“Vattenfrågan har alltid varit viktig på Gotland” (Bastani et al. 2015, p. 25)  - “Water questions have always been important on Gotland”. Contrary to the common perception that water shortage does not pose a problem to northern European countries, the case on Gotland provides the example that it is a real issue. Due to several factors, the Swedish island faces severe water shortages during the summer and is in urgent need to address this in the light of an expected growing number of people coming to Gotland. Since water is a topic affecting a wide range of stakeholders, the water issue is already in the focus of attention and occasionally passionately discussed on the island. The aim of this paper was to identify with the help of qualitative research how relevant stakeholder groups perceive and address the water shortage on Gotland. The identified stakeholder groups were from the administrative/political sectors, industrial/business sectors, the research sector as well as engaged citizens. During the research it became clear that the water shortage can be characterized as a wicked problem, which in its nature is impossible to solve but only manageable due to its complexity. Yet, the majority of stakeholders did not recognize the wicked problem as such which explains the multiplicity of existent strategies for how to deal with it. The different approaches lead to outcomes that seem to only address parts of the problem but fail to manage it in its entirety. The study suggests that institutional voids, meaning a lack of clear responsibilities regarding who should manage the problem and how seem to both arise from and contribute to the complexity of the problem. As result of this research, it seems crucial to firstly gain a comprehensive understanding of the situation and then work with multi stakeholder communication and cooperation against prevailing institutional voids in order to address the water shortage effectively.

The increasing global challenges, such as natural disasters, poverty and many others, pose new threats to societies and businesses. Therefore, companies increase their engagement in Corporate Sustainability (CS), which connects social, environmental and economic responsibilities. Through this approach, CS aims at overcoming environmental and social constraints in a business context to increase competitiveness in today’s fast-changing world. This fast pace, with which the business environment changes, is related to external influences, such as the above-mentioned climate change, and to fundamental structural developments. One of those is the increasing number of emerging-market companies (EMNCs) that internationalize rapidly through cross-border M&A deals, also into developed markets. Since both trends, the increase in CS engagement and the growing international M&A activity of EMNCs, gain in practical and academic importance, we conducted our study under the following research question. How is CS integrated on a strategic level after a cross-border acquisition by an EMNC? The theoretical angle from which we approached the topic aligns with the resource-based view, including the natural-resource-based view, and a stakeholder perspective. When reviewing the literature regarding CS, it became clear that substantial outcomes are still lacking despite an increasing commitment to CS. This difficulty can be linked to the variety of interpretations regarding the conception of CS and the resulting confusion among implicated parties. The review of M&A literature, with a special focus on EMNCs, revealed that these companies deploy a unique approach, which is characterized by the soft post-M&A integration of the target to allow organizational learning within both businesses. Therefore, our empirical research aimed at exploring how the strategic CS of both companies, the target and the parent, influence each other and thus, develop towards a common CS strategy. The longitudinal single case study we selected, allowed us to investigate this research proposal. Through the collection and analysis of documentary data enriched by semi-structured interviews, our study revealed the following. The exchange of knowledge and CS-related communication represented the basis for the integration of strategic CS as it nurtures organizational learning. Consequently, the CS strategies of both companies increased in maturity, which means that their sophistication evolved. In addition, we also found that the target developed towards a more permissive sustainability to align with its parent company’s CS strategy. Our main study contributions relate to an enhancement of the theoretical knowledge in the related fields. Besides this, we also identified critical practical issues, such as the importance of establishing a common conception of CS to ensure a successful CS integration on a strategic level.

Syfte: Genom att i praktiken se hur företag identifierar immateriella tillgångar syftar den här studien att ur ett intressentperspektiv diskutera relevansen, tillförlitligheten och jämförbarheten av det initiala värdet av goodwill.Metod: Studien baseras på en kvalitativ fenomenografisk metodansats. Djupintervjuer och telefonintervjuer har används för att samla in det empiriska materialet. Empirin har därefter behandlats med en abduktionsansats för att möjliggöra en diskussion genom att pendla mellan det empiriska materialet och tänkbara teorier.Analys: Utifrån legitimitet- och intressentteorin kan skillnaderna i redovisningen förklaras av: 1) Företagsledares tolkning av det sociala kontraktet. 2) IFRS. 3) Revisorns roll. 4) Intressenternas makt, legitimitet och brådska. 5) Börsnoterat kontra icke börsnoterat.Slutsats: Studien finner att IFRS 3 inte ökar relevansen, tillförlitligheten och jämförbarheten av informationen förvärvaren ger om det förvärvade bolaget. För att IFRS 3 ska uppnå syftet med relevans, tillförlitlighet och jämförbarhet, bör de införas en tydlig vägledning hur företagen ska identifiera och värdera immateriella tillgångar efter ett rörelseförvärv. Vidare forskning krävs för att fastställa vilka egenskaper identifierbara tillgångar och goodwill besitter. / This thesis is written in Swedish.Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is through practice see how companies identifies intangible assets and by using a stakeholder perspective discuss the relevance, reliability and comparability of the initial value of goodwill.Methodology: This thesis is based on a qualitative phenomenography methodology. The empirical material have been gathered through in-depth interviews and telephone interviews. An abductive approach where applied on the empirical data and selective theories to enhance the discussion.Analysis: By applying the legitimacy and stakeholder theory the de facto difference in the accounting of the initial value of goodwill can be explained by: 1) Managers interpretation of the social contract. 2) IFRS. 3) The role of the accountant. 4) Power, legitimacy and urgency of the stakeholder. 6) Publicly listed company vs. unlisted company.Findings: This thesis finds that IFRS 3 do not increase the relevance, reliability and comparability of the information the acquirer discloses of the acquired company. If IFRS 3 is to fulfill its purpose of relevance, reliability and comparability, IASB needs to introduce a guidance how companies should identify and appraise intangible assets after acquisitions. Further research is needed on what properties intangible assets have and how goodwill should properly be classified.

The implementation of information technology and its impact on organisational change has been an important phenomenon, discussed in the IS literature over the last 30 years. Treating information system (IS) implementation as organisational change is a complex phenomenon. This complexity is mainly due to its multidisciplinary, socio-technical, dynamic and non-linear nature. This challenging nature of IS implementation complexities has a direct relationship to the IS implementation project outcomes - its success or failure. In view of this complexity, this research aims to understand how process studies can improve the understanding of enterprise system implementation. We argue that the socio-technical nature of IS development is inevitable thus the only way to go forward is to explore and understand the phenomenon. Following this, we adopt the stakeholder's perspective solely for the purpose of identification of stakeholders and their embedded interests and expectations. While prior research concentrated on a limited number of stakeholders of IS, we attempt to adopt Pouloudi et al. (2004) in mobilizing a stakeholder perspective to incorporate non-human stakeholders within the analysis. Within the actor-network perspective, complexity is resolved through simplification (black-boxing) - unpacking or collapsing the complexity. However, during this simplification process, the risk of removing useful description of the phenomenon through labelling was avoided. To support this research, the punctuated socio-technical information systems change (PSIC) model was applied. In this model, interactions and relationships between its components (antecedent condition, process, outcomes and organisational context) play a vital role. This research focuses on the implementation of an integrated financial system in three Malaysian universities through three interpretive case studies. Our findings show that each of our case studies provides a unique IS development trajectory. Following stakeholder analysis, the different cases provide interesting combinations of conflicts and coalitions among human and non-human stakeholders which further dictates the project outcomes or the process of IS black-boxing. The relationship between the three case studies on the other hand provides an interesting illustration of IS technology transfer.

This research addresses the decision making process for ESG procurement investments within organizations. Since the decision making process for ESG procurement investments, particularly the consideration of environmental, social, and governance, is not clearly understood or documented, this research aims to investigate the roles, activities, and stakeholders involved in each stage of the decision making process, while exploring the challenges and opportunities associated with using ESG considerations for ESG procurement investments. The research design employs qualitative methods, including semi-structured interviews with sustainability managers and a comprehensive analysis of findings. The key findings indicate that the decision making process follows Herbert Simon's three steps, involving the intelligence, design, and choice stage. Throughout this process, various stakeholders, including management teams, finance teams, and sustainability departments, assume specific roles. Furthermore, the involvement of additional stakeholders can vary from stage to stage, with their roles adapting accordingly. In the intelligence stage, the activities encompassed identifying the situation and problems at hand, as well as collecting data through collaborative efforts. Moving into the design stage, activities involved developing business cases and exploring potential alternatives. Finally, in the choice stage of the decision making process, the activities involved evaluating the best alternative, presenting it to the management team, and making the final decision. Challenges identified using ESG in procurement investments include among others aligning costs and sustainability, limited awareness and competences, and data availability, while opportunities lie in risk reduction, enhanced sustainability, collaboration, and cost reductions. The research contributes to existing literature by providing empirical evidence, development of an analytical framework, and shedding light on the decision making process. In practical terms, this research provides valuable insights for sustainability managers, procurement professionals, and organizational leaders. It highlights the importance of understanding the decision making process and the roles of different stakeholders, which can lead to improved collaboration and coordination among departments involved.

Humanity as for now is living in the future and sustainability issues are the daily challenges for the planet, and not a future problem any longer. The trend for sustainable development is pointing in the wrong direction and the pressure on natural resources is increasing. Research suggests stakeholders demand and reward responsibility from companies. The work for sustainable development requires extensive cooperation between companies, and people. Adopting a stakeholder perspective and meeting demands of various stakeholder groups means that companies today have even more relationships that they engage in than before. Companies rely on each other to be able to make an impact. An individual alone cannot make any changes but rather the society needs to act united to deal with these sustainable issues our world faces. Earlier studies emphasize that relationship marketing has the potential to assist sustainable efforts positively. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to understand the role of relationship marketing in the sustainable development context, focusing on customers’ and the network’s view on sustainability. The theoretical framework is based on relationship marketing, co-creation and the key mediating variables of relationship marketing model and was inspired by both the empirical data and previous research. Further, to explain sustainable development, concepts such as stakeholder perspective and triple bottom line were used. To achieve the study’s purpose, empirical data was collected through conducting an inductive qualitative case study using non-probability sampling in the outdoor furniture industry. Data collected consists of field observations and semi-structured interviews. Data was processed and analyzed through transcription and coding. Findings imply strong relationships and cooperation are essential for effective sustainable efforts. The concept of sustainable development is diffuse and difficult to grasp. It was also implied that there is a disconnect in shared core values regarding sustainability between the business network and the market in this case study. However, theory suggests the role of relationship marketing is to push the narrative of sustainability, even if demand is low. Practical implications and recommendations suggest adopting co-creation processes to increase mutual learning and understanding of complex concepts such as sustainable development.

The transport sector is one of the main contributors to greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. A current solution to this problem is the introduction of electric vehicles into our transport fleets. However, this solution comes with its challenges; for instance, the environmental impact of batteries once they reach their end-of-life. The circular economy is an approach to manage ecological electromobility issues while providing economic and societal wellbeing. A starting point for the implementation of a circular economy can be found in the implementation of circular business models. Because the circular economy requires its actors to think in systems, the collaboration between multiple stakeholders is essential. However, most circular business model frameworks are focusing on the focal firm, which is not sufficient to encourage cross-collaboration between organizations. Therefore, this study outlines the development of a new framework that focuses on a multi-stakeholder perspective. I propose the “framework for multi-stakeholder circular business model innovation” to explore win-win-win scenarios for the management of 2LB. I conducted a study in collaboration with Svealandstrafiken, Mälarenergi and Västerås Stad. The organizations were involved in data collection via a series of interviews and the validation of the framework through a workshop. The proposed framework consists of a process of four phases subdivided into eight steps that meant to address key challenges organizations are facing to achieve circularity. Within these four phases, the framework encourages discussions on shared values and visions between all stakeholders at an early stage. As a consequence, better collaborations and relationships are formed, which positively benefits the development of circular business models.

This master thesis investigates stakeholder perspectives on the adoption of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for sustainable construction of buildings. Study includes stakeholder views, preferences, and obstacles regarding adoption of sustainable construction initiatives by utilising a qualitative research approach. Key stakeholder viewpoints on the applicability, usefulness, and relevance are provided through qualitative interviews. Furthermore, stakeholder perspectives towards sustainability and process for development of KPIs are evaluated using qualitative surveys. The study utilises a case study methodology, focusing on a case company that is engaged in the construction of sustainable buildings, and employs a constructivist research design technique to comprehend the individual viewpoints and insights of stakeholders. To obtain in-depth insights, qualitative data gathering techniques like surveys and interviews are employed. A SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) is also included to determine internal and external variables impacting the adoption of KPIs and to systematically assess stakeholder viewpoints. The research findings shows that various stakeholders hold distinct opinions about the development of sustainable buildings. Although most stakeholders agree that KPIs are crucial for assessing sustainable development, there are significant differences in perspectives about sustainable initiatives in terms of the cost, lack of knowledge, and organizations involvement in decision-making. On the basis of the findings, recommendations are made to the case company to improve stakeholder involvement and collaboration in the development of KPIs for sustainable building construction. These include using standardised frameworks and rules for the creation of KPIs, incorporating stakeholder perspective into data gathering and analysis, and adopting collaborative approaches that engage stakeholders across the KPI life span.  The research contributes to the current discussion on sustainable construction approaches by addressing stakeholder perspectives and reservations, as well as influencing future efforts to develop and carry out effective KPIs in line with the goals and values of the company.

Companies in the EU face increasing challenges and pressures, especially with regulatory requirements like CSRD demanding significant responses. Integrating sustainability through strategic CSR can effectively embed sustainable practices into core operations. This study provides a rare integrative understanding by considering industry, resource, and stakeholder perspectives. Semi-structured interviews with employees in sustainability roles for 1-2 years in SMEs and large EU companies reveal internal and external drivers pushing companies towards sustainability, highlighting whether they adopt a proactive or reactive stance. Findings indicate that external drivers, such as regulatory mandates and stakeholder expectations, are significant catalysts for sustainability, emphasizing the importance of compliance and reputation. Internally, resource allocation and organizational culture are crucial, balancing financial considerations and fostering a sustainability-oriented mindset among employees. Companies with a stronger sustainable culture perceive internal drivers as more influential, aligning with a proactive CSR strategy. Additionally, the study highlights the critical role of stakeholder engagement in driving effective sustainability strategies. Companies that actively engage stakeholders and prioritize their needs demonstrate a higher commitment to sustainability, leading to enhanced reputational benefits and long-term value creation.

Intäkter är en väsentlig del av redovisningen och används för att fastställa de finansiella resultaten. Det är även ett betydelsefullt mått för intressenter som använder intäktsredovisningen för att bedöma företags finansiella prestation. År 2002 påbörjade IASB ett projekt för att utveckla en ny internationell intäktsstandard. Anledningen till detta var att öka jämförbarheten mellan olika företag och länder samt att utveckla ett mer konsekvent ramverk för intäktsredovisning. Svenska onoterade företag som klassificeras som större företag ska tillämpa det svenska regelverket K3, men har även möjlighet att följa det internationella regelverket IFRS genom att tillämpa den svenska rekommendationen RFR 2. Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka om skillnader uppstår mellan regelverken RFR 2/IFRS 15 och K3 vid redovisning av intäkter när hänsyn tas till inkomstbeskattning, utdelningsmöjligheter och nyckeltal. Syftet i studien är även att visa vilket regelverk som är mer fördelaktigt ur ett intressentperspektiv. Intressenterna som avses är användarna av finansiella rapporter vilka nämns i IASBs föreställningsram. För att uppnå syftet har tre typfall konstruerats med utgångspunkt i tre olika branscher som förväntas påverkas av den nya intäktsstandarden. Typfallen har därefter analyserats utifrån tillämpning av regelverken RFR 2/IFRS 15 och K3. Metoden som tillämpas i denna studie är av abduktiv karaktär och inom ramen för kvalitativ forskning. Resultatet av studien visar att det förekommer skillnader mellan RFR 2/IFRS 15 och K3. I typfallen uppstår skillnader i tidpunkten och fördelningen vid redovisning av intäkter vilket får effekter på inkomstbeskattning utdelning och nyckeltal. Det är dock svårt att utifrån dessa typfall och faktorer konstatera vilket regelverk som är mer fördelaktigt ur ett intressentperspektiv. När hänsyn tas till att RFR 2/IFRS 15 är mer omfattande och detaljrik än K3 kan däremot RFR 2/IFRS 15 anses vara det regelverk som är mer gynnsamt för intressenterna av den anledningen att det förser intressenterna med mer användbar och utförlig information. / Revenue recognition is an essential part of accounting theory and is used for determining financial performance. It is also a meaningful measure for stakeholders that use revenue recognition to estimate companies’ financial performance. In 2002 the IASB started a project to develop a new international revenue recognition standard. The reason for this was to increase the comparability across companies and countries as well as develop a more consistent framework for revenue recognition. Unlisted Swedish companies which classifies as larger companies should apply the Swedish regulation K3, but they also have the opportunity to practise the international IFRS regulation by applying the Swedish recommendation RFR 2. The purpose of this study is to examine possible differences that may arise between the revenue recognition of RFR 2/IFRS 15 and K3 regarding income tax, dividends and financial ratios. The study will also show which regulation is most beneficial from a stakeholder perspective. The stakeholders referred to are the users of the financial statements in IASB’s conceptual framework. In order to achieve the purpose of this study, three hypothetical examples have been designed based on three different industries that are expected to be the most affected of the new revenue recognition standard. The hypothetical examples have then been analyzed based on the application of RFR 2/IFRS 15 and K3. The method for this study is an abductive character and within the frames of qualitative research. The findings of this study indicate that differences appear between RFR 2/IFRS 15 and K3. The hypothetical examples show that differences occur in the timing and allocation of revenue recognition which have an effect on income tax, dividends and financial ratios. Even though differences occur it is difficult to conclude which regulation is the most beneficial from a stakeholder perspective, based on these hypothetical examples and elements. However, considering RFR 2/IFRS 15 being more comprehensive and detailed than K3, RFR 2/IFRS 15 may be considered more beneficial to stakeholders as it provides stakeholders with more useful and extensive information.