The focus of this study was to investigate how a spatial interface can be effectively utilized to support information presentation and information integration via human-centric data visualization, leading to decreased cognitive load, more accurate situation awareness, and subsequently, improved task performance. In high tempo, information intensive environments like those managed by an emergency operations center (EOC), information organization tools are essential. Though users can be trained to use conventional email software applications efficiently, the constraints of the information management paradigms inherent to conventional systems may limit a user's ability to gather context and create an accurate picture of the situation. It is possible that new data visualization techniques and information management paradigms may improve a user's performance far beyond these limits. To address these issues, theories regarding information management, cognitive workload and data visualization paradigms were explored and applied to create a software prototype spatial interface. This study focused on how an individual member of an EOC would need to collect and organize incoming incident reports (e.g., emails) for the purpose of quick analysis and integration. The operator then used this information to build a picture of the event or events taking place in their sphere of influence. Performance metrics were applied to determine whether or not an individual could perform faster and more accurately with the Incident Report Visual Organizer (IRVO) prototype software interface as opposed to a conventional interface (Microsoft Outlook). The findings from this exploratory evaluation are discussed, as well as the potential implications of utilizing spatial interfaces to manage information in dynamic environments.

Background: A changing world requires strong leadership. The pressure can increase in the event of the effects of a macroeconomic crisis in listed companies, as the demands from primarily shareholders increase. When a company is public, mandates within the leadership become even more important. Leadership in crisis and the crisis management work itself is decisive for how a listed company should instill security and stability. Through the ability to adapt the leadership according to the given situation, the leader can succeed in crisis management and at the same time motivate the employees in an effective way. Purpose: The purpose of the study is to describe and analyze leadership styles in listed companies and whether leadership adapts during a macroeconomic crisis. Method: The study is based on qualitative interview research and has an abductive approach. Literature, newspaper articles and scientific articles form the basis of the study's theoretical frame of reference. The study's empirical material is based on semi-structured interviews with six leaders from different levels and experience. What they have in common is that they all base their leadership experiences from listed companies. Conclusions: Leadership must be adapted in the event of a macroeconomic crisis. As a leader, you should come forward and be extra clear, visible and communicative. If this is not done, uncertainty will arise and employees may find it more difficult to perform. The leader's actions are fundamental in crisis management. In addition, the study shows that the more leadership experience a leader has behind them, the greater understanding the leader has of what adaptations are required from a purely strategic point of view for the interests of the company and the shareholders. The study shows that it is not unusual for a leader who normally adopts a certain leadership style, e.g. transformative leadership style (which means to change), to adopt the authoritarian style with great confidence, when it is necessary to get employees to engage in the company's goals in stressful situations.

This essay is about brands linked to the Swedish banking sector. The reason why this topic waschosen is based on the increased importance of the brand in global markets, where there isunfortunately a lack of studies that examine brands in the banking sector. A central point ofdeparture in the study is Swedbank's money laundering crisis that was discovered in 2019,where both the consequences of this crisis were linked to Swedbank's own brand as well asfour other brands in the banking sector. The purpose of the study is to contribute increased knowledge about how Swedbank's moneylaundering crisis affected its own brand and four other brands in the banking sector.To achieve the designed purpose of the study, two research questions have been formulated:(1) How was Swedbank's brand affected and restored as a result of the 2019 crisis? And (2)How did Swedbank’s 2019 crisis affect other major banks and non-major banks from a brandperspective? The study has applied a qualitative method approach where primary data has been collectedthrough eight semi-structured interviews, where the respondents have been selected with helpof a goal-directed sample. The theoretical framework, from which this paper is based on, isBenoit’s theory “Image Restoration Theory (IRT)”, while “Spillover” is applied to examinehow competing brands to Swedbank are affected by Swedbank’s crisis in 2019. The results of the study indicate that Swedbank’s brand has been affected to a large extent,where special activities have been conducted with the aim of restoring the brand’s reputationand trust. The biggest consequence because of the crisis can be described as reduced trust,combined with the fact that the brand has become less selectable. For example, Swedbank haschanged its strategic direction, as well as reworked the brand’s vision and purpose. As for thetendency of the crisis to affect other brands in the banking sector, the effects can be seen asrelatively vague. Two of the banks considered themselves not to have been affected at all, onebank considered themselves to have been negatively affected and one bank consideredthemselves to have been positively affected. On the other hand, there was a large consensusthat Swedbank’s crisis reduced the confidence of the banking sector overall.

This study delves into the development of a long-term, sustainable housing solution to address the challenges faced during crisis when people are in immediate need of an accommodation. While temporary tents have been traditionally employed as shelters, their inefficiency in colder climates and lack of sustainability necessitate the exploration of alternative options. The proposed solution focuses on the construction of permanent houses equipped with proper insulated floorings, walls, and roofs.  Several crucial factors are taken into consideration throughout this study, including resistance to biological decomposition, exposure to precipitation, breathability, U-value per thickness, storage capabilities, and environmental impact. Therefore, studies and simulations are conducted to evaluate the viability of two organic insulation materials, with the objective of identifying the most suitable option for the project. In the next step energy simulations are conducted using the VIP software, enabling an accurate assessment of the concept building's energy efficiency. Moreover, a detailed model of the housing prototype is constructed using Revit and rendered using Twinmotion, facilitating a comprehensive visualization of the final design. Additionally, the transportation of the developed housing units was investigated and an efficient storage concept for standard shipping container was developed and modelled in SketchUp. With this study a sustainable, lightweight, flexible, adaptable, and easily transportable housing solution that can be constructed without reliance on external forces is to develop. By emphasizing sustainability and resilience, this study provides dignified and long-lasting housing for individuals and communities in need, effectively bridging the gap between temporary shelters and permanent housing structures. The findings and insights obtained from this study contribute to the broader body of knowledge in the field, fostering future advancements in crisis housing and promoting sustainable development practices.

The crisis of Covid-19 put the world on hold. In many countries, borders were closed and businesses were shut for a long period of time. Countries depending on tourism were hit hard when tourists were no longer allowed to enter, leading to serious consequences worldwide. Costa Rica, being a famous ecotourism destination, was one of few countries to reopen the border after only 9 months, giving businesses a headstart in recovery. This brought both opportunities and challenges to managers dealing with the crisis. The relevance of examining crisis management within the ecotourism industry during Covid-19 is therefore tangible. This study aims to provide a deeper understanding of how managers in ecotourism businesses were affected in terms of ontological security and social networks while managing the Covid-19 crisis. A qualitative study has been performed, based on six semi-structured interviews. The interviewees were managers from different areas in tourism: four hotels, one restaurant and one tourist company. Chosen theories are the concept of ontological security, Steve Matthewman’s perspective on Covid-19 and the social network concept. The results show that social networks can influence the feeling of ontological security, which in turn may affect the crisis management during the Covid-19 crises. Uncertainty was a significant aspect when looking at the results.

No description available.

Title: Time to prove: Sustainable leadership versus crisis management - a qualitative study regarding the experience of duality for leaders between two leaderships in a unique and complex environment. Authors: Julia Bülow and Aida Ekberg  Published: 2021–05–24 Supervisor: Jean-Charles Languilaire  Background: The environment is forever changing, and leaders need to adapt according to different factors. Previous research has named this rapidly changing environment as VUCA which is an acronym that stands for volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. To face such an environment, previous research has suggested VUCA prime as a way for leaders to approach the situation using vision, understanding, clarity and agility. When covid-19 entered the context, a situation of unique complexity was created which meant even greater challenges for leaders to navigate. These reinforced challenges are argued for using the external factors of PESTEL which imply political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal factors. This environment is named as VUCA max is this study, while indicating that the need of crisis management is reinforced at the same time as the need for sustainable leadership remains and has in fact never been more in question. Based on this background, this study aims to research the approach of leaders when faced with the duality of crisis management and sustainable leadership during VUCA max. This concludes the research gap for this study. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to understand how leaders handle the duality that appears in a situation of crisis, with regards to not compromising the future need of sustainability, while faced with a unique and complex environment.    Research question: How does leaders handle the duality between crisis management and sustainable leadership during VUCA max which is a unique and complex environment?   Methodology: This study has a qualitative approach by the conduction of a case study, consisting of interviews with seven leaders. The main research approach is deductive, with a slight element of inductance. Therefore, the research approach for this study is abductive in its entirety.  Conclusions: The conclusions of this study show that the leaders use crisis management and sustainable leadership in a balanced manner during VUCA max.  Sustainable leadership is therefore not deprioritized due to the increased need of crisis management. Further, the leaders have an enhanced use of clarity in relation to crisis management and understanding in relation to sustainable leadership. Leaders also use approaches such as trust, compassion, the ability to be goal-oriented, brave, take responsibility through self-leadership, and the establishment of a varied network during VUCA max. Finally, the concept development VUCA max-prime is introduced to describe how leaders handle the duality between crisis management and sustainable leadership during VUCA max.

There has been an increase in research on the internationalization of so-called born-globalfirms. However, this research primarily focused on the internationalization process duringcalmer times. So far, little attention has been paid to internationalization during times of crisis.Especially for the recently happened COVID-19 crisis, research on the implications for bornglobal internationalization has been neglected. Nonetheless, born-global firms face manyliabilities in their internationalization processes, even getting more severe in times of crisis.This study aims to fill the existing knowledge gap by examining the internationalization ofSwedish born-global firms and their challenges due to COVID-19. Finally, we seek to makerecommendations for firms and entrepreneurs on how to cope with those hurdles.This research was conducted using qualitative semi-structured interviews with the founders orco-founders of six Swedish companies that fit the specifics of a born-global firm.The empirical findings show that all firms internationalize quickly abroad by using variousstrategies. While some follow relatively gradual approaches, others internationalize withintheir home regions or globally from the beginning. Also, the firms faced challenges due toilliquid customers, funding issues, or impeded networking. On the other hand, many companiescould discover new opportunities due to the crisis that supported their survival in abroadmarkets. Herewith the digital infrastructure and being online was distinctive. Eventually, it waspossible to conclude supportive behavioral patterns for entrepreneurs and firms when facingcrises.

Title: Are the needs of the staff disregarded in the events of a crisis? Subtitle: A case study about situational management during a crisis at an insurance company and its effects on employee’s motivation Background: After reviewing previous research in the field, we have found in this paper that situational leadership promotes good crisis management, but how motivation is treated follows as a secondary priority. In crisis management within organizations, strategies are created by those who have a leading role, with the goal of going back to a "normal" business, as it was before the crisis, with a focus on adaptability and flexibility to how the transition is to be implemented. Communication is one of the most important tools for creating an effective group and in the case of remote work, high demands are placed on the leader's adaptation and the leader's way of communicating for work to be carried out. The purpose of crisis management from a leadership perspective is to create strategies with the end goal of going back to "normal" through flexibility instead of making drastic changes to resolve a difficult situation after an unforeseen event, such as the Covid-19 pandemic. The lack of including the motivational aspect of the employees in a crisis leads us to the knowledge gap that we intend to analyze in this study. Purpose: The purpose of the present study is to gain an in-depth understanding of situational leadership with a focus on communication and motivation in a crisis. Methods: The research method we chose to use is designed as a qualitative method to provide a deeper understanding of the subject. As a research strategy, we have used a case study that involves investigating a specific case or an individual organization. We chose to conduct semi- structured interviews, which meant that we created a list of relatively specific themes that are relevant to the intended purpose in the form of an interview guide. Conclusion: The study has shown that the lack of social interactions in remote work, negatively affects motivation and that the motivation aspect is not a priority in crisis management. Furthermore, the study can conclude that the motivation aspect is neglected in a crisis with the background that the focus of the organization instead shifts to be able to continue, despite crisis, conduct its core business. There is still uncertainty as to how communication should be designed when teleworking to reduce the risk of fragmentation in the working group. Divisions in the working group can be stated to have occurred in the investigated company, which can be a topic for further research. / Bakgrund: Efter genomgång av tidigare forskning på området har vi i förevarande uppsats funnit att situationsanpassat ledarskap gynnar en god krishantering men hur motivation behandlas följer som en sekundär prioritet. Inom krishantering i organisationer skapas strategier av de som har en ledande roll, med målet att gå tillbaka till en ”normal” verksamhet, så som den var innan krisen, med fokus på anpassningsbarhet och flexibilitet till hur omställningen ska genomföras. Kommunikation är ett av de viktigaste verktygen för att skapa en effektiv grupp och vid distansarbete ställs det höga krav på ledarens anpassning och ledarens sätt att kommunicera för att arbete ska genomföras. Syftet med krishantering utifrån ett ledarskapsperspektiv är att skapa strategier med slutmålet att gå tillbaka till det ”normala” genom flexibilitet i stället för att göra drastiska förändringar för att lösa en svår situation efter att en oförutsedd händelse, likt Covid-19 pandemin, har uppstått. Bristen av att inkludera motivationsaspekten för de anställda i en krissituation leder oss till den kunskapslucka som vi ämnar att i denna studie analysera. Syfte: Syftet med förevarande studie är att få en fördjupad förståelse i situationsanpassat ledarskap med fokus på kommunikation och motivation i en krissituation.  Metod: Den forskningsmetod vi valde att använda oss av är utformad som en kvalitativ metod för att ge en djupare förståelse inom ämnet. Som forskningsstrategi har vi använt oss av en fallstudie som handlar om att undersöka ett specifikt fall eller en enskild organisation. Vi valde att genomföra semistrukturerade intervjuer som innebar att vi skapade en lista över förhållandevis specifika teman som är relevanta för det ämnade syftet i form av en intervjuguide.  Slutsats: Studien har visat på att bristen av sociala interaktioner och det sociala samspelet mellan individer i distansarbete påverkar motivation negativt och att motivationsaspekten inte är en prioritet i krishantering. Vidare kan studien konstatera att motivationsaspekten är åsidosatt vid en krissituation med bakgrund av att fokus för organisationen i stället skiftar till att kunna fortsatt, trots kris, bedriva sin kärnverksamhet. Det råder fortfarande oklarheter i hur kommunikationen bör utformas vid distansarbete för att reducera risk för splittring i arbetsgruppen. Splittring i arbetsgrupp kan konstateras har skett i det undersökta bolaget, vilket vidare kan vara ett ämne för vidare forskning.

”It´s this position in between that´s very tricky.” ­– A comparative case study of the Swedish University of internal communication with employees   The study aims to examine how three Swedish universities in Linköping, Lund and Umeå handle their internal communications with employees. The study intends to specifically examine communications concerning events surrounding the crime, ethics and morality, in gray scale in between crisis and everyday communication. The theoretical framework of the study was based on the organizational communication, crisis communication, the consequences of a lack of internal communication and preparatory actions. The empirical material that this study assumes consists of qualitative interviews with selected employees at the Universities of Linkoping, Lund and Umeå. A total of six interviews.   The study shows that all three universities have a crisis organization that is represented by the different functions of the University. They have a similar approach where emergency aid is sewn together, depending on the nature of the crisis. But as social media rampage and information society of rapid change, universities must work proactively and consciously, and at the same time be able to quickly adapt to change. Furthermore, it strengthens the credibility of the organization as they also have obligations to the public. It is still unclear whether there are procedures to write down every single case of a sensitive nature. Whether it is about an anonymous threat or an employee accused of misconduct or sexual harassment needed more concrete to the work as well as possible in the future. The best is of course to try to avoid these situations at all, but if not crisis communication or daily routine functions optimally at these sensitive cases are part of the problem. Hence the need for written procedures for the gray scale in between crisis and everyday communication. That, along with a proactive approach, support groups at local level and clear accountability lines are steps in the right direction.   Keynotes: Organizational communication, internal communication, crisis communication, consequences, crisis management