The importance that governments put into open government data policies has increased over the last decade. However, a decreasing speed in this trend is potentially ongoing due to the objectives of these policies not being perceived as completed. Therefore, locating the impacts and measuring their relative value generation aids the understanding of how these objectives can succeed. This study examines the impacts of open government data in Sweden and their potential value generation, focusing on the financial ones. In this study, we developed a measurement model that comprehends six different impacts that generate a value. These impacts are innovation for established firms, innovative start-ups, innovation for public institutions, anti-corruption, and democracy/civil participation. The study has used 24 semi-structured interview findings to develop the model using the grounded theory method. The model was then subsequentially tested and validated by conducting a survey.  We used PLS-SEM as a method of analysis of the 69 responses on the survey from Swedish experts in the field. The results show a positive influence on the open government data financial value generation in the Swedish context, originating from data-driven innovation in established firms. Adding to this, positive impacts on the social value generated from open government data originate from innovative start-ups and product innovation in public institutions. The social value generated was also found to influence the financial value generation. Overall, the results also confirmed that the measurement model assessed is suited for evaluating the value generation of open government data. Thus, the study contributes to policies by visualizing the potential impacts and values that specific policy decisions may yield. Besides, the study contributes to theory thanks to developing a measurement model that could be applied to different contexts. Finally, a unique method that combines model development, context understanding, and model testing is used in the research. This method is considered a contribution due to its potential to be applied to future case study research.

Although private family organisations are prevalent role players in both the South African and international economies, limited research has been performed with regard to them. In terms of regulatory requirements, South African private organisations are neither legally required to comply with corporate governance principles, nor are they required to make their financial data available to the general public. Lack of available data, and limited available research, have resulted in an absence of clarity with regard to whether governance structures in private family organisations add any value to these organisations. This study therefore explores, through the use of a multiple-case study, how the individual private family organisations have structured their governance mechanisms, and the reasons as to why they chose to implement these structures. Both case studies revealed that governance structures, in general, add value. The implemented governance structures may even have contributed to the increase in financial performance over time. / Management Accounting / M. Phil. (Accounting Sciences)

Bakgrund och problem: Kundlönsamhetsberäkningar görs för att företag ska få kunskap om lönsamheten per kund. Informationen utgör sedan beslutsunderlag för styrning mot ökad total kundlönsamhet. För många företag finns det dock faktorer som inte är möjliga eller svåra att inkludera i en kundlönsamhetsberäkning samtidigt som de påverkar den totala kundlönsamheten. Företagen behöver därmed komplettera beräkningarna med dessa för att få en mer rättvisande kundlönsamhetsanalys som möjliggör styrning utifrån företagets helhetsperspektiv. Svårigheten för företagen är därför hur dessa faktorer ska hanteras och värderas samt användas i företagets styrning. Syfte: Syftet med uppsatsen är att skapa förståelse för hur företag genomför en kundlönsamhetsanalys inkluderande de faktorer som används som komplement till de traditionella kundlönsamhetsberäkningarna samt hur företagen styr utifrån dessa. Metod: För denna studie har en kvalitativ forskningsstrategi tillämpats där en fallstudie har använts. För intervjuerna har en semistrukturerad intervju med öppna frågor använts där en intervjuguide har legat till grund för strukturen på intervjun. Slutsats: Studiens resultat visar att företag anpassar och väljer kalkylmetod för kundlönsamhetsberäkning utifrån verksamheten. De värderar sedan de kompletterande faktorerna till stor del genom kunskap och erfarenhet. Kundlönsamhetsanalyserna används som beslutsunderlag för styrande åtgärder främst avseende förbättring av företagets processer, prioritering av resurser samt påverkan av kundernas beteenden i syfte att uppnå optimal kundlönsamhet för företaget. / Background and problem: Customer profitability calculations are needed for companies to obtain knowledge of the profitability of their customers. The information then constitutes the basis for decision-making for the managing to increase total customer profitability. For many companies there exists some factors which are impossible or difficult to include within a customer profitability calculation, however these factors affect the total customer profitability. Therefore companies need to complement the calculations with these to receive a more accurate customer profitability analysis which makes managing towards the company’s comprehensive view possible. The difficultness for the companies is how these factors should be handled, valued and used within the companies managing. Purpose: The purpose with this paper is to create understanding about how companies fulfill a customer profitability analysis that concludes factors which are used as a compliment for the traditional customer profitability calculations. The study also includes how companies manage their organizations based on the customer profitability analysis. Method: A qualitative study with semi structured interview has been used. An interview guide has been the basis for the structure of the interview. Conclusion: When analyzing the empirical material, we found that companies adjust and choose the calculation method for customer profitability calculations based on how the business is structured. They value the complementary factors mostly through knowledge and experience. The customer profitability analysis are used as a basis for decisions regarding managing actions regarding improvements of the companies processes, priorities of resources and the influence by the customers behavior for the purpose to achieve an optimal customer profitability for the companies.