The aim of this thesis is to evaluate how stakeholder participation should be implemented to improve societal acceptance for mega projects. Thereby societal acceptance is seen as a major contributor to project success in this context and involving society in decision-making and two-way dialogue is recognized as the most  effective to achieve this. Based on this research area, a theoretical framework was proposed for the mega project context including prerequisite, process and outcome criteria for stakeholder participation. In this sense, a critical realist ontology stance was assumed to develop the knowledge base and the research was carried out with a qualitative, deductive approach. The case of the coal-power plant “Datteln 4” project and its stakeholder participation forum were used as a unit of analysis for evaluating the proposed framework. From the case, data was collected from interviews with participants as well as forum documents and then analyzed using the template analysis. Based on this evidence, the proposed theoretical framework was adapted to a new case-based framework. The research had three objectives at the outset which were fulfilled in the discussion of the data findings. For the first of these, it was shown that the general link of stakeholder participation and societal acceptance is applicable to the mega project context. A second major finding was that the theoretical framework proposed in literature is relevant, however only to a certain extent. Contextual challenges pertaining to mega projects such as the nature of conflict, long duration and stakeholder positions, however, require more attention to these criteria. Lastly, the necessary further developments for the new case-based framework were discussed including that for mega projects underlying issues of transparency, expectations, power and atmosphere must constantly be considered in stakeholder participation. In conclusion, a stakeholder participation framework is presented that matches the context of mega projects and their need for societal acceptance. Therefore this thesis developed the theoretical knowledge on this underexplored area of project management, and for practitioners it offers criteria to consider during stakeholder participation in mega projects.

Water governance worldwide is going through a shift towards more holistic and participatory approaches. In Europe, the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) adopted in 2000, aims at protecting surface water and groundwater. The WFD emphasizes the importance of stakeholder participation in planning and implementation of the directive, and in order to reach environmental objectives. However, the empirical findings are insufficient regarding how stakeholder participation can lead to improved decisions and implemented plans. In Sweden, a major water quality problem is eutrophication caused to a large extend by diffuse nutrient leakage from agriculture. Therefore, it is important to involve farmers in water management, since their participation can lead the commitment of mitigation measures for reduced nutrient leakage. The overall aim of this study is to contribute the knowledge and understanding of active stakeholder participation in water management, in particular how it can lead to implementation of water quality objectives. The thesis addresses stakeholder participation in eutrophication management in local Swedish catchments, with a particular focus on farmers’ participation in the commitment of mitigation measures. The results are based on case study research, involving four catchment areas in Sweden with severe eutrophication problems. The thesis identified socio-demographic factors, farmers’ knowledge, and the level of existing information and economic support for wetland creation, as factors affecting farmers’ willingness to participate in wetland creation to mitigate nutrient leakage. In the local catchment groups studied, farmers and other local stakeholders participated to discuss potential mitigation activities. In these, farmers emphasized other emitting actors’ responsibility and commitment in local action plans. Where this was realized, social capital within the group increased and led to further collaboration. The thesis also analyzed large-scale wetland programmes at catchment scale, where the organizational and institutional arrangements were central to realize farmers’ participation: inter-municipal agreements entailed sufficient resources, the organization involved the most relevant actors; and leadership resources were important. The thesis argues that organizing water management at a catchment level can be important to cope with challenges related to stake-holder participation for mitigating diffuse nutrient leakage. In particular for dissemination and collection of information, suggesting potential measures for all concerned actors, provide resources needed to realize actions, and to build trust and collaboration. The thesis also emphasized that stakeholder participation has to be underpinned by a genuine meaning, both for the initiators and the participants. / <p>QC 20150506</p>

The aim of this thesis is to analyze the role that environmental technology plays in the solution of environmental problems in cities, and discuss models and conditions that can facilitate the processes of selection, implementation and use of environmental technologies in and by cities. The technological component is perhaps one of the most important characteristics of modern cities. The dependence of humans on technology is in most cases a given, something that is not ignored in the sustainability debate. The development and implementation of new, “better” technologies is however hindered by the inertia that modern societies have and the influence of the dominant systems (e.g. economic systems based on growth, extraction of natural resources and environmental disturbance). So-called environmental technologies are not always able to efficiently compete against other technologies that are embedded in societies by lock-in mechanisms, e.g. learning by doing and using, scale economies, subsidies, and network externalities. Even with the “right” technologies, an exclusively techno-centered approach to sustainability can result in other problems, and it might reduce the sustainability debate and the cities’ role in it to discussions of an administrative nature. The actual role of local actors and their agency must be also considered in the models and frameworks directed at understanding sustainability transition processes. It is thus important to analyze the dynamics of technology selection, implementation, use and diffusion in cities from a stakeholders’ perspective as well. Not only is the availability of technology of interest for understanding the impact it has on the environment, but also the intensity of its use. This has resulted in increased attention from politicians and scholars on the so-called global cities (e.g. London, New York, Tokyo), which are characterized by their intense use of e.g. transport, security and surveillance, and information and communication. Paradigmatic models of sustainability can however be contested when the role of local actors, power and agency are considered in detail and not isolated from the context. Some authors recognize the need to address what they call “ordinary cities”, since focusing on the cities’ comparative level of development (be it political, economic or technological) hinders the possibility of bidirectional learning. In the end, sustainability is a “collective good,” which means that it is in everyone’s interest to coordinate efforts and learn from the best practices, regardless of where they come from. This thesis focuses on “ordinary cities,” and promises to offer conclusions that can contribute to a better understanding of how societies can learn from each other and how environmental technologies can have deeper and better results when implemented in different contexts than the ones where they were developed. Two questions related to the process of environmental-technology adaptation are addressed in this thesis: How do technology adaptation processes for the solution of urban environmental problems take place in cities? And how do cities benefit from environmental technologies? It is found that environmental technology is not only seen as a solution to environmental problems in cities, but every day more as a component of strategies to attract attention and compete for resources in national and international markets. Cities have different adaptation and learning strategies. This means that technological solutions have to be flexible and adaptive to local conditions, and allow for vernacular knowledge and past experiences to enrich their performance by facilitating their connection to existing systems. Learning between cities is important and necessary for global sustainability transitions. When it comes to environmental technology, this process is facilitated by strong proof-of-concept projects. Such projects are not only expected to be able to show their technical ability to solve a problem, but must also offer contextual connections to the problems faced by interested cities or potential implementers.

Under de senare åren har fenomenet CSR blivit oerhört aktuellt bland både företag, intressenter och samhället i övrigt. Det har framställts att det numera berör hur utvecklingen av CSR påverkar företags beslutsfattande. Här finns två sidor som talar emot varandra, dels en där forskarna menar på att CSR har en påverkan på beslutsfattande medan den andra sidan anser att CSR inte påverkar beslutsfattandet i någon vidare utsträckning. Syftet med denna studie är att utforska kring hur CSR påverkar företags beslutsfattande. Koncernen som kommer att beaktas i studien är ICA-Gruppen. Med hjälp av en abduktiv metod jämför vi en tidigare teori och vårt empiriska insamlade material för att finna mönster och förståelse av verkligheten.  Genom studiens kvalitativa metod har fem semistrukturerade intervjuer genomförts hos olika ICA-handlare då vi eftersträvar en djupare förståelse av hur CSR integreras i beslut. Intervjuerna fortlöpte utefter en intervjuguide som i sin tur baserades på vår teoretiska referensram. Avslutningsvis analyserades empiriskt material mot utvalda begrepp. Vår slutsats kring studien är att främst fem faktorer avgör hur CSR integreras i beslut där beslutets storlek har en avgörande aspekt. Dessa faktorer observeras i en modell i analysen. Ett framtida forskningsförslag är hur CSR påverkar investeringsbeslut. Intressant hade även varit att se hur beslutsstorlekens inverkan på CSR.  Vårt bidrag med denna studie är att öka förståelsen kring hur beslutsfattare, i vårt fall ICA-handlare, tar hänsyn till CSR när beslut ska fattas. Vi anser att resultatet kan i viss mån vara överförbart till andra branscher och företag men man får ta viss faktorer i beaktande. / During these past years the phenomena CSR has become highly topical to companies, stakeholders as well as common society. It has been determined that development of CSR affects companies decision making. However, there are two sides to this. While some researchers claim that CSR affect the decision making, some also mean that CSR’s influence to decision making is not very strong. Our purpose with this study is to investigate, analyze and increase the comprehension of how CSR affect decision making among companies. The group that will be observed in the study is ICA- Gruppen. Using an abductive method we compare an earlier theory and our empirical collected material to find patterns and understanding of reality. In order to attain a deeper understanding of how CSR affect decisions, through the study’s qualitative method, five semi structured interviews was made with different ICA retailers. The interviews were conducted with help of an interview template which we based on our theoretical references. In conclusion, empirical material was analyzed to selected terms. Our conclusion of the study shows that mainly five factors determine how CSR will be integrated in decisions where the decision size has a crucial aspect. These factor are observed in the study. Future research proposals would be to understand how the decision size affect CSR. Our contribution with this study is to provide increased understanding of how decision makers, in this case ICA retailers, take CSR into account. We think the results could be implemented in other trades and organizations, however certain factors must be taken into account.

Abstract: Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a voluntary approach for businesses to assume extended responsibilities. Companies are required by various stakeholders to account for the environmental and social consequence of their activities. Stakeholder driven pressure are an extrinsic driver of CSR. Many empirical studies of CSR have focused on extrinsic drivers, but few studies focus on intrinsic drivers of CSR. In this study, the focus is placed on the intrinsic driver of a company’s CSR strategy and activities. Applying a CSR sense-making process model provided by Basu and Palazzo (2008), this study will explore the mindset of a company, so that a profile of CSR characteristic would be created. We will then be able to understand why a company response to external stakeholder expectation as the way it does. In this paper, a case study is carried out within the Swedish clothing retail sector. Three case companies, namely Hennes&amp;Mauritz, Mini Rodini and Houdini sportswear are chosen due to their excellence in CSR actions. The study aims to find out the intrinsic logic behind the Swedish clothing retail companies’ CSR strategies and actions. The similarities and differences of the case companies are compared. Further implications of how to effectively carry out CSR are given to other retailers in the same sector.

Sustainable development is one of the most frequently used expressions in the economic context. Its importance is emphasized not only at the national level but also at the corporate level. The purpose of this study is to find the influence of company´s age, size and type of industry on the level of sustainable development among Swedish companies. In order to accurately evaluate the level of sustainable development a comprehensive measurement scale is needed. We have recognized the research gap of lack of sustainability measurement methods. Thus, the second goal we have decided to achieve is to develop an extensive measurement scale for sustainability performance evaluation. The main contribution of the study lies in filling the research gap by providing a new measurement method that can be adopted in order to evaluate the sustainability performance and to find the effects of company age, size and type of industry on the level of CSR. The relationships in the study are hypothesized and summarized in the conceptual model and consequently tested. This study distinguishes five underlying perspectives of sustainability and several categories of company ages, size and types of industry. These aspects are in the focal point of the questionnaire sent to our sample of Swedish companies. The data collected from the survey were analyzed in SPSS statistics program using a variety of analytical methods. At first, each set of questions was analyzed separately. Thereafter, the findings regarding each determinant of CSR were thoroughly discussed. Based on the results from analytical tests a revised conceptual model is proposed. The new features added to the model should enhance its quality and explanatory value. The collected data reveal that the responding Swedish companies engage in the sustainability perspectives in a considerable extent. According to the results of the study there is no or minor effect of company age and type of industry on the level of CSR. Company size, however, is found to be a significant determinant of CSR causing an U-shaped effect. This U-shaped effect of company size implies that the level of CSR activities decreases as a company grows from small to middle-sized but increases from middle-sized to large company.

I början av 2014 infördes ett nytt regelverk för hur företag och ekonomiska föreningar ska avsluta sina räkenskapsår. Inte förrän media började rapportera om problemet tidigare i år har diskussionen satts igång och flera organisationer har gjort uttalande och förenklingar. De har visat sig vara svåra att tolka och implementera och för en del bostadsrättsföreningar kan tillämpningen vara ödesdiger. Valet står mellan två regelverk i det så kallade K-projektet. Syftet med studien är att utifrån bostadsrättsföreningarnas perspektiv utforska vilka faktorer som påverkar och hur de påverkas beroende av redovisningsvalet styrelsen gör. Detta kommer utföras genom att studera ekonomiska förvaltare som förser föreningarna med rekommendationer och information. Studiens problemformulering är därför vilka faktorer påverkar föreningarnas val av regelverk. Studien kommer utgå från ett abduktivt resonemang vilket är väsentligt för en explorativ studie. Tillsammans med teorier om rationella beslut, principal-agent förhållande, intressenter och risk, kommer vi att skapa en förståelse för hur föreningar fattar beslut. För att uppnå detta mål och få en bra helhetsbild kommer vi att utgå från kvalitativa undersökningar med semi-strukturerade intervjuer. För att styrka studiens tillförlitlighet utgick vi ifrån tillförlitliga metoder som är en central del för en god forskning. Vi har varit konsekventa och opartiska där vi utgick från samma material vid samtliga intervjuer för att forskningsfrågan ska anses korrekt framförd. Genom att analysera empirin har vi kunnat skapa exempel på möjliga scenario i resultaträkningar för att enklare kunna göra kopplingar till teorin. Resultatet av studien konstaterade att det är flera faktorer som påverkar valet som styrelsen gör. Det visade sig att styrelsen är beroende av information utifrån och att det finns flera intressenter som har ett egenintresse i valet. / In early 2014 introduced a new framework for how companies and economic associations must end their fiscal year. Not until the media began to report on the issue earlier this year, the debate has been launched and several organizations have made statements and simplifications. They have proven to be difficult to interpret and implement, and for some housing associations, the application may be fatal. The choice is between two sets of rules in the K-project. Depending on the choice that the Board make, the consequences of the different choices differ markedly. The purpose of the study is that the basis of condominium associations' perspective, exploring the factors that influence and how they are affected, depends on the accounting elections board does. This will be carried out by studying financial managers that provide boards with information and recommendations. The problem of the study is therefore what factors affect board election of the regulations. The study will be based on an abductive reasoning which is essential for an exploratory study. Along with theories of rational decisions, the principal- agent relationship, stakeholders and risk, we will create an understanding of how associations make decisions. To achieve this goal and get a good overall picture, we will start from qualitative research with semi-structured interviews. In order to prove the reliability of the study, we started from reliable methods that are a central part of good research. We have been consistent and impartial where we started from the same material at all interviews, to research the matter shall be correctly performed. By analyzing empirical data, we have been able to create examples of possible scenarios in the financial statements for easier linkage to theory. Results of the study found that there are several factors affecting the choice that the board does. It turned out that the Board is dependent on information from outside and that there are multiple stakeholders who have a vested interest in the election.

I början av 2014 infördes ett nytt regelverk för hur företag och ekonomiska föreningar ska avsluta sina räkenskapsår. Inte förrän media började rapportera om problemet tidigare i år har diskussionen satts igång och flera organisationer har gjort uttalande och förenklingar. De har visat sig vara svåra att tolka och implementera och för en del bostadsrättsföreningar kan tillämpningen vara ödesdiger. Valet står mellan två regelverk i det så kallade K-projektet.Syftet med studien är att utifrån bostadsrättsföreningarnas perspektiv utforska vilka faktorer som påverkar och hur de påverkas beroende av redovisningsvalet styrelsen gör. Detta kommer utföras genom att studera ekonomiska förvaltare som förser föreningarna med rekommendationer och information. Studiens problemformulering är därför vilka faktorer påverkar föreningarnas val av regelverk.Studien kommer utgå från ett abduktivt resonemang vilket är väsentligt för en explorativ studie. Tillsammans med teorier om rationella beslut, principal-agent förhållande, intressenter och risk, kommer vi att skapa en förståelse för hur föreningar fattar beslut. För att uppnå detta mål och få en bra helhetsbild kommer vi att utgå från kvalitativa undersökningar med semi-strukturerade intervjuer. För att styrka studiens tillförlitlighet utgick vi ifrån tillförlitliga metoder som är en central del för en god forskning. Vi har varit konsekventa och opartiska där vi utgick från samma material vid samtliga intervjuer för att forskningsfrågan ska anses korrekt framförd.Genom att analysera empirin har vi kunnat skapa exempel på möjliga scenario i resultaträkningar för att enklare kunna göra kopplingar till teorin. Resultatet av studien konstaterade att det är flera faktorer som påverkar valet som styrelsen gör. Det visade sig att styrelsen är beroende av information utifrån och att det finns flera intressenter som har ett egenintresse i valet. / In early 2014 introduced a new framework for how companies and economic associations must end their fiscal year. Not until the media began to report on the issue earlier this year, the debate has been launched and several organizations have made statements and simplifications. They have proven to be difficult to interpret and implement, and for some housing associations, the application may be fatal. The choice is between two sets of rules in the K-project. Depending on the choice that the Board make, the consequences of the different choices differ markedly.The purpose of the study is that the basis of condominium associations' perspective, exploring the factors that influence and how they are affected, depends on the accounting elections board does. This will be carried out by studying financial managers that provide boards with information and recommendations. The problem of the study is therefore what factors affect board election of the regulations.The study will be based on an abductive reasoning which is essential for an exploratory study. Along with theories of rational decisions, the principal- agent relationship, stakeholders and risk, we will create an understanding of how associations make decisions. To achieve this goal and get a good overall picture, we will start from qualitative research with semi-structured interviews. In order to prove the reliability of the study, we started from reliable methods that are a central part of good research. We have been consistent and impartial where we started from the same material at all interviews, to research the matter shall be correctly performed.By analyzing empirical data, we have been able to create examples of possible scenarios in the financial statements for easier linkage to theory. Results of the study found that there are several factors affecting the choice that the board does. It turned out that the Board is dependent on information from outside and that there are multiple stakeholders who have a vested interest in the election.

Collaboration has been proposed as an inclusive forum for bringing together state and non-state stakeholders to deliberate and negotiate solutions to complex environmental problems. A key aspect of collaborative approaches is the potential to help stakeholders share and integrate expert science and local knowledge with their beliefs and values. This process creates a vernacular knowledge that is necessary to address the quasi-scientific characteristics of complex environmental problems. Stakeholder networks have an important role in collaborative processes, and the creation and sharing of knowledge. The manner in which stakeholder networks form, function, and contribute to the creation and sharing of knowledge, both internally and externally, is not well understood from both a theoretical and empirical perspective. The purpose of this research is to provide insight concerning this gap in the literature by addressing three research objectives: (1) to develop a conceptual framework for evaluating the creation and sharing of vernacular knowledge by a stakeholder network within collaborative problem-solving processes; (2) to use the conceptual framework to evaluate the contribution of stakeholder networks to the creation and sharing of vernacular knowledge in an actual example of a collaborative problem-solving processes; and (3) to develop recommendations for the design of collaborative problem-solving processes in order to facilitate the creation and sharing of vernacular knowledge using stakeholder networks. A case study was used to evaluate a multi-stakeholder problem-solving process that has involved stakeholder network representatives at the watershed and provincial scales in Ontario, Canada. This was undertaken through an extensive literature review, and the analysis of data collected through participant observation, survey questionnaire, and a review of publicly available documents using a mixed methods research approach. The research focused on the evaluation of the formation and function of an agri-environmental network composed of representatives from key provincial farm organizations and the provincial agricultural ministry. This research seeks to provide insight concerning the role of stakeholder networks in the creation and sharing of vernacular knowledge within collaborative problem-solving processes, and provide insights for both theoretical and practical applications of collaborative approaches to problem-solving. This addresses questions in the literature regarding the effectiveness of stakeholder networks to contribute knowledge to problem-solving within forums that are intended to be collaborative in nature, but may also include elements of a regulatory approach. Further, this agri-environmental network has supported the development and function of a diverse group of farm community representatives involved in a prescribed environmental problem-solving process. The research demonstrates that this network has been effective in contributing to the creation and sharing of vernacular knowledge in a coordinated fashion at the local and provincial scale. This responds to questions in the literature concerning how stakeholder networks communicate and cooperate across different scales and administrative, physiographic and political boundaries. The study also provides recommendations for practice concerning the selection of community representatives, the creation of vernacular knowledge, and the promotion of stakeholder network involvement as part of collaborative approaches to problem-solving. Although the research results are situated in an Ontario context, the results of the study can be applied in other jurisdictions where stakeholder networks exist or may emerge to participate in collaborative approaches to environmental problem-solving.

The establishment of a UNESCO Biosphere indicates a shift from traditional conservation of individual areas towards a more regional approach and an inclusive planning and management regime. This study sets out to investigate the effects of the Biosphere Reserve designation in Mount Carmel, Israel, with special regard to settlement development and stakeholder management. The implications of the Biosphere Reserve designation have been explored through GIS analysis, using LANDSAT satellite data, and through interviews, observations and participatory checking. The empirical findings were analysed in relation to the Biosphere Reserve Statutory Framework, and to theories on territorialisation, space production and participatory planning. The findings suggest that the Biosphere Reserve designation have had very limited effects in the case of Mount Carmel. Settlements have continued to expand into protected areas, and there is no organised structure for stakeholder participation. This study underlines the value of considering context and history in the establishment of protected areas, and the importance of establishing the Biosphere Reserve concept among the different stakeholders. / GLEAN - A Global Survey of Learning, Participation and Ecosystem Management in Biosphere Reserves