To design anything with lightness in mind is perhaps a contradiction in itself. To impose upon the designer such a factor from the outset of a brief surely creates a burden or limitation in the consideration of materials and form. However, the focus of this research project is to examine and apply lightness in a range of contexts or conditions. The aim is to explore the singularity of each condition; then to discuss the paradox and contradictions that are often present in new products that continue to predominate with a duplicitous emphasis on aesthetics and form. For the purpose of exploration of lightness, a series of products will be created to expose the paradox that exists in deploying a strategy such as lightness in singularity, without considering broader implication of product design on the environment, economy and society. These 3D outputs comprise the practice based component of this research, the balance to be a written exegesis. The genuine crisis of sustainable design is the need to design to construct a point of view on design - a paradoxically futile position that is directly linked to the challenge of engaging in true sustainable product design practice. This paradox will be investigated through a range of Sustainable Product Design strategies, examining the irony that exists in producing more goods and services to solve the problems of a world already oversupplied with the 'stuff' of humankind.

According to the gunman theory many revolutions do not take place, in spite of the fact that the majority stands to gain if they can put an end to the oppression exercised over it, since a gunman can see to it that egoistic individuals have no incentive to take part in the revolution. Champions of the idea that there is a paradox of revolution go further: Even if individuals care about the common good, they will not take action. This is wrong. If they care about the common good revolution will take place. This is good news. The bad news is, however, that those conditions, as we find them in social psychological literature, that are helpful to the revolutionary cause tend to get undermined by the oppressive system when it is well functioning.

This thesis is an examination of the traveler’s dilemma and its backward induction argument. I begin by explaining relevant terminology, the prisoner’s dilemma, and the iterated prisoner’s dilemma; the discussion of which aids my examination of the traveler’s dilemma and its backward induction argument. My evaluation of the traveler’s dilemma involves a dissection of the game into its different components, a presentation of the salient similarities and differences between the traveler’s dilemma and the prisoner’s dilemma, and the exploration of three possible solutions. The first two solutions are adapted from ones initially created to solve other backward induction argument problems. The third solution is original and its foundation rests on the unique structure of the traveler’s dilemma. I focus on this third solution and consider several objections to it. I end this thesis with some ancillary comments about the possibility of generalizing the third solution to other backward induction argument problems. / February 2008

Knowledge and technology has in recent decades become a driving force of economic growth and national productivity (Goldfarb & Henrekson, 2003). This recognition has had an impact of the universities’ core mission. Traditionally, the core mission of uni-versities has been teaching and researching, but nowadays the universities are also ex-pected to take on an active role in commercialization of the research result as a part of their mission. The Swedish government invests heavily in R&D and perceives the in-vestment as vital for the innovation system. However, the high investment have caused a lot of controversy and debates due to the perception of low innovation output in rela-tion to the investment, a phenomenon which is generally known as “The Swedish para-dox”. The Swedish paradox is influenced by several factors, one of them is that the high expenditures in university R&D generates poor outcome in relation to the investments (Henrekson & Rosenberg, 2001; Goldfarb and Henrekson, 2003). The purpose of this thesis was to explore how Swedish universities’ influence the Swedish paradox through their commercialization activities and support structures. Commercialization activities refer to the various activities which universities may choose in order to commercialize its research, including patenting, licensing, spin-offs and human capital activities. The support structure refers to the structure which the universities use to facilitate commer-cialization. In order to fulfill the purpose a multiple case-study approach was chosen in which semi-structured interviews were conducted. The chosen universities in the study were Halmstad University, Jönköping University, Linnaeus University and Lund Uni-versity. The underlying reason for the chosen approach was that the material needed to answer the purpose was to be found in a qualitative approach. The main finding of the study is that there exists insufficiencies in university commer-cialization activities and support structures which may explain why research results tend to remain at the universities, hence influencing the Swedish paradox. The results gave indications of; the tendency of too complex commercialization systems, lack of encour-agement of researchers’ involvement in commercialization, the modest use of collabora-tive agreements for collective efforts in commercialization and low prioritizing of li-censing and patenting, and finally, the necessity of a culture which advocates commer-cialization and senior management support who places commercialization as a central issue. This study leverages an insight into universities commercialization and its influ-ence on the Swedish paradox, the result of this study is valuable for both universities, in order to improve their commercialization performance and for the region and nation for a possibility to increase the output of university commercialization.

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This thesis is an examination of the traveler’s dilemma and its backward induction argument. I begin by explaining relevant terminology, the prisoner’s dilemma, and the iterated prisoner’s dilemma; the discussion of which aids my examination of the traveler’s dilemma and its backward induction argument. My evaluation of the traveler’s dilemma involves a dissection of the game into its different components, a presentation of the salient similarities and differences between the traveler’s dilemma and the prisoner’s dilemma, and the exploration of three possible solutions. The first two solutions are adapted from ones initially created to solve other backward induction argument problems. The third solution is original and its foundation rests on the unique structure of the traveler’s dilemma. I focus on this third solution and consider several objections to it. I end this thesis with some ancillary comments about the possibility of generalizing the third solution to other backward induction argument problems.

The coal industry exercises a pervasive influence on mining communities in Appalachia, even though it exerts enormous damages on the environment and makes limited contributions to employment and the advancement of the communities. One explanation for this paradox offered by Bell is a depletion of social capital among coalfield residents in Central Appalachia (2009). Her data suggests that the “ripping away” of the region’s strong union identity lead to a resocialization, “from a ‘we’ mentality to an ‘I’ mentality, thus demising the store of social capital” (2009:655). My research aims to interpret how social capital resources among union miners was translated to solidarity in the mining community, and how the union generated social capital and fostered solidarity among miners and their families. This research finds that the union was both a creator and a preserver of social capital. The coalfield residents demonstrated a high degree of social capital and solidarity in terms of a sense of reliability, dedication to collective activities, and intimate extended networks. Furthermore, the union’s strategies of holding regular meetings, organizing large-scale strikes, promoting collective identity, securing public benefits, and electing charismatic leaders were of great significance for the production of both social capital and solidarity.

Who has never reflected about an artist or a creative person thinking why this person is not recognized and famous? Why so much talent for nobody?Who has never reflected, why this singer sings or this actor plays or this fashion designer draws? And secretly thinks that he or she should not.Finding a talented and a creative leader is a real challenge for the company. Finding the good one, we mean. Indeed, the creative leader is the key of improvement and success for creative organizations such as the theater, cinema, cuisine, music and fashion… Once the company found him or her, it has to keep him or her, to give to him or her all the freedom and power he or she needs because he is the one that is able to create great products, to draw out the creativity of the team and to build a clear vision for the company.However, the company also has to deal with constraints. There are financial, material, humans…This thesis try to understand how creative companies work and what are the characteristics of a creative leader. But we do not let the financial part be a taboo. Creative companies build a bridge between their talented leader and their financial restrictions. This paradox involves the question of whether to control or to let the creativity be completely free. The duality between leading creativity and leading rationality is the matter of this thesis.We illustrate the dichotomy with the business of fashion, in particular with Haute Couture Houses. The study case is a way to go inside a real creative organization and to understand how the leadership is implemented.

This thesis is an examination of the traveler’s dilemma and its backward induction argument. I begin by explaining relevant terminology, the prisoner’s dilemma, and the iterated prisoner’s dilemma; the discussion of which aids my examination of the traveler’s dilemma and its backward induction argument. My evaluation of the traveler’s dilemma involves a dissection of the game into its different components, a presentation of the salient similarities and differences between the traveler’s dilemma and the prisoner’s dilemma, and the exploration of three possible solutions. The first two solutions are adapted from ones initially created to solve other backward induction argument problems. The third solution is original and its foundation rests on the unique structure of the traveler’s dilemma. I focus on this third solution and consider several objections to it. I end this thesis with some ancillary comments about the possibility of generalizing the third solution to other backward induction argument problems.

To design anything with lightness in mind is perhaps a contradiction in itself. To impose upon the designer such a factor from the outset of a brief surely creates a burden or limitation in the consideration of materials and form. However, the focus of this research project is to examine and apply lightness in a range of contexts or conditions. The aim is to explore the singularity of each condition; then to discuss the paradox and contradictions that are often present in new products that continue to predominate with a duplicitous emphasis on aesthetics and form. For the purpose of exploration of lightness, a series of products will be created to expose the paradox that exists in deploying a strategy such as lightness in singularity, without considering broader implication of product design on the environment, economy and society. These 3D outputs comprise the practice based component of this research, the balance to be a written exegesis. The genuine crisis of sustainable design is the need to design to construct a point of view on design - a paradoxically futile position that is directly linked to the challenge of engaging in true sustainable product design practice. This paradox will be investigated through a range of Sustainable Product Design strategies, examining the irony that exists in producing more goods and services to solve the problems of a world already oversupplied with the 'stuff' of humankind.