Ethiopia is rapidly urbanising. Similar to other urban areas in developing countries, major issues in Ethiopia include a high level of income inequality, lack of formal employment opportunities and deeply rooted poverty, tenure insecurity, poor infrastructure, and limited access to electricity and energy. Frequently settlers end up in impoverished urban squatters and slums which do not offer them even the most basic infrastructure and hence lack to provide them with the perspectives they came for. Onward migration to farer off destinations such as the EU member states thus often remains as sole option for those caught in such urban poverty traps. Although the issue of informal urban settlements is not new to the context of Ethiopian cities, the current rapid urban growth rates are exposing urban rental markets as well as infrastructure and energy supply to considerable pressure. The paper investigates the respective situation in Ethiopia and demonstrates some best practice examples. In the context of Ethiopian cities, energy production and distribution have been highly centralised under state entities and the scope for exploring local/business driven and decentralised systems has been limited. Transitions can be implemented towards sustainability and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals if collective identification and structuring of issues along with collective envisioning of future is provoked or facilitated.

This case study explored perceived artificial intelligence (AI) performance and intended future use (IFU) in users of AI-based applications. Users could become less motivated to use these applications if AIs do not clearly communicate their actions. A prototype, a user test, and a structured interview were iteratively developed. Eight students participated in the final iteration, which was thematically analyzed. The results indicate that an AI-based application that shows recommendations can positively affect perceived AI performance and IFU. Possibly, the recommendations increased users’ understanding of AI decisions, as well as their satisfaction. Therefore, recommendations could be a potential design element for increasing perceived AI performance and IFU. Finally, time-saving functionality is a design element that could lead to higher IFU in AI-based applications, possibly only for other tasks than examining recommendations. Further research needs to test these findings under different circumstances.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) equipped with lightweight, inexpensive cameras have grown in popularity by enabling new uses of UAV technology. However, the video retrieved from small UAVs is often unwatchable due to high frequency jitter. Beginning with an investigation of previous stabilization work, this thesis discusses the challenges of stabilizing UAV based video. It then presents a software based computer vision framework and discusses its use to develop a real-time stabilization solution. A novel approach of estimating intended video motion is then presented. Next, the thesis proceeds to extend previous target localization work by allowing the operator to easily identify targets—rather than relying solely on color segmentation—to improve reliability and applicability in real world scenarios. The resulting approach creates a low cost and easy to use solution for aerial video display and target localization.

Purpose – This article seeks to advance a novel service network perspective, based on the service-dominant logic, designated as service-dominant networks (SDN). Design/methodology/approach – Service-dominant logic components serve to build and describe SDN. Specifically, resources and actors are key components, combined with activities and the process by which they become resources. A case study details the features of SDNs. Findings – Service-dominant networks exhibit unique, previously unaddressed features. According to the service-dominant logic, components only become resources when they are integrated; thus, they disappear as resources after their integration, which means SDNs are fugacious: they (be-)come and go. In addition, SDNs comprise one or more main intended activities that explain their existence, though these intended activities do not necessarily initiate any particular SDN. Rather, other critical incidents can initiate SDNs. Research limitations/implications – The features of SDNs proposed in this article have not been a focus of prior research. In particular, the dynamics and fugaciousness of SDNs are challenges for research and management. Originality/value – This article offers the first proposal of a novel, service-dominant network perspective. In a very general and abstract form, it identifies the features of SDNs.

The fierce competition on the retail market has led firms to stop focusing on firm-customer transactions and start focusing on firm-customer relations. New customer demands makes it impossible for firms to gain a sustainable advantage by focusing only on their goods assortment. This forces retailers to consider the customer experience and differentiate themselves by how they offer what they offer. This have led to that many retail companies try to shape the behaviours and emotional displays of their frontline employees in encounters with customers. Many firms define customer service concepts as an attempt to create high quality customer experiences. However, a successful realisation of these concepts can be challenging.   Service-Dominant Logic researchers argue that firms cannot single headedly create value but that it is co-created in the interaction with customers. Therefore, they can only create value propositions, which is a proposal for value co-creation based on an integration of products and services. Services marketing researchers emphasise the importance of internal marketing for enabling frontline employees to represent the firm in the interactive value-creating process with the customer. Prior research focuses on the customer-driven development of value propositions, and techniques to conduct internal marketing, but does not provide relevant theories about the realisation of value propositions or the implementation of these internal marketing techniques. This thesis conceptualise the human factor of the realisation of the value proposition with the concept of intended and enacted value propositions. The purpose was to develop a deeper understanding of how internal marketing can be used to manage the gaps between intended and enacted retail value propositions. This was addressed by investigating one of Sweden’s largest retail companies on commission. Since the company has requested to remain confidential, it will be called Anonymous Commission Company (ACC) in this thesis. The current study has answered the following research question: “How can the gaps between intended and enacted retail value propositions be managed through internal marketing?”   The research question was answered through a qualitative study and in-depth interviews with both CS concept managers and frontline employees. The intended value proposition was investigated by a combination of ACC documents related to the CS concept, and interviews with the CS concept managers. By interviewing the frontline employees, their perceptions and enactment of the value proposition was investigated, as well as how they experience the current internal operations at ACC. The findings confirmed the proposed concept of intended and enacted value propositions, and four main barriers causing the gaps between them were identified through a thematic network analysis. Internal marketing theories were used to analyse how retail companies can overcome these barriers by engaging, enabling, empowering and ensuring their frontline employees. The thesis offer implications for retail managers on how they can manage the gaps between intended and the enacted value propositions. The study contributes to prior research by combining value proposition theories and internal marketing theories, and by offering detailed recommendations for retail firms. Furthermore, the study enriches the practical implications regarding retail value propositions and retail value proposition realisation.

Instructional media is expensive yet it may be underutilized. This study explored the perceptions of tertiary educators in Botswana on the role of instructional media in tertiary students’ conceptualization of intended learning outcomes. Quantitative research was used to a greater extent and the qualitative to a lesser extent. The study is a survey in which a questionnaire with twenty-two (22) items was used as a data collection instrument. An initial total of 300 copies of the questionnaire were sent to a sample of 30 tertiary institutions in Botswana. A total of 183 questionnaires were returned, thus 61% return rate. A number of findings emanated from this study, and it was concluded that instructional media enhances tertiary students’ conceptualization of intended learning outcomes. There was a correlation between instructional media utilization and students’ conceptualization of intended learning outcomes. Respondents also reported that instructional media aroused interest in learning and enhanced effective teaching and learning during the teaching and learning process; and that instructional media improved learning, thereby improving academic achievement of the learners, up to estimated 50% or better than students who were taught using the traditional ways. It was also found out that computers and their accessories were frequently used as well as a combination of instructional media. Another finding was that the same media were frequently used because of lack of resources and that they were the only instructional media available in the institutions. The study further concluded that, the amount used to purchase and maintain instructional media at departmental, faculty and or institutional level was seen to be put to good use. The study recommends that: instructional media be one of the main components of teaching and learning process in tertiary institution; a policy to be formulated on financing; use and management of instructional media; training of tertiary educators on different types of instructional media to be made a priority; otherwise purchased instructional media may end up as white elephants in schools. / Educational Leadership and Management / D. Ed. (Education Management)

Despite the vast research on motivation and foreign language acquisition during the last decades, little is known about the motivational effects of concrete pedagogical activities in the classroom. The work of, among others, Z. Dörnyei shows that imagined reality can have positive effects on language learning outcomes. Foreign language learners with a vivid Ideal Language Self (i.e. the vision of the language user one wants to become) that is regularly maintained and activated will feel more motivated when learning a foreign language than learners with a less vivid view of themselves as future foreign language users. This semi-longitudinal intervention study investigates the effects of three specific classroom activities on the pupils’ Ideal L3 Self and their Intended Effort to continue to learn French. The study was conducted in two Swedish 9th grade classes (n= 30 and n= 15 respectively) and also includes a control class (n=14). The three activities in the experiment classes were a) to compose an Ideal L3 Self stimulating text, b) to interact in an online French-speaking forum and c) to complete a webquest. In order to find out the pupils' level of Ideal L3 Self and Intended Effort before intervention began, an introductory text, a closed-ended questionnaire and a semi-structured interview was used. Data from these three instruments were triangulated to establish a baseline level for each pupil in the three classes. After completion of each classroom activity the same questionnaire, an open-ended questionnaire and a semi-structured interview were used to tap the effects of each activity on the pupils' Ideal L3 Selves and Intended Effort. The results confirm that pupils’ Ideal L3 Self is stimulated when, on the one hand, activities reinforce positive images of the pupils’ view of themselves as future users of French and, on the other hand, when an on-line activity makes the students experience the target cultural context almost as in real life. The results also revealed the importance of including such activities as early as possible in the curriculum. For some of the learners, it was already too late in 9th grade. The findings also include a strong correlation between the learners’ Ideal French Self and their Intended Effort in French, which is another convincing argument as to why teachers should include Ideal Self-stimulating activities in their foreign language classrooms.

Purpose – This article seeks to advance a novel service network perspective, based on the service-dominant logic, designated as service-dominant networks (SDN). Design/methodology/approach – Service-dominant logic components serve to build and describe SDN. Specifically, resources and actors are key components, combined with activities and the process by which they become resources. A case study details the features of SDNs. Findings – Service-dominant networks exhibit unique, previously unaddressed features. According to the service-dominant logic, components only become resources when they are integrated; thus, they disappear as resources after their integration, which means SDNs are fugacious: they (be-)come and go. In addition, SDNs comprise one or more main intended activities that explain their existence, though these intended activities do not necessarily initiate any particular SDN. Rather, other critical incidents can initiate SDNs. Research limitations/implications – The features of SDNs proposed in this article have not been a focus of prior research. In particular, the dynamics and fugaciousness of SDNs are challenges for research and management. Originality/value – This article offers the first proposal of a novel, service-dominant network perspective. In a very general and abstract form, it identifies the features of SDNs.

I detta examensarbete har ett IT-verktyg utvecklats som stödjer kvalitetsutvärderingen av en ingenjörsutbildning. I dagsläget innehåller kvalitetsutvärderingen flera moment som kräver manuell hantering av data. IT-verktyget automatiserar ett flertal av momenten och detta effektiviserar arbetet genom tidsbesparing och minskad risk för misstag. Examensarbetets syfte är således att underlätta genomförandet av kvalitetsutvärderingen genom automatisering. Metoden för arbetet är en fallstudie vid en av Sveriges ingenjörsutbildningar. Metodvalet ger möjlighet till verkliga tester och evidens för att kontrollera och påvisa att det utvecklade verktyget fungerar i enlighet med de behov som finns. Resultatet av detta examensarbete är ett IT-verktyg som stödjer, underlättar, förfinar och förtydligar kvalitetsutvärdering av ingenjörsutbildning på grundnivå. Verktyget är byggt med tjänster ur Google:s utbud, där användargränssnittet utgörs av produktivitetsapplikationerna Sheets och Forms. Skriptplattformen Apps Script tillför automatisering av repetitiva moment och möjliggör att applikationerna kan sammanlänkas med en databas i molntjänsten Cloud SQL. IT-verktyget bedöms även kunna fungera för andra typer av utbildningar som kvalitetsprövas mot lärandemål och examensmål. / In this thesis an information technology tool is developed to support quality evaluation of an engineering education. Presently the quality evaluation contains several steps that require data to be handled manually. The information technology tool automates several of the steps. This leads to increased work efficiency and reduces the risk of mistakes. The purpose of the thesis is therefor to facilitate the quality evaluation through automatization. The method chosen for development is a case study conducted at a Swedish engineering program. The choice of method makes it possible to conduct tests based on an actual education program to verify and show that the developed tool is functioning correctly according to existing needs. The result of this thesis is a working information technology tool that supports, refines and concretizes quality measurement of engineering education at a bachelor level. The tool is built using services provided by Google. The productivity apps Sheets and Forms are utilized as the user interface, and used in conjunction with the scripting platform Apps Script, the apps are connected with a cloud database in the Cloud SQL service. The tool is assumed to work for other types of educations that are quality checked using intended learning outcomes and examination objectives.

The essay begins by addressing the imbalance between students' lack of interest in the literary-historical content of the Swedish subject and the voices advocating for strategies to engage interest in the subject. Given the textbook's position in education and its potential to also engage students, the expectations of the recipient as constructed in its design will be examined. Therefore, Wolfgang Iser's and Umberto Eco's theories on the implied reader have been used to identify the intended recipient, more particularly the student, of the textbook. With that said, the purpose of the present study is to contribute to the understanding of how the intended student of textbooks is constructed through strategies designed to engage interest in the literary-historical content of the Swedish subject. The study adopts a qualitative approach and consists of a thematic analysis of the textbooks Svenska 2 – helt enkelt and Svenska impulser 2. The results indicate six distinctive strategies that collectively provide an understanding of how the intended recipient is expected to be engaged. Overall, the textbooks convey different expectations. Although they employ the same strategies, they do so to varying extents and based on different values concerning the use of meaning-making resources. Svenska impulser 2 prioritizes a shorter text span but varied semiotic resources, whereas Svenska 2 – helt enkelt expresses the need for and illustrates a minimalist design with a longer text span. Consequently, the books construct different expectations regarding the intended student's interest in the literary-historical content of the Swedish subject. The intended student is either in need of varied content or focus. In turn this means that the student is expected to become interested in either a summarizing language with varied semiotic resources or a simpler design with a denser linguistic content. / Uppsatsen tar avstamp i obalansen mellan elevers bristande intresse för svenskämnets litteraturhistoriska ämnesinnehåll och de röster som talar om vikten av strategier att intressera för ämnet. På grund av lärobokens fortsatt starka ställning i undervisningen och dess potential att också intressera eleven ska förväntningar på mottagaren som konstrueras i dess design undersökas. Därför har Wolfgang Isers och Umberto Ecos teorier om att texter har en avsiktlig mottagare använts för att formulera vem lärobokens tänkta mottagare, närmare bestämt elev, är. Med det sagt är syftet med föreliggande studie att åstadkomma ett kunskapsbidrag om hur läroböckers tänkta elev konstrueras genom strategier som intresserar för svenskämnets litteraturhistoriska ämnesinnehåll. Studien har en kvalitativ ansats och består av en tematisk analys av läroböckerna Svenska 2 – helt enkelt och Svenska impulser 2. Resultatet indikerar sex utmärkande strategier som tillsammans ger en bild av hur den tänkta mottagaren förväntas intresseras. Sammantaget förmedlar läroböckerna olika förväntningar. Även om de använder samma strategier är det i olika utsträckning och utifrån olika värderingar gällande användandet av meningsskapande resurser. Svenska impulser 2 visar en prioritering av ett kortare textomfång men varierade tecken, medan Svenska 2 – helt enkelt både uttrycker behovet av och gestaltar en minimalistisk design med ett längre textomfång. Således konstruerar böckerna även olika förväntningar på den tänkta elevens intresse för svenskämnets litteraturhistoriska innehåll. Den tänkta eleven är antingen i behov av ett varierat innehåll, eller i behov av fokus. Det innebär i sin tur att eleven förväntas bli intresserad av ett sammanfattande språk med varierade tecken eller av en enklare design med ett tyngre språkinnehåll.