The fashion industry has historically been seen as synonymous with many unsustainable practices, such as overproduction, pollution, and mass-consumption. Today, many fashion brands are putting more attention to sustainability and are engaging in activities aimed at making the industry more environmentally friendly. This study investigates three Swedish fashion businesses, H&M, Lindex, and Gina Tricot, with the purpose of examining and analyzing how they integrate circular strategies within their post-retail initiatives. Additionally, the aim is to investigate what strengths and weaknesses can be identified as related to these strategies in terms of reducing the fashion industry’s negative environmental impacts. The study is based on a content analysis of websites, documents, and policies of the fashion businesses as well as a qualitative semi-structured interview with a circular sustainability expert. By using a theoretical framework related to circular post-retail strategies as a tool of analysis, the results showed various levels of implementation of circular strategies among the businesses. Prolonging the lifespan of clothing by reusing, repairing, or re-designing, rather than repurposing and recycling, is seen as more effective in terms of environmental sustainability. Moreover, all businesses aim to inspire its consumers to make mindful choices, though the inspiration needs to be connected to an actual service if behaviors are to change. Concludingly, fashion businesses need to embrace circularity by finding new ways to profit from already existing garments through rental, repair, and re-design services to make the industry more environmentally sustainable. / Modeindustrin har historiskt setts som synonymt med många ohållbara fenomen, såsom överproduktion, föroreningar och masskonsumtion. Idag ägnar många modeföretag mer uppmärksamhet på hållbarhet och engagerar sig i aktiviteter som syftar till att göra industrin mer miljömässigt hållbar. Denna studie granskar tre svenska modeföretag, H&M, Lindex och Gina Tricot, i syfte att undersöka och analysera hur dessa integrerar cirkulära strategier i post-retail-fasen. Syftet är dessutom att identifiera och undersöka styrkor och svagheter relaterade till dessa strategier gällande dess potential att minska modeindustrins negativa miljöpåverkan. Studien bygger på en innehållsanalys av webbplatser, dokument och policys från dessa modeföretag samt en kvalitativ semistrukturerad intervju med en cirkulär hållbarhetsexpert. Genom användningen av ett teoretiskt ramverk relaterat till cirkulära post-retail strategier som ett analytiskt verktyg visar resultatet på varierande genomförandegrad av cirkulära strategier hos de olika modeföretagen. Att förlänga livslängden på kläder genom att återanvända, reparera eller designa om ses som mer effektivt när det gäller miljömässig hållbarhet snarare än att återvinna. Samtliga företag syftar även till att inspirera sina kunder till att göra hållbara val, dock måste inspirationen vara kopplad till verkliga tjänster om konsumenters beteenden ska förändras. Sammanfattningsvis måste modeföretag hitta nya sätt att profitera från redan befintliga plagg genom omdesign-, reparations- eller uthyrningstjänster för att göra industrin mer miljömässigt hållbar.

Studien analyserar H&M och Volvo Groups kommunikation gällande företagsvärderingar. Företagen verkar inom textilindustrin respektive transport- och fordonsindustrin och har genom åren fått kritik för sin negativa påverkan på hållbarhet. För att en organisation ska fungera måste det finnas kärnvärderingar som knyter samman organisationen. Det är också viktigt att värderingarna är hållbara. Eftersom vi lever i en värld där en omställning är högst aktuell är det viktigt att företag anpassar sin kommunikation för att klara denna omställning. Med hjälp av en semiotisk metod, analyserar studien hur H&M och Volvo Group kommunicerar sina värderingar på deras hemsidor. Därefter studerar vi hur företagen retoriskt framställer sina värderingar i syfte att övertyga deras mottagare. Med hjälp av semiotiken, retoriken och Brundtlandskommissionens definition av hållbarhet samt forskning inom ämnet diskuterar vi hur värderingarna framställs retoriskt och företagens ställningstagande i hållbarhetsfrågan.  Resultatet visar att Volvo Group har en tydlighet i sin kommunikation gällande värderingar. Det finns också ett tydligt samspel mellan bild och text där båda textelementen har ett retoriskt syfte. Det går att konstatera att Volvo Groups kommunikation gällande värderingar har ett starkt ethos. I H&M:s kommunikation av värderingar finns en röd tråd, en igenkänning och ett sammanhang som gör det enklare för mottagare att förstå. De argument som tydligast går att urskilja för att övertyga mottagarna är de med pathos-karaktär, eftersom båda företagen förmedlar en tydlig vi-känsla i sin kommunikation. Logos-argumenten hade kunnat stärkas ytterligare med en förklaring på varför värderingarna valdes. Resultatet visar också att den ekologiska dimensionen saknas i båda företagens kommunikation av värderingar. / This study analyses H&M and Volvo Group’s communication regarding corporate values. The two companies operate within the textile industry and transport industry and through the years, they have been criticized for their negative impact on sustainability. In order for an organization to function, core values must exist and attach the organization as a unit. It is also important that the values are sustainable. As we live in a world where adaption is highly relevant, it is important for companies to adapt their communication in order to manage this adaptation. By a visual method, this study analyses how H&M and Volvo Group communicate their corporate values on their websites. Thereafter, we study how the two companies rhetorically communicate their values for the purpose of convincing the perceiver. In view of semiotic, rhetoric and sustainability theories as well as scientific research within the field, we discuss how the corporate values are rhetorically presented and the companies’ standpoint regarding sustainable development.  The result shows that Volvo Group maintains a clarity in their communication regarding corporate values. There is also a clear connection between image and text where both text elements have a rhetorical purpose. It can also be stated that Volvo Group’s communication of values has a strong ethos. H&M uses a common thread, recognition, and cohesion in their communication to help perceivers to understand. The arguments that are most clearly discernible to convince the recipients are those with a pathos character, as both companies use team spirit in their communication. The logos-arguments could be stronger if there was an explanation to why the values have been chosen. The result also shows that the ecological dimension is not inherited in the companies’ communication regarding corporate values.

Large product assortments commonly lead to that fast fashion retailers have a large number of transport cartons, with varying sizes, to distribute products from manufacturing sites to distribution centers. Ultimately, the transport cartons have a large impact on the supply chain efficiency, as they affect several nodes in the supply chain network. Previous research has considered transport cartons’ impact on individual supply chain nodes, but little research has been devoted to evaluate the transport cartons impact on the supply chain network as a whole. Thus, this thesis aims to contribute with knowledge to bridge the gap in literature by investigating how a company’s transport cartons affect the overall supply chain efficiency, by applying a holistic perspective. The thesis was conducted as a case study in collaboration with Hennes & Mauritz (H&M), aworld-leading fast fashion retailer. The research identifies opportunities and challenges related totransport carton usage, and how the cartons impact supply chain efficiency. Moreover, the research evaluates the costs associated with different sets of transport carton sizes, based on acost estimation model constructed on data provided by H&M. It is concluded that a small set oftransport carton sizes could increase supply chain efficiency and generate potential cost savingsdue to mainly two reasons. First, a small set of transport cartons could lead to efficient containerloading. Second, it could lead to efficient carton handling and optimal space utilization in thedistribution centers. / Till följd av stora produktsortiment har snabbmodeaktörer ofta ett stort set av transportkartonger, med varierande storlekar, för att distribuera produkterna från tillverkning till varuhus. Eftersom transportkartongerna påverkar fler noder i försörjningskedjan, har de följaktligen stor påverkan på hur effektiv försörjningskedjan är. Tidigare forskning har utvärderat hur transportkartongerna kan påverka enskilda noder i försörjningskedjan, men lite fokus har ägnats åt att utvärdera kartongernas effekt på försörjningskedjan, sett ur ett helhetsperspektiv. Detta examensarbete syftar till att bidra med kunskap för att överbrygga detta gap genom att undersöka hur ett företags transportkartonger påverkar den totala försörjningskedjans effektivitet genom att tillämpa ett helhetsperspektiv. Examensarbetet genomfördes som en fallstudie i samarbete med Hennes & Mauritz (H&M), som är en av de världsledande aktörerna inom snabbmode. Studien identifierar möjligheter och utmaningar relaterade till transportkartonganvändning, och hur kartongerna påverkar försörjningskedjans effektivitet. Vidare utvärderades kostnaden av att ha olika uppsättningar av transportkartonger, baserat på en beräkningsmodell grundad på data från H&M. Resultaten visade att ett litet set av transportkartonger kan ha positiv påverkan på försörjningskedjans effektivitet och generera kostnadsbesparingar till följd av två huvudsakliga anledningar. Den första anledningen är att ett litet set förenklar effektiv containerladdning. Den andra anledningen är att det kan leda till mer effektiv kartonghantering på lager och bättre utnyttjande av lagerutrymme.

The highly variable demand of fast fashion causes retailers in the industry to face large uncertainties when allocating initial inventory batches across multiple locations. Further into the selling season, inventory imbalances might arise as an effect of deviations from expected demand. To mitigate these imbalances, retailers can make use of lateral transshipments of inventory from locations with excess stock to those facing the risk of a stockout. Such transshipments require models for determining what and how much to ship as well as when to ship it. This thesis investigates how such a model can be applied on replenishment warehouse level in a fast-fashion retail setting. The research was conducted through a quantitative case study at Hennes & Mauritz (H&M), one of the largest fast-fashion retailers in the world. An appropriate existing transshipment model based on the concept of service level was identified and adjusted to suit the characteristics of H&M. In contrast to the vast majority of models in literature, empirical probability distributions were used for dynamically modelling short-term demand. The proposed model was evaluated and found to suggest transshipments yielding significant revenue increase driven by lowered price reductions. This thesis differs from existing literature by providing a unique case-study of how a transshipment model can be applied in practice and how it performs on empirical data from one of the largest fast-fashion retailers in the world. / Den kraftigt varierande efterfrågan på snabbt mode gör att aktörer i branschen står inför stora osäkerheter vid initiala lagerallokeringar. Längre in i försäljningscykeln kan lagerobalanser uppstå till följd av avvikelser från den förväntade efterfrågan. För att hantera obalanserna kan företag flytta lager från de regioner med lageröverskott till de som i närtid riskerar att få slut i lager. Sådana flyttar kräver modeller för att avgöra vad och hur mycket som ska flyttas samt när det ska flyttas. Detta examensarbete undersöker hur en sådan modell kan appliceras inom branschen för snabbt mode. Studien genomfördes som en kvantitativ fallstudie i samarbete med Hennes & Mauritz (H&M), en av världens största aktörer inom snabbmodebranschen. En lämplig existerande modell som baseras på konceptet om servicenivå identifierades och anpassades efter H&M:s egenskaper. Till skillnad från majoriteten av modeller i literature användes empiriska sannolikhetsfördelningar för att dynamiskt modellera kortsiktig efterfrågan. Den föreslagna modellen utvärderades och visades föreslå flyttar som genererar signifikanta intäktsökningar drivet av lägre prisnedsättningar. Denna studie skiljer sig från existerande litteratur genom sitt bidrag med en unik fallstudie av hur en modell för lagerflyttar kan appliceras i praktiken samt hur den presterar på empirisk data från en av världens största snabbmodeaktörer.

The fashion industry has a significant environmental impact due to its high rate of production and consumption. In order to become sustainable, fashion businesses are making fundamental changes in their business models. In doing so, they are aiming to reduce the use of materials, decrease carbon footprint, and meet customer demands while also being profitable. This shift towards making fashion sustainable and profitable has encouraged companies to adopt circular business models where products are designed for multiple lifecycles. The branding of circular business models and products is an important yet underdeveloped area of research. The literature on the branding and communication of circular products is limited. Therefore, this study aims to explore different communication strategies for branding of circular products. In order to achieve the research objectives, a case study research methodology is implemented using the H&M Group as a case company. This study performed a brief systematic literature review and qualitative content analysis on the communication of circular products by H&M Group to identify the dominant themes. This study identified twelve themes from the systematic literature review & fourteen themes from the qualitative content analysis. The analysis shows that these themes have an inclination towards either increasing brand engagement or increasing customer awareness from a company perspective. Based on the analysis of the results this study identifies two main communication strategies for branding of circular products: awareness-oriented communication strategy and engagement-oriented communication strategy. / Modeindustrin har en betydande miljöpåverkan på grund av sin höga produktions- och konsumtionstakt. För att bli hållbara gör modeföretagen grundläggande förändringar i sina affärsmodeller. Genom att göra det strävar de efter att minska materialanvändningen, minska koldioxidavtrycket och möta kundernas krav samtidigt som de är lönsamma. Denna förändring mot att göra mode hållbart och lönsamt har uppmuntrat företag att anta cirkulära affärsmodeller där produkter är designade för flera livscykler. Varumärkesbyggandet av cirkulära affärsmodeller och produkter är ett viktigt men underutvecklat forskningsområde. Litteraturen om varumärkesbyggande och kommunikation av cirkulära produkter är begränsad. Därför syftar denna studie till att utforska olika kommunikationsstrategier för varumärkesbyggande av cirkulära produkter. För att uppnå forskningsmålen implementeras en forskningsmetodik för fallstudier med hjälp av H&M-gruppen som ett fallföretag. Denna studie genomförde en kort systematisk litteraturgenomgång och kvalitativ innehållsanalys av H&M Groups kommunikation av cirkulära produkter för att identifiera de dominerande teman. Denna studie identifierade tolv teman från den systematiska litteraturöversikten och fjorton teman från den kvalitativa innehållsanalysen. Analysen visar att dessa teman har en benägenhet att antingen öka varumärkesengagemanget eller öka kundmedvetenheten ur ett företagsperspektiv. Baserat på analysen av resultaten identifierar denna studie två huvudsakliga kommunikationsstrategier för varumärkesbyggande av cirkulära produkter: medvetenhetsorienterad kommunikationsstrategi och engagemangsorienterad kommunikationsstrategi.

Thesis advisor: Philip G. Altbach / Thesis advisor: Karen D. Arnold / Over 200 international branch campuses (IBCs) currently exist globally and the number continues to rise (Lawton & Katsomitros, 2012). This study examines the strategy, structure, and motivation behind a single American IBC--Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ). Drawing from organizational theory and international higher education literature, this research reveals important considerations for institutions developing or currently operating IBCs. Findings stemmed from 27 in-depth qualitative interviews with faculty and administrators from the branch campus in Qatar, the main campus in Texas, and the host country sponsor. Multiple factors contributed to Texas A&M being poised and ready to accept the opportunity to open an international branch campus: an invitation from a host country sponsor willing to cover all expenses, existing international ambitions, and strong support from the central administration. The inception period leading up to the opening of the branch campus proved crucial for success. University administrators wisely developed buy-in among campus constituencies, negotiated important contract stipulations with the host country, ensured that the institution's existing structure could reasonably support such an endeavor, and assessed whether Qatar was a good fit. The early years of TAMUQ resembled a startup organization. The pioneering team of faculty and staff brought an entrepreneurial spirit necessary to build the institution, but they operated largely independent from the home campus in Texas. A later push for greater ties with the main campus was difficult but important for progress. Since TAMUQ is a derivative of the main campus, administrators had to consider the degree to which they would replicate and adapt various institutional elements. Academically, the curriculum is only modified slightly, but course content and pedagogy are adapted more heavily in response to the unique needs of the student population. Hiring faculty with experience teaching on the main campus is considered an important way to maintain quality, yet administrators consistently struggle to recruit faculty. Unlike other IBCs, TAMUQ has developed a robust research program through the financial support of the host country sponsor. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2014. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Educational Leadership and Higher Education.

<p>The wind power industry is maturing and the amount of electricity produced by wind turbines in the world is rapidly increasing every year. Service and maintenance of wind turbines has proven to be difficult and expensive, especially offshore. A well coordinated support organisation and optimized maintenance strategies are required to effectively reduce the costs associated with WT support, where cost-efficient supply and storage of spare parts are important. The aim of this thesis is to model spare part logistics for wind turbines to analyse different strategies and compare the profitability. Optimal stock levels and reorder sizes have been calculated with the software tool OPUS10. Wind turbine and spare part data have been provided by Vattenfall Vindkraft AB and field studies were made to the wind farms Lillgrund and Horns Rev to gather information.</p><p>Our analyses show that different spare part strategies only affect a minor part of the total support costs generated for a wind farm. Still there are many improvements possible and money to be saved if using an optimal spare part strategy instead of one based on personal experiences and intuition. For a large wind power system, including a number of wind farms with the same wind turbine types, we also show convincing results that pooling of spare parts are a much more cost-efficient spare part strategy compared to local storage and handling only. Using a central depot for spare part reordering and storage of critical spare parts, such as gearboxes, generators and blades, are more profitable</p>

The wind power industry is maturing and the amount of electricity produced by wind turbines in the world is rapidly increasing every year. Service and maintenance of wind turbines has proven to be difficult and expensive, especially offshore. A well coordinated support organisation and optimized maintenance strategies are required to effectively reduce the costs associated with WT support, where cost-efficient supply and storage of spare parts are important. The aim of this thesis is to model spare part logistics for wind turbines to analyse different strategies and compare the profitability. Optimal stock levels and reorder sizes have been calculated with the software tool OPUS10. Wind turbine and spare part data have been provided by Vattenfall Vindkraft AB and field studies were made to the wind farms Lillgrund and Horns Rev to gather information. Our analyses show that different spare part strategies only affect a minor part of the total support costs generated for a wind farm. Still there are many improvements possible and money to be saved if using an optimal spare part strategy instead of one based on personal experiences and intuition. For a large wind power system, including a number of wind farms with the same wind turbine types, we also show convincing results that pooling of spare parts are a much more cost-efficient spare part strategy compared to local storage and handling only. Using a central depot for spare part reordering and storage of critical spare parts, such as gearboxes, generators and blades, are more profitable

Research Question: How can the concept of Greening Goliaths and Emerging Davids be applied to better understand the sustainabile transformation of the fashion industry?  Purpose: This paper sets out to analyze two approaches to sustainability within the fashion industry; A firm adopting CSR initiatives into their business strategy versus a sustainable brand. These approaches are explored within the framework of Greening Goliaths and Emerging Davids to recognize their contribution to the sustainable transformation of the fashion industry. Method: A qualitative approach to our case study was taken in which we analyze and measure the Swedish fast fashion company, H&amp;M and an American eco-friendly fashion label, Reformation. A semi-formal phone interview with an expert on sustainability in the fashion industry gave us further knowledge of how the two approaches can be combined for the industry to become more sustainable. A model was developed that aided the analysis as well as the discussion of the empirical findings. Conclusion: Our conclusions found that the sustainable brand, Reformation can be categorized as an Emerging David and is in the Take-off stage. In order to gain a larger market share an contribute to the sustainable transformation of the industry Reformation will need to continue process innovation to lower their price point. H&amp;M was initially categorized as a Greening Goliath however upon further analysis we believe they are shifting to become and Environmental David leading the sustainable transformation of the industry. In order for a sustainable transformation of the fashion industry there needs to be a co-evolution of both Greening Goliaths and Emerging Davids working together for a sustainable future.

Prior research has pointed out the importance of companies attending social media during company crises. Though limited studies have examined how crisis communication stands on social media platforms during real organisational crises. Done by a qualitative textual analysis conducted through official statements from H&amp;M:s Facebook posts, Twitter posts and Instagram posts for this case, this study aims to explore how the crisis communication for H&amp;M stood during their crisis “coolest monkey in the jungle” in January 2018 to see how H&amp;M used effective crisis communication strategies. The textual analysis is used to study how the empirical material reveal recurrent strategies from Image repair theory together with the rhetorical concept of ethos pathos and logos. Based on prior research for crisis communication mainly made through case studies we use the same design which has been proven successful. Findings suggested how H&amp;M regularly were using recurrent strategies from Image repair theory and the rhetorical concept in their crisis communication in this case. The outcome of this study shows an example for how crisis communication on social media can be and how effective crisis communication strategies can be used on social media.