The construction industry has been identified with fragmentation, adversarial relationships, opportunism, and high rates of disputes. Therefore, there has been a call for the improvement of inter-firm relations in the sector through more appropriate governance strategies. This study drew upon transaction cost economics theory and new economic sociology in relation to the problem of inter-firm opportunism in economic relations. The study argues that depending on how patterns of inter-firm opportunism are viewed, different governance strategies may be formulated. Through a critical review of the prior publications concerning the problem of opportunism in the sector, the study argues that the construction management literature used theoretical works at both normative and explanatory levels. However, little is known about the construct of inter-firm opportunism itself and how it materialises within the construction industry. Therefore, this study aimed to provide insights into how practitioners in the construction industry conceptualise inter-firm opportunism and its patterns. Such insights extend the knowledge of how they approach governance strategies, and generally why they do what they do. To build a conceptual framework of inter-firm opportunism in the construction industry, this study was guided by a constructivist grounded theory. Rich qualitative data were constructed through 20 semi-structured interviews with practitioners involved in the construction industry who were working in the UK in either construction law firms, construction companies, construction development companies, or construction consultancy firms. The qualitative data were analysed following the Charmaz (2003 and 2006) guideline. In relation to the construct of inter-firm opportunism, the findings of the study indicate that there are considerable variations between the constructs of inter-firm opportunism. However, regardless of these variations, a win-lose relationship feeling is central to practitioners’ construct of inter-firm opportunism. The study argues that in response to the risk of inter-firm opportunism through setting up contractual governance, parties usually conduct a casual cost-benefit trade-off. In relation to the patterns of inter-firm opportunism from the points of view of the practitioners in the sector, the study provides a conceptual framework grounded in the data. This framework places emphasis on the dynamics of different types of power constructed between the client and its first tier suppliers in the pre- and post- contract stages. This framework is the study’s contribution to the body of knowledge concerned with the inter-firm relations in the construction industry.

The possibility of opportunistic behavior is an important barrier to the collaboration between partners in the supply chain as partners pursue their self-interests with guile. Opportunistic behavior threatens the partners’ relationships, influences their work accomplishment and prevents future collaboration. This study hypothesizes that opportunism is not just the result of people’s self-interests pursuit but depends on how they think their self-interests are related. Opportunism in organizational partnerships could be understood in terms of how partners perceive their goals are related to each other. When partners believe that their goals are competitively or dependently rather than cooperatively related, they are more likely to pursue their self-interests opportunistically. Altogether 86 face-to-face interviews were carried out in Beijing, Nanchang and Guangzhou, China to explore the links and relations among goal interdependencies, opportunism and the outcomes. Participants who work in a supply chain partnership were asked to describe an incident regarding their collaboration with their partners. It included the people involved, the reasons, what occurred, and the consequences. Structural equation modeling explored the proposed model that goal interdependencies could affect the levels of opportunism and thus influence the partnerships. Results suggest that cooperative goals are important foundations for effective organizational partnerships.

In today’s fast changing business environment, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) need to seize the technological opportunities that this environment provides, by developing dynamic capabilities to build and attain high performance. This dissertation looks at the effect that technological opportunism has on the performance of SMEs in Namibia. In addition, the dissertation looks at the mediating role of dynamic capabilities on the relationship between technological opportunism and SMEs. The study draws from the dynamic capabilities view for theoretical context. The literature reviewed enabled the development of a conceptual model, which further contributes to theory. Data is drawn from a random sample of 209 SMEs located in Namibia. Results from the regression analysis suggest that the effect of technological opportunism on the performance of SMEs is partially mediated by dynamic capabilities. For the three capabilities assessed, the learning and integrative capabilities have a partial mediating effect on the link between technological opportunism and performance, while the transformative capability does not mediate this relationship. The study offers important academic and business implications, and also points out future research directions. The findings serve as a guide to best improve the work done in this sector, with an emphasis on how to best develop SMEs’ capabilities with regard to new technology initiatives, aimed at improving SMEs. SME owners are encouraged to build capacity, embrace partnerships and develop capabilities that results in better performance.

Current marketing channel literature overwhelmingly suggests that entering exchange relationships leads to positive outcomes for the exchange parties. Yet, not all exchanges employ relational exchange. Thus, research appears to lack an understanding of the boundary conditions of successful relational exchange. This dissertation contributes to filling this gap by clarifying what is understood as relational exchange and differentiating it from vertical integration. Here, a two-dimensional perspective on exchange structure is offered that integrates our view of relational exchange and extends the conceptualization of vertical integration beyond sole ownership. To derive boundary conditions of relational exchange the literature on interorganizational relationships is integrated into six determinants and two key outcomes of relational exchange. These boundary conditions thus represent the facilitating circumstances that make relational exchange viable and the outcomes of relational exchange that exchange partners seek to achieve. / Ph. D.

This thesis makes a contribution to the trust literature by analysing and pinpointing specific actions and behaviours that are seen as negative or positive to the building of trust in the construction industry in Sweden today. The thesis therefore aims to look at trust from different perspectives – developer, contractor, consultant and subcontractors in the Swedish construction industry. Specifically, it examines the different notations and definitions of trust from the literature along with a qualitative study aiming at understanding the underlying factors and principles for creating trust. The qualitative data was collected through interviews with seven people. The results show that trust is considered important in all projects and is a prerequisite for a good project. However, there is a lack of trust in the construction industry today, but with a shift of generation and a forthcoming digitisation, a positive trend might be pending. Partnering and other forms of collaboration are seen as facilitating for trust building processes – if implemented in a proper manner. However, partnering is rarely implemented in such a way, why those processes many times fail in ending up in trust. Further, it has been concluded that trust is highly affected in a negative way by changes in standard contracts such as AB/ABT, whereupon such changes should be avoided. Trust is seen as strongly connected with building long-term relationships where opportunism is avoided and future profits rather are given priority. Lastly, trust helps to keep focus on the important things in a project, making the way for a better product in the end. It is also seen as a factor for creating a better work environment and an attractive industry.  The study has identified that the major factors affecting trust in the Swedish construction industry are: changes from the standard contracts (AB/ABT), different collaboration forms and the execution of these (mainly partnering), the digitisation and coming generational change, the focus on cheap constructions and a lack of long-term relationships. / Det här examensarbetet gör ett bidrag till litteraturen om tillit genom att analysera och precisera specifika handlingar och beteenden som kan anses vara negativa eller positiva för tillitsbyggande i den Svenska byggindustrin. Examensarbetet ämnar därför att se på tillit från olika perspektiv – byggherre, entreprenör, konsulter och underentreprenörer i byggbranschen. Mer specifikt så undersöker den de olika benämningar och definitioner av tillit som finns i litteraturen, tillsammans med en kvalitativ studie som har som sikte att förstå de bakomliggande faktorerna och principerna för att skapa förtroende. Den kvalitativa datan har samlats in genom intervjuer med sju personer. Resultatet visar på att tillit anses vara viktigt i alla projekt och att det är en nödvändig förutsättning för ett bra projekt. Dock så finns det en brist på tillit i byggbranschen idag, men med ett kommande generationsskifte samt en växande digitalisering så kan trenden komma att vända. Partnering och andra samverkansformer ses som främjande för tillitsbyggande processer – om de implementeras på ett korrekt sätt. Däremot är detta sällan fallet, varför sådana processer många gånger misslyckas med att skapa tillit. Vidare så har det visat sig att tillit påverkas starkt negativt av ändringar och avsteg från standardkontrakten AB/ABT, varpå sådana avvikelser borde undvikas. Tillit ses starkt kopplat till att bygga långsiktiga relationer där opportunism undviks och framtida vinster istället prioriteras. Slutligen har det visat sig att tillit hjälper till att hålla fokus på det viktiga i ett projekt vilket möjliggör för att skapa en bättre produkt i slutändan. Tillit ses också som en faktor för att skapa bättre arbetsmiljö och en attraktiv bransch. Studien har identifierat att de största faktorerna som påverkar tillit i den svenska byggindustrin är: ändringar och avsteg från standardkontrakten (AB/ABT), olika samverkansformer och hur dessa utförs, digitaliseringen och det kommande generationsskiftet, fokus på att bygga billigt och en brist på långsiktiga relationer.

År 2005 implementerades IFRS 3 och IAS 36 i Sverige. I och med detta genomför företag nedskrivningsprövningar av goodwill. Dessa kan inbegripa nuvärdesberäkningar av framtida kassaflöden. Forskarna Carlin och Finch utförde år 2009 en studie på australiensiska börsnoterade företag för att undersöka om diskonteringsräntor, vilka används vid en nedskrivningsprövning, sätts opportunistiskt. Studien genomfördes genom att de visade på förekomsten av avvikelser mellan diskonteringsräntan som företagen redovisat och en av forskarna estimerad teoretisk diskonteringsränta beräknad genom the Capital Asset Pricing Model [CAPM]. Carlin och Finch hävdar att användandet av diskonteringsräntor vilka avvek mer än 150 räntepunkter från de teoretiska diskonteringsräntorna inte kan förklaras av estimeringsfel och därmed är i linje med opportunistiskt beteende. Det har presenterats olika former av opportunism som förklaring till dessa avvikande diskonteringsräntor. Dessa inbegriper opportunistiskt beteende genom earnings managagement i form av big bath och income smoothing. Denna studie undersöker om avvikande diskonteringsräntor förekommer och om förklaringarna presenterade av Carlin och Finch har bärighet år 2010 för företag noterade på Nasdaq OMX Stockholm. Detta genom att använda samma metod som Carlin och Finch gällande beräknandet av teoretiska diskonteringsräntor för att sedan relatera detta till resultatutveckling och faktiskt utförd goodwillnedskrivning. Denna studie visar att avvikelser mellan företagens redovisade och en genom CAPM beräknad teoretisk diskonteringsränta tycks vara vanligt förekommande och att avvikelser som kan förklaras av big bath förekommer, detta tycks dock vara ovanligt. Ingen avvikelse mellan redovisad och teoretisk diskonteringsränta kan påvisas som kan förklaras av opportunistiskt beteende genom income smoohting i syfte att dämpa resultat. Vidare framför denna studie kritik av tidigare studiers slutsatser om förekomst av agerande i linje med opportunism då redovisad diskonteringsränta avviker från en genom CAPM beräknad diskonteringsränta. / In 2005 IFRS 3 and IAS 36 were implemented in Sweden. As of this companies perform impairment testing of goodwill. These impairment tests may include discounted cash flow analyses. The researchers Carlin and Finch conducted a study in 2009 of Australian listed companies to investigate if the discount rates used in these impairment tests possibly were used opportunistically. They did this by demonstrating deviations between the discount rates that companies reported and discount rates calculated by the researchers using the Capital Asset Pricing Model [CAPM]. Carlin and Finch argues that reported discount rates that deviated more than 150 basis points from the estimated discount rates cannot be explained by estimation error and is thus consistent with opportunistic behavior. Explanations were presented by Carlin and Finch concerning the occurrence of these deviations. These include earnings management in the form of big bath and income smoothing.   This study examines whether deviating discount rates occur and if the explanations presented by Carlin and Finch can be documented for companies listed on Nasdaq OMX Stockholm in 2010. This is conducted by using the same method as Carlin and Finch regarding the calculation of the discount rates. Further this is related to earnings and actual performed goodwill impairments. This study shows that deviations between reported discount rates and theoretical discount rates, estimated by CAPM, are prevalent and that these deviations may have been motivated by big bath, though this appears to be unusual. No deviations between reported and theoretical discount rates can be shown that can be explained by opportunistic behavior by conducting income smoothing to dampen earnings. Furthermore, in this study criticism is put forth of earlier studies’ conclusions concerning behavior consistent with opportunism explaining deviations between reported and theoretical discount rates calculated using CAPM.

Sammanfattning Datum: 2023-05-30 Nivå: Kandidatuppsats i företagsekonomi, 15 hp Institution: Akademin för Ekonomi, Samhälle och Teknik, Mälardalens Universitet  Författare: Andreas Byström Wilhelm Stenlund                        97/09/12            02/04/09 Titel: Goodwillnedskrivning, en jämförelse mellan noterade och onoterade  företag. Handledare: Aija Voitkane  Nyckelord: Goodwill, Goodwillnedskrivning, IFRS, IAS36, Informationsasymmetri, Opportunism, Marknad, Noterade företag, Onoterade företag. Frågeställningar: Vilka variabler påverkar hanteringen av goodwillnedskrivning?  Finns det skillnader mellan noterade och onoterade företag vad gäller variablernas påverkan på goodwillnedskrivning?  Syfte: Studien syftar till att undersöka goodwillhanteringen i noterade och onoterade företag för att bidra med eventuell kunskap om diskrepans i redovisningspraktik som styrs av möjligheter till opportunism.  Metod: En kvantitativ forskningsmetod har använts, sekundärdata i form av årsredovisningar 2019–2021 har samlats in via databasen Retriever Business. Därefter har korrelations- och regressionsanalyser genomförts.  Slutsats: Studien konstaterar att det finns en positiv korrelation mellan att vara noterad och procentuell goodwillnedskrivning, samt att noterade företag jämfört med onoterade skriver ned högre andel av goodwill. I övrigt har inga signifikanta samband mellan de undersökta variablerna och goodwillnedskrivning upptäckts, varpå inga övriga skillnader mellan noterade och onoterade företag har kunnat konstateras. / Abstract Date: 2023-05-30 Level: Bachelor thesis in Business Administration, 15 cr  Institution: School of Business, Society and Engineering, Mälardalen University  Authors: Andreas Byström, Wilhelm Stenlund                   97/09/12              02/04/09 Title: Goodwillimpairment, a comparison between listed and unlisted companies.  Supervisor: Aija Voitkane Keywords: Goodwill, Goodwillimpairment, IFRS, IAS 36, Informationsasymmetri,  Opportunism, Market, Listed, Unlisted.  Research Questions: What variables are considered to affect the management of goodwill impairment? Are there differences between listed and unlisted companies in terms of the variable's impact on goodwill impairment?  Purpose: The study aims to investigate goodwillimpairment in listed and unlisted companies to contribute with possible knowledge about discrepancy in accounting practice that is governed by opportunities for opportunism.  Method: This study is based on a quantitative research method where secondary data has been collected through the database Retriever Business, the data has been collected via annual reports for year 2019–2021. Descriptive statistics has been analyzed in combination with correlation- and regression analysis through Rstudio.  Conclusion: The study states that there is a positive correlation between being listed and percentage write-down of goodwill, and that compared to unlisted companies, listed companies write down a higher percentage of goodwill. Otherwise, no significant relationships between the examined variables and goodwill write-downs have been discovered, whereupon no other differences between listed and unlisted companies have been ascertained.

Blockchain technology with its distributed ledgers attracts massive attention today and creates interest in many different industries. One of the most promising areas for implementation of blockchain technology is its use to create fully automated and decentralized contract solutions, so-called smart contracts. The blockchain technology is also expected to develop the concept of BIM by facilitating the creation of a common model. The problem addressed in this study is the limited amount of research carried out in the blockchain field and the potential use of smart contracts in procurement of services in the construction industry.  The construction industry differs from many other industries as it is project-based with changing circumstances and conditions. The study shows that the construction industry is an industry focused on discussions and disputes, the majority of which are linked to payments and contractual interpretations. Two of the key concepts of the study are therefore moral hazard and opportunistic behavior. Opportunistic behavior can affect norms, the willingness for cooperation and the degree to which parties trust each other. Designing contracts to reduce the risk of moral hazard and opportunistic behavior is therefore an important aspect. The study has chosen to study both relationships that are hierarchical to nature but also peer-to-peer.  The purpose of the study has been to conceptually reflect on percived opportunities and challenges with blockchains in the construction industry regarding two identified applications, smart contracts and BIM. To investigate this, a qualitative interview study has been conducted. The study points to the need for a more standardized building process that is subject to a certain degree of repetition to achieve successful use of a blockchain network and smart contracts. The study also shows that there is a positive attitude from the respondents regarding a possible development for several of the potential applications of blockchain technology. Blockchain technology and smart contracts have the potential to improve the reliability and credibility of logbooks, self-checks and work performed within a building project. Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of long-term relationships and confidence in reducing opportunistic behavior. Based on previous research and empirical analysis, the study contributes to an increased understanding of which levels in the construction industry smart contracts may be applicable. The study shows that smart contracts are not perceived suitable for complex contracts where the work to be performed can be changed many times during the contract period. The study, on the other hand, indicates that blockchain development with BIM is not demanded at the present time. Finally, the study points out that blockchain technology is perceived to have the potential to make the building process more transparent and open with reduced power conditions at the same time as it gets less centralized which opens up the need for research in that direction. / Blockkedjetekniken med sina distribuerade liggare lockar idag massiv uppmärksamhet och skapar intresse inom många olika branscher. Ett av de mest lovande områdena för implementering av blockkedjetekniken är dess användning för att skapa helt automatiserade och decentraliserade kontraktslösningar, så kallade smarta kontrakt. Blockkedjetekniken spås även kunna utveckla begreppet BIM genom att underlätta skapandet av en gemensam modell. Problemet som adresseras i denna studie är den begränsade mängd forskning som har utförts gällande blockkedjor och smarta kontrakts potentiella användning vid upphandling av tjänster i byggbranschen.  Byggbranschen skiljer sig från många andra branscher då den är projektbaserad med föränderliga förhållanden och förutsättningar. Studien visar på att byggbranschen är en bransch kantad av diskussioner och tvister, vars majoritet är kopplad till betalningar och kontraktstolkningar. Två för studien centrala begrepp är därmed moral hazard och opportunistiskt beteende. Opportunistiskt beteende kan påverka normer, viljan till samarbete och i hur hög grad parter litar på varandra. Att utforma kontrakt så att risken för moral hazard och opportunistiskt beteende minskar är därmed en viktig aspekt. Studien har valt att studera både relationer som är hierarkiska till naturen men också peer-to-peer.  Syftet med studien har varit att konceptuellt reflektera över uppfattade nya möjligheter och utmaningar som finns med blockkedjor i byggbranschen gällande två identifierade användningsområden, smarta kontrakt och BIM. För att undersöka detta har en kvalitativ intervjustudie genomförts. Studien pekar på att det krävs en mer standardiserad byggnadsprocess som omfattas av en viss grad av upprepning för att få en lyckad använding av ett blockkedje-nätverk och smarta kontrakt. Studien visar också på att det finns en positiv grundinställning från respondenternas sida kring en möjlig utveckling för flera av blockkedjeteknikens potentiella applikationer. Blockkedjetekniken och smarta kontrakt har potentialen att förbättra tillförlitligheten och trovärdigheten hos loggböcker, egenkontroller och utförda arbeten inom ett byggnadsprojekt. Vidare belyser studien vikten av långsiktiga relationer och tillit för att minska opportunistiskt beetende. Baserat på tidigare forskning, empiri och analys bidrar studien till en ökad förståelse kring vilka nivåer inom byggbranschen smarta kontrakt kan vara applicerbara. Studien förevisar att smarta kontrakt inte uppfattas lämpa sig för komplicerade kontrakt där arbetet som ska utföras kan ändras många gånger under kontraktsperioden. Studien indikerar däremot att blockkedje utvecklingen med BIM inte efterfrågas i dagsläget. Slutligen pekar studien på att blockkedjetekniken uppfattas ha potential att göra byggprocessen mer transparent och öppen med minskade maktförhållanden samt mindre centraliserade vilket öppnar upp behov av forskning i den riktningen.

The MNC literature treats the (parent) HQ as entirely benevolent with respect to their perceived and actual intentions when they intervene at lower levels of the MNC. However, HQ may intervene in subsidiaries in ways that demotivate subsidiary employees and managers (and therefore harm value-creation). This may happen even if such intervention is benevolent in its intentions. We argue that the movement away from more traditional hierarchical forms of the MNC and towards network MNCs placed in more dynamic environments gives rise to more occasions for potentially harmful intervention by HQ. Network MNCs should therefore be particularly careful to anticipate and take precautions against "intervention hazards". Following earlier research, we point to the role of normative integration and procedural justice, but argue that they also serve to control harmful HQ intervention (and not just subsidiary opportunism). (authors' abstract)

In networked MNCs where knowledge and power are distributed, corporate strategy processes benefit from input arising from many different levels of the organization. Recently, the regional (i.e., supra-national) level has been emphasized as an important additional source of knowledge and input, and as a bridge between local subsidiaries and global corporate headquarters. This paper builds theory on the antecedents to regional headquarters' influence on corporate decisions (i.e., organizational, behavioral, and motivational). Based on a survey of regional headquarters in Europe and their relations with MNC headquarters, we provide empirical evidence that a regional headquarters' autonomy and signaling behavior have significant effects on its influence on corporate strategy. Furthermore, we find support for our hypothesis that the regional headquarters' charter moderates such bottom-up influence. (authors' abstract)