The entrepreneurial journey can be filled with challenges. Having a successful mentorship forsupport and guidance can be crucial for the development of a startup and for learningentrepreneurial skills. For many young entrepreneurs, mentorship is an available alternative.At the same time, there are other options that could present a more tempting course of action.This study has investigated what value young entrepreneurs put into traditional mentorshipand what other alternatives are utilized. Through a study on members from student firmsunder the Swedish organization Ung Företagsamhet, this investigation is pursuing to find outthe value of mentorship. Semi-structured interviews have been constructed with 42 studentsfrom 12 different firms to get a deeper understanding for how these young entrepreneurs thinkwhen they integrate with a mentor, how they act and why, and what kind of methods theyprefer to use.Prior studies are telling us that mentorship is a delicate matter, and even under the rightconditions, mentorship is not always successful. The respondents of this investigation belongto a group of people who spend more time on the internet and on social media than anygeneration before them. The result of this research is indicating that traditional mentorship isstill considered to be a very valuable tool, despite many available options.

Title: Electronics and adsorption properties of model catalytic systems contains cerium Author: Miloš Cabala Department: Department of Surface and Plasma Science, Supervisor: RNDr. Kateřina Veltruská, Department of Surface and Plasma Science, Abstract: The doctoral thesis contains the study of model catalyst systems based on cerium and ceria. The thesis deals with model systems of CeAg, CeO2/Cu(111), Ni- CeO2/Cu(111) a Ni-Sn-CeO2/Cu(111). We have studied these systems using photoelectron spectroscopy, ion scattering spectroscopy and low energy electron diffraction. Model systems were prepared under strictly defined conditions. The strong bimetallic interaction was observed on the CeAg layers. Molecular adsorption of carbon monoxide on CeAg was demonstrated. We also observed intensive reaction of these layers with oxygen. By measurements in different directions of surface Brillouin zone, we managed to reconstruct the band structure of the prepared CeO2/Cu(111) layer. We have shown that the Cu substrate interacts weakly with deposited CeO2 layer. This interaction results in a charge transfer from Cu into CeO2. Overall, in the valence spectrum we have identified three main electron bands corresponding to O 2p state bound in CeO2. It has been proven that the deposition of Ni on CeO2 layers leads to partial...

Abstract Background: Innovation is a key factor in the development of new businesses as well as in the sustainable success of existing organisations. Especially for family businesses, innovation is the main strategic instrument to ensure economic growth, prosperity, and transgenerational survival. However, many organisations are unable to achieve success by themselves; thus, collaborative innovation becomes increasingly important. While collaborative innovation with start-ups is highly promising for corporations, it remains unclear how feasible the decision for this approach is for family firms due to their distinct attributes. Purpose: This thesis aims to research how particular family business attributes influence the decision for collaborative innovation with start-ups. Thereby we contribute to existing academic literature and provide valuable insights for family firms to further increase their innovation potential. Method: To fulfil the purpose of this exploratory research study, secondary data, in the scope of a literature review as well as additional valuable sources and primary data, in the form of qualitative interviews, are gathered. The in-depth interviews allow us to collect responses on sensitive information on firm insights, while triangulation with secondary data enables us to generate a deep understanding of different perspectives significant to this study. In total, ten semi-structured interviews from six family businesses are conducted. Later, Grounded Theory is used for analysing the data. Conclusion: The results show that two of the examined attributes, namely risk aversion and unwillingness to collaborate with external partners, have a negative influence on the decision for collaborative innovation with start-ups. The other two attributes, long-term orientation and unwillingness to invest in innovation purposes both demonstrate ambivalent findings. Thus, their influence cannot be clearly evidenced in this study.

Avsikten med rapporten är att kartlägga och analysera förekommande övertoner i anslutning till en utav AstraZenecas Uninteruptible Power Supply (UPS) anläggningar. Samt ge en generell inblick på övertoner och dess karaktäristik i form av konsekvenser och lösningar. Analysen har skett genom mätningar med två olika instrument, en ultraljudsmikrofon och en nätanalysator. Ultraljudsmikrofonen mäter ljudfrekvenser i luften som kan kopplas till vibrationerna alstrade av övertonerna i transformatorerna. Nätanalysatorn användes i syfte att mäta övertonerna i direkt anslutning till ledningarna och ge en komplett bild av de tre fasernas vågform. Valet att använda ultraljudsmikrofonen och nätanalysatorn baserades på att ha en tvåfaldig bekräftelse av förekommande övertoner. Då två olika datainsamlingsmetoder ökar trovärdigheten i resultaten, ifall dessa överensstämmer. Resultaten visade förekomsten av 2:a, 5:e, 7:e, 11:e och 13:e strömövertoner. Dessa uppmättes i en punkt emellan transformatorn före UPS:en och UPS:en i sig. Källan till strömövertonerna är 6-puls likriktaren ansluten inuti UPS:en. Spänningens vågform påvisade inga större övertoner utan föll inom normala gränsvärden, vilket är ett resultat av att mätningen utfördes på inkommande sida av UPS:en. Efter UPS uppmättes kraftigare övertoner än före. Dessa sträckte sig ifrån 2:a till 7:e ordningen och bestod av både jämna och udda övertoner. Orsaken anses vara växelriktarens hackande av batteriets likspänning, samt pulse width modulation (PWM)-tekniken. Ultraljudsmikrofonens förmåga visade sig vara mindre anpassad för ändamålet i jämförelse med nätanalysatorn, då den inte påvisade utslag på de kraftigaste övertonerna uppmätta med nätanalysatorn. Nätanalysatorn var nyckelinstrumentet som bekräftade förekomsten av övertoner ifrån en 6-pulsbrygga före UPS och växelriktarens spår efter UPS. Konsekvenser orsakade av övertonerna framgick som slitage på materiel, onödiga energiförluster och värmeutveckling i ledningar och komponenter. Lösningarna består utav diverse filter eller ombyggnationer. Dessa åtgärder ansågs inte vara ett självklart val ur ett ekonomiskt perspektiv då skadeverkan anses låg. / The purpose of this report is to map and analyse the existing harmonics in connection with one of AstraZeneca´s Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) stations. Additionally, give a general insight of the harmonic distortion’s characteristics accompanied by their consequences and solutions. The analysis was carried out using two different instruments, an ultrasound microphone and a network analyser. The ultrasound microphone measures sound frequencies in the air which can be associated with the vibrations produced by the harmonics in the transformer. The network analyser was used with the intent to measure the harmonic distortions directly on the powerline in order to give a complete picture of the three phase’s waveform. The decision to use two different instruments was to achieve a twofold confirmation of the present harmonics. In the case of correlation between the two. The results showed the presence of 2nd, 5th, 7th, 11th and 13th harmonics in the current’s distortion. These were measured in a point between the transformer before the UPS and the UPS itself. The source of the harmonic distortion is the 6-pulse rectifier inside the UPS. The harmonic distortion found inside the voltage showed no sign of exceeding regular harmonic distortion levels, which is a result of the measurements taking place on the incoming line of the UPS. After the UPS, the measurements showed greater harmonics than the measurement before the UPS. These harmonics included both even and odd going from the 2nd to 7th order. The cause seems to be the inverter’s switching of the batteries DC-voltage together with the pulse width modulation (PWM)-technology. The ultrasound microphones ability proved to be less adapted for this purpose in comparison to the network analyser since it did not pick up the strongest harmonics showed by the network analyser. The network analyser proved to be the key instrument for measuring the harmonics associated with the 6-pulsebridge, which exclusively can be pointed out as belonging to the rectifier in the UPS station. The network analyser also traced the tracks left by the inverter after the UPS. The consequences caused by the harmonic distortion spawns in the shape of excessive wear, unnecessary energy losses and heat increase in power lines and components. The solutions for this matter are various types of filters or reconstruction of components. These actions are not deemed as an obvious choice from economic standpoint due to the low estimated damage caused by the harmonics.

Context: Misalignment of stakeholder objectives generally takes place in any of the software company irrespective of the small, middle, large scale companies if the misalignment takes place then the goal the project doesn't reach and the objective changes. These misalignment's lead to project failure. Failures of the project in start-ups company some times lead to the shutdown of a company permanently. Minimizing the misalignment in a company means to avoid the risk. Mostly it is more critical for the software start-ups.  Objectives:  The main aim of our research is to know the factors responsible for the misalignment of the stakeholder objectives in software start-ups along with the significant challenges and possible solutions. Methods: In this qualitative research, we conducted the semi-structured interviews from the twelve start-up companies and collected the data for the research questions. The collected information is then thematically analyzed. We referred to many articles from the google scholar to find the significant challenges responsible for the misalignment of the stakeholder objectives. Results:  The main findings in our research are as follows RQ1 external sponsor with his focus on return on investment discussed by the ten out of twelve software start-ups. In the twelve companies, ten companies are dependent on the external sponsor. Human factor and the requirements prioritization are the factors discussed by the six and five interviewees of the start-up companies. The remote working, last-minute change of requirements, deadlines are discussed by two interviewees. The one interviewee discusses the technology factor. In the findings from RQ2, we observed that the challenges related to the humans, return on investment, the external sponsor is more dominant compared to others factors like technology factor, deadlines, remote working, a last-minute change of requirements. In the findings of RQ3, about the possible solutions for the challenges with the misalignment of stakeholder objectives. Conclusions: The results of this study may help the furthers researchers who can research on the misalignment of the stakeholder objectives in software start-ups. These solutions may help the software industry people to minimise the general challenges in future in a better way. This results also may use for the people who want to start a software start-up so that they can know the factors, challenges, solutions of the misalignment of the stakeholder objectives in software start-ups.

The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of the use of the vertical peg board on the performance of the pull-ups by boys in grades five and six in an elementary school in the North Texas area.

Companies within the high-technology industry are largely dependent on a specialised knowledge base to make advances in technological innovations and maintain a competitive advantage. Technology start-ups (TSUs) have limited resources and face various organisational challenges which place them at a disadvantage in the recruitment of skilled knowledge workers. This research investigates the factors which attract highly skilled knowledge workers to technology start-ups (TSUs) in South Africa, despite their numerous challenges. This study used a mixed method design involving 129 knowledge workers. Exploratory interviews were conducted in the first phase to investigate which factors attracted knowledge workers to TSUs. An Adaptive Choice-Based Conjoint (ACBC) experiment in the second phase tested the relative importance of the attributes that were identified during the interviews and in the literature. The findings revealed that intellectual challenge and financial package were the most important individual attributes while non-financial job attributes were most important overall. Different preferences existed between genders although not between job types. The entrepreneurial aspirations of the knowledge worker were also found to be a significant factor in their attraction to a TSU. Recommendations are made to TSUs for recruiting talent based on the findings.Copyright / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

This work comprises studies addressing fundamental questions of the diamond surface physics for different doping concentrations of nitrogen and boron, and how doping is reflected in the core shell analysis, valance band structure and work function values. A second aspect of the work is the controllable creation of nitrogen-vacancy (NVs) centers accompanied by comprehensive surface spectroscopy studies (XPS,UPS and MIES). Additionally, in order to increase and stabilize NV negative (NV-), which are required for quantum computing system, studies on diverse oxygen termination procedures has been executed. The efficiency of oxygen termination procedures compared and is confirmed by spectroscopy and wet contact angle (WCA) measurements. Furthermore, an alternative method of hydrogen termination of the diamond surface is proposed and compared to the traditional hydrogen plasma termination. As related side aspect, the deposition of C60 molecules on the diamond surface is performed and investigated by means of UPS and MIES spectroscopy. A distinctive experimental capability of studies is the implementation of the Metastable Impact Electron Spectroscopy (MIES) spectroscopy. This unique surface spectroscopy technique and individual instrumentation design for probing the electronic structure of the outermost surface layer, including measurement examples is introduced in this work.

Theme of the Master's thesis is issue of backup power units and its attributes. There is also complete proposal of UPS power unit which can be used to control and monitor backup batteries. Power supply is fully controlled via Ethernet interface using TCI/IP protocol. The other chapter describes complete development of TCI/IP GSM unit which can be used for communication interface between GSM and Ethernet protocol. UPS and GSM modules are developed in details. The Master.s thesis includes all needed information for HW unit development and also for controlling software as well. Universal solution of the modules allows number possibilities of further development.

Sustainability has become a major concern for society, adding pressure on companies to become more sustainability-driven, while at the same time attending to the questions of economic growth and financial performance. Although the existing literature has provided frameworks that highlight the need for balancing environmental, social, and economic impact, there is still limited knowledge about how company representatives perceive and deal with the implicit trade-offs. In this study, we approach this issue by exploring how owners and managers of start-up companies, which operate under constant resource and capital constraints, perceive and deal with the potential trade-offs between sustainability, growth, and profitability. A qualitative research design with semi-structured interviews is used to explore how in their decision-making, owners, and managers of start-ups talk about and attempt to resolve these trade-offs. The primary findings from the study are that: (1) start-up representatives have limited knowledge about sustainability concepts, (2) they do not perceive a trade-off between sustainability and growth, but (3) they do recognize and contend with the trade-off between sustainability and profitability.