Background: The needs of the consumers seem to develop at the same rate as the technology advancements and put more pressure on firms to produce new and innovative products at a faster pace. Research has shown that external sources can have a significant effect on the firms’ innovation performance, but the results are partial contradicting and more research is needed. Purpose: Investigate customer and supplier involvement in product innovation in Swedish manufacturing firms. Delimitations: The study was carried out to manufacturing firms in Sweden, as Swedish firms are the most innovative in Europe at this point in time. Only large and medium sized firms were under investigation as larger firms are more eager to innovate than smaller firms. Method: The research had a deductive quantitative approach. The data was collected through a questionnaire sent out by e-mail and 124 firms participated in the study. After assessing validity and reliability, the hypotheses were tested by multiple and single regression analysis. Conclusions: Firms that strives to improve their new product development process should seize their customer’s knowledge and use it to co-develop new products. Another important factor was to use lead users, as these will improve the innovativeness even more than “ordinary” customers. The study found no support for early supplier integration in the new product development process.

Business Administration, Business Process and Supply Chain Management Degree Project (master), 15 higher education points, 4FE06E, Spring 2013 Authors: Jeremy Bellina, Olegs Bodins, Soeren Krieger and Mathilde Olivier Tutor: Roger Stokkedal Title: Managing Upstream Supply Chain in Order to Decrease Inventory Level: A Case Study on the Paper Merchant Papyrus Sweden. Background: The research is based on Papyrus Sweden, a paper merchant, which is facing a decrease in the demand of paper products. It was identified that inventory level reduction is now crucial for the company in order to stay in the market. Therefore, Papyrus Sweden is focused on inventory level and tied-up capital reduction in order to decrease costs and increase net profit. Purpose: This thesis aims to analyze the current situation in Papyrus Sweden in terms of inventory level and activities related to suppliers, and prepare recommendations which could help Papyrus Sweden to reduce its inventory level. Method: The data has been collected through interviews with managers from the supply chain department as well as through a data sample from Papyrus Sweden database given to the researchers. All data was analyzed and compared with the literature review. Data received from the database was processed and transformed in Microsoft Excel in order to make the analysis. Results: The analysis identifies issues in material planning methods, safety stock calculation, ABC-XYZ classification and forecast calculation, on which Papyrus Sweden could act in order to decrease its inventory level. Furthermore, the researchers identify two solutions Papyrus Sweden could implement with its suppliers in order to reduce inventory level which are a Service Level Agreement and a Vendor Managed Inventory system. Keywords: inventory level, material planning method, safety stock, ABC-XYZ classification, forecast calculation, replenishment lead time, supplier relationship, information sharing, Service Level Agreement (SLA), Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) and Collaborative planning, forecast and replenishment system (CPFR).

Sandvik Rock Tools is operating in a highly competitive market. This requires them to constantly improve the efficiency of their organization, in order for them to maintain their position as market leaders, both in a short-term and a long-term perspective. Sandvik Rock Tools is currently working on developing and further improving their supply chain. The supply chain is a key organizational function and improvements of the supply chain aim to yield benefits like lowered total costs and better utilized inventory levels. The purpose of our work has been to develop the supply chain between Sandvik’s in-market warehouse and their customer site at Dannemora. The main focus of this thesis has been to enable automatic data collection and to lower the stock levels at the customer site in Dannemora. This would be accomplished by improving the information flow between the two entities in the observed supply chain and by enabling real-time inventory information, easily accessible to the warehouse manager. A barcode system was implemented in the warehouse at the Dannemora customer site and was integrated with warehouse management software that was developed by the authors. The implemented barcode system and the warehouse management software were used at the Dannemora customer site for a period of two months. The effects of the implemented barcode system working in combination with the warehouse management software were observed in several operational areas after implementation, and the results were positive and beneficial. Firstly, the barcode system and warehouse management software simplified the warehouse manager’s decision process, by providing easy access to necessary warehouse management information, like realtime inventory information. Secondly, it made the day-to-day work routine of the warehouse manager easier, this being the case because the barcode system that had been implemented had digitalized and automated many tasks that had previously been performed manually by warehouse manager. An excellent example would be the simplified process for order placement and stocktaking. Thirdly, it improved the information flow between the Dannemora customer site and Sandvik’s in-market warehouse in Sandviken, thereby improving the overall effectiveness of the entire supply chain, through shared information. The barcode implementation successfully lowered inventory levels by six percent on average.

由於跨組織關係的出現，企業為增加全球競爭力，供應鏈管理已成為非常重要的議題。其所重視的不僅是功能性的連結，亦著重於內部的流通，因此非常注重供應鏈成員間的資訊分享，用以創造長期永久的利潤。而為達到此目的，企業與企業彼此會互相逹成共識，進而相互結盟成為夥伴關係，這樣的夥伴關係是建立於相互信任、共擔風險與利益共享上，因此可藉由夥伴關係的建立，達到相互的信任進而願意資訊分享，如此不但可取得競爭優勢，並可創造出比企業個體更大的事業績效（Lambert et al., 1996）。 由上述得知，供應鏈組織中夥伴關係的建立常會牽涉到信任的形成，並用此來考量是否願意分享資訊。所以本研究針對資訊分享的議題，探討合作夥伴的信任程度對資訊分享的意願兩者是否有影響，藉由此協助企業在實施供應鏈管理上能有較適當的依循。即是希望建構一個信任函數，並經由運算設定此函數的門檻值進而探討資訊分享意願，若合作夥伴達信任門檻值，則彼此是願意資訊分享的；而針對未達門檻值的合作夥伴，可藉由信任函數中最具效益的構面指標，進行最有效的績效改善，提升供應夥伴的品質、服務、交貨速度及成本等等，用以達到信任門檻值，增加合作夥伴間資訊分享的意願。 因此本研究主要目的為建構一信任函數模型，使合作夥伴達到信任門檻，增加資訊分享意願，最終希望能提升整體供應鏈的績效表現。 / Because of Inter-organizational Relationships’ appearance, enterprises are in order to increase the global competitiveness, supplying chain management has already become very important topic. That pays attention to not only functional linking of ones, also focus on internal circulation. Therefore it pays much attention to supplying the information sharing among a member of the chain. And for achieve this purpose, among enterprises reach an agreement to form an alliance and become the partnership. Such a partnership is founded on trust in each other, taking risks together and benefits-sharing. So they can reach mutual trust then would like to carry on information sharing by setting up the partnership. That not only can make the competition advantage, but also can create the performance greater than the individual enterprise （Lambert et al., 1996）. Consequently setting up the partnership regular involves in forming trust in supply chain. So we can use this viewpoint to consider would like to share information or not. Hence the research focuses on information sharing to probe into the relation between the degree of trust in the partnership and the willingness of information sharing.That is that builds and constructs a trust function, and sets up the threshold value via operation and then discusses the willingness of information sharing. If the cooperative partner reaches the value of threshold will willing to share information between each other. And aimed at cooperative partners who can’t reach the value of threshold, they can precede the most effective performance by using the beneficial dimension. Then improve their quality, service, delivery pace and cost, etc., in order to reach the will of information sharing.

Submitted by Henrique Pontes (henrique.pontes@uol.com.br) on 2017-03-21T00:46:25Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Henrique Pontes.pdf: 3935453 bytes, checksum: 7700a20560f29b2b18636236872fa621 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Pamela Beltran Tonsa (pamela.tonsa@fgv.br) on 2017-03-21T15:06:29Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Henrique Pontes.pdf: 3935453 bytes, checksum: 7700a20560f29b2b18636236872fa621 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-21T15:50:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Henrique Pontes.pdf: 3935453 bytes, checksum: 7700a20560f29b2b18636236872fa621 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-24 / With the advancement of technological solutions and a business environment increasingly agile and competitive, the Information Technology area has, growingly, assumed an essential part in organizations. As a result, the number of IT demands has increased significantly, making the usage of project management practices a fundamental component in meeting these demands. In Information Technology projects the generation and flow of information, as well the interaction between the areas associated with the projects, is significantly high, requiring adequate communication procedures, which are the most sensitive and extremely associated to the success or failure of the project. This research explored, through a multiple case study, the influence of information symmetry, that is, the adequate distribution of project information among its stakeholders through cooperation actions in the projects’ success. After an extensive review of the literature on IT projects, project management, information symmetry and cooperation, three propositions were developed in order to answer the research question. The first proposes that the symmetry of information in IT projects facilitates cooperation actions; the second, that cooperation actions influence the success of IT projects, and the third, that efficient communication and symmetry of information, referring to IT projects, through cooperation actions, are essential factors for the success of the project. The research data collection stage was carried out in two large multinational companies, in the retail sector, in the food and garments segments and, in each of them, qualitatively analyzed a strategic project for the company. In the two analyzed projects, it was verified that did not obtain satisfactory results, although their products were delivered. The main factors pointed out were problems in the communication process, mainly the information symmetry. It was still verified that the inefficiency in the communication directly harms the cooperation actions and proved that the inadequate distribution of information is a preponderant factor for the generation of conflicts and, consequently, the failure of the project. However, it was pointed out by all interviewees, in both projects, that information symmetry influences cooperation actions between teams and, it is essential to achieve the success of IT projects. / Com o avanço das soluções tecnológicas e um contexto de negócios cada vez mais ágil e competitivo, a área de Tecnologia da Informação vem assumindo um papel essencial nas organizações. Com isso, a quantidade de demandas junto à área de TI aumentou significativamente, tornando a utilização de práticas de gerenciamento de projetos um componente fundamental no atendimento dessas demandas. Em projetos de Tecnologia da Informação a geração e o fluxo de informação, bem como a interação entre as áreas associadas aos projetos, é significativamente elevada, exigindo procedimentos adequados de comunicação, mais sensíveis e extremamente associados ao sucesso ou fracasso do projeto. Este trabalho pesquisou, a partir de um estudo de caso múltiplo, a influência da simetria da informação, ou seja, a adequada distribuição das informações do projeto entre seus envolvidos por meio das ações de cooperação no sucesso dos projetos. Após extensa revisão bibliográfica sobre projetos de TI, gerenciamento de projetos, simetria de informação e cooperação, três proposições foram elaboradas a fim de responder à questão de pesquisa. A primeira propõe que a simetria das informações em projetos de TI facilita as ações de cooperação; a segunda, que as ações de cooperação influenciam no sucesso de projetos de TI, e a terceira, que a comunicação eficiente e a simetria de informações referentes aos projetos de TI, por meio das ações de cooperação, são fatores essenciais para o sucesso do projeto. A etapa de coleta de dados da pesquisa foi realizada em duas empresas multinacionais de grande porte, no ramo do varejo, nos segmentos de alimentação e vestuário e, em cada uma delas, analisados qualitativamente um projeto estratégico para a empresa. Nos dois projetos analisados, foi constatado que não obtiveram resultados satisfatórios, apesar de seus produtos terem sido entregues. Os principais causadores da insatisfação foram problemas no processo de comunicação, principalmente a simetria da informação. Foi verificado ainda que a ineficiência na comunicação prejudica diretamente as ações de cooperação e comprovado que a inadequada distribuição de informações é fator preponderante para a geração de conflitos e, consequentemente, o fracasso do projeto. Por outro lado, todos os entrevistados apontaram, nos dois projetos, que a simetria de informação influencia as ações de cooperação entre as equipes e, é essencial para atingir o sucesso dos projetos de TI.

The main research of the study was: How is integrated communication applied in the UKZN AIDS Programme at Westville Campus? The following six subsidiary research questions were formulated to address this topic:  How is communication aligned with the strategic focus in the UKZN AIDS Programme?  How consistent are messages and media used in and outside the UKZN AIDS Programme?  What is the status of infrastructure for integration within the UKZN AIDS Programme?  What is the status of internal stakeholder orientation and differentiation in the UKZN AIDS Programme?  What are the mechanisms put in place to coordinate communication efforts and action within the UKZN AIDS Programme?  What is the status of free flow of information within the UKZN AIDS Programme? A qualitative research design was conducted using field and survey research. These two research methods may be used for descriptive, exploratory, and explanatory research (Mouton 1996:232). Descriptive and exploratory field and survey research were used to ascertain the integrated communication applied in the UKZN AIDS Programme. Data was collected from sixteen UKZN AIDS Programme employees and eight students using semi-structured focus group and in-depth interviews respectively. Data collected was analysed using thematic analysis a technique that involves identifying, analysing and reporting in detail patterns or themes within data.The study found that the UKZN AIDS Programme focuses mostly on the University as its main stakeholder. Therefore, there is little emphasis on employees and students. Besides, the study revealed that there is poor alignment of the programme’s communication strategy with the programme’s strategy. To achieve the UKZN AIDS Programmes’ strategic objectives and mission, there is need to reassess the efforts of the programme and re-strategise. Findings on the consistency of messages and media in the UKZN AIDS Programme reveal that all communications are managed by senior employees and consistent in terms of programme identity by using the university identity, and website messages. The status of the consistency of messages and media in the programme can be improved if a comprehensive approach can be used in communicating internal messages. Findings on the consistency of messages and media in external communication show that the programme tries to communicate different prevention messages using channels favoured by students. However, channels such as drama and peer educators have weaknesses that need to be addressed in addition to employing diverse communication channels. Findings show that some of the messages communicated are relevant in the sense that they address students’ sexual risk behaviour while others are not as they are off tangent such that they address issues students are not concerned about. In addition, findings show that peer educators were not exemplary in their work while drama programmes did not allow students to actively participate in the prevention activities. On infrastructure for integration, the study found that there is infrastructure and several prospects for information sharing in the programme created by information technology though not fully explored. With regards the free flow and sharing of information, the study established that the required systems for communication exist but not adequately utilised. Findings on the co-ordination of communication efforts and actions to promote integrated communication show flaws. Departments in the programme function in silos due to lack of cross-functional planning. The integrated communication conceptual framework used in the study was useful in making the study successfully ascertain integrated communication applied by the UKZN AIDS Programme. The conceptual framework can therefore be used to underpin any research topic on health integrated communication. / Communication Science / MA (Communication) / 1 online resource (v, 222 leaves)

The study was an evaluation of organisational communication and its integration within the Msunduzi Local Authority. The purpose was firstly to explore and describe the state of communication in the organisation, and secondly to measure the level of communication integration within the organisation. The qualitative content analysis and individual semi-structured interviews were the suitable data collection techniques for the study. The data was analysed through a thematic analysis, a technique that involves identifying, analysing and reporting in detail patterns or themes within data. The study found that organisational communication at Msunduzi Local Authority was one sided and top down; which indicated that there was little emphasis on feedback from employees. The study revealed that there were more external communication messages than internal, to an extent that the internal stakeholders depended on external media to learn about their organisation. Findings on the consistency of messages revealed that all communications are managed by senior employees within their respective departments and sections; the status of the consistency of messages can be improved if a comprehensive approach can be adopted in communicating internal messages in addition to employing diverse communication channels. On infrastructure for integration, the study found that there is infrastructure and several prospects for information sharing in the organisation created by information communication and technology though not fully explored. With regards to the free flow and sharing of information, the study established that the required systems for communication exist but not adequately utilised. Findings on the co-ordination of communication efforts and actions to promote integrated communication showed flaws. It also appeared that the departments in the organisation function in silos due to lack of cross-functional planning. / Communication Science / M.A. (Communication)

This study set off in a notion, rather than insight; there seems to be a lot of talk about how innovation should thrive and how the environment should be scanned, but not so much about the relationship in between. While the usefulness of sharing information about the environment is seldom questioned, how the information sharing comes to play is as seldom a topic for debate. This sparked our curiosity and to explore the phenomena deeper we conducted interviews with nine out of the ten co-workers within the unit for Research & Innovation at LFV. The result indicates that while environmental scanning was believed to be an important part of their work, they had no strategic guidelines on how it should be exerted and it was viewed to be more of a passive part in their practical work. Furthermore, their work situation was highly individualized and autonomous, which made them very motivated to scan the environment, but also caused a certain discrepancy in how they perceived it. This combination of disparate perspectives, high motivation and lack of unanimity resulted in a rather narrow monitoring of the environment and an imbalance between the interest and the actual use of information. While information was greatly sought after by everyone, the information shared was not perceived as meaningful in the same extent. Some co-workers meant this induced an overload of information and therefore became more restrictive in their information sharing, but others became frustrated that the information they shared never seemed to be used and thus shared even more as a response. Hence, the effect was not only self-fulfilling and reflexive, but also inhibited the environmental scanning from becoming a significant element in the innovation process. / Denna studie tog avstamp i en uppfattning, snarare än en insikt; det verkar talas gott om hur innovation ska frodas och hur omvärlden ska bevakas, men desto mindre om relationen däremellan. Medan nyttan med att dela information om omvärlden sällan blir ifrågasatt, verkar det lika sällan fokuseras på hur den informationsdelningen går till i praktiken. Detta väckte vår nyfikenhet och för att utforska fenomenet djupare utförde vi intervjuer med nio av de tio medarbetarna på enheten för Forskning & Innovation på LFV. Resultatet indikerar att omvärldsbevakning ansågs vara en viktig del av verksamheten, men att det fanns få strategiska riktlinjer om hur det ska utföras och att det var en mer passiv del av arbetet. Vidare var arbetssituationen högst individuell och autonom, vilket gjorde dem mycket motiverade att scanna sin omgivning, men också skapade en viss diskrepans i hur de uppfattade den. Denna kombination av olikartade perspektiv, hög motivation och brist på samstämmighet resulterade i en något snäv bevakning av omvärlden och en obalans mellan intresset och användningen av information. Samtidigt som information var mycket eftertraktat så blev inte informationen som delades uppfattad som meningsfull i samma utsträckning. Vissa medarbetare upplevde att detta genererade ett överflöd av information och blev därför mer restriktiva i sin informationsdelning, men andra blev frustrerade över hur informationen de delade aldrig verkade komma till användning och reagerade med att dela ännu mer som följd. Därav blev effekten inte bara självuppfyllande och reflexiv, utan hämmade också omvärldsbevakningen från att bli ett betydelsefullt element i innovationsprocessen.

This research contributes to the cloud computing (CC) literature and information science research by addressing the reality of information sharing and storage behavior (ISSB) of the users' personal information via CC. Gathering information about usage also allows this research to address the paradox between the research and practice. Additionally, this research explores the concept of trust and its role in the behavioral change relative to CC. The findings help reconcile the paradox between the two realms. Essay1 develops and tests cloud computing usage model (CCUM) that assesses ISSB. This model considers the main adoption determinants and the main drawbacks of CC. The study measures the main concerns of users found in the literature, perceived security and perceived privacy. The findings prove surprising on these concerns. Using multiple regression to analyze 129 valid survey responses, the results find that CC users are less concerned about the major issues of security and privacy and will use the technology based on peer usage. Essay 2 examines why users ignore the technology issues and elect to replace the traditional mechanisms for handling their personal information. The results of an interview-based study conducted on 11 normal users and 11 IT professionals clarify their perceptions about CC and examine its readiness to handle their information from an end-user perspective. Essay 3 explores the CC literature to identify the major factors associated with the users' trust beliefs. The research conducted in this essay groups these factors into three categories. The posited and tested model examines the effect of perceived trust on ISSB. A structural equation modeling approach is used to analyze 1228 valid responses and tests the developed cloud computing trust model. The results provide multiple implications for CC researchers, managers, and service providers.

Thesis aims to present the current situation of social plugins growth. It examines social plugins from users and website owner point of view. At the beginning, the work reminds of web present emergence and comes after with emergence of social plugins. Work examines also the terminology of term "social plugin". Social plugins (as is Facebook Like button) are described in chapter Type of social plugins, after this comes chapter about practical usage of social plugins. Parts of this chapter are case studies and evaluations of advantages and disadvantages. Last chapter follow social plugins from the user's point of view. The subjects of examination are motivation to share information online and present results of studies and research, which has been prepared by author of this thesis. In enclosure can be found complete list of the most exploited social plugins including their functions and possibilities of usage.