This thesis explores the visual perception of material change over time, a novel topic that has received little attention so far. We aimed to understand the material surface features and mental representations associated with material change over time by the human visual system, and possibly wider cognitive systems. To this end, we performed a series of experiments with varying methodologies. These included a psychophysics experiment, online experiments, and data collection during a science festival. The latter showed that the general public mentioned “Faded (colour)” most often to describe material change over time and that specific material surface change features clustered around specific materials. In another experiment, material type, but not colour or the geometrical distribution, had a significant effect on perceived material change. Other experiments partially contradicted this finding. It was found that perceived material type showed a significant, non-linear association with perceived material change, replicating earlier findings on the effect of material type. In contrast, material surface lightness, a constituent of colour, was associated with perceived material change. The same held for components of the geometrical distribution. They showed a minor contribution to the perception of material change, but a major one to perceived material type. Together, our findings suggest that the human visual system seems to use constituents of material surface colour as a cue to material change over time. The geometrical distribution seems to play a minor role. Although these contributions may vary with material type, as our findings showed that material type affected the perception of material change over time. / DyViTo (Dynamics in Vision and Touch) has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 765121

Map Kibera project and it’s Voice of Kibera reporting initiative present an example of new media applying the principle of crowd sourcing to foster social change and provide voice to community of Kibera, Kenya. The aim of this study was to analyses, firstly, how the concept of participatory communication has been applied during the implementation of the project. As a basis for this approach an Integrated Model of Communication for Social Change was applied during the analysis of articles being produced on two project blogs to identify what steps have been implemented and what new aspects could be brought. Secondly, it was important to understand what social change the implementation of such project could bring to community it serves for. Finally, in order to develop a strategy for sustainability possible barriers/limitations of citizen/actor engagement were identified. Research tools used for this analysis were qualitative semi-structured interviews with project team members as well as participants/non participants of the project combined together with quantitative content analysis applied on articles produced on Map Kibera and Voice of Kibera blogs.Most important findings indicate that the application of IMCFSC took place almost fully but was applied on a particular community – project team. At the same time the use of crowd sourcing platform and reporting gave citizens of Kibera an opportunity to create their own agenda and provide a real picture of the area thus gaining a “voice” and possibility to speak out loud to broader communities. Nevertheless it is important to mention that the access to information created during the project was possible mostly in the offline form (printed materials, maps) and via mobile phones thus indicating to such barriers as the lack of such ICT tools as computers and also to the need to co-operate more closely to broader community of Kibera to avoid possible misconception of the work of the project. These findings are important to consider when planning implementation of similar projects in other communities located in different geographical, political and social settings.

La presente investigación expone la problemática en los procesos de gestión de compras en una institución hospitalaria de la ciudad de Chiclayo 2022, con el objetivo de proponer una nueva estrategia de gestión de los procesos mediante el análisis de los mismos para diagnosticar y determinar las dimensiones de los procesos de compras, buscando solucionar la problemática encontrada en el abastecimiento, el control de insumos y en la gestión de requerimientos de una institución hospitalaria; a través de una metodología con enfoque cualitativo de tipo aplicada con nivel explicativo, para lo cual se revisó una serie de artículos científicos que apalancaron la investigación logrando como resultados una planificación y estructuración óptima de procesos mediante la aplicación del modelo de compras competitivas, generando a la vez una serie de conocimientos que permitieron entender la importancia de mantener una planificación de procesos adecuada para generar valor en el área de compras de la institución hospitalaria. / This research exposes the problems in the purchasing management processes in a hospital institution in the Chiclayo city 2022, with the aim of proposing a new process management strategy by analyzing them to diagnose and determine the dimensions of the purchasing processes, seeking to solve the problems found in the supply, control of supplies and the management of requirements in a hospital institution; through a methodology with a qualitative approach of an applied type with an explanatory level, for which a series of scientific articles were reviewed that leveraged the research, achieving as a result an optimal planning and structuring of processes through the application of the competitive purchasing model, generating At the same time, a series of knowledge that allowed us to understand the importance of maintaining adequate process planning to generate value in the purchasing area of the hospital institution.

The dissertation thesis focuses on information systems and communication technologies and ways they are provided (sourced) in healthcare. The aim of this dissertation thesis is to design and verify a model of IS/ICT sourcing strategy for healthcare as a factor leading to the improvement of patient care, taking into account different categories of healthcare facilities and other specifics resulting from the application in medicine. The introductory section of the thesis (Section A) defines the areas of health care and identifies their specifics. Moreover, categories of healthcare facilities are defined and therapeutic, nursing and IS/ICT processes are identified. Sourcing is defined for the needs of the designed sourcing strategy model and the current trends are analysed as well as the offered outsourcing services. In the next section of the thesis (Section B), requirements on the IS/ICT sourcing strategy model are defined. Theories of sourcing strategies are analysed including assessment of the current practices of healthcare facilities. Identification of specific factors affecting sourcing in healthcare is an essential part of this section. The most important section of the thesis is a design of the IS/ICT sourcing strategy model and its verification in practice at a real healthcare facility, which is described in the final part (Section C). The designed model employs two layers to cover the whole spectrum of healthcare facilities. The base layer defines the types of objects used in developing the sourcing strategy. The specific layer takes into consideration the differences between the various categories of healthcare facilities and provides the actual implementation. Successful implementation of the model including its two layers was achieved in an independent outpatient healthcare facility.

The Swedish Initiative on Sustainable Palm Oil in food and cosmetic and detergent industries hasemerged in 2014 following other EU national initiatives. This thesis project aims to explore thecondition of the initiative by examining who the key important stakeholders are and how these palmoil key stakeholders in Swedish market develop and implement their Sustainable Palm OilInitiatives. A qualitative approach using case study technique is used to guide the study andsupported by a combination of several theoretical frameworks, such as stakeholders’ theory and thevalue chain concept to address the research questions. Rooted from six organizations as study cases,the study found that the key important stakeholders for these organizations in developing andimplementing the initiatives are retailers, suppliers, consumers, trade associations, and Non-Governmental Organizations. Furthermore, the study also found that these six organizations useethical sourcing tool based on Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil certification scheme toimplement the Initiative in their respective member companies. As authorisers, the Swedish FoodFederation and the Swedish Cosmetics, Detergents and Toiletries Association developed Palm OilWorking Group and a simple platform for their member companies both in Swedish food andcosmetic and detergent industries in order to spread and manage the initiative. Världsnaturfonden,on the other hand serves as an external influencer that conducts lobbying and facilitations to supportSwedish companies to use certified segregated palm oil products to drive responsible palm oilproduction. The results show that Kicks, Croda, and Fazer facilitate the operationalization of ethicalsourcing initiative throughout their primary and supporting value chain activities. In addition,intertwined relationship between upstream and downstream parts of palm oil supply chain networksinfluences the outcome of the Swedish Initiative on Sustainable Palm Oil in spreading the initiativetoward market transformation in Sweden.

This research investigates political risk in the context of service offshoring and the corresponding impact on risk management decisions. The first stage of the study uses the Repertory Grid Technique (RGT), to explore key post-contract political risks experiences within offshore outsourcing activities. Twelve key political risks affecting offshore outsourcing decisions are identified, and the moderating effect of offshoring activity types (BPO, ITO or KPO) on political risk exposure and impact perceptions is highlighted. The research also explores the conditioning effect of industry specific exposure to political risk and enhances the explanatory ability of the Transaction Cost Economics (TCE) constructs, offering a re-operationalization of the political risk component of external uncertainty. The second stage of the research introduces a series of hypotheses between offshoring flows and political risk profiles, and applies multiple regression to analyse political risk affecting offshore activities in low cost countries across contract-based offshoring engagements and FDI. The findings highlight that political risk is a genuine business concern for offshore contract-based outsourcing modalities, and identify concerns with Intellectual Property protection, Quality of Bureaucracy and Corruption as key considerations affecting location decisions in low-cost countries. The research further suggests a positive relationship between strong country level institutional and regulatory systems and high knowledge content in offshoring engagements. From a practical perspective, the research highlights the need for managerial tools to determine diversified firm and industry specific political risk impact on global service outsourcing engagements. The key practical contribution is the development of differentiated political risk typologies that can capture the nuances of external risks in offshoring, allowing for more accurate risk assessment of offshoring decisions.

本研究的樣本資料來自2006年台灣地區第二次產業創新調查，以及後續追蹤調查所建立的資料庫。主要目的為探討政府資助廠商進行創新活動的政策，對於廠商的附加性程度。 在變數的選擇上，本研究以「在民國97-98年獲得政府資助」作為應變數，而以廠商創新能力、廠商技術來源以及前期（民國93-95年）是否曾獲得政府資助，作為本研究的三構面。本研究的分析分為兩階段，第一階段利用Probit迴歸模型，分析三個構面與政府資助之間的相關性，第二階段則是使用Multi-variate Probit模型，分析廠商在無政府資助情況下，對於其創新活動的因應措施。結合兩階段分析結果，定義出四種典型的情境。 實證結果發現： （1）廠商規模愈大、創新能力愈強、技術來源為自行研發或取得外部知識，具以上特質的廠商，與獲得政府資助具正向關係，且廠商規模對於獲得資助具有顯著正向影響。在無政府資助的情況下，具有以上四種特性的廠商較不會改變其創新活動的行為，因此資助政策之附加性低，屬於情境3：所補非人的情況。 （2）技術來源為購買機器設備則與獲得政府資助具有正向關係，當無政府資助時，會「選擇風險較低的創新活動」。代表政府資助對於此類型廠商具有附加性，屬於情境1：雪中送炭的情況。 （3）委外研發對於獲得政府資助具有顯著負向影響，且當無政府資助時，廠商不會「照原訂計畫進行創新活動」，因此資助政策能為此類廠商帶來較高的附加性，屬於情境4：嗷嗷待「補」的情形。 （4）前期獲得政府資助對於後期獲得政府資助並無顯著正向影響。而廠商在無政府資助時，較可能會改變其創新活動的行為，尤其對「縮小創新活動的資金規模」的選項為顯著正相關，因此政府資助對於此類型廠商存在附加性。 本研究著重於廠商成本面的考量，來詮釋補助政策之附加性，然而若要依此制定政策方向，僅以附加性為依據將顯得不足，為此，本研究最後依據建立的架構與實證模型結果，提出若干後續研究方向的建議。 / The study provides insights into the additionality of government subsidy on firms’ innovation activities. Previous research has focused on the relationship between government funding and private R&D input and output, but no consensus were made. Using a sample of 581 observations in the database of Taiwan Technology Innovation SurveyⅡ, the study contains a two-stage analysis. First, the Probit regression model is used, and the dependent variable is "whether a firm gaining government subsidy in 2008-2009 or not". The explanatory variables include firm size, innovation capacity, technology sources and subsidy history. In the second stage, we used the counterfactual scenario about what could happen if there existed no government-sponsored programs intervention. Firms could choose from four alternatives:1. Abandoning innovative activities. 2. Choosing projects which contain lower risk. 3. Downsizing the scale of capital and 4.Keeping the same project. If firms choose the first one, then the additionality of government subsidy is the highest. If firms choose the second or the third one, then the additionality is in the middle. If firms choose the fourth one, then the additionality is the lowest. In this stage, the Multi-variate Probit model is used. The empirical results show that there is a significant positive correlation between firm size and gaining government subsidy, and a significant negative correlation between outsourcing R&D and gaining government subsidy. In the second stage, we find that subsidy toward the firms which "outsourcing R&D and "purchasing machines" have the highest additionality. Besides, subsidy toward firms which received subsidy in 2004-2006 has median additionality.

Die Entwicklung von Technologien sowie die Veränderung von rechtlichen Rahmenbedingungen haben die Handlungsmöglichkeiten von Industrieunternehmen im Zusammenhang mit der Energiebereitstellung seit der Jahrtausendwende deutlich erhöht: Neben dem klassischen Einkauf, d. h. dem Fremdbezug elektrischer Energie, können Industrieunternehmen eigene Kraftwerkskapazitäten aufbauen, um elektrische Energie selbst zu erzeugen. Ferner schafft die Liberalisierung des Energiemarktes die Voraussetzungen dafür, dass diese Unternehmen ihre selbst erzeugte elektrische Energie auch verkaufen bzw. ins öffentliche Netz einspeisen können. Zukünftig ist außerdem zu erwarten, dass Speichertechnologien eine immer größere Rolle spielen, um die Versorgungssicherheit unabhängig vom öffentlichen Stromnetz zumindest kurzzeitig aufrecht erhalten oder Lastspitzen abfangen zu können. Mit den skizzierten Entwicklungen geht eine zunehmende Komplexität der von Industrieunternehmen im Rahmen der Energiebereitstellung zu treffenden Entscheidungen einher. Die vorliegende Arbeit strukturiert diese Entscheidungen, arbeitet Handlungsalternativen und daraus zu bildende Handlungsbündel systematisch heraus und entwickelt schließlich ein Bewertungskonzept, mit dem auf Basis eines sukzessiven Vorgehens eine unter monetären Gesichtspunkten vorteilhafte Bereitstellungsalternative identifiziert werden kann. Das Bewertungskonzept stützt sich dabei auf Methoden der Investitionsrechnung und erfasst differenziert Produktions- sowie Transaktionskosten der jeweiligen Bereitstellungsalternativen.

Problem Since the globalisation has enabled apparel companies to purchase materialsand goods from all around the world, the constant challenge is to find themost beneficial country and supplier who can provide the highest value tothe lowest cost. There are however factors to be considered in the aspect ofsupplier selection and the decision is often made through assessment ofnation-specific resources like labour costs, deliveries, trade restrictions andquality. It is important for apparel companies to relate the outcome of asupplier evaluation to the own company strategy or product characteristicsas factors may be more or less crucial depending on the strategy or producttype the company possess. With wages now increasing in Europe, Ukraine ispredicted to become a new apparel-producing alternative for Swedishcompanies. However, there is no evident niche in Ukrainian apparelproduction, which can be set in the context of company and productcharacteristics.Purpose The purpose of this thesis is to perform a supplier evaluation of Ukraine anddiscuss what company and product characteristics that might be moresuitable for producing apparel in Ukraine.Methodology A qualitative research has been carried out on a MFS scholarship for eightweeks in Ukraine. The empirical findings are based upon semi-structuredinterviews with five experts and observations and interviews in six factories.A supplier evaluation model is created upon the existing theories and theempirical results are discussed in the context of company and productcharacteristics.Conclusion A company should consider evaluating multiple factors and theinterrelationships between the factors in ability to reach a fulfilling supplierselection. It can be argued that there are predominantly characteristics foundto suit companies with the cost leadership strategy or functional products.Furthermore, because of trade rules and a low access to materials mostUkrainian factories work on Cut-Make contracts with foreign customers.Problem: Globaliseringen av klädindustrin har bidragit till att klädföretag köper materialoch färdiga plagg från länder runt om i världen. Det är en ständig utmaning atthitta det landet och den tillverkaren som erbjuder det högsta värdet till den lägstakostnaden.Det finns många olika faktorer som man bör ta hänsyn till i ettleverantörsval och beslutet är oftast taget genom utvärdering av nationsspecifikaresurser som lönekostnader, leveranser, kvalitet och handelshinder. Det är viktigtför företag att utvärdera länder och leverantörer utefter företagets egna strategieroch produkternas karaktär eftersom olika faktorer vid leverantörsutvärdering kanvara olika viktiga beroende på företag och produkter. När lönekostnaderna stiger iövriga Europa framträder Ukraina som ett möjligt produktionsland som spås enframtid som ett alternativ för svenska klädföretag. Ukraina har däremot ingen klarnisch, vilket är intressant att titta närmare på i samband med olikaföretagsstrategier och produkttyper.Syfte: Syftet med studien är att göra en leverantörsutvärdering av Ukraina somklädproducent och diskutera vilka företagsstrategier och produkttyper som kanlämpa sig bäst för produktion i Ukraina.Metod: Uppsatsen är skriven på ett MFS-stipendium under åtta veckor i Ukraina. Detempiriska resultatet är baserat på semi-strukturerade intervjuer och observationer isex stycken klädesfabriker och intervjuer med fem stycken experter. En modell förleverantörssutvärdering är skapad från existerande teorier och det empiriskaresultatet av utvärderingen diskuteras i samband med olika företagsstrategier ochprodukttyper.Slutsatser: Ett företag bör överväga att utvärdera flera faktorer och deras inbördes sambandför att kunna uppnå ett tillfredsställande leverantörsval. Det har påfunnits flestkaraktärsdrag som passar företag med en kostnadsstrategi eller funktionellaprodukter. På grund av handelsregler och dålig tillgång till material jobbar deflesta ukrainska producenter med Cut-Make kontrakt mot utländska kunder. / Program: Textilekonomutbildningen

Textil- och konfektionsindustrin blir alltmer globaliserad och ställs inför hårdare krav då konsumenterna efterfrågar allt billigare varor i snabb förändring. Sedan flera decennier har europeiska konfektionsföretag flyttat sin tillverkning till länder med lägre arbetskostnader för att uppfylla kraven om låga priser som europiska tillverkare har svårt att uppfylla. En stor del har flyttats till Kina men även till andra länder i Asien. Nu håller marknadsförhållandena på att förändras igen genom tillväxt- och utvecklingsländernas starka utveckling. Förändringarna syns tydligast på Kinas marknad genom stigande priser och mindre kapacitet för europeisk produktion. Detta skapar nya förutsättningar för hur företagen väljer att planera sina verksamheter och resulterar i att detaljhandelsföretagen ser sig om efter alternativa produktionsländer.Syftet med studien är att ta reda på om konfektionstillverkningens tyngdpunkt kommer att fortsätta att ske i Asien eller om det finns förutsättningar för europeisk konfektionsindustri att återhämta sig och bli konkurrenskraftig i förhållande till tillverkningen i Asien eller om konfektionsindustrin istället kommer att etableras i andra globala regioner. För att uppnå detta syfte utformades en kvalitativ studie i form av semistrukturerade djupintervjuer med nio svenska konfektionsföretag samt en stiftelse verksam inom textil- och konfektionsindustrin. Studien har kompletterats med dokument utformade av organisationer kopplade till EU samt vetenskapliga artiklar.Undersökningen påvisar att Kinas förändrade situation inte leder till en större återväxt för Europas textil- och konfektionsproduktion. Tyngdpunkten av konfektionsproduktion inom den närmsta framtiden kommer att ligga kvar i Asien men flyttas från Kina till nya lågkostnadsländer i regionen. Europa kommer med sannolikhet inte att bedriva någon massproduktion i framtiden och de förlorar alltmer produktion inom låg- och mellanprissegmentet till övriga regioner. Delar av europeiska företags produktion kommer inom den närmsta tiden att fortsätta ske inom Europa, då ingen annan region i dagsläget kan uppfylla behoven av korta ledtider, effektiv logistik, små serier, stabilitet och hög kvalitet lika bra. Med tiden kommer troligtvis en allt större del att produceras i Nordafrika som i framtiden kan komma att ta över en betydande del av både Asiens och Europas produktion.The textile- and clothing industry is becoming increasingly globalized and face even tougher requirements as consumers demand for cheaper goods in rapid change. For several decades the European apparel companies have moved their manufacturing to countries with lower labour costs to meet the requirements of low prices. A major part has been moved to China, but also to other countries in Asia. Now the market conditions are changing again because of the strong growth of emerging and developing countries. The changes are most evident in China's market where prices are rising and capacity is decreasing for European production. This creates new conditions for how the retail companies choose to plan their activities and results in that they look for alternative production countries.The purpose of this study is to determine if the emphasis of clothing manufacturing will continue to occur in Asia or whether there are grounds for European clothing industry to recover and become competitive in relation to production in Asia or if production instead will be established in other global regions. To achieve this purpose we executed a qualitative study in the form of semi-structured interviews with nine Swedish clothing companies and a foundation working in the textile- and clothing industry. The study has been supplemented with documents written by organizations linked to the EU and scientific articles.The survey shows that China's changing situation does not lead to a major regeneration of European textile- and clothing production. The emphasis of clothing production will in the near future remain in Asia, although move from China to the new low-cost countries in the region. Europe will probably not mass produce clothing in the future and they lose more and more production in low-and mid-range market to other regions. Parts of the European company's production will in the near future continue to take place in Europe, as no other region currently can meet the needs of short lead times, efficient logistics, small batches, stability and quality as well. Over time, probably more production will occur in North Africa which in the future may take over a significant part of both Asian and European production. / Program: Textilekonomutbildningen