<p>This report presents the primary development process of an innovative milk foamer. The project is structured as the primary development process that is used at Electrolux Floor Care and Small Appliances AB, Global Primary Development and Innovation department in Stockholm, Sweden. The aim was to develop a milk foamer with innovative solutions to provide Electrolux with a unique product. The objective was to create a product that highly meets customer requirements and in the same time is feasible to develop into a selling product. All the aspects regarding a consumer product had to be considered. To create innovative solutions thorough investigations of the physics behind foaming and foam are studied and documented. The difference in foam quality when using different ways of foaming is documented and possible explanations is discussed. The primary development process range from pre-study and customer research to designing prototypes and verifications. Most of the report deals with standalone solutions but there is also a part of the report that deals with integrated solutions and cooperating solutions that would be used together with espresso machines. The result is a variety of concepts and four fully working standalone prototypes. Two prototypes are further developed and are highly interesting to Electrolux.</p>

Bakgrund Gaseller är små- och medelstora företag (SME: s) med hög tillväxttakt som konstant skapar nya arbetstillfällen och har en positiv inverkan på den svenska ekonomin. Många författare anser att en differentieringsfokus är mest lämpligt för SME: s för de ska kunna skapa konkurrensfördelar och tillväxt. Denna fokus är ett strategiskt val som underbyggs av innovationsförmåga. Dock, när konkurrensfördelen leder till snabb tillväxt så uppstår växtvärk. Följaktligen, vad händer med SME: s innovativa förmåga under snabb tillväxt och vidare, hur påverkar detta SME: s förmåga att uppnå långsiktig tillväxt? Syfte Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka hur snabb tillväxt i SME: s påverkar deras förmåga att uppnå långsiktig tillväxt. Metod För att uppnå syftet med denna uppsats så har en jämförande analys utförts baserat på en holistisk undersökning av ett flertal case. Undersökningen inkluderade fem tillverkande SME: s belägna Jönköpings län som alla mottagit utmärkelsen ”Gasell” från den svenska finansiella tidningen Dagens Industri. Denna utmärkelse de-las ut till företag som fördubblat sin omsättning under en period av tre år samtidigt som de haft positiv tillväxt och en stabil ekonomisk situation (DI, 2005). Slutsats Efter att ha analyserat de empiriska resultaten med passande teori kunde några övergripande slutsatser dras. Studien kunde visa att den växtvärk som ofta uppstår i SME: s som genomgår en period av snabb tillväxt påverkar den interna organisationen att anpassa sig till ökad komplexitet och resursbrist på ett sätt som har en negativ påverkan på deras innovativa förmåga. Det fanns också tendenser att detta i sin tur hade negativ effekt på SME: s förmåga att växa i ett långsiktigt perspektiv. / Background Gazelles are high growth Small Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) that constantly are creating new job-opportunities and contributing positively to the Swedish economy. In order to achieve competitive advantage and growth for SMEs, several authors argue that a focus on differentiation is most suitable, which is a strategic approach mainly underpinned by innovative ability. However, when competitive advantage leads to rapid growth certain growing pains occur. Thus, when SMEs are growing rapidly, what happens to their innovative ability and further how does this affect their long-term growth? Purpose The purpose of this thesis is to explore how rapid growth in SMEs affects their ability to attain long-term growth. Method In order to fulfil the purpose, a comparison analysis has been conducted based on a holistic multi-case study. The cases included five manufacturing SMEs in Jönköping County, of which all have been appointed the Gazelle-award issued by the Swedish financial newspaper Dagens Industri. This award is given to companies that have doubled its turnover in three years, while simultaneously having positive growth and a stable economical situation. Conclusion After analysing the empirical results with appropriate theories, some main conclusions could be reached. The study could demonstrate that the growing pains, often emerging in SMEs experiencing rapid growth, influence the organization to adapt itself to the increasing complexity and resource constraints in a way that has a negative affect on the their innovative ability. There was further some support that this in turn had a negative affect on SMEs ability to grow in a long-term per-spective.

This report presents the primary development process of an innovative milk foamer. The project is structured as the primary development process that is used at Electrolux Floor Care and Small Appliances AB, Global Primary Development and Innovation department in Stockholm, Sweden. The aim was to develop a milk foamer with innovative solutions to provide Electrolux with a unique product. The objective was to create a product that highly meets customer requirements and in the same time is feasible to develop into a selling product. All the aspects regarding a consumer product had to be considered. To create innovative solutions thorough investigations of the physics behind foaming and foam are studied and documented. The difference in foam quality when using different ways of foaming is documented and possible explanations is discussed. The primary development process range from pre-study and customer research to designing prototypes and verifications. Most of the report deals with standalone solutions but there is also a part of the report that deals with integrated solutions and cooperating solutions that would be used together with espresso machines. The result is a variety of concepts and four fully working standalone prototypes. Two prototypes are further developed and are highly interesting to Electrolux.

<p>Bakgrund</p><p>Gaseller är små- och medelstora företag (SME: s) med hög tillväxttakt som konstant skapar nya arbetstillfällen och har en positiv inverkan på den svenska ekonomin. Många författare anser att en differentieringsfokus är mest lämpligt för SME: s för de ska kunna skapa konkurrensfördelar och tillväxt. Denna fokus är ett strategiskt val som underbyggs av innovationsförmåga. Dock, när konkurrensfördelen leder till snabb tillväxt så uppstår växtvärk. Följaktligen, vad händer med SME: s innovativa förmåga under snabb tillväxt och vidare, hur påverkar detta SME: s förmåga att uppnå långsiktig tillväxt?</p><p>Syfte</p><p>Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka hur snabb tillväxt i SME: s påverkar deras förmåga att uppnå långsiktig tillväxt.</p><p>Metod</p><p>För att uppnå syftet med denna uppsats så har en jämförande analys utförts baserat på en holistisk undersökning av ett flertal case. Undersökningen inkluderade fem tillverkande SME: s belägna Jönköpings län som alla mottagit utmärkelsen ”Gasell” från den svenska finansiella tidningen Dagens Industri. Denna utmärkelse de-las ut till företag som fördubblat sin omsättning under en period av tre år samtidigt som de haft positiv tillväxt och en stabil ekonomisk situation (DI, 2005).</p><p>Slutsats</p><p>Efter att ha analyserat de empiriska resultaten med passande teori kunde några övergripande slutsatser dras. Studien kunde visa att den växtvärk som ofta uppstår i SME: s som genomgår en period av snabb tillväxt påverkar den interna organisationen att anpassa sig till ökad komplexitet och resursbrist på ett sätt som har en negativ påverkan på deras innovativa förmåga. Det fanns också tendenser att detta i sin tur hade negativ effekt på SME: s förmåga att växa i ett långsiktigt perspektiv.</p> / <p>Background</p><p>Gazelles are high growth Small Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) that constantly are creating new job-opportunities and contributing positively to the Swedish economy. In order to achieve competitive advantage and growth for SMEs, several authors argue that a focus on differentiation is most suitable, which is a strategic approach mainly underpinned by innovative ability. However, when competitive advantage leads to rapid growth certain growing pains occur. Thus, when SMEs are growing rapidly, what happens to their innovative ability and further how does this affect their long-term growth?</p><p>Purpose</p><p>The purpose of this thesis is to explore how rapid growth in SMEs affects their ability to attain long-term growth.</p><p>Method</p><p>In order to fulfil the purpose, a comparison analysis has been conducted based on a holistic multi-case study. The cases included five manufacturing SMEs in Jönköping County, of which all have been appointed the Gazelle-award issued by the Swedish financial newspaper Dagens Industri. This award is given to companies that have doubled its turnover in three years, while simultaneously having positive growth and a stable economical situation.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>After analysing the empirical results with appropriate theories, some main conclusions could be reached. The study could demonstrate that the growing pains, often emerging in SMEs experiencing rapid growth, influence the organization to adapt itself to the increasing complexity and resource constraints in a way that has a negative affect on the their innovative ability. There was further some support that this in turn had a negative affect on SMEs ability to grow in a long-term per-spective.</p>

Ein optimales Ausnutzen der von dezentralen Erzeugern innerhalb der bestehenden Energie- versorgungsstruktur bereitgestellten Energie fordert besonders bei der Einbindung regenerativer Quellen eine hohe Korrelation zwischen Angebot und Nachfrage. Innerhalb der vorliegenden Arbeit wird gezeigt, wie mittels Energiemanagementverfahren ein enger Zusammenhang zwischen dem Energieangebot aus fluktuierenden Quellen und der Energienachfrage hergestellt werden kann. Dabei wird ein entsprechender Optimierungsalgorithmus aufgestellt, der die für einen möglichst umfassenden Eigenverbrauch der erzeugten Energie notwendigen Anpassungsschritte ermittelt. Bei der Analyse von Energieangebot und -nachfrage wird, ausgehend von einer allgemeinen Darstellung, eine auf die Bedürfnisse eines Energiemanagements angepasste spezielle Beschreibung der Energiesituation erarbeitet. Die Anpassung von Energieangebot und -nachfrage erfolgt über die Auswahl spezifischer Verbrauchergruppen und die Ausnutzung der aus den systeminternen Zeitkonstanten resultierenden möglichen Unterbrechungsdauern. Die Vorgehensweise wird an Hand des Elektroenergiebezugs ausgesuchter klimatechnischer Anlagen in Verbindung mit einer regenerati- ven Energieerzeugung auf Basis der Photovoltaik dargestellt.

本研究旨在探討高級中學校長分布式領導與學校創新經營之現況，不同背景變項教師知覺分布式領導與學校創新經營之差異，高級中學校長分布式領導與學校創新經營之關係，及分布式領導對學校創新經營的預測力。 本研究對象為臺中市公立高級中學學教之教師，以「高中校長分布式領導與學校創新經營調查問卷」為研究工具，正式施測有效樣本共531位。所得資料分別以描述性統計、獨立樣本t考驗、單因子變異數分析、皮爾遜積差相關和逐步多元迴歸等統計方法進行考驗。研究結論如下： 一、公立高級中學教師所知覺的校長分布式領導為中上程度。 二、公立高級中學教師所知覺的學校創新經營屬中上程度。 三、不同背景變項之公立高級中學之教師所知覺的分布式領導有顯著差異。 四、不同背景變項之公立高級中學之教師所知覺的學校創新經營有顯著差異。 五、公立高級中學之校長分布式領導與學校創新經營之間有顯著的正相關。 六、不同程度分布式領導在學校創新經營整體與各構面的表現有差異。 七、校長分布式領導能有效預測學校創新經營。 最後，根據上述結論提出建議，供高級中學教育人員、教育行政機關、及後續研究者進行相關研究之參考，期有裨於學校教育之進步與發展。

Inovatyvaus verslo vertinimas - itin svarbus modernaus verslo, augančio į ateitį, valdymo uždavinys. Šio darbo pagrindinis tikslas - suformuoti galimus inovatyvaus verslo matavimo bei vertinimo metodus. Sekant nusibrėžta kryptimi, išnagrinėti inovacinio turto matavimo rodikliai, panaudojant inovatyvumo valdymo rodiklių generavimo instrumentą IMPROVE. Toliau nuosekliai išvestas ir ištirtas bazinis N-kartinio generavimo-diskontavimo modelis DFV, kaip inovatyvaus verslo vertės nustatymo metodo matematinis pagrindas. Parodyta, kad plačiai naudojamas DCF metodas, sekantis iš DFV modelio kaip ribinis atvejas, principialiai netinka inovatyvaus verslo vertinimui. Pasiūlyta vertinimo uždaviniuose įvesti diskonto normos tikimybinę funkciją p(j). Galiausiai pateikta fizinio bei intelektualinio turto ir atitinkamų srautų dinamikos schema parametrizuotų bazinių DFV modelių forma, kaip galimas inovatyvaus verslo vertinimo metodas DFV. / Assessment of innovative businesses is one of the most important tasks of modern businesses management. The goal of present article is the research of possible methods for measurement and evaluation of innovative business. On the way to this goal there were analyzed the measurement indicators of innovation asset using the indicator generation tool IMPROVE. Then there was made consecutive derivation of the N-generating-discounting model DFV as the mathematical base of the businesses assessment method. It was shown, that the well-known DCF method could be derived from DFV as the marginal case and is inadequate in innovative businesses assessment. Finally it was proposed dynamic layout of the physical and intellectual asset flows in the form of basic parameterized DFV models as the possible method of innovation businesses assessment.

Šio tiriamojo darbo tikslas yra suformuluoti inovatyvios pakuotės kaip komunikacijos priemonės kūrimo modelį. Teorinėje darbo dalyje analizuojama pakuotės funkcijos ir elementai, iškeliamos pagrindinės priežastys sąlygojančios pakuotės inovacijų poreikį, aprašomos teorinės pakuotės inovacijų taikymo galimybės ir pateikiamas pakuotės kaip komunikacijos priemonės susiformavimas ir įtaka. Analitinėje darbo dalyje pateikiami ir analizuojami rezultatai tyrimo, atlikto naudojant kiekybinio tyrimo metodą – apklausą, kurios metu buvo siekiama nustatyti, kokią įtaką inovatyvūs pakuotės sprendimai turi prekės ir prekės ženklo suvokimui bei pirkimo elgsenai. Projektinėje darbo dalyje suformuluoti tokie sprendimai: inovatyvios pakuotės kaip komunikacijos priemonės kūrimas turėtų susidėti iš penkių pagrindinių etapų, kurie yra – analizė; pakuotės komunikacijos objekto pasirinkimas; pakuotės tikslo suformulavimas; pakuotės elementų tikslo įgyvendinimui pasirinkimas; pasirinktų elementų panaudojimas remiantis naujausiomis pakuotės tendencijomis. / The aim of this research is to formulate innovative packaging development model which would increase packaging communication effect. The theoretical part of the paper analyzes functions and elements of the package, brings the main reasons leading to packaging innovations, describes the theoretical applications of packaging innovations and highlights the growth of packaging importance and influence as a communication tool. The analytical part of the paper presents and analyzes the results of a study carried out by using quantitative research method - a survey, which was conducted to determine the impact of innovative packaging solutions to shopper‘s brand perception and purchasing behavior. The final part of work suggests following results: innovative packaging as a communication tool should be created based on five steps, which are - analysis, decision making on packaging communication object, decision making on packaging funkctions, choosing packaging elements for functions implementation, adjust the use of chosen elements to newest packaging trends.

Baigiamajame magistro darbe nagrinėjama inovatyvių projektų vadyba pramonės įmonėse. Išnagrinėtos pagrindinės sąvokos, inovacijų įvairovė ir klasifikavimas, veiklos kompleksiškumas, inovatyvios veiklos projektavimo procesas, projektų tipologija ir jiems keliami kokybės reikalavimai. Taikant anketavimo metodą apklausti Lietuvos metalo apdirbimo sektoriaus vadovai. Nustatyta, kiek inovatyvių projektų vykdo jų įmonės, kokie įmonių ateities planai. Nustatyti pagrindiniai veiksniai, motyvuojantys ir ribojantys inovatyvių projektų plėtrą. Pagal anketų rezultatus atlikta koreliacinė regresinė analizė. Sukurtas inovatyvių projektų vadybos spartesnės plėtros Lietuvos pramonės įmonėse inicijavimo modelis. Darbą sudaro: teorinis inovatyvių projektų vadybos nagrinėjimas, inovatyvių projektų vadybos empiriniai tyrimai, gerinimo modelis, išvados, pasiūlymai, literatūros sąrašas ir priedai. / The study object of the final Master thesis is innovative project management in industrial enterprises. In first section the basic concepts of innovation diversity and classification, performance complexity, innovative business process design, project typology and the quality requirements for innovative projects were analyzed. Using the questionnaire method Lithuanian metalworking sector managers was surveyd. It was determined how many innovative projects carried out by the companies, what are their future plans in this sector. Key factors motivating and limiting the development of innovative projects were identified. According to survey results conducted correlation and regression analysis. Model of improvement for innovative project management wider application in Lithuanian metalworking sector was created. The work consists of a theoretical examination of innovative project management, innovative project management empirical studies, improvement model, conclusions, recommendations, references and appendices.

Chronic disease is rising globally, but LMICs may require novel approaches to management suited to a low-resource setting. Private health care providers in LMICs have experimented and developed new models for organizing, financing, and delivering care. This thesis examines some of the innovations that have emerged in LMICs to manage chronic disease. Using a common performance measurement framework and drawing from a database of over 1200 innovative health programs, I identify and evaluate 46 programs addressing chronic disease in LMICs. I then go on to identify, innovative practices used by the subset of 19 diabetes focussed programs and catalogue them according to the Chronic Care Model (CCM). Delivery system design is the most commonly used domain of the CCM, which even earlier has shown to have great potential to impact health outcomes. Few of the identified innovations may also have the potential for ‘Reverse innovation’ in high income countries.