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This thesis considers the design of cascaded SISO control systems using the H∞ and QFT methodologies. In the first part of the thesis the actual advantages offered by Single Input Single Output (SISO) cascade loop structures are studied. In Quantitative Feedback Theory(QFT) it is emphasized that the use of cascaded loops is primarily for the reduction of bandwidth of the controllers. This in turn helps in considerable reduction of the adverse effects of high frequency noise. The question that arises then is whether or not there are any substantial benefits to be gained by cascade loop design in the low frequencies. It is shown using QFT methodology that there aren’t any advantages gained in the low frequencies with the use of cascaded design. In effect it is concluded that if the design is properly executed a single loop controller closed from the output to the input will be sufficient to meet the typical performance specifications. This is shown using an example where the mold level of a continuous casting process is to be controlled. The plant being used has considerable uncertainty so that features of robust control can be highlighted. In the second part the Robust Outer Loop bounds were generated analytically and examined for certain properties. It was compared to the bounds generated by already existing algorithms. In the third part the inner outer QFT design was modified with the inner loop being designed using H∞ with the concept of sensitivity shaping. This design was very similar to the pure QFT design with the added advantage of having some automation. In the fourth part the H∞ methodology was used to design a two loop control structure. The idea was to compare this design to the QFT design. It was seen that H∞ generated redundant controllers and pre filters.

This project is designed to determine the impact that Texas 4-H shooting sports has on its youth and the State of Texas using research from a study done 1991 and another study done in 2002. The purpose of these two studies was to analyze the amount of life skills gained by youth through their involvement in the Texas 4-H shooting sports program, to see how much parents are willing to spend to have their children participate in this program, and also to evaluate if the state of Texas incurs some economic gain due to the amount of money spent by parents. This study uses existing data from two surveys that were completed in 1991 and 2002 at Texas 4-H shooting sports state competition(s). The target population for both of the surveys consisted of youth participants and parents. These two surveys are the same in their attitudinal structure, but are different because the 2002 survey also includes cost analyses. The major findings were as follows: 1.)Involvement in the Texas 4-H shooting sports program does have a positive impact on the life skills gained by youth. 2.)Money being spent on youth by their parents to be a part of the Texas 4-H shooting program helps the state of Texas incur some economic gain due to travel and shooting expenses being made in the state 3.)Youth representing Texas shooting sports are also having a national impact due to the amount of money they are spending traveling and shooting in other cities. 4.)Youth representing Texas shooting sports are having a competitive shooting impact not only in Texas, but on the nation as well. 5.)Youth involved in the 4-H shooting program are spending more quality time with family members and practicing more with supervised instruction. 6.)The state of Texas is spending close to $55,000 per year to keep one juvenile delinquent housed in a correctional facility when it cost $4,000 a year to participate in 4-H shooting sports.

Denna uppsats ämnar behandla hur barn i de små storlekarna mellan 62-86 framställs i Hennes & Mauritz-klädkataloger. Syftet med studien är att uppmärksamma hur normer och föreställningar om hur barn skall vara och se ut reproduceras och produceras i klädkatalogerna för att på så sätt synliggöra invanda tankemönster i vardagen. Materialet i undersökningen består av tre H&M-kataloger från året 2013. Annonsbilder på barn har sedan valts ut och analyserats med semiotisk bildanalys. Denna analys kopplas samman med tidigare forskning om hur barn framställs i olika sorters reklam. Studien fokuserar på aspekterna genus, etnicitet och miljö. Det förs sedan en diskussion om vilka möjliga konsekvenser detta kan få för den svenska kulturen vi lever i. I uppsatsen kommer vi fram till att H&M-katalogerna både reproducerar, men också producerar normer och föreställningar kring barn och barndom. Tidigare studier av H&M-kataloger har visat att främst barn med nordiskt utseende har varit dominerande på barnsidorna. Vi har uppmärksammat att katalogerna från 2013 inte domineras av nordiska barn utan visar barn från olika delar av världen. Annonsbilderna bekräftar tidigare forskning, barnen framställs som perfekta och felfria. Inga vredesutbrott eller tårar syns i katalogerna. Endast leenden och lycka. I studien synliggörs klädeskategorin unisexkläder, som skall tilltala både flickor och pojkar. Flickor och pojkar får dessutom lika mycket utrymme i katalogerna, till skillnad från tidigare undersökningar. Med denna studie hoppas vi kunna bidra till det svenska forskningsläget kring barn och reklam.

Svenska företag har börjat prata om cirkulär ekonomi (CE)som en viktig del inom företagsverksamheter där CE har kommit att ersätta tidigare “praxis” för hållbar utveckling. Flera stora svenska företag däribland H&M och Ikea uttrycker att de vill vara en del i att leda samhällets omställning mot cirkulär ekonomi. Samtidigt bidrar H&M och Ikea till en massproduktion av konsumtionsvaror vilket leder till en förbrukning av stora mängder naturresurser. Denna studie syftar till att genom en fallstudie undersöka hur H&M och Ikea talar om CE i sin verksamhet samt hur H&M och Ikea genomopinionsbildning försöker påverka omställningen mot CE. Textanalystillämpades för att genomföra studien och svara på följande frågeställningar: Vilka argument framför H&M och Ikea kring att en omställning mot CE är nödvändig? Vilka ambitioner uttrycker H&M och Ikea i omställningen mot CE? Vilka strategier framför H&M och Ikea att de tillämpar i omställningen mot CE och vad framför de som utmaningar med arbetet? Hur uttrycker sig H&M och Ikea kring vem som har ansvar att leda omställningen mot CE? Hur uttrycker sig H&M och Ikea som opinionsbildare i omställningen mot CE? Resultatet av studien visar att H&M och Ikea framför hur en fortsatt linjär produktion och konsumtion inte är hållbar där de framför ambitioner om att de vill leda omställningen och vill implementera cirkularitet genom hela deras värdekedjor. Resultatet visar att H&M och Ikea uttrycker strategier gällande förändring av affärsmodeller, designprocesser, ökad återanvändning-och återvinning av material. Vid implementering av CE framför H&M och Ikea utmaningar gällande teknik, samarbete och regleringar. Gällande ansvar framför H&M och Ikea att de åtar sig ett ansvar i omställningen men de poängterar att beslutsfattare behöver ta ett större ansvar i att främja företagsarbete mot en omställning. Resultatet visar också att H&M och Ikea som opinionsbildare uttrycker att de vill påskynda omställningen mot CE. / Swedish companies have begun to talk about CE as an important part of companies' operations where CE has come to replace previous “practices” for sustainable development. Several large Swedish companies, including H&M and Ikea, say that they want to be part of leading society's transition towards a circular economy. At the same time H&M and Ikea constitute a mass production of consumer goods which contributes to the consumption of large amounts of natural resources. This study aims to investigate how H&M and Ikea talk about CE in their operations through a case study and how H&M and Ikea try to influence the transition to CE through opinion formation. Text analysis was applied to carry out the study and answer the following questions: What arguments do H&M and Ikea express about why a conversion to CE is necessary? What ambitions do H&M and Ikea express in their transition to CE? What strategies do H&M and Ikea express that they apply in the transition towards CE and what are the challenges they face in these processes? How do H&M and Ikea express themselves about who is responsible for leading the transition towards CE? How do H&M and Ikea express themselves as opinion formation in the transition to CE? The results of the study show that H&M and Ikea express that continuous linear production and consumption is not sustainable where they express ambitions that they want to lead the transition and that they want to implement circularity throughout their value chains. The results show that the H&M and Ikea express strategies regarding transformation of business models, design processes and increased reuse-and recycling of materials. When implementing CE companies face challenges regarding technology, collaboration, and regulations. In the context of responsibility H&M and Ikea express that they undertake a responsibility in the transition, but they point out that decision-makers need to take greater responsibility in promoting companies' transition processes. The result also shows that H&M and Ikea as opinion formation express that they want to speed up the transition to CE.

Tese de mestrado integrado. Engenharia Industrial e Gestão. Universidade do Porto. Faculdade de Engenharia. 2011

<p>These days, brands play an increasing important role in our life. Most of firm work hard for brand development. The purpose of this study is to analyze the brand development of H&M in general and how it starts opening in China. The result shows that H&M develops its brand successfully around the world. It not only creates a wonderful reputation and healthy brand image in consumers’ minds, but also makes them satisfied. Even it has been doing well in its penetration in the Chinese market.</p>

<p>Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka hur ett starkt varumärke byggs upp. För att få svar på denna fråga har författarna valt att undersöka H&M, då de har byggt upp ett så starkt och känt varumärke. Vilka egenskaper är de främsta? Vidare vill författarna även granska vilken bild som H&M förmedlar till omvärlden och se om den överensstämmer med kundernas uppfattningar.</p><p>Uppsatsen är baserad på en enkätundersökning av 120 personer i varierande ålder, från ca 20-40 års ålder. Respondenterna är av olika kön dock är majoriteten kvinnor. Alla respondenter är bosatta i Stockholm och de är alla kunder hos klädföretaget H&M. Informanterna fick besvara olika frågor som handlade om vilka egenskaper som är viktigast vid val av klädköp hos H&M. De fick även förklara hur de uppfattade H&M:s varumärke. Detta i syfte att få reda på vilken bild kunderna har om H&M samt dess varumärke.</p><p>Författarna har med hjälp av ett antal teorier som handlar om varumärkesforskning analyserat resultatet av de empiriska data. Enligt enkätundersökningen verkar H&M förmedla sitt budskap på ett rätt sätt, då kunderna verkar uppfatta budskapet. Båda bilderna överensstämmer alltså med varandra, dock med en liten avvikelse. Respondenterna verkade ha en positiv bild av H&M samt dess varumärke, då alla skulle fortsätta vara kunder hos H&M även i framtiden</p> / <p>The purpose of this paper is to examine how to build a strong brand. To answer this question the authors have chosen to examine H&M, because they have built such a strong and famous brand. Which characteristics are the most important? Further on, the authors also want to examine which picture H&M mediates to the surrounding world and see if it agrees with the costumer’s ideas</p><p>The paper is based on a survey of 120 people with different age, from approximately 20 – 40 years old. The respondents are of different sex but the majority are women. All respondents are located in Stockholm and they are all costumers at the clothing company H&M. The respondents had to answer different questions about which characteristics where most important when making the choice of buying clothes from H&M. They also had to explain how they understand the H&M brand. The purpose of this is to get to know which picture the customer’s have about H&M and its brand.</p><p>The authors have with help of some theories that concern brand research analysed the result from different data. According to the survey H&M seem to mediate their message in a good way, as the customers seem to understand the message. In other words, both pictures agree with each other, but with a little exception. The respondents seem to have a positive picture about H&M and its brand, as everybody wanted to continue being costumers at H&M even in the future.</p>

<p>In the last years people has become more aware of issues regarding corporate social responsibility. This has led to a more thorough control of big multinational companies, which are often held account of violating social, ethical and environmental values. The term most often used for this is corporate social responsibility (CSR). H&M is a Swedish multinational company and the concept of H&M is fashion to a low price. The material most often used in producing clothes is cotton. Cotton is the most sprayed crop and a great amount of water, pesticides and inorganic fertilizers are used in order to get better and bigger harvests leading to a negative impact on both environment and people working in the production chain. Organic cotton is a great alternative and a growing number of consumers are asking for clothes made out of organic cotton. The purpose of the thesis is to investigate whether H&M is taking responsibility for the social, ethical and environmental parts of CSR and how H&M uses organic cotton in their clothes. The thesis also accounts for the role of the consumer and other stakeholders regarding demand of organic cotton. </p><p>Methods used are literature studies and interviews conducted by phone and e-mail. The results show that the overall impression is that H&M as a company is taking several actions in order to take responsibility. By using organic cotton in collections on all departments and by supporting a number of non governmental organizations (NGO) H&M has had a positive development and is now seen as one of the most successful companies regarding CSR. H&M has integrated a stakeholder perspective in their activities which shows that the company is putting focus not only at the consumers but also at other important stakeholders. H&M should however focus more on local sustainability, in order to help sustain a positive development in developing countries multinational companies such as H&M need to take a bigger responsibility and attend so that a bigger profit remains in the sub contractor countries.</p>

<p>Legitimitet är en viktig faktor för ett företags överlevnad. Klädbranschen, speciellt H&M, har det senaste årtiondet fått mycket publicitet och blivit hårt granskad, vilket föranleder att legitimiteten kan anses ha varit hotad. Med utgångspunkt i legitimitetsteorin studerar vi H&M:s årsredovisningar mellan 1998-2008 för att finna hur de genom årsredovisningarna försöker bibehålla legitimiteten. Som verktyg använder vi Lindbloms (1994) fyra strategier för att bibehålla legitimitet. Vi finner att samtliga strategier används men att vissa förekommer mer frekvent än andra. Vi diskuterar möjliga orsaker till detta, samt tycker oss se tecken på en femte strategi.</p>