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Worldwide concerns over environmental issues and air travel’s continuous expansion have increased in recent years. This is due to rising carbon emissions caused by the aviation industry’s reliance on information technology and systems (IT/IS), which affects the environment. The review of the IT/IS and Green IT/IS investments evaluation literature has highlighted that there is a dearth of research on Green IT/IS evaluation regarding to the aviation industry. Most Green IT/IS evaluation studies focus mainly on benefits; however, cost is reported as one of the most crucial difficulties preventing organizations from adopting Green IT/IS. Generally, the focus is on the direct costs rather than the indirect costs because the latter are intangible and therefore hard to identify and quantify. However, they can have a great impact on the overall cost/budget and possibly on profitability. Although the traditional IS appraisal techniques are being used in the evaluation process, their incapability to capture the impact of intangibles and non-financial issues are apparent, which noticeably affects overall projects’ success. This research aim is to develop a model for Green IT/IS investments evaluation that enhances the understanding and management of the indirect cost associated with Green IT/IS investments within the aviation industry. The novel aspect of the model is its incorporation of the institutional theory, key internal organizational factors, together with human, organizational and environmental indirect cost factors into one model. This model was validated in the aviation industry in Thailand which had adopted and implemented Green IT/IS. The findings from an in-depth case study reveal that despite, Green IT/IS indirect costs not being perceived as costs and hence not being incorporated into the evaluation process, their effects remain, and lead to issues such as costs overruns, under-optimized budgets, and consequently projects failure. In addition, new Green IT/IS indirect cost factors have emerged which were missing from the current normative literature. Therefore, this research provides decision-makers with a useful model, a comprehensive taxonomy, a set of indirect cost factors that can be utilized during the evaluation process, and management strategies to assist in managing and controlling the impact of Green IT/IS indirect costs. Keywords: Green IT/IS Investments Evaluation, Indirect Costs, Costs Management, Costs overrun, Sustainability, Aviation Industry.

Acceptance of information technology (IT) has remained a topic of interest for a last few decades. Several theories, specifically over the conceptualisation of the technology acceptance model (TAM) have emerged and they have been applied in different contexts to investigate new insights into the acceptance behaviour at individual and organisational levels. However, despite TAM’s maturity and validity in different contexts, very little published literature strives to extend its capability to predict individuals’ acceptance behaviour about an online banking information system (OBIS). A possible rational for this gap may be conceptualisation of the TAM under which individuals’ acceptance behaviour can only be predicted with two beliefs: perceived ease of use (PEOU) and perceived usefulness (PU). The evidence in literature shows that PU and PEOU beliefs are not sufficient; hence, they may not explain individuals’ acceptance behaviour in emerging contexts, such as online banking information systems, especially in developing economies such as Pakistan. There is therefore a need for inclusion of any additional factor that can enhance prediction of acceptance of online banking information system by potential users. Extending research on the TAM, this study developed and tested a model of OBIS acceptance. The proposed model integrated key constructs from the information systems acceptance research stream into the theoretical frame of the TAM and other theories from social psychology, such as the theory of reasoned action (TRA), theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and the TAM2. According to the proposed conceptual model, OBIS acceptance was determined by eight main factors, which included perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, trust, technological self-efficacy, response time, output quality, accessibility, and terminology clarity. In this model, PU was hypothesised to be affected by PEOU, trust, technological self-efficacy (TSE), output quality (OQ) and response time (RT). In addition, PEOU was hypothesised to be determined by three external factors: TSE, accessibility and terminology clarity (TC). The model was tested on a sample of 353 Internet banking users in Pakistan. Using structural equation modelling with Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) software, data analysis showed considerable support for the extended hypothesised model. The result indicated that, in order of importance, PU, PEOU and trust explained 45.7 % of the variance in the acceptance behaviour. The trust and the TSE predicted 28.1 % of the variance in the PU. However, the hypothesised relationships between the PU and the PEOU, OQ and RT were found to be not significant. While in the PEOU, 21.8 % of the variance was predicted by the TSE, accessibility and TC. TSE was found to be a more influential determinant of the PEOU than the PU. The consideration of factors that have a significant influence on the acceptance of OBIS, as identified in this research, is important for the managers in the banking sector, especially in developing countries, in order to increase wider acceptance and use of these systems, which provide benefits to both the customers and the service providers.

This master's thesis deals with a implementation of IT/IS tools to support the implementation of the company's business strategy, which sells and provides after sales servicematerial handling equipment. The thesis examines key internal and external factors related to the implementation of business strategy of the company, evaluates them and proposes concrete implementation of IT/IS tools to support achievement of strategic goals.

<p>Research Questions: Is the usage of existing IT/IS in SCM just a necessity or a key factor contributing to their success for Company BETA?</p><p>Purpose: The purpose of our thesis is to describe how a successful distributor like Company BETA manages their supply chain activities, then to analyze and discuss their performances as well as the IT support on their operations.</p><p>Method: We conducted qualitative research. Our main primary data came from the interviews with employees of Company BETA while our secondary data was collected from literature books, websites, and database. The data was gathered and analyzed in the light of our literature review.</p><p>Conclusion: Company BETA’s existing IT/IS is not the main factor contributing to their success. There are more possibilities in the markets nowadays and more importantly, Company BETA could have considered and leveraged their IT/IS better.</p>

<p>Syfte med vårt arbete är att identifiera och analysera framgångsfaktorer vid en kommuns förändringsarbete mot en modern, effektiv och medborgarorienterad förvaltning, en så kallad 24-timmarskommun. För att nå detta syfte har vi valt att göra en fallstudie av Mjölby kommuns arbete med utvecklingen av 24-timmarskommun.</p><p>Fältarbetet har utförts med hjälp av kvalitativa semistandardiserade intervjuer med ämnesområdets relevanta personer inom kommunen. Analys av empiridata har genomförts med hjälp av förändringsanalys enligt SIM-metoden.</p><p>Resultat av vår undersökning visar att införande av 24-timmarskommun bör ses som en del av kommunens förändringsarbete mot en modern förvaltning. För att detta arbete ska vara framgångsrikt krävs det strategiskt ledarskap som ska ta fram, förankra och kommunicera visioner och målbilder av den moderna förvaltningen i organisationens alla delar. Samarbete, systematisk process- och brukarorienterad verksamhetsutveckling och den professionella kompetensen utgör en garanti att uppställda målen och visioner for 24-timmarskommun kan förverkligas. I detta sammanhang bör IT ses som en strategisk resurs och den gemensamma nämnaren för alla ovan nämnda förändringsfaktorer vid utvecklingen av 24-timmarskommun.</p>

This thesis examines the rhetoric of Theodore Dwight Weld's American Slavery As It Is: Testimony of a Thousand Witnesses. Published anonymously in 1839, Weld's publication became the longest antislavery tract in American history. It left its mark on the abolitionist movement itself and future antislavery literary works most notably Uncle Tom's Cabin. Despite its historical and rhetorical importance, Weld's text has been subjected to little critical exploration. This being the case, it is the goal of this study to find the dominant means of persuasion that Weld used to argue to antebellum northern audiences that slavery is evil and should be abolished. Weld accomplishes this goal by using a judicial motif throughout his tract. In his text, Weld acts as prosecutor and asks his readers to act as jurors in judging the legitimacy of slavery in the United States. In doing so, Weld relies on evidence in the form of testimony and newspaper advertisements to prove his arguments. I utilize the Hermagorian system of stasis to shed light on Weld's use of the judicial motif. This system points to four main questions, which represent the main stands of argument between a prosecutor and defense. The four main questions are the stases of conjecture, definition, quality, and objection. Under the stasis of conjecture I show that Weld demonstrates that slavery results when individuals are motivated by absolute arbitrary power. Under the stasis of definition I argue that the South offered the justifications of "necessary evil" and "positive good" in linking their way of life to the institution of slavery. Weld rejects these justifications and establishes his own account of slavery to be a thirst for absolute power over others. In the third stasis of quality I show that Weld argues that human nature is against slavery and therefore, should be abolished. In the last stasis of objection I show that Weld answers the question of whether abolitionists are justified in condemning slavery. Using The Hermagorian system of stasis shows that although each one is applicable to an analysis of Weld's tract, the stases of quality and objection are the most fruitful in establishing the effectiveness of Weld's rhetoric. By combining both emotion and logic for his jurors, Weld accomplishes his role as prosecutor in the case. Once his jurors act in accordance to the judicial motif as members of humanity and see the slaves in the same light, they are forced to bring back a just verdict of guilty because slavery is against the very essence of humanity itself. / Graduation date: 1999

Syfte med vårt arbete är att identifiera och analysera framgångsfaktorer vid en kommuns förändringsarbete mot en modern, effektiv och medborgarorienterad förvaltning, en så kallad 24-timmarskommun. För att nå detta syfte har vi valt att göra en fallstudie av Mjölby kommuns arbete med utvecklingen av 24-timmarskommun. Fältarbetet har utförts med hjälp av kvalitativa semistandardiserade intervjuer med ämnesområdets relevanta personer inom kommunen. Analys av empiridata har genomförts med hjälp av förändringsanalys enligt SIM-metoden. Resultat av vår undersökning visar att införande av 24-timmarskommun bör ses som en del av kommunens förändringsarbete mot en modern förvaltning. För att detta arbete ska vara framgångsrikt krävs det strategiskt ledarskap som ska ta fram, förankra och kommunicera visioner och målbilder av den moderna förvaltningen i organisationens alla delar. Samarbete, systematisk process- och brukarorienterad verksamhetsutveckling och den professionella kompetensen utgör en garanti att uppställda målen och visioner for 24-timmarskommun kan förverkligas. I detta sammanhang bör IT ses som en strategisk resurs och den gemensamma nämnaren för alla ovan nämnda förändringsfaktorer vid utvecklingen av 24-timmarskommun.

Detta projekt har haft som syfte att producera och grafiskt formge det kommande numret av tidskriftsapplikationen Scandinavian Architectural Review för förlaget It Is Media Svenska AB i Stockholm. Skapandet har utgått från applikationens tidigare grafiska profil och har ämnat att följa tidigare utseende och funktioner utan nya tillägg. Hela produktionen har skapats genom Adobe InDesigns tilläggstjänst Adobe Digital Publishing Suite. Efter att produktionen färdigställts har en analys gjorts av den färdiga applikationen enligt en heuristisk utvärdering ur ett människa-datorinteraktionsperspektiv, till vilken David Benyons tolv designprinciper har  tillämpats. Till stöd i analysarbetet har ett aktivitetsdiagram skapats för att ge en god överblick över hela tidskriftens disposition. Analysen har slutligen resulterat i en åtgärdslista med förslag på förbättringar av applikationen för att öka dess användarvänlighet, vilket framför allt har lyft fram behovet av tydligare grafisk design av interaktiva element, ett förbättrat system för att ge användaren återkoppling samt ökad konsekvens och flexibilitet. / This project has aimed to produce and design the upcoming edition of the magazine application Scandinavian Architectural Review for the publisher It Is Media Svenska AB in Stockholm. The production has been based on the application’s prior graphic profile and has intended to follow previous appearance and functions without new additions. The entire production has been created using the Adobe InDesign plugin Adobe Digital Publishing Suite. After the production was finished an analysis of the completed application was performed according to a heuristic evaluation, which was based on the twelve design principles of David Benyon in a perspective of human-computer interaction. To support the analytical work an activity diagram was created to get a comprehensive view of the entire disposition of the application. The analysis has resulted in a list of actions and suggestions to improve the application and its usability, which particularly emphasize the need of a clearer design of the interactive elements, an improved system to give the user feedback as well as an increased consistency and flexibility.

Research Questions: Is the usage of existing IT/IS in SCM just a necessity or a key factor contributing to their success for Company BETA? Purpose: The purpose of our thesis is to describe how a successful distributor like Company BETA manages their supply chain activities, then to analyze and discuss their performances as well as the IT support on their operations. Method: We conducted qualitative research. Our main primary data came from the interviews with employees of Company BETA while our secondary data was collected from literature books, websites, and database. The data was gathered and analyzed in the light of our literature review. Conclusion: Company BETA’s existing IT/IS is not the main factor contributing to their success. There are more possibilities in the markets nowadays and more importantly, Company BETA could have considered and leveraged their IT/IS better.