No description available.

This study seeks to show how Nike, Inc. has effectively followed a strategy to increase the sale of its products that can be characterized as propaganda. Regarding method, this is a qualitative study which applied the propaganda analysis plan developed by Jowett & O'Donnell (1992) to examine and describe (1) Nike's ideology, (2) corporate structure and culture, (3) purpose, (4) targeted audiences, (5) the dissemination of the propaganda, (6) techniques for increasing its effectiveness, (7) existing counterpropaganda and contradictions, and (8) the effectiveness of the campaign. The study provides evidence that Nike engages in propaganda through an organized, systematic, and deliberate attempt to influence the beliefs, attitudes, perceptions, and actions of specific audiences for the purpose of accomplishing fixed objectives.

The topic of emotional intelligence and effective leadership has attracted considerable interest from researchers for many years. Most of the interest in the area is based on claims that emotional intelligence and organizational culture is linked to leadership effectiveness. Many studies have been conducted on the link between emotional intelligence and leadership effectiveness this studies examines the relationship between three concepts: emotional intelligence, leadership effectiveness and organizational culture. The study concludes with recommendations for further studies in this field.

Ett tydligt mönster visar att mängden avfall stiger med den ökande konsumtionen som finns i dagens samhälle. Konsumtionsmönstret leder till att fler produkter måste tillverkas och sedan hanteras som avfall. Förutom att förhindra avfallets uppkomst är återanvändning ett lämpligt alternativ till resthantering. Fritidbanken startade 2013 i Deje Värmland och verkar som ett organiserat utlånssystem av sportartiklar. Verksamhet bygger till stor del på att förespråka återanvändning. Återanvändningen sker via Fritidsbankens lokaler som fungerar likt ett bibliotek fast med sport- och fritidsprylar där alla får låna utrustning gratis. Genom att ge chansen att utöva aktiviteter och idrotter, skapar Fritidsbanken förutsättningar för allmänhetens spontanidrottande. Studien utgår från verksamhetens lokal i Deje, där tre olika sportartiklar undersöktes: slalomskidor, längdskidor samt skridskor. I studien undersöktes produkternas resursflöden, framställning- och resthanteringsprocesser med verksamheten som utgångspunkt. Artiklarna som lämnats in till lokalen jämfördes med motsvarande mängd artiklar som inlämnats, återbrukats och kasserats. Dessutom granskades dåvarande resthantering av produkterna samt alternativa förbättringar. Arbetet utgick ifrån en kartläggning om hur resthantering av produkterna genomfördes vid undersökningens start. Kartläggningen gjordes utifrån dåvarande avfallshantering i centrala Värmland. Det genomfördes också en känslighetsanalys, där materialets enskilda mängd ökades med 5, 10 eller 15 %. Metoden för studien utgjordes till största del av kontakt med producenter, återvinningsföretag, myndigheter samt återvinningscentraler. Databasen CES – Edu Pack samt information från Fritidsbankens lokal i Deje användes som grund för artiklarna och dess innehåll. Resultatet av studien visar att återanvändningen hos Fritidsbanken ger en positiv inverkan på materialframställning, resthantering och resursflöden. Totalt undviks 1480 kg material, 9.3 ton koldioxidutsläpp och 122 GJ energiomsättning vid materialframställning. Förslaget kring resthantering av artiklarna kan leda till: 34 GJ utvunnen energi vid förbränning samt 263 kg separerad och återvunnen stål. Studien utgick ifrån Fritidsbankens tre valda utbud av sportartiklar hösten 2015. Liknande produkter kan innehålla andra typer av material och bör därför undersökas därefter. Känslighetsanalysen visar att stål, nylon och epoxi-glasfiber var materialen som krävde mest energikonsumtion vid materialframställning. Det var även de material som alstrade mest koldioxid för samma process. Resultatet av känslighetsanalysen visar också att epoxi-glasfiber kan innehålla farliga ämnen. Därför borde inte mängden epoxi-glasfiber ökas eller utnyttjas i högre grad än i dagsläget. I och med detta kan eventuella förbättrade materialval övervägas ur artikelns livscykelperspektiv. / A clear pattern shows that the amount of waste increases with the increasing consumption. The consumption leads to more manufactured products which later on must be disposed as waste. Except trying to prevent the amount of waste, reusing products is a great option for waste managements. Fritidsbanken started 2013 in Deje Värmland and works like an organized lending system with sporting goods. The operation is largely based on advocating reuse. Fritidsbanken works like a library with sporting goods where anyone can borrow equipment for free. By giving the chance to practice activities and sports, Fritidsbanken creates conditions for spontaneous sporting. The study is based on the business premises in Deje, where three different sporting goods were examined: downhill skis, cross country skis and ice skates. The study examined the resource flows, production- and waste processes with the business as a base. The submitted articles were compared with the corresponding number of articles submitted, reused and discarded. Also the waste disposal of that time was reviewed and alternative improvements were presented.  The study was based on a separate survey of how waste management of products were carried out at the study’s start. The survey emanated from the central parts of Värmland in Sweden. Additional a sensivity analysis was performed and based on the materials found in the articles, presenting an increased mass of 5, 10 or 15 %.  The method for the study consisted largely of contacts with producers, recyclers, authorities and recycling centres. Information about the articles and its content were collected from CES – Edu Pack and Fritidbanken in Deje. The result of the study shows that the reuse gives a positive impact on the production of materials, waste management and resource flows. A total amount of 1480 kg material, 9.3 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions and 122 GJ amount of energy, were avoided in material production. The proposal regarding the waste disposal of articles can lead to 34 GJ energy derived from combustion and a recycled amount of 263 kg steel. The study was based on three different sporting goods which were collected from Fritidsbanken in Deje during autumn 2015. Similar products may contain other types of materials and should be examined accordingly. The sensitivity analysis shows that steel, epoxy-fiberglass and nylon were the materials that required the most energy in material production. It was also the material that produced the most carbon dioxide for the same process. The result from the sensitivity analysis also shows that epoxy-fiberglass may contain dangerous substances. Because of this the amount of epoxy-fiberglass should not increase or be used with a higher consumption. With that said, improved material selection can be considered from the article’s life cycle perspective.

The business area wants to remain in a market leading position. To do so being cost efficient is central. Lowering costs in the supply chain and when it comes to purchasing products is one way of optimizing the organization's actions. The business area hasn't developed any model or tool to handle the Total Landed Cost (TLC). The goal with the tool has been to educate the purchasers how to handle these costs and with the study give guidance on how to improve the cost focus within the organization. The company also has an environmental goal of reducing their emissions with 20 % within the next 5 years, the thesis therefore contains an investigation by integer programming about how the business area could be able to achieve this. By making qualitative interviews and using scientific articles as a base the authors constructed a model for TLC. A tool was created for comparing supplier solutions and to visualize the TLC. Connected to the TLC two special cases regarding how to handle transportation and inventory was also executed. The purpose is to encircle adjacent request from the client. The business areas TLC are affected by transportation costs, customs and tariffs but it can be affected by currency and risk parameters as well. The study showed that several investigated costs should be excluded as cost drivers in a TLC perspective.

published_or_final_version / abstract / Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / abstract / Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

No description available.

This paper examines the role of the Chinese cultural production in political economy, putting some emphasis to the market aspects of culture as well as the political outcomes. The hypothesis of the paper is based on the assumption that culture is one of the main resources of soft power. Therefore, the spread of the well-favored culture through cultural trade should create an attractive image of a country represented by that culture. A specific case study of China’s cultural imports into Lithuania is provided to serve as an example to reveal this relation of politics-economics-culture and to prove that cultural interaction can influence opinion about the whole cultural group thus increasing its power. This qualitative research was conducted first of all reviewing theoretical literature on the relevant topics of political economy, culture and soft power (Chapter 2). Then a number of a recent primary data from the United Nations reports as well as the other academic and media sources was analyzed in order to establish the role of China’s cultural production in the world market, which clearly demonstrates that China is already proving the success of its cultural industries becoming the largest producer and exporter of cultural products in the world (Chapter 3). Finally, the case study, which included analysis of primary imports data, review of the Chinese services and activities in Lithuania and 25 in-depth semi-structural interviews, proved that China’s cultural products imports into Lithuania is a subsistent part of the trade market and is constantly growing since 2003 along with the cultural services proliferation. The interviews presented some insightful opinions about Chinese cultural production, Chinese culture and China in general (Chapter 4).

Purpose: The study aims to increase knowledge of dealers' purchasing behavior of impulse goods in wholesale trade. Methodology: An exploratory survey method has been selected in order to investigate the relatively unexplored topic; buyer behavior of impulse goods in the wholesale. Data has been collected through interview of 27 dealers that conduct business with bulk confectionery sales across Sweden. A semi-structured interview technique has been selected, with a predetermined interview schedule but with space for follow-up questions and discussion. Conclusion: The background to this work argued that there is not much research on how retailers reasons when buying convenience products, or also called as impulse items. It is usually the sale of goods such as several of the informants believe is critical to their business existence. Impulse goods which do not require any effort, has little search time and usually are cheap and suits many customers pockets. It was therefore of interest to investigate whether the retailer is acting as their customers when they buy in bulk confectionery, which separated this study and considered to be an impulse to be, by definition, from wholesalers like Axfood Närlivs. What are the factors they take into consideration when choosing a product? How do they reflect on price, quality, delivery, access and communication with the wholesaler?