Telekombranschen är präglad av ett stressigt arbetsklimat och hög personalomsättning. Personalomsättningen bidrar inte bara till höga ekonomiska personalkostnader, utan också till låg arbetsmoral och engagemang hos de anställda. Vi fann det därav intressant att undersöka hur medarbetarna på ett telekomföretag upplever ledarskapet i organisationen. Vidare syftade studien till att undersöka de krav, kontroll och stöd medarbetarna upplever samt hur medarbetarna på telekomföretaget förhåller sig till personalomsättningen. Studien är av empirisk karaktär och den metodologiska utgångspunkten var att göra en kvalitativ studie med abduktiv ansats. Den använda datainsamlingsmetoden var semistrukturerade intervjuer. Resultatet visar att medarbetarna på telekomföretaget upplever och identifierar flera olika typer av ledarskap, varav den demokratiska ledarskapsstilen mest uppskattad. Att inkludera, stötta och visa empati är tre centrala egenskaper som eftersöks av medarbetarna. Vidare upplever respondenterna att arbetet karaktäriseras av höga krav, låg kontroll samt lågt socialt stöd från chefer och organisation. / The telecom industry is characterized by a stressful work environment and high employee turnover. High employee turnover does not only contribute to high economic costs, but also to a low level of work ethic among employees. Therefore, we found it interesting to investigate how the employees of a telecom company experience leadership in the organization. Furthermore, the study aimed to investigate how the employees experience the demands, control and social support at their workplace and how they relate to the company's employee turnover. The study is of empirical nature and the methodological starting point was to make a qualitative study with an abductive approach. The data collection method used was semi structured interviews. The results show that the employees experience several different types of leadership, of which the democratic leadership style is the most appreciated. Including, supporting and showing empathy are three key qualities demanded by employees. Furthermore, the employees experience that the work is characterized by high demands, low control and low social support from managers and organizations.

A brand is one of the most important assets that an organization has. It is a complex collectionof experiences and images that belongs to the surrounding world and it can have a huge impacton the organization. Today, brands are used in various ways and in different areas. One of theseareas is employer brand. In order to strengthen the employer brand, organizations can workwith employer branding, which is a long-term strategy that can be applied both internally andexternally. By working with employer branding from the internal perspective, organization canreduce their employee turnover. This is especially important for organizations today, since theunemployment in Sweden is relatively low and the labour market belongs to the workers. Thisprovides a challenge for the future success of organizations, since it is the human capital inthese organizations that possess knowledge. In Sweden, one of the characteristics of thetelecom industry is that the customer consultants have a high percent of employee turnover.The purpose of this study is therefore to investigate how organizations within the telecomindustry can reduce employee turnover with the help of internal employer branding.To gain a deeper understanding of the purpose, this study was conducted as a qualitative, singleand imbedded case study where the empirical material was collected through semi structuredinterviews. The results of the study showed that the investigated organization did not have asustainable and distinct strategy regarding internal employer branding. This was demonstratedby the fact that the leadership did not have an homogenous direction and the employees andprevious employees did not share the organizations experience regarding their work to retainemployees, therefore the efforts did not get the desired effect. This can affect the employerbrand in a negative way and therefore it is crucial that organizations understand the importanceof internal employer branding and the components that affects the employer brand. There areno shortcuts in building an employer brand and retain employees, the organization has to beattentive to what the employees truly desire. / Ett varumärke är en av de viktigaste tillgångarna ett företag har. Det är en komplex samling avupplevelser och bilder som omvärlden besitter och kan påverkar ett företag i hög grad.Varumärken återfinns inom breda områden och ett område som blivit allt mer aktuellt är ettföretags employer brand, även kallat arbetsgivarvarumärke. Arbetet för att stärka ett företagsemployer brand är en långsiktig strategi och kallas för employer branding. Denna strategi kanha två infallsvinklar, internt och externt. För att reducera personalomsättning används internemployer branding vilket är viktigt i dagens samhälle då arbetslösheten i Sverige är relativt lågoch arbetsmarknaden tillhör arbetstagarna. Det är även en utmaning för organisationersframgång att behålla kompetens inom organisationen. Telekombranschen i Sverige präglas avhög personalomsättning av kundtjänstmedarbetare och därför syftar denna studie till attundersöka hur dessa företag kan reducera personalomsättning med hjälp av intern employerbranding.För att få en djupare förståelse för studiens syfte genomfördes en kvalitativ, enkel fallstudiemed inbäddade analysenheter där semistrukturerade intervjuer användes för att samla in detempiriska materialet. Studiens resultat påvisade att den undersökta organisationen saknade entydlig strategi gällande intern employer branding vilket visade sig i att ledarskapet inte hade enenhetlig inriktning. De anställdas och tidigare anställdas upplevelser skiljer sig även frånorganisationens upplevelse gällande arbetet med att bibehålla personal och de åtgärder somorganisationen genomförde tappade då effekt. Detta kan innebära att organisationens employerbrand påverkas negativt och det är därför viktigt att organisationer idag förstår vikten av internemployer branding och dess beståndsdelar då det påverkar organisationens employer brand.För att bygga ett starkt employer brand och behålla humankapitalet inom organisationen finnsinga genvägar, du måste vara lyhörd till personalen.

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to fill the existing gap in the literature connected to project strategywithin the Swedish fiber infrastructure regarding the subsidy program announced by the Post- andTelecom Authority. To fulfill the purpose and address the research area two research questions have beendeveloped: RQ1: How do private companies design their project strategy competing for subsidies? RQ2:In what way does the business environment affect the design of the project strategy? Method: The study has used a qualitative research method based on a single private incumbent firmwithin the fiber infrastructure industry in Sweden. The study is based on existing literature on the subjectand complemented with 22 interviews divided into three stages to secure the quality of the data collection.The data were analyzed through a thematic analysis, which laid the foundation for the study's findings. Findings: The section presents four stages that intend to increase understanding of the subsidy program'sproject strategy and the business environment. The findings resulted in four parts, the Post- and TelecomAuthority subsidy program, the project in relation to the business environment, a life-cycle of the project,and lastly, a conceptual framework of the project strategy. The project strategy consists of sixcomponents: sub-goals, project organization and structure, risk, cost calculation, knowledge ofcompetition, and competitive tender. The strategy needs to include these components to create acompetitive tender and achieve the project goals and objectives. However, the competitive businessenvironment and Post- and Telecom Authority rules and regulations limit how the strategy can bedesigned and operationalized. Theoretical and practical implications: The study agrees with prior literature, which presents thatproject strategy is vital for project success (Shenhar et al., 2007), and that risk is a highly prominentcomponent affecting the strategy (Carbonara et al., 2015). However, the study presents new perspectiveson project strategy within public private partnerships on the Swedish fiber infrastructure and whichcomponents are the most prominent in the specific project. For managers, the study contributes with aframework intended to help assess these crucial components affecting the project strategy within theexisting context. This is to guide and assist managers in designing a more efficient project strategy andmitigates the risks associated with the subsidy program. Limitations and future research: This study is limited to investigating the project strategy related to thesubsidy program issued by the Swedish Post- and Telecom Authority. Further, the study is only based onone case company that does not present a holistic view of the project strategy of all actors involved. Thisindicating future research should investigate other companies within the market and especially publicfiber net owners with different goals and targets.

Some managers view innovative product development and convenient service delivery as necessary to business survival. However, unmotivated employees might negate any gains from the use of innovation. The purpose of this correlational study, grounded in diffusion of innovation theory, was to assess the relationship between creativity and support for innovation, resistance to change, and organizational commitment and employee motivation. A random sample of 81 information technology (IT) professionals from telecom service centers completed an online survey. Simultaneous multiple linear regression was the statistical technique used to analyze these data. The results indicated a poor model with low R2 to significantly predicted employee motivation, F (3, 78) = 5.481, p < .002, R2 = .174. In the final model, support for creativity and innovation were significant contributors to employees' motivation. Resistance to change was not a significant predictor to employees' motivation. Although the p-value was significant, the R2 was low and indicated a poor model fit. Future researchers might consider incorporating additional variables to make the model more useful. The implications for positive social change include the potential to enhance telecom managers' understanding of the factors that affect employee motivation; however, managers should consider incorporating additional variables specific to the work environment. Ultimately, a manager's ability to motivate workers is vital for implementing change, particularly when the introduction of technological innovation frequently occurs within an industry. .

The German government's "Industry 4.0" paradigm transforms technology application across domains using real-time data and connectivity. The telecom sector's reliance on digital, software-driven infrastructure for real-time data and connectivity is paramount. Data science and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are crucial, enhancing telecom networks' reliability, cutting costs, and improving service. This technology drives efficiency and innovation, shaping 33% of the market. As AI matures, discussions revolve around potential human replacement, especially in innovation management. Early AI investments yield cost-effective innovation but may not entirely replace human discretion. The exact AI implementation varies, aligning with organizational goals. This research investigates the challenges of implementing AI in the dynamic telecom industry's R&amp;D departments, particularly in Sweden and Finland. The research employs a case-study approach, utilizing semi-structured interviews and document analysis. Thematic analysis of the qualitative data reveals key challenges, including "Lack of Understanding and Awareness," "Recruitment and Skills Gap," "Data Security and Privacy Concerns," and "Infrastructure and Funding Limitations." These findings contribute to a comprehensive understanding of AI adoption challenges in the telecom sector, offering valuable insights for future research and industry practice. Ethical considerations and credibility measures were employed to ensure the rigor and validity of the research, emphasizing the importance of impartiality and multiple perspectives in qualitative research. A thematic analysis was conducted focusing on the "People," "Position," "Process," and "Technology" themes. "Position" categorizes organizations and individuals into AI-beginners, AI-followers, and AI-leaders, showing the diverse stages of AI adoption. "People" emphasizes upskilling, culture, and employee receptiveness. "Process" delves into integration challenges, data quality, ethics, and communication. "Technology" highlights data and budget challenges, infrastructure, and scalability. The findings reveal the telecom industry's transformative AI journey and the importance of balancing technological advancements, cultural shifts, skill development, and ethical considerations for successful AI implementation. While the research followed a rigorous qualitative approach, transparency is crucial for evaluating its credibility and acknowledging potential biases and limitations. The telecom industry's future success in harnessing AI's potential relies on understanding and addressing these multifaceted challenges. This research categorizes organizations and individuals into three distinct AI adoption stages: AI-beginners, AI-followers, and AI-leaders. This framework illuminates the diverse positions within the AI adoption spectrum and emphasizes the critical role of leadership, resource allocation, and skills development. Moreover, this research underscores the significance of human factors, integration processes, and technological considerations in successful AI adoption. Practical implications encompass strategic planning, resource allocation, leadership development, cross-functional collaboration, change management, ethical considerations, and talent acquisition. While offering valuable insights, the research acknowledges limitations in sample size, subjectivity, temporal relevance, and contextual completeness. This research also explores the potential future research directions in the domain of AI adoption in the telecom industry. Drawing from the insights gathered through interviews, several promising avenues for future investigations are outlined. These include longitudinal studies to track the evolution of AI adoption, cross-industry comparisons to identify best practices, quantitative analyses of AI's impact on key performance indicators, examinations of regulatory and ethical frameworks, in-depth studies of AI-related skill development, investigations into AI's impact on employment, and explorations of cultural transformations necessary for successful AI adoption. These avenues offer opportunities to advance our understanding of AI adoption dynamics and their implications for the telecom sector.

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En struktur analys på Ericssons MINILINK-6352 har utförts för att undersöka spänningar och deformationer på enheten, främst med fokus på de termiska gränskiktsmaterialen och buktningar av kretskortet. Dessa är viktiga aspekter när man överväger om enheten är termiska lämpad ur en mekanisk synvinkel, där god ytkontakt mellan de olika kropparna är avgörande för ordentlig kylning genom värmeledning. Analysen kräver tillräcklig materialdata till gränskiktsmaterialen och kretskortet för att kunna skapa lämpliga matematiska modeller. Enaxliga kompressionstester har genomförts för att karakterisera de hyperelastiska och viskoelastiska lagar för fyllda silikongummimaterial som används som termiska gränskiktsmaterial, som ibland kallas för gappad. Böjning av ett kretskort simulerades och jämfördes med ett tre--punkts böjtest för att verifiera om befintlig materialdata i beräkningsprogrammen var tillräcklig, jämförelsen visade god överensstämmelse. Kretskortet med dess komponenter, som modellerades som styva block, med gappads ovanpå som komprimeras av en platta simulerades och ett svagt område hittades. Detta område var sedan tidigare känt och har i ett senare skede eliminerats genom att tillsätta ytterligare en stödpelare. Därav visar denna studie en metod för att hitta intressanta regioner tidigt i konstruktionsfasen som lätt kan ändras för att uppfylla nödvändiga krav och undvika brister i konstruktionen. Arbetet har visat sig användbart genom att hitta detta svaga område i exempel produkten, arbetet ger även tillräckligt med information och exempeldata för att ytterligare utreda liknande produkter. Kombinationen av erfarenhet och simulering möjliggör smartare designval. / A structural analysis on Ericssons MINILINK-6352 has been performed in order to investigate stresses and deformations of the unit, mainly focusing on the thermal interface materials and warpage of the printed circuit boards. These are important aspects when considering if the unit is thermally adequate from a mechanical point of view, where good surface contact between various bodies are critical for proper cooling through heat conductivity. The analysis requires sufficient materal data for the interface material and the circuit board in order to create suitable mathematical models. Uniaxial compression tests have been conducted to characterise the hyperelastic and viscoelastic constitutive laws of a filled silicone rubber material used as a thermal interface material, commonly referred to as a thermal pad. Bending of a printed circuit board was simulated and compared to a three-point bend test on the circuit board in order to verify material data already available in the computational software, which showed good agreement. The entire radio unit was mechanically analysed during its sealing process. The circuit board with attached components modelled as stiff blocks with thermal pads on top compressed by plates was simulated and a weak area was found. This area in question was already known and has in a later stage been eliminated by adding an additional supporting pillar. Hence this study shows a methodology to find regions of interest at an early design phase which can easily be altered to fulfil necessary requirements and eliminate design flaws. This work has proven useful in finding weak regions in the example product, it also provides enough information and example data to further investigate similar products. The combination of experience and simulation allows for smarter design choices.

: cette thèse porte sur l’étude d’un accéléromètre à ondes de matière fonctionnant à bord d’un avion effectuant des vols paraboliques et permettant des expériences en micro-gravité (0-g). Un interféromètre à atomes de 87Rb refroidis par laser, et dont les états quantiques sont manipulés à l’aide de transitions Raman stimulées, constitue l’élément physique du capteur. Lors de la conception du dispositif expérimental, un effort particulier a été apporté au choix d’une source laser transportable, stable, et robuste. Nous démontrons pour la première fois le fonctionnement aéroporté d’un senseur inertiel à ondes de matière, à la fois en 0-g et durant les phases de gravité des vols (1-g). Nous proposons une technique combinant le signal de l’interféromètre à celui d’accéléromètres mécaniques auxiliaires pour effectuer des mesures au dela de la dynamique intrinsèque du capteur atomique. Nous expliquons comment bénéficier du haut niveau de sensibilité de l’interféromètre dans l’avion, et indiquons des voies d’améliorations significatives de notre dispositif pour le futur. En 0-g, nous montrons une amélioration de la sensibilité de l’accéléromètre jusque 2 x 10-4 m.s-2 à une seconde, et étudions une réjection des vibrations de l’avion à l’aide d’un interféromètre à quatre impulsions Raman. L’objectif de notre projet consiste en un test du principe d’universalité de la chute libre avec un double accéléromètre à atomes de 87Rb et de 39K. Notre système laser double-espèce emploie des composants optiques fibrés aux longueurs d’onde de 1.56 et 1.54 μm, ainsi qu’un doublage de fréquence pour obtenir la lumière utile à 780 et 767 nm pour le refroidissement et la manipulation des deux atomes. Nous étudions théoriquement la sensibilité d’une mesure de leur différence d’accélération en tenant compte des vibrations de l’avion, et précisons comment une résolution de l’ordre de 10-10 m.s-2 pourra être atteinte dans le futur avec notre expérience aéroportée. / This thesis reports the study of a matter-wave accelerometer operated aboard a 0-g plane in ballistic flights. The acceleration measurements are performed with a cold 87Rb atom interferometer using stimulated Raman transitions to manipulate the quantum states of the atoms. When designing the instrument, we took special care to make the laser source transportable, robust, and stable. With our setup, we demonstrate the first operation of a matter-wave inertial sensor aboard a plane, both in 0-g and during the gravity phases of the flights (1-g). Thanks to additional mechanical accelerometers probing the coarse inertial effects, we are able to detect acceleration fluctuations much greater than the intrinsic measurement range of the interferometer. We explain our method to benefit from the full sensitivity of the matter-wave sensor in the plane, and suggest significant improvements of our system for the future. In 0-g, we show the enhancement of the accelerometer sensitivity up to 2 x 10-4 m.s-2 in one second, and investigate a rejection of the vibrations of the plane with a four Raman pulses interferometer. The goal of our project is to perform a test of the universality of free fall with two atom accelerometers using 87Rb and 39K. The laser system for the two-species interferometer is based on fiber optical components at wavelengths of 1.56 and 1.54 μm, and optical frequency doubling to generate the useful light at 780 and 767 nm to cool and manipulate the atoms. We study theoretically the sensitivity of the differential acceleration measurement by taking into account the vibrations of the plane, and discuss how a resolution of the order of 10-10 m.s-2 could be achieved in the future with our airborne experiment.

La plasmonique est un domaine de la nano-photonique qui étudie le comportement de la lumière à des échelles sub-longueurs d'ondes en présence de métaux. Les plasmons polaritons de surface (SPPs) sont des modes électromagnétiques qui se propagent à l'interface entre un diélectrique et un métal. Les SPPs trouvent des applications dans plusieurs domaines comme la communication et le traitement tout-optique du signal, la spectroscopie, la détection en biologie et en chimie. De nombreux composants plasmoniques (modulateurs, coupleurs, détecteurs ...) ont été démontrés ces dernières années. Cependant, leur l'intégration reste conditionnée par l'absence d'un générateur compact (pompage électrique, dimensions réduites) et par les grandes pertes ohmiques. Les techniques standards de génération de SPs nécessitent l'alignement d'un laser externe sur un prisme ou un réseau de diffraction afin d'adapter le vecteur d'onde incident avec celui du plasmon. L'approche que nous avons choisie est basée sur l'utilisation de lasers à semiconducteur ayant une polarisation transverse magnétique (TM) comme source d'excitation et de gain. Notre approche, permet d'obtenir des dispositifs compacts et facilement intégrables sur puce. Pendant ma thèse j'ai étudié expérimentalement et numériquement les performances d'un laser en fonction rapprochement du contact métallique à sa région active. La proximité du gain optique au métal est nécessaire pour la réalisation de dispositifs plasmoniques actifs. J'ai démontré la génération et l'amplification des plasmons de surface dans la bande télécom (λ=1.3µm), avec des dispositifs compacts, à base de semiconducteurs, fonctionnant par injection électrique et à température ambiante. Notamment, j'ai réalisé une architecture élégante, avec coupleur intégré, pour la génération de SPPs accessibles sur le sommet du dispositif. Un dispositif avec gaine superficielle ultrafine a permis de démontrer un mode hybride plasmonique avec une fraction consistante de champ électrique à l'interface métal/semiconducteur. Finalement, j'ai montrée que la structuration nanométrique du contact métallique réduit les pertes du mode laser. Les résultats sont renforcés par une nouvelle technique de imagerie de champ proche (SNOM) qui a permis de mesurer les SPPs à l'interface métal/or et à l'interface métal/ semiconducteur. Grâce aux mesures SNOM, il a aussi été possible de démontrer sans aucune ambiguïté l'effet de la structuration du métal sur le mode optique. / The field of plasmonics is experiencing a rapid development, due to the interest in studying the behavior of light at the nanometer scale. Key ingredients of plasmonics are the surface plasmons (SPs), electromagnetic modes localized at the interface between a metal and a dielectric. SPs rely on the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and conduction electrons at metallic interfaces or in "small" metallic nanostructures. The recent intense activity on plasmonics has been also enabled by state-of-the-art nano fabrication techniques and by high-sensitivity optical characterization techniques. These tools pave the way to promising applications (integration in electronics, chemical and biological detection...), which exploit the SP peculiarity of confining optical fields over sub-wavelength mode volumes. The number of publications concerning plasmonics has been continuously increasing over the last twenty years giving rise to a dynamic research context. Several plasmonic devices have been demonstrated during the last years (modulators, couplers, detectors ...). However their integration is limited by the absence of a compact generator (electrical pumping, small dimensions) and by the huge ohmic losses. Standard techniques for surface plasmon polariton (SPP) generation need an external alignment with a laser source on a prism or on a grating. Our approach is based on semiconductor lasers sources with a transverse magnetic (TM) polarization. Therefore, it is possible to obtain compact semiconductor devices suitable for the on chip integration. During my thesis I studied experimentally and numerically the performance of a diode laser as a function of the metal distance from its active region. The proximity of the gain to the metal is necessary to realize active plasmonic devices. I demonstrated the generation and the amplification of SPP in the telecom range (λ=1.3µm) with compact semiconductor based devices, operating at room temperature and by electrical injection. I realized an elegant architecture with an integrated coupler grating for the SPP generation. The SPPs are directly accessible at the device surface. An ultra-thin cladding device allowed the demonstration of a hybrid plasmonic laser with a consistent fraction of electric field at the metal/semiconductor interface. Finally I demonstrated that the metal patterning allows a loss reduction, decreasing the laser threshold. The results are strengthened by a new near-field technique (NSOM) which permitted to measure the SPPs at the metal/air interface and at the metal/semiconductor interface. Thanks to the NSOM we showed unambiguously the effect of the metal patterning on the optical mode.

In the late 1980s, governments in New Zealand and Australia began to deregulate their telecommunications markets. This process included the corporatisation and privatisation of former state owned telecommunications monopolies and the introduction of competition. The Telecom Corporation of New Zealand (TCNZ) was corporatised in 1987 and privatised in 1990. Its Australian counterpart, Telstra, was corporatised in 1989 and partially privatised in 1997. This thesis examines and compares TCNZ and Telstra's changing organisational and workforce restructuring strategies, as they responded to these changes. It further examines how these strategies influenced the firms' employment relations (ER) policies. Strategic human resource management (SHRM) and transaction costs economics (TCE) theories assist in this analyse. TCE links organisational restructuring to the make/buy decisions of firms and the asset-specificity of their employees. It suggests that firms will retain workers that have developed a high degree of firm-specific skills, and outsource more generic and semi-skilled work. Firm strategies are also influenced by national, contextual, factors. From a TCE perspective, these external factors alter relative transaction costs. Hence, different ownership structures, ER legislation and union power help to explain differences in TCNZ and Telstra's organisational restructuring and ER strategies. During the decade from 1990 to 2000, TCNZ and Telstra cut labour costs through large-scale downsizing programs. Job cuts were supported by outsourcing, work intensification and the introduction of new technologies. These initial downsizing programs were carried out through voluntary redundancies, across most sections of the firms. In many instances workers simply self-selected themselves for redundancies. TCNZ and Telstra's downsizing strategies then became more strategic, as they targeted generic and semi-skilled work for outsourcing. These strategies accorded with a TCE analysis. But TCNZ and Telstra engaged in other practices that did not accord with a TCE analysis. For example, both firms outsourced higher skilled technical work. TCNZ and Telstra's continued market domination and the emphasis that modern markets place on short term profits, provided possible reasons for these latter strategies. This thesis suggests, therefore, that while TCE may help to predict broad trends in 'rational organisations', it may be less effective in predicting the behaviour of more politically and ideologically driven organisations aiming for short term profit maximisation. Some TCNZ and Telstra workers were shifted to subsidiaries and strategic alliances, which now assumed responsibility for work that had previously been performed in-house. Many of these external firms re-employed these workers under more 'flexible' employment conditions. TCNZ and Telstra shifted to more unitarist ER strategies with their core workers and reduced union influence in the workplace. Unions at Telstra were relatively more successful in retaining members than their counterparts at TCNZ. By 2002, TCNZ and Telstra had changed from stand-alone public sector organisations, into 'leaner' commercially driven firms, linked to subsidiaries, subcontractors and strategic alliances.