This thesis investigates the economic theories on the role on non-profit organizations, their creation, and factors for the size of the non-profit sector. An analytical approach was taken to determine what factors seem to affect the size of the non-profit sector. Firstly a literature review was conducted of the existing, and predominant economic theories relating to the role of the non-profit sector, and several hypotheses where suggested from the analysis of past research. Then an empirical model was created to test the validity of the hypotheses on a cross-national sample, in an effort to deduce what factors affect the size of the non-profit sector.

Under de senaste decennierna har sponsring gentemot idrott blivit allt mer populärt då det genererar fördelar. För att sponsring ska generera fördelar krävs en god relation mellan företaget och idrottsföreningen. Tidigare studier menar att relationer ligger till grund för en framgångsrik sponsring och att målet bör vara att skapa en långsiktig relation, dock menar tidigare studier att sponsorrelationer är komplexa och svåra att förstå sig på. Det leder oss till denna studies syfte. Studien syftar till att beskriva hur företag och idrottsföreningar arbetar i en långvarig sponsorrelation, genom att undersöka hur ett förtroende och engagemang skapas. För att uppfylla studiens syfte har författaren studerat hur parterna i en sponsorrelation arbetar med beståndsdelarna byteskostnader, relationsfördelar, delade värderingar, kommunikation och opportunistiskt beteende. Resultatet av studien är att samtliga beståndsdelar tillämpas för att skapa ett förtroende och engagemang i sponsorrelationer. Studien visar även att båda parterna i en sponsorrelation bär ett ansvar men idrottsföreningen har ett större ansvar i arbetet av att skapa långsiktiga sponsorrelationer.

Sammanfattning   Datum: 24 maj 2018   Nivå: Magisteruppsats i Företagsekonomi, specialisering Marknadsföring   Institution: Institutionen för ekonomi, teknik och samhälle – Luleå Tekniska Universitet    Författare: Douglas Anton och Ludvig Lundh   Handledare: Maria Ek Styvén   Titel: Relationsmarknadsföring – Köpcentrumägarens bästa vän? En kvalitativ studie om relationer mellan köpcentrumägare och hyresgäster   Nyckelord: Relationsmarknadsföring, Tillit och Engagemang, Kommunikation, Köpcentrum    Syfte: Mot bakgrund av e-handelns frammarsch och dess marknadstransformation syftar denna studie till att undersöka hur köpcentrumägare i Sverige arbetar med relationsmarknadsföring för att bibehålla detaljhandelns fysiska butiker.   Metod: En deduktiv flerfallsstudie av kvalitativ karaktär genomförd genom fem intervjuer.   Slutsats: Köpcentrumägare i Sverige arbetar med relationsmarknadsföring och tillämpar Morgan och Hunts (1994) strategier. Bland de fyra strategierna är kommunikation den strategi som är mest framträdande, framförallt genom fysiska möten med hyresgästerna. Studien visar också att majoriteten av köpcentrumägarna eftersträvar och upplever att de fostrar känslomässigt engagemang i relationen och att hyresgästerna stannar om de trivs i relationen. Studien visar även att köpcentrumägarna i studien arbetar för och upplever att hyresgästerna känner tillit. / Abstract   Date: May 24th 2018   Level: Master thesis in Business Administration, Specialization Marketing   Institution: Department of Business Administration, Technology and Social Sciences, Luleå - University of Technology   Authors: Douglas Anton and Ludvig Lundh   Tutor: Maria Ek Styvén   Keywords: Relationship Marketing, Commitment-Trust theory, Communication, Shopping center   Purpose: In the light of the growing e-commerce and its transformational impact on the market, this study aims to investigate the use of relationship marketing among Swedish property owners operating in the market for shopping centers as a strategy to retain their retail tenants.    Method: A deductive multiple case study with qualitative data collection conducted through five interviews.   Conclusion: Property owners in the Swedish market for shopping centers apply relationship marketing and the strategies by Morgan and Hunt (1994). Communication is found to be the most prominent strategy and is frequently practiced through meetings with tenants in person. The majority of the property owners experience affective commitment in relationships with tenants and believe that tenants who experience affective commitment tend to continue the relationship rather than ending it. The study also found that property owners experience trust and are actively working towards fostering trust in their relationships with tenants.

<p>  </p> <p>The role of trust and risk tolerance has received renewed attention in the field of environmental conservation and management as scholars are increasingly interested in integrating various social, economic, political, cultural, and psychological understandings, concepts, and theories into environmental conservation and natural resource management. This dissertation has two foci. The first focus is on examining the role of trust in the development and maintenance of collaborative environmental conservation programs and factors influencing trust (Chapters 2 and 3) and the second focus is on examining drivers of risk tolerance in the context of human-wildlife conflict (Chapter 4). Specifically, Chapter 2 focuses on the development and maintenance of NGO-municipal collaborations in an incentive-based environmental conservation program in Bolivia, where an NGO coordinated with four municipal governments in the initiation and implementation of the Watershared program. With a particular focus on the role of trust, I examined how municipal and NGO staff interact to negotiate, fund, and develop Watershared, their motivations to initiate such partnerships, factors that influence the maintenance of such partnerships, and how staff within these organizations envision their future collaborations. I collected and analyzed data from 15 semi-structured interviews with municipal decision makers and conservation practitioners in the implementing NGO and data from participant observation of several Watershared events and NGO meetings, utilizing an integrated Institutional Analysis Design (IAD) framework. My results suggest that trust and interpersonal relationships built upon shared values and goals and the program history in the region were important factors shaping NGO-municipal collaborations. At the same time, my results show that the NGO and municipal partners had different visions of the future of the program, particularly who would be responsible for program funding and implementation, and different organizational capacities that may influence their abilities to maintain their collaborations over time. Together, these results demonstrate the importance of understanding local dynamics in developing and maintaining NGO-municipal collaborations, particularly the role of adaptability and interpersonal relationships and the challenges related to goal misalignments over time. In Chapter 3, I investigated trust of Watershared participants and non-participants towards various organizations and the collaborating partners of Watershared, particularly the forms of trust present and the factors influencing their trust. By collecting and analyzing data from 1,030 household surveys of Watershared participants and non-participants in 72 communities in the Department of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, my results suggest that factors influencing trust in NGOs vs municipal governments differed even as the type of trust held in both entities was the same. Specifically, that community embeddedness and program participation significantly influenced trust in NGOs while perceived fairness and equality within communities and experience of political instability influence program participants’ trust in local municipalities. Overall, these results demonstrate the utility of a multi-level trust lens in developing informed understandings of trust across organizations while highlighting opportunities for natural resource professionals to enhance trust across organizations. Finally, Chapter 4 of my dissertation moved away from research in Bolivia to examine risk tolerance and trust in a different context due to my strong interest in human-wildlife conflict. Specifically, this chapter focuses on determining the factors that drive tolerance in livestock producer-black vulture conflicts in the midwestern United States. By collecting and analyzing data from 222 surveys of livestock producer in Indiana and Kentucky, I examined the economic, psychological, and social drivers of tolerance of black vultures. The results show that economic cost (e.g., livestock loss) was not a significant factor influencing risk tolerance; rather, wildlife value orientations such as utilitarian or mutualist beliefs, previous experience with black vultures, and intangible costs (i.e., emotions associated with wildlife) were significant drivers of tolerance. This chapter highlights the importance of incorporating non-economic factors in both understanding tolerance and developing policies and programs that reduce human-wildlife conflict. Overall, my dissertation examined trust, collaboration, and risk tolerance in two distinct contexts. Together, my results demonstrate the importance of integrating understandings of trust and risk tolerance with other economic, social, and psychological theories in developing a holistic approach to promoting collaborative natural resource management to address increasingly complex environmental conservation challenges.</p> <p>  </p>

Background: The increasing reliance on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in personalized marketing has reshaped consumer interactions in the digital era. With technological advancements, there is a growing need to explore how AI-driven personalization influences consumer behavior, particularly in satisfaction, loyalty, and ethical considerations. Purpose: This thesis investigates the impact of AI-driven personalized marketing on consumer perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors. It aims to understand how trust and ethical considerations such as data privacy and algorithmic bias influence consumer responses and engagement with personalized marketing. Method: Employing a quantitative approach, this study integrates quantitative analysis from surveys conducted on 100 participants. This method provides a comprehensive understanding of the implications of AI-driven personalization. Statistical tools like SPSS were used for data analysis, ensuring rigorous examination of the collected data. Conclusion: The findings reveal a nuanced response to personalized marketing. While AI-driven personalization can enhance consumer engagement and satisfaction, transparency and ethical considerations are critical in securing consumer trust and loyalty. The study underscores the importance of ethical marketing practices and the need for continuous adaptation to technological advancements to align with consumer expectations and ethical standards. This research contributes to academic discussions on personalized marketing and offers strategic insights for integrating technological advancements with consumer-centric approaches in marketing practices.

Mobilapplikationer har på bara några år kommit att bli en naturlig del i marknadsföringsmixen för många företag som vänder sig till slutkonsumenter. Nu spås företagsapplikationer, mobilapplikationer skapade för företagsanvändare, stå inför sitt stora genombrott. Det verkar bland forskare och praktiker finns en allmänt utbredd åsikt om att mobilapplikationer har stor potential att bli en kraftfull B2B-marknadsföringskanal. Trots detta har mobilapplikationer ännu inte fått något omfattande genomslag inom B2B- sektorn och det råder stor osäkerhet kring hur de möjligheterna som mobilapplikationer har potential för ska tas tillvara. Syftet med den här uppsatsen är att försöka räta ut några av dessa frågetecken genom att utreda hur en mobilapplikation används som marknadsföringskanal av ett svensk B2B- företag, och utifrån detta undersöka mobilapplikationers potential som marknadsföringskanal utifrån två för B2B-marknadsföringsområdet centrala teoretiska perspektiv: relationsmarknadsföring och värdeskapande. För att kunna göra detta har vi genomfört en fallstudie av hur ett svenskt B2B- företag, ABB använder sig av mobilapplikationer i marknadsföringssyfte. Studien bygger på både kvantitativ och kvalitativ data i form av en telefonsurvey med 50 respondenter i mobilapplikationens primära målgrupp, samt 7 djupintervjuer varav 2 intervjuer med intressenter från undersökningsföretaget och 5 intervjuer med kunder till företaget som använder mobilapplikationen. Baserat på resultatet av undersökningarna har vi kunnat konstatera att den undersökta mobilapplikationen i ABB:s fall har påverkat både relationen mellan företaget och dess kunder, och det värde som kunderna upplever i transaktioner med företaget, positivt. Vidare har vi kunnat konstatera att en majoritet av respondenterna i våra undersökningar har en positiv inställning till mobilapplikationer som marknadsföringskanal. Våra djupintervjuer har också visat att kunderna anser att mobilapplikationer har många fördelar gentemot andra marknadsföringskanaler. Vi har utifrån detta kunnat dra slutsatsen att mobilapplikationer kan utgöra en lämplig marknadsföringskanal för B2B-företag. / Mobile applications are often claimed to be a suitable marketing tool for B2B companies and the world market for B2B mobile applications is expected to outgrow the mobile app market for consumer products within a few years. The idea of using mobile applications as a B2B marketing tools has been discussed by theorists in the field for years but there is still an evident lack of studies focusing on the use of mobile application in a B2B context. Many practitioners seem convinced that mobile apps have the potential to become a powerful B2B marketing tool. Yet B2B mobile applications are still fairly uncommon and great insecurity seem to prevail in regards to how companies can use mobile apps successfully as vehicles for B2B marketing. The purpose of this study is to investigate how mobile applications can be used as marketing tools in a B2B context and to investigate if mobile applications have any impact on customer relations and experienced customer value. To do so, we have conducted a case study of a B2B company using a mobile application in their marketing programme. A quantitative telephone survey was conducted to estimate awareness and usage of the app among customers within the target group. Qualitative data has been compiled through a number of in-depth interviews with involved stakeholders of the investigated company as well as a number of customers using the app. The empirical findings have been analyzed using a theoretical framework based on theories of relationship marketing and value creation, encompassing Morgan &amp; Hunt’s (1994) Key Mediating Variable Model and Amit &amp; Zott’s (2001) Value Creation Model. The findings of the study indicate that mobile applications can have a positive impact on customer relations and the value that customers experience when engaging in transactions with a company. Furthermore, a majority of the respondents participating in the study have a positive attitude towards mobile applications and believe that mobile apps have a number of advantages in relations to other marketing channels. Based on these finding the authors have come to the conclusion that mobile apps can be an appropriate marketing tool for B2B-companies seeking to deepen customers relations and enhance customer value.

M. Tech. (Department of Logistics Management, Faculty of Management Sciences), Vaal University of Technology. / The food retail industry is an important contributor to the economy. Buyers and suppliers in this industry work in collaboration with each other to achieve superior supply chain performance. To achieve this, they have to find ways and methods to improve it. The purpose of this study was to investigate the drivers of supply chain performance in the food retail industry in the Gauteng province. This study considers three of these drivers, namely buyer-supplier trust, buyer-supplier commitment and supply chain relationship longevity. A quantitative approach was adopted in which a survey questionnaire was used to collect data from 429 managers and staff members from food retailing firms in the Gauteng province. The study used a non-probability convenience sampling technique to select respondents. Data were analysed with the aid of two software packages, namely the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS version 24.0) and the Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS version 24.0). A confirmatory factor analysis was applied in examining and testing the relationships between observed constructs and their causal latent constructs while structural equation modelling was used to test the hypothesised relationships between constructs. The results of the research revealed that buyer-supplier trust, buyer-supplier commitment and supply chain relationship longevity positively and significantly influence supply chain performance. Buyer-supplier trust exerted a positive and significant influence on both buyersupplier commitment and relationship longevity. Also, the results showed that buyer-supplier commitment has a positive and significant influence on relationship longevity. The study concludes that to achieve greater supply chain performance, food retailers should expedite the levels of trust, commitment and length of relationships with their suppliers. The results of this study provide useful insights on how businesses in the food retail industry could benefit from trust, commitment and relationship longevity as well as on how to improve supply chain performance. The results of this study contribute to the existing body of knowledge by generating new information on buyer-supplier relationships. Therefore, the study is useful to buyers and suppliers in the food retail industry who wish to enhance supply chain performance and develop better relationships.

Bakgrund: Aktieägarnas förtroende för revisionen och de finansiella rapporterna har påverkats negativt på grund av de revisionsskandaler som har varit aktuella under senare tid. Skandalerna har lett till att pålitligheten i revisionen har ifrågasatts av de finansiella rapporternas användare. En av skandalerna som har varit aktuell under 2000-talet är skandalen med HQ-Bank, där revisorn hade misskött sitt arbete och bedragit aktieägare och kunder. På grund av skandaler som denna har krav på hårdare lagstiftning efterfrågats. Till följd av detta har det tagits fram åtgärder i form av ett revisionspaket. Det har dock funnits delade meningar om åtgärdernas effekt när det kommer till att åtgärda problemet. Det faktiska och det synliga oberoendet har haft en stor roll i diskussionen när det kommer till att återuppbygga och stärka förtroendet.Syfte: Studien syftar till att fördjupa diskussionen i frågan om de förtroendestärkande åtgärderna och undersöker hur aktieägarnas förtroende till revisionen kommer att påverkas av åtgärderna i revisionspaketet.Metod: Frågeställningen besvaras genom kvalitativa intervjuer och lämpliga teorier för att skapa en korrekt bild över forskningsområdet. Teorierna som är utvalda för studien ligger till grund för analysen av det insamlade datamaterialet.Resultat: Studien tyder på att revisionspaketets effekt inte kommer att bli särskilt märkvärd, och frågan är om det är rätt åtgärd att vidta. Orsaken till det negativa utfallet tycks bero på osunda relationer som bygger på sociala mekanismer. Utifrån detta kan regleringen ses som att den endast fyller en social funktion eftersom sociala mekanismer kan anses svårreglerade.Det kan vidare uppfattas som att det synliga oberoendet har fått en större roll än det faktiska oberoendet när det kommer till att etablera förtroende. Studien finner ytterligare problem i att det råder ett förväntningsgap i samhället som visar på kunskapsluckor gällande revisorns ansvar, något som revisionspaketet inte kommer åt. En utjämning av förväntningsgapet skulle kunna mildra problemet varför fokus kanske borde ligga på att reducera gapet.Orginalitet/värde: Studien har bidragit till diskussionen kring förtroendestärkande åtgärder inom revisionen och revisionspaketets effekt när det gäller att påverka aktieägarnas förtroende. / Background: The shareholders trust in the auditing process has been affected negatively due to the recent audit scandals. The reliability of the audit has been questioned by the users of the financial statements due to the audit scandals. One of the main scandals during the 2000s is the scandal of HQ- Bank, where the auditor had mismanaged his work and defrauded shareholders and customers. Demands for stricter legislation has been requested because of the scandals. As a result of this, new arrangements in terms of a reform of the EU statutory audit market has been developed. However, there has been disagreements regarding the effectiveness when it comes to fixing the problem. The independence in fact and the independence in appearance has had a major role in this context when it comes to rebuilding strengthen the trust.Purpose: This study aims to deepen the discussion in trust-building actions and examines how the shareholders trust in the audit will be affected by the measures in the reform of the audit market.Methodology: The question is answered through qualitative interviews and appropriate theories to create an accurate picture of the research area. The theories that are selected for the study are the basis for the analysis of the collected dataFindings: The study indicates that the effect of the reform of the audit market will not be obvious, and the question is if it is the right move. The reason for the negative outcome appears to be due to unhealthy relationships based on social mechanisms. Based on this the regulation can be seen as only fulfilling a social function since social mechanisms can be difficult to regulate. It can further be seen as the independence in appearance has played a bigger role than the independence in fact when it comes to establishing the trust. The study finds further problems in the expectation gap in society that shows knowledge gaps regarding the auditor's responsibilities, which the reform of audit market cannot reach. A smoothing of the expectation gap might alleviate the problem as to why the focus should probably be on reducing the gap.Orginality/value: The study has contributed to the discussion regarding trust-building actions within the audit and the reform of the audit markets effect when it comes to influencing the shareholders trust.This thesis will continue in Swedish.

Historien om betalningsmedel vänder under 2010-talet blad och börjar på ett nyttkapitel. Nästa steg i den monetära utvecklingen sker när de virtuella valutorna ökar ianvändning. Den virtuella valutan Bitcoin introducerades av Satoshi Nakamato år2009 och är en digital valuta, vilket innebär att den inte är kopplad till någon fysisktillgång med rättslig innebörd. När ett nytt betalningsmedel introduceras ärfundamentala faktorer gällande samhällets acceptans och nyttjande ett ekonomisktpussel. Hur kommer det sig att individer byter verkliga varor mot en papperssedel, ettmynt eller en elektronisk signal? Att inneha och aktivt använda nya betalningsmedelsom virtuella valutor medför risker som många inte är bekanta vid. Organisationeroch konsumenter som öppnar upp portarna för nya betalningsmedel måste ha kunskapom dess konsekvenser, både positiva och negativa. Studien syftar till att belysa derisker som uppstår när nya betalningsmedel som Bitcoin gör entré. Forskningsfrågankring vilka risker innehav och nyttjande av virtuella valutor medför besvaras genomen kvalitativ analys av främst forskningsartiklar. Vår studie tyder på att riskerna kringvirtuella valutor som Bitcoin relaterar till förtroende för betalningsmedlet. De flestariskerna uppstår vid innehav av Bitcoin och relaterar inte till tekniska faktorer. / The history of means of payment is taking new shape during the 2010:th decade andstarts on a new chapter. The next step in the monetary evolution will take place oncevirtual currencies become more frequently used. The virtual currency called Bitcoinwas introduced by Satoshi Nakamoto in the year of 2009 and is a digital currency,which means that it is not connected to a physical good with a forensic purpose.When a new mean of payment is introduced fundamental factors regarding theacceptance of society and utilization becomes a financial puzzle. How can it be thatindividuals exchange physical goods for a paper bill, a coin or just somethingelectronic? To possess Bitcoin and to use new means of payment on a frequent basisbring risks many users are not familiar with. Organizations and consumers whomopen up their gates to new means of payment need to gain knowledge ofconsequences both positive and negative. The purpose of this study is to highlight theaforementioned risks, which arise from the fact that new means of payment likeBitcoin is introduced. The research issue regarding which risks may arise frompossession and usage of virtual currencies are concluded by a qualitative analysisresearch containing mostly scientific articles. Our study depicts that the risksassociated with virtual currencies like Bitcoin, are all somehow related to the trust forthe specific mean of payment. Most risks arise from actually possessing a Bitcoin andhence not as much related to the technological element.

The diploma thesis deals with the sources of trust in artificial intelligence, and how these sources are conditioned by social representations. It examines what risks the user is aware of when using artificial intelligence and how various factors affect the user's thinking. Artificial intelligence is represented in my work by intelligent virtual assistants (IVA). Based on semi-structured research interviews with their users, I have identified as the main sources of trust: neutrality, belief in the future, fulfillment of expectations and closeness. The first two sources are constant and based on social structure, while the last two sources of trust are based directly on user experience and are variable over time. It was also found that social representations have a significant impact on sources of trust. I divided all social representations into three categories - mechanicality, personification, intangibility, according to which the user's perception of artificial intelligence could be assessed and, based on that, his thinking about it. Because of this, I have proved that the trust of users is conditioned by social representations. An important part of trust is risk awareness. In my work, I have identified six main risks that users are aware of: unexpected software error, mechanical error, misuse of...