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.

In brief, the motivation for conducting this study has been the societal changes brought upon the Covid-19 pandemic from a socio-economic perspective. The outbreak of the pandemic has resulted in that companies faced major organizational challenges to adapt to the virtual working setting in terms of communicating and transferring knowledge. Hence, the purpose of this study is to investigate whether firms that adopt new technologies for communication (e.g. Microsoft Teams or Zoom) and adapt to virtual working settings are positively or negatively affected in terms of barriers to knowledge transfer. Thus, the focus of has been on finding potential benefits and/or drawbacks of transferring knowledge in a virtual setting. The following research question has been answered to cover this: How is digital transformation, in terms of increased adoption of novel communication technologies driven by Covid-19, affecting barriers to knowledge transfer in an intra-unit setting in multinational corporations (MNCs)? In order to study this, the authors conducted 10 semi-structured interviews with participants from one department at Ernst & Young (EY). The empirical data have been analyzed with a conceptual framework that the authors have developed themselves. Based on the exploratory investigation, the authors draw the conclusion that knowledge-related barriers have decreased due to the increased adoption of novel technologies, while relational barriers have increased overall. Yet, we suggest that the relational barriers could be further mitigated, by incorporating an approach similar to EY’s hybrid model into the firm’s organizational routine.

The purpose of this thesis is to describe how the factors influence the level of adaptation and standardization of a marketing strategy and subsequently analyze how the factors influence the level of adaptation and standardization of Swedish MNCs’ in the German market. The relevant factors for the decision towards standardization and adaptation are found out using a framework composed by Viswanathan & Dickson (2007). The factors chosen are homogeneity of customer response to the marketing-mix, transferability of competitive advantage, homogeneity of economic freedom and decision variables.   This thesis does so in a deductive and qualitative approach using Swedish retailer Clas Ohlson as a case study. Underlying this is a contextualized and interpretivist point of view. Data was collected through focus group interviews with German and Swedish students and complemented through data mining.   An analysis of the empirical data shows a high homogeneity of customer response to the marketing-mix, the possibility of transferring the competitive advantage and a high homogeneity of economic freedom was discovered. When applying the frame of reference on the empirical data, Swedish MNCs, especially Swedish retailers, are recommended to choose a high degree of standardization for their IMS in the German market. It was discovered that the used framework does to some extent not cover a wish proposed by the German participants calling for a partial adaptation of the international marketing strategy. This disproves the assumption underlying the frame of reference as the majority of factors suggest standardization, yet from a consumer perspective, there is the wish to partially adapt. In the conclusion managerial implications, limitations and research implications are mentioned as well.

In order to stay competitive in the market, multinational corporations (MNC) need to expand their businesses in the international market. Sending employees to work abroad is a great way of expanding. However, having employees working abroad, brings a lot of advantages for the corporation, but it can also be a disadvantage for the corporation if the final step of international assignments, which is the repatriation process, has not been handled correctly. This thesis investigates how the managers of IKEA, Electrolux and SEB handle the repatriation process and how the repatriates experienced the process, during their pre-return period and post-return period. Our findings show that the repatriates experienced that the repatriation process was poorly conducted by the corporations due to lack of engagement from their side. On the other hand, managers of the companies felt that they handled the repatriation process very well. Therefore, it is essential that corporations prepare the employees well, before they start the international assignments, as well as help them to readjusting back in the home country. Working with practical expectations may lead to a smooth adjustment, which in turn, leads to a well-functioning repatriation process.

Trade between the United States and Africa decreased 32% from US$125 billion, in 2011, to US$85 billion, in 2013; however, MNCs from other regions have continued to increase investments in Africa. Multinational corporations (MNCs) generate most of their return on investment (ROI) from the Western world. Globalization, increasing middle classes in emerging markets, and decreasing population in the Western world have lead to unsustainable ROI. Nigeria, the most populous and largest economy in Africa and the 27th largest economy in the world, offers new opportunities with an annual growth rate forecast of 6% to 8%. Utilizing the diamond theory of competitive advantage of nations, this single case study was an exploration of the strategies that managers of MNCs have used to optimize Nigeria's higher ROI. Interview questions on new entry challenges, operational obstacles, and strategies to mitigate the challenges contributed to answering the overarching research question related to the strategies that managers of MNCs have used successfully to take advantage of Nigeria's high ROI. The participants were 5 executives at the Nigerian operation of a global technology conglomerate with presence in 166 countries. Data collection included a series of semistructured face-to-face interviews. Data analysis using modified van Kaam method resulted in 5 themes: business environment, effective entry strategies, challenges in Nigeria, mitigating challenges in Nigeria, and volatility of Nigerian market and mitigation strategies. Findings may contribute to ROI optimization and influence social change by providing more jobs, thereby increasing standard of living in Nigeria.

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隨著經濟發展與產業環境劇烈的變動，資訊技術應用已成為公司產業升級，改善管理提昇體質的必備工具，也因引進資訊技術而有應用資訊系統、電傳通訊與資料交換，對組織與管理產生莫大的衝擊與影響，所以有效應用資訊技術逐成為企業管理學者與實務界共同關心的課題。 　　有關多國籍企業的資訊技術管理課題，在國外有不少的研究文獻係探討在國外母公司的應用情形與績效，而其在臺多國籍企業國內分公司的資訊技術應用管理課題與績效則很少被探討。 　　本研究主要是以國內分公司所在地的觀點，探討在臺多國籍企業於引進資訊技術應用時所面臨的課題，除探討課題特性外，並研究公司特性對資訊部門角色型態與績效的影響。 　　本研究母體設定為已在國內設立資訊部門三年與年營業額二億以上的在臺多國籍企業，採隨機抽樣設計，共選出148家樣本公司，以人員訪談或郵寄問卷方式調查，有55家公司的資訊部門主管或高階管理者回覆了問卷，回收率為37.2%，有效問卷44份；本研究的重要發現為： 　　一、課題格面、角色型態與績效構面之發現 　　依課題內涵將三十二項課題分為技術、管理、支援與環境四個課題構面，資訊部門角色型態分別為主導者、支援者與附屬者三群，而績效則分為內部效益與外部效益兩個績效構面，「內部效益」所含蓋的項目都是與在臺公司的內部使用者有關的服務成效，用來衡量使用者對資訊部門提供各項服務的滿意度；「外部效益」，所含蓋的則都是與母公司及其他國外分公司有關的服務績效，用來衡量他們對在臺分公司資訊部門所提供資訊服務的滿意度。 　　二、重要課題之發現 　　1.在細項課題中，無論是目前或未來「資料保密與安全」都是最受重視的課題；名列第二的，在目前的是「在預估的費用成本內達成引進資訊技術目標」，未來的則是「資訊技術整合」；而名列第三的，在目前的是「發展一套電腦整合資訊系統」，未來的則為「提高公司內部資訊技術與知識」。 　　2.在課題構面分類中，無論是目前或未來都以「技術」與「管理」類課題較受重視，其次才是「支援」與「環境」類的課題。 　　三、角色型態分群與課題構面關係之發現 　　1.技術與管理構面；三種角色型態都很重視此兩構面且有額著差異，以「主導者」最重視，「支援者」次之，「附屬者」又次之。 　　2.支援構面；三種角色型態對此構面重視程度不高，相形之下以「主導者」較重視此構面。 　　3.環境構面；三種角色型態較不重視此構面，尤其「附屬者」更低。 　　四、企業特性與角色型態關係之發現 　　「主導者」角色型態的公司，其特色是資訊部門員工人數最多，資訊系統應用層次最高，已相當電腦化又與外界有相當程度的資料交換與連線，因擁有最多的資源，足以發揮主導者角色，也由於其主導角色的關係，積極引入母公司資訊技術，致使自行發展或由本地廠商發展的比率反而最低。 　　五、目前製造業與服務業比較之發現 　　1.重要課題 　　「資訊保密與安全」在兩種產業中都是最受重視的課題；在製造業中為前十大重要課題而服務業不是的有「成立資訊技術應用管理委員會」、「臺灣通訊品質與成本對引進影響」與「在臺軟硬體廠商能力對引進影響」，但在服務業中前十大重要課題而製造業不是的有「選擇集中或分散資料處理考量」、「資訊部門方向活動計劃透明化」與「有效訂定引進資訊技術管理方法」。而在兩種產業都是前十大課題項目的則有「資料保密與安全」、「提高資訊人員與使用者資訊技術與知識」、「在預估的費用成本內達成引進資訊技術的目標」、「遵守國際間資料交換協定之重要性」、「發展一套電腦整合資訊系統」、「資訊技術整合」及「資訊專案之權責目標明確訂定」。 　　2.資訊部門角色型態 　　製造業中的資訊部門角色大都為「附屬者」，約佔該產業59.3%，而服務業則大都為「主導者」，約佔54.5%。若以角色型態觀之，則「主導者」在兩產業中各佔一半，在「支援者」中約有70%屬製造業，而「附屬者」中也大都屬製造業，約有90%之多。 　　六、角色型態與績效關係之發現 　　1.內部效益；不論採取任何角色型態，對此績效構面的影響都未達顯著差異，資訊部門角色型態並非影響內部效益的要件。能及時滿足使用者真正的需求才是關鍵因素。 　　2.外部效益；三種角色型態對此績效構面影響有顯著差異，而「主導者」的影響則非常明顯，主要在其有整體規劃，主動積極引進資訊技術，滿足母公司及國外其他分公司的需求。 / Information Technology (IT) becomes more and more important and impacts the efficiency of organization and management, after the development of economics and changes of Industrial competi-tions. The information management is the key to manage the performance of IT applications and gets common concerns increa-singly of the company executives and scholars. This research is based on the domestic viewpoints to study the " Issues " of IT applications in Taiwan branches/Subsidiaries/Facfcories of multi-national company (MNC) ; other than the natures of "Issues" , it will also identify the characteristics of MNC,the role of compu-ter department of Taiwan branches of MNC and its performance. The selective population are those Taiwan branches of MNC with computer department setup for more than 3 years and annual reve-nue higher than 200 millions Taiwan dollars. After random selec-tion, this study has sampled 148 companies and gotten 55 respon-ses, the rate is 37.2%, however the useful samples is 44. 　　Having applied the statistical tools of correlation , factor analysis, cluster analysis and t-test on the collected data of questionaires, this study has concluded: 　　1. The Categorization 　　　1.1 Categories of issues 　　　　　　1) Technique 　　　　　　2) Management and Administration 　　　　　　3) Support 　　　　　　4) Environment 　　　1.2 Categories of Role of Computer Department in Using IT 　　　　　　1) Leader 　　　　　　2) Supporter 　　　　　　3) Follower 　　　1.3 Categories of Performance 　　　　　　1) Internal performance (contributions) 　　　　　　2) External performance (contributions) 　　2. The Important Issues 　　　　　1) "Data Security and Safety" is the most important issue as in both present and future. 　　　　　2) The issues of "Technique" and "Management/Administraction" are more concerned than those of "Support" and "Environment". 　　3. Relationship of Role and Category of Issues 　　　　　1) Issues of "Technique " and " Management / Administration " Those three roles have significantly different concerns, the "Leader" has the most concerns on these two kinds of issues, the "Supporter" is the next, then the "Follower". 　　　　　2) Issues of "Support" 　　Those three roles are concerns on this kind of issues. 　　　　　3) Issues of "Environment" 　　Those three roles are not so concerns on this kind of issues. 　　4. Relationship of Company Characteristics and Role of Computer Department 　　　　The role of "Leader" indicates 4 natures differently from the others: 　　　　　1) Has the highest number of computer staffs 　　　　　2) Has the highest level of information systems application 　　　　　3) Has the highest level of computerization 　　　　　4) Provides certain level of data exchanges and online services 　　5. Manufacturing vs. Services Industries 　　　　　1) Important Issues 　　　　　"Data Security and Safety" is the most important issue in both areas; as a whole, there are 7 issues simultaneously ranked as top ten of both industries. 　　　　　2) Roles of Computer Department 　　 　　　Most of those computer departments of manufacturing act the role as " Follower " , while that of services industry run as " Leader " ; however from viewpoints of a role) "Leader" are evenly in both industries, " Supporter " and "Follower" are mostly in manufacturing. 　　6. Relationship of Role of Computer Department and Performance 　　　　　1) Internal Performance (Contributions) 　　　　　　No matter which role the computer department is working , there is no significant difference in internal performance. 　　　　　2) External Performance (Contributions) 　　 　　　The three roles of computer department have ignificantly different in external performance, especially, the "Leader has the most outstanding performance.

Introduction: Producing on a global scale is attractive for multinational corporations (MNCs) due to production cost savings and the proximity as well as simplified access to new high growth markets. In order to be successful in foreign markets it is vital for MNCs to understand the local market conditions. In particular stakeholders, also referred to institutions, and their diverse demands are likely to vary among differently industrialized country markets. Additionally, sustainability has emerged as an inevitable topic for businesses and countries alike. Purpose: Therefore, the purpose of this thesis is to describe and analyze different institutions and their demands in differently industrialized countries. Moreover, the aim is to describe and analyze capabilities that manufacturing companies can use to respond to these institutional demands in order to achieve a more sustainable production. Methodology: The research method employed is a single embedded case study consisting of one Scandinavian multinational machinery and construction equipment manufacturer with three production units located in Sweden, Bulgaria and China. Semi-structured interviews with managers, a supplementary questionnaire and a literature review on institutional and capability theory serve as sources for primary and secondary data collection. Findings: There are differences between institutional demands among differently industrialized countries. The research found that manufacturing units in developed and ECMs can respond to these institutional demands through different capabilities. Next to institutional demands there are certain institutional influences that are beyond the control of the MNC and can only be absorbed. By having a diverse set of economic-, natural- and social capabilities which are difficult to copy and that are corresponding to various institutional efficiency and legitimacy demands as well as influences manufacturing companies can create a more sustainable business. Research and practical implications: Future qualitative research could seek to explore whether the results of this study are congruent for companies operating in other industries and other countries. Next, future research could seek to explore whether there are more evident natural and social based capabilities existing in the field.Within praxis, it is critical for managers to be aware that each country has its distinctive context and that it is necessary to locally adapt in order to satisfy the prevailing market conditions. Besides it is essential not only to satisfy the customer demands but also to identify and respond to other institutional demands to create a more sustainable production. Keywords: Capabilities, institutions, efficiency and legitimacy demands as well as influences, differently industrialized country markets, sustainability, economic-, social- and natural value, imitability, manufacturing, MNC, global sustainable production

The purpose of the research is to assess if the franchising conceptual model is an applicable model for the HWP international market expansion in China.  The assessment will be carried out through the extensive investigations into SSAB/HWP internal and external forces including transfer of knowledge in the MNC, position building in business networks, products positioning and sales situation on the Chinese market to define the risk and opportunity.  As well as the theories of the internationalization, marketing strategy and models will be referred to evaluate the franchising model, which can be adopted in China. The research questions are how can the franchising concept be adopted as an applicable model for the Hardox Wearparts international market expansion in China?  What are the appropriate suggestions for the improvements to the further implementation of the model? By adopting four research methods of qualitative research strategy, a multidimensional purpose of the research has been conducted in order to gather first-hand data, study a specific case and investigate the multidimensional environments for the implementation of the HWP international market expansion model.  The main research methods include 1) questionnaire & survey, 2) qualitative interviewing, 3) observation, and 4) collection and qualitative analysis of texts, document, e- research materials and data. The conclusion of the research is that there are several internal- and external factors, which have affected the HWP´s market expansion in China negatively during the year.  It is a sensible decision to emphasize China as a single largest market for the HWP business development. The market seeking strategy by the infusion of the franchising concept is an appropriate decision for the HWP market expansion in China.  The conceptual franchising model by SSAB is appropriate to both the theoretical model and Chinese regulation on the franchises.  However, to implement this franchising model in China, it requires several significant improvements on those four key components/success factors which are 1) internationalization entry model, 2) transfer of knowledge within the MNC, 3) learning in the foreign market network, and 4) position-building in the business networks.   Together with the improvements on four key components/success factors, the franchising concept will be an applicable model for the HWP international market expansion in China.

Der ischämische Schlaganfall ist global eine der bedeutendsten Volkskrankheiten. Die derzeit verfügbaren kurativen Therapieoptionen werden vorrangig durch ein enges therapeutisches Zeitfenster limitiert. Ziel der aktuellen Schlaganfallforschung ist die Entwicklung von über dieses Zeitfenster hinaus wirksamen Therapien. Ein vielversprechender neuer Ansatz ist die experimentelle Behandlung mit humanen Nabelschnurblutzellen. Diese Arbeit erforscht das therapeutische Zeitfenster für die systemische Therapie des ischämischen Schlaganfalls mittels mononukleärer Nabelschnurblutzellen (hUCB MNC) in spontanhypertensiven Ratten nach permanentem Verschluss der Arteria cerebri media (pMCAO). Hierzu wurden die Therapiezeitpunkte 4, 24, 72, 120 Stunden und 14 Tage nach experimentellem Schlaganfall in einem komplexen Studiendesign inklusive neurofunktioneller Tests, magnetresonanztomographischer und immunhistochemischer Verfahren untersucht. In vitro wurde der Einfluss kokultivierter hUCB MNC auf Nekrose und Apoptose in neuralem Gewebe unter Sauerstoff-Glukose-Deprivation betrachtet. Die Studie ergab eine verbesserte funktionelle Rekonvaleszenz und eine geringere Ausprägung von Atrophie und Astroglianarbe bei Therapie innerhalb eines 72- Stunden-Zeitfensters. In vitro wurde eine signifikante Reduktion von Nekrose und Apoptose durch kokultivierte hUCB MNC beobachtet. Eine histologische Relokalisierung der intravenös applizierten Zellen war in keiner Therapiegruppe möglich. Die Integration der hUCB MNC ins Hirnparenchym stellt somit keine conditio sine qua non für die funktionelle Erholung nach Schlaganfall dar. Trotz des beobachteten erweiterten Zeitfensters ist die Translation dieses Therapieansatzes in die klinische Realität kritisch zu diskutieren, da weiterführende Studien unserer Arbeitsgruppe eine limitierte Wirksamkeit unter sehr praxisnahen Bedingungen (z.B. Einsatz kryokonservierter hUCB MNC) gezeigt haben. / Experimental treatment strategies using human umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells (hUCB MNCs) represent a promising option for alternative stroke therapies. An important point for clinical translation of such treatment approaches is knowledge on the therapeutic time window. Although expected to be wider than for thrombolysis, the exact time window for hUCB MNC therapy is not known. Our study aimed to determine the time window of intravenous hUCB MNC administration after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Male spontaneously hypertensive rats underwent MCAO and were randomly assigned to hUCB MNC administration at 4h, 24h, 72h, 120h or 14d. Influence of cell treatment was observed by magnetic resonance imaging on days 1, 8 and 29 following MCAO and by assessment of functional neurological recovery. On day 30, brains were screened for glial scar development and presence of hUCB MNCs. Further, influence of hUCB MNCs on necrosis and apoptosis in post-ischemic neural tissue was investigated in hippocampal slices cultures. Transplantation within a 72h time window resulted in an early improvement of functional recovery, paralleled by a reduction of brain atrophy and diminished glial scarring. Cell transplantation 120h post MCAO only induced minor functional recovery without changes in the brain atrophy rate and glial reactivity. Later transplantation (14d) did not show any benefit. No evidence for intracerebrally localized hUCB MNCs was found in any treatment group. In vitro hUCB MNCs were able to significantly reduce post-ischemic neural necrosis and apoptosis. Our results for the first time indicate a time window of therapeutic hUCB MNC application of at least 72 hours. The time window is limited, but wider than compared to conventional pharmacological approaches. The data furthermore confirms that differentiation and integration of administered cells is not a prerequisite for poststroke functional improvement and lesion size reduction.