In recent years many studies have discussed how companies choose to manage business. Management control is an essential factor for companies in order to achieve the objective and result of the organization. Management control can be defined as control. Control instruments can be applied in business and can vary from company to company. Companies’ goals, governance and the way that the goals are achieved can vary. Therefore, it is important to apply a control instrument which works as a support for the company. Control instruments which are applied in a business must be able to have an impact on the company and individuals behavior. Budget, which is a control instrument, has been criticized by different researchers. According to many researchers budget can have some negative effects. The study has taken two companies into consideration, Svenska Handelsbanken and Länsförsäkringar. The focus has been on investigating how an organization that apply a limited budget control or have gone beyond budgeting control the organization. The business case has been investigated using Management control systems.

Background – A firm that achieves organizational ambidexterity is managing the balancing act of refining existing capabilities while also discovering new opportunities in the marketplace. It has shown that the achievement of organizational ambidexterity will lead to better perfor- mance but also long-term survival. The challenge that comes with achieving organizational ambidexterity is present within all firms regardless of size. Yet, extant literature has focused on the research of larger firms. The characteristics may differ significantly between a larger enter- prise and a small-to-medium-sized enterprise. For instance, the amount of available resources appears to differ relative to firm size. As a result, it is reasonable to assume that the way organ- izational ambidexterity is achieved may also differ depending on the size of the firm. It is argued that management control systems play an important role with respect to organiza- tional ambidexterity. Further, these control systems may be viewed as a package of controls which through occurring dynamic tensions, provide the complexity needed for a firm to be ambidextrous. Yet, the role of these interrelated control systems and how they enable ambidex- terity is understudied among SMEs. Purpose – This thesis aims to explore management control systems as a package and its ena- bling role in achieving organizational ambidexterity within SMEs. Method – The empirical data was collected by interviewing members of the top management team within three different SMEs. The empirics were gathered through semi-structured inter- views and then analyzed in relation to reviewed theory within the package approach of man- agement control systems, by conducting a thematic analysis. Findings – The findings from this thesis suggest that SMEs need to find ways to allocate their finite resources in order to meet the current strategic challenge at hand. SMEs have a firm spe- cific focus on either refinement of existing capabilities or discovery of new opportunities de- pending on the current state of the marketplace. While both focuses may be present simultane- ously, the SMEs still need to prioritize one side over the other due to resource limitations. Hence, the findings suggest a hybrid between contextual- and sequential ambidexterity as the most appropriate narrative for the studied SMEs. Management control systems as a package fits into this narrative as tensions occur between the systems which triggers ambidextrous activities. A well-integrated package approach work as a navigation system and may thus facilitate the achievement of current strategic challenges. The finalized framework in this thesis comple- ments existing theory by suggesting two different scenarios occurring within SMEs. In order for SMEs to achieve organizational ambidexterity, a shift between these two scenarios occurs in the long run.

Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att bidra till forskningsfältet gällande MCS och skapa en djupare förståelse angående hur MCS ser ut i praktiken, för att även vidare analyseras utifrån contingency aspekter.  Metod: Studien utgörs av en multipel fallstudie med en kvalitativ forskningsmetod där en abduktiv ansats applicerats. Det empiriska materialet samlades in genom 10 semistrukturerade intervjuer och sammanställdes sedan genom en tematisk analys, som tillsammans med den teoretiska referensramen sedan analyserades för att komma fram till slutsatser. Slutsats: Det finns en tydlig interrelation i praktiken mellan de olika styrsystemen från Malmi & Browns styrpaket. Utformningen av de olika styrsystemen anses vara snarlik mellan organisationer i praktiken, skillnader som dock kan tydas är användningen av dessa. Kontextuella aspekter som bransch, storlek, ägandeskap, strategi och organisationsstruktur anses vidare som viktiga aspekter som har en stor påverkan på utformningen av de olika styrsystemen.

För att uppnå FN:s hållbarhetsmål krävs en hållbar omställning. Denna omställning kommerkräva stora investeringar inom innovation och äldre industrier. I norra Sverige pågår ett stortarbete med den gröna omställningen vilket har medfört ökad efterfrågan på arbetskraft iregionen vilket även höjt efterfrågan på bostäder. En omfattande underhållsskuld gällandefastigheter inom svenska kommuner visar på behovet av fastighetsinvesteringar i Norrbottenskommun samt övriga i Sverige. Strategiska investeringsbeslut är komplexa med mångapåverkande faktorer. Syftet med studien är därför att beskriva och förklara användandet avstyrmodeller under planeringsprocessen för strategiska investeringsbeslut inomfastighetsbranschen. Studien är kvalitativ med en abduktiv ansats där semitstruktureradeintervjuer genomförts på 6 olika organisationer inom fastighetsbranschen. Insamlad empirivisade på att investeringsbeslut fattas effektivare jämfört med vad planeringsprocessen utgjordeenligt teorin. Alla respondenter i studien uttryckte en stor potential i den hållbara omställningsom sker, gällande ämnet som helhet samt i organisationens perspektiv. Studiens resultat visaratt formell styrning implementeras i ett tidigt skede av planeringsprocessen genom finansiellakalkyler och mått. Det vanligaste måttet på en investering var totalavkastning. Studiens resultatredogör även för att informell styrning i form av erfarenhet och intuition kan påverkainvesteringsbeslut. Till sist resulterar studien i att den kommunala verksamheten till stor delpåverkas av politiska faktorer samt att dess likheter med privata organisationer är få. / To achieve the United Nations sustainability goals the world is required to make extensivechanges. A great number of investments are needed within innovation and outdated industries.In northern Sweden a substantial project of a green conversion is proceeding. These biginvestment leads to an increasing demand of labor which also leads to an increasing demand ofreal estate in the region. An extensive maintenance debt regarding real estate shows the needfor real estate investments in the municipality of Norrbotten and the rest of Sweden. Strategicinvestments are complex with a lot of influencing factors. The purpose of the study is thereforeto describe and explain the use of management control systems during the planning process forstrategic investment decisions in the real estate industry. The research method of this study isqualitative with an abductive approach, semi structured interviews were conducted with 6organizations in the real estate industry. Collected empirical evidence showed that investmentdecisions are made more efficiently compared to the planning process in theory. All respondentsin the study expressed great potential in the sustainable change that is taking place, regardingthe subject as a whole and in the organization's perspective. The results of the study show thatformal management control systems are implemented at an early stage of the planning process,through financial calculations and measures. The most common measure of an investment wastotal return. The results of the study also state that informal management control systems in theform of experience and intuition can influence investment decisions. Finally, the study showsthat municipal activities are being largely influenced by political factors and that its similaritieswith private organizations are few.

Hållbar utveckling och Corporate Social Responsibility är två aktuella koncept vars popularitet har ökat de senaste årtiondena. Till följd av utvecklingen kommunicerar många företag hållbarhet i syfte att skapa legitimitet. Det krävs dock att organisationerna på ett genuint vis integrerar hållbarhet i verksamheten för att kunna bidra till en hållbar utveckling. Det är därför aktuellt att ta stöd i ekonomistyrningen som är en central del i organisationers strategiskapande. Studien avser därför att undersöka hur fastighetsföretag implementerar hållbarhet genom sin ekonomistyrning och hur dessa hållbara styrmedel uppfattas och påverkar de anställdas beteende i praktiken. För uppfyllandet av studiens syfte har problemområdet studerats utifrån Management Control Systems Package och huruvida modellens inkluderade styrverktyg går att applicera på en hållbar ekonomistyrning. Vidare har studien en kvalitativ metod där både ledning och anställda har intervjuats från fem svenska fastighetsföretag. Genom att intervjua två perspektiv syftar studien till att fånga in kunskap och upplevelser från flera nivåer av en organisation. Studiens resultat tyder på att hållbarhet kommer till uttryck genom samtliga delar av Management Control Systems Package. Planeringsverktyg tillämpas både genom lång- och kortsiktig planering samt målskapande. Cybernetiska styrverktyg används i samband med budgeteringsprocesser och vid uppföljning av måluppfyllelse. Av de presenterade styrverktygen var belöning sällsynt förekommande för att styra mot hållbarhet. Det var samtidigt flera av de studerade fastighetsföretagen som uttryckte intresse för att eventuellt utveckla tydliga belöningssystem kopplat till hållbarhetsarbetet. Mindre tydliga belöningssystem var dessutom redan förekommande i form av erkännande och uppmuntrande ord. Fortsättningsvis var olika administrativa styrverktyg det som tillämpades mest frekvent i form av bolagsstyrning, organisationsstruktur, policys och andra styrdokument. Utöver administrativa styrverktyg var även kultur ett betydelsefullt styrverktyg i förhållande till hållbarhetsarbetet som kom till uttryck genom starka värderingar, rekryteringsprocesser och symboler. Vidare påvisade forskningsresultatet att attityden bland de anställda är att hållbarhet är en naturlig del av arbetsuppgifterna. Styrverktygen genererade ökad motivation samt incitament och vägledning till hållbara beslut. / Sustainable development and Corporate Social Responsibility are two contemporary concepts whose popularity has increased during recent decades. As a result of these developments many companies are communicating sustainability in order to create legitimacy. However, the organization is required to genuinely integrate sustainability into their operations in order to contribute to a sustainable development. It is therefore relevant to apply management accounting, which is considered a central part of the strategy making process. The study therefore intends to research the implementation of sustainability through management accounting in real estate companies and how sustainable controls are perceived and affect employee behavior in practice. To fulfill the purpose of the study, the problem has been studied through the model of Management Control Systems Package and it has been questioned whether its included control tools can be applied to sustainable management accounting. Furthermore, the study has a qualitative method where both management and employees have been interviewed from five Swedish real estate companies. Since interviewing two perspectives the study aims to capture knowledge and experiences from several levels of an organization. The results of the study indicate that sustainability is indeed expressed through the Management Control Systems Package. Planning tools are applied through both long- and short-term planning and creating of objectives. Cybernetic control tools are used in relation to the budgeting process and the monitoring of objectives. Rewards were identified as a rarely used control tool. There was however several of the studied real estate companies who expressed interest in possibly developing a reward system linked to sustainability work. In addition, less distinct reward systems were already existing in terms of recognition and encouragement. Furthermore, administrative control were the most frequently used tools and was expressed through corporate governance, organizational structure, policies and other governing documents. Lastly, culture was also an important control tool in relation to sustainability work, which was expressed through strong values, recruitment processes and symbols. In regard to employees, the research results show that sustainability is considered a natural part of their work. In addition, the control tools generated increased motivation as well as incentives and guidance for sustainable decisions.

Sustainability has become an undoubtedly popular and important topic, being discussed among many researchers as well as practitioners. Previous research has focused on the importance of implementing sustainability into organizations’ core business, as well as highlighting potential risk of an inadequate focus on the economic perspective of the triple bottom line (TBL). However, it has still been argued that there is not enough theoretical and practical knowledge on how to implement sustainability with the use of management control systems (MCSs). The aim of the study was thus to explore how traditional management control (metrics and measurements) as well as culture, values and communication can be used to implement the social, economic and environmental perspectives of sustainability into the organization. The authors performed an exploratory study, interviewing six sustainability managers/directors working at companies with a strong sustainability focus, as well as collecting data from the chosen companies’ sustainability reports. The findings suggest that companies implemented and created awareness for the sustainability objectives through the use of both metrics and measurements relating to the TBL perspectives, as well as through communicating and spreading the organizational learning of the culture and values connected to sustainability. The study also provided for challenges and possibilities when implementing the TBL perspective of sustainability.

The management control systems (MCS) concept has evolved significantly the past decades with extensive studies that explore not only the concept itself but as well its relation to diverse variables such as performance, innovativeness and organisational learning. Nonetheless, inaccuracy is still present according to some researchers. (Tessier & Otley, 2012; Ferreira & Otley, 2009) By means of a systematic review (Tranfield et al., 2003), an interpretive analysis that embodies academic literatures in the area is presented. As a result, this thesis provides a synthesis delineation of the interactive management control systems’ concept. For the purpose of the study, a systematic selection of published and non-published academic literatures was conducted. (Saunders et al.,2009). Simons (Levers of control. Boston, Mass.: Harvard Business School Press,1995) was used as a starting point in order to generate criteria for the subsequent identification of relevant sources and get a grounding understanding of the topic before taking the challenge in form of a literature review in order to establish a distinction of the concept. This paper differs from prior studies in the field because of its attempt to clarify the concept of interactive control systems in a systematic manner which will allow the reader to have a see-through approach on all the procedures undertaken for the study. 111 articles were retrieved and following screening and abstract analysis 17 studies (including Simons, 1995 and Bisbe et al., 2005) were selected for the discussion of this qualitative literature review. In contrast to the existing literatures in the MCS field, I conceptualise the findings in 2 categories order to distinct the concepts of interactive MCS from interactive use of MCS. The main contribution of the study is the finding that there is a difference between interactive control systems and interactive use of control systems. Interactive MCS as such has a functionalist view and are designed to deliver interactiveness regardless of the context or the actors. And interactive use of control systems concerns the enactment of any control systems in an interactive manner. Therefore, the context (innovative environment) and the actor are taken into account in order for the systems to deliver positive effects. In addition, Evidences show that the interactive MCS as such are progressive instruments and characterised by effective and regular discussion among the users. Which lead to positive effects on strategy, workplace and innovation. Interactive use of MCS on the other hand are desirable in a context of R&D where the actor have required knowledge to facility the enactment. Additionally, MCS field interpret the concept of ICS more as interactive use of MCS than as such as interactive control system. When it comes to the connection to innovation, findings are contradictory as there are both positive and negative effects on business variables such innovation.

Introduktion: Konceptet samskapande av värde utvecklades inom marknadsföringslitteraturen i början av 2000-talet från Prahalad och Ramaswamy (2000). Redan då betonade författarna att ett företag som strävar efter att samskapa måste anpassa sitt ekonomiska styrsystem efter det. Trots det är forskningen om vilken ekonomisk styrning som kan användas för samskapande bristfällig än idag. Det finns tydliga skillnader mellan fälten där litteraturen om ekonomisk styrning främst utgår från tillverkningsföretag som producerar materiella varor, medan samskapandelitteraturen utgår från att producera tjänster. Samtidigt har de två fälten olika syn på värde, vilket är vad som analyseras i den här uppsatsen för att kunna diskutera vilken ekonomisk styrning som kan användas för samskapande. Syfte: Syftet med uppsatsen är att genom en litteraturstudie beskriva vilka likheter och skillnader som finns i synen på värde mellan ekonomisk styrning och samskapande. Utifrån litteraturstudien och intervjuer analyseras sedan vilken typ av styrning som är främjande för samskapande. Metod: Uppsatsen har en deduktiv ansats där en litteraturstudie utformas. Inledningsvis förs en värdediskussion som analyserar värde inom fälten ekonomisk styrning och samskapande. Utifrån värdediskussionen analyseras sedan tre ekonomiska styrinstrument som kan användas för samskapande. Därefter testas litteraturstudien mot empiri i form av semistrukturerade intervjuer med tre anställda på försäkringsbolaget Folksam. Slutsats: Värdebegreppet inom ekonomisk styrning är aktieägarvärde, vilket skapas genom ett företags interna aktiviteter. Inom samskapandelitteraturen syftar värdebegreppet till kundens upplevda nytta, bruksvärde. Bruksvärde skapas genom kundens användande. Det styrinstrument som slutligen framhävs för samskapande är personlighetsstyrning. / Introduction: The concept of value co-creation was developed in marketing literature in the early 2000s by Prahalad and Ramaswamy (2000). Even then, the authors stressed that a company that strives to co-create must adapt its governance systems to it. Despite this, the research on which management control systems that can be used for co-creating is deficient still today. The literature on management control are primarily based on manufacturing companies producing tangible goods, while literature on value co-creation are focusing mainly on services. Furthermore, the perception of value differs among the two research fields, which is what will be analyzed in this paper to discuss which management control systems can be used for co-creation. Aim: The aim of this paper is to create a literature review which describes the similarities and differences in the perception of value among the literature on management control and value co-creation. Based on the literature review and interviews analyze which type of control that promotes co-creation. Methodology: The paper has a deductive approach in which a literature review is designed. Initially, a value discussion is conducted that analyzes the perceptions on value in the fields of management control systems and value co-creation. Based on the value discussion, three types of management controls which could be used for value co-creation will be analyzed. Afterwards, the literature review will be tested against the reality in the form of semi-structured interviews with three employees at the Swedish insurance company Folksam. Conclusion: The value concept within the literature on management control systems refers to shareholder value, which is created through a company’s internal activities. Within the value co-creation literature, the value concept refers to the customer’s perceived benefits, which is called use value. The use value is created when the customer is using the product. The management control that this paper finally highlights is the personnel control.

Cette thèse étudie les relations entre contrôle et stratégie. Elle vise à enrichir le cadre théorique des quatre leviers du contrôle de Simons (1995) en s’intéressant aux interactions entre les acteurs de l’organisation, autour des dispositifs de contrôle, pour élaborer et mettre en œuvre la stratégie. Mobilisant le cadre théorique de la sociologie de l’acteur-réseau (ANT), ce travail, basé sur une étude de cas, met en évidence un double processus de traduction de la stratégie. D’une part, les dirigeants conçoivent les systèmes de contrôle pour intéresser les cadres intermédiaires à la stratégie globale, d’autre part les cadres intermédiaires utilisent ces mêmes systèmes pour intéresser la direction à leurs propres propositions de stratégie locale. Dans ce double processus de traduction, le levier interactif de contrôle, basé sur des interactions en face-à-face, joue un rôle central. La recherche permet d’identifier deux usages différents du levier interactif : un usage ouvert, permettant l’émergence de stratégie et un usage plus fermé permettant la mise en œuvre de stratégies délibérées. Cette mise en évidence de deux usages différents du levier interactif permet d’expliquer les contradictions apparentes des recherches mobilisant le cadre théorique de Simons et ouvre la voie à de futures recherches sur les liens entre contrôle et innovation / This thesis analyses the relationship between strategy and management control systems. Its aim is to refine Simons’ four levers of control framework in studying the interactions between top and middle managers around management control tools in order to form and implement the strategy of the organization. Using the actor-network theory (ANT) in a case study, this thesis reveals a double process of translation. On the one hand, top managers design management control systems in order to interest their subordinates to the global intended strategy. On the other hand, middle managers use the same control systems to translate their own local strategic intentions. This double translation process is made possible by two different uses of the interactive lever of control, based on face to face discussions. The first one is non invasive, inspirational and allows strategy emergence, the second one is invasive and allows top managers to implement the intended strategy in involving themselves in the decisions of their subordinates. The evidence of two different uses open ways of research on the relationship between management control systems and strategy or management control and innovation

Kandidatuppsats (2FE24E), Civilekonomprogrammet – Controller Ekonomihögskolan vid Linnéuniversitetet i Växjö, VT 2017 Titel: Hur styrs gaseller? – Verksamhetsstyrning i snabbväxande företag Författare: Joel Johansson och Victor Lindgren Handledare: Anders Jerreling Examinator: Elin Funck Bakgrund: Gasellföretag har visat sig vara betydelsefulla för jobbskapandet i en ekonomi. Dessa företag präglas av en hög tillväxt och det har visat sig att flera av dem inte klarar att hantera detta under en längre tid. Det finns flera utmaningar som dessa gaseller står för gällande deras verksamhetsstyrning, för att bibehålla sin tillväxt är denna styrning en viktig aspekt för företagets fortsatta överlevnad.  Syfte: Syftet med uppsatsen är att öka kunskapen och förståelsen kring hur gasellföretag arbetar med verksamhetsstyrning för att stödja snabb tillväxt och vad som påverkar styrningen i detta läge. Vårt bidrag med detta arbete är att identifiera vilka verktyg som blir aktuella och vad som är kritiskt att styra och följa upp för att kunna hantera dessa verksamheter i hög tillväxt. Metod: Uppsatsen är strukturerad kring en kvalitativ metod där en flerfallstudie har lagt grunden för det empiriska materialet. Vi har i studien intervjuat fyra olika företag där intervjuerna har ugått från en semistrukturerad intervjuform. Det empiriska materialet har sedan analyserats med hjälp av de teorier vi valt ut. Slutsats: Gasellernas verksamhetsstyrning påverkas av flera olika faktorer beroende på företagens situation, några av de mest påverkande faktorerna är miljö och storlek. Dessa faktorer påverkar hur företaget arbetat med verksamhetsstyrning, exempel på viktiga styrverktyg är rapportering och uppföljning för att kunna ha kontroll över verksamheten och dess kostnader. / Bachelor thesis (2FE24E), Degree of Master of Science in Business and Economics, School of Business and Economics at Linnaeus University, spring 2017 Title: How gazelles are managed – Management Accounting Systems in rapig growth companies Authors: Joel Johansson and Victor Lindgren Advisor: Anders Jerreling Examinator: Elin Funck Background: Gazelles have shown to be important job creators in economies. These enterprises are characterized by rapid growth and according to studies, many of them fail to manage this in the long term. There are several challenges for the gazelles in terms of management control, which is something that becomes an important aspect for the gazelles in order to maintain its growth. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to increase the knowdledge and understanding about how gazelles use management control systems to support their rapid growth and what affects them at this stage. Our contribution with this thesis is to identify what management tools that becomes important and what is critical in order to control and manage these enterprises in high growth. Method: The paper consists of a qualitative research strategy where a multiplecase study works as the foundation for our empirical data. We have interviewed four different enterprises using a semi-structured method. The empirical data has then been analyzed with the help of our theoretical framework. Conclusion: The management control systems in the gazelle companies are affected by several factors depending on their situation, the greatest factors we found were size and environment. These factors affects the way the companies use their management control systems. Examples of important control systems in high growth are reports, follow-ups and to control the business and its costs.