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With the increasing volatility on electricity markets and a growing emphasis on sustainability, renewable electricity has gained significant attention from corporate entities seeking to secure their green energy supply. Among the various methods available for securing green electricity, one method on the rise is Power Purchase Agreements (PPA). The purpose of entering a PPA from a generator perspective is to secure future revenues and from an offtaker perspective it is to secure future electricity costs. This research aims to assess the feasibility of PPAs as a green electricity sourcing method for a large industrial company with specific requirements. The research comprises a case study focused on a specific company. It involves qualitative interviews with nine company representatives, analysis of internal documents, and a review of relevant literature on PPAs. Additionally, four external experts knowledgeable about the company's electricity sourcing method and the PPA market were interviewed. This approach provides insights into the company's practices and ensures a comprehensive understanding of PPAs. The study demonstrates that PPAs can be structured in various ways. To organize the results and strengthen the arguments and conclusions drawn, Kraljic's sourcing framework has been utilized. Importantly, the findings indicate that implementing a PPA is a highly viable green electricity sourcing method for the company given their current structure andmission for the future. The findings suggest that adopting a PPA to source green electricity can be a viable option for companies if they prioritize renewable electricity,value price predictability highly, and can leverage the agreement for sustainability and marketing efforts. It is important to note that while the risks associated with a PPA can be mitigated to a large extent through a price premium, it is crucial to tailor the PPA setup to align with the specific needs of the company. Furthermore, it would be intriguing for the research community to investigate or propose an optimal PPA structure that maximizes benefits for both sides of the value chain, considering the interdependence highlighted in this study. / Med den ökande volatiliteten på elmarknaderna och det växande fokuset på hållbarhet har förnybar el fått betydande uppmärksamhet från företag som vill säkra sin framtida gröna energiförsörjning. Bland de olika metoderna för att säkra grön elförsörjning har en metod blivit allt vanligare, nämligen Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). Syftet med att ingå en PPA ur en generators perspektiv är att säkra framtida intäkter, och från ett bolags perspektiv är det att säkra framtida elkostnader. Denna forskning syftar till att bedöma genomförbarheten av PPAs som en metod för att säkra grön el för ett stort industrielltföretag med specifika krav. Undersökningen omfattar en fallstudie fokuserad på ett specifikt företag. Den innefattar kvalitativa intervjuer med nio representanter från företaget, analys av interna dokument och en översikt av relevant litteratur om PPAs. Dessutom intervjuades fyra externa experter som har kunskap om företagets nuvarande strategi gällande elförsörjningen och PPA-marknaden. Denna ansats ger insikter i företagets verksamhet och säkerställer en omfattande förståelse för PPAs. Studien visar att PPAs kan struktureras på olika sätt. För att organisera resultaten och stärka argument och slutsatser har Kraljics inköpsramverk använts. Resultaten indikerar att införandet av en PPA är en mycket genomförbar metod för att säkra grön el för företaget med hänsyn till deras nuvarande struktur och framtida målsättningar. Resultaten antyder att användning av en PPA för att förse sig med grön el kan vara genomförbart för ett företag om de prioriterar förnybar el, värderar prisförutsägbarhet högt och kan dra nytta av avtalet för hållbarhets- och marknadsföringsinsatser. Det är viktigt att notera att medan riskerna med en PPA till stor del kan minskas genom att betala ett prispåslag, är det avgörande att skräddarsy PPA-upplägget för att passa företagets specifika behov. Vidare skulle det vara intressant för forskarsamhället att undersöka eller föreslå en optimal PPA-struktur som maximerar fördelarna för båda sidor av värdekedjan med tanke på det beroendeförhållande som lyfts fram i denna studie.

Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to investigate ways of improving sustainable sourcing. The focus of this thesis is to identify what data should be collected, the most appropriate ways of gathering it, and how it can be used to improve sustainable sourcing in large and global companies. The objective is to provide insights on how large companies can take informed decisions to address sustainability within their suppliers' operations and their own sourcing practices generally, by investigating supplier specific data.  Method: The approach taken for this research was to conduct an exploratory single case study in a large and global retail company. Furthermore, all three research questions were answered using qualitative methods, which include interviews and analysing documents from the case company. Findings: In this study, it was found that to improve sustainable sourcing, companies should collect data on suppliers’ performance in economic, environmental, and social sustainability and their ability to be transparent and trace the flow of raw materials in the supply chain. Companies can collect data from upstream supply chains through audits, using traceability and transparency tools, and obtaining a chain of custody for all raw materials. Moreover, companies can utilise the collected data for efficient and effective resource allocation, managing supply relationships and planning, and supplier development. Implications: This thesis contributes to existing research within the field of sustainable sourcing as it features a new approach on how to improve current practices by considering the data that should be collected from suppliers. Moreover, it broadens the perspective by featuring sustainable sourcing specifically in the context of a large and global company. The practical implications of the study address how practitioners can improve sustainable sourcing. The implications include bringing awareness to a possible disconnection between the economic criteria and the other dimensions of the triple bottom line, the limitations of exclusively relying on in-house auditing, and a narrow focus on a limited number of raw materials.   Delimitations: This thesis is limited to a single case study of a large and global company. The data discussed in the thesis focuses on data collected from first-tier suppliers; data collected further upstream or downstream from the case company is outside of the scope of the study.

Ziel dieser Dissertation war es, ethnische Diskriminierung im zeitgenössischen Recruitment zu untersuchen. Diskriminierung im Recruitment wurde oft durch automatisches Aussortieren beim CV Screening oder durch unethisches Verhalten aufgrund von modernen Vorurteilen erklärt. Bisher war unklar, ob zeitgenössisches Recruitment von ethnischer Diskriminierung betroffen ist und welche psychologischen Mechanismen ggf. zu Diskriminierung führen. Um diese Forschungslücke zu füllen, habe ich in einem mixed-method-Ansatz drei empirische Studien durchgeführt: eine qualitative Interviewstudie, eine Analyse von Paneldaten und zwei Experimentalstudien. Die qualitative Inhaltsanalyse zeigte, dass aktive Suche und ausgelagertes Recruitment potenziell von Diskriminierung betroffen sind. Die Inhaltsanalyse deutete auf drei potenzielle Quellen für Diskriminierung hin: eigene Vorurteile von Recruiter*innen, Vorgaben von auftraggebenden Firmen, bestimmte Kandidat*innen auszuschließen und die Annahmen, dass Firmen bestimmte Kandidat*innen bevorzugen. In einem mixed logistic Model fand ich Evidenz in den Paneldaten dafür, dass Frauen, ältere Mitarbeiter*innen und Mitarbeiter*innen, die im südlichen/östlichen Europa geboren wurde, weniger aktiv angesprochen wurden und Frauen weniger Jobangebote erhielten. In den Online-Experimenten zeigte sich, dass Meta-Stereotypisierung, d.h. Annahmen über die Vorlieben von Firmen, größere Effekte auf die Einschätzung der Einstellungschancen von ethnischen Minoritäten hatte als eigene Vorurteile von Recruitern. Verringerte Einstellungschancen von ethnischen Minderheiten bei traditionellen Firmen wurden dabei von der Annahme vermittelt, dass eher deutsche Kandidat*innen und Kandidat*innen, die keiner Minderheit angehören, bevorzugt werden. Die Ergebnisse der drei Studien sind erste Belege dafür, dass zeitgenössisches Recruitment von Diskriminierung beeinflusst sein könnte. Meta-Stereotypisierung scheint dabei einen wichtigen Mechanismus darzustellen. / This dissertation focuses on ethnic discrimination in contemporary recruitment. According to dual process theories, attitudes can guide recruitment behavior when recruiters do not have sufficient time and motivation to control their behavior. But it is unclear whether contemporary recruitment is affected by ethnic discrimination and what psychological mechanisms drive this discrimination. I conducted three empirical studies to fill this research gap: a qualitative interview study, a panel study, and two online experiments. I found evidence that contemporary recruitment may indeed be affected by discrimination. The content analysis revealed that active sourcing approach and outside recruitment are potentially affected by ethnic discrimination. There was no support for the assumption that selection and assessment in contemporary recruitment is implicitly driven. A data-driven analysis revealed three sources of ethnic discrimination in contemporary recruitment: the recruiters’ own prejudices, the hiring managers’ request to sort certain candidate groups out, and the recruiters’ assumptions about companies’ preferences. The panel analysis found quantitative support for the assumption that marginalized group members are actively sourced less often. In a mixed logistic model, I found evidence that women, older employees, and employees born in Southern/Eastern Europe were actively sourced less often and that women were offered jobs less often. In the experiments, I compared the impact of recruiters’ own prejudices and meta-stereotyping—that is, assumptions about companies’ preferences—on the assessment of minority candidates. It turned out that meta-stereotyping showed larger effects on the assessment of the hiring chances of ethnic minorities than recruiters’ own prejudices. I consider these results first evidence that meta-stereotyping seems to reinforce stereotypical selections and lead to lower estimated job chances for minority candidates.

Goal and incentive alignment are a means of establishing collaborative behavior in supply chains. Essay 1 examines goal and incentive alignment at the strategic level in the purchasing process. It employs survey research in conjunction with structural equation modelling to examine the source selection strategy as a means of aligning the goals of the offeror with those of the buyer. Essay 2 examines goal and incentive alignment at the tactical level. It uses discrete event simulation to explore how the pursuit of localized profit objectives affects the global profitability of a supply chain. Lastly, Essay 3 examines goal and incentive alignment at the operational level. By employing a hybrid simulation approach to model a complex product refurbishment process, this research demonstrates that evaluating subprocesses based solely on their throughput does not equate to greater cost savings for the company at the focal point of this case study. These essays contribute to the body of knowledge in several ways. To the best of the author's knowledge, Essay 1 demonstrates the first empirical linkage, in the realm of public procurement, between the fear of a bid protest and the appropriateness of the sourcing strategy. Similarly, Essay 2 represents the first adaptation of Sterman's Beer Game to a format in which the value of products increases while they travel downstream. It also stands as the first research to quantitively explore the value of supply chain cooperation as a function of relative position in a supply chain. Lastly, the methodology employed in Essay 3 answers calls for research as they pertain to the need for case studies from industry, as well as the need to preserve the ‘real-world' context in complex, industry-based problems.

Abstract The main objective of this study is to observe product development sourcing strategies over technology life-cycle stages, including assessing evaluation conditions and strategy formulating models. This dissertation approaches product development sourcing from the perspectives of 1) main concepts of product development and technology life-cycles, 2) mapping product development activities over technology life-cycles, 3) mapping product development sourcing over technology life-cycles, and 4) a decision making flowchart. The individual findings are further synthesised and a three dimensional view to analyse the strategic positioning of technology, product and market development as a core context of the organisation is presented. This as it is proposed that the product development sourcing strategies should be analysed and decided according to strategic positioning of the technologies, products and markets and based on the related life-cycle phases. Different product development sourcing strategies can increase the competitiveness of the company by effectively managing critical knowledge of the technology and product development resources. The dissertation is qualitative and inductive in nature and is based on both, reviewing the literature and interviewing experienced industrial managers. The empirical material is based on semi-structured interviews with R&D managers and meetings with R&D directors. The study was realised by investigating historical data on product development activities and sourcing strategies of one of the high-tech industry leaders over four technology generations. The technology evolution of all the generations are considered and the collected data is analysed to understand if there are any significant relationships with the literature based findings. The analysis consists of five individual publications and related synthesis in this compilation. The principal results of this study is a product development sourcing framework (PDSF) proposing how product development sourcing strategies could be managed according to technology maturity levels by considering the specific needs and motivations of each prevailing situation. This necessitates the understanding of the characteristics of different technology life-cycle stages, and evaluating product development activities. This study points out how different models can be utilised to support the evaluation. As a result, various factors can be used to support the product development sourcing decisions for each specific situation, whereas strategy formulating theories are also beneficial as a support for these decisions. The main implications include providing a structure, PDSF, to support managers in their decisions on product development activities and sourcing strategies. The created PDSF is an amalgam of seven technology life-cycles that enable cross-functional investigations over each technology with market penetration situation, manufacturing capabilities, product development factors, and sourcing capability factors of all technology products. Aside providing support for selecting suitable product development sourcing strategies, this study may also ease the considerations over killing unproductive projects and unprofitable product lines. / Tiivistelmä Tämä tutkimus tarkastelee tuotekehityksen hankintastrategioita teknologioiden, tuotteiden ja markkinasegmenttien eri elinkaarivaiheissa. Väitöskirja lähestyy tuotekehityksen hankintaa seuraavista näkökulmista: 1) tuotekehityksen ja teknologioiden elinkaarien pääkonseptit, 2) tuotekehitystoiminnat teknologianelinkaarien vaiheissa, 3) tuotekehityksen hankinnat teknologianelinkaaren vaiheissa, ja 4) päätöksenteon vuokaavio. Yksittäiset löydökset on edelleen syntetisoitu ja kolmiulotteinen näkemys teknologioiden, tuotteiden ja markkinoiden kehittymiseen on esitetty keskeisenä kontekstina organisaatioille. Väitöstutkimus esittää että tuotekehityksen hankintastrategiat pitäisi analysoida ja päättää perustuen teknologioiden, tuotteiden ja markkinoiden strategiseen positioon elinkaarivaiheissa. Erilaiset tuotekehityksen hankintastrategiat voivat parantaa yritysten kilpailukykyä teknologioihin ja tuotekehitysresursseihin liittyvän kriittisen tiedon tehokkaan johtamisen ansiosta. Väitöskirja on luonteeltaan laadullista tutkimusta hyödyntäen induktiivista päättelylogiikkaa perustuen sekä aiemman kirjallisuuden tarkasteluun, että empiirisesti puolistrukturoituihin haastatteluihin kokeneiden tuotekehityspäälliköiden ja -johtajien kanssa. Tutkimus toteutettiin tarkastelemalla neljään eri teknologiasukupolveen liittyviä tuotekehityksen ja hankintastrategioiden historiatietoa ja aineistoa yhdessä johtavassa korkeanteknologian yrityksessä. Tarkasteltujen teknologiasukupolvien teknologiaevoluutiota on pohdittu ja kerättyä dataa on analysoitu mahdollisten merkittävien yhteyksien tunnistamiseksi ja ymmärtämiseksi suhteessa aikaisempiin tutkimuksiin ja kirjallisuuteen. Suoritettu analyysi sisältää viisi erillistä osajulkaisua ja tässä kokoomaosassa esitetyn synteesin. Tämän tutkimuksen keskeinen tulos on kehitetty tuotekehityksen hankintaviitekehys (PDSF) joka esittää tuotekehityksen hankintastrategioiden muodostamisen ja valitsemisen perustuen teknologioiden, tuotteiden ja markkinoiden kypsyysasteisiin, elinkaarivaiheisiin. Tämä edellyttää eri teknologiaelinkaarivaiheiden erityispiirteiden ymmärtämistä ja tuotekehitysaktiviteettien strategista arviointia. Tutkittuja strategisia tekijöitä voidaan hyödyntää tukemaan tuotekehityksen hankintamallin valitsemista ja päätöksiä. Tutkimuksen keskeiset implikaatiot sisältävät struktuurin luomisen, tuotekehityksen hankintaviitekehyksen (PDSF) muodossa tukemaan tuotekehitysjohtajia heidän päätöksenteossaan liittyen tuotekehityksen hankintastrategioihin. Luotu tuotekehityksen hankintaviitekehys mahdollistaa poikkiorganisaatiollisen tarkastelun tuotekehityksen strategisista hallintamalleista huomioiden teknologioiden, tuotteiden ja markkinasegmenttien elinkaaret ja niiden vaikutukset strategiseen päätöksen tekoon. Lisäksi, tämä tutkimus voi myös osaltaan helpottaa tuottamattomien tuotteiden ja tuotelinjojen lakkauttamiseen liittyvää analyysia ja päätöksentekoa.

ABSTRACT In this case study, various strategic methods that influence procurement, purchase and choice of suppliers are discussed. The aim of the study is to provide a clear picture and depiction of different strategies and tools that SMEs can use to increase competitiveness. In this study, a qualitative research method has been used where no measurements or tests have been conducted. The analysis in this case study concludes that the choice of suppliers and procurement strategies for a small and medium enterprises (SME) is not always an easy task, a lot of components should be considered when making a strategy. Although many theories and methods often claim that the economic factors are important, this study shows that it may be good idea for companies and organizations to see the full picture and consider certain other factors into account. The conclusion also shows that small food business companies often is affected by certain criteria like delivery security and lead time. Many of the factor that are value adding to SMEs has been shown in this study to be determined by the customer. This study is suitable for readers who work with purchase strategies and supplier choices. The reader gets through reading this study insight into different strategy related contexts that are adapted to small and medium enterprises (SME). Further research on the subject can be applied with the help of this study using both the methodological and theoretical frameworks. The results and conclusions may also be of importance in further research.

In the modern world, marathon running is taking over the fitness world and studies show that regular running will make people healthier, happier and fit. In India the yearly growth rate of marathon event is more than 150%. As more people gets boarded, the whole running industry is seeing boom and demand arises in all the services associated with these events. The evolution of technology and social media makes all the products and services migrate towards digital platform. Services associated with marathon events include race event management, getting connected with runners and clubs, reliable guidance and training techniques for preparing to run 42+ km, expert feedback on running gadgets like GSM watches, shoes, apparels etc. In current market, all these services served through different channels like runners club, Facebook, health magazines, websites for events and many more. Effective way to serve this group is to come up with “SMART Runners” which is exclusive for runners and serve all the needs associated with running events in single platform. This digital platform will use the crowd sourcing concepts to create contents that fits the Indian market needs with reliable information. For the event organizers, this platform will also act as a cloud service through which they can reach the runners, communicate and manage their race events effectively. As an investor, the proposal for creating a basic SMART Runners portal has positive NPV of INR 3,940,623 with CAGR of 20%. Though it may not be highly attractive however in short span it will become the leading “Running Portal” in India with approximately two million subscriptions. In the future this customer base can help the company to expand into various running related services and has bright prospects.

This research had an objective of exploring the role of MSEs in LED through analysis of wood-work MSE value chain. The basic research questions underscore what the domestic wood-work value chain looks like; what major weaknesses and challenges confront the operation of MSEs; what major areas of upgrading and inter-firm relations are evident in the sector; and what MSE value chains contribute to LED. The research exercise was based on review of related literature and a field survey, involving MSE operators drawn from the study area (Addis Ababa). Mixed method of analysis (quantitative and qualitative) was employed to deal with the data collected through questionnaires and interviews. Porter’s model of VC (1985) and UNIDO’s description of wood-work VC (2005) were used to provide conceptual framework. The wood-work sub-sector in Ethiopia has a domestic value chain since main inputs are from local sources, designs are by local producers, and products are for domestic markets. Domestic actors govern the allocation of resources and the distribution of benefits. Public enterprises control plantations hence primary inputs. Wholesalers in turn control inputs, which finally reach MSEs through retailers. Design, production and marketing decisions are made by MSE operators. Middlemen are minor as most of the products reach consumers directly. The value-chain’s downstream is thus described by a short distribution-channel. Horizontal, non-market, linkages characterize inter-firm relations; whereas, arm’s length market linkages dominate the supplier-MSE-buyer relations. In the absence of “lead firms”, wood-work MSE value chains fail to qualify for the mainstream “buyer-driven” model. Without buyer-dominated quasi-hierarchical relationship, MSEs exercise “incremental upgrading” through learning-by-doing. Measures taken to upgrade the production process are considerably inclined to the physical (hardware) aspects of the firm. The MSE value-chain is restrained by internal and external problems. The current state of design marks underdeveloped links in the chain and delays entry into competitive markets. Despite the drawbacks, MSEs enable localities mobilize fragmented resources and create employment. MSEs contribute to LED through the value chain, right from input-sourcing to production and marketing. Inter-firm relations and upgrading efforts uphold the contributions. / Development Studies / Ph. D. (Development Studies)

This research had an objective of exploring the role of MSEs in LED through analysis of wood-work MSE value chain. The basic research questions underscore what the domestic wood-work value chain looks like; what major weaknesses and challenges confront the operation of MSEs; what major areas of upgrading and inter-firm relations are evident in the sector; and what MSE value chains contribute to LED. The research exercise was based on review of related literature and a field survey, involving MSE operators drawn from the study area (Addis Ababa). Mixed method of analysis (quantitative and qualitative) was employed to deal with the data collected through questionnaires and interviews. Porter’s model of VC (1985) and UNIDO’s description of wood-work VC (2005) were used to provide conceptual framework. The wood-work sub-sector in Ethiopia has a domestic value chain since main inputs are from local sources, designs are by local producers, and products are for domestic markets. Domestic actors govern the allocation of resources and the distribution of benefits. Public enterprises control plantations hence primary inputs. Wholesalers in turn control inputs, which finally reach MSEs through retailers. Design, production and marketing decisions are made by MSE operators. Middlemen are minor as most of the products reach consumers directly. The value-chain’s downstream is thus described by a short distribution-channel. Horizontal, non-market, linkages characterize inter-firm relations; whereas, arm’s length market linkages dominate the supplier-MSE-buyer relations. In the absence of “lead firms”, wood-work MSE value chains fail to qualify for the mainstream “buyer-driven” model. Without buyer-dominated quasi-hierarchical relationship, MSEs exercise “incremental upgrading” through learning-by-doing. Measures taken to upgrade the production process are considerably inclined to the physical (hardware) aspects of the firm. The MSE value-chain is restrained by internal and external problems. The current state of design marks underdeveloped links in the chain and delays entry into competitive markets. Despite the drawbacks, MSEs enable localities mobilize fragmented resources and create employment. MSEs contribute to LED through the value chain, right from input-sourcing to production and marketing. Inter-firm relations and upgrading efforts uphold the contributions. / Development Studies / Ph. D. (Development Studies)