Offering business solutions instead of selling products has been identified by many firms as a strategy to fight against price pressure through commoditisation, to strengthen relationships with customers, and to increase ‘share of wallet’. Yet, three out of four companies selling business solutions fail to see a sustainable economic impact (Johansson et al., 2003). One approach to understanding how business solution suppliers could change this situation is to develop an understanding of the life cycle of business solutions, from idea generation to redeployment. This systematic review examines how the literature conceptualises the development, deployment and redeployment of business solutions. It systematically identifies and then analyses 31 scholarly articles contributing to our knowledge on this issue. The review discusses the literature within the framework of four aspects. Firstly, the review proposes the processes and phases of the development and deployment of business solutions. Secondly, it presents the components of the redeployment of business solutions. Thirdly, it provides information on the actors involved in the development, deployment, and redeployment of business solutions, and, fourthly, it discusses the interaction forms of these actors. The discussion shows that evidence in relation to the conceptualisation of the development, deployment, and redeployment of business solutions remains at a superficial, tentative and inconclusive level. The major limitations of the extant literature relate to the studies’ context-specificity, their lack of theoretical underpinning, and their deficiency of including actors of the supplier and/or customer network in the empirical investigation even though there is evidence that they play a role in the development, deployment, and redeployment of business solutions. Based on the limitations identified, the study suggests opportunities of further research.

Background: Due to several threats that are facing our planet a hybrid business form has emerged throughout the recent decade, the social enterprise (SE). A SE is created with one purpose, to create social value. However, it is also aiming for financial profit to be able to fulfill its social mission. The dual focus of SEs differentiates them from other business forms and much remains to understand how they manage this over time. Little is known about SE business models (BMs) and how they develop over time. Problem Discussion: Globalization has led to increased business competition, which in turn has led to an increased attention of business model innovation (BMI) as a tool to create and/or sustain competitive advantage. Since BMI can be a key process in all industries it is relevant to understand BMI in order to manage it successfully and achieve a good result. Unfortunately little attention has been given to the BMI process, how BMI unfolds over time. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore how BMI unfolds over time at GodEl. This will be done by: (1) looking at how the BM components have changed over time from the establishment of the firm until present, and (2) identifying main events that have triggered these changes. Methodology: This study is a qualitative single case study. The data has been collected via 16 semi-structured interviews, two focus groups, as well as via historical archives. The findings have been analyzed in a within-case analysis. The case organization is GodEl, a Swedish electric retailer. Empirical Findings: The findings contain a complete review of the company history and BMI between 2001 and 2015, based on the collected data. It is structured in identified time periods. Conclusions: It can be concluded that BMI at GodEl between its establishment and present day has been achieved by small incremental changes in the BM components one step at a time. It has been a continuous process of trial-and- error. Future Research: Further research is needed in order to deepen the understanding of BMI process.

Acquisitions for a value of approximately $2 trillion are conducted globally every year with the motives of i.e., enhanced market power and increased shareholder value. Despite the interest in acquisitions the failure rate on acquisitions in 2011 was estimated to 70-90 %. Thus researchers have called for further examination on acquisitions and especially on the acquisition process, and strategic fit and organizational fit, which is believed to facilitate the outcome of the acquisitions. The acquisition process is described as a linear process con- sisting of two sub processes, pre-acquisition and post-acquisition, that acquiring organiza- tions progress through step-wise. The purpose of this study is to examine how the acquisition process and strategic fit and organizational fit can be handled to facilitate successful acquisitions. In order to get a deep and comprehensive understanding of the acquisitions process, the authors of this thesis have conducted a case study. The company, ITAB Shop Concept AB, has a background of 20 successful acquisitions, which have contributed to a steady growth in both turnover and share price. ITAB Shop Concept AB has been researched through in- depth interviews with key persons in the management, responsible for the acquisitions conducted. By adopting a dynamic approach to the acquisition process and taking an overall view of the strategic fit and organizational fit in each phase of the acquisition process, organiza- tions can understand and prevent the possible issues leading to failure. Furthermore organ- izations might benefit from having an acquisition process adapted for each acquisition tar- get. For example it is found that by conducting due-diligence in the post-acquisition pro- cess instead of the pre-acquisition process, and keeping the same persons in the acquisition team, more efficient use of resources and prior experience is facilitated.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-14T13:16:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 3212075 bytes, checksum: 892726a71d4fd27b59d29f7f173f15d9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-12-17 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Since the promulgation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the subject of rights became part of a fertile field of researches and debates. Some empirical studies have signaled that the concept of human rights depends on the progress of the decision- process perspective of the other, however, such studies didn t focus to verify systematically the existence of this relationship. This thesis aimed to determine the evolution of the conception of HR during human development and if this conception is related to the decision- process perspective. The theoretical approaches adopted were Doise s social psychological perspective on Human Rights plus Piaget and Robert Selman s theories about the decision-process perspective. To accomplish the goal, six studies were proposed during this research. The first study was provided to create items from the Scale of Understanding about Human Rights-SUHR according to four levels of hierarchical conceptions about HR. The second one aimed the psychometric validation of the SUHR and analysis of socio-demographic factors on this scale based on the study about 300 students, divided into 3 age groups: GI=8years old, GII=12 years old and GIII=16 years old, equally distributed according to their sex and the type of their school. The instrument used was the SUHR, a Likert type 5-point scale, in which students pointed out if they understood each of the proposed items, as well as the degree of agreement about them. In SPSS (version 21), descriptive statistics, factor analysis and internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) were computed. Considering Bartlett's sphericity test, and Kaiser and Cattell s criteria and Parallel Analysis, it was observed that the SUHR presented a factorial organization composed by three dimensions: Guiding principles of humanity, Governing principles of the society and Basic concrete rights revealed the relationship item-factor and the indicators of internal consistency accepted by the statistical literature. Differences were found in the scores of medium scores of age and school integration on levels of understanding of HR. In the third study, were performed a confirmatory factor analysis of SUHR through new data collection in which attended 240 students with similar characteristics to the previous socio- demographic research. In AMOS GRAFICS program, carried out a confirmatory factor analysis; was adopted the ML estimator (MaximumLikelihood) and it was compared to alternative structural models (one factor, two factors and three factors, this one was the expected model) which confirmed the existence of SUHR s three factors which were positively interrelated. The fourth study aimed to develop items related to the stages of social perspective taking to the Scale of Social Decision-Process Perspective-SSDPP. A number of 149 students, aged between 5 and 26 years (Medium age=12,10 years old, SD = 6, 17 %), with 67.3 % of public institutions and 32.7 % of private institutions participated of this study. We used the Dilemma of Olga and the dilemma of the Landless. The answers to the dilemmas were categorized according to the levels of decision-social perspective proposed by Selman. The analysis of the frequencies of responses to the dilemma of Olga revealed significant differences in the age variable, no differences were found for the variables school type and gender. However, the analysis of the frequencies of responses to the plight of landless revealed significant differences in the age and type of school. Based on these analyzes, it was possible to prepare the items for all the stages of making social perspective that made up the instrument. The fifth study, the same students participated in the study and the instrument used was 3 ETPS-scale type Likertde 5 points, in which the students pointed understood if each proposed item, as well as the degree of agreement regarding each. The data collected with the ETPS related to Olga's Dilemma and Dilemma of Landless underwent an AFE following the same criteria used in the analysis of ECDH, however, the factor structure proved confusing and poorly interpreted. Thus, we chose to carry a measure by theory, starting from the theoretical perspective of Selman to assess the structural quality of the scale in question. Regarding the Dilemma of Olga, the AFC indicators revealed that both confirmed Selman's theory about the stages of social perspective taking as the guarantee of a scale capable of measuring these stages. However, the results of the analyses performed with the dilemma of Landless revealed indicators of confirmatory factor analysis under those considered acceptable by the relevant literature. Differences were found in scores of mean scores of age and school integration on levels of decision- process perspective. Finally, in the sixth study, was performed the verification of the desired theoretical model (association between stages of perspective taking to the levels of conceptions of DH). In AMOS 21.0 program, was generated what has been satisfactorily corroborated hypothesized theoretical model. The data were discussed according to theoretical and empirical studies. / Desde a promulgação da Declaração Universal dos Direitos Humanos, a temática dos direitos passou a integrar um campo fértil de debates e pesquisas. Alguns estudos empíricos sinalizaram que as concepções acerca dos direitos humanos dependem do avanço do processo de tomada de perspectiva do outro, contudo, tais estudos não se detiveram a verificar sistematicamente a existência desta relação. Diante desta lacuna, esta tese objetivou verificar como evolui a concepção acerca dos DH durante o desenvolvimento humano e se esta concepção está relacionada ao processo de tomada de perspectiva. Os enfoques teóricos adotados foram a perspectiva psicossociológica de Doise sobre os Direitos Humanos e as teorias de Piaget e de Robert Selman sobre a tomada de perspectiva. Para alcançar este objetivo, foram propostos seis estudos. O primeiro estudo se prestou a construir os itens da Escala de compreensão acerca dos direitos humanos- ECDH de acordo com quatro níveis hierárquicos de concepções acerca dos DH. O segundo estudo teve como objetivo a validação psicométrica da ECDH e a análise das variáveis sóciodemográficas sobre os fatores da escala e contou com a participação de 300 estudantes, divididos em 3 grupos de idade: GI= 8anos, GII=12 anos e GIII= 16 anos, distribuídos, igualmente quanto ao sexo e ao tipo de escola. O Instrumento utilizado foi a ECDH, uma escala tipo Likert de 5 pontos, em que os estudantes assinalaram se compreenderam cada item proposto bem como o grau de concordância em relação aos mesmos. No SPSS (versão 21), foram computadas estatísticas descritivas, análise fatorial e índices de consistência interna (Alfa de Cronbach). Considerando o teste de esfericidade de Bartlett, os critérios de Kaiser e Cattell e a Análise Paralela, observou-se que a ECDH apresentou uma organização fatorial composta três dimensões: Princípios orientadores da humanidade, Princípios reguladores da sociedade e Direitos básicos concretos que revelaram tanto a relação itemfator quanto indicadores de consistência interna aceitáveis pela literatura estatística. Foram encontradas diferenças nas pontuações dos escores médios da idade e da inserção escolar sobre os níveis de compreensão dos DH. No terceiro estudo, realizou-se a análise fatorial confirmatória da ECDH, mediante nova coleta de dados da qual participaram 240 estudantes com características sócio-demográficas semelhantes aos do estudo anterior. No programa AMOS GRAFICS, realizou-se uma análise fatorial confirmatória; adotando-se o estimador ML (Maximum Likelihood) e comparando aos modelos estruturais alternativos (um fator, dois fatores e três fatores, este último, o modelo esperado) que confirmou a existência dos três fatores da ECDH os quais estiveram interrelacionados positivamente. O quarto estudo teve o objetivo de elaborar itens referentes aos estágios de tomada de perspectiva social para a Escala de Tomada de Perspectiva Social ETPS. Participaram 149 estudantes com idades variando entre 5 e 26 anos (Média= 12, 10 anos e DP= 6, 17%), sendo 67,3% de instituições públicas e 32,7% de instituições privadas. Utilizou-se o Dilema de Olga e o dilema dos Sem-terra. As respostas dadas aos dilemas foram categorizadas conforme os níveis de tomada de perspectiva social propostos por Selman. A análise das freqüências de respostas dadas ao dilema de Olga revelou diferenças significativas em relação à variável idade; não foram encontradas diferenças quanto às variáveis tipo de escola e gênero. Já a análise das freqüências de respostas dadas ao dilema dos sem terra revelou diferenças significativas quanto à idade e o tipo de escola. Com base nestas análises, foi possível elaborar os itens relativos a todos os estágios de tomada de perspectiva social que compuseram o instrumento. Do quinto estudo, participaram os mesmos estudantes do estudo 3 e o instrumento utilizado foi a ETPS - escala tipo Likert de 5 pontos, em que os estudantes assinalaram se compreenderam cada item proposto, bem como, o grau de concordância em relação cada um deles. Os dados coletados com a ETPS referentes ao Dilema de Olga e Dilema dos Sem-terra foram submetidos a uma AFE seguindo os mesmos critérios adotados na análise da ECDH, contudo, a estrutura fatorial mostrou-se confusa e pouco interpretável. Assim, optou-se realizar uma medida por teoria, partindo-se da perspectiva teórica de Selman para avaliar a qualidade estrutural da escala em questão. No que tange ao Dilema de Olga, a AFC revelou indicadores que tanto confirmaram a teoria de Selman sobre os estágios de tomada de perspectiva social quanto a garantia de uma escala capaz de mensurar esses estágios. Contudo, os resultados das análises realizadas com o Dilema dos Sem-terra revelaram indicadores da análise fatorial confirmatória aquém daqueles considerados aceitáveis pela literatura pertinente. Foram encontradas diferenças nas pontuações dos escores médios da idade e da inserção escolar sobre os níveis de tomada de perspectiva. Por fim, no sexto estudo, efetuou-se a verificação do modelo teórico pretendido (associação dos estágios de tomada de perspectiva com os níveis de concepções acerca dos DH). No programa AMOS 21.0, gerou-se o modelo teórico hipotetizado que foi satisfatoriamente corroborado. Os dados foram discutidos à luz da literatura pertinente e de estudos empíricos.

In this essay, four teachers of English as a foreign language were interviewed about their conceptions of culture and language. The purpose was to investigate what they consider important to teach their students about culture and how they attempt to achieve this in practice. Furthermore, it was discussed whether the teaching of culture can be improved. The study was conducted through semi-structured interviews, using theory about culture taught from either a product perspective, as observable behaviors, facts and information, or from a process perspective, as values, attitudes and empathy with otherness. The results showed that the teachers generally aimed to teach culture from a process perspective, promoting empathy, deconstructing stereotypes and teaching about the students’ own culture as well as cultural features in other parts of the world. They also listed some methods of achieving this aim. However, many of the teaching methods were more centered around facts and information, particularly about national cultures. This suggested an approach more focused on culture as a product, which may be detrimental to the voiced goals of teaching culture as a process.

Background: Freno AB in Piteå has expanded rapidly in recent years and wishes to continue the expansion at aneven faster pace. At the same time, the company has noted that there are challenges to maintain high quality, goodeconomy and good marketability. The expansion sets demand on the finances for new premises and equipment aswell as for the development of new product models. The company shall also be able to provide aftermarket servicesand sell to new customers and market segments. In addition, there is requirements to develop skills in the newemployee’s and continuing to develop the existing employees. Furthermore, there are needs to invest in digitalsupport systems for design, production planning, logistics and financial functions as well as customer support andaftermarket.Freno´s goal is to ensure that the conditions for an expansion in each individual part is set before the expansion isstarted. The reason for the positioning is based on the fact, that there have been shortcomings in their businessactivities in most of the areas mentioned above and that many of the challenges lie in unclear communicationstructures. Task: In the thesis have I investigated how the company’s current knowledge and competence is transferred betweendifferent unites. The starting point has been stated in the fact that the employees are the ones who possessesinsight, knowledge and experience about the company's business and the opportunities and challenges that arecurrently in place. The study is based on the current state of Freno with a question about how streamlining communicationsbetween employees and departments can support a continued expansion. Method: The thesis is based on the methodology of Social Network Analysis, where the data regarding network,logic views and culture has been collected from the 12 employees. The interviewed answered via forms and hadthe opportunity to give open answers to some questions and give complementary information where deemed necessary.The required data was transferred to Excel and transformed into diagrams or further exported into Gephito create and understand the network configurations. The results were analyzed and interpreted via the theoreticalframework and cross referenced with other results to validate the conclusions. Results: The evaluation showed that competence and collaboration was not used in an optimal manner for maximizingproductivity. If the presented result is taken into consideration, will the company likely be able to predicthow strategic decisions can affect both existing and lacking communicational structures. A more transparent communicationbetween departments and with functioning support structure (i.e. production planning, updated schematics,goods, order stock with more) will probably affect the efficiency positively. Findings: The analysis showed that a combination between the bow-tie configuration, the imploded group structuresand a missing culture of the socio-technical multifunctional principle, inhibited the transfer and generationof new knowledge within the company. Causing a drift between the company’s knowledge and information needsand their combability view. The irregular network structures in combination with structural holes has made a heavyworkload on the centerpiece in the company. With that discovery was seven holes noted in the company network,which is assumed to have been handled by the centerpiece.Moreover, was a logical clash identified between the current and the previous CEO, changing the base for validatingactions and causing unclarity. Which in combination a chattered humane orientation culture and unclarity abouthow actions were validated via individual or groups acceptance. It was furthermore discovered that the workinstructions for the employed did define the employees influence via tools and technical support that enhanced thenetworks interaction patterns. Recommendations: The presented solutions includes team-building exercises, establishing a formal learningspace. Furthermore, is it recommended to establish up to seven formal meetings places and that knowledge typerequirements shall be identified and defined to secure what validates work related actions. It is also suggested toestablish mentorship protocols, in order to increase the knowledge transfer within the company and reduce therisks of bottleneck and locking effects. Keywords: Small to medium enterprises, iterative processes, Culture, resistance, influence, groupconfigurations, knowledge transfer, process perspective, social network analysis.

Diploma thesis deals with the proposal of the Balanced Scorecard for a selected company. The theoretical part of this thesis includes research of available literature, which is focused on company performance measurement in general, financial statements, financial analysis, strategic analysis and the BSC method. In the practical part, after financial and strategic analysis, proposal of the four BSC perspectives (financial, customer, internal process, learning and growth) is presented, based on the strategy of the company.

This Master´s thesis deals with the issue of company performance measurement. Theoretical knowledge regarding the method which focuses above all on quality which is Six Sigma is covered in here. The second method of research, which focuses on management arising form strategy and vision of a company, is Balanced Scorecard. The method, which is the most suitable for the company Zálesí a.s. is elaborated on in the practical part. At the end of the thesis, there is a suggestion of a model in compliance with which the company can proceed in the everyday operation.

The Master´s thesis is focused on evaluation of performance in the company by using the Balanced Scorecard. Theoretical part describes the concept of Balanced Scorecard, the process for its implementation and the possible risks. In the next part of the thesis there is introduced COFELY a.s., there are performed some analysis of internal and external business environment, financial analysis and there is a proposal to implement the concept of Balanced Scorecard. In conclusion of the thesis summarizes the risks and benefits of this method for the analyzed company.

The Master´s thesis is focused on evaluation of performance in the company by using Balanced Scorecard. Theoretical part describes the method of Balanced Scorecard and other analyses needed to measure performance. The next part evaluates current situation of Matezex spol. s r.o. by using selected analytical methods and in conclusion is a proposal for implementing the Balanced Scorecard in the company. Within this part there are strategic goals of individual perspectives, strategic map, schedule of implementation and there are assessed risks that could accompany implementation of this concept.