The question of whether outsourcing is a good or bad organizational practice has traditionally come down to whether the positive financial impact of outsourcing overcomes the potential organizational liabilities. The theoretical model proposed in this thesis argues that such thinking underestimates the positive organizational benefits that arise from outsourcing by giving inadequate consideration to impacts that outsourcing has on the innovation cycle of outsourcing providers. This research adds to our understanding of outsourcing decision-making in three important ways. First, the thesis presents how innovation benefits can arise from outsourcing and proposes four potential innovation benefits from outsourcing – the motivation for creativity, innovation scale, innovation scope and complementarity of capability. The central hypotheses argue that these beneficial factors should increase the likelihood of a decision to outsource an activity. Second, this research extends our understanding of outsourcing by examining the moderating effect of value appropriation on the decision to outsource. Third, the thesis provides a rigorous empirical utility theoretical approach – best-worst scaling and discrete choice modeling – to understanding managerial preferences and the components of outsourcing decision making. The findings reveal that a significant segment of managers do indeed look beyond cost in choosing to outsource, focusing instead to concentrate broadly on a supplier’s commitment to innovation, complementarity of capabilities and the ability of an outsourcing contract to appropriate value created in a relationship. This implies that the managerial application of outsourcing is not restricted to a short-term solution for cost savings, but can potentially be thought of, and used as, a strategic mechanism to drive innovation in organizations. Some benefits may not be immediately obvious (e.g., a supplier’s motivation for innovation) and require more awareness from managers. Together, the theory and empirics provide insight into outsourcing decision-making and the opportunities for extending outsourcing as a strategic mechanism to drive innovation more broadly.

Sweden, as a country, has set the goal to achieve a fossil independent vehicle fleet by 2030, which means that Sweden has to reduce its CO2 emissions by 80 percent. Sources argue that the regulations and different implementations that have been done are not enough to reach the 80 percent reduction in time. The purpose of this paper is to analyze consumers’ preferences towards alternative fuel vehicles by estimating the willingness to pay for rental cars in Sweden. The paper also tries to define the explanatory factors for choosing an alternative fuel vehicle. The data used in this thesis was collected through a choice experiment questionnaire that was distributed to employees and students at Luleå University of Technology. The study concludes that respondents have a willingness to pay at approximately SEK 280 extra to rent and use an electric rental car.

Master of Science / Department of Agricultural Economics / Glynn Tonsor / Stocker cattle economic research is very limited in scope. A focus of this research is to deepen our understanding of how cattle price and animal performance variability is viewed and approached by stocker cattle producers in the United States. Another part of this research focuses on what characteristics may be drivers of whether producers choose to practice different risk management strategies. To analyze how cattle price and animal performance variability is viewed and approached by stocker cattle producers, a stated preference valuation method was used to find willingness-to-pay (WTP) estimates. Two different approaches were used to provide outcome probability information where one approach had probabilities for expected ADG change across scenarios and ADG ranges were held constant (Treatment Group A) and the second approach had ADG ranges change across scenarios and the probabilities were held constant (Treatment B). The results of our study suggest that survey respondents process scenarios differently when presented in formats Treatment Group A versus Treatment Group B. The underlying reason for this is beyond identification in this study as respondent certainty and comfort as assessed in follow-up questions was similar across the treatments. Results indicate that producers value buying cattle versus opting out of purchasing cattle and they value higher performing cattle; however, each additional pound is not valued the same. To determine the characteristics of producers and their operations that use different risk management practices, we estimated multiple probit models with the dependent variables being use of the different risk management practices. Results from the probit models suggest how producers source cattle for their operation, whether it is the region or the different markets they source from, are key determinants on whether producers practice different management strategies for market and price risk. The results suggest the model were not a good fit. Of the 30 explanatory variables included in the model, on average five explanatory variables were significant throughout the seven different dependent variables. This could be attributed to factors our study does not explicitly observe; therefore it remains a knowledge gap for the industry.

Discrete choice experiments (DCEs) are a stated preference valuation method. As a ubiquitous component of healthcare delivery, risk is increasingly used as an attribute in DCEs. Risk is a complex concept that is open to misinterpretation; potentially undermining the robustness of DCEs as a valuation method. This thesis employed quantitative, qualitative and eye-tracking methods to understand if and how risk communication formats affected individuals’ choices when completing a DCE and the valuations derived. This thesis used a case study focussing on the elicitation of women’s preferences for a national breast screening programme. Breast screening was chosen because of its relevance to primary care and potential contribution to the ongoing debate about the benefits and harms of mammograms. A DCE containing three attributes (probability of detecting a cancer; risk of unnecessary follow-up; and cost of screening) was designed. Women were randomised to one of two risk communication formats: i) percentages only; or ii) icon arrays and percentages (identified from a structured review of risk communication literature in health).Traditional quantitative analysis of the discrete choices made by 1,000 women recruited via an internet panel revealed the risk communication format made no difference in terms of either preferences or the consistency of choices. However, latent class analysis indicated that women’s preferences for breast screening were highly heterogeneous; with some women acquiring large non-health benefits from screening, regardless of the risks, and others expressing complete intolerance for unnecessary follow-ups, regardless of the benefits. The think-aloud method, identified as a potential method from a systematic review of qualitative research alongside DCEs, was used to reveal more about DCE respondents’ decision-making. Nineteen face-to-face cognitive interviews identified that respondents felt more engaged with the task when risk was presented with an additional icon array. Eye-tracking methods were used to understand respondents’ choice making behaviour and attention to attributes. The method was successfully used alongside a DCE and provided valid data. The results of the eye-tracking study found attributes were visually attended to by respondents most of the time. For researchers seeking to use DCEs for eliciting individuals’ preferences for benefit-risk trade-offs, respondents were more receptive to risk communicated via an icon array suggesting this format is preferable. Policy-makers should acknowledge preference heterogeneity, and its drivers, in their appraisal of the benefits of breast screening programmes. Future research is required to test alternative risk communication formats and explore the robustness of eye-tracking and qualitative research methods alongside DCEs.

Wind energy is expanding rapidly in the United States as the nation\'s energy policy objectives increasingly focus on renewables. Public opinion polls show that a majority of Americans support wind energy development but actual wind farm projects often face intense local opposition. This dichotomy between general support for wind energy but opposition towards siting a project nearby is often attributed to the not-in-my-backyard (NIMBY) phenomenon. In this study we employ a discrete choice experiment to investigate public preferences for different characteristics of a local wind farm. We investigate NIMBY by first controlling for characteristics that might cause local opposition, such as seeing or hearing a wind farm from home, and then after considering these effects of a wind farm we examine whether people who favor wind energy display NIMBY resistance. Finally, we estimate compensation requirements for siting a wind farm within sight or sound of someone\'s home. Results show that people who somewhat favor wind energy do display NIMBY attitudes since they are predisposed to vote against local wind development even after controlling whether they would see and hear the wind farm from their homes. We do not detect NIMBY attitudes among people who strongly favor wind energy because they have a positive disposition towards local wind farms. Our results suggest that if an incentive program is in place from the onset of a wind development project it could offset NIMBY reactions to specific projects. / Master of Science

This study contributes to the discussion of managing tourism to a protected area in a developing country (Galapagos, Ecuador). The first part of the analysis provides quantitative data about preferences of tourists and potential impacts on park revenues from price discrimination. It uses the data from a choice experiment survey conducted in the summer of 2009 in which these four attributes of a tour of the Galapagos were described: tour length, depth of naturalist experience, level of protection of Galapagos from invasive species, and price of the tour. On average the Galapagos tourist would be willing to pay slightly more than 2.5 times for a trip with a high-level of environmental protection than for a trip that is equivalent on all other characteristics but has a lower level of environmental protection. The mean marginal willingness to pay (MWTP) for a trip with an in-depth naturalist experience is 1.8 times more than that for a trip with a less detailed naturalist experience but equivalent on other characteristics. The relatively inelastic demand for travel to the islands would allow managers to adjust access fees to shift the distribution of length of trips while not affecting the revenues. The second part of the analysis evaluates the influence on travel to the islands by depicting Galapagos as a standard market commodity as well as depicting it as an environmental commodity. This analysis compares the results obtained from two different choice experiment surveys given to tourists finishing their trip to Galapagos. One survey design portrays the archipelago as a standard holiday island destination while the other design highlights the uniqueness and vulnerability of the islands’ biodiversity and the challenges that tourism poses to the islands’ conservation. Results suggest that additional information modified an individual's decision-making process. In the first design case (which excludes environmental information), the influence of attributes such as length and depth of natural experience is attenuated. The MWTPs estimated for these attributes are smaller in absolute terms although differences on the MWTP are not statistically significant.

Conservation agriculture has many potential benefits for small farmers. This study seeks to estimate the value that farmers in eastern Uganda place on some these benefits. Data from a choice experiment study are analyzed with a mixed logit model to determine farmers' willingness to pay for increases in maize yield, reductions in erosion, and reductions in land preparation labor requirements. It finds that farmers have a statistically significant willingness to pay for increases in yield and reductions in erosion, but not for reductions in planting labor. In addition, farmers in Kapchorwa district value erosion control and labor reductions more and price increases less than in Tororo district, while women care more about price increases than men do. / Master of Science / CCRA-6 (Economic and Impact Analysis)

<p dir="ltr">Citrus greening has severely impacted orange trees in America, causing significant damage to farmers and industry. Gene editing has been proposed as a potential solution, but understanding consumer acceptance of the resulting gene edited products is essential to evaluate the marketability of this potential solution.</p><p dir="ltr">We conducted a hypothetical discrete choice experiment to analyze consumer preferences for gene edited orange juice. We further explored how consumer willingness-to-pay (WTP) for the gene edited attribute varies depending on the total number of attributes presented in the experiment and how information about the benefits of the technology influences WTP across the different attribute scenarios.</p><p dir="ltr">We find that, on average, consumers devalue the gene edited attribute, but their WTP for the attribute increases when information is provided. Importantly, we also observe that the number of attributes significantly impacts the WTP estimates, but the effect is moderated when information is provided.</p>

A sustainable development becomes more and more important with an increasing number of catastrophic and long-term changes to the environment due to global warming. This also means that all the actors in the society needs to take their responsibility to combat this development. One of these actors are the private sector where the investors plays a large part in which companies that gets to develop their ideas and make a difference in the world. So, the question is: are investors taking that responsibility today and invest in start-ups with a focus on sustainable development in their business plans. This thesis aims to study how inclined investors are to invest in start-ups with a focus on sustainable development in their business plan. This is tested though Discrete Choice Experiments where 14 investors got to choose between three different companies with different levels of focus on sustainable development. Company A with the least amount of sustainability, company B with some focus and company C with a high focus on sustainable development. The Discrete Choice Experiments were distributed through a survey format where the companies were represented with a Business Model Canvas each and the investors first got to choose between company A &amp; B, then A &amp; C, and then company B &amp; C. The results show that investors chose company A with the least amount of focus on sustainable development in 26 percent of the cases, company B with some focus in 45 percent, and company C with a high amount of focus in 29 percent of the cases. The study also shows a variation between different groups of investors, i.e. the investors who identified themselves as women were more inclined on investing in more sustainable options then men, and angel investors showed a clear willingness to invest in sustainability compared to venture capitals. The conclusions of the study are that its purpose was fulfilled and that the research questions was answered, investors showed an inclination to investing in companies with some focus on sustainable development but not too much. The results of the study can be used by companies in need of investments since they can see what group they should focus on to increase their chances. It is despite this also important to remember that the reliability and the validity of the study can be criticised with flaws for example in the reputability of the results. Future research within the area should study larger populations of investors to see if the same patterns repeat itself in other groups. It should also split the different attributes of the business model to see if different attributes play a larger part when investors decide which company to invest in. / Då hållbar utveckling blir allt mer viktigt så behöver alla aktörer i samhället göra sin del för att minska de ibland katastrofala och långvariga klimatförändringarna som blir på grund av exempelvis en högre medeltemperatur på jorden. En av dessa aktörer är den privata sektorn där investerare har en stor påverkan i vilka företag som får möjlighet att testa sina idéer och göra skillnad i världen. Frågan är dock om investerare tar det ansvaret och investerar i start-up företag med fokus på hållbar utveckling i sin affärsmodell. Denna studie syftar till att undersöka hur benägen investerarna är att faktiskt göra detta. Detta testas genom ett Discrete Choice Experiment där 14 investerare fick välja mellan tre olika företag som har olika stort fokus på hållbar utveckling i sin affärsmodell. Företag A har minst fokus på hållbar utveckling, företag B har viss fokus och företag B har stort fokus på hållbar utveckling. Discrete Choice Experimentet distribuerades i enkätformat där företagen representerades av en Business Model Canvas vardera och investerarna fick först välja mellan företag A &amp; B, sedan företag A &amp; C, och till sist företag B &amp; C. Resultatet från studien visar på att investerare vid 26 procent av gångerna skulle välja en start-up utan fokus på hållbar utveckling, 45 procent av gångerna en med visst fokus på hållbar utveckling och 29 procent av gångerna en start-up med stort fokus på hållbar utveckling. Undersökningen visar också på en differens mellan olika grupperingar då exempelvis de som identifierade sig som kvinnor var mer benägna att investera på hållbar alternativ än män. Dessutom visar ängelinvesterare tydligt på en större benägenhet att investera i start-ups med fokus på hållbar utveckling än riskkapitalister. Slutsatserna av studien är att dess syfte uppfyllts och forskningsfrågan besvarats med att investerare har en benägenhet att investera i start-ups med en visst fokus på hållbar utveckling men det fick inte bli för mycket fokus. Resultatet av undersökningen kan användas av företag som befinner sig i faser där de behöver investeringar samt att de kan se vilket typ av investerare de bör vända sig till för att få störst möjlighet till positivt resultat. Viktigt att ta med sig från undersökningen är att dess reliabilitet och validitet kan kritiseras med brister exempelvis inom upprepbarheten i resultaten. Fortsatt forskning inom området bör studera större populationer av investerare för att se om samma mönster upprepar sig inom andra grupperingar samt att attributen hos affärsmodellerna kan delas upp mer för att undersöka om vissa attribut har större betydelse än andra när investerare väljer vilka start-ups de ska investera i.

<p>Syftet med denna studie är att mäta och analysera detaljhandlares uppfattningar om konkurrenshot utifrån fyra olika hypotetiska valsituationer, ett Choice Experiment. Urvalsgruppen bestod av cityhandlare inom ett geografiskt definierat område i Gävle stad i Sverige. Resultatet indikerar att cityhandlare uppfattar konkurrens mellan marknadsplatser i viss utsträckning. Dock indikerar resultatet att konkurrens uppfattas inom marknadsplatsen i högre utsträckning i jämförelse med konkurrens mellan marknadsplatser.</p> / <p>The purpose of this study is to measure and analyse city retailers´ perceived threat of competition in four different hypothetical choice situations, a Choice Experiment. The selected group of retailers was located within a geographically defined area in the City of Gävle, Sweden. The results indicate that there is a variation in the retailers´ perceived threat of competition between market places. However, the results also indicates that threat of competition foremost is perceived in the local competing area.</p>