<p>Ericsson’s factory in Kumla, Modules Kumla, became a hub for radio modules and micro base stations, which enables mobile communication through radio base stations, in 2004. Because of this the factory focuses more on the logistics operations. This has led to a need to be able to plan the capacity for the materials handling system. This master thesis has therefore been performed at Modules Kumla to develop a capacity calculation model for the material handling flow during the autumn of 2005. </p><p>The work has contained a mapping of the material handling flow regarding to which activities was performed and how much time they consumed. By using data from the enterprise information system and simple linear regression a capacity calculation model was developed to calculate the amount of staff needed given a specific production and delivery rate.</p>

<p>Sweden is one of five nations in the world manufacturing fighter aircrafts. Highly advanced technology is needed in order to develop a fighter aircraft. When developing advanced technology, new applications, other than those initially intended occur, spin-off. Some of Sweden’s largest companies are spin-offs from the fighter aircraft industry. Saab Automobile is an example of this. Spin-off as a concept appears in different contexts, from television series to audit terms but foremost in connection with splitting of companies. In the initial phase of our study we came across numerous definitions and concepts as explanation of spin-off and we therefore choose to adopt our own definition. </p><p>Our study defines civil spin-offs from military aircraft projects. The Swedish aircraft industry consists of three large companies, Saab, Volvo Aero and Ericsson Microwave and we have for our case studies chosen spin-off processes within those companies. We interviewed persons well familiar with the above mentioned process in the respective companies, individually. The answers from the interviews, which we have analysed based on theory and literature, have enabled us to identify, describe and analyse factors promoting as well as counteracting spin-offs arising from military aircraft projects.</p><p>From our study we have drawn the conclusion that all companies want to achieve spin-offs. One important way of creating opportunities for spin-offs is organising in cross functional groups, one of many internally acting factors that we have tried in our study. A factor that strongly counteracts the development of a spin-off is a strict focus on the core business of the company. This comes as a result of demand for saving measures, which has also led to much less time or no time at all for reflecting on new ideas.</p><p>The historic role of the Swedish Government as a long term and demanding customer of military aircraft systems has over the last years shown less significance. The Government now has to play the role of co-operative link between the industry and the university in what is called a Triple Helix. The role of the Government is thus to support new enterprising as spin-off through technique parks, incubators and VINNOVA.</p><p>Another significant factor supporting the development of spin-offs is co-operation in networks and clusters. In the spring of 2005 SwedCat was founded, a cluster between Saab, Volvo Aero and Ericsson microwave with the aim to take advantage of spin-offs from the respective companies and to support each other in developing them. We are of the opinion that this collaboration sets an excellent example for the industry, irrespective of line of business.</p>

<p>Samordning av de multinationella företagens verksamheter anses vara en allt viktigare källa till konkurrensfördelar. För att en sådan samordning ska möjliggöras ställs det krav på en effektiv kommunikation inom organisationen. Detta försvåras av att de multinationella företagen består av dotterbolag som är verksamma i många olika länder och miljöer.</p><p>Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka hur ABB och Ericsson har agerat för att skapa en effektiv kommunikation mellan sitt svenska moderbolag och sina kinesiska dotterbolag. I fallet med ABB är studien avgränsad till att endast undersöka kommunikationen mellan ABB Power Systems och det kinesiska dotterbolaget ABB Chongqing Transformer Co. Ltd. Kommunikationen inom Ericsson berör det svenska moderbolagets, LM Ericssons, kommunikation med det kinesiska bolaget Ericsson China Co. Ltd. samt Nanjing Ericsson Panda Communications Company Ltd.s kommunikation med moderbolaget.</p><p>Utifrån de fem faktorerna; fysiskt avstånd, kulturskillnader, språkskillnader, kunskapsskillnader och grad av intern inbäddning, har vi formulerat attitydpåståenden som representanter från företagens moder- och dotterbolag har fått ta ställning till.</p><p>Undersökningen visar att företagen genom användning av olika kommunikationshjälpmedel, koncernspråk, samarbete inom koncernerna, utlandsstationerad personal och stationering av dotterbolagspersonal vid olika enheter har skapat en effektiv kommunikation mellan moder- och dotterbolagen. Ett av de viktigaste bidragen till effektiv kommunikation tycks dock vara tillvaratagande av kunskap och erfarenhet från verksamhet i andra länder.</p>

This thesis contributes to the knowledge and the characterization of scroll machines and their systems. It is based on experimental and modeling works carried out on: a) A hermetic scroll compressor used inside an air-cooled water chiller. b) An oil-free open-drive scroll expander integrated into an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) power system. c) Open-drive scroll compressor and expander used in a Liquid Flooded Ericsson Cycle Cooler (LFEC). Such a system uses the liquid flooding of the compressor and of the expander to approach isothermal compression and expansion processes. New semi-empirical models of the scroll compressor and expander were proposed and existing models improved. A deterministic model of the scroll expander was established. The model associates a geometrical description of the machine with a thermodynamic description of the expansion process. This model was validated for the two expanders investigated experimentally. The model validation revealed that the performance of the expanders is mainly affected by the supply pressure drop and by the internal leakages. Using the validated model, parametric studies were carried out to investigate the variation of the performance of both expanders with modification of their design and with the operating parameters. The thesis also investigated the scroll machines from the point of view of their integration into thermal systems. A first experimental investigation was carried out on an air-cooled chiller. The scroll compressor semi-empirical model, with its parameters identified on the basis of published manufacturer data, was used as a refrigerant flow meter. The analysis of the experimental data allowed a better understanding of the chiller operation and a better identification of its model parameters (such as the fan and the hot gas bypass control models). A second experimental investigation was carried out on an ORC power system, working with R123. In order to select the most appropriate fluid, the performances achieved with four different fluids were compared by simulation. The experimental study confirmed that the scroll expander is a good candidate for an ORC system: the tested prototype presented a good performance (the maximum global isentropic effectiveness achieved was 68%). Using an ORC simulation model, parametric studies were carried out to investigate the effects of the expander characteristics and operating conditions on the cycle performance. The latter is mainly affected by the expander internal leakage and by the liquid subcooling at the condenser exhaust. A third experimental investigation was performed on a LFEC working with nitrogen as refrigerant and alkyl-benzene oil as flooding liquid. Experimental data was used to identify the parameters of the scroll compressor and expander semi-empirical models. Parametric studies were performed to identify the different factors affecting their performance. One of the undesirable features of the machines is the increase of the supply and exhaust pressure drops with the increase of oil quantity.

Samordning av de multinationella företagens verksamheter anses vara en allt viktigare källa till konkurrensfördelar. För att en sådan samordning ska möjliggöras ställs det krav på en effektiv kommunikation inom organisationen. Detta försvåras av att de multinationella företagen består av dotterbolag som är verksamma i många olika länder och miljöer. Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka hur ABB och Ericsson har agerat för att skapa en effektiv kommunikation mellan sitt svenska moderbolag och sina kinesiska dotterbolag. I fallet med ABB är studien avgränsad till att endast undersöka kommunikationen mellan ABB Power Systems och det kinesiska dotterbolaget ABB Chongqing Transformer Co. Ltd. Kommunikationen inom Ericsson berör det svenska moderbolagets, LM Ericssons, kommunikation med det kinesiska bolaget Ericsson China Co. Ltd. samt Nanjing Ericsson Panda Communications Company Ltd.s kommunikation med moderbolaget. Utifrån de fem faktorerna; fysiskt avstånd, kulturskillnader, språkskillnader, kunskapsskillnader och grad av intern inbäddning, har vi formulerat attitydpåståenden som representanter från företagens moder- och dotterbolag har fått ta ställning till. Undersökningen visar att företagen genom användning av olika kommunikationshjälpmedel, koncernspråk, samarbete inom koncernerna, utlandsstationerad personal och stationering av dotterbolagspersonal vid olika enheter har skapat en effektiv kommunikation mellan moder- och dotterbolagen. Ett av de viktigaste bidragen till effektiv kommunikation tycks dock vara tillvaratagande av kunskap och erfarenhet från verksamhet i andra länder.

Problem: In order to keep up with the vast changes in the telecom industry, stay competitive and gain efficiency, Ericsson implemented a major re-organization in January 2007. The changes had large effects on the line-managers and their direct groups, proposing many critical issues regarding the implantation process and effects of the re-organization. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to carry out an analysis of how the implementation process of the re-organization at Ericsson was conducted. Also, how the outcomes of the new organizational design as well as the characteristics of the changes affected the line-managers. Method: Overall, a qualitative approach to research was chosen for this specific case-study. A total of 19 in-depth interviews were conducted with affected line-managers on four different locations and additional interviews with people in other positions were done in order to gain other perspectives of the changes. Issues of reliability, validity, objectivity and generalizability were approached in order to ensure an optimal methodology of this study. Result: The re-organization within Ericsson lead to a new focus in their matrix structure, moving from being product-based to competence-based. Generally, it was found that the changes were perceived differently in all four geographical sites but common for all is the confusion and mixed opinions regarding why the changes were conducted. Moreover, a strong corporate culture has lead to extremely high loyalty towards the organization. Conclusion: This study has led to many implications; theoretical, methodological and managerial. Some of the advice from the authors to Ericsson is to improve information and timing of change. Also, they must embrace and allow people to add input to the changes. Finally, the issue of knowledge transfer should be stressed in order to secure in-house competences.

Sweden is one of five nations in the world manufacturing fighter aircrafts. Highly advanced technology is needed in order to develop a fighter aircraft. When developing advanced technology, new applications, other than those initially intended occur, spin-off. Some of Sweden’s largest companies are spin-offs from the fighter aircraft industry. Saab Automobile is an example of this. Spin-off as a concept appears in different contexts, from television series to audit terms but foremost in connection with splitting of companies. In the initial phase of our study we came across numerous definitions and concepts as explanation of spin-off and we therefore choose to adopt our own definition. Our study defines civil spin-offs from military aircraft projects. The Swedish aircraft industry consists of three large companies, Saab, Volvo Aero and Ericsson Microwave and we have for our case studies chosen spin-off processes within those companies. We interviewed persons well familiar with the above mentioned process in the respective companies, individually. The answers from the interviews, which we have analysed based on theory and literature, have enabled us to identify, describe and analyse factors promoting as well as counteracting spin-offs arising from military aircraft projects. From our study we have drawn the conclusion that all companies want to achieve spin-offs. One important way of creating opportunities for spin-offs is organising in cross functional groups, one of many internally acting factors that we have tried in our study. A factor that strongly counteracts the development of a spin-off is a strict focus on the core business of the company. This comes as a result of demand for saving measures, which has also led to much less time or no time at all for reflecting on new ideas. The historic role of the Swedish Government as a long term and demanding customer of military aircraft systems has over the last years shown less significance. The Government now has to play the role of co-operative link between the industry and the university in what is called a Triple Helix. The role of the Government is thus to support new enterprising as spin-off through technique parks, incubators and VINNOVA. Another significant factor supporting the development of spin-offs is co-operation in networks and clusters. In the spring of 2005 SwedCat was founded, a cluster between Saab, Volvo Aero and Ericsson microwave with the aim to take advantage of spin-offs from the respective companies and to support each other in developing them. We are of the opinion that this collaboration sets an excellent example for the industry, irrespective of line of business.

This study intends to elucidate which view customers has about Sony Ericsson as a trademark compared with it’s biggest competitors and how the company can expand and create added value around its products. The aim with this essay is to study and to analyze Sony Ericsson’s creation of value and to increase understanding about strategy development. We have chosen to do this study on the basis of customer perspectives. We have used existing theories that treat matters: added value, marketingmix and trademark image. In consideration of these we have tried to form our own theoretical model from existing theories. We have afterwards tested this model on empirics, that is based on a customer survey in Russia, which concerns customers’ view about biggest trademarks on the mobile market and above all Sony Ericsson. In our survey we have come to the conclusion that customers consider Sony Ericsson as a company that gives a satisfying added value. Nokia has succeeded better to create an added value on it’s products and is considered by customers to be the most sought-after. Our survey shows that design can have the crucial role for creation of value. In order to better satisfy the customers' needs and wishes on markets the companies must adapt their products and create added value through good product strategies, correct marketing measures and satisfying service. This increases the strength of trademark's image and gives better basis for creation of added value.

Background: In technology based industries, firms which originate from advanced economies have traditionally occupied the leading position. In order to keep that position, they relied on strong efforts devoted to research and development, striving for being at the cutting edge of technology. During the last decade, we observed that some change happened amongst the top ranking of firms within the telecommunication industry with the apparition of Huawei, which originates from China, an emerging economy, in second position. Aim: This research is aimed to investigate the influence of firm’s human resource and market demand on firm’s innovation strategy. Definitions: Human resource represents the employees working for a company. In our study, when we mention human resource we deal with employees working in research and development. Market demand refers to the products which are demanded on a specific market. For our research we divided it in three categories: less advanced, advanced and most advanced products. Innovation strategy deals with the way a firm organizes its research and development in order to innovate according to either, in our research, new-tofirm or new-to-world innovation strategy. Completion and results: This study revealed that Huawei managed to adjust its innovation strategy in accordance with its human resources and market demand. Thanks to an efficient and adapted innovation strategy, Huawei now manages to perform better than its main competitor Ericsson, not only on developing or emerging markets, but also in advanced markets. We also observed the role of rules and regulations and cooperation, without which Huawei would not have been able to lead an efficient new-to-firm strategy. We created a model which is designed to give a better understanding of the situation and illustrate the interrelation between human resource, market demand, innovation strategy and performance.

Ericsson’s factory in Kumla, Modules Kumla, became a hub for radio modules and micro base stations, which enables mobile communication through radio base stations, in 2004. Because of this the factory focuses more on the logistics operations. This has led to a need to be able to plan the capacity for the materials handling system. This master thesis has therefore been performed at Modules Kumla to develop a capacity calculation model for the material handling flow during the autumn of 2005. The work has contained a mapping of the material handling flow regarding to which activities was performed and how much time they consumed. By using data from the enterprise information system and simple linear regression a capacity calculation model was developed to calculate the amount of staff needed given a specific production and delivery rate.