Amidst the growth of the global Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) industry, researchers have begun to scrutinize current valuation methods when applied to SaaS firms, and investors have widely embraced and adopted their own rules of thumb for SaaS company valuation. One of which is the 'Rule of 40', which is characterized by growth and profitability. This study employs an explanatory approach, and applies a cross-sectional multivariate regression model, to analyze the influence of growth and profitability on the valuation of 36 public SaaS companies operating in the Nordic B2B market. This study seeks to complement the present body of literature with insights on the synergy between growth and profitability in valuation, in the context of public SaaS companies. The resulting regression model yields two key findings: (1) EBITDA and EBIT have a negative relationship to the valuation multiple (EV/Sales); (2) Revenue growth maintains a positive relationship to the valuation multiple. These key findings indicate that Nordic SaaS investors accord higher valuation multiples to companies with higher growth rates and lower profitability margins. More importantly, the results indicate a significant disparity between the two metrics, where growth significantly outweighs profitability, as opposed to the equal weight implied in the 'Rule of 40'. / I respons till tillväxten av den globala Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) branschen har forskare börjat granska nuvarande värderingsmetoder när de tillämpas på SaaS-företag, samtidigt som investerare har i stor utsträckning anammat och antagit sina egna tumregler för SaaS-företagsvärdering. En av dessa är 'Rule of 40', som kännetecknas av tillväxt och lönsamhet. Denna studie använder sig av ett förklarande tillvägagångssätt, och tillämpar tvärsnittsdata i en multivariat regressionsmodell, för att analysera inverkan av tillväxt och lönsamhet på värderingen av 36 offentliga SaaS-företag verksamma på den nordiska B2B-marknaden. Denna studie syftar till att komplettera den nuvarande litteraturen med insikter om synergin mellan tillväxt och lönsamhet vid värdering i samband med offentliga SaaS-företag. Den resulterande regressionsmodellen fastställer två huvudsakliga fynd: (1) EBITDA och EBIT har ett negativt samband med värderingsmultipeln (EV/Sales); (2) omsättningstillväxt upprätthåller ett positivt förhållande till värderingsmultipeln. Dessa resultat indikerar att nordiska SaaS-investerare ger högre värderingsmultiplar till företag med högre tillväxttakt och lägre lönsamhetsmarginaler. Ännu viktigare är att resultaten visar en betydande skillnad mellan de två måtten, där tillväxten avsevärt överväger lönsamheten, i motsats till 'Rule of 40' som antyder att måtten viktas lika.

The task of predicting start-up growth has been an item of institutional as wellas widespread individual research and acclaim of those successful. This workis an attempt to distill the alleged factors of prediction in the large body ofwork that has already been documented, as well as investigating reasonable butyet untested variables. Conclusions are built with a multiple regression model,exploring 7 regressors with data spanning 2014-2019 to avoid the potentiallyabnormal impact of the Covid-19 crisis.Due to the choice of non-predictive regressors, the final result is an explanatorymodel, highlighting the importance of rigorousness in the process of model-building and outlining of data collection in regression analysis. Most regres-sors had a non-significant or weak relationship with the response variable, butconcludes an explanatory degree of 51%. Even if it can not be utilised as apredictive model, it may provide some interesting insight. In the final model,every regressor except one had an unexpected beta value, contradicting earlierresearch. / Åtagandet att förutsäga 'start-up' tillväxt har varit ämne för institutionellsåväl som utbredd individuell undersökning och följaktligen hyllning för de som varit framgångsrika. Denna studieär ett försök att destillera de påstådda faktorerna för förutsägelse utifrån den redan dokumenterade litteraturen, samt utreda rimliga men ännu outforskade variabler. Slutsatser byggs med en multipel regressionsmodell,som utforskar 7 regressorer med data som sträcker sig 2014-2019 för att undvika de potentiellt atypiska effekterna av covid-19-krisen.På grund av valet av vissa icke-prediktiva regressorer är slutresultatet en förklarandemodell, som belyser vikten av noggrannhet i processen för modell-uppbyggnad och planeringen av datainsamling i regressionsanalys. De flesta regressorer hade ett icke-signifikant eller svagt samband med svarsvariabeln, men den slutgiltiga modellen påvisar en förklaringsgrad på 51 %. Även om den inte kan användas som en prediktiv modell, så bidrar den med betydande insikter. Alla regressorer utom en visade ett oväntat beta-värde, vilket motsäger tidigare forskning.

A startup’s ability to make correct decisions regarding their Cloud choices is essential if they intend to stay competitively relevant in their business. Choosing the Cloud solutions that allow for an optimal level of production can give startups that operate in most industries a competitive advantage. However, new startups have a plethora of factors to consider when choosing a Cloud provider, which is the basis of the thesis. The purpose of the study is to explore and gain insight regarding how new startups can make suitable decisions when selecting different Cloud services. The study’s main data collection method is a set of interviews that were conducted with CTOs from some of Sweden’s most promising startup companies. The study thoroughly discusses the three largest Cloud providers (Amazon Web Services, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform), and attempts to reveal how these Cloud services are positioned in the eyes of the customers that use them on a daily basis. A main finding of the study was that the most important factors to consider when selecting a Cloud provider is its compatibility with your company’s IT-environment, the quality and quantity of its services, how well managed it is, if it offers data protection compliances, and ultimately, the prices of the services it offers. Furthermore, information derived from the interviews imply that new startups ought to make their IT-solution as simple as possible in order to reduce the chances of running into integration problems with different Cloud solutions. The author intends for the study to be a guideline for new startups to better understand what factors they ought to prioritize when selecting Cloud providers. / En startups förmåga att ta de rätta besluten när det kommer till deras val av molntjänster är otroligt viktigt. Genom att välja de rätta molnlösningar så kan man se till att företaget får en bra möjlighet att växa, och att rätt molnlösningar kan det kan ge de flesta startups digitala verktyg som kan ge konkurransfördel. Det finns däremot mycket att tänka på när man väljer en molntjänst, och det är vad studien bygger på. Syftet med detta projekt var att utforska och bättre förstå hur nya startups kan ta de rätta besluten när det kommer till deras val av molntjänster. Studiens huvudsakliga datainsamlingsmetod var tolv intervjuer som utfördes tillsammans med CTOs från några av Sveriges mest framgångsrika startupföretag. Studien utför en noggrann diskussion och jämförelse på de tre största molntjänsterna i världen (Amazon Web Services, Azure, och Google Cloud Platform), och försöker att visa hur dessa molntjänster är positionerade enligt de kunder som använder sig av molntjänsterna vardaligen. Studien visar att de viktigaste faktorerna som man bör tänka på när man väljer molntjänst är: hur pass kompatibel den är med företagets IT-miljö, kvaliteten och mängden tjänster som leverantören erbjuder, hur pass managerade leverantörens tjänster är, om leverantören överensstämmer med regler för uppgiftsskydd, och kostnaden för molnleverantörens tjänster. Ytterligare så fann man indikationer från intervjuerna att nya startups bör försöka sikta på molnlösningar som är så simpla som möjligt och helst att dessa lösningar är integrerade lösningar som molnleverantören själv erbjuder, och detta på grund av att det kan vara svårt att integrera molnlösningar från olika företag. Författarens avsikt för denna rapport är att den ska vara en riktlinje för nya startups så att de kan förstå vad de bör tänka på när de väljer sina molntjänster.

This diploma thesis describes Czech legislation on copyright protection of computer programs in European and international law context. The commentary is mostly focused on current, practical issues, which often aren't clearly and satisfactorily solved, or issues which are subjects of current or recent litigations before European courts. First chapter introduces special characteristics of computer programs in copyright law, shortly mentions other possibilities of their legal protection and outlines some problems connected with massive technology development and international dimension of these questions, which are enlarged in following chapters. It also defines basic terminology used in the thesis. Chapter two, called "Sources of international and European law" mainly focuses on international treaties and EU directives, on which current Czech copyright protection of computer programs is based. Following chapter describes Czech copyright protection of computer programs, respecting, in general, structure of Czech Copyright Act and simultaneously gives deeper look into selected up to date problems. It compares computer programs with traditional copyrighted works, explains i.a. concept of "employee's work" and closely focuses on author's moral and, mainly, economic rights. Special attention is dedicated...

This thesis is concerning with problems of using database systems in ERP / ERP II software packages. The goal is to define position of ERP / ERP II systems in the Information System market. With this topic are also connected characteristics of database systems and definition of their specific position towards ERP / ERP II solutions. Except classical solutions, when the whole Information System is situated "inside" a company, there are also analyzed new attitudes, which respect external provider of ERP / ERP II and database services, particularly SaaS and Cloud Computing technology. This thesis also deals with evaluation of contributions and threats of these new business models, respecting different size of ERP / ERP II solutions. After introductory theoretical chapters, we choose respondents from groups of producers and distributors of ERP / ERP II products and we implemented a survey through questionnaire research. The goal is to clarify main reasons of choice of specific database platforms, used with different types of ERP / ERP II solutions. Afterward, with the aid of defined hypothesis, I'm trying to explain a degree of platform independence of robust ERP / ERP II software packages, towards database platforms. In closing parts of the thesis, there are compared individual database platforms among each other, respecting their suitability of usage in ERP / ERP II systems. Database systems are closely analyzed from several points of view. On the basis of ascertained theoretical and empirical frequency of particular database solutions we determine dominant market players and with the aid of multicriterial comparison we clear up reasons of their success among other competitors. Finally, we outline an anticipated trend, where the database systems market destined for ERP / ERP II products should grow in.

Innovative technologies have aided in the evolution of communicative patterns betweenindividuals, organizations, and society at large. For businesses this means that marketingmust be integrated with emergent ICT in an effort to exploit available digital marketingtactics. Although there is an emerging body of literature that defines the elements of digitalmarketing there still remains a need for models grounded in theoretical and empiricalevidence that explicitly integrates Software as a Service business intelligence (SaaS BI)within the realm of digital marketing.The purpose of this study is to explore existing challenges for digital marketers and SaaS BIvendors in an effort to uncover common ground where marketing activities and SaaS servicescan be effectively integrated. Within this investigation a socio-technical systems perspective isemployed in which the function of digital marketing represents a social sub-system and theservice of SaaS BI represents a technical sub-system. Interconnectivity is established betweendigital marketing, SaaS BI, and diffusion of innovation through the exploration of existingchallenges. A design artifact is constructed as a result of the thesis, which is intended to aiddigital marketers when planning, implementing, or adjusting a marketing campaign thatutilizes SaaS BI as an intelligence source. Within the investigation of digital marketing andSaaS BI both a theoretical and empirical study are conducted that serve as a basis for thedesigned model. The empirical study consists of a case study of the MeltWater Group, a SaaSvendor, and attempts to capture an in-depth understanding of the target domain. Empiricaldata is generated through semi-structured interviews triangulated with documents.Subsequent to building the conceptual model a short questionnaire was sent to participantswith related knowledge of the domain problem to elicit feedback on the conceptual model’scorrectness and usefulness.The theoretical study serves the purpose of establishing a conceptual framework within theresearch phenomena. The subsequent empirical study was used to validate the relevance ofthe conceptual framework in addition to assist with the build and evaluate phase of theconceptual model design. As a result of the thesis investigation a conceptual model of thetarget domain was developed that maps the interrelated processes of digital marketing andSaaS BI.In conclusion, the conceptual model captures a closed information loop between the SaaSvendor, client-organization, internal/external stakeholders, and the client-organization’sdigital presence. The system domain processes are illuminated as seven sub-closed loops thatdepict the existing relationships between domain components. The integration of digitalmarketing and SaaS BI elucidates three core input/output processes (IOPs): a dual IOPinternal and external of the SaaS vendor and an IOP internal of the client-organization. / Program: Masterutbildning i Informatik

The diploma thesis deals with the topic of cloud computing and its appropriate deployment in small and medium business. The objective of this thesis is to analyze the offer of Google products and to demonstrate measurable benefits of this solution. Introductory part of the thesis summarizes the history of IT and it is looking for the connection between history of IT and the term cloud computing. This term is described in detail with selected cloud computing characteristics. The main part of the thesis deals with analysis of Google services, technologies and platforms, which could be used in enterprise. The matters are viewed not only economically, but also from the technological and security point of view. In practical implementations are demonstrated measurable benefits of deployment to the Google cloud platform. Finally, the thesis provides the summary of platform's advantages and disadvantages with a description of practical advices for small and medium businesses

Focus of this diploma thesis is on cloud computing topic. Cloud computing is current trend that changes the method of IT services providing. The concept of cloud computing model is based on a provision of IT resources through services. This model offers companies many advantages. The aim of this diploma thesis is to provide an overview of the motivational forces, barriers and their solution in the transition of small and medium businesses to products in the cloud. The theoretical part deals with economic and technological aspects arising from the use of cloud computing model. The next stage is provided with an overview of adoption of cloud computing services in the Czech Republic and current trends. The practical part is focused on the research of motivation aspects and barriers resulting from adoption services built on the cloud computing concept. The main contribution of this thesis is primarily in providing an overview of motivational aspects and research-based barriers in the environment of Czech companies. This overview could help to these company representatives, who are considering deployment of cloud based services, but are struggling with the barriers that this model brings.

Information Technology is advancing at a frightening pace. Cloud computing and its subset, Software as a Service (SaaS), are rapidly challenging traditional thinking for enterprise-level application and infrastructure provision. The project-centric nature of the construction industry provides an environment where the utilisation of SaaS is commercially appropriate, given its ability to provide rapid set-up and predictable costs at the outset. Using project extranets, the construction industry has been - unusually for it as an industry sector - early-adopters of this cloud computing model. However, findings from the research highlight that there is a gap in the information and documents that pass from the construction phase into the operational phase of a building. This research considers examples of the SaaS IT model and how it has been used within a construction and facilities management industry context. A prototype system was developed to address the requirements of facilities management work order logging and tracking process. These requirements were gathered during detailed case studies of organisations within both the construction and facilities management sectors with a view to continue the use of building-specific information through its full life-cycle. The thesis includes a summary of the lessons learnt through system implementation within the construction-contracting organisation Taylor Woodrow, and it concludes with an IT strategy proposal that was developed based on a cloud computing model.

As virtualization platforms or cloud computing have become more of a commodity, many more organizations have been utilizing them. Many organizations and technologies have emerged to fulfill those cloud needs. Cloud vendors provide similar services, but the differences can have significant impact on specific applications. Selecting the right provider is difficult and confusing because of the number of options. It can be difficult to determine which application characteristics will impact the choice of implementation. There has not been a concise process to select which cloud vendor and characteristics are best suited for the application requirements and organization requirements. This thesis provides a model that identifies crucial application characteristics, organization requirements and also characteristics of a cloud. The model is used to analyze the interaction of the application with multiple cloud platforms and select the best option based on a suitability score. Case studies utilize this model to test three applications against three cloud implementations to identify the best fit cloud implementation. The model is further validated by a small group of peers through a survey. The studies show that the model is useful in identifying and comparing cloud implementations with regard to application requirements.