Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has been widely talked about over decades. CSR is a concept proposed in Western Countries firstly and it asks for business to contribute sustainable economic development and to improve the quality of life by involving other stakeholders at the same time. The CSR among countries in Asia has beenspreadingin recent years. This thesis takes a closer comparison on the CSR between China and Sweden. As a case study with qualitative strategy, its main aims are to compare the driving forces, barriers, activities and deliverables in implementation of CSR in a Sweden-China context. Two Swedish enterprises and one Chinese enterprise are used as examples here in this study and both of their primary data by interview and secondary data by CSR or Sustainability Report are utilized. Theories refer to the implementation of CSR, the CSR in China and Sweden are used to establish the conceptual framework of this study. Empirical findings show that Chinese and Swedish enterprises both implement CSR in a similar way while the differences still exist. For instance, the Swedish enterprises stress the work on philanthropic responsibility to participate in local activities, while the Chinese enterprises contribute to the society by donation in natural disaster. Their activities, driving forces, barriers and deliverables are summarized in a model, respectively. Base on this fact, this thesis argues that the difference is due to the influence of cultural and political factors. Consequently, it leads to a situation that the Swedish enterprises have an advantage in implementation on caring of employees while the Chinese enterprises are good at making contributions to the larger society. This thesis can hopefully provide insightful comparison between the implementation of CSR in both Swedish and Chinese enterprises. As a conclusion, the study recommends that the future research should focus on CSR implementation of political influence.

This descriptive study focuses on analyzing the factors influencing public debate on intensified Finnish-Swedish defence cooperation, using qualitative abductive content analysis (a combination of Grounded theory analysis and text/content analysis) as the research method. The study was conducted using a model adapted from Tomas Valasek’s hypothesis on pooling and sharing (Surviving Austerity - The case for a new approach to EU military collaboration, 2011), inducted from a corpus collected from Finnish and Swedish public defence debates from 1.1.2013 to 31.3.2014. The main research question is: what are the driving forces influencing debate on intensified bilateral Finnish-Swedish defence. Secondary research questions were developed from the corpus in four categories: historical, political/military, economic and attitudinal factors. Using these as the analysis model, the corpus was deductively analyzed to increase understanding of the individual factors and to find driving forces. The main result of this study is that the existence or lack of trust is seen as a key driving force influencing debate, either furthering or hindering cooperation. Other driving forces seen as influencing debate are the existence or lack of: understanding of the historical background of cooperation from both countries’ point of view commitment and clarity of political/military goals political commitment to the political/military purposes of cooperation instead of domestic economic gain a legally binding framework for cooperation.

<p> We address a functional analysis-based method for the estimation of driving-forces from nonlinear dynamic systems in this thesis. The driving-forces account for the perturbation inputs or the irregular variations in the internal variables of a dynamic system. These inputs are hidden from the observer most of the time if not always. Reconstruction of such inputs when there is too little or no prior knowledge to build a mathematical model to describe the system's behavior is an important problem in many cases in physics and engineering. To this end, we propose a method for the recursive estimation of driving-forces without the availability of an analytic model of the unknown physical phenomenon. </p> <p> The underlying idea of the proposed estimator is to predict the observables onestep ahead of the current time instant, and then retrieve the driving-force from the prediction error. This idea is embodied by predicting the observables using a bank of echo state networks (ESN) in an online fashion, extracting the raw estimates from the prediction error, and then finally smoothing these estimates in separate adaptive filtering stages. The approach described herein distinguishes itself from the similar methods in the literature in its adaptivity and its greater immunity against varying environmental uncertainties. The adaptive nature of the estimator enables us to retrieve both slowly and rapidly varying driving-forces accurately in presence of model or sensor noises, which are illustrated by experiments in the subsequent chapters of this thesis. In particular, some chaotic/stochastic nonlinear models are studied in controlled experiments. The estimation quality of the proposed approach is judged with a reference to the Posterior Cramer-Rao Lower Bound as a theoretical lower limit on the estimation error. </p> <p> The Bayesian and Maximum-Likelihood (ML) methods are also studied for the estimation of driving-forces when partial or full information is available on the mathematical description of the unknown system. These methods serve as practical merits of assessment for the proposed driving-force estimator. Moreover, a direct performance comparison between the proposed estimator and a favorable estimation scheme of a similar kind is provided, which confirms the advantages of the proposed approach. The proposed method is tested on a real-world application on the extraction of sun's magnetic flux from the sunspot time series. It is illustrated that the results obtained by the proposed estimator are in close agreement with the results of two other analytical studies. </p> <p> Finally, a solution to a real problem in practice is proposed using the method. Specifically, extracting the signature of a small random target embedded in the sea surface is addressed using the live recorded data collected with the McMaster IPIX radar. This is the first specific realization of a radar scene analyzer for the cognitive radar reception in the literature to the author's best knowledge. </p> <p> The material in this thesis is presented in a sandwich thesis format, combining two peer reviewed, published journal articles, and another journal article that is prepared for submission. An additional chapter that provides the background material is included for the completeness of the presentation. </p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

This bachelor thesis examines the drivers of secondhand shopping in the fashion industry. The thesis addresses the complexity of consumer behavior and attitudes towards secondhand shopping. Through focus group interviews with consumers, the thesis has identified a gap between positive attitudes towards secondhand shopping and actual consumption behavior. The thesis reveals that economic benefits, sustainability considerations and a desire for a unique style are motivations for consumers to buy secondhand clothing. However, concerns about quality, accessibility, convenience, and store atmosphere are factors that influence consumers' purchasing decisions. To address the identified barriers and overcome the gap between attitude and action, the thesis suggests concrete improvements proposals, such as increasing the transparency of online shopping experiences, improving the cleanliness and atmosphere of the shops, and leveraging influencer marketing to reshape the negative perception that exists of secondhand. The thesis also points out several strategies that can be implemented to convey a message of increasing the acceptance and popularity of secondhand consumption, which ultimately contributes to promoting sustainability and reducing the environmental impact of the fashion industry.

The energy issue is presently in focus worldwide. This is not only due to increasing environmental concern regarding energy related emissions, but also due to the trend of increasing energy prices. Energy usage in the industrial sector in Sweden today represents about one third of the national energy use. A substantial part of that is related to support processes such as heating, ventilation and cooling systems. These systems are important as they are related both to energy cost and indoor climate management as well as to the health of the occupants. The purpose of this thesis is to reach a more comprehensive view on industrial energy efficiency and indoor environment issues related to industrial ventilation. This has been studied in three themes where the first part addresses barriers to energy efficiency in Swedish industries, the second theme discuss simulation as decision support, and the third studies the variable air volume system in industrial facilities. In the first theme three different studies were made: the first studies non-energy intensive companies in Oskarshamn in Sweden, the second studies the energy intensive foundry industry and the third study was part of an evaluation of a large energy efficiency program called Project Highland. These studies had several findings in common, such as the importance of a strategic view on the energy issue and the presence of a person with real ambition with power over investment decisions related to energy issues at the company. The studies also show that several information related barriers are important for decision makers at the studied companies. This shows that information related barriers are one reason in why energy efficient equipment is not implemented. In the second theme the use of simulation in the form of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Building Energy Simulation (BES) are used as decision support for industrial ventilation related studies at two different industries, one foundry is investigated and one dairy. BES has mainly been used to simulate energy and power related parameters while CFD was used to give a detailed description of the indoor and product environment. Together these methods can be used to better evaluate the energy, indoor and product environment and thus enable the implementation of more efficient heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems. In the third theme the use of Variable Air Volume (VAV) systems was evaluated, and was found to be an efficient way to reduce energy use at the studied sites. At the studied foundry the VAV system is predicted to reduce space heating and electricity use by fans by about 30%, and in the dairy case by about 60% for space heating and 20% for electricity.

Industrial energy efficiency is one of the most important means of reducing the threat of increased global warming. A higheruse of electricity than their European competitors, together with increased energy costs due to increasing energy prices in Swedish industry have negative impacts on results and competitiveness. Of great importance are thus different means which promote energy efficiency such as industrial energy policy instruments. However, cost-effective energy efficiency measuresare not always undertaken. In order to formulate and adopt accurate industrial energy end-use polices, it is thus of importanceto identify the barriers that inhibit the implementation of cost-effective energy efficiency measures. It is also of importance to identify the factors which promote the implementation. The aim of this thesis is to analyze industrial energy systems andmore specifically study factors that promote or inhibit energy end-use efficiency in Swedish industrial companies. Results from this thesis show that the implementation of technical energy efficiency measures is a major means for both energy-intensive and non-energy-intensive Swedish companies to overcome the threat of rising energy prices, for example for electricity. While energy efficiency measures in the non-energy-intensive industry are related mainly to support processes, measures in the studied energy-intensive Swedish foundry industry are related to both support and production processes. In the various case studies of barriers and driving forces, the most significant barriers to energy efficiency - with largevariations for some of the barriers among the studied cases - were found to be: technical risk such as risk of productiondisruptions; lack of time or other priorities; lack of access to capital; cost of production disruption/hassle/inconvenience; other priorities for capital investments; technology considered inappropriate at the site; difficulty/cost of obtaininginformation about the energy use of purchased equipment; and lack of budget funding. The largest driving forces, apart fromcost reductions resulting from lowered energy use, were found to be the existence of a long-term energy strategy and peoplewith real ambition. These driving forces did not, unlike the results of barriers to energy efficiency, vary widely across thestudied sectors. Investment decision support such as optimization has shown to add more information for larger capital-intensive investmentsin energy-intensive industrial SMEs. The thesis also showed that energy audits are an effective means, in terms of publicmoney spent per kWh saved, of providing the industry with information on potential energy efficiency measures. Based on the results presented in this thesis, a policy approach towards non-energy-intensive companies and industrial SMEsshould primarily include providing energy audits free of charge and involve the local authority energy consultants. / Industriell energieffektivisering är ett av de viktigaste sätten att reducera hotet om en globaluppvärmning. En högre relativ elanvändning, i jämförelse med europeiska konkurrenter, tillsammans med stigande energikostnader beroende av stigande energipriser för den svenskaindustrin, riskerar leda till försämrad lönsamhet och försämrad konkurrenskraft. Det är såledesav stor vikt att främja energieffektivisering, exempelvis genom olika typer av styrmedel. Lönsamma energieffektiviseringsåtgärder genomförs emellertid inte alltid, till följd av olikahinder för energieffektivisering. För att kunna formulera precisa styrmedel är det därför avstor vikt att dessa hinder som förhindrar implementering av energieffektiviserande åtgärder,identifieras. Det är också av stor vikt att identifiera drivkrafterna. Syftet med denna avhandling är att analysera industriella energisystem och mera specifikt studera faktorer somfrämjar och förhindrar effektiv slutanvändning av energi i svensk industri. Resultaten visar att hotet om stigande energikostnader, exempelvis beträffande elektricitet,både för icke energiintensiv och för energiintensiv svensk tillverkningsindustri, kan reduceraskraftigt om energieffektiv teknik implementeras. Medan åtgärder i icke energiintensiv industrifrämst är relaterade till stödprocesser så visar sig åtgärderna i den studerade svenska energiintensiva gjuteriindustrin vara relaterade till både stöd- och produktionsprocesser. I fallstudierna beträffande hinder och drivkrafter visade sig de största hindren vara - med storavariationer mellan fallen - tekniska risker såsom risk för produktionsstörningar och avbrott; brist på tid/andra prioriteringar; brist på kapital; kostnader för produktionsstörningar; ickeenergirelaterade investeringar prioriteras högre; tekniken passar ej för företaget;svårigheter/kostnader att erhålla korrekt information beträffande energianvändningen av deninköpta utrustningen; och brist på budgetmedel. De största drivkrafterna var, utöver kostnadsminskningar till följd av minskad energianvändning, förekomsten av en långsiktigenergistrategi och en eldsjäl. Drivkrafterna varierade inte, till skillnad mot hindren, så mycketmellan de olika undersökta fallen. Beslutsstöd såsom exempelvis optimering har visat sig kunna ge ökad information vid störremer kapitalintensiva investeringar i energiintensiva små- och medelstora företag. Vidare har energianalyser visat sig vara ett effektivt sätt, i termer av besparad kWh per statligt insattkrona, att ge industrin information beträffande möjliga energieffektiviserande åtgärder. Resultat från avhandlingen indikerar att ett stöd gentemot icke energiintensiva och små och medelstora företag framförallt bör inkludera statligt finansierade energianalyser med denlokala energirådgivaren som en deltagande aktör.

The crucial factor for successful municipal climate work is that there are driving forces. Most importantly is that the senior officials and politicians in the municipality are dedicated to the cause considering that they have the power to influence and make a change. Besides proactive and committed individuals, it is necessary that the work is organized and anchored by clear and concrete documents and control systems. It is also important that the work is continuously monitored and evaluated. To collaborate with other municipalities, authorities or participate in various networks is another factor contributing to the improved climate work in the form of exchange of information, knowledge and experience. A major driving force for municipalities to improve themselves is the distribution of state aid and grants. Being able to measure and compare themselves with other municipalities is also important because it encourages and motivates further efforts. One problem today is that there are no clear definitions and guidelines for a completely objective assessment of the climate work. According to the UN's climate panel, global emissions of greenhouse gases must be reduced with several percent to prevent global temperature increases from causing catastrophic and irreversible consequences. The greatest hope is placed on technology and development including better and more efficient engines and fuel. A transfer between transport modes, for example, from road and air to rail plays another big part. Swedish studies also show that efficient transport planning and changing behavior is of great significance for achieving the national vision. Municipalities have a great responsibility considering they transfer the overall goals into local action plans. The report examines the climate work of the three municipalities; Örebro, Eskilstuna and Östersund. The aim is to study the factors and driving forces behind a successful climate work. The goal is to contribute to a greater understanding of the local participants. A sidetrack of the report was to highlight how municipalities relate to government authorities. One result of this was a desire for better collaboration, in this case between the Transport Administration, the Sweden Energy Agency, the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, but also towards the municipalities themselves. Instead of handing out manuals and guidelines the government authorities should take on a coordination role and help the municipalities to build a sustainable structure of their climate work. Municipalities in this report were selected because it is suggested that they conduct a both active and successful climate work. The scrutiny was done with focus on organization and arrangements and interviews with responsible municipal officials have been implemented. Despite differences in the municipal organizational model they are still very similar in terms of centralization of climate work permeated with great commitment, clarity and sustainability. / Den avgörande faktorn för ett framgångsrikt kommunalt klimatarbete är att det finns drivande eldsjälar.  Allra viktigast är att de ledande tjänstemännen och politikerna i kommunen är engagerade då det är de som sitter på makten att påverka och förändra. Utöver drivande och engagerade individer är det nödvändigt att arbetet organiseras och förankras genom tydliga och konkreta dokument och styrsystem samt att det genomförs kontinuerliga uppföljningar och resultatredovisningar av arbetet. Att samverka med andra kommuner, myndigheter eller delta i olika nätverk är en annan faktor som bidrar till förbättrat klimatarbete i form av informations- kunskaps- och erfarenhetsutbyte. En stor drivkraft för kommunerna att förbättra sig är utdelning av statliga stöd och bidrag. Att kunna mäta och jämföra sig med andra kommuner är också viktigt då det sporrar och motiverar till ytterligare ansträngning. Ett problem idag är dock att det inte finns tydliga definitioner och riktlinjer för en helt objektiv bedömning. Enligt FN:s klimatpanel måste de globala utsläppen av växthusgaser minska flera procent för att undvika att jordens medeltemperatur ökar så kraftigt att det medför katastrofala och oåterkalleliga konsekvenser. Störst förhoppning läggs på tekniken och utveckling av bland annat bättre och effektivare motorer och drivmedel. Överflyttningar mellan trafikslag, exempelvis från väg och flyg till järnväg är en annan stor del. Svenska studier visar också att transportsnål samhällsplanering och förändrade beteenden har stor betydelse för att nå den nationella visionen. Kommunerna har ett stort ansvar då det är de som bryter ner och översätter de övergripande målen till lokala handlingsplaner. I rapporten granskas tre kommuner och dess klimatarbete. Kommunerna är Eskilstuna, Örebro och Östersund. Syftet är att försöka se vilka faktorer och drivkrafter som ligger bakom ett framgångsrikt klimatarbete. Målet är att bidra med ökad förståelse för de lokala aktörerna. Ett sidospår med rapporten har varit att belysa hur kommunerna ser på statliga myndigheter. Ett resultat av detta var ett önskemål om bättre samverkan, i det här fallet mellan Trafikverket, Energimyndigheten, Boverket och Naturvårdsverket men även gentemot kommunerna själva. En samordningsroll från myndigheternas sida där man inifrån hjälper till att bygga upp en hållbar struktur hos kommunerna är att föredra framför goda idéer, handböcker och riktlinjer. Kommunerna är valda då det antytts att de bedriver ett både aktivt och framgångsrikt klimatarbete. Granskningen har skett med fokus på organisation, samverkan och åtgärder och intervjuer med ansvariga tjänstmän har genomförts. Trots olikheter i den kommunala organisationsmodellen finns stora likheter i form av en centralisering av klimatarbetet som genomsyras av stort engagemang, tydlighet och långsiktighet.

The world is changing and the business context is no exception. One of the clearest tendencies is a tougher business climate with harder competition due to increased international trade and the expansion of the e-business. At the same time the customers are becoming more sophisticated and demanding. The last decades have also meant that tougher and more frequent demands are being aimed at the businesses from a wider variety of stakeholders; demands regarding how environmental issues, social responsibilities and business ethics should be dealt with. All of the above have driven companies towards implementation of different management systems to be able to cope with the demands as well as to ensure that these issues are being dealt with in an efficient and effective manner. The result is that there might be quite a few management systems that have to be handled, usually a time consuming and bureaucratic task. Theory in the field suggests that an integration of the different management systems is logical and profitable as well as beneficial in many other aspects. Some of the benefits that could be gained due to the holistic approach that the integrated management system (IMS) provides are an alignment of goals and strategies as well as elimination of duplications and sub-optimizations. The IMS will also provide an opportunity for companies to strive towards sustainable development in a balanced manner. Despite this not many companies have intentionally sought to integrate their management systems. Researchers within the field note that there is a lack of empirical data to support the theories regarding how companies act when integrating their management systems, knowledge that might provide insights why integration and IMSs is not more widespread.Hence it is interesting as well as theoretical motivated to further study this area, especially as IMSs might be an aid on the companies’ journey towards sustainable development, a highly important issue. This qualitative multiple case study aims to contribute with knowledge regarding how Swedish companies have handled the issue of IMS, more specific, what driving forces, opportunities and hindrances they have experienced associated with IMS. This, as the knowledge about Swedish firms is limited. The research questions are answered through interviews with managers responsible for the management systems. The findings suggest that companies with more than one management system integrates them to some degree, however not always intentionally, and that it might be a lack of clear motives, driving forces and stakeholder demands that limits further or full integration. The outcome is that integration primarily becomes a coordination of existing management systems with purpose to reduce bureaucracy and redundancies. / Företagsklimatet har de senaste årtiondena genomgått stora förändringar, de tydligaste tendenserna är hur konkurrensen blivit hårdare på grund av utökad internationell och elektronisk handel, samtidigt som kunderna blivit mer kräsna och krävande. Parallellt med detta har vi sett hur allt fler och kraftfullare krav från olika intressenter riktas mot företagen; krav på hur miljö, socialt ansvarstagande och affärsetik bör hanteras. Detta har medfört att företagen implementerat olika ledningssystem för att effektivt hantera dessa frågor. Teorin föreslår att en integrering av ledningssystemen är både logisk och lönsam såväl som i övrigt fördelaktig. Detta då ett integrerat ledningssystem har fördelen av att kunna hantera samtliga frågor på ett holistiskt sätt, bland annat kan uppkomster av dubbelarbete, suboptimeringar och konflikter mellan olika strategier och mål undvikas. Dessutom erbjuder det integrerade ledningssystemet möjligheten att på ett balanserat och effektivt sätt närma sig hållbar utveckling. Trots detta är det relativt få organisationer som medvetet har sökt integrera sina olika ledningssystem för att bättre kunna hantera olika intressenters krav och önskemål. Författare inom området påtalar att det saknas empiriskt stöd för teori kring hur organisationer praktiskt gör när de integrerar, något som annars skulle kunna erbjuda förklaringar till varför integrering inte sker i större utsträckning.Det är alltså såväl intressant som teoretisk motiverat att undersöka detta, speciellt då integrerade ledningssystem kan vara ett hjälpmedel i företagens strävan mot hållbar utveckling. Denna kvalitativa studie syftar således till att bidra med kunskap kring hur svenska företag hanterar frågan om integrerade ledningssystem; vilka drivkrafter, möjligheter och hinder de upplever inom området. Detta då kunskapen om hur svenska företag agerar kring dessa frågor är begränsad. Frågorna besvaras genom tre fallstudier, där intervjuer med ansvariga för ledningssystemen har genomförts. Resultaten indikerar att företag, dock kanske inte alltid medvetet, integrerar sina ledningssystem till en viss grad men att en avsaknad av tydliga motiv, intressentkrav och drivkrafter förklarar varför ytterligare, eller full integrering, ej sker. Detta medför att integrering i första hand innebär att en samordning av befintliga ledningssystem sker i syfte att reducera byråkrati och dubbelarbete.

ABSTRACT Titel: Branson - Jobs; Entreprenör och/eller Ledare? Nivå: C-uppsats i ämnet företagsekonomi Författare: Madeleine Nordin och Runa Claesson Handledare: Lars Ekstrand Datum: Maj 2012 Syfte: Syftet är att belysa relationen, och studera sambandet, mellan rollerna entreprenör - ledare. Vad förenar dem, och vad skiljer dem åt? Finns det något motsatsförhållande mellan dessa båda roller? Metod: Studien är en kvalitativ studie där ansatsen är en kombination av induktiv och deduktiv ansats, så kallad abduktion. Information och material till vår studie har vi fått genom en intervju och i övrigt olika typer av sekundärinformation. Resultat &amp; slutsats: Tidigare forskning talar om det komplexa i skärningspunkten mellan rollerna entreprenör och ledare. Det råder till viss del delade meningar om huruvida det finns ett behov av att, ur ett vetenskapligt perspektiv, göra en distinktion mellan dessa roller. Utifrån vilken kontext man definierar entreprenörsrollen kan den vara densamma som ledarrollen menar vissa. Det finns mycket som förenar rollerna som entreprenör och ledare, men det finns också en del som skiljer dem åt. Vår slutsats är att skillnaderna handlar mer om hur rollerna uppfattas och hur de utmärkande dragen beskrivs än vad det egentligen innebär att vara entreprenör och/eller ledare. Både Jobs och Branson stämmer väl in på de personlighetstyper som tidigare studier och forskning beskriver kring ledare och entreprenörer. Vi kan inte utifrån vår studie, se att det finns något motsatsförhållande mellan dessa båda roller. Vi kan inte heller säga att vi funnit något i entreprenörsrollen som utesluter alternativt förstärker något i ledarrollen, eller tvärtom. Det handlar mer om hur man som individ väljer att agera utifrån de båda rollerna och vad situationen kräver. Förslag till fortsatt forskning: Att utifrån en större pool av entreprenörer studera deras bakgrunder, roller och drivkrafter och kartlägga hur de hanterar rollen som entreprenör och ledare. Detta för att se vilka mönster som eventuellt går att hitta - finns det kopplingar mellan bakgrund och uppväxt i frågan om hur man hanterar rollen som ledare och/eller rollen som entreprenör? Finns det andra mönster att urskilja när det gäller dessa individers olika drivkrafter och förmåga att hantera rollen som entreprenör och/eller ledare? En annan vinkel vore att undersöka ett antal entreprenörer som lyckats och nått framgång (finansiellt) och som sedan ägnar sig åt välgörenhet i stor utsträckning. Vad driver den som redan lyckats? Vad ligger till grund för vilken typ av välgörenhet som lockar, och på vilket sätt ser engagemangen ut? Uppsatsens bidrag: Vår studie bidrar till en ökad förståelse för vad det innebär att vara entreprenör och/eller ledare. Studien visar också på likheter och skillnader mellan dessa roller, var rollerna överlappar varandra och vad som kännetecknar respektive roll. Nyckelord: Entreprenörskap, Ledarskap, Drivkraft, Personliga egenskaper, Självkänsla, Vision         ABSTRACT Title: Branson - Jobs; Entrepreneur and/or Leader? Level: Final assignment for Bachelor Degree in Business Administration Author: Madeleine Nordin och Runa Claesson Supervisor: Lars Ekstrand Date: May 2012 Aim: The aim is to illustrate the relation, and to study the connection between the roles of entrepreneurship – leadership. What is common and what is different? Is there anything that is contradicting between these two roles? Method: This study is a qualitative study with a combination of an inductive and deductive approach, known as abduction. The information and material for our study have been collected through an interview and besides that by using different types of secondary information. Result &amp; Conclusions: Earlier research talks about the complex intersection between the roles of an entrepreneur and a leader. There are disagreements about the need to make a distinction between the roles out of a scientific perspective. Some researchers suggest that the definition of entrepreneur or leader is formed by the context. There are many things in common between the roles as an entrepreneur and as a leader, but there are also things that differ. The differences are more about how the roles are interpreted and how the specific roles are described compared to what it really means to be an entrepreneur and/or leader. Both Branson and Jobs matches well what previous studies have defined in terms of the personalities of an entrepreneur and leader. Based on our studies we have not been able to shown any contradictions between these roles. Neither have we found anything in the role of an entrepreneur that contradicts or enhance the role of a leader, or vice versa. It´s more a matter of how one, as an individual, choose to act and what the situation demands. Suggestions for future research: To use a larger pool of entrepreneurs and study their background, their roles and striving forces to be able to see if there are any patterns in terms of how they handling the role as an entrepreneur and leader. Are there any connection between background and upbringing when it comes to how to handle the role? Are there any other patterns that can be defined regarding these individuals different way of handling their roles? Another angle would be to analyze a number of successful entrepreneurs (financially) who then moved on to focus on charity work. What drives someone that has already succeeded? What is the foundation that determines the type of charity that appeals to them and what does the engagement look like? Contribution of the thesis: The contribution of this study is a better understanding of what it means to be an entrepreneur and/or leader. The study also shows the differences between these roles, where they overlap each other and what the characteristics of each role are. Key words: Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Driving forces, Personal characteristics

Summary:  Business Administration, Business Process &amp; Supply Chain Management, Degree Project (master), 30 higher education credits, 5FE02E, Spring 2012   Authors:      Mahmudul Islam and Tan Zhu Tutor:           Peter Berling Date:             May, 2012   Keywords: e-procurement, MRO procurement, e-procurement implementation, driving forces of e-procurement, hindering factors of e-procurement   Title: Driving forces and hindering factors of e-procurement adoption for MRO products in Bangladesh and China.    Background: MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Operations procurement) materials, as time goes by, are now attracting more and more enterprises´ attentions due to their enormous varieties, large quantity and huge cost. The traditional MRO procurement method has the problem of lacking of centralized management, funds, and channels, short of products and information flow. Meanwhile, e-procurement (electronic procurement), due to its advance, has nowadays been introduced to more and more enterprises for procuring mainly MRO materials, which leads to much savings and efficiency.   Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is aiming at throwing light upon two cases: one is BATA shoes in Bangladesh and one is GE aviation group in China, the driving forces and hindrances of their electronic procurement for MRO goods. Thereafter the authors intend to compare both cases according to the empirical findings and draw some future suggestions.   Method: In this thesis, the authors will employ qualitative multiple case studies method in the combination of interview and questionnaires with both cases to create the deep understanding of e-procurement implementation of them.   Results, conclusion: First, the current status of e-procurement implementation for MRO materials will be explained in the within-case analysis. Then, the internal driving forces and hindrances of each case will be thoroughly analysed according to the four sections-perceived benefits, perceived critical success factors, future organizational performance and perceived barriers in the theoretical framework. Finally, the authors will use cross-case analysis comparing both cases´ driving forces and hindrances according to the model, in order to draw systematic future suggestions for BATA shoes in Bangladesh with GE´s successful views.   Future work: The authors find it interesting that in the future if the seller firms´ perspective on e-procurement implementation for MRO materials could be studied.  Also a quantitative study on e-procurement for MRO, its impact on organizational performance would be very interesting subject to focus on.  Moreover, a study in the background of different countries, their cultural influences on e-procurement implementation would also be a suggestion.