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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
281

Deep Learning Strategies for Pandemic Preparedness and Post-Infection Management

Lee, Sang Won January 2024 (has links)
The global transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in over 677 million infections and 6.88 million tragic deaths worldwide as of March 10th, 2023. During the pandemic, the ability to effectively combat SARS-CoV-2 had been hindered by the lack of rapid, reliable, and cost-effective testing platforms for readily screening patients, discerning incubation stages, and accounting for variants. The limited knowledge of the viral pathogenesis further hindered rapid diagnosis and long-term clinical management of this complex disease. While effective in the short term, measures such as social distancing and lockdowns have resulted in devastating economic loss, in addition to material and psychological hardships. Therefore, successfully reopening society during a pandemic depends on frequent, reliable testing, which can result in the timely isolation of highly infectious cases before they spread or become contagious. Viral loads, and consequently an individual's infectiousness, change throughout the progression of the illness. These dynamics necessitate frequent testing to identify when an infected individual can safely interact with non-infected individuals. Thus, scalable, accurate, and rapid serial testing is a cornerstone of an effective pandemic response, a prerequisite for safely reopening society, and invaluable for early containment of epidemics. Given the significant challenges posed by the pandemic, the power of artificial intelligence (AI) can be harnessed to create new diagnostic methods and be used in conjunction with serial tests. With increasing utilization of at-home lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) tests, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have consistently raised concerns about a potential underreporting of actual SARS-CoV-2-positive cases. When AI is paired with serial tests, it could instantly notify, automatically quantify, aid in real-time contact tracing, and assist in isolating infected individuals. Moreover, the computer vision-assisted methodology can help objectively diagnose conditions, especially in cases where subjective LFIA tests are employed. Recent advances in the interdisciplinary scientific fields of machine learning and biomedical engineering support a unique opportunity to design AI-based strategies for pandemic preparation and response. Deep learning algorithms are transforming the interpretation and analysis of image data when used in conjunction with biomedical imaging modalities such as MRI, Xray, CT scans, confocal microscopes, etc. These advances have enabled researchers to carry out real-time viral infection diagnostics that were previously thought to be impossible. The objective of this thesis is to use SARS-CoV-2 as a model virus and investigate the potential of applying multi-class instance segmentation deep learning and other machine learning strategies to build pandemic preparedness for rapid, in-depth, and longitudinal diagnostic platforms. This thesis encompasses three research tasks: 1) computer vision-assisted rapid serial testing, 2) infected cell phenotyping, and 3) diagnosing the long-term consequences of infection (i.e., long-term COVID). The objective of Task 1 is to leverage the power of AI, in conjunction with smartphones, to rapidly and simultaneously diagnose COVID-19 infections for millions of people across the globe. AI not only makes it possible for rapid and simultaneous screenings of millions but can also aid in the identification and contact tracing of individuals who may be carriers of the virus. The technology could be used, for example, in university settings to manage the entry of students into university buildings, ensuring that only students who test negative for the virus are allowed within campus premises, while students who test positive are placed in quarantine until they recover. The technology could also be used in settings where strict adherence to COVID-19 prevention protocols is compromised, for example, in an Emergency Room. This technology could also help with CDC’s concern on growing incidences of underreporting positive COVID-19 cases with growing utilization of at-home LFIA tests. AI can address issues that arise from relying solely on the visual interpretation of LFIA tests to make accurate diagnoses. One problem is that LFIA test results may be subjective or ambiguous, especially when the test line of the LFIA displays faint color, indicating a low analyte abundance. Therefore, reaching a decisive conclusion regarding the patient's diagnosis becomes challenging. Additionally, the inclusion of a secondary source for verifying the test results could potentially increase the test's cost, as it may require the purchase of complementary electronic gadgets. To address these issues, our innovation would be accurately calibrated with appropriate sensitivity markers, ensuring increased accuracy of the diagnostic test and rapid acquisition of test results from the simultaneous classification of millions of LFIA tests as either positive or negative. Furthermore, the designed network architecture can be utilized to detect other LFIA-based tests, such as early pregnancy detection, HIV LFIA detection, and LFIA-based detection of other viruses. Such minute advances in machine learning and artificial intelligence can be leveraged on many different scales and at various levels to revolutionize the health sector. The motivating purpose of Task 2 is to design a highly accurate instance segmentation network architecture not only for the analysis of SARS-CoV-2 infected cells but also one that yields the highest possible segmentation accuracy for all applications in biomedical sciences. For example, the designed network architecture can be utilized to analyze macrophages, stem cells, and other types of cells. Task 3 focuses on conducting studies that were previously considered computationally impossible. The invention will assist medical researchers and dentists in automatically calculating alveolar crest height (ACH) in teeth using over 500 dental Xrays. This will help determine if patients diagnosed with COVID-19 by a positive PCR test exhibited more alveolar bone loss and had greater bone loss in the two years preceding their COVID-positive test when compared to a control group without a positive COVID-19 test. The contraction of periodontal disease results in higher levels of transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) within the buccal cavity, which is instrumental in enabling the entry of SARS-CoV-2. Gum inflammation, a symptom of periodontal disease, can lead to alterations in the ACH of teeth within the oral mucosa. Through this innovation, we can calculate ACHs of various teeth and, therefore, determine the correlation between ACH and the risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 infection. Without the invention, extensive manpower and time would be required to make such calculations and gather data for further research into the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as other related biological phenomena within the human body. Furthermore, the novel network framework can be modified and used to calculate dental caries and other periodontal diseases of interest.
282

The interface of COVID-19, diabetes, and depression

Steenblock, Charlotte, Schwarz, Peter E. H., Perakakis, Nikolaos, Brajshori, Naime, Beqiri, Petrit, Bornstein, Stefan R. 08 April 2024 (has links)
Comorbid diabetes with depression is a challenging and often under-recognized clinical problem. During the current COVID-19 pandemic, a communicable disease is thriving on the increasing incidences of these non-communicable diseases. These three different health problems are bidirectionally connected forming a vicious cycle. Firstly, depressed individuals show a higher risk of developing diabetes and patients with diabetes have a higher risk of developing symptoms of depression. Secondly, patients with diabetes have a higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 as well as of experiencing breakthrough infections. Thirdly, in both patients with type 2 diabetes and in COVID-19 survivors the prevalence of depression seems to be increased. Fourthly, lockdown and quarantine measurements during the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in depression. Therefore, it is of importance to increase the awareness of this interface between depression, diabetes and COVID-19. Finally, as symptoms of post-COVID, diabetes and depression may be overlapping, there is a need for educating skilled personnel in the management of these comorbidities.
283

En livboj att omfamna när det stormar : En kvalitativ studie av svenska gymnasielärares upplevelse av organisatoriska rutiner under och efter Covid-19 pandemin

Gustavsson, Julia, Krammer, Camilla January 2024 (has links)
Bakgrund: Organisatoriska rutiner utgör ett fundament för organisationers arbetssätt. För organisationers överlevnad krävs en adekvat anpassningsförmåga när omvärlden förändras, som exempelvis vid en samhällsomvälvande kris. Individer har en avgörande roll i denna omställning. Tidigare forskning redogör för hur individer påverkar organisatoriska rutiner, men det omvända förhållandet lyser med sin frånvaro. Dessutom saknas forskning på hur organisationer återgår till en vardag utan kris och vad som då sker med organisatoriska rutiner. Dessa förhållanden är betydelsefulla att studera, för att utökaorganisationers förståelse för hur de kan bidra med rätt stöd till individer inom organisationer, under och efter en extern kris.  Syfte: Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka organisatoriska rutiners roll för gymnasielärare i svenska gymnasieskolor under och efter en extern kris. Metod: Studien har genomförts med utgångspunkt i en kvalitativ forskningsstrategi baserad på ett konstruktionistiskt perspektiv. Empirin har insamlats med hjälp av nio stycken semistrukturerade intervjuer i en små-N-studie. Intervjupersonerna har valts utifrån ett mål- och kriteriestyrt urval. Dataanalysen har utförts genom tematisk analys.  Slutsats: Organisatoriska rutiner spelar en avgörande roll för gymnasielärare i tider av kris. De är en källa till stabilitet internt och möjliggör för organisationsöverskridande samarbete externt. Därutöver utgör organisatoriska rutiner ett verktyg i arbetet att uppnå ett tillfredsställande resultat i tider av kris, samtidigt som de sparar gymnasieläraremerarbete i jämförelse med om de inte existerat. Organisatoriska rutiner spelar även en betydelsefull roll för hur gymnasielärare uppfattar sin yrkesroll, varpå de utgör en drivkraft för fortbildning. Vid återgång till vardag utan kris förblir organisatoriska rutiner intakta, med undantag för justeringar i sekvenser som visat sig fungera bättre i den kontexten.  Nyckelord: Organisatoriska rutiner, Kris, Covid-19 pandemin, Gymnasielärare, Svenska gymnasieskolor, Distansundervisning / Background: Organizational routines constitute a foundation for the way organizations operate. The survival of organizations requires adequate adaptability when the world around them changes, as in the case of a societal crisis. Individuals play a crucial role in this transition. Previous research addresses how individuals influence organizational routines, however, the reverse relationship is lacking. Furthermore, there is a gap in research regarding how organizations recover from crisis and what effect this has on organizational routines. Such relationships are important to study, in order to expand organizations' understanding of how they can provide the appropriate support to individuals within organizations, during and after an external crisis. Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of organizational routines for upper secondary school teachers in Swedish upper secondary schools during and after an external crisis. Methodology: The study was conducted using a qualitative research strategy based on a constructionist perspective. The empirical data was collected using nine semi-structured interviews in a small-N study. The interviewees were selected on the basis of a purposive and criterion-driven sampling. Data analysis was carried out through thematic analysis. Conclusion: Organizational routines are essential for upper secondary school teachers in times of crisis. They are a source of stability internally and enable cross-organizational cooperation externally. Organizational routines are a tool for achieving satisfactory results in times of crisis, while saving upper secondary school teachers' workload in comparison to not having them. Organizational routines play an important role regarding how uppersecondary school teachers perceive their professional role, thus providing an incentive for further learning. When returning to everyday life without a crisis, organizational routines remain intact, except for adjustments in sequences that function better in the current context. Keywords: Organizational routines, Crisis, Covid-19 pandemic, Upper secondary school teachers, Swedish upper secondary schools, Distance education
284

Connectedness : Designing interactive systems that foster togetherness as a form of resilience for people in social distancing during Covid-19 pandemic. Exploring novel user experiences in the intersection between light perception, tangible interactions and social interaction design (SxD).

Iezzi, Valeria January 2020 (has links)
This thesis project explores how interactive technologies can facilitate a sense of social connectedness with others whilst remotely located. While studying the way humans use rituals for emotional management, I focused my interest on the act of commensality because it is one of the oldest and most important rituals used to foster togetherness among families and groups of friends. Dining with people who do not belong to the same household is of course hard during a global pandemic, just like many of the other forms of social interactions that were forcibly replaced by the use of technological means such as video-chat apps, instant messaging and perhaps an excessive use of social networking websites. These ways of staying connected, however, lack the subtleties of real physical interaction, which I tried to replicate with my prototype system, which consists of two sets of a lamp and a coaster which enable to communicate through light and tactile cues. The use of such devices creates a new kind of ritual based on the simultaneous use of the devices by two people, thus enabling a new and original form of commensality that happens through a shared synchronized experience.
285

Att överleva i av- och ombokningarnas tid : En kvalitativ studie av hur två hotell och två resebyråer anpassat sig till och hanterat effekterna av Covid-19 pandemin

Hansell, Ebba, Harbi, Wurood January 2020 (has links)
Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att belysa hur den kris som Covid-19 pandemin skapat harpåverkat hotell och resebyråers digitala taktiska respektive planerade strategiska marknadsföring,samt den krishantering som tillämpats av företagen under denna pandemin och de lärdomar dedragit av denna kris.Teori: Den teoretiska referensramen för denna studie innefattar marknadsförings-, krishanteringsoch organisationsteori. Inom marknadsföring har SCRM samt RACE marketing planningframework modellerna tillämpats och inom krishantering har krisprocessen och kriskurvanmodellerna. Vad gäller organisationsteori har fokus varit på organisatoriskt lärande och teoriernasingle-, double- och triple-loop learning samt learning in crisis.Metod: Studien omfattar en kvalitativ undersökning av två hotell och två resebyråer grundad på ensemistrukturerad intervjumetod.Slutsatser: Covid-19 pandemin har tvingat respondenterna att vara flexibla och att göra kortsiktigaanpassningar av sina marknadsföringsmetoder. Den taktiska marknadsföringen har skett genom enökad användning av digitala kanaler som lyhört anpassats till kundernas behov av hälsa ochsäkerhet. Det var ännu för tidigt för att bedöma eventuella förändringar i den strategiskamarknadsföringen men några respondenter förväntade sig ett större fokus på värde begrepp somhälsa och trygghet. Samtliga respondenter har i praktiken ägnat sig åt krishantering och de flestarespondenterna hade någon form av förberedda krisplaner, som dock inte varit anpassade till en såomfattande och djup kris som den förevarande. Samtliga respondenter verkar ha fått en större insikti vikten av att ha en effektiv och tät intern och extern kriskommunikation. Den yttre situationen harskapat ett stort tryck på respondenterna och har givit dem lärdomar som de möjligen inte hade fåttunder normala omständigheter, inklusive att på ett flexibelt och lättrörligt sätt anpassa sig till nyaoch föränderliga situationer. Även om Covid-19 pandemin framkallat mycket stress och ångest såhar den även haft positiva effekter som kan ge upphov till mer varaktiga förändringar. / Purpose: The purpose of this study is to shed some light on how some hotels and travel agenciesin the Swedish tourism and hospitality industry have adapted to and managed the effects of theCovid-19 pandemic, particularly in terms of strategic and tactical digital marketing as well as crisismanagement, and the lessons learned from this crisis.Theory: The theoretical foundations for this paper include digital marketing theories, crisismanagement and organizational theory. In marketing theory, the SCRM and the RACE marketingplanning framework models have been applied and in terms of crisis management, the crisismanagement process as well as the crisis curve models have been applied. In terms oforganizational theory, focus has been on organizational learning and the theories single-, doubleand triple-loop learning as well as learning in crisis.Method: This study is a qualitative study of two hotels and two travel agencies based on semistructured interviews.Conclusions: This study demonstrates that the Covid-19 pandemic has forced the respondents tobe flexible and to make short-term adjustments to their marketing tactics. The tactical marketinghas included an increased use of digital channels and an adaptation of their marketing to theircustomers' needs for health and safety. It was too early to assess any changes in strategicmarketing, but some respondents planned to place a greater focus on value concepts such ashealth and safety. In practice, all respondents were engaged in crisis management and most of therespondents had some form of prepared crisis plans, which, however, were not adapted to such anextensive and protracted crisis as the Covid-19 pandemic. All respondents seemed to have gainedgreater insight into the importance of having effective and frequent internal and external crisiscommunication. The external situation has put a great deal of pressure on the respondents and hasgiven them lessons that they might not have acquired under normal circumstances, including acapacity to adapt flexibly and easily to new and changing situations. Although the Covid-19pandemic has caused a lot of stress and anxiety, it has also had positive effects that could triggerchanges in their longer term strategic marketing.
286

Hur företag kan skapa engagemang på Instagram när det fysiska mötet begränsas : En fallstudie på Liseberg under Covid-19 pandemin / How businesses can create engagement on Instagram when the physical meeting is limited : A case study at Liseberg during the Covid-19 pandemic

Sandklef, Daniela, Porsefeldt, Julia, Lindqvist, Ludvig January 2023 (has links)
Covid-19 pandemin skapade många begränsningar i det fysiska mötet för företag i Sverige. Problematiken för de företag som inte kunde erbjuda sin produkt på samma sätt digitalt var det som skapade ett intresse att genomföra denna studie. Många företag fick göra ett skifte och fokusera mer på de digitala verktygen under den här tiden. Därför valde gruppen att fördjupa sig i hur företag på Instagram arbetar med sitt innehåll för att skapa engagemang. Frågorna som besvarades togs fram med syftet att skapa en uppfattning kring vilken av de tre framtagna inläggs kategorierna som skapar högst engagemang, rationella inlägg, interaktionella inlägg eller transaktionella inlägg. Samt hur innehållet på Instagram kan förändras beroende på om det fysiska mötet är begränsat eller ej.En kvalitativ fallstudie på Liseberg genomfördes i form av dokumentanalys på företagets Instagramkonto. Resultatet kopplades därefter samman med den tidigare forskningen inom engagemang, digital marknadsföring, sociala medier marknadsföringsstrategi och Social Exchange Theory. Studien är avgränsad till att endast mäta engagemang baserat på gilla-markeringar och kommentarer. Vikten av att ett företag behöver engagemang för att vara konkurrenskraftiga klarläggs samt relevans att företag finns på sociala medier. Resultatet visade att de transaktionella inläggen hade betydligt högst engagemang, men även att de interaktionella inläggen skapade högt engagemang. Förslagsvis borde företag under perioderna de har nedstängt fokusera just på dessa två kategorier som uppmanar till att skapa engagemang i form av gilla-markeringar och kommentarer. Studien visade också hur Liseberg anpassade mängden samt innehållet av deras inlägg under de olika perioderna för att hålla sig aktuella med vad besökarna efterfrågade. Studien är skriven på svenska. / Covid-19 pandemic created a lot of limitations for companies when it came to the physical meeting. The problem that occurred when companies no longer were able to offer their product in reality created an interest in this study. Many companies had to make a shift and focus more on digital tools during this time. Therefore, this group chose to dive into how a company on Instagram works with their content to create engagement. The questions that were answered were developed with the aim of creating knowledge about which of the three developed post categories create the highest engagement, rational posts, interactional posts or transactional posts. As well as how the content on Instagram may change depending on whether the physical meeting is limited or not.A qualitative case study on the amusement park Liseberg was carried out in the form of document analysis on @Lisebergab Instagram. The result was then connected with the previous research on engagement, digital marketing, social media marketing strategy and the Social Exchange Theory. The study is limited to only measuring engagement based on likes and comments. The importance of companies needing engagement to be competitive is clarified, as well as the relevance of companies being on social media. The transactional posts received the highest engagement, but it was also shown that it is not financially sustainable to focus on this too much.The results showed that transactional posts had the highest engagement, but also that interactive posts created high engagement. It is suggested that companies during periods of shutdown should focus on these two categories that encourage engagement in the form of likes and comments. This study also showed how Liseberg adapted the amount and content of their posts during different periods to stay current with what visitors demanded from the company. Following will this paper be written in swedish.
287

Educational inequality on access to physical resources at Highveld Ridge East Circuit : Mpumalanga

Osman, Cookie Regina 09 1900 (has links)
The phenomenon of educational inequality on access to physical resources in the Highveld Ridge East Circuit of Mpumalanga was investigated in the study. Since the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic had affected education on a global scale, South Africa included, it became necessary to incorporate this new development into the emerging design that unfolded. The study explored the impact of access to physical resources in three public schools. The aim of the investigation was to ascertain how educational disparities on access to physical resources manifested at the chosen research sites, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. A qualitative research approach was utilised comprising of a multiple case study design. The study reported how the principal and deputy principals viewed educational inequality on access to physical resources from a management perspective, while educators provided insight on the effect of this phenomenon on the teaching and learning process. Observations, individual interviews involving the principal and deputy principals as participants, and focus group interviews involving the teachers, as well as the scrutiny of relevant official documents provided the empirical data for this investigation. All research participants were purposively selected, as a full staff complement was unavailable at the research sites during the pandemic. The results that emerged from the study indicated that educational inequality was prevalent in these public schools. The dearth of resources, and in some instances basic essential resources, had a marked impact on the management as well as the teachers and students at these schools. A significant point to consider was how ill-equipped the public schools in this area were to deal with education during a global pandemic. The backlog of the inequities on access to physical resources needed to be addressed as a matter of dire urgency if the country had any hope of salvaging the education process even at the most basic level. The recommendations in the conclusion of the study are desperate pleas for help in assisting the country, especially the previously marginalised, to move forward in the worst of times. / Educational Management and Leadership / M. Ed. (Education Management)
288

Факторы повышения конкурентоспособности международных компаний в современных условиях : магистерская диссертация / Factors of increasing the competitiveness of international companies in modern conditions

Кузьминых, А. Д., Kuzminykh, A. D. January 2020 (has links)
Выпускная квалификационная работа состоит из трёх глав и заключения. Объем работы составляет 123 страница. Темой диссертационной работы «Факторы повышения конкурентоспособности международных компаний в современных условиях». Исследование является актуальным, так как энергетика находится на этапе всеобщего перехода к возобновляемым источникам энергии. Enel глобализирует распространение новых технологий и нуждаются в иностранных инвестициях стран потенциального будущего присутствия. Целью выпускной квалификационной работы является разработка рекомендаций для компании, находящейся в стадии подготовки к привлечению иностранных инвесторов. Объектом научно-исследовательской работы является итальянская энергетическая компания Enel s.p.a. Предметом – особенности стратегического планирования компании энергетической отрасли. Проведена оценка энергетической отрасли в ситуации пандемии COVID-19. Высказаны предположения по поводу последствий влияния пандемии на рынок энергетики. Описаны особенности деятельности компании-объекта, организационная структура, а также риски и корпоративное управление. Проведена оценка основных производственноэкономических показателей̆компании, а также оценка стоимости компании. Далее проведен анализ рынка конкурентов путем оценки результатов деятельности четырех основных конкурентов. Проведена оценка позиции Enel S.P.A на энергетическом рынке на основании положения крупнейших конкурентов. Разработана стратегия повышения инвестиционного потенциала международной энергетической компании. Проанализирована эффективность деятельности компании путем выявления рисков. Привлечены такие методы, как «Three Pillars of Electricity industry sustainability», The 3A Framework», SWOT анализ. Далее проведена оценка глобальной деятельности компании путем вычисления Индекса транснациональности. Выявлены аспекты ключевой стратегии Enel. Завершающей частью работы стало разработка рекомендаций для повышения возможности трансформации внутренней̆ среды Enel S.P.A. в целях повышения привлекательности общества в свете интересов иностранных инвесторов. / The study is relevant, as the energy sector is at the stage of universal transition to renewable energy sources. Enel is globalizing the spread of new technologies and needs foreign investment from countries with a potential future presence. The purpose of the final qualification work is to develop recommendations for a company that is in the process of preparing to attract foreign investors. The object of the research work is the Italian energy company Enel s. p.a. The subject is the peculiarities of strategic planning of the company in the energy industry. An assessment of the energy industry in the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic was carried out. Suggestions have been made about the impact of the pandemic on the energy market. The features of the target company's activity, organizational structure, as well as risks and corporate governance are described. The assessment of the main production and economic indicators of the company, as well as the assessment of the company's value, was carried out. Further, the analysis of the competitors ' market is carried out by evaluating the performance of the four main competitors. The assessment of Enel S. P. A's position in the energy market is based on the position of its largest competitors. A strategy has been developed to increase the investment potential of an international energy company. The effectiveness of the company's activities is analyzed by identifying risks. Methods such as "Three Pillars of Electricity industry sustainability", The 3A Framework", SWOT analysis are involved. Further, the assessment of the global activity of the company is carried out by calculating the Index of transnationality. Aspects of Enel's key strategy are identified. The final part of the work was the development of recommendations to increase the possibility of transforming the internal environment of Enel S. P. A. in order to increase the attractiveness of the company in the light of the interests of foreign investors.
289

Teleworks effect on job-related relocation decisions : A study of the Swedish workforce

Ramstedt, Ellinor January 2023 (has links)
With teleworking becoming an increasingly normalized work arrangement after the Covid-19 pandemic, it opens up possibilities for workers to be located elsewhere than their workplace. This indicates that work-related relocation may not be a necessity anymore for parts of the workforce, because they can choose to work remotely instead of relocating. The overall purpose of the thesis has been to investigate whether the normalization of telework as a part of the employee value proposition’s benefits will make people in the workforce less likely to relocate for work. The employee value proposition theory was used to understand the current role telework has as a part of the benefit component, and how telework may affect the employees' likelihood to relocate for work. Two research questions were used to answer the overall purpose:  Has telework resulted in the benefit component having a greater influence than other components for the workforce? Has telework offered as a benefit made people in the workforce less likely to relocate for work? The research purpose for the study was exploratory and the research approach was a deductive, qualitative study approach. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect the data and the sampling were selected by both the purposive and snowball sampling method. The sample for the interviews were employees who have a job where it is possible to do teleworking and were between 25-35 years old. After the interviews were conducted, the data was analyzed by using thematic analysis. The finding of the study indicates that the influence of the benefit component did not change compared to previous research and still had a mid-level of importance. It is not likely that telework has made the benefit component to have an overall greater influence compared to other components, but there were components such as affiliation that were very influential when making relocation decisions. It was also found that family members, especially partners and children, were a big influence on relocation decisions. The participants were more likely to consider teleworking instead of relocating when they had partners and children. Several of them could not see themselves only doing teleworking long-term though, because the connection with the colleagues and team at their workplace were also important. The findings of the study indicate that human connection and relationships have become increasingly important for the employees, and this affects both their teleworking and relocation decisions.
290

Eventuell kapitalstruktursförändring i samband med Covid-19 pandemin hos OMXS företag inom Large Cap : En kvantitativ studie som jämför kapitalstrukturen före och under pandemin hos OMXS företag inom Large Cap

Pereira, Sergio, Samavat, Yasmin January 2024 (has links)
Syftet med denna studie är att analysera eventuella kapitalstruktursförändringar i samband med Covid-19 pandemin hos svenska företag noterade på Stockholmsbörsen, OMXS, inom Large Cap. Urvalet utgörs av företag inom alla sektorer i Large Cap, exklusive finanssektorn. Sambandet mellan bolagens beroende och oberoende variabler analyseras före och under pandemins tidsperiod, 2015–2022. De beroende variablerna utgörs som Proxy för kapitalstruktur och omfattas av totala-, kortfristiga-, och långfristiga skulder i förhållande till totala tillgångar. Medan de oberoende variablerna utgörs av företagsstorlek, lönsamhet samt tillväxt. För att uppnå detta baseras uppsatsens teoretiska ramverk på Modigliani och Miller proposition 1 & 2, Pecking Order teorin och Trade Off teorin tillsammans med tidigare empiriska studier samt undersökningar. Uppsatsens analyser omfattas av en deskriptiv analys av samtliga variabler, en korrelationsanalys av de oberoende variablerna och slutligen flera multivariata regressionsanalyser mellan samtliga variabler. För att erhålla de mest valida och reliabla slutsatserna kommer uppsatsen tillämpa en kvantitativ forskningsmetod och en deduktiv ansats. Uppsatsens resultat fann flest statistiskt signifikanta samband mellan samtliga skuldkvoter och företagsstorlek. Uppsatsens slutsats konstaterade att kapitalstrukturen hos OMXS företag inom Large Cap hade förändrats under pandemin i jämförelse med före pandemin. Sammantaget bidrar denna uppsats till en djupare förståelse för sambandet mellan samtliga analyserade variabler baserat på en historisk bakgrund. Därmed kan svenska bolag inom alla sektorer, exklusive finanssektorn, skapa en bättre uppfattning kring sina kapitalstrukturer inför framtida finanskriser. / The purpose of this study is to analyze potential capital structure changes in connection with the Covid-19 pandemic among Swedish publicly traded companies on the Stockholm Stock Exchange, OMXS, within Large Cap. The sample consists of companies across all sectors within Large Cap, excluding the finance sector. Focusing on the relationship between the dependent and independent variables before and during the period of the pandemic, 2015–2022. The dependent variables consist of total-, short- term-, and long- term debt as a proportion to the total assets. These dependent variables constitute as a Proxy for capital structure. The independent variables include size, profitability and growth. To accomplish this, the theoretical framework for this essay is based on Modigliani and Miller proposition 1 & 2, The Pecking Order Theory, The Trade Off Theory along with previous empirical studies. The analyzes contains of a descriptive analysis of all variables, a correlation analysis of the independent variables, and lastly several multivariate regressions analyses between all variables. In order to make it possible to acquire the most valid and reliable conclusions, the study will be based on a quantitative method, applying a deductive approach. The results found the most statistically significant relationships between all debt ratios and company size. The conclusion stated that the capital structure of OMXS companies, within Large Cap, had changed during the pandemic compared to before. In summary the results contribute to a deeper understanding of the relationship between all analyzed variables based on a historical background. Hence Swedish companies within these sectors can gain a better understanding of their capital structure for future financial crises.

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