An industry is constantly affected by its environment and the changes that occur within it. These environmental forces are the drivers of the industry’s evolution and throughout its life an industry undergoes irreversible transformations, which creates an industry life cycle. The competitive pressure on firms has increased the importance of developing competitive strategies throughout the industry’s life. This becomes especially important when the industry reaches the decline stage. There are different strategies that are suggested for firms to undertake in a declining industry. However, these strategies do not consider small and medium-sized enterprises, thus they might not be the most suitable for these firms to undertake. In addition, international activities have not been seen as a way to increase performance in a declining industry. The purpose of this study is therefore to fill this gap by investigating how small and medium-sized enterprises seek to increase their performance in a declining industry. To fulfil this purpose, we have conducted a qualitative case study of four SMEs currently operating in a declining industry. The empirical data was collected through interviews at each case company.The theoretical framework includes the theoretical concept of the industry life cycle, strategies specific for declining industries, theories regarding how firm chooses to compete, and different theories regarding international activities. The chapter ends with a theoretical synthesis that is developed from the theories presented earlier in the chapter. The empirical chapter presents the findings from the interviews with the case companies.In the analysis, the theoretical framework is connected to the empirical data, and is the basis for our conclusions. After conducting this study we can conclude that small and medium-sized enterprises seek to increase their performance by undertaking a niche strategy as their end-game strategy, compete with a differentiations strategy, and by a large scope of international markets, which enables them to shift their market focus from unbeneficial markets to more beneficial markets.

The purpose of this thesis is to investigate how Covid-19 affects international e-commerce firms. Covid-19 has been the source of changes in the international business environment across world from the beginning of year 2020. The effects on e-commerce firms are nearly unknown, therefore this research is unique. The aim of this study is to gain more knowledge on how international e-commerce firms are responding to the pandemic. By following a qualitative research method, the study will explore and conduct a deeper understanding on the e-commerce firms experience through a data collection. The literature review has been established, theories are mostly related to digital business environment and international value chain activities. The literature review has been summed up into a conceptual framework which illustrates the connections between the theories and Covid-19. Furthermore, the conceptual framework has been used to analyze the findings from the empirical data which was conducted in a multi-case study. The analysis chapter discusses similarities differences between the cases and connection to theory. Lastly, the conclusion chapter of this thesis concludes the findings and analysis, and it contains theoretical implications, recommendations, limitations and suggestions for future research.

SummaryBackground Prosthetic users face significant challenges both physically and psychologically. Falling poses a significant risk for the individual, and a consequence of this is gaining a fear of falling and self-imposed restrictions. These consequences can have a major impact on the individuals’ health and quality of life. However, the research in this area is limited.   Objectives  This study aims to investigate prosthetic users’ fear of falling and the circumstances surrounding falls among individuals with a lower-limb amputation in England and Sweden.   Method  In April 2022 a cross-sectional survey was conducted in England and Sweden. 11 participants were recruited. The survey was aimed at the population of lower-limb amputated individuals at the age of 18 or above in the two countries. The survey consists of 111 items with mostly closed-ended questions. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were used for the analysis of the data.       Results  The study showed that 8 (72.7%) out of 11 participants had not experienced a fall within the last 30 days and the most common frequency of falls was every six months (54,5%). 2 (18.2%) participants had a fall once every three months which was the highest frequency of falls reported in the survey. This is seen as low frequency, however, 7 (63,3%) out of 11 participants had a fear of falling. A correlation between Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I), Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC) and Gait-Specific Attentional Profile instruments (G-SAP) was performed using a Pearson’s product-moment correlation which showed there was a strong relationship between the three instruments. The correlation between the FES-I and G-SAP is 0,800, FES-I and ABC are -,853 and the correlation between ABC and G-SAP is -, 821.   Conclusion  A strong relationship was found between the Falls Efficacy Scale-International, Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale and the Gait-Specific Attentional Profile. Regardless of having fallen within the past 30 days, a high concern of fear of falling was found, and the most common reason for falls was uneven surfaces such as gardens. / Bakgrund Protesanvändare står inför många tuffa utmaningar dagligen, beroende på såväl fysiska som psykiska faktorer. Det finns en överhängande risk att ramla för individen, en konsekvens av detta är att drabbas av fallrädsla och sedermera individutvecklade hinder i vardagen. Dessa konsekvenser och hinder kan ha stor inverkan på individens hälsa och livskvalitet. Forskningen på detta område är dock begränsad.   Mål Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka protesanvändares rädsla för att ramla, samt omständigheterna kring varför man ramlar, hos individer med underbensamputation i England och Sverige.   Metod Under april 2022 genomfördes en tvärsnittsundersökning i England och Sverige. 11 deltagare rekryterades. Undersökningen riktade sig till individer i England och Sverige som genomgått amputation av nedre extremitet och var minst 18 år. Enkäten bestod av 111 frågor med till största delen slutna frågor. Beskrivande och inferentiella statistikmetoder användes för analys av data.   Resultat Studien visade att 8 st (72,7%) av de 11 deltagarna inte hade upplevt ett fall de senaste 30 dagarna och att den vanligaste fallfrekvensen var ett fall var sjätte månad (54,5%). Två (18,2%) deltagare angav fallolyckor en gång var tredje månad, vilket var den högsta fallfrekvensen som rapporterades i undersökningen. Detta ses som en låg frekvens, men 7 st (63,3%) av de 11 deltagarna upplevde en rädsla för att ramla. En korrelationsanalys mellan Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I), Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC) och Gait-Specific Attentional Profile (G-SAP) utfördes med hjälp av Pearsons produkt-moment korrelationskoefficient, som visade att det fanns ett starkt samband mellan de treinstrumenten. Korrelationen mellan FES-I och G-SAP var 0,800, mellan FES-I och ABC var det -,853 och mellan ABC och G-SAP var det -,821.   Slutsats Ett starkt samband hittades mellan Falls Efficacy Scale-International, Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale, och Gait-Specific Attentional Profile instrumenten. Oavsett om deltagarna hade ramlat under de senaste 30 dagarna, konstaterades en stor oro för att ramla, och den vanligaste fallorsaken var ojämna ytor såsom i trädgårdar.