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The squash bug, Anasa tristis De Geer (Hemiptera: Coreidae), is a serious pest of cucurbit crops across the US, especially within summer squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) systems. Using its piercing sucking mouthparts, squash bug feeds on both leaf tissue and fruits, potentially leading to leaf necrosis, seedling death, and yield loss. Currently, A. tristis management strategies in summer squash focus exclusively on insecticide applications. Given that continuous use of insecticides imposes negative side effects on many non-target species, the major objective of this dissertation was to identify new and understudied management strategies for minimizing A. tristis damage in Virginia summer squash. To accomplish this goal, we first performed experiments to test the effects of colored mulches on squash bug density. A two-year field replicated study conducted in 2019 and 2020 in southwest Virginia found that black, white, and reflective plastic mulch colors had no effect on squash bug adult, egg mass, or nymphal densities. Overall, we observed a broad plastic mulch effect, as summer squash plants grown in any plastic mulch color tended to harbor greater densities of squash bug life stages than plants grown on bare ground. Next, the potential of augmentative releases of egg parasitoid, Hadronotus pennsylvanicus Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) was assessed by deploying lab-reared parasitoids on organic farms growing summer squash in southeastern Virginia in 2020 and 2021. In both years, we found higher levels of A. tristis egg parasitism at H. pennsylvanicus release sites compared to sites where the parasitoids were not released. Further, higher egg parasitism at the release sites was observed within two weeks of the field deployment date. The third goal of this dissertation research was to characterize the relationship between squash bug life stages and marketable summer squash yield. In 2020 and 2021, summer squash fields were established in Whitethorne, Virginia and individual plants were labeled as either 'managed' or 'infested'. Managed plants were subject to weekly manual removal of all squash bug egg masses and nymphs, while infested plants were left to have natural densities of squash bug life stages. We performed weekly A. tristis surveys on all infested plants in both years and added H. pennsylvanicus surveys on infested and managed plants in 2021. Also, we collected all fruit produced by each plant. Managed plants were found to produce more marketable fruit and fewer squash bug-damaged fruit than infested plants. Linear regression analyses of initial two-week accumulated squash bug life stage counts displayed adult and nymph densities to be significantly associated with marketable fruit yield per plant. However, nymphs showed a considerably stronger relationship with marketable yield than did adults. Hadronotus pennsylvanicus was visually sampled during each of the eight sampling weeks, but did not exhibit high egg parasitism until the latter half of the sampling interval. Lastly, we evaluated the toxicity of reduced risk insecticides on A. tristis nymphs and H. pennsylvanicus adults. To do so, we conducted laboratory bioassays exposing nymphs to insecticide treated summer squash fruit and parasitoids to treated filter paper, and recorded mortality at 24, 48, and 72 h following initial exposure. Only one reduced risk insecticide, flupyradifurone, was found to be highly toxic to squash bug nymphs and nontoxic to the parasitoids. Overall, the results of these studies will offer much needed information to improve the success and sustainability of squash bug management programs, as well as provide a fundamental basis and spark motivation for future research in squash bug biological control. / Doctor of Philosophy / The squash bug is a serious insect pest of summer squash across the United States. Squash bugs inflict damage by feeding on plant leaves, stems, and fruits, leading to significant reductions in fruit yield and overall economic losses for growers. To date, farmers have few useful tools to minimize squash bug damage in their summer squash crop, and resort to over-applying insecticides. While this use of insecticides helps lower squash bug numbers, it often has negative side effects on the environment and important beneficial insect species like pollinators. To better understand the squash bug as a summer squash pest and to promote nonchemical ways to reduce squash bug damage, this dissertation research pursued answers to questions regarding: (1) the effect of plastic mulch color on squash bug numbers, (2) the use of squash bug natural enemies to control squash bugs, (3) the relationship between numbers of squash bugs and damaged summer squash fruits, and (4) whether new types of insecticides can control squash bugs and also be safe for beneficial insects. The results of this research will provide new insights on current issues with squash bug pest management. In particular, this work will provide summer squash farmers with useful knowledge that can be applied to their future efforts to responsibly control squash bugs in their fields and maximize their crop yields. With more research-supported and sustainable squash bug control tools, farmers will be able to not only adopt more environmentally-friendly food production practices, but also lower their overhead farm management costs and ultimately provide higher quality squash to consumers.

The effects that mutualistic soil biota have on invasive species success is a growing topic of inquiry. Studies of the interactions between invasive plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have shown changes in AMF community composition, reductions in AMF associations in invasive plants, and changes in native species fitness and competitive outcomes in invasive-shifted AMF communities. These findings support the degraded mutualist hypothesis, where invasive species alter the mutualist community composition, resulting in detrimental associations with the new mutualist community for native species. Here I present two studies that examine various aspects of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) mutualism in the success of a newly invasive bunchgrass, Brachypodium sylvaticum. The first chapter is a field survey of AMF associations between a native bunchgrass, Elymus glaucus and B. sylvaticum in the invaded range. The second chapter presents a test of reduced mycorrhizal dependence between invasive and native-range populations of B. sylvaticum. For the field survey, AMF colonization and spore density of root and soil rhizosphere samples from B. sylvaticum and E. glaucus from the two regions of introduction of the B. sylvaticum invasion were measured. In this survey I found lower AMF colonization and spore density in B. sylvaticum compared to the native species in the invaded ranges. The reduction in AMF associations in B. sylvaticum was predicted to be due to the evolution of reduced mycorrhizal dependence in invasive populations compared to native populations of B. sylvaticum. I tested the prediction for reduced mycorrhizal dependence by measuring the fitness gains or losses with AMF inoculation compared to sterile conditions in both fertilized and unfertilized treatments for individuals of B. sylvaticum from each of the introduction sites in Oregon, USA and source populations from the native range in Europe. There were no differences in plant or AMF fitness between the invasive and native populations of B. sylvaticum. Under high nutrients the interaction between all B. sylvaticum plants and AMF was mutualistic. Under low nutrient treatments both B. sylvaticum and AMF had reduced fitness measures, suggesting a competitive interaction. Nutrient levels of inoculated unfertilized soils are similar to field conditions. It is likely that the reduction in AMF associations in B. sylvaticum observed in the field is due antagonistic interactions between AMF and B. sylvaticum.

In field experiments, managing for earliness through planting date and varietal maturity reduced tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois), densities, insecticide applications, and yield loss. A second experiment highlighted the importance of timely insecticide applications for managing tarnished plant bugs. Differences in fitness parameters were observed between tarnished plant bug populations collected from the Hills and Delta regions of Mississippi. Populations from the Delta region laid more eggs and produced more viable offspring than populations from the Hills. Populations from the Delta reared on cotton developed significantly faster to each life stage than those reared on diet or populations from the Hills region. Overall, tarnished plant bugs survived significantly better on diet than on cotton. Results from these experiments will be important for improving IPM practices for tarnished plant bugs in Mississippi cotton.

A crescente preocupação com nematoides está associada a sua facilidade em encontrar alimento durante a safra e entressafra. A sucessão de culturas popularizada pelo Sistema de Plantio Direto (SPD) permite a multiplicação constante destes patógenos em campo. Pratylenchus brachyurus, o nematoide das lesões radiculares, foi extremamente favorecido por este sistema devido a seu alto grau de polífagia, parasitando inclusive as principais culturas agrícolas nacionais. A soja é o a cultura que mais sofre perdas por este patógeno e o sistema onde é empregada, em rotação com gramíneas, é uma condição agravante para a cultura. Devido a isto a busca por alternativas de sucessão em que o nematoide não seja capaz de aumentar a população é uma ferramenta importante para o controle do nematoide. O objetivo deste trabalho foi buscar alternativas de coberturas vegetais para o controle de P. brachyurus e testar o efeito em sucessão com soja. Foram realizados dois experimentos, sendo o primeiro para avaliar a reação de hospedabilidade de plantas de cobertura a P. brachyurus, e o segundo com sucessão de sorgo com soja. No primeiro experimento foram avaliados 18 tratamentos na primeira etapa e 10 na segunda, totalizando 19 coberturas vegetais diferentes. Os ensaios foram conduzidos em casa de vegetação em vasos de plástico com 1L de solo autoclavado. Três plantas de cada tratamento foram mantidas por parcela. Foram inoculados 1000 espécimes do nematoide por parcela e a avaliação foi realizada aos 90 dias após a inoculação (DAI). Neste período os nematoides, foram extraídos das raízes por método de liquidificação, peneiramento e flutuação em centrifuga, e contados em Câmara de Peters sobre microscópio ótico. Com a população final encontrada foi avaliado o Fator de Reprodução (FR) do nematoide na planta. Nos dois ensaios foram encontrados resistência para seis tratamentos. Leucena, estilosantes, tefrosia, C. grantiana, C. spectabilis e C. breviflora apresentaram resistência nos dois experimentos. Guandu-mandarim apresentou resistência no primeiro ensaio e suscetibilidade no segundo enquanto que, C. ochroleuca ocorreu o inverso. Os resultados demostraram o potencial de redução da população do fitonematoide com o uso de espécies vegetais de cobertura. No segundo experimento foi conduzido ensaio de sucessão com cinco cultivares de sorgo e um de milheto em sistema com gramínea-soja. Os experimentos foram conduzidos em casa de vegetação com oito parcelas por tratamento. Cada parcela foi inoculada com 1000 espécimes de P. brachyurus em vasos de 1L com solo autoclavado. Foram mantidas três plantas por vaso. Quatro parcelas foram colhidas aos 90 DAI e realizada a extração para avaliação de FR. Das quatro parcelas restantes foi removida a parte aérea das gramíneas e semeado soja. As avaliações em soja foram realizadas na senescência da cultura. Não foram encontrados tratamentos resistentes. O cultivar de milheto BRS 1501 apresentou os menores valores de FR, multiplicando menos o nematoide, enquanto o cultivar de sorgo BRS 716 apresentou os valores mais elevados. As avaliações em soja demonstraram a menor produtividade e massa fresca de raiz de soja conforme o aumento da população do nematoide na parcela devido à sucessão. Nenhum dos tratamentos foi eficiente para diminuir a população do nematoide e o aumento da população inicial na soja agravou os danos causados pelo nematoide. Por tanto nenhum dos tratamentos com gramíneas é recomendado para rotação com soja ou cultivo em solos infestados. Neste trabalho foi possível visualizar os danos causados pelo nematoide na cultura e também foi possível encontrar potenciais de controle cultural com plantas resistentes e a supressão da população no solo. / The growing concern with nematodes is associated with their ease in finding food during the harvest and in the off season. The crop rotation, popularized by the No-till farming allows the constant multiplication of these pathogens in the field. Pratylenchus brachyurus the root-lesion nematode was greatly favored by this system due to its polyphagous feeding behavior, parasitizing even the main national agricultural crops. Soybean is the host of this pathogen, and the system where it is employed, in rotation with grasses, is an aggravating condition for the crop. Due to this the search for rotation alternatives where the nematode is not able to increase the population is an important tool for the control in the off season and to avoid losses in the main crop. The objective of this work was to search for plant cover alternatives for the control of P. brachyurus and to test the effect in succession with soybean. Two experiments were carried out, the first one to evaluate the host planting of P. brachyurus, and a second with succession of grasses with soybean in soil infested with nematodes. In the first experiment, eighteen treatments were evaluated in the first stage and ten in the second, totaling nineteen different cover crops. The assays were conducted in a greenhouse in plastic vats with 1L of steam sterilized soil. Three plants of each treatment were maintained per plot. 1000 specimens of the nematode were inoculated per plot and the evaluation was performed at 90 days after inoculation (DAI). During this period the nematodes were extracted from the roots by means of liquidification, sieving and centrifugal flotation, and counted in Peters\' Chamber on an optical microscope. With the final population found, the reproductive factor (RF) of the nematode in the plant was evaluated. In both tests resistance was found for six treatments. Leucaena, stylers, tephrosia, C. grantiana, C. spectabilis and C. breviflora showed resistance in both experiments. Pigeonpea cv \'mandarim\' presented resistance in the first trial and susceptibility in the second while C. ochroleuca occurred the inverse. The results demonstrated the potential of reducing the phytonematoid population with the use of plant cover species. In the second experiment, a succession test was carried out with five cultivars of sorghum and one of millet in a grass-soybean system. The experiments were conducted in greenhouse with eight plots per treatment. Each plot was inoculated with 1000 specimens of P. brachyurus in 1L vessels with autoclaved soil. Three plants were maintained per pot. Four plots were harvested at 90 DAI and extraction was performed for FR evaluation. Of the four remaining plots was removed the aerial part of the grasses and sown soybean. The soybean evaluations were carried out in the senescence of the crop. No resistant treatments were found. The millet cultivar BRS 1501 presented the lowest values of RF, multiplying the nematode less, while the sorghum cultivar BRS 716 had the highest values. Soybean yields showed lower productivity and fresh soybean root mass as the nematode population increased in the plot due to succession. None of the treatments with grasses were efficient to decrease the nematode population and the initial population increases in soybean aggravated nematode damage. None of the treatments are recommended for soybean rotation or cultivation on infested soil. In this work it was possible to visualize the damage caused by the nematode in the crop and it was also possible to find potentials of cultural control with resistant plants and the suppression of the population in the soil.

<p>Vad som skiljer en organisation från mängden kan i många fall vara hur god kapacitet som finns för att bemöta det hot en kris kan utgöra. Därför är det viktigt för organisationen att hela tiden aktivt arbeta med att förbättra denna kapacitet, genom att på ett så brett plan som möjligt försöka förbereda sig för de potentiella kriser som kan drabba organisationen. Således blir det en strategisk fråga att ha crisis management-kapacitet, och för att etablera denna måste ledningen styra organisationen i rätt riktning. Därigenom kan en kris hindras från att fortplanta sig som ringar på vatten, och drabba en allt större del av organisationen. Syftet med uppsatsen är att undersöka och beskriva hur en organisation, ur ett styrningsperspektiv, kan etablera eller förbättra sin crisis management- kapacitet. Undersökningen visar att organisationens crisis management-arbete i hög grad bedrivits genom att förberedelser och förebyggande arbete företagits för de kriser som organisationen har erfarenhet av. Detta arbete styrs i stor utsträckning genom direktstyrning eller genom att individerna förses med den kunskap som kan krävas. Detta är möjligt då arbetsprocessen för dessa kriser är relativt känd, genom de erfarenheter som finns. I de fall då erfarenheterna inte är goda beträffande vad som krävs har arbetet dock stagnerat. Då erfarenheterna är låga blir det svårare att styra crisis management-arbetet och informella styrmekanismer kan komma att bli nödvändiga. För att organisationen skall ges möjlighet att fungera proaktivt måste således ledningen genom ett tydligare ledarskap försöka påverka organisationskulturen. Detta kan gynna crisis managementarbetet, och behovet av formell styrning kan därigenom minskas.</p>

Vad som skiljer en organisation från mängden kan i många fall vara hur god kapacitet som finns för att bemöta det hot en kris kan utgöra. Därför är det viktigt för organisationen att hela tiden aktivt arbeta med att förbättra denna kapacitet, genom att på ett så brett plan som möjligt försöka förbereda sig för de potentiella kriser som kan drabba organisationen. Således blir det en strategisk fråga att ha crisis management-kapacitet, och för att etablera denna måste ledningen styra organisationen i rätt riktning. Därigenom kan en kris hindras från att fortplanta sig som ringar på vatten, och drabba en allt större del av organisationen. Syftet med uppsatsen är att undersöka och beskriva hur en organisation, ur ett styrningsperspektiv, kan etablera eller förbättra sin crisis management- kapacitet. Undersökningen visar att organisationens crisis management-arbete i hög grad bedrivits genom att förberedelser och förebyggande arbete företagits för de kriser som organisationen har erfarenhet av. Detta arbete styrs i stor utsträckning genom direktstyrning eller genom att individerna förses med den kunskap som kan krävas. Detta är möjligt då arbetsprocessen för dessa kriser är relativt känd, genom de erfarenheter som finns. I de fall då erfarenheterna inte är goda beträffande vad som krävs har arbetet dock stagnerat. Då erfarenheterna är låga blir det svårare att styra crisis management-arbetet och informella styrmekanismer kan komma att bli nödvändiga. För att organisationen skall ges möjlighet att fungera proaktivt måste således ledningen genom ett tydligare ledarskap försöka påverka organisationskulturen. Detta kan gynna crisis managementarbetet, och behovet av formell styrning kan därigenom minskas.

Field experiments were conducted during the 1989 dry season (July to December) at the Manggoapi Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Cenderawasih University in Manokwari, Irian Jaya, Indonesia. The objectives of the experiments were to determine the effects of four sweet potato cropping systems on the population density of sweet potato weevils (SPW) and on the diversity of other insects within these agroecosystems. / Fewer SPW were found in intercropped sweet potato + corn (2 weevils per kg infected tubers), sweet potato + soybean (21 weevils), sweet potato + corn + soybean (8 weevils) than in monoculture sweet potato (37 weevils); percentage of damaged tubers followed the same trend, ranging from 2.6% to 14.0% in intercropped sweet potato, to 21.9% in the sweet potato monoculture. However, the higher number of SPW and damaged tubers in the monoculture did not reduce yield below that in the intercropped plots. / Insect and spider populations were more diverse in the intercropped sweet potato systems than in monoculture. Number of arthropods increased throughout the growing season. Intercropping may reduce the population density of other insect pests associated with sweet potato and may increase the population density of natural enemies.

A crescente preocupação com nematoides está associada a sua facilidade em encontrar alimento durante a safra e entressafra. A sucessão de culturas popularizada pelo Sistema de Plantio Direto (SPD) permite a multiplicação constante destes patógenos em campo. Pratylenchus brachyurus, o nematoide das lesões radiculares, foi extremamente favorecido por este sistema devido a seu alto grau de polífagia, parasitando inclusive as principais culturas agrícolas nacionais. A soja é o a cultura que mais sofre perdas por este patógeno e o sistema onde é empregada, em rotação com gramíneas, é uma condição agravante para a cultura. Devido a isto a busca por alternativas de sucessão em que o nematoide não seja capaz de aumentar a população é uma ferramenta importante para o controle do nematoide. O objetivo deste trabalho foi buscar alternativas de coberturas vegetais para o controle de P. brachyurus e testar o efeito em sucessão com soja. Foram realizados dois experimentos, sendo o primeiro para avaliar a reação de hospedabilidade de plantas de cobertura a P. brachyurus, e o segundo com sucessão de sorgo com soja. No primeiro experimento foram avaliados 18 tratamentos na primeira etapa e 10 na segunda, totalizando 19 coberturas vegetais diferentes. Os ensaios foram conduzidos em casa de vegetação em vasos de plástico com 1L de solo autoclavado. Três plantas de cada tratamento foram mantidas por parcela. Foram inoculados 1000 espécimes do nematoide por parcela e a avaliação foi realizada aos 90 dias após a inoculação (DAI). Neste período os nematoides, foram extraídos das raízes por método de liquidificação, peneiramento e flutuação em centrifuga, e contados em Câmara de Peters sobre microscópio ótico. Com a população final encontrada foi avaliado o Fator de Reprodução (FR) do nematoide na planta. Nos dois ensaios foram encontrados resistência para seis tratamentos. Leucena, estilosantes, tefrosia, C. grantiana, C. spectabilis e C. breviflora apresentaram resistência nos dois experimentos. Guandu-mandarim apresentou resistência no primeiro ensaio e suscetibilidade no segundo enquanto que, C. ochroleuca ocorreu o inverso. Os resultados demostraram o potencial de redução da população do fitonematoide com o uso de espécies vegetais de cobertura. No segundo experimento foi conduzido ensaio de sucessão com cinco cultivares de sorgo e um de milheto em sistema com gramínea-soja. Os experimentos foram conduzidos em casa de vegetação com oito parcelas por tratamento. Cada parcela foi inoculada com 1000 espécimes de P. brachyurus em vasos de 1L com solo autoclavado. Foram mantidas três plantas por vaso. Quatro parcelas foram colhidas aos 90 DAI e realizada a extração para avaliação de FR. Das quatro parcelas restantes foi removida a parte aérea das gramíneas e semeado soja. As avaliações em soja foram realizadas na senescência da cultura. Não foram encontrados tratamentos resistentes. O cultivar de milheto BRS 1501 apresentou os menores valores de FR, multiplicando menos o nematoide, enquanto o cultivar de sorgo BRS 716 apresentou os valores mais elevados. As avaliações em soja demonstraram a menor produtividade e massa fresca de raiz de soja conforme o aumento da população do nematoide na parcela devido à sucessão. Nenhum dos tratamentos foi eficiente para diminuir a população do nematoide e o aumento da população inicial na soja agravou os danos causados pelo nematoide. Por tanto nenhum dos tratamentos com gramíneas é recomendado para rotação com soja ou cultivo em solos infestados. Neste trabalho foi possível visualizar os danos causados pelo nematoide na cultura e também foi possível encontrar potenciais de controle cultural com plantas resistentes e a supressão da população no solo. / The growing concern with nematodes is associated with their ease in finding food during the harvest and in the off season. The crop rotation, popularized by the No-till farming allows the constant multiplication of these pathogens in the field. Pratylenchus brachyurus the root-lesion nematode was greatly favored by this system due to its polyphagous feeding behavior, parasitizing even the main national agricultural crops. Soybean is the host of this pathogen, and the system where it is employed, in rotation with grasses, is an aggravating condition for the crop. Due to this the search for rotation alternatives where the nematode is not able to increase the population is an important tool for the control in the off season and to avoid losses in the main crop. The objective of this work was to search for plant cover alternatives for the control of P. brachyurus and to test the effect in succession with soybean. Two experiments were carried out, the first one to evaluate the host planting of P. brachyurus, and a second with succession of grasses with soybean in soil infested with nematodes. In the first experiment, eighteen treatments were evaluated in the first stage and ten in the second, totaling nineteen different cover crops. The assays were conducted in a greenhouse in plastic vats with 1L of steam sterilized soil. Three plants of each treatment were maintained per plot. 1000 specimens of the nematode were inoculated per plot and the evaluation was performed at 90 days after inoculation (DAI). During this period the nematodes were extracted from the roots by means of liquidification, sieving and centrifugal flotation, and counted in Peters\' Chamber on an optical microscope. With the final population found, the reproductive factor (RF) of the nematode in the plant was evaluated. In both tests resistance was found for six treatments. Leucaena, stylers, tephrosia, C. grantiana, C. spectabilis and C. breviflora showed resistance in both experiments. Pigeonpea cv \'mandarim\' presented resistance in the first trial and susceptibility in the second while C. ochroleuca occurred the inverse. The results demonstrated the potential of reducing the phytonematoid population with the use of plant cover species. In the second experiment, a succession test was carried out with five cultivars of sorghum and one of millet in a grass-soybean system. The experiments were conducted in greenhouse with eight plots per treatment. Each plot was inoculated with 1000 specimens of P. brachyurus in 1L vessels with autoclaved soil. Three plants were maintained per pot. Four plots were harvested at 90 DAI and extraction was performed for FR evaluation. Of the four remaining plots was removed the aerial part of the grasses and sown soybean. The soybean evaluations were carried out in the senescence of the crop. No resistant treatments were found. The millet cultivar BRS 1501 presented the lowest values of RF, multiplying the nematode less, while the sorghum cultivar BRS 716 had the highest values. Soybean yields showed lower productivity and fresh soybean root mass as the nematode population increased in the plot due to succession. None of the treatments with grasses were efficient to decrease the nematode population and the initial population increases in soybean aggravated nematode damage. None of the treatments are recommended for soybean rotation or cultivation on infested soil. In this work it was possible to visualize the damage caused by the nematode in the crop and it was also possible to find potentials of cultural control with resistant plants and the suppression of the population in the soil.

Background: Our study investigates the phenomenon of self-organization since many companies choose to work in smaller teams and project groups to respond proactively to change. Problems that may arise with a greater delegation of responsibility in organizations is insufficient goal congruence throughout the different organizational levels. Management control is the solution to problems with goal congruence but its meaning is often translated into the monitoring and supervision of employees. This creates negative associations to the influence that management control has over work performances in self-organizing teams. Organizations are therefore forced to balance their exercise of control between a tougher and more free form of governance to reach goal congruence in all organizational levels. Self- organization thus places high demands on management when control is to be transparent to employees and at the same time congruent with the self-organization that is conducted throughout the organization. Purpose: To create an in-depth understanding of the prerequisites and control mechanisms of self-organization. Completion: The study adopts a qualitative method in which data was collected from SMHI's IT department. During four weeks, material was collected from four interviews with representatives from three different organizational levels. Conclusion: The study results in the coexistence of though and free control through transparent control mechanisms to ensure goal congruence in self-organized work. The results proves how the client's involvement in teamwork and the group's priorities are driven by cultural and self-managing mechanisms. Furthermore, the cybernetic process with interactive features is described as a tough control that generates increased autonomy in self-organizing teams. To achieve well-functioning self-organizing teams the prerequisites instigate knowledge sharing, communication and flexibility in the work process. The control mechanisms and the prerequisites of the team contribute to the perceived autonomy amongst the team members to influence their work, which is the most important factor for the control to appear invisible. The parallel work of prerequisites and control mechanisms creates effective and well-functioning teams working towards congruence with the organization's goals. In organizations that require flexibility and efficiency through team-based work, these dimensions are tools used by management to control teams with transparency / Bakgrund: Vår studie undersöker fenomenet självorganisering då fler organisationer väljer att arbeta i mindre arbetslag, projektgrupper eller team för att bemöta förändring på ett proaktivt sätt. Risker med en större ansvarsdelegering i organisationer är de problem som kan uppstå med målkongruens. Styrning är lösningen på problem med målkongruens men översätts ofta till kontroll och övervakning. Detta skapar negativa associationer till styrningens påverkan på utfört arbete. Organisationerna behöver därmed balansera sin utövning av kontroll mellan en hårdare och friare form av styrning för att styra medarbetarna mot målkongruens. Självorganisering ställer därmed höga krav på ledningen när styrningen ska vara transparent för medarbetarna och samtidigt kongruent med den självorganisering som bedrivs. Styrningsmekanismer krävs för att kunna säkerställa självorganiseringens effektivitet med hjälp av cybernetiska processer, interaktiv styrning, självstyrning samt kultur. Förutsättningarna för välfungerande arbete i självorganiserade team ligger istället på processernas flexibla natur, kommunikation och kunskapsdelning. Syfte: Att skapa en fördjupad förståelse för självorganiseringens förutsättningar och styrningsmekanismer. Genomförande: Fallstudien antar en kvalitativ metod där data insamlats från SMHI:s IT-avdelning. Under fyra veckor samlades material in från fyra intervjuer på SMHI:s IT-avdelning med representanter från tre olika organisatoriska nivåer. Slutsats: Studien resulterar i att balansen mellan hård och fri styrning sker genom transparenta styrningsmekanismer för att säkerställa ett målkongruent självorganiserat arbete. I empirin finns underlag för hur kundens involvering i teamets arbete samt gruppens prioriteringar drivs av kulturella- och självstyrningsmekanismer. Vidare beskrivs den cybernetiska processen med interaktiva inslag som en hård styrning som trots detta genererar utökad autonomi i självorganisarande team. Förutsättningarna i teamet skapar istället en välfungerande självorganisering när kunskapsdelning, kommunikation och flexibilitet i arbetsprocessen uppnås. Både styrningsmekanismerna och förutsättningarna i teamet bidrar till en hög grad av upplevd autonomi att påverka sitt arbete vilket är den viktigaste faktorn för att styrningen ska förefalla osynlig. Förutsättningar och styrningsmekanismer arbetar på detta sätt parallellt för att skapa effektiva och välfungerande team som arbetar mot kongruens med organisationens mål. I organisationer med krav på flexibilitet och effektivitet genom teambaserat arbete kan dessa dimensioner vara verktyg för ledningen att styra team med transparens.