The contribution of small firms towards the creation of economic value in a country’s Gross Domestic Product, employment and innovation is widely acknowledged. Relatively little is known on how small firms are adopting IT strategically to acheive business-IT alignment and how alignment changes over time. This study examines from a dynamic perspective IT adoption actions undertaken by owner-managers, in relation to business-IT alignment in small firms in the island state of Malta. To attain its research objectives, the methodological stance adopted in this research study is that of grounded theory. Moving away from a deductive approach, this study embraces a constructivist approach using a combination of inductive and abductive thought. No fewer than thirty-one in-depth interviews are conducted with owner-managers to observe alignment patterns of IT adoption behaviour in their respective small firms operating in Malta and employing up to 49 employees. Four business-IT alignment equilibrium states are identified, serving as markers to map out the common IT alignment paths that each firm pursued, not necessarily in linear form, during their operational years. A substantive model, which identifies four distinct IT alignment patterns, denotes each common path that a group of firms took in their movement from one alignment equilibrium state to another, throughout their life-cycle stages. This study has substantive application and comprises several implications for the development of IT adoption behaviour when small firms endeavour to strategically align business with IT. It provides policy-makers, academic researchers and small firms’ owner-managers with a theoretical framework that can provide them with factors that can predict the kind of alignment patterns that are likely to occur. Findings indicate that the quality of IT related technological solutions that are taken up by each small firm are reliant on the owner-manager’s characteristics that focus mainly on the knowledge of internal IT expertise and the project management capabilities to manage IT outsourcers. Given that few studies have been conducted to study and establish patterns of IT alignment in small firms, this research provides an important contribution to knowledge and to the existing academic literature.

Children who age out of foster care face adjustments and mental health issues at higher rates than their peers, but those who are adopted have the opportunity to heal from previous trauma and experience better outcomes. To create healthy family systems for adopted children, adoptive parents need support and guidance as they personally adjust and help their children adjust to a new family system. Previous research has focused on child identifiers rather than on the broader family system in efforts to understand adoption success and failure. In this transcendental phenomenological study, adoptive parents provided their lived experiences of support during the adoption process. The results were analyzed using Giorgi, Giorgi, and Morley's descriptive phenomenological psychological method and the results were framed using an adapted version of Bronfenbrenner's ecological model. The results offered experiences of support at all 4 levels of the ecological model and provided a framework to use for future research to understand the influences of the sources of support and a guideline for agencies and counselors to use when serving adoptive families. The results can aid in the proactive development of training and support services for adoptive families and provide information for professionals by offering insight into the nontraditional structure of adoptive families. This information may also be used to inform counseling programs accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs that offer the marriage, couples, and families specialization.

Electronic word of mouth (eWOM) recommendations are online consumer-generated recommendations posted on the service providers' or the third-party websites, which are expected to affect consumers’ perceptions of adopting experience services. In recognition of the increasing significance of eWOM recommendations, this study delves further into this topic by proposing a research model that explains the contingency factors affecting the effectiveness of eWOM recommendations on consumers’ perceptions of adopting experience services. We contend that the effectiveness of eWOM recommendations is contingent on the task complexity of evaluating the experience services and consumers’ degree of cognitive and sensory innovativeness. We draw on the elaboration likelihood model, cognitive load theory, service adoption process theory, and the two dimensions of consumer’s innovativeness (i.e., cognitive innovativeness and sensory innovativeness), as the theoretical underpinnings, to propose nine hypotheses. These hypotheses are empirically tested based on data collected from 263 subjects. To that end, we used a controlled longitudinal laboratory experiment, based on a mixed methods (quantitative – qualitative) research methodology. The results of statistical tests of quantitative data and the content analysis of the qualitative data illustrate that the effectiveness of eWOM recommendations on consumers’ perceptions of adopting experience services is contingent on the consumers’ prior knowledge of the service context, consumers’ level of cognitive and sensory innovativeness, and the consumers’ level of experience with the service, which is determined by the stage of the service adoption process (i.e., pre-usage, initial use, and repeated use). Our findings show that the confluence of these factors creates different settings that determine the effectiveness of eWOM recommendations. These findings provide valuable contributions to the theory and practice by ameliorating important gaps in the eWOM literature. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Ofrivillig barnlöshet är ett stort problem i Sverige idag och av kvinnor i barnafödande ålder är ca 1 av 10 drabbade. De flesta som lider av infertilitet använder sig av medicinsk hjälp som förstahandsmetod. Misslyckas man med den medicinska hjälpen går vissa par vidare med adoption direkt medan andra ser detta som en sista utväg. Adoptionsprocessen, som den oftast beskrivs i media, är en arbetsam process och upplevelsen av väntan är central. Tidigare forskning kring adoption fokuserar mest på adoptivbarns upplevelse. Tidsramen för att få adoptera ett barn innebär ofta en väntan på flera år. I studien belyses tankar och känslor som uppkommer under adoptionsprocessen hos par som önskar adoptera barn. Syftet med studien är att beskriva dessa pars upplevelse av infertilitet och adoptionsprocessen. Studien är en kvalitativ empirisk studie där datainsamlingsmetod är intervjuer och insamlat material analyserats med hjälp av kvalitativ innehållsanalys.I resultatet finner vi fyra huvudkategorier som lättnad, hoppfullhet, frustration och maktlöshet. Dessa huvudkategorier har svarat väl till vårt syfte. Abstract: Involuntary infertility is today a major problem in Sweden and 1 out of 10 women in childbearing age are affected. Most of them who suffer from infertility use medical help as their first choice. If the medical help fails, some couples directly move on to adoption while some see this as a last resort. The adoption progress, as it is commonly referred to in media, is a laborious procedure and the experience from the wait is central.Previous research on adoption focuses mainly at the experience of the adopted child. The timeframe to be granted an adoption often implies a wait of many years. Through our study we wish to highlight the thoughts and emotions that arise among the couples that wish to adopt a child during the adoption process. The purpose of our study is to describe the couples experience of infertility and adoption process. The study is a qualitative empirical study where data is collected using interviews and the collected material has been analyzed using a qualitative content analysis.We found four main categories as a result: relief, hopefulness, frustration and powerlessness. These main themes have matched our purpose well. / Program: Barnmorskeutbildning

Background: Changing market conditions and increasing competition drive companies to increase their collaboration along the supply chain. Technological innovations enable businesses to increase their integration tremendously. The fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) enables the integration of information technology with industrial technology. The adoption of Industry 4.0 includes many complex technologies that come with challenges for many organizations. Previous research suggests that conventional manufacturing might have to be adjusted to Industry 4.0. Purpose: This thesis identifies and analyzes potential challenges of Industry 4.0 adoption for electronics manufacturers and machine manufacturers and analyzes how processes in manufacturing need to be adjusted to successfully implement Industry 4.0. The purpose of this thesis is to contribute to successful Industry 4.0 adoption in the manufacturing process and therefore to contribute to technological advancement. Method: This thesis conducts a multiple case study and gathers qualitative data by conducting semi-structured interviews. Findings & conclusion: Challenges identified for most companies are standardization, management support, skills and costs. Most companies face data and compatibility challenges. Some companies face the challenge of complexity, information security, scalability and network externalities. Companies with higher levels of maturity are less likely to face environmental challenges.Lean Management was identified as a prerequisite for Industry 4.0 adoption. The adoption of Industry 4.0 is likely to lead to a paperless factory. Furthermore, changes concerning the infrastructure are a main finding. Moreover, it was found that Industry 4.0 does not require major changes from conventional manufacturing processes.

Submitted by Kleber Silva (kleberbs@ufba.br) on 2017-06-06T18:45:59Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese LUIZ AMORIM versãoFinal3 Copy.pdf: 32419362 bytes, checksum: 6dea59d389ff891c3dd4a94e44e9d361 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Vanessa Reis (vanessa.jamile@ufba.br) on 2017-06-16T15:32:04Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese LUIZ AMORIM versãoFinal3 Copy.pdf: 32419362 bytes, checksum: 6dea59d389ff891c3dd4a94e44e9d361 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-16T15:32:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese LUIZ AMORIM versãoFinal3 Copy.pdf: 32419362 bytes, checksum: 6dea59d389ff891c3dd4a94e44e9d361 (MD5) / The process of adopting a software technology in a large organization is significantly influenced by organizational culture and behavioral aspects of the practitioners involved in the process. The identification of factors that will facilitate or hinder this process is strongly correlated with the existing system of beliefs and represents a key element to the planning of this process. The adoption of software reuse technology in particular significantly alters the software process of the organization as well as the modus operandi of the involved practitioners. Our aim is to propose an action model based on classes of beliefs that will support the process of adoption of software reuse technology, providing a means to deal with beliefs that may hinder the adoption process. A case study was conducted in a large organization to validate and refine the proposed method. As a result of this work, we propose a method based on the identification of classes of beliefs and re-signification of those that hinders the adoption of software reuse technologies. Also is provided a catalog of beliefs weighted when the impact in the technology adoption process, validated by a group of experts in the reuse area. / O processo de adoção de uma tecnologia de software em uma organização de grande porte é significativamente influenciado pela cultura organizacional e aspectos comportamentais dos profissionais envolvidos no processo. A identificação de fatores que facilitam ou dificultam este processo está fortemente correlacionada com o sistema de crenças atual e representa um elemento-chave para o planejamento desse processo. A adoção da tecnologia de reutilização de software em particular altera significativamente o processo de software da organização, bem como o modus operandi dos profissionais envolvidos. Esta tese propõe um modelo de ação baseado em classes de crenças para apoiar o processo de adoção da tecnologia de reutilização de software, fornecendo um meio para tratar as crenças que podem dificultar o processo de adoção. Um estudo de caso foi realizado em uma organização de grande porte para validar e aperfeiçoar a abordagem proposta. Como resultado deste trabalho, é proposto um método baseado na identificação de classes de crenças e re-significação daquelas que dificultam a adoção de tecnologias de reutilização de software. Também é apresentado um catalogo de crenças referentes à tecnologia de reuso de software, devidamente ponderadas quando ao impacto no processo de adoção da tecnologia, validado por um conjunto de especialistas da área de reuso de software.

Abstract Background: The fast development of technological systems has caused variouschallenges in the business management world, both from an employee and organizationalperspective. Despite the potential for exponential growth in information technology, thereis limited research in IT implementation literature. Adaptability in the workplace has beengreatly affected as humans are resistant to change. From an organizational perspective, theadoption/implementation of technological systems can be affected by the cost ofinvestment, resistance to change and the difficulties of integrating new technologies withexisting systems and processes. Purpose: The establishment of a framework that explains the process of IT adoption.Moreover, an investigation of how organizations and managers can efficiently manage theprocess of successful technology adoption and employee adaptation in an organization. Method: The qualitative study is grounded in an epistemological interpretivism paradigm.Through the usage of semi structured interviews and the Gioia coding analysis method, anexpert interview study was conducted. Conclusion: The research culminates in the creation of a loop model that explains the stepsof a successful IT adoption. The study identifies major challenges related to technologicalchange such as employee resistance and communication. It also highlights the importanceof managers and their respective characteristics required to address such challenges, which2are communication skills, expertise in the field and effective leadership. The studydevelops on the value creation opportunities of IT adoption.

創新帶來的影響，隨著二十一世紀的全球化潮流，開始衝擊世界各地，各國政府因應各式各樣的創新競爭、民主選舉與全球化潮流，為了政府績效與成果，我國在資通訊政策的發展，更注入諸多資源建置新計畫、新科技與新政策，藉以達成政府的設定願景目標。本研究透過政策創新過程來分析資通訊政策創新在行政體系內部的形成因素，探究我國E台灣到U台灣的資通訊發展之創新過程，透過次級資料分析與深度訪談的方式，從政策創新過程的三個階段：議程設定階段、採納說服階段與採納決策階段，分析各階段的影響因素，藉以探討資通訊政策創新過程，及此過程裡阻礙創新之問題。研究結果顯示我國資通訊政策創新乃透過多種管道得到創新資訊來源，諸如內部智庫幕僚、支援部會與外部專家學者、資通訊龍頭產業與國外顧問公司。議程設定主要來自於相關專業社群，諸如行政院科技顧問組與SRB會議的共識，以及科技政務委員的政治理念，並根據國內產業發展問題而觸發的政策創新議程。在說服階段，體系內部創新倡議者與外部支援管道彼此針對資通訊創新的理念與預算競和，篩選出可行的政策創新方案，決策階段則因資通訊政策的集權化現象，因此決策者本身的領導特質與對創新的支持、風險承擔，會對資通訊政策創新的產生影響。然而此創新過程裡，資通訊官僚組織的運作問題會發生官僚組織文化、創新疊床架屋、溝通協商費時、創新的民意基礎與管道薄弱以及之智庫團隊獨佔性等阻礙問題，甚至外部關鍵人士專業獨大、執政輪替與預算問題都會阻礙政策創新。蓋因創新過程之制度與專家社群對於創新形成的限制，建議政府在政策創新過程上，需有制度化的培育人才與建立創新倡議管道，且決策者需具備支持創新提案的心態。由於本研究屬於初探性研究，未來建議針對外部政策企業家、不同創新類型與各國資通訊創新過程等議題分析比較，加強我國政策創新過程的研究發現與經驗累積。

Bakgrund Klyftan mellan teknikanvändningen i olika åldrar växer. Framtidenspensionärer behöver kunna använda tekniska hjälpmedel. Samtidigt minskar kontanthanteringen i samhället och äldre får allt svårare att hantera sin ekonomi. Som lösning på denna förändring presenterades betallösningen Swish. Syfte Syftet med denna studie är att få en ökad förståelse för individers uppfattning och användning av betalningsapplikationer. Studien ämnar att undersöka hur olika individer i åldern 40-67 år upplever mobila betalningsapplikationer och om det är möjligt att främja adoptionsprocessen av dessa. Metod En kvalitativ studie som tagit utgångspunkt i verkligheten. Insamling av primärdata genom semistrukturerade intervjuer som har genomförts med både sakkunniga och privatpersoner. De sakkunniga har bidragit med ökad kunskap kring applikationen Swish. Som ett komplement till intervjuerna med icke-användare av Swish har författarna använt ett experiment för att testa intervjupersonernas förmåga samt för att få en djupare förståelse kring hur de uppfattar applikationen. Den insamlade empirin har sedan varit utgångspunkt för de teman som presenteras i studiens analysavsnitt. Slutsats Det går att påverka anammandet av mobila betalnings-applikationer. Det är sambandet mellan individens bankrelation, självbild av teknisk förmåga och triggerhändelser som är avgörande för hur kunden tar till sig dessa tjänster. Genom ett stöttande kundbemötande kan anammande främjas. / The divide between how people of different ages make use of technology grows. Future retirees will have to be capable of using assistive technology. As banks no longer keep and manage cash, older people find it increasingly difficult to manage their finances. To this problem, the payment solution Swish was introduced. The purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding of how users perceive and use payment applications. The study examines how individuals aged between 40-67 experience payment applications and whether it is possible to influence those who do not use them or not. This is a qualitative study based on actual user experiences. Primary data was collected through semi-structured interviews with both experts and users. The experts have contributed with their knowledge of Swish. As a complement to the interviews with people that do not use Swish, the authors used tested the interviewees' ability and to gain a deeper understanding of how they perceive the application through an experiment. The themes presented in the study's analysis section are based on empirical data. It is possible to influence user adoption of mobile payment applications. How customers embrace such services depend on a combination of factors like their relationship with the bank, how they perceive their own technical ability and customer trigger events. Technology adoption can be facilitated by offering supporting customer service to non-users.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-25T16:44:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ADM - Ana Claudia Suszek.pdf: 579868 bytes, checksum: 2c469f181b0b072a8c7b73d0fb588200 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-11-28 / This research aim to analyze the communication importance in the organic products adoption process by the consumers. In order to reach this goal, a panorama about the organic products market was traced, identifying the consumer adoption process for new products and the influences on this consumer, as well as the communication between producers and intermediaries with the organic products consumers was analyzed. This study justifies itself in the increasing complexity an in the recent investigation about the theme in a scientific approach, not only trying to validate and generalize the results for the category, but intending to discuss the problem and not trying to reach conclusive results. In its Exploratory character and to achieve its goals, firstly a bibliographic survey in secondary sources was done to consist the Theoretical Reference and after that a Qualitative Research by a Focus Group was developed. The information achieved in this research was worked according to the Content Analysis proposed by Bardin. In this way, the results pointed out some errors or flaws in the communication process between the organic products suppliers and consumers, as well as the distribution channels drawing a consume inhibition / Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo principal analisar a importância da comunicação no processo de adoção de produtos orgânicos pelo consumidor. Para que isso fosse possível foi traçado o panorama sobre o mercado de produtos orgânicos; identificado o processo de adoção do consumidor por novos produtos e as influências exercidas sobre ele e, analisada a comunicação entre produtores e intermediários com os consumidores de produtos orgânicos. Tal estudo justifica-se pelo grau de complexidade e pela recente investigação do tema de forma científica, não tendo como proposta, no entanto, a validação e generalização dos resultados para toda a categoria, mas sim, a discussão do problema, sem a busca de resultados conclusivos. Por ter caráter Exploratório, e para o alcance dos objetivos, primeiramente foi realizado um levantamento bibliográfico em fontes secundárias para a composição do Referencial Teórico e posteriormente Pesquisa Qualitativa através de Grupo de Foco. As informações obtidas foram trabalhadas á luz da Análise de Conteúdo proposta por Bardin. Neste sentido, os resultados da pesquisa apontaram falhas no processo de comunicação entre fornecedores e consumidores de produtos orgânicos, bem como nos canais de distribuição, desta forma inibindo o consumo