being introduced to the Architectural, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry. This industry is generally perceived as being fragmented, having low productivity and with a low rate of innovation. BIM is presented as new paradigm within this industry, enabling inter-organisational collaboration, overall increasing quality while simultaneously lowering costs. But widespread BIM implementation has not yet taken place. In order to increase adoption, public client organisations have been argued to be the actors needed to initiate and drive the implementation of BIM. However, the client perspective of such implementation initiatives has not been the main focus of earlier research. In this licentiate thesis the BIM implementation process conducted by the largest infrastructure client in Sweden is analysed. This organisation implements BIM both to benefit their own organisation but also to increase productivity and innovation within the whole infrastructure branch of the AEC-industry. With the purpose of increasing the understanding of technology driven change processes at public client organisations, the BIM implementation at this organisation is analysed as an empirical example.  The case study is analysed by a theoretical framework taking inspiration from Actor-Network theory and Sociology of Translation. Based on this analysis the translation process, where key actors are identified and enrolled into using BIM are described. The analysis reveals a complex network of actors linked to the implementation in question. Instead of a single BIM concept, several different and sometimes conflicting interpretations of BIM are simultaneously being translated. This licentiate thesis problematizes the role of client organisations in initiating change within a network of actors. The main ways of enrolling actors into using BIM have in the studied case been the development of new demand documents. This strategy has however been problematic as the new demands for BIM have not been accepted as intended within many construction projects. Instead, the results of this thesis argue for the importance of client organisations as negotiators, not only needed to establish demand for a new innovation. / Tekniken Byggands Informations Modellering (BIM) introduceras just nu i byggbranschen. Denna bransch beskrivs ofta som varande fragmenterad med låg produktivitet samt bristande innovationskraft. BIM beskrivs som ett nytt paradigm för denna bransch, möjliggörande interorganisatoriskt sammarbete, ökad kvalitet och samtidigt minskande kostnader. Däremot har BIM ännu inte anammats på bred front. För att öka implementeringstakten har statliga beställarorganisationer beskrivits som de aktörer som behövs för att initiera och driva implementeringen av BIM. Dock har tidigare forskning inte fokuserat på beställarperspektivet kring sådana initiativ. I denna licentiatavhandling presenteras en fallstudie av BIM implementeringen på den största infrastrukturbeställaren i Sverige. Denna organisation implementerar BIM både för att gynna den egna organisationen men också för att öka produktiviteten och innovationstakten i intrastrukturbranschen som helhet. Med syfte att öka förståelsen kring beställarrollen i förhållande till teknikdrivna förändringsprocesser studeras denna förändringsprocess som ett empiriskt exempel. Denna fallstudie analyseras utifrån ett teoretiskt ramverk med inspiration tagen från Actor-Network Theory och Sociology of Translation. Utifrån denna analys beskrivs översättningsprocesser där nyckelaktörer identifieras och försöks knytas till att använda BIM. Analysen visar på ett komplext nätverk av aktörer kopplat till implementeringen i fråga. Istället för ett enskilt BIM koncept hittas ett flertal samtidiga, och stundtals motsägelsefulla tolkningar av BIM som alla samtidigt översätts i organisationen. Denna licentiatavhandling problematiserar beställarrollen i relation till initiering av förändring inom ett aktörsnätverk. Det huvudsakliga sättet genom vilket aktörer knyts till att använda BIM har i det studerade fallet varit genom utveckling av nya kravdokument. Denna strategi har däremot varit problematisk då dessa krav inte accepterats som tänk inom ett flertal byggprojekt. Istället visar resultatet av denna studie på vikten av beställarorganisationer som varande förhandlare, inte endast viktiga för att upprätta efterfrågan för en ny innovation. / <p>QC 20170614</p>

No description available.

This study researches anti-vaccine discourses related to the COVID-19 vaccine shared on the Flashback forum in Sweden during the COVID-19 pandemic (2021-2022). Using a framework of Critical Discourse Analysis and Actor-Network Theory, the goal of the study is to identify the components of conspiratorial anti-Covid vaccine discourses on the Flashback forum, and unpack how conspiracy theories related to the COVID-19 vaccine found in the sample can contribute to diminishing trust in authorities in the Swedish context.  Departing from Berlet’s (2009) list of eight common scapegoats, the study demonstrates how universally present stereotypes of various ‘Others’ commonly invoked within the context of conspiracy theories are adapted in the national and social context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden. Results of the study discuss how traditional conspiracy theory elements find their way into the analyzed Flashback thread, and how their evocation is discursively used to undermine trust in Swedish authorities and government organs during the COVID-19 pandemic. In doing so, this study contributes to filling a gap in research on the online dissemination of conspiracy theories and its effect on institutional trust and support for (and consecutively, adoption of) regulations put forward by these institutions – an immensely dangerous phenomenon in times of a global health crisis. The study concludes by suggesting further research on how effects such as anonymity online intersect with a growing polarization of society.

This thesis focuses on repatriation of archives and records in a Swedish context with the aim to highlight the agency of the material object and its value in the repatriation process, as well as its connection to authenticity. The thesis consists of four case studie that focuses on different cases where some form of repatriation has occurred. Two of the four cases were completed before this thesis was written, and two were still ongoing processes while it was being written. All four processes took place in a Swedish context, for example between different nations where Sweden was one of them, or between different archival institutions in Sweden. The method that was used to study the cases was document analysis, a type of qualitative content analysis. The results of the study show that repatriation processes are complex and that they can be executed in several different ways with different motivations. In every process there are multiple claimants, values and contexts that effect it. The archives and records are connected to culture, history and identity and throughout these case studies it also becomes apparent that there exists an idea of them belonging in a specific place, whether that be in a na- tion, a city or within a community. The study also show that the claimants place an importance on the archive as the authentic original object and on the ownership of that object. This is a two-year master’s thesis in Archival Science.

Hunting is often summarised to the act of searching for and killing an animal. Due to this fact, hunting has in recent years, come under scrutiny for its’ morality and lack of environmental consciousness. The thesis will be countering this idea, by demonstrating the entanglement of hunting in specific social and material circumstances what is referred to here as the assemblage of hunting. Following this thread, it will highlight the relationship between hunting, conservation, rewilding, rurality. To illustrate this point, the thesis will be analysing the case of hunting in Alsace. With the help of five interviewees, including three Alsatian hunters, and two members of a local conservation organisation, Alsace Nature, I discuss how the local Alsatian hunting system is experienced, perceived and produced, within a local and more global context. By using theories of Actor-Network-Theory, Assemblage Theory, Landscape Theory, Lefebvre’s production of space, and Disturbance Ecology, I analyse how hunting in Alsace has been shaped by the industrialisation of agriculture in the 20th century, how the activity connects to tradition and the creation of a wider Alsatian identity as Germanic, how hunting, conservation, and agricultural policy intertwine to produce a set of practices – or territorialisations but also how they continuously challenge each other. In addition, I trace the prey animals as deterritorialising agents. Overall results show that hunting in Alsace, while not static, has seen little change when it comes to the local hunting system. This creates conflict, as the local Alsatian landscape has changed heavily. Debates on hunting, such as the return of the lynx, or rural-urban divides can be tied to this perceived divide between hunting and the local landscape. Despite these conflicts, hunting stays an important activity in the Alsatian landscape, and a valuable way of managing the environment according to the interviewees.

Ettsyfte med denna uppsats är jämförelsen mellan två behandlingsalternativ för matavfall, hemkompostering eller biogasproducering sett från klimatperspektivet. Koldioxidekvivalenter har beräknats för de två alternativen. Ett annat syfte har varit att studera den politiska processen för att förstå varför det först under 90-talet uppmuntras till att hushållen ska hemkompostera för att sen under början av 2000-talet förespråka rötning av matavfallet. Mina uträkningar och jämförelser visar att det är mer fördelaktigt för klimatet att röta matavfallet, koldioxidutsläppet blir mindre än vid hemkompostering. Mitt andra syfte visar att det kan finnas en klimatvinst genom att låta politiken fatta besluten men det kan även finnas en risk att det egentliga syftet med hemkompostering glöms bort och att hushållen måste betala för något som de egentligen inte behöver (matkärl) eller som inte kanske finns (tillsynen). / One purpose of this study is to compare two treatment options for food waste. Home composting or biofuel production, seen from the climate perspective. The carbon dioxide equivalent has been calculated for the two options. The second purpose was to study the political process with regard to food waste to understand why Swedish households were encouraged to home compost food waste during the nineties only to early twenties advocate biofuel production. My calculations and comparisons shows that it is more beneficial for the climate to digest the food waste then composting since the carbon dioxide emissions is less. My second analysis indicates that while the political reorientation has led to environmental improvements, the effect has also been that to gain control of the food waste stream, waste management organisations effectively provide customers with no choice and economically punish households that have no food waste to collect since they have effective home composting.

This dissertation uses Actor Network Theory (ANT) and Stark and Bainbridge's rational choice theory of religion to analyze an established but controversial branch of science and technology, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI). Of particular interest are the cultural, and sometimes religious, assumptions that its creators have built into it. The purpose of this analysis is not to discredit SETI, but instead to show how SETI, along with other avant-garde scientific projects, is founded, motivated, and propelled by many of the same types of values and visions for the future that motivate the founders of religious groups. I further argue that the utopian zeal found in SETI and similar movements is not aberrant, but instead common, and perhaps necessary, in many early-stage projects, whether technical or spiritual, which lack a clear near-term commercial or social benefit. / Ph. D.

Aquesta tesis presenta un estudi interpretativista sobre els processos d'estandardització i integració relacionats amb la implementació d'un sistema d'informació inter-organitzatiu (SIIO) sectorial en el Port de Barcelona. Aquest treball adopta una perspectiva de conjunt sobre els SIIO. Per un costat, des d'aquesta perspectiva un SIIO està en constant en moviment durant la implementació i el seu posterior ús. Per tant, la implementació del SIIO ve condicionada per configuracions prèvies, ja que els sistemes existents influencien en les opcions i trajectòries que pot prendre la implementació. Per altre costat, de la mateixa manera la implementació ve determinada tant per aspectes materials i/o tecnològics com per aspectes socials. És a dir, la implementació es pot veure com un procés de canvi socio-tecnològic que evoluciona al llarg de la implementació del SIIO sectorial.L'objectiu d'aquesta tesis és investigar la naturalesa socio-tecnològica del procés de implementació d'un SIIO i identificar aspectes teòrics i pràctics que puguin explicar les dinàmiques que es produeixin al llarg de la implementació. En base a un estudi de cas intepretativista i en profunditat, el qual combina l'ús de grounded theory i actor-network theory, realitzo un anàlisi del procés d'implementació, i formalitzo una sèrie de contribucions teòriques i pràctiques. El primer gran tema d'estudi d'aquest treball ha estat l'estandardització que ha tingut lloc abans i durant la implementació del SIIO sectorial. El segon tema ha estat la integració dels sistemes de informació prèviament existents amb el SIIO sectorial.Les contribucions d'aquest treball tenen implicacions per la recerca. En primer lloc, aquest treball amplia el limitat, tot i que creixent, nombre de investigacions que s'han centrat en la naturalesa processual i socio-tecnològica dels SIIO. Igualment aquest treball complementa la literatura existent en SIIO, que ha proposat models de factors, ja que explica com i perquè alguns d'aquests factors són importants. En segon lloc, aquest treball contribueix a la recerca que ha fet estudis longitudinals en l'àrea de sistemes d'informació ja que proporciona una interpretació contextual i en profunditat sobre els processos d'adaptació i canvi que tenen lloc durant la implementació d'un SIIO. Finalment, aquesta tesis contribueix a la literatura sobre estandardització de SIIO mitjançant l'establiment de lligams entre els estudis que proposen models de procés i els que es centren en l'anàlisi dels grups d'interès que participen en l'estandardització.Per altre costat, aquesta tesis té legitimitat pragmàtica ja que pot servir d'ajuda per millorar la pràctica. En primer lloc, aquest treball confirma el dinamisme dels interessos dels actors que participen en els processos d'estandardització, i posa de relleu que aquests actors tenen un ampli ventall d'interessos que varia en funció de la naturalesa dels propis actors i que condiciona la seva actitud al llarg del procés. És, per tant, molt important realitzar una constant identificació dels interessos dels actors. En segon lloc, aquesta tesis mostra que la gestió de SIIO ha de posar èmfasi i dedicar recursos no solament al disseny, a preveure escenaris futurs, i a desenvolupar estratègies i accions per fer front a aquestes previsions. La gestió també ha de prestar atenció i comprendre els esdeveniments no previstos i els canvis emergents que succeeixen durant l'ús del SIIO. Finalment, la implementació de SIIO requereix que els directius donin resposta per tal de reforçar o atenuar aquests canvis emergents. És a dir, la gestió de SIIO no es pot concebre únicament com una intervenció que es pot predefinir i planificar, sinó també com una forma de reacció i resposta al context i el comportament dels altres. Aquesta tesis també suggereix una sèrie de maniobres que poden ésser d'ajut als directius i professionals involucrats en projectes d'implementació de SIIO. / Esta tesis presenta un estudio interpretativista sobre los procesos de estandarización e integración relacionados con la implementación de un sistema de información inter-organizativo (SIIO) sectorial en el Puerto de Barcelona. Este trabajo adopta una perspectiva de conjunto sobre los SIIO. Por un lado, desde esta perspectiva un SIIO está en constante movimiento durante su implementación y posterior uso. Por lo tanto, la implementación del SIIO viene condicionada por configuraciones previas, ya que los sistemas existentes influyen en las opciones y trayectorias que puede tomar la implementación. Por otro lado, igualmente la implementación viene determinada tanto por aspectos materiales y/o tecnológicos como por aspectos sociales. Es decir, la implementación puede verse como un proceso de cambio socio-tecnológico que evoluciona a lo largo de la implementación de SIIO sectorial.El objetivo de esta tesis es investigar la naturaleza socio-tecnológica del proceso de implementación de un SIIO e identificar aspectos teóricos y prácticos que puedan explicar las dinámicas que se producen durante la implementación. En base a un estudio de caso en profundidad e interpretativista, el cual combina el uso de grounded theory y actor-network theory, realizo un análisis del proceso de implementación, y formalizo una serie de contribuciones teóricas y prácticas. El primer gran tema de estudio de este trabajo ha sido la estandarización que ha tenido lugar antes y durante la implementación del SIIO sectorial. El segundo tema ha sido la integración de los sistemas de información que ya existían previamente con el SIIO sectorial.Las contribuciones de este trabajo tienen implicaciones para la investigación. En primer lugar, este trabajo amplia el limitado, aunque creciente, número de investigaciones que se han centrado en la naturaleza procesual i socio-tecnológica de los SIIO. Igualmente este trabajo complementa la literatura previa en SIIO, la cual ha propuesto modelos de factores, ya que explica cómo y por qué algunos de estos factores son relevantes. En segundo lugar, este trabajo contribuye a la investigación que ha realizado estudios longitudinales en el área de los sistemas de información ya que proporciona una interpretación contextual y en profundidad sobre los procesos de adaptación y cambio que tienen lugar durante la implementación de un SIIO. Finalmente, esta tesis contribuye a la literatura sobre estandarización ya que establece vínculos entre los estudios que han propuesto modelos de proceso y los que se centran en el análisis de los grupos de interés que participan en la estandarización.Por otro lado, esta tesis tiene legitimidad pragmática ya que puede servir de ayuda para mejorar la práctica. En primer lugar, este trabajo confirma el dinamismo de los intereses de los actores que participan en procesos de estandarización, y pone de relieve que los diferentes actores tienen una amplia gama de intereses que varía en función de la naturaleza de los propios actores y que condiciona su actitud a lo largo del proceso. Es, por lo tanto, muy importante realizar una constante identificación de los intereses de los actores durante la implementación. En segundo lugar, esta tesis muestra que los directivos encargados de la implementación de SIIO han de poner énfasis y dedicar recursos no sólo a diseñar, prever escenarios de futuro, y desarrollar estrategias y acciones para cumplir con estas previsiones. La gestión también ha de prestar atención y comprender los acontecimientos no previstos y los cambios emergentes que se sucedan durante el uso del SIIO. Finalmente, la implementación de SIIO requiere que los directivos den respuesta con el fin de reforzar o atenuar estos cambios emergentes. Es decir, la gestión de SIIO no se puede concebir únicamente como una intervención que puede ser predefinida y planificada, sino también como una forma de reacción y respuesta al contexto y al comportamiento de otros. Esta tesis también sugiere una serie de maniobras que pueden ser de ayuda para los directivos y profesionales involucrados en proyectos de implementación de SIIO. / This dissertation presents an interpretive study of standardization and integration processes related to the implementation of an industry inter-organizational information system (IOIS) in the Seaport of Barcelona. This thesis adopts an ensemble view of the IOIS. First, from this perspective an IOIS is in constant flux as it is implemented and used in practice. Thus implementation becomes path dependent in the sense that existing systems influence the implementation choices and paths. Second, the implementation is being partly materially determined and partly socially constructed. That is, implementation may be viewed as socio-technical change processes that evolved around the implementation of the industry IOIS.The objective of this thesis is to inquire into the socio-technical nature of IOIS implementation process and identify theoretical and practical issues that can provide a relevant explanation of the implementation dynamics. Based on an in-depth interpretive case study, which is combined with actor-network theory and grounded theory, I conduct an analysis of the implementation process and formalize a set of theoretical and practical implications. The first main theme of this work has been the standardization effort that has taken place before and during the implementation of the industry IOIS. The second main theme is related with the integration of the adopters' pre-existing systems with the industry IOIS.The contributions that arise from this research have implications for research. Firstly, it adds to the limited but growing group of researchers that have focused on the processual and socio-technical nature of IOISs, as well as adds to the factor-based IOIS literature by detailing how and why some of these factors become important. Secondly, it contributes to longitudinal IS research by providing a deeper contextual understanding of the processes of adaptation and change that underlie IOIS implementation. Finally, it contributes to IOIS standardization literature by establishing links between the process and stakeholder models. On the other hand, this thesis has pragmatic legitimacy as it may serve as a helpful guide from which to improve practice. Firstly, this work confirms the dynamism of the stakes during the standardization process and highlights that the stakeholders that participate in the standardization have a range of stakes that vary among their nature and drive their attitude towards the process. Thus a continuous identification of participants' stakes appears to be very important. Secondly, this thesis shows that IOIS management has to place emphasis and devote resources not only to design, predict future conditions, and develop strategies and actions to meet those predictions, but also to pay attention and understand the unexpected events and emergent changes that arise during the use of the IOIS. Finally, IOIS implementation requires management to respond in order to reinforce or attenuate the emergent changes. That is, the IOIS management cannot only be conceived as predefined planned intervention, but also as a form of reaction and response to situational demands and others' behavior. In addition, this thesis provides a set of maneuvers that may guide managers and practitioners involved in the implementation of IOISs.