Abstract Background: Goals and goal-setting are two aspects that occur everyday in business life however little is known about the effect of strategic goal-setting. To a cer-tain extent, this affects all of us either directly or indirectly, everyday through strategic decisions that are made by business managers all around the world. A company’s performance of a company can be measured in many ways. A firm’s performance can be financially successful if the com-pany’s strategy is well planned. Strategic planning consists of developing goal-strategies, which aim at contributing to the firm’s performance. Problem: A small business manager’s view on the goals-setting strategies is important since the manager in a small company can influence the business more than compared to a manager in a larger firm. As the personality differs among managers, the level of planning and proactiveness would differ as well. Sev-eral studies have focused on the relationship between goal-setting and per-formance but the level of proactiveness has not been has not been consid-ered to a larger extent. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to investigate managers’ goal-setting strategies, focusing on goal-specificy, planning, proactiveness, and financial perform-ance in small businesses in the Jönköping region, Sweden. Method: To fulfill the purpose of this thesis both qualitative and quantitative re-search approaches have been used. As 173 interviews were already carried out in an earlier study, we created a strategy on how to use the collected in-terview data. Theories from different research areas were combined with hypotheses to create a framework for this paper. The theories and the hy-potheses were analyzed in light of the empirical evidence, the interview and we used the SPSS to test our hypotheses. Result: The results from the first three hypotheses were not found to be too unex-pected as we assumed that planning, the level of goal-specificy and proac-tiveness to a large extent, depend on a managers’ strategies and ambitions. The final two hypotheses have helped us discover new patterns and add to previous theories. We have made two main contributions by conducting this master thesis. The first one is that a high degree of planning does not imply a higher level of financial performance. The second one is that family businesses do not show a lesser degree of planning compared to non-family businesses.

Context: Self-learning (i.e., students learning independently) and clinical simulation are essential components in contemporary health professions education (HPE). Self-learning is discussed often, yet the concept is seldom the target of rigorous study. Likewise, simulation modalities are abundant, though educational theory that guides their use in HPE remains elusive. Objectives: This dissertation investigates the effects of directed self-guided learning (DSGL) on novice health professions students’ skill acquisition, retention, and transfer in the context of simulation-based education. The objective is to explore how the combination of external direction and student self-guidance influences: students’ cognitive and metacognitive processes, students’ interactions with the learning environment and available resources, and how students learn in different DSGL contexts. Methods: Three research studies used randomized, controlled experimental designs to address five hypotheses. All studies included a performance assessment one-week after the initial practice session that evaluated skill retention and/or skill transfer. Data analysis employed univariate and multivariate analyses of variance and correlational techniques. Results: Regarding students’ cognitive and metacognitive processes, the data show a relation between DSGL and goal-setting. The results suggest that self-guided students benefit when they are directed to set goals related to performance processes, rather than performance outcomes. Regarding the learning environment, when students are directed to practice on simulators that increase progressively in fidelity (i.e., realism) they self-guide their advancement between those simulators effectively and display successful skill transfer. Finally, self-guided students that controlled their learning progression and learning sequence selected the theoretically most appropriate practice schedule (i.e., progressive learning). Students in this latter group seemed able, surprisingly, to direct their own self-guidance. Conclusions: This dissertation adds support to the hypothesis that self-guided students benefit due to their autonomy in controlling practice conditions to meet their own learning needs. Thus, the question of whether or not DSGL is effective, becomes how best to augment the DSGL experience. The instructional design of elements such as goals lists and task structuring (e.g., progressive increases in simulator fidelity) represent techniques that an educator can use to fulfill the role of director in a student’s SGL.

Context: Self-learning (i.e., students learning independently) and clinical simulation are essential components in contemporary health professions education (HPE). Self-learning is discussed often, yet the concept is seldom the target of rigorous study. Likewise, simulation modalities are abundant, though educational theory that guides their use in HPE remains elusive. Objectives: This dissertation investigates the effects of directed self-guided learning (DSGL) on novice health professions students’ skill acquisition, retention, and transfer in the context of simulation-based education. The objective is to explore how the combination of external direction and student self-guidance influences: students’ cognitive and metacognitive processes, students’ interactions with the learning environment and available resources, and how students learn in different DSGL contexts. Methods: Three research studies used randomized, controlled experimental designs to address five hypotheses. All studies included a performance assessment one-week after the initial practice session that evaluated skill retention and/or skill transfer. Data analysis employed univariate and multivariate analyses of variance and correlational techniques. Results: Regarding students’ cognitive and metacognitive processes, the data show a relation between DSGL and goal-setting. The results suggest that self-guided students benefit when they are directed to set goals related to performance processes, rather than performance outcomes. Regarding the learning environment, when students are directed to practice on simulators that increase progressively in fidelity (i.e., realism) they self-guide their advancement between those simulators effectively and display successful skill transfer. Finally, self-guided students that controlled their learning progression and learning sequence selected the theoretically most appropriate practice schedule (i.e., progressive learning). Students in this latter group seemed able, surprisingly, to direct their own self-guidance. Conclusions: This dissertation adds support to the hypothesis that self-guided students benefit due to their autonomy in controlling practice conditions to meet their own learning needs. Thus, the question of whether or not DSGL is effective, becomes how best to augment the DSGL experience. The instructional design of elements such as goals lists and task structuring (e.g., progressive increases in simulator fidelity) represent techniques that an educator can use to fulfill the role of director in a student’s SGL.

The purpose of this study was to study the effects of goal setting on students in a developmental algebra course. This study examined the effects on test scores for students that were prescribed a test score goal, students that created their own test score goal, and then compared to a control group. Three classes of developmental algebra were chosen with a total of 25 participants with reported results. Results showed that students with a goal on a test did not score significantly better than students without a goal, but did score significantly better on a test after the goal than tests before the goal.

Purpose – The current study aims to analyze how employees in temporary groups gets motivated, based on their personality traits and generation belonging, focusing on the goal setting theory. The study also focuses on the combination of these two variables concerning the goal setting theory. Design – A total of 56 individuals working in project groups completed the questionnaire made for measure their personality traits and their work motivation. Findings – Results in this specific case demonstrated differences in motivation based on their personality traits and generation. The study also found differences when studying the combination of the two variables. For example that generation X employees with a high trait of extrovert, gets motivated by taking more responsibility, while employees in generation Y with high trait of openness gets motivated when a goal is set high. Research limitations – this study should be seen as a case and not to be generalized across all employees working in temporary groups.

De flesta organisationer är idag målstyrda där måluppföljning sker genom resultatbaserade styrsystem. Utvecklingen av styrsätt och styrsystem har gått från regelstyrning till fokus på prestationer. Tidigare studier visar att inre motivation skapar bättre attityder till arbetet. Det leder till bättre prestationer om medarbetaren känner delaktighet och får regelbunden återkoppling. I uppsatsen undersöktes hur medarbetare upplever att mål- och resultatstyrning påverkar motivationen och arbetsutförandet i en bankverksamhet, samt hur detta tar sig i uttryck i handling. Fyra intervjuer med anställda och två informativa samtal med chefer genomfördes på två bankkontor. Resultatet analyserades i teman formade ur det empiriska materialet. Prestationsjakt, kundnöjdhet och tekniska problem är faktorer som påverkar motivation och arbetsutförande. Individanpassade och sporrande mål, tydliga system och återkoppling visade sig i den här studien vara förutsättningar för en väl fungerande mål- och resultatstyrning. Studiens bidrag till ett relativt outforskat område, är att synliggöra och öka förståelsen för attityder till mål- och resultatstyrning ur ett medarbetarperspektiv.

Sammanfattning Syftet med studien var att studera skillnader i vilka mål bordtennisspelare använder sig av beroende på målinriktning. I studien deltog 103 bordtennisspelare (60 män och 43 kvinnor) tävlandes i division ett till tre. Metoden som användes i studien var en kvantitativ undersökning och bestod av enkäterna Collegiate Goal Setting in Sport Questionnaire (Weinberg, Burton, Yukelson, Weigand, 1993) och Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire (Duda & Nicholls, 1992; ref i Duda, 1998). Resultatet i studien visade flera signifikanta skillnader mellan bordtennisspelarna med högre resultatinriktning och bordtennisspelare med en lägre resultatinriktning när det gäller uppfattning om målsättning. Resultatet visade exempelvis att bordtennisspelarna med högre resultatinriktning oftare satte resultatmål och prestationsmål jämfört med bordtennisspelare med en lägre resultatinriktning. Vidare visade resultatet också att bordtennisspelarna med en lägre resultatinriktning anser att det är viktigare med gemenskap för att delta i än bordtennisspelare med en högre resultatinriktning. Resultatet diskuterats i relation till tidigare forskning. / Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in goal preferences of table tennis players, depending on goal orientation. The participants were 103 (60 male and 43 female) table tennis players competing in division one to three. The method used in the study was a quantitative study consisted of questionnaires Collegiate Goal Setting in Sport Questionnaire CGSSQ (Weinberg, Burton, Yukelson, Weigand, 1993) and Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire TEOSQ (Duda & Nicholls, 1992; ref in Duda, 1998). The results showed several significant results between table tennis players with a high ego orientation and table tennis players with a lower ego orientation in goal setting. For example the result showed that table tennis players with a high ego orientation used more often outcome goals and performance goals than table tennis players with a lower ego orientation. The result also showed that a table tennis player with a lower ego orientation means that it is more important with fellowship than tennis players with a high ego orientation. The results have been analyzed and discussed in relation to previous research.

The after–action review (AAR; also known as the after–event review or debriefing) is a training approach that is based on reviews of trainees’ performance on recently completed tasks or performance events. Used by the military for decades, the use of AAR–based training has increased dramatically in recent years. Empirical research investigating AARs, however, is almost non–existent, and theoretical work on the effectiveness AAR–based training and the underlying processes have been limited. The present study presents a theoretical framework for the AAR by integrating the AAR into the existing training literature. In addition, this study presents an empirical evaluation of the effectiveness of AAR–based training, and an investigation of whether objective AAR–based training is more effective than subjective AAR–based training. One–hundred twenty individuals were trained in 30 4–person teams on a cognitively complex performance task. Teams were trained using a non–AAR–, subjective AAR–, or objective AAR–based training approach. Declarative knowledge, team performance, and team–efficacy served as the measures of training effectiveness. It was hypothesized that AAR–based training (subjective AAR– and objective AAR– based training combined) would be more effective than non–AAR–based training. Further, it was hypothesized that objective AAR–based training would be more effective than subjective AAR–based training. The study results indicated that AAR–based training was more effective than the non–AAR–based training approach in terms of team performance and team–efficacy, but not team declarative knowledge. Objective AAR–based training was no more effective than subjective AAR–based training. Teams performed equally well on the training outcome measures regardless of whether they used an objective or subjective AAR– based training approach. It is anticipated that the theoretical framework and empirical results of this study will serve as a catalyst for the integration of AAR–based training into existing training literatures and to inform the design and practice of AAR–based training systems to take full advantage of their efficacy as training interventions.

In the book of Lau Tzu, there is a chapter saying that ¡§The highest goodness is like water¡¨. It¡¦s known that the earth is the only blue planet because of water. Water breeds infinite life and vitality and now it is experiencing a fatal moment due to human abuse in last fifty years while the human history moves into a new era. In the current days, the most important natural living elements including water need be further purified before daily usage. Water itself is now becoming an evaporating and scarce resource in the earth which affects the life of hundred million people. China economy has been growing dramatically in past decades accompanied with remarkably improvement of the living standard of people¡¦s life and income level. The beauty treatment and spa business has been developing its market in almost every province in China. Water is playing a crucial role in the treatment effectiveness and an elementary ingredient to ensure the final result of beauty treatment. The research purposes are to fist analyze the market status of the beauty treatment and functional water; secondly, is to investigate the feasibility and sales synergy in combining these two product and service lines (beauty treatment and functional water); Thirdly, is to conduct an in-depth case study for company T¡¦s marketing strategy in entering this new mixed product market. The whole research structure is divided into three sections. Section one is to collate the available academic research report and theory including market segmentation, goal setting, 4P in marketing, SWOT and competitive analysis in forming a framework of marketing strategy applied in the China beauty and functional water market. Last section is trying to leverage, verify and refine the theory framework against a series of in-depth interview and secondary data in the market. It¡¦s still in an infant stage of China beauty treatment business with an estimated size of three hundred billion RMB dollars market in year 2010. The demand of purified and functional water is soaring up with limited supply due to increasing contamination of water resources. It¡¦s foreseen a gold mine business of functional water as a means in pursuit of healthy, youth-looking and eco-compliance life. This research result also unveils the differentiation created in the beauty treatment market by introducing the functional water. It not only brings in a new profitable product lines, advances the revenues but also improve the bottom line by increasing the economical scale. The finding, last but not least, is the integration of functional water product and beauty treatment is meeting the macro trend of consumers¡¦ perception of living in a healthy, youth looking and sustaining life. On the other hand, the beauty treatment agencies will be able to increase their competitiveness, grow the business, concrete the sales channel and win the customer loyalty in a traditional fierce competition market. The objective of this research is to provide a marketing strategy in merging two product and service markets in achieving a long term business goal. Ultimately, purified and functional water are not only for the beauty treatment sales business but also targeting the consumers¡¦ daily life in preventing illness by accessing the purified water and treasuring the invaluable water resources in sustaining the earth and lives.

<p>The overall aim of this thesis was to examine the construct validity and the reliability of the instrument DOA; Dialogue about working ability. The theoretical foundation for DOA is the Model of Human Occupation. The instrument is divided into two sections; client self-assessment and professional assessment focusing on the individual’s working ability. The assessments are followed by a dialogue to distinguish goals for the return to-work process based on the client’s own preferences. In line with the theoretical base, the concept ‘work’ refers to both paid work and other productive activities related to work.</p><p>In Study I, 21 professionals and 126 clients participated from three clinics in Sweden. All clients were involved as outpatients in psychiatric work rehabilitation in county councils or community services. The results from the Rasch analysis test indicated that items are well separated from each other and generally work together in five unidimensional continuums with the objective to measure abilities related to work. Twenty-nine of 34 items showed goodness-of-fit statistics, which means acceptable infit MnSq values from >0.6 to <1.4 in association with Z values from –2 to 2, and that the five misfit items have to be revised.</p><p>Thirty-four outpatient clients and 14 professionals from four clinics within psychiatric work rehabilitation in Sweden participated in Study II. Two reliability aspects were studied: test-retest and inter rater reliability. The statistical analyses used were Spearman Rank Correlation test and Percentage of agreement (PA). Generally, the Spearman Rank Correlation test showed acceptable significant correlations between test retest since a greater part of items correlated “moderate to good” (r = 0.51 – 0.75). In the inter raters´ test PA was good, ranging from 93.1 % to 96.5 %, which is well above the acceptable criteria of 80 %. There were no significance differences between the raters. The study has shown that one item has to revised.</p><p>The findings verify that DOA has potential as a means of making valid and reliable assessments of working ability, as described by the Model of Human Occupation, out of both clients´ and occupational therapists´ perspective.</p>