The collaboration projects studied in this thesis originate from national experiments that took place from the late 1990s to the early 2000s. In those experiments, attempts were made to determine whether collaboration could, as part of the organization of the public sector, generate welfare gains for both the individual user and society as a whole. Other forms of political governance of public organizations were also tested in these experiments. Activities were very often carried out in the form of collaboration projects involving joint evaluation groups and through co-localization. The collaboration projects are about in which actors bring their different v rules, values and preconceptions, from their regular activities into a meeting with other activities with different boundaries in order to organize new boundaries. The purpose of the thesis is to achieve an understanding of why collaboration projects encounter difficulties in contributing to lasting integration between government organizations, and the importance of boundaries in the organizing of collaboration projects. The thesis is based on four articles. The first article elucidates the ways in which different boundaries are constructed when inter-organizational collaborations are being carried out. The second article develops a model for analyzing uncertainty factors in the interaction environment of the project. The third article addresses the problem of implementing, within the public sector, results from development projects in the home organization. The fourth article analyzes the ways in which collaboration projects can help to increase integration between government organizations. The results from the studies show that the collaboration projects do provide opportunities for trying out new forms of collaboration, but also that the actors in collaboration projects have to deal with multiple boundary-related problems. The construction of boundaries must, on the one hand, regulate the activities being carried out in the collaboration projects, in that the boundaries enable the actors to come together in a common activity. On the other hand, the boundaries in collaboration projects must be part of the home organizations’ activities and their boundary constructions. This leads to a complex spatial construction in which different boundaries entail different distinctions and regulations of the relationship to the outside world. In turn, this leads to problems involving the home organizations in the collaboration, resulting in the collaboration becoming confined to only the collaboration projects. / <p>För avläggande av filosofie doktorsexamen i företagsekonomi med vederbörligt tillstånd</p><p>av Handelshögskolans fakultetsnämnd vid Göteborgs Universitet framlägges för</p><p>offentligt granskning fredagen den 19 november 2010, kl. 13.15 i CG-salen vid företagsekonomiska institutionen, Vasagatan 1, Göteborg.</p>

The research applies the contextual context, content, and process (CCP) framework to explore the contextual and processual factors that are associated with implementing interorganisational collaborative arrangements in the public sector. Collaborative arrangements in the public sector are found to be complex, difficult to implement, and liable to failure when not fully explored and recognised. Background theory reveals the absence of a multilevel lens that can embrace the multifaceted nature of interorganisational collaborations, the multiple contextual levels, the process stages and micro-actions, and the interplay between the process and the context. By identifying the need to explore contextual and processual factors, the background theory informs the focal theory which proposes an extended CCP framework as a useful multilevel lens to elucidate the research problem. The framework is developed and validated through multidisciplinary literature synthesisation, the pilot stage, and the main fieldwork which applies qualitative methods based on multiple case studies from the public sector in Oman as data sources’ techniques. The originality of this study stemming from developing and validating a novel multilevel contextual framework. The emerged multifaceted CCP framework, used to explore contextual and processual factors when implementing collaborative arrangements in the public sector, is found to be an applicable, feasible, and useful analysis tool. It can help public policy-makers, public management, academics, change agents, and collaborating organisations in identifying the inhibitive, supportive prerequisites, and in general influencing contextual factors. It helps also in elucidating and minimising uncertainty about the nature and micro-actions of the processual stages.

<p>Syftet med föreliggande studie var att utvärdera participation i ett förändringsarbete inom hälso- och sjukvården, i ett projekt för kvalitetsutveckling och processorientering inom vårdkedjan i Höglandsområdet, Jönköpings läns landsting.</p><p>Den övergripande målsättningen med projektet var att utveckla ett processorienterat och därigenom mer helhetsorienterat vårdsystem, för att uppnå bättre kvalitet för äldre vårdtagare, som ofta har behov av behandling vid olika enheter i vårdkedjan.</p><p>Syftet med studien var också att utvärdera hur participation förhåller sig till ständigt förbättringsarbete och lärande i riktning mot en processorientering av vårdkedjan och ökat fokus på patienten.</p><p>Vårdinstanserna i vårdkedjan inom samtliga sex kommuner och primärvårdsområden i Höglandsregionen, såväl som en medicinklinik och en rehabiliteringsklinik vid två olika sjukhus, har medverkat i studien. 55 personer, som representerade de olika yrkeskategorierna inom vårdkedjan, har deltgit i utvärderingen. Studien utfördes med hjälp av fokusgrupper och materialet analyserades ur ett fenomenografiskt perspektiv.</p><p>Resultaten visar att participation på alla nivåer i organisationen är en förutsättning för ett uthålligt kvalitetsutvecklingsarbete och en processorientering av vårdkedjan. Omfattningen av participationen avspeglas i omfattningen av ständigt förbättringsarbete och lärande.</p><p>Kritiska faktorer var ledningens förmåga att kommunicera med och informera de anställda, ledningens engagemang i fråga om att driva ett strukturerat och långsiktigt förändringsarbete, ett tydligt processägarskap inom vårdkedjan och adekvata resurser. Resultaten genererade åtskilliga intressanta frågor för fortsatt forskning och utveckling.</p>

Increasing population and rising incomes change food consumption patterns. The United Nations estimates that global food demand will double between 2010 and 2050 (Alexandratos & Bruinsma, 2012). As a result, many governments are promoting sustainable agriculture to increase their food production. The Swedish government aims to make agriculture in Sweden sustainable, resilient, competitive and attractive (Swedish National Food Strategy, 2017). This informs our choice of southern Sweden, the breadbasket of the country as the study area. Climate change, competition and concerns over the new Common Agricultural Policy are the main challenges of farmers in the region. Therefore, the purpose of the study is to investigate interorganisational collaborations from the perspectives of farmers in the region. We used exploratory approach to study collaborations among farmers and their partners where semi-structured interviews and observations were used to gather data. We adopted Creswell’s steps of data analysis. The study finds that many of the farmers have less knowledge of sustainability and sustainable agriculture. The study finds two main types of interorganisational collaborations existing between and among the farming companies and their partners - sustained dyadic collaborations and long-term collaborations. The study also finds the factors that enable and sustain collaborations in the sector. These factors are classified into enablers and sustainers. The enablers include climate change, legislation and regulations, globalisation, competency motivations, resource-related reasons, society-related reasons, partner reputation, expertise, quality and trustworthiness and capacity to deliver on promises, and the sustainers are trust building, transparency, good relationships and cooperation, shared vision, and good agronomic advice from partners. The study concludes that interorganisational collaborations between and among farming companies and their partners are driven largely by economic interests and climate change and therefore have little to do with sustainability.

Syftet med föreliggande studie var att utvärdera participation i ett förändringsarbete inom hälso- och sjukvården, i ett projekt för kvalitetsutveckling och processorientering inom vårdkedjan i Höglandsområdet, Jönköpings läns landsting. Den övergripande målsättningen med projektet var att utveckla ett processorienterat och därigenom mer helhetsorienterat vårdsystem, för att uppnå bättre kvalitet för äldre vårdtagare, som ofta har behov av behandling vid olika enheter i vårdkedjan. Syftet med studien var också att utvärdera hur participation förhåller sig till ständigt förbättringsarbete och lärande i riktning mot en processorientering av vårdkedjan och ökat fokus på patienten. Vårdinstanserna i vårdkedjan inom samtliga sex kommuner och primärvårdsområden i Höglandsregionen, såväl som en medicinklinik och en rehabiliteringsklinik vid två olika sjukhus, har medverkat i studien. 55 personer, som representerade de olika yrkeskategorierna inom vårdkedjan, har deltgit i utvärderingen. Studien utfördes med hjälp av fokusgrupper och materialet analyserades ur ett fenomenografiskt perspektiv. Resultaten visar att participation på alla nivåer i organisationen är en förutsättning för ett uthålligt kvalitetsutvecklingsarbete och en processorientering av vårdkedjan. Omfattningen av participationen avspeglas i omfattningen av ständigt förbättringsarbete och lärande. Kritiska faktorer var ledningens förmåga att kommunicera med och informera de anställda, ledningens engagemang i fråga om att driva ett strukturerat och långsiktigt förändringsarbete, ett tydligt processägarskap inom vårdkedjan och adekvata resurser. Resultaten genererade åtskilliga intressanta frågor för fortsatt forskning och utveckling.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The global wine market has faced varying challenges in the first decade of the 21st century; over production brought a power shift in favour of buyers which resulted in a decline in profit margins per bottle sold. The main gainer in these uncertain times has been the consumer. As more regions enhance their wine making skills and embrace superior technology, the wine quality has improved and competition intensified. The growing consumers' wine knowledge has altered quality expectations, placing an added pressure on new brands entering the market. The United States of America (USA, but hereafter referred to as US) remains a growing wine market, with a population size of 303 million people and an appetite for luxury goods and services it continues to be a popular export destination for other wine regions. The latter trend persist despite a cost of entry into the US market being regarded high as a result of the country's three tier system, which allows for further three segments of the value chain from the producer to add their mark-ups on an exported bottle of wine before it reaches the end consumer. The pricing system has proven to be insufficient a deterrent, particularly to the New World wine producers. Australia has remained the most successful producer of the New World wines in the export market for the past three decades; the same cannot be said for South Africa wine industry. While market and strategic orientation, industry plan and interorganisational collaboration are identified as key factors in the Australian success, the partnership between government bodies and wine industry bodies are credited for their unified approach to the US market. The South African government have programmes aimed at promoting the county's export of goods and services. The adequacy of such programmes remains in doubt, particularly in the eminent challenges in the global wine market. The study investigates the extent and nature of a partnership between government bodies and the South African wine industry with regard to effective promotion of the country's wines in the US market. A qualitative methodology is employed to ensure credibility and accuracy of the primary data. Five participants are selected for a discussion, including an exporting wine producer, wine cellars association, wine export council and two government agencies. The Vision 2020 strategy by the South African wine industry is reviewed, with the main focus on the US market and the role of the exporting country's government given the changing international trade regime. The study concludes that the US remains a critical market for South African wine producers despite the high cost of entry, global wine surplus and economic recession, and that success for the country's wines is partly dependent on a unified approach by the industry, attainable though partnerships with government agencies. While acknowledging the continuing government support, it makes recommendations on how to strengthen existing partnerships with regard to the US export market for South African wines. The study lacks generaliseability; however since it is meant to assist design effective export promotion programmes for South African wines in the US market, the absence of generaliseability is considered unproblematic. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die globale wynmark het in die eerste dekade van die 21ste eeu voor verskeie uitdagings te staan gekom. Dit sluit in oorproduksie wat tot 'n magskuif ten gunste van kopers gelei het en winsmarges per bottel wyn wat verkoop is laat daal het. Die grootste voordeeltrekker in hierdie onsekere tye is die verbruiker. Soos al meer streke hul wynproduksievaardighede versterk en die beste tegnologie benut, verbeter die gehalte van wyn en word mededinging strawwer. Soos verbruikers se kennis van wyn toeneem, verander hul verwagtinge ten opsigte van gehalte. Dit plaas bykomende druk op nuwe handelsmerke wat tot die mark toetree. Die wynmark in die Vereenigde State van Amerika (VSA) groei steeds. Met 'n bevolkingsgrootte van 303 miljoen mense en 'n aptyt vir luukse goedere en dienste bly die VSA 'n gewilde uitvoerbestemming vir ander wynstreke. Die tendens om wyn na die VSA uit te voer, bly sterk ondanks die hoë koste om tot die VSA-mark toe te tree. Dié hoë koste is die gevolg van die VSA se drie-vlak stelsel wat dit vir produsente moontlik maak om die waardeketting verder te segmenteer en hul prysverhoging by 'n bottel ingevoerde wyn te voeg voordat dit die eindverbruiker bereik. Hierdie prysbepalingstelsel blyk egter onvoldoende te wees as 'n afskrikmiddel, veral vir wynprodusente van die Nuwe Wêreld. Australië was die afgelope drie dekades die suksesvolste produsent van Nuwe Wêreld-wyne vir die uitvoermark. Dieselfde geld egter nie vir Suid-Afrika se wynbedryf nie. Hoewel strategiese en markoriëntasie, bedryfsplanne en interorganisatoriese samewerking as sleutelfaktore vir sukses in Australië geïdentifiseer is, kry die vennootskappe tussen dié land se regeringsliggame en wynbedryfsliggame die krediet vir hul verenigde benadering tot die VSA se mark. Die Suid-Afrikaanse regering het programme wat die land se uitvoer van goedere en dienste bevorder. Die gepastheid van sodanige programme bly onseker, veral in die lig van die groot uitdagings in die globale wynmark. Die studie ondersoek die omvang en aard van 'n vennootskap tussen regeringsliggame en die Suid-Afrikaanse wynbedryf ten opsigte van doeltreffende promosie van die land se wyne in die VSA-mark. 'n Kwalitatiewe metodologie word gebruik om die geloofwaardigheid en akkuraatheid van die primêre data te verseker. Vyf deelnemers is vir 'n bespreking gekies: 'n produsent wat wyn uitvoer, 'n wynkeldervereniging, wynuitvoerraad en twee regeringsliggame. Die Visie 2020-strategie deur die Suid-Afrikaanse wynbedryf word hersien en sterk klem word ook gelê op die VSA-mark en die rol van die uitvoerland se regering in die lig van die veranderende internasionale handelsregime. Die studie kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat die VSA 'n kritiese mark vir Suid-Afrikaanse wynprodusente bly ondanks die hoë koste van toetrede, die globale wynsurplus en die ekonomiese resessie, en dat sukses vir Suid-Afrika se wyn deels van 'n verenigde benadering tot die wynbedryf afhang wat deur vennootskappe met regeringsagentskappe moontlik gemaak kan word. Hoewel die verslag erkenning gee aan voortgesette regeringsondersteuning, word aanbevelings ook gedoen oor hoe om die bestaande vennootskappe ten opsigte van die VSA as uitvoermark vir Suid-Afrikaanse wyne te versterk. Hierdie studie het 'n gebrek aan veralgemeenbaarheid. Omdat dit egter daarop gerig is om doeltreffende promosieprogramme vir die uitvoer van Suid-Afrikaanse wyne na die VSA-mark te help ontwerp, word die afwesigheid van veralgemeenbaarheid as onbelangrik geag.