Background: Depression is a major health concern and self-management of depressive symptoms using patient-initiated strategies has the potential to reduce the burden of this condition. A better understanding of behaviour change related to these patient-initiated strategies is needed. Method: This randomized controlled trial study used an online survey and Knowledge Translation and Transfer theory-based educational intervention to examine the Theory of Planned Behavior model in the context of nine patient-initiated strategies for the self-management of depression and low mood. Results: Perceived Behavioural Control was identified as the single greatest predictor of Intentions to engage in strategies. Attitudes predicted Intentions to a lesser degree. Subjective Norms were not identified as unique predictors. Theory of Planned Behavior antecedent variables together explained over one third of the variance in Intentions. Intentions to engage in patient-initiated strategies were shown, in some cases, to significantly predict actual engagement in strategies. Level of depressive symptoms did not meaningfully impact any of the antecedent variables or Intentions. Results also suggest that an educational intervention based on Knowledge Translation and Knowledge Transfer principles significantly improved both Attitudes and Subjective Norms – Physician towards patient-initiated strategies. Perceived Behavioural Control and Intentions were not improved as a result of the educational intervention. Theoretical Conclusions: Findings suggest that the Theory of Planned Behavior functions well in the context of patient-initiated strategies for depression and low mood. Perceived Behavioural Control was identified as the greatest predictor of Intentions to engage in patient-initiated strategies. Results also suggest mood difficulties are not captured by the model’s antecedent variables but instead should be included as an additional variable in this model. The findings of the current study support an integrated model of Knowledge Translation and Transfer and Theory of Planned Behavior. Practical Conclusions: The current study’s findings provide a better understanding of behaviour change in the context of patient-initiated strategies and will help guide interventions aimed at improving engagement in these behaviours. Findings also provide support and recommendations for the use of Knowledge Translation and Transfer theory-based educational interventions to improve self-management of depression and low mood.

Knowledge management is a major concern for organizations today, and in spite of investments in technology, knowledge transfer remains problematic. This study sought to determine whether a relationship exists among participant group demographics (experience), implementation of an integrated knowledge transfer system (best practices model), knowledge transfer barriers, and knowledge transfer project (Web-based training) outcome in a virtual organization. The participant organization was a network of individuals and groups who practice patient advocacy in the research and treatment of cancer. These advocates volunteer in various capacities and are not collocated nor do they report to any single organizational entity. Volunteer participants were randomly assigned to a treatment or control condition. The treatment participants received a training supplement based upon a best practices knowledge transfer model. All participants reviewed a Web-based communications training module scheduled for deployment by the participant organization. Upon completion of the training program, participants were instructed to practice specific techniques from the program. At the end of this period, participants completed an online survey that measured demographics, perceived barriers to the knowledge transfer, and project outcome. Knowledge transfer barriers were defined as knowledge, source, recipient, and organizational context characteristics that inhibit the expected transfer. Project outcome was a composite score of items measuring completion time, budget, and satisfaction of the user. Multiple regression identified two significant predictor variables, source (the training program and implementation) and experience (amount of time spent in advocacy practice). Additional analyses found knowledge (causal ambiguity and unproven knowledge) and the experimental treatment condition to show a strong relationship with the explained variance of the dependent variable, knowledge transfer project outcome. Results suggest that an online training implementation is a valid tool for certain specific transfer design characteristics. Experience was a negative predictor of outcome, suggesting that participant-specific level of training material may produce improved outcome. Furthermore, knowledge in the form of evidence that the material is useful as well as explanation of the cause and effect linkage is a factor in a more successful transfer. Finally, the application of a knowledge transfer system designed around organization-specific variables shows promise as a factor in enhanced knowledge transfer in Web-based training in virtual organizations. Further research is suggested to provide additional insight into the predictive value of these variables.

Purpose - The purpose of this thesis is to explore aspects that affect inter-organizational knowledge transfer (KT), at the organizational level, from different sized companies such as small and medium enterprise (SME) and large or multinational company (LC/MNC), separately, to their partners.Design/methodology/approach - This thesis conducted a qualitative study with a deductive approach, using two companies in Sweden that belong to the hospitality industry and health sector, one SME, and one LC/MNC in order to explore the aspects that affect inter-organizational knowledge transfer by applying a theoretical framework based on existing literature. Thus, the thesis adopts an exploratory case study approach as a research strategy, to which the theoretical framework is applied to. Findings – The theoretical framework regarding SMEs and LC/MNCs engaging in inter-organizationalKT with partners found that the following aspects are affected differently in the companies: (1) Howformal and informal Knowledge governance mechanisms are applied in the different sized firms (e.g.,LC/MNC aim to reduce cost and improve profitability with formal, while SMEs focus on growth andexpansion with informal) (2) Formal trust agreements are used to establish Trust with partners for bothsized firms (e.g., by None-disclosure agreements), (3) In Cultural distance, SMEs focus onunderstanding the decision-making process and motivation of their international partners, (4)Geographical distance/proximity is prevalent to establish trust-based relationship between partners, (5)In Disseminative capacity SMEs as a source feel less motivated to exchange knowledge with differentpartners, e.g., a LC/MNC due to their rigid processes and inflexibility , (6) The LC/MNC prefer formalSocial ties with partners, while SMEs prefer informal ones, however the SME often ends up adaptingto their larger partners preferences, (7) Both the SME and LC/MNC attempt to establish Motivation viathe job deception for the employees and the employees were motivated by this rather than being offeringintrinsic or extrinsic motivation, (8) The SME’s Absorptive capacity as a recipient of knowledge, limitsthe KT due to their organizational limitations and (9) The perspective of LC/MNC regarding Knowledgecharacteristics, when the maturity level and experience of the partner organization (e.g., a SME) isdeemed low, this affects the KT negatively as it increases ambiguity and tacitness of the knowledge,while complexity was found to be of low concern due to the smaller organizational needs. Managerial implications - This thesis brings practical implications to senior managers of companies at the strategic level. First, the findings provide an understanding of aspects that affect inter-organizational knowledge transfer where one organization can prioritize aspects that belong to different sized partners and shape accordingly a strategy on collaboration and interaction with external partners of different sizes. Therefore, when top managers are aware of aspects that affect knowledge exchange between partners, they can identify various risks of success and failure in KT processes according to the list provided and prioritize actions and opportunities that can arise due to engagement in that partnership: cultural, geographical, motivation, partner’s capabilities, ambiguity, complexity, etc. Secondly, to draw a holistic snapshot of various aspects in the findings that affect KT activities from the inter-organizational perspective for different firm sizes in terms of similarities and differences of KT activities for LC/MNCs and SMEs, managers can establish specific strategies to analyze their own knowledge transfer activities to adjust accordingly when participate in inter-organizational knowledge transfer with partners depending on the size. Originality/value - This research adds value to inter-organizational KT aspects for SMEs and LC/MNCs in terms of differences and similarities, in the sense of how KT aspects affect the different organizations, as the aspects are prioritized, impacted, and treated differently based on the size of the organization. Thus, this thesis integrates aspects that affect inter-organizational KT from different bodies of the literature and demonstrate theoretically and empirically the perspective of different company size(LC/MNC and SME). Keywords - Knowledge transfer, Inter-organizational, Organizational level, LC/MNC, Large company, Multinational company, SME, Small and medium enterprise.Paper – Master thesis.

The fashion industry is not only known for its creativity and innovation, but also for its contribution to environmental pollution, climate change as well as for social imbalances and poverty. Ecological and societal standards have so far only played a minor role in this industry for production and distribution as well as for consumers for their consumption and disposal behaviour. However, in order to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals and prevent the maximum damage caused by pollution and exploitation, it is necessary to act more rapidly and consistently. Governmental control instruments can help to address those responsible, to regulate the market and to encourage improvements towards a more sustainable economy. The aim of this work is to develop a feasible governmental control instrument for the textile sector in order to provide possible solutions for some of the existing problems. Three different cases of already implemented policies in the food sector will be analysed and evaluated in order to detect the best-case policy with regard to sustainability as a basis for a derivation. The findings of the derived outcome will then be examined by experts in order to validate it. Finally, a recommendation summarises the findings of the literature review, the transfer of knowledge as well as the expert assessments. The result of this research paper is a control instrument derived from the food industry, which was evaluated with the help of expert interviews and has the potential to make the textile market more sustainable in the long term.

Mit dem Thema Innovationen beschätftigen sich in heutiger Zeit nicht nur Unternehmen. Diese Problematik spielt auch für den wirtschaftlichen Erfolg ganzer Regionen eine wichtige Rolle. Die mit Innovationen verbundenen Aspekte werden deshalb sowohl von der Wirtschaft als auch seitens der Wissenschaft mit großem Interesse verfolgt. Die Publikation präsentiert die grundlegenden Ergebnisse des Ziel3-Projekts „INPOK – Innovationspotenzial als Faktor zur Erhöhung der Konkurrenzfähigkeit des sächsisch--böhmischen Grenzraums“. Der Forschungsansatz der beiden Projektpartner, die Jan Evangelista Purkyně Universität in Ústí nad Labem sowie die Technische Universität Dresden basiert auf qualitativen und quantitativen Untersuchungsmethoden. Darüber hinaus wurden verschiedene Transferaktivitäten umgesetzt. Aus den vorgestellten Untersuchungsergebnissen können vor allem Vertreter/innen aus dem Bereich des Wissens- und Technologietransfers, d.h. aus innovationsorientierten Unternehmen, Forschungseinrichtungen, kommunalen Verwaltungen und intermediären Einrichtungen einen besonderen Nutzen ziehen. Nicht zuletzt wird ein Lösungsansatz präsentiert, um den grenzüberschreitenden Wissens- und Technologietranser im sächsisch-böhmischen Grenzraum zu steigern.:Vo r w o r t 7 Abbildungs- und Tabellenverzeichnis 9 Abkürzungsverzeichnis 14 Projektpartner und das Autor/innenteam 15 Einleitung 18 1. Region und Innovation 21 1.1 Theorien der Regionalentwicklung 23 1.2 Forschungskooperationen, ihre Akteure und Rahmenbedingungen in der Praxis 27 1.3 Forschungsleitende Hypothesen 32 1.3.1 Territorium und Potenzial 32 1.3.2 Akteure und Wissenstransfer 33 2. Das Unter suchungsgebiet und regional politische Strategien 35 2.1 Lage und administrative Gliederung 38 2.2 Bevölkerungsentwicklung und Siedlungsstruktur 41 2.2.1 Entwicklung auf nordböhmischer Seite 41 2.2.2 Entwicklung auf sächsischer Seite 42 2.3 Wirtschaftliche Situation aus innovationsorientierter Perspektive 44 2.4 Akteursgruppen im Innovationsprozess 47 2.4.1 Unternehmen 47 2.4.2 Forschungseinrichtungen 48 2.4.3 Intermediäre 48 2.5 Grenzüberschreitende Infrastrukturen 49 2.6 Modellregion Šluknovsko 51 2.7 Die Entwicklung von Innovationen aus der Perspektive verschiedener Entscheidungsebenen 55 2.7.1 Europäische Ebene 55 2.7.2 Nationale Ebene 57 2.7.3 Grenzüberschreitende Verbindungen und internationaler Vergleich 61 3. Methodisches Vorgehen 63 3.1 Empirische Untersuchung 66 3.1.1 Unternehmen 67 3.1.2 Forschungs- und Entwicklungseinrichtungen 68 3.1.3 Kommunale Verwaltung (Gemeinden) 70 3.1.4 Intermediäre 70 3.2 Erprobung von Transferformaten 71 3.2.1 Innovationsbörse 71 3.2.2 Besuchsprogramm 71 3.2.3 Gruppendiskussion 72 4. Empirische Ergebnisse 73 4.1 Quantitative Untersuchungsergebnisse 75 4.1.1 Ergebnisse der Befragung von Unternehmen 75 4.1.2 Ergebnisse der Befragung von Forschungs- und Entwicklungseinrichtungen 107 4.1.3 Ergebnisse der Befragung kommunaler Verwaltungen und intermediärer Einrichtungen 127 4.2 Qualitative Untersuchungsergebnisse 150 4.2.1 Förderliche Elemente für Forschungs kooperationen 150 4.2.2 Hinderliche Elemente für Forschungs kooperationen 152 4.2.3 Grenzüberschreitende Forschungs kooperationen – IST-Stand 152 4.2.4 Grenzüberschreitende Forschungskoopera tionen – Verbesserungsansätze 153 4.2.5 Fazit der qualitativen Studie 154 4.3 Ergebnisse der Erprobung von Transferformaten 154 4.3.1 Innovationsbörsen 154 4.3.2 Besuchsprogramm 156 4.3.3 Gruppendiskussionen 157 5. Fazit 159 5.1 Hypothesenüberprüfung 161 5.2 Schlussfolgerungen und Handlungsansätze 163 5.2.1 Organisationsinterne Faktoren 164 5.2.2 Organisationsexterne Faktoren 166 5.3 Lösungsvision – ein grenzüberschreitendes Innovationsnetzwerk 178 Resümee 182 Resumé 191 Resume 202 Literatur 213 Anlagen 218

Knowledge is very important when working within an organization, partly knowledge of its tasks but also knowledge of the organization and how it works. In order for the knowledge to be retained within the company, a functioning knowledge transfer between employees and new employees is required. This can also be done by digitalization of processes and routines. In this study, we investigate whether knowledge transfer within IT departments can be made more efficient and, if so, how.     During this study, we have collaborated with the pension company Alecta and their IT department. We did an interview with the chief architect at Alecta and a survey that employees in the IT department responded to. The reason for this was to collect both qualitative and quantitative data to gain a deep and broad understanding of the knowledge transfer at the company. This type of study is called triangulation, which is an application and combination of several research strategies in the same study.    The results of this study showed that it is possible to make knowledge transfer more efficient. What we could see from the result was that physical dialogues when you need help and misinterpretation of concepts created an inefficiency in the knowledge transfer process. Based on the interview and the survey, we could see a connection where the human factor is most important when it comes to the efficiency of knowledge transfer. On the other hand, the results also showed that digital means and tools can facilitate the processes within the knowledge transfer and thereby also make it more efficient. / Kunskap är väldigt viktigt när man arbetar inom en organisation, dels kunskap om sina arbetsuppgifter, dels kunskap om organisationen och hur den fungerar. För att kunskapen ska kunna behållas inom företaget krävs en fungerande kunskapsöverföring mellan medarbetare och nyanställda. Detta kan även göras genom digitalisering av processer och rutiner. Vi undersöker i denna uppsats om kunskapsöverföring inom IT-avdelningar kan effektiviseras och i så fall hur. Under detta arbete har vi samarbetat med pensionsbolaget Alecta och deras IT-avdelning.   I denna undersökning utförde vi en intervju med chefsarkitekten på Alecta samt en enkätundersökning som anställda på IT-avdelningen besvarade. Anledningen till detta var för att samla in både kvalitativ och kvantitativ data för att få en djup och bred förståelse om kunskapsöverföringen på företaget. Denna typ av studie kallas för triangulering vilket är en tillämpning och kombination av flera forskningsstrategier i samma studie.   Resultatet av denna undersökning visade att det går att effektivisera kunskapsöverföringen. Det vi kunde se var att fysiska dialoger när man behöver hjälp och misstolkning av begrepp skapade en ineffektivitet i kunskapsöverföringsprocessen. Utifrån intervjun och enkätundersökningen noterade vi ett samband där den mänskliga faktorn har störst betydelse när det gäller effektiviteten av kunskapsöverföringen. Däremot visade även resultatet att digitala medel och verktyg kan underlätta processerna inom kunskapsöverföringen och därigenom även effektivisera den.

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Ett flertal studier har under åren gjorts kopplade till ämnet erfarenhetsåterföring vilket belyserbetydelsen för ett sådan arbete i branschen. Företag besitter en mängd kunskaper ocherfarenheter som är viktiga att utnyttja för att förebygga återkommande kvalitetsbrister ochmisstag. Problemet är att bygg- och anläggningsarbeten är levande arbetsplatser därförutsättningar hela tiden förändras. Detta medför en problematik vad gäller tillvaratagande ochanvändning av erfarenheter i ett projekt som sedan kan användas i ett annat. Om etttillfredställande erfarenhetsåterföringsarbete tillämpas medför det kostnadsbesparingar ochföretaget ökar sin konkurrenskraft.Rapporten syftar till att undersöka hur ett anläggningsföretag arbetar med erfarenhetsåterföring.För att kunna frambringa förbättringsförslag krävs en uppfattning för vad som fungerar brarespektive mindre bra. Genom intervjuer med tjänstepersoner på företaget möjliggjordes enförståelse kring arbetet i dagsläget. Utöver det skickades en enkätundersökning ut för attkomplettera med ytterligare information. Vidare fortlöpte litteraturstudier under hela arbetetsgång.Undersökningen visar att erfarenhetsåterföring är något som företaget prioriterar högt, menfrämst av ledande roller. Vetskapen om outnyttjade erfarenheter som kan tas tillvara på finnsoch det är ett arbete vars betydelse behöver få större spridning. Arbetet är komplicerat ochtidskrävande men medarbetare visar intresse för ett sådant arbete så länge förutsättningar ges.För att erfarenhetsåterföring ska fungera krävs ett rutinmässigt arbete. Erfarenheter behöverdokumenteras oftare än vad som görs i dagsläget. Förutsättningar i form av tid är en nyckelfaktorför ett väl fungerande erfarenhetsåterföringssystem. Därutöver behöver alla erfarenheter lagrasi någon form av databas. Erfarenheterna i databasen behöver vara tydligt kategoriserad, ensökfunktion bör med fördel finnas som gör det enkelt att hitta information och databasen skavara tillgänglig för alla. / Over the years, several studies have been related to the subject of experience feedback, whichhighlights how important such work is in the industry. Companies possess a wealth ofknowledge and experience that is important to utilize which prevent recurring qualitydeficiencies and mistakes. The problem is that construction sites are workplaces whereconditions are constantly changing. This entails a problem in terms of utilization and use ofexperience in one project which can then be used in another. If satisfactory work with experiencefeedback is applied, it leads to cost savings and the company increases its competitiveness.This essay aims to study how a construction company works with experience feedback. Toproduce improvements, an idea of what works and what doesn't, is required. Through interviewswith employees at the company, an understanding of the current situation was made possible.In addition, a survey was sent to supplement with additional information. Furthermore, literaturestudies continued throughout the project.The survey shows that experience feedback is something that the company gives high priorityto, but mainly by the senior management. The knowledge of unused experience that can beutilized exists and its significance needs to be more widely disseminated. The work iscomplicated and time-consuming, but if the right conditions are provided to the organization'semployees chances are they will show interest in such work.For experience feedback to operate, routine work is required. Experiences need to bedocumented more frequently than in the current situation. Conditions in the form of time are akey factor for a well-functioning experience feedback system. In addition, all experiences needto be stored in some form of database. The experiences in the database need to be clearlycategorized, there should be a search function that makes it easy to find information and thedatabase should be accessible to everyone.

Abstract  Title: Information Technology and the Timing of Knowledge Transfer Methods: A study within six organizations in Sweden  Level: Master Thesis for Master’s Degree in Business Administration Author: Anna Thorsell and Filip LarssonSupervisor: Daniella FjellströmExaminer: Ehsanul Huda Chowdhury  Date: 2021 June  Aim: It has been stated that knowledge transfer processes fail due to poorly timed transfer methods and that it is of importance to understand underlying mechanisms of transfer. It has also been argued that information technology (IT) systems can increase knowledge transfer in organizations. This study aims to research the influence IT has on the timing of transfer methods and knowledge transfer. The authors of this study discovered a gap for the use and timing of IT transfer methods and its influence on knowledge transfer within organizations in existing research.  Method: This study included the use of secondary data from a literature review, as well as primary data using a qualitative research method with an inductive approach as semi- structured in-depth interviews were conducted for a multi-case study. The interviews were held with individuals working in six organizations in Sweden. Phases of analysis including content analysis and data coding were used for the analysis and reporting of the data collected.  Findings and Conclusion: The study showed that IT provides platforms for knowledge transfer through different types of IT and IT transfer methods used. That the type of IT chosen can depend on the urgency of the transfer, what type of knowledge is transferred as well as the amount of knowledge transferred. That the timing of IT transfer methods I can speed up knowledge transfer as it enables the transfer to happen faster and in later stages of the transfer process due to providing direct knowledge transfer channels and accessible knowledge to all members of a team. It was shown that IT transfer methods can influence internal stickiness, decrease causal ambiguity and reduce the knowledge barrier of arduous relationships as well as influence the use of front-loading and back- loading modes of transfer. That the urgency of transfer can be a determining factor for the modes used rather than the level of causal ambiguity of the knowledge.  Contribution of the Study: This study contributes to studies on types of IT and IT transfer methods used in organizations for knowledge transfer. It adds to existing research on timing of knowledge transfer methods including both explicit and tacit knowledge, as well as adding the influence of IT on the timing of knowledge transfer methods, knowledge transfer, internal stickiness, knowledge barriers and affordance of interaction. It provides new findings to the timing of knowledge transfer from the timing of types of IT and IT transfer methods used based on the urgency of transfer and what type of knowledge that is being transferred. The study contributes to highlighting the value of IT for the management of knowledge transfer within organizations, especially due to global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The study provides a basis for managers to examine their use of IT for knowledge transfer in organizations. It also showcases the continuous increased need for effective knowledge transfer processes between organizations, people and across locations and how IT can facilitate that.  Study Reflections and Suggestions for Future Research: This study included individuals from six organizations. It is suggested to include more participants for future studies as well as investigating teams, departments and organizations on narrow as well as on broader levels in different sectors to gain deeper insight into the field. Further research on how the urgency of transfer affects the modes of transfer used is also advised.  Keywords: Knowledge, Knowledge Transfer, Methods of Transfer, Timing, Modes of Transfer, Internal Stickiness, Information Technology, COVID-19

Over the past decades, globalisation dynamics have experienced a shift in regard to their driving economic sectors. At the beginning of the 21st century, the global economy will no longer be primarily driven by manufacturing companies but by companies in the service sector. Among them are large retail companies that, with their demand-driven supply chains, organise the global economy to a significant degree. The retail sector represents a particular case within internationalisation dynamics. With its special characteristics and logics it poses special challenges to internationally expanding companies. This is reflected in the facts that the intensive expansion phase of retail trade began relatively late compared to other sectors and that the sector’s level of internationalisation is still comparatively low. This paper focuses on two aspects of retail internationalisation that are underrepre-sented in research. (1) International expansion is by no means the final stage of international economic integration. Coe and Wrigley (2017) speak of a new era of globalised distribution, characterised by, among other things, the concentration of leading retailers on their strong foreign markets and the withdrawal of their operations from other countries. However, our understanding of these dynamics, their drivers, and their effects is inconsistent. This dissertation contributes to closing this gap and brings a new empirical perspective into the research literature by discussing the perspective of the market of inward for-eign direct investment (FDI). This is novel as, until now, research in this area has largely been based on the view of internationalizing companies’ Western home markets. In addition, this dissertation adds a new level of investigation through the exhaustive examination of a market (for the sub-sector of grocery retailing). (2) Beyond the import of financial capital, potential knowledge transfers into the local economy are an important argument for opening up to FDI. The extent to which the knowledge base of an economy is actually improved and upgrading processes of local companies are driven by the entry of a transnational company (TNC), seems to depend strongly on the degree of a TNC’s local embeddedness. This varies according to the sector and the corporate strategy. We know very little about knowledge transfer and up-grading in the context of internationalisation processes in the retail sector, as the discussion on cross-border knowledge transfer through FDI and the discussion on the internationalisation of the retail sector have so far largely been conducted separately. This dissertation contributes to the connection of these research strands. In this respect, it helps to correct the ‘production bias’, the strong orientation of the scientific discourse on knowledge transfer and upgrading towards the manufacturing, technology-intensive industry. The overall goal of the dissertation is to make an empirically derived contribution to research on retail internationalisation and its local effects in emerging markets from the perspective of relational economic geography. The dissertation addresses the dynamics, drivers, decision-making processes, and traces of FDI in the retail sector. In addition, it examines horizontal and vertical knowledge transfers and the upgrading processes of local suppliers of fresh food triggered by FDI. The study is based on the global production network-approach (Henderson et al. 2002), which conceptualises TNCs as networks whose subsidiaries are embedded in a particular context. The global value chain-approach (Gereffi et al. 2005) and the concept of up-grading, which is discussed in its context, are used as a framework for analysis. This approach is helpful to analyse the mobility of actors within a value chain toward a more advantageous position and the role of buyer companies in these developments. The dissertation combines the GVC research with the literature on (local) knowledge transfer. It uses the distinction between explicit and implicit knowledge developed by Polanyi (1958) to analyze the extent to which knowledge is transferred by FDI across national borders. Thus, the dissertation contributes to the link between GVC/GPN research and research on international knowledge transfer/the local acquisition of skills, which has been largely lacking. The dissertation uses the regional example of Turkey. The country stands as an example for the group of emerging countries. Due to dynamic economic development and significant FDI inflows, it represents a suitable and interesting case in the context of this thesis’s research interest. To gain a deeper understanding of the internationalisation dynamics of the retail sector, including their drivers and effects on local economic development, the study follows a qualitative research approach. The analyses are based on data collected in guideline-based, qualitative interviews. A total of 71 semi-structured interviews were conducted in Turkey between summer 2015 and spring 2016. Among the interviewees are 32 managers of transnational and local food retailers, 28 managers of supplier companies of fresh fruit and vegetables, and 10 experts of the retail and agricultural sector in Turkey. The study shows current dynamics and drivers of the retail sector’s internationalisation processes. At the beginning of the new millennium, the investment trend in Turkey reversed and foreign divestments (FD) started to dominate the sector. In the meantime, all transnational food retailers have divested from the market. This development illus-trates the dynamics of the new era of retail distribution to an extent not previously described. The actors in the (former) host market emphasise the defensive character of this FD. They see the operational challenges and the inability or unwillingness of the TNC to adjust to the market as reasons for the failures in the foreign market. This assessment contradicts the statements of the management in the TNC's home markets and partly also the scientific literature, which is mainly based on interviews with these actors. They emphasise the offensive character of FD. By bringing together the perspec-tives of the host- and the home market a holistic picture of the decision-making process behind FD emerges. It shows that the divestment decision is not only the reversal of an expansion decision, but follows its own logic (see Figure 8 on page 72). The dissertation demonstrates that foreign retailers import company-specific re-sources from their corporate networks into the host market and thus influence the development of the local retail sector. Comparing the results of this work on the channels of horizontal knowledge transfer with the results of the literature subject to a produc-tion bias, it becomes clear that demonstration and imitation effects are of particular importance due to the high visibility of retail practices. However, despite the compara-tively low-tech nature of retail, transfer processes go far beyond demonstration and imitation. All transfer channels discussed in the literature on the manufacturing sector are relevant to retail. The transfer of implicit knowledge takes place in particular through joint ventures/acquisitions and the fluctuation of personnel. The study further reveals vertical knowledge transfers from foreign retailers to local suppliers of fresh fruit and vegetables and shows that TNCs proactively shape the de-velopment of their suppliers in the host market. Motivated by an initial lack of adequate suppliers, transnational retailers are proving to be an important driver for the moderni-sation of this supplying industry. The deep (purchasing) network embeddedness of re-tail favours knowledge transfer through backward integration. In order to remain a permanent part of the modernizing supplier network, suppliers must vertically inte-grate functions up and down the value chain, including agricultural production. This is driven forward by retailers through direct involvement and through the targeted selection of suppliers. After TNCs withdraw their capital from the host market, the knowledge of the subsidiaries, in former employees and incorporated in established practices, remains in the host market. The dissertation shows that local companies that take over the TNCs’ subsidiaries use this knowledge in different ways. The successful among them develop hybrid business strategies. They use the TNCs' company-specific knowledge, in particular purchasing practices. But they also bring their local resources into the company which is particularly expressed in a deep sales-side network embeddedness and speed in decision-making processes. The dissertation makes conceptual contributions at various levels. First, it illustrates the broad spectrum from localisation to internationalisation within which the processes summarised under the term globalisation are classified. Localisation processes seem to overlap with internationalisation processes, especially when internationalisation is driven by market seeking motives, which are often central in the service sector. The dis-sertation further expands the research literature by linking the literature on retail internationalisation with the literature on local knowledge transfer in the context of FDI. It thereby contributes to a better understanding of the role of TNCs in the dissemination of knowledge in global networks or chains and the formation of local capabilities. Detached from the transnational and sectoral context, the study establishes causal links between FDI and local effects by providing insights into mechanisms of knowledge transfer that remain hidden in quantitative research. The work moreover contributes to the literature on upgrading in GVCs by refining the upgrading concept for the specific context of the agri-food sector. The results of the dissertation are of applied relevance for both actors from emerging countries receiving FDI and for managers of transnational retail companies. One of the most important findings for actors from FDI-receiving economies is that FDI in the re-tail sector can also be a constructive force. A certain degree of target compatibility can create advantages for all parties involved. Local retailers can acquire knowledge from international retailers operating in the country. The dissertation shows retail managers how they can make use of this possibility. It also shows managers of local suppliers of fresh food how they can take advantage of upgrading opportunities through cooperation with foreign retailers and how they can secure themselves a place in the supply network in the long term. The dissertation further provides orientation for managers of transnational retailers in their entry into foreign markets. It gives insights into how to actively embed in the host country in the context of cross-border expansion and which factors should be taken into account when deciding on a FD.