Estudos de expressão gênica geralmente envolvem a realização de processos de análise integrados para a obtenção de respostas biológicas de interesse. A realização destes processos frequentemente requer o uso combinado de uma série de ferramentas de software. No entanto, o processo de integração manual de ferramentas pode ser demorado e propenso a erros devido ao crescente número de ferramentas e formatos de dados disponíveis no domínio. De modo a automatizar o processo de integração, algumas abordagens têm sido propostas tanto para a adaptação das ferramentas de análise existentes como serviços web semânticos, quanto para o desenvolvimento de ambientes de suporte à integração (composição) de serviços web semânticos. Embora estas abordagens representem avanços, nenhuma solução adequada para o desenvolvimento e composição de serviços foi especificamente definida para o domínio de genômica funcional. Neste contexto, o principal objetivo deste projeto foi investigar uma solução completa para o desenvolvimento e composição de serviços web semânticos para a análise de expressão gênica. Como parte da solução proposta, definimos uma metodologia integrada para a implementação de serviços web semânticos criados a partir de ferramentas de software existentes e para a anotação semântica destes serviços. Nossa metodologia fornece diretrizes concretas para o desenvolvimento sistemático de serviços, considerando também os principais aspectos técnicos associados ao processo de desenvolvimento. Esta metodologia foi aplicada a um conjunto representativo de serviços que fornecem suporte às principais atividades de análise realizadas em diferentes tipos de dados de expressão gênica. De forma complementar, definimos uma solução completa para a composição semântica de serviços no domínio de análise de expressão gênica. A solução proposta foi implementada em uma plataforma de suporte semi-automático à composição de serviços web semânticos, chamada SemanticSCo. Esta plataforma fornece suporte flexível a todas as atividades envolvidas no processo de composição de serviços, incluindo a criação, publicação, requisição, descoberta, seleção, composição e execução de serviços. Além disto, a plataforma SemanticSCo foi projetada para prover suporte adequado a diferentes tipos de usuários, incluindo biologistas e bioinformatas. Neste sentido, a plataforma fornece aos usuários um alto nível de abstração para a definição de seus processos de análise, permitindo que os mesmos se concentrem mais nas questões de pesquisa biológicas do que nos aspectos subjacentes do processo de composição. Adicionalmente, a plataforma SemanticSCo suporta a definição e incorporação não apenas de serviços simples, definidos em termos de uma única operação, mas também de serviços complexos, definidos em termos de um conjunto de condições que restringem a ordem de invocação de suas operações. Finalmente, de modo a avaliar a plataforma de suporte desenvolvida, definimos diferentes cenários de composição para a análise (integrada) de dados de expressão gênica. O uso da plataforma SemanticSCo facilitou a definição destes cenários, permitindo assim a reprodução dos resultados obtidos a partir de diferentes estudos de expressão gênica previamente documentados na literatura / Gene expression studies usually involve the creation of integrated analysis processes for obtaining responses for a biological question. The creation of such processes often require the combined use of a number of software tools. However, the manual integration of tools can be cumbersome and error prone due to the increasing number of tools and data formats available in the domain. In order to automate the integration process, some approaches have been proposed for the adaptation of existing analysis tools as semantic web services as well as for the development of software environments to support the integration (composition) of semantic web services. Although these approaches present advances, to the best of our knowledge, no suitable solution has been proposed for the development and composition of web services in the functional genomics domain. In this context, this project aimed at investigating a complete solution for the development and composition of semantic web services to support gene expression analysis. As part of the proposed solution, we have defined an integrated methodology for the implementation of semantic web services created from existing software tools and the semantic annotation of such services. Our methodology provides concrete guidelines for the systematic development of services, also taking into account the main technical aspects associated with the development process. This methodology has been applied in the development of a representative set of services that support the main analysis activities performed on different types of gene expression data. Complementary to our methodology, we have defined a complete solution for the semantic composition of web services in the gene expression analysis domain. The proposed solution has been implemented in a software platform to support the semi-automatic composition of semantic web services, named SemanticSCo. This platform provides flexible support to all activities involved in the service composition process including service creation, publication, request, discovery, selection, composition and execution. Additionally, the SemanticSCo platform has been designed to support different types of users, including biologists and bioinformaticians. In this sense, the platform provides users with a high level of abstraction in the definition of their analysis processes, thus allowing them to focus more on biological research issues rather than on underlying details of the composition process. In addition, the SemanticSCo platform supports not only the definition and incorporation of (simple) services defined in terms of a single operation, but also (complex) services defined in terms of a set of conditions that constrain the order in which service operations should be invoked. Finally, in order to evaluate the developed support platform, we have defined a number of composition scenarios for the (integrated) analysis of gene expression data. The use of the SemanticSCo platform has facilitated the definition of these scenarios, thus allowing the reproduction of the results obtained from different gene expression studies previously documented in the literature.

Att arbeta mer miljövänligt och hållbart blir alltmer viktigt för många företag. Så även inom logistik- och IT-branschen. Gröna informationssystem har hyllats för sina positiva effekter. Dessvärre undersöks oftast inte dess effekter utifrån ett miljöperspektiv, vilken påverkan dessa har på miljön utan mer vilka organisatoriska effekter som uppnås av dess implementation. Det har även identifierats att flest antal fel i utveckling av informationssystem uppkommer genom kravhanteringsprocessen. Problemet adresseras genom att undersöka vilken effekt de gröna informationssystemen inom logistikbranschen har på miljön och hur dessa möjliggör för uppnående av miljömålen i Agenda 2030. Kravhanteringsprocessen studeras även för att undersöka dess inverkan på de möjliga positiva miljöeffekterna av informationssystemen. För att kunna besvara studiens syfte och forskningsfrågor har en kvalitativ studie genomförts med intervjuer hos tre IT-tjänsteleverantörer. Alla med ett gediget hållbarhetsarbete och kunder i logistikbranschen. Litteraturen i uppsatsen låg till grund för intervjuguiden och användes vid de semistrukturerade intervjuer. Intervjuguiden är uppbyggd av sju kategorier. Dessa kategorier är gröna IS lösningar, miljöaspekter, organisatorisk påverkan, utmaningar, förhållningsregler, kravhantering och arbetsmetoder. Efter analys av de transkriberade intervjuerna identifierades ytterligare en kategori med relevans för studiens syfte, arbetsmiljö & hållbarhetsarbete. Dessa kategorier har varit betydelsefulla för utvecklandet av två modeller som förklarar kategoriernas påverkan vid utvecklandet av informationssystem som genererar positiva effekter på miljön. / Working more environmentally friendly and sustainable is becoming more important for a lot of organizations. Both in the logistics and IT industry. Green information systems have been acknowledged for their positive effects. Though when examined it is often not from an environmental view, effects on the environment, but instead on organizational effects from the implementation of the information systems. It has also been identified that most errors in the development of information systems occur through the requirements management process. The problem is addressed through examining the possibility of reaching the environmental goals in Agenda 2030 by the effects of green information systems in the logistics industry. The requirements management process was also studied to examine the impact of possible positive environmental effects by the information systems. To be able to answer the purpose of the research questions, a qualitative study was conducted with interviews with three IT service providers. All with genuine sustainability work and customers in the logistics industry. The literature in the thesis was the basis for the interview guide and was used in the semi-structured interviews. The interview guide is built upon seven categories. These categories are green IS solutions, environmental aspects, organizational impact, challenges, rules of conduct, requirements management and working methods. After analysis of the transcribed interviews, another category relevant for the purpose of the study was identified, work environment & sustainability work. These categories have been important for the development of two models that explain the categories' impact at the development of information systems that generate positive effects on the environment.

Актуальность работы обусловлена тем, что при нехватке времени у молодых родителей на поиск и обработку информации по детскому питанию, они хотят восполнить потребности ребенка в еде таким образом, чтобы рецепты блюд были качественными, полезными, вкусными и разнообразными. Полученные результаты и их новизна: спроектированный электронный сервис по подбору детского питания по возрасту значительно упростит ежедневный процесс поиска информации по теме детского питания для молодых родителей, поскольку в настоящее время общество насыщено различной информацией, которую необходимо правильно упорядочивать. / The relevance of the work is due to the fact that when young parents do not have enough time to search and process information on baby food, they want to fill the child's food needs in such a way that the recipes for the dishes are high-quality, healthy, tasty and varied. The results obtained and their novelty: the designed electronic service for the selection of baby food by age will greatly simplify the daily process of searching for information on the topic of baby food for young parents, since at present society is saturated with various information that needs to be properly organized.

Denna studie utvecklar en digital tjänst för att förbättra hanteringen av media på webbplatser, särskilt riktad mot mikroföretag. I takt med ökande digitalisering och behovet av en effektiv digital närvaro blir det allt viktigare för dessa företag att använda sin webbplats. Trots en mängd tillgängliga tjänster inriktade på webbplatshantering finns det ingen lösning som på ett enkelt sätt uppfyller mikroföretagarnas behov. Studiens syfte är att utveckla en tjänst som förenklar uppladdning och hantering av bilder, videor och text på webbplatser för mikroföretag. Genom att använda design science research methodology (DSRM), strävar studien efter att utveckla en användarcentrerad tjänst som möter mikroföretagens specifika behov. Den utvecklade tjänsten består av en uppladdningstjänst och ett frontend-API i form av ett bildspel. Tjänsten testades och utvärderas genom användartester med mikroföretagare samt experter inom området digital tjänsteutveckling och backend utveckling. Slutsatsen från studien är en tjänst som kräver minimal teknisk expertis, där användarna kan ladda upp valfri media vilket speglas på respektive webbplats. Tjänsten blev väl bemött av användarna där den effektiviserade deras webbplatshantering genom att spara tid och pengar. Forskningen bidrar till områdena tjänsteutveckling och systemutveckling genom att visa på en framgångsrik process för att utveckla en användarcentrerad digital tjänst som möter mikroföretagens unika behov. / This study develops a digital service to improve the management of media on websites, particularly aimed at micro-enterprises. With increasing digitalization and the need for an effective digital presence, it becomes increasingly important for these companies to use their website effectively. Despite a variety of services available for website management, there is no solution that easily meets the needs of micro-enterprises. The purpose of the study is to develop a service that simplifies the process of uploading and managing of images, videos, and text on websites for micro-enterprises. By following the design science research methodology (DSRM), the study aims to develop a usercentered service that meets the specific needs of micro-enterprises. The developed service consists of an upload service and a frontend-API in the form of a slideshow. The service was tested and evaluated through user tests with micro-enterprises and experts in the fields of digital service development and backend development. The conclusion from the study is a service that requires minimal technical expertise, where users can upload any media which is then reflected on their respective website. The digital service was well received by the users where it streamlined their website management by saving time and money. The research contributes to the fields of service development and systems development by demonstrating a successful process for developing a user-centered digital service that meets the unique needs of micro-enterprises.

In this thesis, we present a review of the current practices of user involvement. Different methods and tools have proliferated for user-involvement, however, to comprehend the explicit features of a small and medium-sized web-based platform service companies, we contrast our findings with previous experiences and research of user involvement in big companies. In the basis of the aforementioned, we identify methods and contexts that may be appropriate in the context of small and medium-sized web-based platform service companies. Mainly, we reviewed the research field of: user-involvement and new service development.   The central purpose of this study is to determine how do small and medium-sized web-based platform service companies utilize the process of the user involvement across the stages of new service development. Building on previous researches, we suggested that there are different methods to consider under the service development stage (i.e. ideation, development and testing). These methods are grouped under the following terms user-involvement ecosystem, user-involvement interactions, user-involvement platform and user-involvement personnel. The aforementioned methods are suggested to help web-based platform service companies utilize user involvement across the new service development stages. This study is of qualitative nature with a deductive approach. We conducted eight semi-structured interviews in order to get insights from high-level managers responsible of the user-involvement process. All the small and medium-sized companies operated in the service sector and provided a web-based platform. The theoretical framework was utilized in order to analyze the empirical data gathered. We used thematic analysis for our deductive study approach, to interpret the gathered material in order to conclude the results and answer the research question.   Our results revealed that in the ideation and development stages the following is vital: involving lead-users or those who are tech-savvy and tolerant to ambiguity, educating users to familiarize them with the company’s system, moderate rules and structure, mixing focus groups, encouraging user-to-user communication, small number of participants, multi-media approach and online tools, and encouraging idea hunting culture among company’s staff. However, in testing the following is recommended: involving average-users or those who are open-minded and tolerant to risk and innovation, unifying goals and common view by tangibilizing the service, setting rules and regulations for testing the service, having permanent interactions with users, and large number of participants. Finally, it is important to ensure a close relationship, transparency, motivation, face-to-face interactions, and to have an entrepreneurial leader to oversee the whole process across all the former three stages of NSD. To improve on this study, we would recommend the investigation on the user perspective to gain insights on their views of the process of user-involvement across the NSD, as they are directly involved in the development of a new service. Hence, a more extensive research on the user-involvement in web-based platform service companies on both, internal and external facets instantaneously would be of great significance.

<div><div><div><p>The purpose of this project was to investigate and propose a solution to gaps identified in existing paradigms for buying and selling secondhand goods online. Through a review of existing literature, the secondhand market was explored together with the variety of reasons for individuals’ participation. Different modes of collaborative consumption and some of the challenges unique to peer-to-peer markets were also examined. A computational approach to identifying items and actions within digital media was reviewed in support of the proposed solution. Research discoveries uncovered through directional surveys, semi-structured interviews, and an analysis of peer products were summarized. These discoveries were consolidated into a list of requirements, including 1) being able to sell many items at once, 2) disbursing items quickly and with minimal effort, 3) making lower value items worth selling, 4) establishing and maintaining trust by designing for safety and encouraging quality, and 5) reducing the need for communication between buyers and sellers by managing the sale, condition, and inventory status. After multiple rounds of concept development, a principal direction based upon the “make me move” concept in the real estate industry was selected. Combined with panoramic images, the resulting solution relied on computer-driven tagging of items for sale. This allowed many items to be listed at once through a single image while making it possible for buyers to find and place offers. Offers were suggested in lieu of bids or an immediate checkout process to avoid some of the negative, bid-related behaviors and minimize the communication required to complete a sale. An interactive prototype was created to evaluate the concept and usability via online user testing, which included surveys and cognitive walkthroughs. The results were analyzed and prioritized to refine the final details of the solution. Overall, I demonstrated a unique concept for buying and selling secondhand goods which supports selling many items, efficiently and safely, while eliminating much of the back and forth communication required to facilitate transactions on many existing platforms.</p></div></div></div>

This thesis explores the development process of services based on artificial intelligence (AI) technology within an industrial setting. There has been a renewed interest in the technology and leading technology companies as well as many start-ups has integrated it into their market offerings. The technology´s general application potential for enhancing products and services along with the task automation possibility for improved operational excellence makes it a valuable asset for companies. However, the implementation rate of AI services is still low for many industrial actors. The research in the area has been technically dominated with little contribution from other disciplines. Therefore, the purpose of this thesis is to identify development challenges of AI services and drawing on service development- and value-theory to propose a process framework promoting implementation. The work will have two main contributions. Firstly, to compare differences in theoretical and practical development challenges and secondly to combine AI with service development and value theory. The empirical research is done through a single case study based on a systematic combining research approach. It moves iteratively between the theory and empirical findings to direct and support the thesis throughout the work process. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample. It consisted of two groups of interview participants, one AI expert group and one case internal group. This was supported by participant observation of the case environment. The data analysis was done through flexible pattern matching. The results were divided into two sections, practical challenges and development aspect of AI service development. These were combined with the selected theories and a process framework was generated. The study showed a current understudied area of business and organisational aspect regarding AI service development. Several such challenges were identified with limited theoretical research as support. For a wider industrial adoption of AI technology, more research is needed to understand the integration into the organisation. Further, sustainability and ethical aspect were found not to be a primary concern, only mention in one of the interviews. This, despite the plethora of theory and identified risks found in the literature. Lastly, the interdisciplinary research approach was found to be beneficial to the AI field to integrate the technology into an industrial setting. The developed framework could draw from existing service development models to help manage the identified challenges. / Denna uppsats utforskar utvecklingsprocessen av tjänster baserade på artificiell intelligens (AI) i en industriell miljö. Tekniken har fått ett förnyat intresse vilket har lett till att allt fler ledande teknik företag och start-up:s har integrerat AI i deras marknads erbjudande. Teknikens generella applikations möjlighet för att kunna förbättra produkter och tjänster tillsammans med dess automatiserings möjlighet för ökad operationell effektivitet gör den till en värdefull tillgång för företag. Dock så är implementations graden fortfarande låg för majoriteten av industrins aktörer. Forskningen inom AI området har varit mycket teknik dominerat med lite bidrag från andra forskningsdiscipliner. Därför syftar denna uppsats att identifiera utvecklingsutmaningar med AI tjänster och genom att hämta delar från tjänsteutveckling- och värde teori generera ett processramverk som premierar implementation. Uppsatsen har två huvudsakliga forskningsbidrag. Först genom att jämföra skillnader mellan teoretiska och praktiska utvecklingsutmaningar, sedan bidra genom att kombinera AI med tjänsteutveckling- och värdeteori. Den empiriska forskningen utfördes genom en fallstudie baserad på ett systematic combining tillvägagångsätt. På så sätt rör sig forskning iterativt mellan teori och empiri för att forma och stödja uppsatsen genom arbetet. Datat var insamlad genom semi strukturerade intervjuer med två separata, medvetet valda intervjugrupper där ena utgjorde en AI expert grupp och andra en intern grupp för fallstudien. Detta stöttades av deltagande observationer inom fallstudiens miljö. Dataanalysen utfördes med metoden flexible pattern matching. Resultatet var uppdelat i två olika sektioner, den första med praktiska utmaningar och den andra med utvecklingsaspekter av AI tjänsteutveckling. Dessa kombinerades med de utvalda teorierna för att skapa ett processramverk. Uppsatsen visar ett under studerat område angående affär och organisation i relation till AI tjänsteutveckling. Ett flertal av sådana utmaningar identifierades med begränsat stöd i existerande forskningslitteratur. För en mer utbredd adoption av AI tekniken behövs mer forskning för att förstå hur AI ska integreras med organisationer. Vidare, hållbarhet och etiska aspekter var inte en primär aspekt i resultatet, endast bemött i en av intervjuerna trots samlingen av artiklar och identifierade risker i litteraturen. Till sist, det tvärvetenskapliga angreppsättet var givande för AI området för att bättre integrera tekniken till en industriell miljö. Det utvecklade processramverket kunde bygga på existerande tjänsteutvecklings modeller för att hantera de identifierade utmaningarna.

<p>Design Thinking är ett spännande och fortfarande relativt outforskat område med rötter i Service Management. Med hjälp av designerns verktyg och metoder och en mångvetenskaplig grund med fokus på kundens behov kan Design Thinking bidra till att utveckla produkter och tjänster och genom detta öka lönsamheten för företag. Syftet är att göra en deskriptiv studie av området Design Thinking som metodiskt arbetssätt vid tjänsteutveckling. Detta appliceras sedan på verkligheten för att komparativt se hur tre svenska bolag arbetar med tjänstutveckling inom en av världens största tjänstebranscher utifrån områdena Service Management och Design Thinking. Uppsatsen beskriver utvecklingen från Service Management till Design Thinking och hur man har gått från att utveckla tjänster till att <em>designa</em> tjänster. Uppsatsen har använt en kvalitativ metod vid datainsamling. Detta har gjorts genom intervjuer med de tre valda försäkringsbolagen samt med en tjänstedesignbyrå som samarbetat med ett av bolagen. Teoriavsnittet inleds med en teoretisk bakgrund där en djupare förståelse skapas inom områden Service Management och Design Thinking. Detta för att underlätta tolkningen och analysen av teorierna. En teoretisk modell för tjänsteutveckling har valts ut för respektive område, samt en som tolkas dess skillnader och likheter. Samtliga teorier har sedan tolkats och analyserats utifrån den empiriska studien av försäkringsbolagen. Några slutsatser som uppsatsen har genererat är att de studerade försäkringsbolagen inklusive tjänstedesignföretaget arbetar utifrån kundens behov när det utvecklar tjänster. Däremot visar undersökningen att försäkringsbolagen inte interagerar med kunden i den utsträckning som teorin säger samt att försäkringsbolagen anlitar tjänstedesignföretaget i ett senare skede av tjänsteutvecklingen än vad som egentligen är syftet enligt teorin. Intresset för Design Thinking kommer främst från tjänstedesignföretaget och inte i första hand  från försäkringsbolagen. Utvecklingen från Service Management till Design Thinking visar även att designerns roll har förändrats då denne nu kommer in och är med genom hela processen istället för att som tidigare endast vara med i slutskedet.</p> / <p>Design Thinking is a relatively young and unexplored field with its roots in Service Management. By using the tools and methodology of designers, working in multidisciplinary teams and focusing on the consumers needs Design Thinking can contribute to the development of services and thereby increase the profitability for business. The objective of this paper is to construct a thorough description of the field Design Thinking and its methodology in service development. This is subsequently applied to the swedish insurance sector to comparatively describe how three insurance companies develop their services in one of the worlds greatest service industries. The paper initially describes and explores the development from Service Management to Design Thinking and how one has gone from merely developing services to <em>designing </em>services. Some conclusions that the paper has discovered are that the insurance companies we studied focus on consumer need. However, the study shows that the companies don't interact with the consumer to the extent that is described in the the theorethical models relevant for the paper. According to the study of Design Thinking, the designer is supposed to be involved throughout the entire process and not merely in the later fases as they are in Service Management. The analysis shows that the insurance companies choose to recruit designers only when they feel it to be neccesary, not involving them in the business development which is the next competitive advantage for companies today.</p>

Design Thinking är ett spännande och fortfarande relativt outforskat område med rötter i Service Management. Med hjälp av designerns verktyg och metoder och en mångvetenskaplig grund med fokus på kundens behov kan Design Thinking bidra till att utveckla produkter och tjänster och genom detta öka lönsamheten för företag. Syftet är att göra en deskriptiv studie av området Design Thinking som metodiskt arbetssätt vid tjänsteutveckling. Detta appliceras sedan på verkligheten för att komparativt se hur tre svenska bolag arbetar med tjänstutveckling inom en av världens största tjänstebranscher utifrån områdena Service Management och Design Thinking. Uppsatsen beskriver utvecklingen från Service Management till Design Thinking och hur man har gått från att utveckla tjänster till att designa tjänster. Uppsatsen har använt en kvalitativ metod vid datainsamling. Detta har gjorts genom intervjuer med de tre valda försäkringsbolagen samt med en tjänstedesignbyrå som samarbetat med ett av bolagen. Teoriavsnittet inleds med en teoretisk bakgrund där en djupare förståelse skapas inom områden Service Management och Design Thinking. Detta för att underlätta tolkningen och analysen av teorierna. En teoretisk modell för tjänsteutveckling har valts ut för respektive område, samt en som tolkas dess skillnader och likheter. Samtliga teorier har sedan tolkats och analyserats utifrån den empiriska studien av försäkringsbolagen. Några slutsatser som uppsatsen har genererat är att de studerade försäkringsbolagen inklusive tjänstedesignföretaget arbetar utifrån kundens behov när det utvecklar tjänster. Däremot visar undersökningen att försäkringsbolagen inte interagerar med kunden i den utsträckning som teorin säger samt att försäkringsbolagen anlitar tjänstedesignföretaget i ett senare skede av tjänsteutvecklingen än vad som egentligen är syftet enligt teorin. Intresset för Design Thinking kommer främst från tjänstedesignföretaget och inte i första hand  från försäkringsbolagen. Utvecklingen från Service Management till Design Thinking visar även att designerns roll har förändrats då denne nu kommer in och är med genom hela processen istället för att som tidigare endast vara med i slutskedet. / Design Thinking is a relatively young and unexplored field with its roots in Service Management. By using the tools and methodology of designers, working in multidisciplinary teams and focusing on the consumers needs Design Thinking can contribute to the development of services and thereby increase the profitability for business. The objective of this paper is to construct a thorough description of the field Design Thinking and its methodology in service development. This is subsequently applied to the swedish insurance sector to comparatively describe how three insurance companies develop their services in one of the worlds greatest service industries. The paper initially describes and explores the development from Service Management to Design Thinking and how one has gone from merely developing services to designing services. Some conclusions that the paper has discovered are that the insurance companies we studied focus on consumer need. However, the study shows that the companies don't interact with the consumer to the extent that is described in the the theorethical models relevant for the paper. According to the study of Design Thinking, the designer is supposed to be involved throughout the entire process and not merely in the later fases as they are in Service Management. The analysis shows that the insurance companies choose to recruit designers only when they feel it to be neccesary, not involving them in the business development which is the next competitive advantage for companies today.

This thesis adds to a stream of research suggesting that healthcare can be more patient centered and efficient by redefining the role of the patient from a passive receiver to a more active and collaborative participant. This may relate to healthcare provision (Anderson and Funnell, 2005; Berry and Bendapudi, 2007; Bitner and Brown, 2008; McColl-Kennedy et al., 2012; Nordgren, 2008) and innovation (Bate and Robert, 2006; Groene et al., 2009; Longtin et al., 2010). Through research initiative containing four healthcare units and 68 patients, the present thesis combines healthcare research (e.g., Anderson and Funnell, 2005; Nelson et al., 2002) with service research (e.g., Grönroos, 2006; Vargo and Lusch, 2008, 2004) to explore three aspects of patient involvement and service innovation. Firstly, the concept of patient involvement itself is investigated through an extensive literature review of empirical research on patient involvement. A model describing the antecedents, forms and consequences of patient involvement is proposed. What value is, and how patients can co-create value is discussed from the perspectives of healthcare research and service management thought. Secondly, the thesis proposes a diary-based methodology for involving patients in service innovation. My colleagues and I developed the methodology in collaboration with the participating care providers and applied it in practice. We used the experiences we gained from the project and the contributions from the patients to examine the opportunities for user involvement in service innovation. The participants contributed with ideas and insights stemming from their experiences in their contact with healthcare and other resources. We suggest the following three ways of learning from the collected data: As ideas for improvements; through summary reports to illustrate other quantitative data; and as narratives to promote change. Thirdly, the thesis explores patients’ motivations to participate in service innovation, a hitherto unexplored field. Through an analysis of patients’ contributions and interviews with participants we found that there are a number of factors that motivate patients to participate and that participation is perceived as a social- and meaningladen event. Patients derive psychological well-being and support from participation, but disease was sometimes a barrier to participation. This thesis elaborates on how the most motivated users can be involved in service innovation, applying thinking from the lead-user methodology to a healthcare setting. Overall, the thesis explores patient involvement from new perspectives and, by doing so, adds to our collective efforts to improve healthcare. / Denna avhandling syftar till en mer patientcentrerad och effektiv sjukvård. Den bidrar till en strömning inom forskningen som menar att sjukvården kan förbättras genom en omdefiniering av patientrollen – från en roll som passiv mottagare till aktiv, samskapande aktör. Patienten kan ses som en resurs både i utförande av vården (Anderson and Funnell, 2005; Berry and Bendapudi, 2007; Bitner and Brown, 2008; McColl-Kennedy et al., 2012; Nordgren, 2008) och inom utveckling och innovation (Bate and Robert, 2006; Groene et al., 2009; Longtin et al., 2010). Avhandlingen kombinerar sjukvårdsforskning (Anderson and Funnell, 2005; Nelson et al., 2002) med tjänsteforskning (Grönroos, 2006; Vargo and Lusch, 2008, 2004) i en forskningsansats som innefattar fyra vårdenheter och 68 patienter. Den utforskar tre aspekter av patientinvolvering och tjänsteinnovation. För det första undersöks konceptet patientinvolvering genom en omfattande litteraturöversikt av den empiriska forskningen på området. Översikten leder till en konceptuell modell för att beskriva patientinvolvering: vad dess förutsättningar är, vilka former av patientinvolvering som finns och vad patientinvolvering leder till. Avhandlingen diskuterar även begreppet värde och hur patienter kan samskapa värde, utifrån perspektiv inom vårdforskning och tjänsteforskning. För det andra föreslår avhandlingen en dagboksbaserad metod för att involvera patienter i tjänsteinnovation. Deltagande patienter skriver i denna metod ner sina ner sina idéer och upplevelser varje dag under två veckors tid. Mina kollegor och jag utvecklade metoden i samarbete med personal från de deltagande vårdenheterna och applicerade den på praktiken. Erfarenheterna från projektet och de deltagande patienternas bidrag användes för att utforska möjligheterna med patientinvolvering i utvecklingen av vården. Vi föreslår tre sätt att lära sig från det insamlade materialet: som direkta idéer till förbättringar; summerat till rapporter för att ge kvalitativ förståelse av andra kvantitativa mätningar; och enskilda patienters berättelser kan användas för att förmedla patientperspektivet i organisationen och mana till förändring. För det tredje undersöker avhandlingen patienters motivation att bidra till tjänsteinnovation, ett hittills outforskat område. Genom en analys av patienters bidrag och genom intervjuer med deltagare finner vi att patienter motiveras att delta av en rad olika anledningar, från ett behov av upprättelse till en glädje av att utföra aktiviteten. Deltagandet uppfattas som en social och meningsfull händelse. Patienter upplever psykiskt välbefinnande och stöd genom att delta, även om sjukdom kan vara ett hinder i deltagandet. Avhandlingen undersöker även hur de allra mest motiverade patienterna kan identifieras och inkluderas i tjänsteinnovation, detta inspirerat av lead  user-metoden (von Hippel, 1986). Sammantaget utforskar avhandlingen patientinvolvering och tjänsteinnovation från nya perspektiv och bidrar därmed till våra gemensamma ansträngningar för att förbättra vården och patienters välbefinnande.