Innovation is a key factor for companies in order to survive in the long-term and to stay competitive. However, it can be challenging to know what ideas (or innovations) to pursue. Large incumbent companies can be slow to innovate, but startups on the other hand, are a great source of innovation. However, many startups fail. Starting a new company is risky, but a countervailing force has emerged called Lean Development. There is a strong need for research and studies on the subject of product development in a Lean Development context and the process of Idea Selection has been somewhat ignored in research. Idea Selection is a part of the Front End of Innovation and is often mentioned as an important factor for success in the innovation process. This study was aimed at creating a framework for Idea Selection, building on the intersection between the Front End of Innovation and the New Product and Process Development in a Lean Development context. The findings are based on current theory on Innovation, Idea Selection and Lean Development as well as a case study conducted at a Swedish insurance startup. The main conclusion of this study is a framework containing four themes: Reach, Impact, Confidence and Effort. By using this framework, startups can more easily decide on what ideas to pursue and thereby move quicker and achieve more success in the innovation process. / För ett företag är innovation en nyckelfaktor för långsiktig överlevnad och för att vara konkurrenskraftig. Det kan emellertid vara utmanande att veta vilka idéer (eller innovationer) som bör utforskas vidare och implementeras. Stora etablerade företag kan vara långsamma att innovera, men nystartade företag, startups, kännetecknas å andra sidan ofta av att ha stor innovationsförmåga. Men många startups misslyckas. Att starta ett nytt företag är riskabelt. För att minska den risken har något som kallas Lean Development växt fram. Det finns ett starkt behov av forskning och studier om produktutveckling i Lean Development-sammanhang och processen att välja ut idéer har ignorerats i forskning. Idéval är en del av Front End of Innovation och nämns ofta som en viktig faktor för framgång i innovationsprocessen. Denna studie syftar till att skapa ett ramverk för Idéval, som bygger på skärningspunkten mellan Front End of Innovation och New Product and Process Development ett Lean Development-sammanhang. Resultat är baserade på aktuell teori om Innovation, Idéval och Lean Development samt en fallstudie genomförd vid en svensk startup inom försäkringsbranschen. Den huvudsakliga slutsatsen i denna studie är ett ramverk som innehåller fyra teman: Reach, Impact, Confidence and Effort. Genom att använda detta ramverk kan nystartade företag lättare bestämma vilka idéer de ska gå vidare med och därmed bli mer snabbrörliga och uppnå mer framgång i innovationsprocessen.

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore educator understanding of concepts in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), utilizing qualitative research methods to comprehensively examine educators’ understanding of IDEA using the six facets of understanding in the Understanding by Design framework. Educators must adhere to laws governing educating students with disabilities; therefore, it is essential to capture educators’ level of understanding related to IDEA. The twelve participants interviewed were educators currently licensed and qualified in Tennessee to serve in the roles of: special education supervisor, principal, general education teacher or special education teacher. Data collection strategies included individual interviews via phone. Responses were first organized by research questions and corresponding responses. Responses were then examined for key words and phrases that aligned with the six principles of IDEA. Then, emergent themes were identified and analyzed within the six facets of understanding framework. The credibility of the analysis was protected by use of the constant-comparative method, as well as coding and member checking. Analysis of the data revealed that participants understood the spirit of IDEA, but the level of understanding necessary to be able to apply IDEA concepts was dependent on participants’ specific job responsibilities. Furthermore, research indicated that educators’ personal college preparation experience failed to consistently provide an adequate foundation related to defining and applying IDEA concepts in learning environments for students with disabilities. Participants who possessed the most comprehensive understanding of IDEA were those who had familial ties to students with disabilities. Educators’ understanding of the proper application of IDEA came from on-the-job experiences, which would help to explain why understanding of IDEA was largely dependent upon educators’ specific job functions.

The main key to any innovation is the idea management process which is also known as the front-end phase of the innovation. An idea management is a systematic process of searching, collecting, developing and implementing of ideas. This study focuses on idea management process within the energy sector of Sweden, as there is no well-defined process within the area that captures the voice of the employee. The solution is present in the form of newly designed process that takes into consideration the voice of the employees, technology for supporting and delivering the shared responsibilities. The main purpose of this study is that the energy sector of Sweden is being less explored that leaves out the sector from adapting to the idea management process. This sector lacks in considering the different tools, techniques and methods to be used that will help in searching, capturing, evaluating and selecting ideas. In order to explore the energy sector within Sweden a single case study on business unit Vattenfall heat, Uppsala, a Swedish multinational national energy company has been selected. To reach the bottom line of exploration ten semi-structured interviews were used to collect data and were grounded using “Gioia methodology”. The grounded theory model designed can be used by energy sector to design an idea management process for idea capturing, idea screening, idea selecting an idea implementing. The outcomes were recorded to be four main aggregate dimensions in designing the idea management process for the energy sector of Sweden. It was discovered that the four-aggregate dimension “people”, “process” and “workspace culture” are interconnected and to manage the overall process there is a requirement of strong “policy”. Considering these outcomes as main important drivers a new design is created which streamlines for searching, capturing, evaluation and implementing of ideas for the energy sector of Sweden. This study can further be elaborated and can be an important source of information for an organization willing to have a digital platform for the idea management process. The study can also be used in creating a central platform involving the different actors into an idea management process.

The purpose of this study has been to investigate if and how the Swedish Moderate party´s views and ideas regarding nuclear energy, within the energy production has changed in the timeframe of 2010 - 2021. This has been investigated through an idea analysis.The study's research question was asked as follows: Have the Swedish Moderate party´s views and ideas regarding nuclear energy within energy production changed within the timeframe 2010 - 2021? And if that is the case, how have the views and ideas changed?The material that this study used to maintain its purpose contained motions from the Swedish Moderate party within the time frame 2010 - 2021. The motions involved nuclear energy.The conclusion of this study is that the Swedish Moderate party has changed its views and ideas concerning energy politics focusing on nuclear energy. The changes are marginal. However, the Energiöverenskommelsen is an anomaly regarding this case. Energiöverenskommelsen does not match the views and ideas presented by the Swedish Moderate party within the study´s timeframe.

Special education has evolved into a dominant area of education since first brought to the forefront. The reauthorization of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act updated and addressed many issues, including parental issues. Initially parents had to fight to be heard when addressing the needs and concerns of their child. Now parents are considered a crucial part of the special education process. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the thoughts and experiences of parents of children with disabilities related to the initial special education placement and the ongoing communication between parents and school professionals. Data were collected through interviews with 20 parents of children with disabilities in their initial years of service from a rural county in East Tennessee. Interviews were conducted mainly in parents' homes. Data were identified using interpretative analysis. Descriptive information about participants and their initial reactions were recorded in a journal. From the findings the researcher concluded parents whose children were identified from birth to school age knew much more information about their child's disabilities; however, parents with children identified with disabilities after entering school needed a great deal more information than was provided, such as specifics on the child's disability and the process of special education implementation of the IEP. Most parents who addressed concerns to school professionals had positive outcomes, although there were communication breakdowns and conflicts before resolutions were reached. The majority of parents stated they were as actively involved in their child's school experience as they were initially; however, a few parents stated they were more involved because of conflict situations. Parents agreed that communication had increased with school professionals but more frequent and clearer communication was needed.

This research uses an adaptation of Dorothy L. Sayers's 3-step theory of creativity to analyze the self-described creation process of contemporary storyteller Jay O'Callahan. Sayers wrote that Idea, Energy, and Power are foundational elements of the creative process. Idea is the invisible image that provides vision and unity throughout a project. The Energy is the working out of art into a medium. The Power is the connective force that binds artist to art and both to audience. (Sayers, 1987). This hermeneutical study develops subcategories within each of those 3 primary elements of creativity, then uses qualitative methods to explore connectivity to the creation process of O'Callahan. It was concluded that a high levels of correlation can be drawn between the Idea, Energy, Power model and O'Callahan's methods of story construction and delivery.

Research has confirmed that the behaviors of human beings are influenced by their social environments. The school is the principal social environment of adolescents; thus, the school environment necessarily influences the behaviors of students to some degree. This research project used the interview method to focus on perceptions of school personnel with regard to the elements of school culture that may negatively influence students' behaviors both inside and outside the school environment. The primary influences of school culture on students' behaviors were found to be peers, teachers, administrators, and parent involvlement. Governmental regulations, including those resulting from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, were found to be an indirect and sometimes negative influence on the long-term behaviors of students and their ability to function in the world. This study resulted in the discovery that teachers, administrators, and other school personnel perceive that school culture, over time, has become more tolerant of inappropriate and even aggressive acts by some students while, at the same time, the culture successfully supports the implementation of problem-solving techniques and positive behavior supports for most students. The conclusions reached in the study indicate that school culture and its relation to student behaviors must be carefully examined and that, if further research confirms the findings of this study, action should be taken to effect change. Those changes should include the expansion of efforts to provide equitable and respectful treatment and opportunities for students of all socioeconomic backgrounds as well as lobbying for changes in federal and state regulations, such as some provisions of the IDEA, that have promoted a lack of student accountability for behaviors.

Att snabbt kunna anpassa sig till förändringar inom teknik, marknad, och kunders krav harblivit en allt mer viktig egenskap hos företag. Idag rör sig samhället oerhört fort. Digitalisering,Internet of Things, maskininlärning, Artificiell Intelligens, och blockchain är bara några exempelpå tekniker som förändrar beteenden, hur värde skapas och hur företag arbetar. Trots detta ärföretag på många sätt fortfarande inte organisatoriskt anpassade för att snabbt kunna förändras.Innovationsförmåga är en av grundpelarna för att långsiktigt kunna vara konkurrenskraftiga.All innovation börjar någonstans som en enkel idé, och således är idéhanteringsförmågaen kritisk egenskap för företag. Det är dock vanligt att lönsamma idéer implementeras trotsmånga organisatoriska hinder, inte tack vare dem. Ineffektiva och långa processer, osystematiskoch inkonsekvent utvärdering, resurs- och tidsbrist är bara några exempel på hinder som idéermåste ta sig förbi. Det finns flera lösningar för detta, men då mycket forskning har fokuserat påproduktföretag, är lösningarna också anpassade med dem i åtanke. Tjänsteföretag, och specielltdigitala tjänster har ökat dramatiskt i värde de senaste decennierna och det är därför intressantatt se vilka specifika utmaningar inom idéhantering sådana företag står inför. Det finnsflera viktiga skillnader mellan produkt- och tjänsteföretag som också påverkar utformandet avidéhanteringssystem, till exempel att tjänsteföretag tenderar att ha en större närhet till sinakunder, och att de ofta saknar en formell R&D-avdelning, eller motsvarande.Syftet med detta examensarbete har därför varit att undersöka vilka faktorer som påverkaridéhanteringsförmågan i digitala tjänsteföretag. För att assistera i att utvärdera och förbättraidéhanteringsprocessen är även mätning och uppföljning av detta mycket viktigt. Därför hararbetet också ämnat att identifiera vilka faktorer som behöver tas i beaktning vid utformandetav mätsystem kopplade till idéhantering.Studien har genomförts på Thomas Cook Northern Europe, ett internationellt charter- ochresebolag. Företaget har upplevt att de haft en kreativ arbetsmiljö, men har identifierat problemmed hur idéer hanteras. Studien samlade in kvalitativ data från 23 respondenter viasemi-strukturerade intervjuer. Denna data analyserades och resulterade i ett ramverk med 5utmaningar för idéhantering, som är uppdelade i 23 delutmaningar med avseende på insamling,förbättring, samt utvärdering av idéer. Även 12 faktorer som mätsystem för idéhanteringsförmågabehöver ta i beaktning identifierades. Med hjälp av dessa utmaningar och faktorer kandigitala tjänsteföretag utforma idéhanteringssystem samt kopplade mätsystem. / Being able to quickly adapt to changes within technology, markets, and customer needs havebecome an increasingly important ability for companies. Today’s society is moving extremelyfast. Digitalization, Internet of Things, machine learning, Artificial Intelleigence, and blockchainare just a few examples of technologies that change behaviours, how value is created, and howcompanies work. Despite these trends, companies are still struggling to adapt organizationalstructures that can deal with quick changes.Innovation capability is one of the pillars for creating long term competitive advantage. Allinnovation begins with an idea, and innovation capability is therefore a critical capability forcompanies. It is however common that valuable ideas are implemented despite many organizationalobstacles, not because of them. Ineffective and long processes, unsystematic and inconsistentevaluation, scarcity of time and resources are just a few examples of obstacles ideas must overcome.There are several solutions for these problems, but since much research is focused onproduct developing companies, the solutions are designed with those in mind. Service companies,and especially digital services, has increased drastically in value during the last decades.It’s therefore interesting to see which specific challenges within idea management these types ofcompanies face. There are several important differences between product and service companieswhich also impacts the design of idea management systems.The aim of this master’s thesis has therefore been to examine which factors that affectidea management in digital service companies. To assist in evaluating and improving the ideamanagement process, measurement and follow up is also very important. Hence, this thesis hasalso aimed to identify which factors should be considered in the design of measurement systemsassociated with idea management.The study has been performed at Thomas Cook Northern Europe, an international charterand travel company. The company has a creative working environment, but have identified problemswith how ideas are managed. The study collected qualitative data from 23 respondentsthrough semi-structured interviews. The data was analyzed and resulted in a framework with 5challenges related to idea management, divided into 23 sub-challenges based on the collection,improvement, and evaluation of ideas. Additionally, 12 factors that measurement systems foridea management capability need to consider have been identified. With the help of these challengesand factors digital service companies can develop idea management systems and coupledmeasurement systems.

Innovation outside the company’s core business is essential for any company in a fast-changing environment. Companies that want to engage in strategic innovation in order to embrace emerging opportunities need ways of managing the innovation process. There is currently limited research on how to select among and evaluate innovation proposals for emerging opportunities in the context of intrapreneurship. This master thesis investigates how an incumbent high-tech company that promote intrapreneurship uses criteria in the selection process of innovation proposals. The study conducts an embedded single-case study of the case company, referred to as Company A, by collecting qualitative data through archival documents and 19 semi-structured interviews. The study uses Christensen’s theory of disruptive innovation to analyse the results. Findings show that an incumbent high-tech company uses a set of criteria that is a mix of the previous findings in the context of new product development and external investors. The criteria utilized in the selection process are within the dimensions market and value, product and technology, operations and financials, corporate alignment, and team. The conducted interviews exposed that personal considerations constitute additional informal criteria for the evaluators, and much emphasis is put on the intrapreneur’s characteristics and presentation. Findings from the interviews suggest that criteria should be utilized less strict in the beginning of the process, which is supported by previous researchers. Criteria also contribute with transparency to the innovation process and can be used as guidelines for the innovator. Christensen’s theory contradicts the use of the criteria market size, corporate alignment and to validate the innovation with a customer because of the nature of emerging markets and technologies. / Innovation utanför företagets kärnverksamhet är viktigt för alla företag på en snabbt föränderlig marknad. Företag som vill satsa på strategisk innovation för att kunna ta tillvara på nya möjligheter behöver metoder för att kunna hantera innovationsprocessen. Detta examensarbete undersöker hur ett etablerat högteknologiskt företag som främjar intraprenörskap använder kriterier i urvalsprocessen att välja mellan olika innovationsförslag. Studien genomför en fallstudie genom att studera ett bolag, benämnt företag A, och samlar in kvalitativa data genom arkivdokument och 19 semistrukturerade intervjuer. Studien använder Christensens teori om disruptiv innovation för att analysera resultaten. Resultaten visar att det studerade högteknologiska företaget använder ett antal kriterier som stöds av tidigare forskares resultat inom området produktutveckling och externa investerare. Kriterierna som identifieras i studien är inom dimensionerna marknad och värdeskapande, produkt och teknik, företagsverksamhet och ekonomi, hur väl innovationen passar företaget och team. Intervjuerna avslöjade att personliga överväganden utgör ytterligare informella kriterier för de som utvärderar, som lägger stor vikt på intraprenörens egenskaper och presentation. Resultaten tyder på att kriterierna bör användas mindre strikt i början av processen, vilket stöds av tidigare forskning. Kriterier bidrar också till insyn i innovationsprocessen och kan användas som riktlinjer för innovatören. Christensens teori stödjer inte användningen av kriterierna marknadsstorlek, hur väl innovationen passar företaget och att verifiera innovationen med en kund på grund av osäkerhet kring framväxande marknader och nya teknologier.

In this dissertation I argue that properly situating Van Rensselaer Potter's bioethics makes it newly available to those seeking an alternative conceptual framework for global bioethics discourse. Locating Potter in the heretofore unappreciated context of the land-grant college ideology (evinced by those institutions established by the 1862 federal Morrill Act with a charge to democratize higher education and apply knowledge in the best interests of the public) and the Wisconsin Idea (a still–extant Progressive – era policy of applying university research to social legislation) not only illuminates its distinctive features but renders transparent its previously opaque epistemic culture. I outline how American bioethics as it is commonly understood took form at Georgetown University in the early 1970s with a mandate to consider the impact of new medical technologies on society, particularly in relation to reproductive and human fetal tissue research. This work yielded a vision that became known as principlism, the now-dominant form of Western bioethical discourse. I look at the various criticisms of principlism, as well as the inability of its critics to discard the principles framework. I then contrast principlism with the distinctly different understanding of bioethics that was offered in 1970 by Van Rensselaer Potter when he coined the word "bioethics." I discuss how, when Potter first began to speak of bioethics, he envisioned a "bridge to the future, " a union of science and the humanities that would foster cross–disciplinary thinking in anticipation of, and in the hope of averting, a worsening ecological crisis and its resultant negative impact on human health and well–being. The response to threats posed by technology — "dangerous knowledge" — was not to limit knowledge, but to respond with more knowledge, with the kind of contextual and moral vision that only transdisciplinary knowledge could provide. While Potter originally envisioned this work as a specific obligation of scientists, he gradually came to understand it as a social activity, a shift in communal perceptions and obligations. Finally, I suggest that Potter's bioethics has tremendous potential for redeeming bioethics and offers an alternative vision that is truly redemptive.