ABSTRACT The purpose of this thesis is to analyze, describe, and explain how Swedish firms implement CSR in their Chinese supply chains. In order to reach the intention of the thesis a case study of four Swedish firms operating in China has been conducted which involved personal interviews in the field. The theoretical framework contains a description of the stakeholder theory, the legitimacy theory, the CSR pyramid, the ARA-analysis, and theory on business relations which all are relevant to the phenomenon studied and the research questions. The empirical findings include the case firms view on stakeholder pressure, their CSR related activities in their supply chains, and how supplier relations are managed. In the analysis the theoretical framework is connected to the empirical findings. The analysis consist of how the case firms deal with stakeholder pressure, to what extent they take social responsibility in their Chinese supply chains, and how their supplier relations are managed concerning CSR. Our analysis shows that the firms perceive their customers to be the main pressure to engage in CSR. However, the analysis further demonstrates that the case firms find it difficult to comply with the responsibilities demanded by their customers in the Chinese context. Moreover, the analysis will touch upon how supplier relations are managed when implementing CSR. The conclusion of the thesis shows that Swedish companies implement CSR in their Chinese supply chains by adding Chinese characteristics, meaning adapting the expected responsibilities to the Chinese context. The thesis will end with recommendations for further research in the field of CSR in firms’ supply chains in emerging economies.

This thesis deals with how companies utilize their enterprise systems in their business relationships. The study’s starting point is enterprise systems that basically are standardised information systems that the company can acquire from software vendors like SAP, Oracle and Microsoft. Enterprise systems aim to integrate and manage all the company’s data and it can also be linked to its business partners. The thesis contains two case studies of how a focal company utilizes its enterprise system in their business relationships. To accomplish this, an analytical framework based upon the combination of an information systems (IS) and a business relationship perspective is developed and applied. The IS perspective follows an ‘ensemble view of technology’ approach which describes the use of information systems as embedded in a both technical and social context. The business relationship perspective is founded in empirical studies of industrial companies. Basically, business relationships are unique and based on the companies’ exchanges. It also involves behavioural elements as trust, commitment, adaptations and interdependencies between the partners. The two case studies cover the business relationships between ten companies and the character of the studied business relationships varies. The results show that enterprise systems are mainly focused on the companies’ internal activities. The exchanges in the business relationships are either carried out without the enterprise system or are supported by some complementary information system. Enterprise systems are thus mainly seen as production systems. This can be explained by the heritage from former material and resource planning (MRP) systems. An alternative explanation can be that business relationships are unique and require continuous adaptations and a mutual orientation. Enterprise systems require structural data rendering them difficult to use for the activities of a business relationship. The users then develop other, individual, applications that handle what is needed in their ongoing business. The threat is that information can be lost on a company level. The challenge is therefore to investigate the complementary information systems functions to see if it is possible to extend the enterprise system to include them. To be worth its epithet, the enterprise system must facilitate all the business activities found in the companies business relationships.

Problem of the Study: Non-traditional, value-added coconut products, such as Virgin Coconut Oil, Coco Water and Coco Sugar, have increased tremendously the last few years and the end-consumer pay a high price in retail for these considered luxury products. However, there is no abundance or indulgence in the life of the farmers and small producers in the Philippines at the other end of this global billion-dollar industry. Purpose of the Thesis: The purpose of this study is to describe, analyse and define the export network, and the roles of the actors, of the value-added coconut products in the Philippines as well as locate the origin of the single or combined problems that have led to struggling industry suppliers, and through that identify possible solutions which can increase the economic viability of the suppliers. Methodology: This study has been conducted as a case study, where the empirical findings was collected during an 8 weeks long field trip to the Philippines. A qualitative approach was adapted in order to create a deeper understanding of the problem and abduction made this possible. Six semi-structured interviews and one in-depth interview were executed. The majority of the data was collected through these interviews, although participating observation was also an important source of information along with secondary data. The validity and reliability has been secured by carefully explaining the methodology of the study, interviewing several different actors, following a interview guide and by separately interpreting the the primary data before comparing them with each other. Conclusions: The study showed that the Philippine coconut industry network is far from centreless. The government and MNCs play the biggest roles in the network, meanwhile the farmers and small producers have a very small part in the export activities of value-added coconut products. In order for the existing inequalities within the network, in both influence and profit shares, to be resolved farmers and small producers need increased support to be able to engage in value-added production, reach collaborative advantage and get access to direct export channels.

Doctor of Philosophy(PhD) / Globalisation in general and trade liberalisation in particular have impacted on many areas of industrialised governments’ foreign economic policy. Export support is an area which is inevitably affected by trade liberalisation, as governments are expected to decrease their intervention into exports in the name of barrier-free(er) trade. However, if one considers that the 1990s and 2000s have seen governments expanding their trade promotion agencies, increasing funding for export support provision and developing a range of new export support programmes, it is easy to recognise that government export support seems to have grown, rather than diminished over the past decade. This thesis investigates the complex influences of the world trade regime, to create a nuanced picture within globalisation theories - which ultimately explains the paradox of growing government support in the era of deepening trade liberalisation.

Problemställning: Genom digitaliseringen går det att identifiera möjligheter i såväl företags kunskapshantering som affärsrelationer. Dessa består bland annat av möjligheter till mer data- och informationsunderlag och nya sätt att kommunicera på. Samtidigt innebär det även utmaningar i form av högre krav på hantering, anpassning och kunskap för att realisera möjligheterna. Vidare kan företag genom att digitalisera sig anta ekonomiska fördelar och digitaliseringen kan ses som nödvändig att hänga med i för att överleva på marknaden. Detta pekar på dilemmat och relevansen för företag att utnyttja digitaliseringen till sin fördel. Att undersöka vad dessa möjligheter och utmaningar består av, ter sig därmed aktuellt att studera i samband med kunskapshantering och affärsrelationer. Forskningsfrågor: 1. Hur gestaltar sig de huvudsakliga digitala förändringarna, och vilka möjligheter respektive utmaningar upplever anställda med dessa? 2. Vilka upplevs som de huvudsakliga möjligheterna respektive utmaningarna som digitaliseringens effekter har bidragit till gällande kunskapshantering inom företag? 3. Vilka upplevs som de huvudsakliga möjligheterna respektive utmaningarna som digitaliseringens effekter har bidragit till gällande hanteringen och upprätthållandet av affärsrelationer för företag? Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att få en ökad förståelse för de möjligheter och utmaningar som anställda på kunskapsintensiva B2B-företag upplever som effekt av digitaliseringen. Detta undersöks ur två huvudsakliga områden; kunskapshantering och affärsrelationer. Upplevda möjligheter och utmaningar kopplat till digitaliseringen som en förändring i företag studeras också och är det som inleder studien. Resultat: Det som vissa respondenter upplever som möjligheter upplevs som utmaningar av andra. Sett till digitaliseringen upplevs möjligheter till tidsbesparing och arbete med andra uppgifter, parallellt med en utmaning i samband med ökad hantering och stress. Investeringar upplevs riskera att inte besvara behovsbilden och synkronisering ses som utmanande, samtidigt som det beskrivs som en möjlighet ifall detta uppnås. Vid kunskapshantering visar sig möjligheter till såväl ökad som minskad motivation. Även sett till kommunikation internt och långsiktigt externt relationsbyggande samt tillit, kan digitaliseringen verka åt båda håll. Lagar, regleringar och bestämmelser visar sig vara en utmaning som flera respondenter upplever. Digitala verktyg upplevs kunna gynna kommunikation och kunskapsspridning, men även tiden framställs som en utmaning i detta sammanhang Kunskapsbidrag: Studien bidrar till att öka förståelsen för vilka huvudsakliga möjligheter och utmaningar som anställda på kunskapsintensiva B2B-företag upplever som effekt av digitaliseringen. Denna förståelse är värdefull för företag som möter denna förändring; en medvetenhet kring möjligheter och en identifiering av utmaningar kan stärka arbetet. / Problematization: With the digitization, opportunities in knowledge management as well as in business relations are identified. These consist of, for example, opportunities in more data as well as information in decision making, but also new ways to communicate. Simultaneously, challenges in increasing demands on management, adaptation and knowledge occur to take advantage of the opportunities. Moreover, enterprises can realize economic benefits and the digitization can also be seen as something that they have to keep up with in order to survive on the market. This shows the dilemma, as well as the importance, for enterprises to take advantage of the digitization. Therefore, it is of interest to examine what these opportunities and challenges consist of, focusing on knowledge management and business relations. Research questions: 1. How are the main digitization changes shown, and which are experienced as the main opportunities and challenges? 2.Which are experienced as the main opportunities and challenges that the effects of the digitization have contributed to, focusing on enterprises’ knowledge management? 3. Which are experienced as the main opportunities and challenges that the effects of the digitization have contributed to, focusing on the management and maintenance of business relations in enterprises? Purpose: The study aims to reach a deeper understanding of the opportunities and challenges that workers in knowledge intensive B2B-enterprises experience as an effect of the digitization. These are being examined focusing on two main areas: knowledge management and business relations. Experienced opportunities and challenges with the digitization as a change in enterprises is also examined and begins the study. Result: Aspects that some respondents expressed as opportunities, others experienced as challenges. Digitization is described as an opportunity to make time savings that can be invested in other tasks, as well as it is experienced as a challenge in increasing work with management and stress, as a result. IT-investments are associated with the risk of not fulfilling the needs and synchronization is described as a challenge, as well as an opportunity if it is achieved. Correlated to knowledge management, digitization can increase as well as decrease the motivation. In internal communication, long term business relations and trust, the digitization is experienced as affecting in different directions. Laws and regulations turned out to be a challenge according to several respondents. Digital tools are experienced as being able to promote communication and knowledge management, but the time is expressed as a challenge in this aspect as well. Contribution: The study contributes to an increasing understanding of the main opportunities and challenges that workers in knowledge intensive B2B-enterprises experience as an effect of the digitization. This understanding is valuable to enterprises in digital changes thanks to an increasing ability to identify opportunities and reinforce them, as well as to identify challenges and handle them.

Esta tese teve como objetivo compreender a formação de parcerias sociais entre empresas e ONGs para a construção de projetos de desenvolvimento social de cooperativas e associações no setor da reciclagem. Para tanto, foram investigados dois casos de parcerias entre ONGs e Empresas que buscaram desenvolver projetos para a melhoria das condições de trabalho dos recicladores. Devido à natureza conflitante destes atores, a parceria social foi entendida é entendida como uma rede de atividades interconectadas, construídas coletivamente, em um espaço de tensão e contradição. Essa construção coletiva é compreendida como uma elaboração conjunta de um projeto de desenvolvimento social, em que os parceiros discutem, aprendem e negociam sentidos e significados visando a construção de um coletivo. Este entendimento remete a utilização de uma abordagem que possibilite a compreensão das tensões e contradições imersas nas atividades dos atores e, neste sentido, a teoria da atividade histórico cultural foi utilizada como lente teórico metodológica, principalmente em sua articulação com o campo de estudos negócios e sociedade. Diante deste contexto, desenvolveu-se uma pesquisa qualitativa, descritiva, por meio de dois estudos de caso. O primeiro caso refere-se ao projeto desenvolvido entre a ONG e a Gerdau, a partir do interesse da empresa em qualificar o seu fornecedor de sucata, bem como usar tal ação de qualificação como uma iniciativa de responsabilidade social em sua cadeia de suprimentos. Os principais mediadores deste processo foram o conhecimento da ONG, seus educadores sociais, o conhecimento gerencial da empresa, seus recursos financeiros, bem como artefatos de identificação. O segundo caso estudado relata o relacionamento ONG e Braskem. Este relacionamento emerge da necessidade da empresa em obter uma licença de operação na sociedade em que esta inserida. Assim a intenção da empresa é legitimar a sua presença e existência na sociedade e isto é realizado através do reforço da utilidade do seu produto. Os instrumentos que são utilizados na parceria buscam assim a melhoria da imagem do produto, bem como da sua imagem como uma empresa ―local‖: artefatos de identificação e discursivos. E tendo como norte esta necessidade latente, o diálogo entre empresa e ONGs se torna um dos principais mediadores do processo, bem como uma divisão do trabalho que reflita esta parceria e proximidade. Ainda, a fim de compreender a dinâmica subjacente ao processo de desenvolvimento destes projetos, este estudo lançou o olhar para os desafios de aprendizagem vivenciados pelos atores. No primeiro caso, foram evidenciados como desafios de aprendizagem (i) necessidade de mudança em direção a uma maior organização do trabalho (ii) ressignificação do trabalho e; (iii) necessidade de desenvolver um instrumento de trabalho que fosse condizente à realidade dos cooperados. Por outro lado, os desafios de aprendizagem relacionados ao segundo caso referem-se ao (i) relacionamento ONG-Empresa e na sua forma de operacionalização; (ii) escolha dos projetos devem ser apoiados, ou, em outras palavras, quais os stakeholders que irão ser considerados na comunidade. É importante notar que o fato dos desafios de aprendizagem e, consequentemente, das transformações obtidas mediante as consecução destes, terem residido, no Caso A, na cooperativa e, no Caso B, no relacionamento, reflete as características idiossincráticas destas organizações e o que ambas buscavam com a parceria. / How to construct fruitful relations with different stakeholders represents a challenge for organizations and a gap in the academic literature. One way to do this is through partnership establishment, especially in between companies and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO). Through partnerships, organizations could develop their own CSR‘s practices. On the other hand, NGOs could exercise their social role, in order to help community development. This study aims to understand how cross sectorial social partnerships for social development projects, whose purpose is to improve the working conditions and business structure of recycling warehouses, are constructed in the recycling sector, in the South Region of Brazil. In order to do so, two business-NGOs partnership cases were investigated. Given the actors contradictory nature, social partnerships were understood as a network of interconnected activity systems, in a social space of tension, contradiction and negotiation among actors in relation with each other and to the world, immersed in a historical and cultural context, from a culturally mediated relationship. The argument put forward is that the Cultural Historical Activity Theory can serve as a theoretical framework and provide a suitable model to analyse cross-sector social partnerships construction. Supported by the theoretical perspectives outlined above, we rely on a qualitative, descriptive research, by using a case study method. We carry on two case studies, in order to understand the projects development by a single NGO with two company leaders in each sector. The first case analyses Gerdau S.A. and its trajectory in the recycling sector. Gerdau S.A. seeks to engage with the NGO aiming to qualify recycling warehouses, as they are one of the suppliers, and to comply with their CSR agenda. The main artifacts used by the actors are NGO‘s knowledge and expertise, company managerial knowledge, and Identity Artifacts (company logo). The second case refers to NGO-Braskem relationship, which emerges from the company‘s need to get social license to operate in the region. So, the company intends to legitimate its existence in the society through gains in their product‘s image. Most of the artifacts are used by the actors to achieve this goal, such as Identity Artifacts (company and NGO logo), and Discursive Artifacts, in order to embody ―local identity‖ to the company. Given this context, the dialogue between Braskem and the NGO is one of these artifacts, as well as labor division, which reflects the relationship and proximity. In order to understand the dynamics that underlies the project construction, this study also investigated the learning challenges experienced by the NGO and the companies. The main learning challenges experienced by the partnership NGO-Gerdau are: (i) change through better work organization and structuration; (ii) work meaning ressignification; (iii) development of a work tool that fits to the warehouses reality. On the other hand, the learning challenges experienced by the partnership NGO-Braskem are: (i) the partnership between the actors and its operationalization; (ii) the choice between warehouses that will be supported, or, in other words, which stakeholders will be included in the community.

Esta tese teve como objetivo compreender a formação de parcerias sociais entre empresas e ONGs para a construção de projetos de desenvolvimento social de cooperativas e associações no setor da reciclagem. Para tanto, foram investigados dois casos de parcerias entre ONGs e Empresas que buscaram desenvolver projetos para a melhoria das condições de trabalho dos recicladores. Devido à natureza conflitante destes atores, a parceria social foi entendida é entendida como uma rede de atividades interconectadas, construídas coletivamente, em um espaço de tensão e contradição. Essa construção coletiva é compreendida como uma elaboração conjunta de um projeto de desenvolvimento social, em que os parceiros discutem, aprendem e negociam sentidos e significados visando a construção de um coletivo. Este entendimento remete a utilização de uma abordagem que possibilite a compreensão das tensões e contradições imersas nas atividades dos atores e, neste sentido, a teoria da atividade histórico cultural foi utilizada como lente teórico metodológica, principalmente em sua articulação com o campo de estudos negócios e sociedade. Diante deste contexto, desenvolveu-se uma pesquisa qualitativa, descritiva, por meio de dois estudos de caso. O primeiro caso refere-se ao projeto desenvolvido entre a ONG e a Gerdau, a partir do interesse da empresa em qualificar o seu fornecedor de sucata, bem como usar tal ação de qualificação como uma iniciativa de responsabilidade social em sua cadeia de suprimentos. Os principais mediadores deste processo foram o conhecimento da ONG, seus educadores sociais, o conhecimento gerencial da empresa, seus recursos financeiros, bem como artefatos de identificação. O segundo caso estudado relata o relacionamento ONG e Braskem. Este relacionamento emerge da necessidade da empresa em obter uma licença de operação na sociedade em que esta inserida. Assim a intenção da empresa é legitimar a sua presença e existência na sociedade e isto é realizado através do reforço da utilidade do seu produto. Os instrumentos que são utilizados na parceria buscam assim a melhoria da imagem do produto, bem como da sua imagem como uma empresa ―local‖: artefatos de identificação e discursivos. E tendo como norte esta necessidade latente, o diálogo entre empresa e ONGs se torna um dos principais mediadores do processo, bem como uma divisão do trabalho que reflita esta parceria e proximidade. Ainda, a fim de compreender a dinâmica subjacente ao processo de desenvolvimento destes projetos, este estudo lançou o olhar para os desafios de aprendizagem vivenciados pelos atores. No primeiro caso, foram evidenciados como desafios de aprendizagem (i) necessidade de mudança em direção a uma maior organização do trabalho (ii) ressignificação do trabalho e; (iii) necessidade de desenvolver um instrumento de trabalho que fosse condizente à realidade dos cooperados. Por outro lado, os desafios de aprendizagem relacionados ao segundo caso referem-se ao (i) relacionamento ONG-Empresa e na sua forma de operacionalização; (ii) escolha dos projetos devem ser apoiados, ou, em outras palavras, quais os stakeholders que irão ser considerados na comunidade. É importante notar que o fato dos desafios de aprendizagem e, consequentemente, das transformações obtidas mediante as consecução destes, terem residido, no Caso A, na cooperativa e, no Caso B, no relacionamento, reflete as características idiossincráticas destas organizações e o que ambas buscavam com a parceria. / How to construct fruitful relations with different stakeholders represents a challenge for organizations and a gap in the academic literature. One way to do this is through partnership establishment, especially in between companies and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO). Through partnerships, organizations could develop their own CSR‘s practices. On the other hand, NGOs could exercise their social role, in order to help community development. This study aims to understand how cross sectorial social partnerships for social development projects, whose purpose is to improve the working conditions and business structure of recycling warehouses, are constructed in the recycling sector, in the South Region of Brazil. In order to do so, two business-NGOs partnership cases were investigated. Given the actors contradictory nature, social partnerships were understood as a network of interconnected activity systems, in a social space of tension, contradiction and negotiation among actors in relation with each other and to the world, immersed in a historical and cultural context, from a culturally mediated relationship. The argument put forward is that the Cultural Historical Activity Theory can serve as a theoretical framework and provide a suitable model to analyse cross-sector social partnerships construction. Supported by the theoretical perspectives outlined above, we rely on a qualitative, descriptive research, by using a case study method. We carry on two case studies, in order to understand the projects development by a single NGO with two company leaders in each sector. The first case analyses Gerdau S.A. and its trajectory in the recycling sector. Gerdau S.A. seeks to engage with the NGO aiming to qualify recycling warehouses, as they are one of the suppliers, and to comply with their CSR agenda. The main artifacts used by the actors are NGO‘s knowledge and expertise, company managerial knowledge, and Identity Artifacts (company logo). The second case refers to NGO-Braskem relationship, which emerges from the company‘s need to get social license to operate in the region. So, the company intends to legitimate its existence in the society through gains in their product‘s image. Most of the artifacts are used by the actors to achieve this goal, such as Identity Artifacts (company and NGO logo), and Discursive Artifacts, in order to embody ―local identity‖ to the company. Given this context, the dialogue between Braskem and the NGO is one of these artifacts, as well as labor division, which reflects the relationship and proximity. In order to understand the dynamics that underlies the project construction, this study also investigated the learning challenges experienced by the NGO and the companies. The main learning challenges experienced by the partnership NGO-Gerdau are: (i) change through better work organization and structuration; (ii) work meaning ressignification; (iii) development of a work tool that fits to the warehouses reality. On the other hand, the learning challenges experienced by the partnership NGO-Braskem are: (i) the partnership between the actors and its operationalization; (ii) the choice between warehouses that will be supported, or, in other words, which stakeholders will be included in the community.

Esta tese teve como objetivo compreender a formação de parcerias sociais entre empresas e ONGs para a construção de projetos de desenvolvimento social de cooperativas e associações no setor da reciclagem. Para tanto, foram investigados dois casos de parcerias entre ONGs e Empresas que buscaram desenvolver projetos para a melhoria das condições de trabalho dos recicladores. Devido à natureza conflitante destes atores, a parceria social foi entendida é entendida como uma rede de atividades interconectadas, construídas coletivamente, em um espaço de tensão e contradição. Essa construção coletiva é compreendida como uma elaboração conjunta de um projeto de desenvolvimento social, em que os parceiros discutem, aprendem e negociam sentidos e significados visando a construção de um coletivo. Este entendimento remete a utilização de uma abordagem que possibilite a compreensão das tensões e contradições imersas nas atividades dos atores e, neste sentido, a teoria da atividade histórico cultural foi utilizada como lente teórico metodológica, principalmente em sua articulação com o campo de estudos negócios e sociedade. Diante deste contexto, desenvolveu-se uma pesquisa qualitativa, descritiva, por meio de dois estudos de caso. O primeiro caso refere-se ao projeto desenvolvido entre a ONG e a Gerdau, a partir do interesse da empresa em qualificar o seu fornecedor de sucata, bem como usar tal ação de qualificação como uma iniciativa de responsabilidade social em sua cadeia de suprimentos. Os principais mediadores deste processo foram o conhecimento da ONG, seus educadores sociais, o conhecimento gerencial da empresa, seus recursos financeiros, bem como artefatos de identificação. O segundo caso estudado relata o relacionamento ONG e Braskem. Este relacionamento emerge da necessidade da empresa em obter uma licença de operação na sociedade em que esta inserida. Assim a intenção da empresa é legitimar a sua presença e existência na sociedade e isto é realizado através do reforço da utilidade do seu produto. Os instrumentos que são utilizados na parceria buscam assim a melhoria da imagem do produto, bem como da sua imagem como uma empresa ―local‖: artefatos de identificação e discursivos. E tendo como norte esta necessidade latente, o diálogo entre empresa e ONGs se torna um dos principais mediadores do processo, bem como uma divisão do trabalho que reflita esta parceria e proximidade. Ainda, a fim de compreender a dinâmica subjacente ao processo de desenvolvimento destes projetos, este estudo lançou o olhar para os desafios de aprendizagem vivenciados pelos atores. No primeiro caso, foram evidenciados como desafios de aprendizagem (i) necessidade de mudança em direção a uma maior organização do trabalho (ii) ressignificação do trabalho e; (iii) necessidade de desenvolver um instrumento de trabalho que fosse condizente à realidade dos cooperados. Por outro lado, os desafios de aprendizagem relacionados ao segundo caso referem-se ao (i) relacionamento ONG-Empresa e na sua forma de operacionalização; (ii) escolha dos projetos devem ser apoiados, ou, em outras palavras, quais os stakeholders que irão ser considerados na comunidade. É importante notar que o fato dos desafios de aprendizagem e, consequentemente, das transformações obtidas mediante as consecução destes, terem residido, no Caso A, na cooperativa e, no Caso B, no relacionamento, reflete as características idiossincráticas destas organizações e o que ambas buscavam com a parceria. / How to construct fruitful relations with different stakeholders represents a challenge for organizations and a gap in the academic literature. One way to do this is through partnership establishment, especially in between companies and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO). Through partnerships, organizations could develop their own CSR‘s practices. On the other hand, NGOs could exercise their social role, in order to help community development. This study aims to understand how cross sectorial social partnerships for social development projects, whose purpose is to improve the working conditions and business structure of recycling warehouses, are constructed in the recycling sector, in the South Region of Brazil. In order to do so, two business-NGOs partnership cases were investigated. Given the actors contradictory nature, social partnerships were understood as a network of interconnected activity systems, in a social space of tension, contradiction and negotiation among actors in relation with each other and to the world, immersed in a historical and cultural context, from a culturally mediated relationship. The argument put forward is that the Cultural Historical Activity Theory can serve as a theoretical framework and provide a suitable model to analyse cross-sector social partnerships construction. Supported by the theoretical perspectives outlined above, we rely on a qualitative, descriptive research, by using a case study method. We carry on two case studies, in order to understand the projects development by a single NGO with two company leaders in each sector. The first case analyses Gerdau S.A. and its trajectory in the recycling sector. Gerdau S.A. seeks to engage with the NGO aiming to qualify recycling warehouses, as they are one of the suppliers, and to comply with their CSR agenda. The main artifacts used by the actors are NGO‘s knowledge and expertise, company managerial knowledge, and Identity Artifacts (company logo). The second case refers to NGO-Braskem relationship, which emerges from the company‘s need to get social license to operate in the region. So, the company intends to legitimate its existence in the society through gains in their product‘s image. Most of the artifacts are used by the actors to achieve this goal, such as Identity Artifacts (company and NGO logo), and Discursive Artifacts, in order to embody ―local identity‖ to the company. Given this context, the dialogue between Braskem and the NGO is one of these artifacts, as well as labor division, which reflects the relationship and proximity. In order to understand the dynamics that underlies the project construction, this study also investigated the learning challenges experienced by the NGO and the companies. The main learning challenges experienced by the partnership NGO-Gerdau are: (i) change through better work organization and structuration; (ii) work meaning ressignification; (iii) development of a work tool that fits to the warehouses reality. On the other hand, the learning challenges experienced by the partnership NGO-Braskem are: (i) the partnership between the actors and its operationalization; (ii) the choice between warehouses that will be supported, or, in other words, which stakeholders will be included in the community.

The purpose of the diploma thesis is to summarize the most important and basic attributes of arbitration in international business transactions. Further, the thesis assesses the biggest pros and cons of the arbitration. Emphasis is placed on opinions of economical entities as users of the arbitration to settle their mutual disputes. The first chapter aims on definition of three basic terms including the arbitration as the corner stone of the whole topic, then the meaning of international and definition of business relations. The two latter terms distinguish the respective category of arbitration from other categories such as arbitration in consumers or labour relations or arbitration conducted between states and individuals arising from investments. The second chapter enumerates the most important sources of law governing the arbitration. The thesis aims on both material and formal sources. Reasons for creation and historical development of arbitration are shortly outlined as material sources. The part concerning with the formal sources refers mainly to international sources with accent on New York Convention and UNCITRAL Model Law on International Arbitration. From the national sources the main focus is placed on Czech legislation. Procedural rules of permanent arbitration institutions and their...

This thesis seeks to understand how state-business relations are affected by wider societal transformations. These transformations influence the potentially crony capitalist type of state society relations. I analyzed the evolution of state-business relations in Morocco. I highlighted three different factors which affected state-business relations and potentially can offset negative consequences of crony capitalism. Fragmentation of state institutions, political factions and economic actors and the maintenance of cross-cutting alliances by the monarchy have resulted in a fragmented-multiclass state. In addition, the changing nature of the role of the state in the economy had profound implications on state-business relations in Morocco. Paradoxically, the fragmented nature of Morocco, which is the result of cross-cutting coalitions between the monarchy and society, meant that the state did not fall exclusively in the hands of private interests. The pivotal position of the monarchy in economic and political life has enabled the monarchy to fragment opposition and forge diverse alliances to maintain its support-base. My theoretical approach using a macro-historical analysis coupled with process tracing of various policy domains proved to be a useful methodology for this type of research which falls in the nexus of politics and economics. Given this my thesis made a contribution to both Middle East studies as well as the wider literature on state-business relations. In addition, my research contributes to the wider debate on the resilience of monarchies in the aftermath of the Arab spring.