E-payment paradigm in the context of fighting corruption and increasing transparency at the public-sector authority’s level is becoming more important than ever especially for Eastern Europe. The present research will address how an electronic payment system is affecting the diffusion of innovation among online public services, settling the challenges at the government level, providing solutions for diminishing the money laundering in the country and all other associated problems. Diffusion of innovations theory had been investigated by many scholars in different industries and countries. The research implication is to generate general knowledge by fulfilling the literature gap related to electronic payment systems in the public sector and diffusion of innovations. The research aim is to provide (1) an extensive literature review to gain familiarity principally on the diffusion of innovation theory, secondary on government electronic payment systems and cashless societies; (2) collect, explore and analyze empirical evidence related to the perceived attributes of diffusion of innovations theory and the rate of adoption of e-payment system designed for public services from the perspective of consumers, public service providers, and payment operators; (3) answer the research questions by the aid of the diffusion of innovation theory, and measure the rates of adoption of public e-payment systems by using an case study approach, the researchers analyzed the case of Moldova and the Governmental Payment Gateway MPay, one of the initiatives launched by the Public Institution e-Government Center.  The interpretivism research paradigm was adopted for the research, and an exploratory case study methodology is implemented to gain insights, familiarity with the subject, and acquire more knowledge in the concepts and theoretical frameworks that are related to the research problem and question.

The prospective student-athletes’ use of an online recruiting platform to seek college scholarships has become a norm. College coaches recruit prospective-student athletes often using tools like global personal contacts, on-site recruiting, and online recruiting platforms. Online recruiting platforms offer several services and vary in price. This study examines female student-athlete golfers’ use of the online recruiting platform to seek scholarships from a global perspective. Previous research suggests that prospective student-athletes prefer online recruiting platforms while college coaches often use other outlets which can lead to miscommunication and lost opportunities. The services, price, and usability of 20 sports online recruiting platforms in the United States were examined to find out what is offered to prospective-student athletes. Interviews of NCAA Division I collegiate coaches were conducted to examine the most common recruiting tools used by the coaches and their opinions of the use of online recruiting platforms.

Digital preservation is a significant challenge for cultural heritage institutions and other repositories of digital information resources. Recognizing the critical role of metadata in any successful digital preservation strategy, the Preservation Metadata Implementation Strategies (PREMIS) has been extremely influential on providing a "core" set of preservation metadata elements that support the digital preservation process. However, there is no evidence, in the form of previous research, as to what factors explain and predict the level of adoption of PREMIS. This research focused on identifying factors that affect the adoption of PREMIS in cultural heritage institutions. This study employed a web-based survey to collect data from 123 participants in 20 country as well as a semi-structured, follow-up telephone interview with a smaller sample of the survey respondents. Roger's diffusion of innovation theory was used as a theoretical framework. The main constructs considered for the study were relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, observability, and institution readiness. The study yielded both qualitative and quantitative data, and analysis showed that all six factors influence the adoption of PREMIS in varying degrees. Results of a regression analysis of adoption level on the six factors showed a statistically significant relationship. The R2 value for the model was .528, which means that 52.8% of the variance in PREMIS adoption was explained by a combination of the six factors. Considering the complexity of issue, this study has important implications for future research on preservation metadata and provides recommendations for researchers and stakeholders engaged in metadata standards development efforts.

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In light of the growing e-commerce and rising population in cities, along with the ongoing climate crisis, the efforts to improve transportation options are intensifying. Thus, the field of last-mile delivery, i.e., the last stretch of transportation to an end customer, is becoming an increasingly researched topic. Innovative delivery solutions, leveraging novel technology or business concepts, are quickly becoming a necessity to retain customer satisfaction while performing sustainable and cost-efficient deliveries. Facing the challenges associated with the last mile is especially arduous in the context of large goods, i.e., packages which are significantly larger than parcels that would fit in a regular mail or post box, and may include furniture, home appliances and other bulky tools. Despite that large goods delivery comprises a large market, there is limited research on how novel last-mile delivery innovations, mainly discussed for application on parcels, can be deployed for larger items. This thesis is an explorative and qualitative study which starts in a background of important trends in transportation, and moves on to provide an analysis of three cities (Barcelona, San Francisco and Seoul), as well as a fourth city (Stockholm) that is both analyzed and considered for implementation. This is done in the form of a case study where data is collected from a literature review as well as interviews with representatives from the company IKEA. Various last-mile delivery concepts are explained and analyzed with Rogers’ diffusion of innovation framework. The research generated insights on how a mixture of different solutions have emerged on the studied markets, mainly based on social, technological and regulatory factors. Although most of them would be theoretically usable for medium to large goods in the future, there are different obstacles to a commercial-scale adoption today, with technological and regulatory maturity being main hurdles. Parcel deliveries play a part in driving customer expectations forward, forcing large goods retailers to evolve their deliveries in order to not lose business. Ecosystems of delivery solutions are likely to emerge in the future, catering to customers’ flexibility demands. In terms of concrete solutions, e-cargo bikes, pick-up points and neighbourhood deliveries are identified as appropriate for the current market state of Stockholm and related third party agreements, physical properties and platforms are discussed in the context of implementation. Additionally, suggestions for future research is to consider further models for generalizing implementation requirements, along with deepening the analysis of last-mile delivery ecosystems by looking into actors for the suggested solutions. / I och med ökande e-handel och stigande befolkning i städer, i kombination med en pågående klimatkris, intensifieras ansträngningar för att förbättra existerande transportalternativ. Därmed ökar mängden av forskning som fokuserar på last-mile delivery (ungefär sista milen-leverans), med andra ord den sista biten av en transportsträcka innan en vara når slutkunden. Innovativa leveranslösningar, som drar nytta av ny teknik eller nya affärsmodeller, håller snabbt på att bli en nödvändighet för att upprätthålla kundnöjdhet, samtidigt som leveransers kostnadseffektivitet och hållbarhet måste säkerställas. Utmaningarna som är associerade med sista milen är särskilt svårlösta när det kommer till stort gods, vilket är kollin som är signifikant större än vanliga paket som skulle få plats i en brevlåda eller postbox, och inkluderar bland annat möbler, vitvaror och andra skrymmande varor. Trots att leverans av stort gods utgör en omfattande marknad så är den befintliga forskningen begränsad vad gäller hur nya last-mile-innovationer kan användas för stort gods; detta diskuteras framförallt i samband med vanliga paket. Denna uppsats är en explorativ och kvalitativ studie som tar avstamp i en bakgrund som beskriver viktiga transporttrender och vidare analyserar tre städer (Barcelona, San Francisco och Seoul), samt en fjärde stad (Stockholm) som både analyseras och diskuteras för potentiell implementation. Detta utförs i form av en fallstudie där datan inkluderar en litteraturstudie samt intervjuer med representanter från företaget IKEA. Flertalet last-mile-leveranskoncept förklaras och analyseras med Rogers’ teori för innovationers spridning. Studien gav insikter om hur en blandning av olika lösningar har uppkommit på de undersökta marknaderna, i huvudsak beroende av sociala, tekniska och legala faktorer. Fastän de flesta i teorin skulle kunna appliceras på medelstort till stort gods i framtiden så finns det idag olika svårigheter som bromsar införandet av dessa på en kommersiell skala; teknisk och legal mognad verkar vara de huvudsakliga hindren. Paketleveranser spelar en viktig roll i att driva på kundernas förväntningar, vilket tvingar försäljare av stora varor att utveckla sina leveranser för att inte tappa sin omsättning. Ekosystem av leveranslösningar kommer troligen att utvecklas i framtiden för att möta kundernas krav på flexibilitet. Vad gäller konkreta lösningar identifieras elektriska lastcyklar, upphämtningsställen och grannskapsleveranser som passande för dagens Stockholm, och följande tredjepartsavtal, fysiska egenskaper och plattformar diskuteras i implementationssammanhang. Fortsatt föreslås framtida studier att överväga ytterligare modeller för att vidareutveckla och generalisera implementationskrav, samt att fördjupa analysen av ekosystem relaterade till last-mile-leveranser genom att undersöka involverade aktörer för de föreslagna lösningarna.

Over the past several decades conservation easements have seen immense growth in their popularity. There are now over 40 million acres of easement land in the United States, up from only 1.4 million in 1998. A significant body of research exists on easements, factors that lead to their adoption, their consequences and effectiveness, and problems that arise from their use, among other topics. Our study contributes to this literature by exploring community and system-level effects on easement adoption, using Virginia as a case study, and applying a novel approach that incorporates spatial analysis and the insights of conservation professionals. The purpose of our research was to explore whether community-level factors affect easement adoption decisions, and what those factors are. Previously established variables were investigated to gauge their relationship to easement occurrence when scaled up to the community level, as well as to test our ability to make predictions about where easements should be most likely to occur. Spatial market segmentation data was also incorporated into this analysis to determine whether it could augment our understanding of community-level factors and predictive ability. Statistical models produced were reasonably predictive. However, we suspect that this was the case for different reasons at our community scale of analysis than at the individual landowner level examined in previous research. We used surveys and interviews with easement professionals to further explore additional variables that might explain adoption patterns. Results indicate the importance of system-level factors including change agents, opinion leaders, and local government and land-use planning. / Master of Science

Teknisk utveckling och innovation är drivande för samhällets ekonomiska tillväxt. Vilja och förmåga att innovera är också avgörande för företags överlevnad då lyckosam innovation skapar konkurrensfördelar. Additiv tillverkning är en ny produktionsmetod som har potential att revolutionera hur produkter tillverkas. Tekniken kastar om förutsättningarna för hur företag konkurrerar genom att möjliggöra kostnadseffektiv tillverkning av små serier, produktion nära kundorderpunkten och kundanpassning. Modeindustrin är en komplex och hårt konkurrensutsatt bransch där företag befinner sig i en konstant strävan efter differentiering. För att nå framgång måste företag skapa fördelar gentemot konkurrenterna. Flera branscher har redan börjat använda additiv tillverkning och företag skapar framgångsrikt konkurrensfördelar genom att implementera tekniken. Inom modebranschen har dock additiv tillverkning använts begränsat och inte för produktion av konsumentprodukter. Vårt intresse väcktes för att vidare utreda huruvida det är lämpligt att implementera additiv tillverkning på bredare front. Studiens syfte är att fördjupa diskussionen kring spridning av ny teknik genom att studera additiv tillverknings potential för spridning till modeindustrin. Studien har genomförts med en deduktiv ansats där teorikärnan utgjorts av Schumpeters teorier kring innovation och Rogers teorier om innovationsdiffusion. Studien har varit av kvalitativ karaktär där empiriinsamlingen skett genom semi-strukturerade intervjuer med representanter från företag som använder additiv tillverkning samt forskare inom det textila området. Studiens slutsats är att additiv tillverkning inte lämpar sig för produktion av kläder så som vi känner dem idag. När empirin analyseras i förhållande till studiens teorier framkommer aspekter som indikerar ett flertal matchningar mellan fördelarna med additiv tillverkning och modeindustrins karaktärsdrag framkommit. Att implementera additiv tillverkning kan, i framtiden, vara en möjlighet för modeföretag att i framtiden skapa konkurrensfördelar. / Technological development and innovation are driving forces behind economic growth. Having the will and ability to innovate are also crucial factors for companies as successful innovation creates competitive advantage. Additive manufacturing is a new production process with the potential to revolutionise the way products are being manufactured. The technique disrupts competitive conditions by enabling cost-effective production of small lot sizes, production close to the decoupling point and customisation. The fashion industry is a complex and highly competitive industry, companies are in a constant quest for means of differentiation. In order to be successful, companies must create advantages over the competitors. Several sectors have already started using additive manufacturing and companies create successful competitive advantage by implementing the technology. In the fashion industry however, additive manufacturing has been used sparsely and not for production of consumer products. Our interest was awaked to further investigate whether or not it is appropriate to extend the use of this new technology. The purpose of this study is to immerse the discussion of diffusion of new technology by studying additive manufacturing’s potential of spreading to the fashion industry. The study was conducted with a deductive approach and the central theories have been Schumpeter’s theories of innovation and Rogers’ theories of diffusion of innovations. The study has been of a qualitative nature and semi-structured interviews with representatives from companies using additive manufacturing and researchers in the textile field were conducted to collect the empirical data. The conclusion is that additive manufacturing is not yet suitable for production of clothing. Nonetheless, when the empirical data was analysed in relation to the theories used, multiple matches between the benefits of additive manufacturing and the characteristics of the fashion industry were revealed. Consequently, implementing additive manufacturing can, in the future, pose opportunities for fashion companies to create competitive advantage. The thesis is written in Swedish.

Determinants influencing consumer eco-innovation adoption and green curtailment behaviors in a travel context are at the center of this thesis. Previous research on green consumer behavior has uncovered that internalized personal attitudinal factors such as values, beliefs, and norms are influential in determining mainly non-consumption and post-purchase behaviors. This thesis extends the understanding of a moral basis of green consumer behavior by exploring the influences of attitudinal factors on both car curtailment behaviors, and on consumer adoption of a high involvement eco-innovation – the alternative fuel vehicle. The integrated influences of innovation specific characteristics, car habits, knowledge and social norms, are also examined. Furthermore, differences between AFV adopters and non-adopters are explored, and the notion of consumers performing purchase and curtailment behaviors for different reasons is utilized in the development of nuanced profiles of three distinct consumer groups. Four studies, which build on two quantitative data collections on adopters and non-adopters of AFVs in Swe­den, are included in this thesis. In the first study, similarities and differences among adopters and non-adopters of AFVs, and the effects of attitudinal factors (values, beliefs, and norms), knowledge, and sociodemo­graphics on the adoption decision are analyzed. The results show that knowledge and personal norms are strong predictors of AFV adoption and that the VBN theory is applicable in this context. The main implication from the study is that high-involvement green purchase deci­sions, such as eco-innovation adoption, can be viewed as morally based. In the second study, a set of determinants influencing both curtailment of car use and willing­ness to adopt a less environmentally harmful vehicle are analyzed. Biospheric values, per­sonal proenvironmental norms, and car habit strength are found to influence both types of behaviors in different ways. The main implication from this study is that green purchase deci­sions and curtailment behaviors within a specific context are determined by partly different factors but personal norm is a strong predictor of both types of behaviors. The third study extends the findings from the previous one in segmenting consumers on cur­tailment behaviors and proenvironmental purchases. Three distinct types of consumers emerge from the data. The Non-greens are found to exhibit the lowest levels of green attitudes and behaviors, and the strongest car habits. The Curtailers are distinguished by performing primar­ily reductionist behaviors, and by being the most willing to reduce negative environ­mental impact of car use. The Ecovators are found to be the most inclined to purchase eco-innovations and also display the greenest values. The study shows that green consumers are a heterogeneous group that can be separated on the basis of green curtailment behaviors and proenvironmental purchase decisions, and that there seems to be no inherent contradiction in being an early adopter of new green technology (such as the AFV) and also having high levels of proenviron­mental values, beliefs, and norms. In the final study, innovation specific characteristics and consumer innovativeness factors are integrated with normative and attitudinal determinants influencing AFV adoption. The results show that personal and social norms, consumer novelty seeking, and four perceived innovation characteristics influence the adoption decision. Differences between AFV adopters’ and non-adopters’ ratings of AFV specific attributes are also analyzed. The contribution of this study is the integration of VBN theory and the DOI framework and the empirical conclusion that eco-innovations need to deliver on both traditional and proenvironmental attributes in order to be perceived as attractive by consumers. In sum, this thesis demonstrates the importance of proenvironmental personal norms for consumer adoption of a high involvement eco-innovation such as the AFV.