<p><strong>Purpose </strong></p><p>The purpose of the thesis is to identify problems cooperating departments suffer from, create solutions and discover ways to successfully implement the changes. A case study of Ekmans AB has been conducted to accomplish this.</p><p><strong>Background </strong></p><p>In today’s business world competition is fiercer than ever. New companies enter the market and new technologies and working methods are introduced which requires the companies to work proactivelyto foresee opportunities. But even if the companies are aware of all these external factors, they also need to look internally to see what they can improve and make more efficient in order to stay competitive. Therefore, it is important for companies to be ready to change both structure and culture to be more efficient.</p><p><strong>Method </strong></p><p>The method is based on a qualitative approach with semi-structuredi nterviews. A total of 20 interviews were conducted. The interviewees possess different positions within the company, ranging from the top management down through the organizational hierarchy.</p><p><strong>Conclusion </strong></p><p>The study shows that problems can arise from miscommunication, outdated ways of handling order receiving and a poorly chosen organizational structure. To solve these problems companies has to realize the importance of change. When modification the organizationa company has to take the organizational culture into consideration. It is important that the employees feel that they are a part of the change instead of just seeing it from sideline. Moreover, the management has to make sure they are thoroughly in their work regarding change; they have to follow up each alteration to make sure that it is actually implemented. Moreover, standardization is the key for organizations wishing improve and become more efficient. The result of the study showed that it is first when these criterions are fulfilled that the company can expect to successfully implement changes.</p>

In der Arbeit wird ein Rahmenkonzept für ein ganzheitliches Qualitätsmanagement für Fallbasierte Systeme im Angebotsengineering erarbeitet. Es vereint die Anforderungen des Total Quality Management nach Kunden-, Prozess- und Mitarbeiterorientierung mit bestehenden Ansätzen und Methoden zur Pflege Fallbasierter Systeme. Das Rahmenkonzept beschreibt anhand Fallbasierter Systeme zur Kostenschätzung im Angebotsengineering notwendige Grundlagen und Elemente, welche für eine systematische Qualitätsmessung und -steuerung der Wissensbasis eines solchen Fallbasierten Systems benötigt werden. Die Art und Weise ihrer Darstellung zeigt gleichzeitig eine Vorgehensweise auf, wie beim Aufbau einer Qualitätsmessung und -steuerung für Fallbasierte Systeme vorgegangen werden kann. / In the thesis a framework for an integrated quality management for case-based reasoning systems (CBR systems) in offer engineering has been developed. The framework conjoins the requirements of Total Quality Management for customer orientation, process orientation and employee-orientation with existing approaches and techniques from case base maintenance and case-based reasoner maintenance. Using a case-based cost estimation system in offer engineering as a case study, the framework describes basic principles and elements for a systematic quality measurement and control of the knowledge base of CBR systems. The principles and elements are described in a specific order that can be taken as a procedure for developing quality measurement and control for CBR systems.

Thesis (doctoral)--Linköping University, 1996. / Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (D. Ed.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI/Dissertation Abstracts International.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Texas, Aug., 2009. / Title from title page display. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 208-213). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

published_or_final_version / Housing Management / Master / Master of Housing Management

published_or_final_version / Housing Management / Master / Master of Housing Management

published_or_final_version / Housing Management / Master / Master of Housing Management

Syftet med föreliggande studie var att med utgångspunkt i offensiv kvalitetsutveckling bidra med kunskap om det kommunala ledarskapet i det förebyggande krisberedskapsarbetet. Den metod som har använts har varit hermeneutisk, induktiv samt kvalitativ metod. En multipel fallstudie har gjorts genom tre intervjuer med säkerhetsstrateger/beredskapssamordnare i kommunal sektor. Frågorna har varit semistrukturerade, där frågorna skapades med inflytande av Appreciative Inquiry. De slutsatser som framkom var att det kommunala ledarskapet har styrkor och utvecklingsmöjligheter i det förebyggande krisberedskapsarbetet. Det fanns styrkor och utvecklingsmöjligheter i samtliga av hörnstenmodellens värderingar. Dessa styrkor och utvecklingsmöjligheter i det kommunala ledarskapet kan bidra till en positiv utveckling av krisberedskapsarbetet och skapa ett tryggare samt säkrare samhälle. Exempel på upplevda styrkor var kommunala ledare som tillåtit delaktighet i risk- och sårbarhetsanalyser och bidragit till utbildningar. Exempel på utvecklingsområden för kommunala ledare var att ledare bör bidra till mer öppenhet, lyhördhet, delaktighet och diskussioner gällande krisberedskapsarbetet. / The purpose of this study, with it ́s base in Total Quality Managment, was to contribute with knowledge about the minuicipal leadership and the proactive crisismanagment. The method that has been used has been hermenetuic, inductive and qulitative method. A multiple casestudy has been made through three interviews with crisis coordinators in the municipal sector. The questions in the study have been semistructurated. The questionnaire was made with the influence of Appreciative Inquiry. The conclusion was that the municipal leadership have strengths and opportunities to development in the proactive crisimanagment. There was strengths and opportunities in all six principels in Total Quality Management. These strenghts and opportunities in the municipal leadership could contribute to a positive developmen of the crisismanagment and create a safer community. Exampels of perceived strenghts was municipal leaders that alowed participation in risk- and vulnerabillity assessments and educations. Exampels of development areas of municipal leaders was that leaders schould contribute to openness, responsiveness, participation and discussions regarding crisis management.