I dagens konkurrensutsatta samhälle har företag börjat mäta och redovisa vad sina kunder anser om respektive företag. Det är även något som företag inom business-to-business (B2B) gör med hjälp av att investera i och konstruera verktyg för att kunna mäta kundnöjdhet samt applicera insamlad data på den berörda enheten. Det leder till syftet med studien: att identifiera möjliga attribut som påverkar kundnöjdheten i sågverksindustrin. Studien har använt ett Case-företag inom sågverksföretag och dess existerande B2B-kunder för att kunna skapa en bättre uppfattning över de viktiga delar som påverkar den totala kundnöjdheten. I den teoretiska referensramen ingår ett antal faktorer: varumärke, produktkvalitet, servicekvalitet, värdeskapande, tillförlitlighet och företagets sociala samhällsansvar; vilka samtliga påverkar den totala kundnöjdheten hos B2B-kunder. De ovan nämnda faktorerna har valts ut från redan existerande studier som redovisat goda resultat inom mätningar av kundnöjdhet inom B2B. Resultatet av insamlad data från både Case-företaget och B2B-kunderna visar att samtliga faktorer går att specifikt utforma för att kunna mäta kundupplevelse inom sågverksindustrin. Ett förslag redovisas också på påståenden sågverksföretagen kan använda när de ska fråga sina kunder vad de anser om företaget och deras produkter. De identifierade attributen skulle sedan kunna sammanställas till ett skandinaviskt kundnöjdindex, vilket påvisar den teoretiska relevansen i denna studie då en sammansättning av de valda faktorerna tidigare inte har utförts inom B2B i sågverksindustrin.

In this doctoral study I conceptualise shared values in order to explore a management problem from my work place environment. I observe that business-to-business (B2B) relationships between project managers and self-employed consulting engineers terminate; project managers switching to other vendors and self-employed consulting engineers losing their contract. The findings from the doctoral study show major influence of the shared values in managing project based professional relationships. Specifically, the elements of B2B professional relationships “commitment” and “trust” embedded in relationship performance show managerial implications. Furthermore, the literature review revealed a lack of qualitative knowledge in the research domain of B2B relationships. Hence, the findings from the doctoral study fill this gap and contribute to the academic knowledge by providing practise based qualitative evidence. This doctoral study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, building on previous research articles, six elements of B2B professional relationships were refined and tested through qualitative interviews in order to explore their relevance in the B2B professional relationship between the project managers and self-employed consulting engineers. As a result from the first phase, a conceptual model of shared values was developed. In the second phase, the conceptual model of the shared values developed from the first phase was explored and validated through the experience of the project managers and self-employed consulting engineers.

Strategisk roll av informationssystem har börjat diskuteras i allt större utsträckning i och med uppkomsten av den Internetbaserade elektroniska handeln mellan företag, Business-to-Business (B2B). För att kunna uppskatta den strategiska betydelsen av införandet av ett sådant system krävs att företagen begrundar sin allmänna affärsstrategi utifrån informationssystemets potential. Befintliga ramverk för informationssysystemsutveckling innehåller riktlinjer för kartläggning av de strategiska förändringarna men räcker inte till för att enskilt utvärdera B2B:s strategiska bidrag. En sammanställning av flera befintliga ramverk har resulterat i ett nytt ramverk som mer enhetligt kan analysera företagens allmänna affärsstrategi med avseende på B2B. I sin tillämpning har ramverket uppvisat förmågan att väcka en diskussion kring de potentiella förändringarna i företagens strategiska läge utifrån deras informationssystems utvecklingsmöjligheter.

In this doctoral study I conceptualise shared values in order to explore a management problem from my work place environment. I observe that business-to-business (B2B) relationships between project managers and self-employed consulting engineers terminate; project managers switching to other vendors and self-employed consulting engineers losing their contract. The findings from the doctoral study show major influence of the shared values in managing project based professional relationships. Specifically, the elements of B2B professional relationships “commitment” and “trust” embedded in relationship performance show managerial implications. Furthermore, the literature review revealed a lack of qualitative knowledge in the research domain of B2B relationships. Hence, the findings from the doctoral study fill this gap and contribute to the academic knowledge by providing practise based qualitative evidence.This doctoral study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, building on previous research articles, six elements of B2B professional relationships were refined and tested through qualitative interviews in order to explore their relevance in the B2B professional relationship between the project managers and self-employed consulting engineers. As a result from the first phase, a conceptual model of shared values was developed. In the second phase, the conceptual model of the shared values developed from the first phase was explored and validated through the experience of the project managers and self-employed consulting engineers.

Background: The development of Artificial intelligence increased has become integral to organizational life, transforming operations by enhancing efficiency and performance. Its ability to replicate complex tasks significantly impacts outcomes, enabling faster and more cost-effective practices. Successful AI adoption requires a focus on individual-level impacts within organizations. Understanding these microfoundations is essential for leveraging AI effectively and promoting organizational development. This underscores the importance of exploring individual-level factors within B2B companies for successful AI implementation. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore Individuals` perception of AI implementation in the context of B2B organization. This by identifying the prominent factors influencing individuals´ responses to AI implementation and how individuals` responses affect the overall implementation. Method: To comprehensively achieve the purpose of this study, a qualitative research design with an inductive approach was employed. This by gathering empirical data collected from seventeen semi-structured interviews and analyzed using a thematic data analysis method. Conclusion: The findings of this study show four major factors: Motivation, Emotion, Cognition, and dynamic orientation significantly influence individuals´ attitudes towards AI implementation. AI's potential to perform human tasks generating both supporting, unsporting and indifference responses affecting the overall implementation.

The competitive market of today is characterized by globalization, increased demands from customers and similarities of products and services. High demands are thus put on organizations ability of differentiating themselves from competitors acting on the same market. Within this area, the customer relationship itself has turned out being an efficient tool. In addition, a high quality customer relationship is considered as an important factor when creating loyal customers, growth, profitability and competitive advantages. In order to reach high quality customer relationships, an ability of identifying and validate actions aimed for relationship quality improvements is needed as well as clear guidelines and managerial support regarding creation of value adding activities supporting such process. This thesis is supposed to, by the creation of a model, make improvement processes of customer perceived relationship quality in a B2B context possible. The model consists of actions and tools aimed for measurement of customer perceived relationship quality and identification of value adding activities from a customer perspective. The developed model is encapsulated by three steps, take-off, investigation and action/evaluation. The developed model was tested in a case study and it turned out to be practically applicable. It had a positive effect on the customer perceived relationship quality and additionally on the dyad´s transaction costs. / Dagens konkurrensutsatta marknad karaktäriseras av globalisering, ökade kundkrav och likheter mellan aktörers produkter och tjänster. Stora krav ställs således på företags förmåga att differentiera sig själva gentemot konkurrenter på samma marknad. Inom detta område har själva kundrelationen och dess kvalité visat sig vara ett effektivt verktyg. En högkvalitativ kundrelation anses vara en viktig faktor i skapandet av lojala kunder, tillväxt, lönsamhet samt konkurrensfördelar. För att driva en organisation i en riktning mot högkvalitativa kundrelationer krävs förmågan att identifiera och validera förbättringsåtgärder samt tydliga riktlinjer för skapande av värdeskapande aktiviteter i ett sådant syfte. Den här rapporten syftar till att genom skapandet av en modell, möjliggöra mätning av den kunduppfattade relationskvalitén samt genomföra förbättringsprocesser av den kunduppfattade relationskvalitén via identifiering av värdeskapande aktiviteter utifrån ett kundperspektiv. Tillvägagångssättet är uppdelat i tre steg med en förberedande fas, följt av en undersöknings samt en implementering/utvärderings – fas. Dess praktiska relevans är testad genom en fallstudie där processen visade sig vara tillämpbar. Vid modellens test visade den sig ha positiv effekt på den kundupplevda relationskvalitén samt även relationens transaktionskostnader.

Over the past decade, digitalization has played an increasingly important and prominent role in the competitiveness of businesses. The pace of digitalization is not slowing down and has only intensified rapidly over recent years. Because of this, businesses that invest a significant amount of resources toward digitalization could increase and strengthen their competitive advantage and develop their digital maturity, which can be described as the technological functions and visions available for a firm. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the pace of digitalization was intensified further, and many businesses were forced to adapt their business activities through digital channels to stay operational. Furthermore, a specific field affected by the governmental restrictions was B2B sales interactions, which has caused several problems for firms that do not have sufficient technological functions to adapt to digital channels, the digital capabilities can be described as sufficient. To counteract the pandemic effects, organizational resilience is an aspect that is activated to aid companies in parrying the effects of the sudden shock, in this case, caused by COVID-19 and can be described as the resources made available by management to respond and adapt to unexpected events. Hence, the purpose of this study is to investigate how sales interactions were impacted, by investigating the level of digital maturity and organizational resilience of one specific company, during the COVID19 pandemic. This was conducted through an exploratory single case study of a global biomaterials company where digital maturity was measured through a survey followed by an in-depth interview to assess the company’s organizational resilience.The findings suggest a clear link between the digital maturity level of a firm and how well it can be utilized in organizational resilience efforts when re-shaping the business landscape. Furthermore, the study highlights that digitalization is becoming a prominent factor in the way businesses and sales are conducted and even more in the times of crisis, thus, highlighting the importance of digital maturity. Based on the insights gained from the in-depth interview, a conceptual framework called digital activation of resilience within sales interactions was constructed. This framework highlights what was discovered in this single case to be the main influences on sales interactions and how digital maturity aids the activation of resilience. / Under det senaste årtiondet har digitalisering fått en allt mer betydande roll inom företagande för att behålla konkurrensfördelar där takten av digital utveckling har accelererat frekvent. Detta har lett till att företag har investerat signifikanta summor i digitala hjälpmedel för att förbättra sina konkurrensfördelar och öka sin digitala mognad, där den digitala mognaden beskrivs som de tekniska resurser och vision som är tillgängligt för företaget. Till följd av pandemin fick intensiteten av digitalisering en massiv ökning då många företag tvingats att ställa om sin verksamhet och kommunikation till digitala kanaler. Ett affärsområde som drabbats hårt var försäljningsaspekten mellan företag (B2B) som till följd av regeringens direktiv tvingats ställa om sitt sätt att interagera med sina kunder. Företag som inte hade en väl utvecklad digitaliserad verksamhet drabbades hårt av detta. För att kunna hantera denna externa chock mot sin verksamhet krävs organisatorisk motståndskraft, som kan beskrivas som de resurser som finns tillgängliga för att hantera oförutsedda kriser och händelser som består av åtgärder som kan parera effekterna av kriser som COVID-19. Denna fallstudie var en undersökande studie där, en global koncern inom produkter och biomassa skulle generera svaren som behövdes för att mäta digital mognad och organisatorisk motståndskraft. Den digitala mognaden av företaget togs fram med hjälp av en enkät och svaren angående deras organisatoriska motståndskraft genererades med hjälp av en personlig intervju. Syftet med denna studie är därför att undersöka hur sälj interaktioner har förändrats baserat på grad av digital mognad och organisatorisk motståndskraft under pandemin. Resultatet av denna studie hänvisar till ett samband mellan nivån av digital mognad hos ett företag och hur väl denna mognad kan komma till nytta vid aktioner via organisatorisk motståndskraft när det kommer till utformandet av affärs interaktioner. Vidare så bidrar studien till att visa hur digitalisering är på väg att bli en vital faktor i genomförandet av affärer och sälj interaktioner i framtiden och därav framhäver vikten av att besitta god digital mognad. Baserat på insikten som uppkom från den djupgående intervjun så skapades en modell som lyfter fram de beståndsdelar av modellerna som påvisats ha en påverkan på sälj interaktioner och hur digital mognad stödjer den organisatoriska motståndskraften

As social media platforms are increasingly becoming more popular and a part of everyday life, Business-to-Business (B2B) marketers from different industries are realizing social media’s potential for achieving marketing purposes. However, scientific literature regarding social media usage in B2B contexts is still filled with gaps in knowledge; especially when compared to literature about social media usage in Business-to-Customer (B2C) contexts. One of these research gaps is the lack of niched information about each effect of using social media. This paper aims at contributing to filling this research gap by presenting an extensive literature review about social media marketing in B2B; followed by an analysis of empirical data gathered from 11 different cases of B2B companies engaged in social media marketing. Moreover, this is to answer the research questions; how are B2B companies using social media to increase brand awareness? Which types of content inspire the most customer engagement? And how can B2B companies amplify their chances of succeeding in increasing brand awareness through social media? This paper will further contribute to this research topic, by identifying further research gaps and present suggestions for future research.

During initial business-to-business encounters, salespeople try to enhance buyers’ future interaction intentions. A common belief is that increasing buyers’ similarity perceptions increases the chances of future interaction. This study assesses the impact of the similarity-attraction effect on future interaction. By synthesising social psychology and marketing literature, a conceptual framework is proposed, in which perceived similarity influences salesperson trust. This relationship is mediated by task-related and social assessments of buyers. Task-related assessments comprise willingness (benevolence and integrity) and competence (power and expertise). Social attraction is conceptualised as likeability. Salesperson trust drives anticipated future interaction, together with organisational trust and anticipated added value. The conceptual framework was empirically tested through a cross-sectional survey. Dutch professional buyers assessed recent initial sales encounters. A sample of 162 dyads was analysed, using PLS-SEM, including FIMIX segmentation. This study demonstrates support for a third willingness construct: willingness behaviour. This construct implies that buyers are more influenced by expectations regarding behaviour, than assessments of salespeople’s attitudes. A homogeneous analysis supports the influence of perceived similarity on salesperson trust, both directly and through willingness behaviour. However, model-based segmentation uncovers a segment of cost-oriented dyads and a segment of more profit-oriented dyads. In cost-oriented dyads, there is no significant direct effect between perceived similarity and salesperson trust, and willingness behaviour nearly fully mediates this relationship. In more profit-oriented dyads, the similarity-attraction effect is not present. Theoretical and methodological contributions and managerial implications of these findings are discussed.

Business-to-business relationships within sustained monopolies, such as those within Defence Procurement, have received limited attention by Management Researchers. This is unusual because under these market circumstances typically there appear to be few incentives to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes despite their strategic policy importance. The purpose of this thesis is therefore, to determine the influential relationship factors between the UK Ministry of Defence and its Industrial partners within a predominantly monopolistic Defence Procurement business. The approach adopted for this research project is exploratory and inter-subject area. It uses quantitative and supportive qualitative data to examine the problem through an economic model using Supply Chain Management, Relationship Marketing and Transaction Cost Economics. A self-selected census of 54 business relationships is carried out from both the buyer and supplier perspectives through staff questionnaires and team leader semi-structured interviews. The findings from this research show, contrary to the expectation of the theoretical model, a positive relationship success situation with a spectrum of both positive and negative behavioural factors present. However, a significant adversarial influence is a suite of issues that are endemic to the business in question such as old products, obsolescence, staff and organisational upheavals, poor end-customer visibility and lack of investment in modern procedures and systems. Within the monopoly environment these accentuate managers’ frustrations due to lack of freedom of action. The primary contribution of this research is therefore, an increased understanding of the business-to-business relationship dynamics within long-term, closely coupled, collaborative, business-to-business arrangements as exemplified by UK Defence and the results are likely to be of interest to both academics and managers.