This paper studies the topological properties of the International Trade Network (ITN) among world countries using a network analysis. We explore the distribu- tions of the most important network statistics measuring connectivity, assortativ- ity and clustering. We show that the topological properties of the weighted rep- resentation of the ITN are very different from those obtained by a binary network approach. In particular, we find that: (i) the majority of countries are character- ized by weak trade relationships, (ii) well connected countries tend to trade with poorly connected partners and (iii) countries holding more intense trade relation- ships are more clustered. Finally, we display that all structural properties of the ITN have remained remarkably stable over time.

This academic work is based on remarkable works of economists Ramsey, Cass, Koopmans and Kaldor, it brings closer the intertemporal growth theory and its empirical implications on the Czech economy. Simply the purpose of this academic work is to analyse investment and its development in the Czech economy, theoretically identify and empirically study it. Furthermore, to monitor investments by different types and sectors. The study also is committing to better comprehension of mutual effects of capital formation and economic growth.

Syftet med studien är att belysa hur chefer och personalansvariga inom olika organisationer upplever svåra samtal i arbetsrelaterade situationer. Vi önskar komplettera tidigare forskning inom området svåra samtal med en mer socialpsykologisk inriktning som analysverktyg. Med hjälp av kvalitativ metod i form av sju semistrukturerade intervjuer når vi förståelse för hur chefer och personalansvariga upplever svåra samtal i arbetsrelaterade situationer. Vi besvarar följande frågor i studien: Hur upplever chefer och personalansvariga inom olika organisationer svåra samtal? Vilka faktorer kan bidra till att chefer och personalansvariga anser att samtal är svåra eller inte? De slutsatser som kan dras utifrån denna studie är att de intervjuade cheferna och personalansvariga anser att det finns svåra samtal på arbetsplatsen. Sammanfattningsvis uppleverintervjupersonerna att samtal som inkräktar på den personliga sfären är svårast. Exempelvis missbruksproblematik, dålig hygien och sjukdom är svåra samtalsämnen. Samtliga chefer och personalansvariga betonar vikten av förberedelser innan de påbörjar samtalen. Sammanfattningsvis ser intervjupersonerna arbetet mer som en yrkesroll och med hjälp av fakta känner de sig säkrare i delgivningen av svåra besked. Empati anses betydande för samtalets utgång. Vardagliga samtalsämnen som upplevs lätta kan visa sig svåra, eftersom de blir oförberedda inför situationen, vilket kan skapa svårigheter. / The study aims to shed light on how managers and human resources managers in different organizations experiencing difficult conversations in work-related situations. We wish to complement previous research in the area difficult conversation with a wider social psychological approach as analysis tools. Using qualitative methods in form of seven semi-structured interviews, we reach an understanding of how managers and human resource managers are experiencing difficult conversations in work-related situations. The questions we answer in this study are: How do managers and human resources managers in different organizations experience difficult conversations? Which aspects of the conversation contribute the experience of a conversation as difficult or not? The conclusions to be drawn from this study are that the interviewed managers and human resource managers believe that difficult conversations exist at work. In conclusion, the respondents perceive the conversations as intrusive of the personal sphere are the most difficult. For example, substance abuse problems, poor hygiene and diseases are difficult topics. All managers and human resource managers stress the importance of preparation before conversations. In summary, the respondents work more as a professional role and using the facts, then they feel safer in the service of non positive news. Empathy is considered important for the conversations. Everyday topics that are perceived ease, may prove difficult because they are unprepared for the situation, which can create difficulties.

"Representation of the environment in Russian and Czech press" This diploma thesis deals with the representation of the environment in the Russian and Czech press. For my research I chose two news weekly papers: Respekt and Argumenty a fakta issued between the years 2007-2011. Quantitative content analysis and qualitative frame analysis were used for data processing. The theoretical part describes the development of the media, their influence on society, mechanism of news construction (agenda setting, news values, objectivity, bias, access to news, work with sources), the development and state of the Czech and Russian media, concepts of nature and the development of environmental reporting. In the practical part I found out how the environment and nature are viewed and interpreted by these printed media in the content of their messages. Key words: environment; nature; media; representation; agenda-setting; content analysis; frame analysis; framing; weekly magazíne; Respekt; Argumenty a fakta

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Undersökaren har studerat hur företag X skulle kunna förmå sina kunder att bli tydligare i sin kravställan och i förlängningen kvalitetssäkra sina konsulttjänster. Syftet med studien har varit att undersöka hur företag X kan skapa en röd tråd där kundernas krav och förväntningar identifieras, infrias och följs upp. Studien har svarat på följande frågeställningar: Vad definierar en kvalitativ konsulttjänst? Hur kan kunderna förmedla sina krav och förväntningar? Hur kan uppföljning av kundnöjdhet se ut? Hur kan arbetssätten följas upp? Rapporten är en fallstudie som består av kvalitativa data som samlats in genom erhållna intervjuer och genomförande av en workshop. Resultatet visar att kunden är i fokus och kvalité för företag X innebär en nöjd kund genom exempelvis leverans av efterfrågad produkt i tid till rätt pris, merförsäljning och att kundens framgång är företag X framgång. De olika respondenterna i urvalsgrupperna har idag olika arbetssätt och metoder som används för att ta reda på kundens krav och förväntningar. Kunderna tillfrågas om de vill fylla i en kundenkät vilket de relativt sällan vill. Det finns en processägare för kunduppföljningarna men processen är inte förankrad i alla led genom organisationen uppifrån och ned. Ett förbättringsområde i företagets process med kunduppföljning har identifierats, idag används två enkäter med olika skalor, där den ena enkäten ska användas enligt företagets kvalitetsledningssystem och kvalitetsmålen beräknas på den andra enkäten. Studiens slutsatser har renderat i att ett led i att kvalitetssäkra konsulttjänsterna är att identifiera kundens uttalade, underförstådda och omedvetna behov där det sistnämnda har stor betydelse för upplevelsen av kundnöjdhet. Kundens krav och förväntningar kan tänkas identifieras genom SPIN modellen. Uppföljning av kundnöjdhet bör byggas på kundens kritiska faktorer, CTQ. Arbetssätten kan följas upp genom hörnstensmodellen där alla delar skapar en helhet i offensiv kvalitetsutveckling. / The investigator has studied how company X could induce its customers to become clearer in their demands and in the long run quality assure their consulting services. The purpose of the study has been to investigate how company X can create a red thread in which the customers' requirements and expectations are identified, fulfilled and followed up. The goal for company X is to provide quality consulting services that generate the greatest possible customer satisfaction. The study has answered the following questions: What does a qualitative consulting service de-fine? How can customers more clearly convey their requirements and expectations? How can cus-tomer satisfaction monitoring look like? How can the working methods be followed up? The re-port is a case study that consists of qualitative data collected through received interviews and the implementation of a workshop. The result shows that the customer is in focus and and quality for company X means a satisfied customer through, for example, delivery of requested products in time at the right price. The dif-ferent respondents in the selection groups today have different working methods that are used to find out the customer's requirements and expectations. Customers are asked if they want to fill in a customer survey, which they rarely want. The process is not rooted in all parts of the organiza-tion from top to bottom. An improvement area in the company's process with customer follow-up has been identified, today two surveys with different scales are used and the company's quality objectives are calculated on one of the surveys. The study's conclusion is that the customer's pronounced, implicit and unconscious needs, espe-cially the latter, are of great importance for the experience of customer satisfaction. The needs may be identified by the SPIN model. Follow-up of customer satisfaction can be done through qualitative or quantitative measurements. The working methods can be followed up through the cornerstone model where all parts create a whole in offensive quality development and can work for a quality assurance of consulting services.

Crisis communication can make a crisis turn into a double crisis. The purpose of the thesis is to analyze by which rhetorical means a double crisis can occur. With the Swedish zoo Parken Zoo as a specific example, this essay examines the crisis communication during the crises that started with the tv-show Kalla fakta. The tv-show revealed that Parken Zoo killed and slaughtered endangered and sacred animals. When asked about the specific animals, the head of the zoo gave different answers – which contrasted with former employees testimony. The essay aim to find how the chosed strategies could affect the company’s ethos. The episode of Kalla fakta is studied. Also a press release from Parken Zoo and a letter posted on Facebook from the head of the Zoo is examined. To find which rhetorical strategies that are communicated the paper uses the theory of status, Benoits apologia theory and Bitzers theory about the rhetorical situation. The method used is rhetorical criticism. The results include the crisis communications accusations and answers. The conclusions of the thesis is that the contrast between evidence and Parken Zoo:s statements results in a loss of trust for the company. Parken Zoo also, in some cases, fortify the accusations with their answers. The local authorities owns the zoo, but they are absent in the crisis communication. This leads to a confusion regarding who is responsible.

In this essay I attempt to show that both the weak interpretation and the strong interpretation of what John Searle calls the principle of self–referentiality for social phenomena should be abandoned. This, I argue, is because they give rise to what I, following Burman (2023), call ”location problems” for opaque social phenomena and for social wholes, as well as a faulty understanding of social power. Instead, I propose that we understand social phenomena as constitued by social practices, in turn constituted by individuals who have the know–how necessary to participate in the social practices (in the sense that they are reliably able to do so), while not necessarily knowing that they are participating in them. In doing this, I draw on Robert B. Brandom’s notion of a social practice from Making it Explicit (1994).