To date much of the literature on consumers’ concerns about business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce has described findings from quantitative research. As a result, much of that literature has focused on specific previously-identified concerns (e.g., privacy of personal information, use of credit cards for on-line payment). Also, there has been little research into the concerns of New Zealand consumers, and all of it has been quantitative. In order to gain a broader understanding, this study took a qualitative approach. Three focus groups were conducted, in order to identify consumers’ concerns. The concerns that were thus identified were combined with those that a review of the literature had previously identified, and were used to draw up a set of guidelines to be used in semi-structured interviews. Fifteen interviews were then conducted, in order to gain consumers’ views about each concern. It seems that at a higher level, consumer’s concerns have shifted. The literature suggests that in the past consumers’ concerns about Internet shopping have focused on the fact that Internet shopping is conducted via the Internet – as a result of which consumers have, for example, been concerned about the privacy of their personal information ('if I give them my e-mail address, will I get spam?') This study suggests that now consumers’ concerns focus on the fact that Internet shopping is a form of shopping – as a result of which they are now only prepared to use the Web sites of 'reputable companies', and they now require to be able to evaluate an item adequately before buying it. And it seems that another result of this is that consumers now expect that the 'reputable companies' whose Web sites they visit will – as a matter of course - address to their satisfaction issues such as the privacy of their personal information. While there are some types of products that consumers are prepared to buy on-line (e.g., air travel), there are many about which they are reluctant. Concerns were expressed about a wide range of potential purchases, and for a variety of reasons; also, some data was inconsistent (for example, some consumers were not prepared to buy clothes on-line, but others were). This appears to be an area in which consumer attitudes are still evolving. It is suggested that it may be helpful for further research on this matter to consider both demographic factors and the degree of consumer involvement in particular types of purchases.

The thesis examines the factors influencing the sustainability of employee involvement strategies in the Sri Lankan manufacturing sector. Applying the psychological contract perspective, the researcher attempts to explore how employee involvement strategies are sustained at the factory floor level. More specifically, the attempt is to understand the involved behaviour of employee in the perspectives of a relational as well as a transactional psychological contract. The empirical evidence is drawn from three case studies in to consumer products, tobacco products and garment manufacturing in Sri Lanka. The thesis highlights several key findings relating to the process of sustaining employee involvement strategies in Sri Lankan manufacturing firms. First, the existence of a psychological contract in the form of a relational contract supports the sustenance of employee involvement strategies. Second, the social exchange process that produces the relational contract in an employer-employee setting draws from situational factors such as the supportive climate created by employer and employee development programmes and the psychological factors, such as work values, job involvement, and commitment of the employee to organization. Third important factor: the trust placed in the organization by the employee develops exchange relationships with the organization, managers and fellow employees leading to a relational psychological contract, which results in the sustenance of outcomes of employee involvement. Some confirming evidence for the third factor could be drawn from situations where a break down of trust prompts a violation of the psychological contract. In such situations, the relational contract is transformed into a transactional contract resulting in the failure of employee involvement process. Finally, the thesis finds little evidence to support the view that moving down power, information, knowledge and skills and rewards to the frontline employees alone are sufficient to sustain an employee involvement process.

The effectiveness of biosecurity measures at national borders is influenced by the behaviour of individuals. One influence on the behaviour of individuals is level of involvement. Involvement is the importance or relevance of an object or situation to an individual. Involvement helps regulate the way in which people receive and process information and thus influences the extent of information searching for decision making, information processing and persuasion. A second area of influence on individuals is the way in which information is framed. Framing influences the persuasiveness of communications. In this study the concept of involvement was used to investigate the response of individuals to New Zealand biosecurity requirements and the response of individuals to differently framed biosecurity information. A range of people associated with the agricultural and food processing sectors were surveyed using a five item scale of involvement to measure their level of involvement in biosecurity. The results indicated that most respondents had medium to high levels of involvement. This implies that respondents were motivated to attend to and process information on biosecurity measures. However, not all respondents reported taking note of biosecurity information implying that involvement with biosecurity prompts some initial information processing which may or may not continue over time. Respondents were also asked to rate four postcards, each designed with a different message strategy. Individuals with high involvement indicated that the postcard with the negatively framed emotion/entertainment message strategy was most persuasive. The results indicate that specifically targeting information to individuals based on their level of involvement in biosecurity may increase compliance with biosecurity measures.

<p>This thesis aims to determine what CSR issues stakeholders in the wind power industry careabout and how stakeholders want to be involved in these issues. The objective is furthermoreto test and improve the theory of stakeholder involvement – the normative idea thatstakeholder management should strive for maximum stakeholder involvement.The study is carried out using a case study, o2, an important actor in the wind power industryin Sweden. Five stakeholder groups are included in the study, customers, capital providers, inthe form of a major bank and a private equity company, NGO’s and lastly regulators.The study contributes directly to the stakeholder management practices in the wind powerindustry by giving guidance on how to prioritize among different stakeholder groups as wellas to the untested theory of stakeholder involvement by applying the theory to a real casestudy.The result of the study suggests that stakeholders value environmentally related CSR issuesmore than socially related CSR issues. In particular the issues of emissions and flora & faunaare classified as the most important CSR issues for the wind power industry to manage.Furthermore, the theory of stakeholder involvement is shown to be misleading for thestakeholders closest to the company, the once with a direct contractual stake (customers andcapital providers). However, it is shown to be directly applicable, and useful, to thestakeholders more external to the company (NGO’s and regulators).</p>

<p>In today’s world, consumerism is dominating all the aspects of our life. In society, life follows the pattern of the capitalist culture where the human values have a different measure. We do live in a branded world. There is no doubt about it. We all make product decisions every day. We probably all have certain types of products of which we like only one or two brands, while we buy other things based on what is on sale on a given day. This inclination to buy branded products is rooted in two basic things: recollection and satisfaction. We remember which one we like by brand name.</p><p>A survey by the Henley Centre revealed that the public trust brand names such as Kellogg’s, Heinz and Marks & Spencer more than Parliament, the police and the legal system (Sunday Times, “A can of worms is a bad diet”, 5 April 1998). This research highlights the importance of the relationship between consumers and key brands; and shows that it has strengthened to such an extent that it is now healthier than the relationship with our social structures. This is evidence of the power of consumer culture and the liberal free market economics of the westernized world. The Brands not just represent the symbol of the company but also to a greater extant defines lives people in the society. What a person uses can reflect his taste, his or her status in the society, his / her economic background as well. This makes a deep connection between the company and its brand, with the consumer. In this two way relation both the company and consumers are dependent on each other.</p><p>The salient of purpose of our study was to find out to what extent brand names influence the consumers’ purchase decisions with regard to high-involvement products. We conducted this study based on theories and survey. We reviewed a good number of relevant theories of brand and consumer decision making process. We also conducted a survey among the students. The respondents of our survey were those students who own a notebook PC, a high involvement product. We used convenience sampling for our survey. We analyzed the data of the survey in order to be able to draw conclusions and find answers to our questions.</p><p>On analysis of the collected data, we came to a conclusion that brand names have an influence on the consumer decision not only in case of notebook PC, but also in other product categories. The overall means of brand equity for male and female student are 3.64 and 3.66 respectively. Both the means are considerably higher than the average of 2.5 on the Likert Scale. So, it is reasonable to say that both male and female students’ purchase decisions are influenced by the brand equity to an extent. The consumers are very conscious about branded products because they have the view that well-known brands are more reliable. This study also explains that customers trust the branded products. Before purchasing a notebook PC people do not consider the lesser known brands. Our survey results show that the respondents previously automatically knew which brand of Notebook PC to buy. The mean of the statement “I automatically knew which brands of this product to buy” was much higher than average indicating that respondents had only a few brands in their evoked set and they ended up buying their top-of-the-mind brand. Consumers opined that well-known brand companies maintain quality of their product. Which is why, brand name affects the customer choice while making a purchase decision. Moreover, consumers also tend to trust well-known branded products. The mean of the statement “When I see an advertisement of this brand I believe the information in it is accurate” was much higher than the average which testifies to the fact that consumers usually trust the brands.</p>

<p>Background: Knowledge of customer needs is a key factor in companies’ struggle to develop successful products. Several studies illustrate that the main reason for failure in product development is lack of customer understanding. Lately considerable changes have occurred. Large-scale mass production is continuously being replaced by customer orientation, especially in the high technological market. </p><p>Purpose: The purpose of this master thesis is to analyze customer involvement in high technological product development projects. </p><p>Research method: The study was conducted by realizing seven qualitative interviews at three different companies related to telecommunication. </p><p>Result: Customers are involved in product development projects in different ways and to different extends. The involvement is carried out in two main ways; either by planned meetings, demanded direct involvement, or by market and sales departments, not demanded involvement. The characteristics of the customer involvement is primarily dependent on the sort of new product being developed, the character of the development process as well as the design of the project model in terms of duration and control.</p>

<p>[ An abstract in English will follow]</p><p>Denna uppsats handlar om på vilket sätt användarinvolvering påverkar acceptansen av ett affärssystem. I studien redogörs varför acceptansen påverkas av användarinvolveringen, samt hur påverkan sker och vad som leder till den. </p><p>IT genomsyrar idag så gott som alla former av företagsamhet. Affärssystem stödjer affärsprocesser i flera branscher, från tillverkande företag till renodlade tjänsteföretag. Ett företag behöver exempelvis anpassa både sina affärsprocesser och det nya affärssystem för allt som sker inom företaget. På grund av komplexiteten som detta för med sig är implementeringen ofta ett stort steg för företaget och dess anställda. De framtida användarna av systemet ställs inför en stor förändring som ett nytt affärssystem medför. För att göra övergången så enkel som möjligt och få användarna att acceptera systemet brukar användarna vara delaktiga i implementationen genom en process som benämns som användarinvolvering.</p><p>Forskning inom området har enats om att användarinvolveringen påverkar acceptansen av ett system (Dickson & Simmons, 1970; Powers & Dickson, 1973; Wu, et al.,2002; Kujala, 2003;, Gable, et al., 2003; Amoako-Gyampah, 2005; Sharp, et al., 2007). Desto mindre finns skrivet om varför acceptansen påverkas av användarinvolveringen, hur den påverkas, samt vad det egentligen är i användarinvolveringen som påverkar acceptansen. Denna uppsats undersökte detta genom att en kvalitativ studie utformades. </p><p>Teorin om att användarinvolveringen påverkar acceptansen kombinerades med Technology Acceptance Model (en modell för undersökning av acceptansen föreslagen av Davis, 1989) för att skapa en egenutvecklad modell. Den egenutvecklade modellen användes för att skapa teman kring vilka den öppna individuella intervjun utformades. Därefter genomfördes intervjuer med fyra användare som var involverade i en implementationsprocess. Resultatet från intervjuerna strukturerades på ett sätt som matchade teman i den egenskapade modellen. Därefter analyserades resultatet med hjälp av det teoretiska materialet som insamlades under studiens inledningsfas. </p><p>Slutsatsen är att användarinvolveringen som process består av flera företeelser som tros påverka acceptansen. De företeelserna som tros ha påverkat acceptansen på företaget som studerades var: användarnas förståelse för vad som kommer krävas av dem i framtiden, utbildningen och dess kvalité, användares tidigare kunskap och förmåga att ta in ny kunskap samt företagets mål med implementationen och hur väl det nya systemet kan uppfylla dessa. </p><p>Slutligen bör man inte bortse ifrån de krav som företaget ställer på sina anställda. En medarbetare kan känna sig tvungen att acceptera ett visst system, då det redan är beslutat att företaget ska bruka systemet.</p><p>[English abstract]</p><p>This essay covers what in the user involvement process affects user acceptance of an Enterprise Resource Planning System (ERP). The study reads up on why the acceptance is affected by user involvement, how the influence derives and where it comes from.</p><p>Information Technology permeates all forms of enterprise. ERP systems support business processes for many different types of enterprise, ranging from manufacturing to service oriented. A company needs to adapt both its business processes and the new ERP system to fit the company’s business processes and support them throughout the value chain. As a result of the complexity that this adaptation implies, the implementation turns often out to be a big step for the company and its employees. Because of that, future ERP system users face a huge change in their work life. To make this easy and increase the chances of the future users to accept the new system, a process called user involvement is often used. </p><p>Research has shown that user involvement affects the acceptance of a system (Dickson & Simmons, 1970; Powers & Dickson, 1973; Wu, et al.,2002; Kujala, 2003; Gable, Sedera & Chan, 2003; Amoako-Gyampah, 2005; Sharp, et al., 2007). On the contrary, less is known on why the acceptance is affected by user involvement, how the relation looks like and what in the user involvement process actually affects the acceptance. This essay studied that using a qualitative approach. </p><p>By combining the theory that user involvement affects the acceptance, with the Technology Acceptance Model (a theory proposed by Davis (1989) that models how users come to accept and use a technology), a new model was developed. The self-created model was used to develop themes which were used as a base for the empirical research. Four interviews with system users took place and the result was analyzed using the theories collected in the earlier part of the study. </p><p>The conclusion is that user involvement as a process contains many different parts which we believe may influence acceptance. Our study has shown that the acceptance depends on – but not limited to – the following: user’s understanding of what will be required of them in their future work, the educational process and its quality, user’s technical knowledge before the implementation process began, user’s ability to learn, as well as the company’s goals set for the implementation and to which degree the new system will fulfill these goals. </p><p>Finally, the demands which the company sets on its employees must not be ignored. An employee can feel obligated towards company’s choice of the ERP system and compelled to accept the new system, because it has already been decided that the company would use it.</p>

<p>Eutanasi, eller den svenska översättningen dödshjälp, innebäratt vårdpersonal genom olika åtgärder påskyndar döendet hossvårt sjuka patienter. Aktiv dödshjälp är olagligt i Sverigeliksom i flertalet andra länder. Samtidigt är det inte ovanligtatt patienter efterfrågar eutanasi med hänvisning till att dödendärigenom kan bli mer stilla och fri från lidande. Genom sinnära kontakt med patienten har sjuksköterskan en given roll idet som här kallas eutanasiprocessen. Syftet med litteraturstudienvar att beskriva sjuksköterskans delaktighet i eutanasiprocessen.Utifrån riktlinjerna för en litteraturstudie i Friberg(2008) har 11 artiklar granskats. Artiklarna söktes i databasernaCinahl, PubMed och Academic Search Elit. Resultatetpresenterades i teman vilka var; att ta emot frågan, attdelta vid ELD, att vara delaktig i den aktiva handlingen, attvara ett stöd för anhöriga efteråt och att uppleva delaktighetensom sjuksköterska. Det visade sig att det fanns flertaletfaktorer som påverkade sjuksköterskans medverkan i eutanasiprocessen.De sjuksköterskor som deltog i beslut om dödshjälpdeltog för det mesta också i den aktiva handlingen viddödshjälp samt i eftervården av anhöriga. Sjuksköterskornauppfattade det som viktigt att ha ett nära och bra samarbete iarbetsgruppen. Slutsatsen är att sjuksköterskan har en viktigroll i vården om patienter som efterfrågar eutanasi. Det ärviktigt att det finns klara och tydliga riktlinjer och regler attfölja för att säkerställa omvårdnaden vid situationer som dessa.Det behövs även tydliga instruktioner och handledning avnya sjuksköterskor för att de skall förberedas för möte medpatienter som efterfrågar eutanasi. Ytterligare forskning inomområdet kan bidra till en utveckling av vården som då bättrekan möta patienter som efterfrågar eutanasi.Eutanasi, eller den svenska översättningen dödshjälp, innebäratt vårdpersonal genom olika åtgärder påskyndar döendet hossvårt sjuka patienter. Aktiv dödshjälp är olagligt i Sverigeliksom i flertalet andra länder. Samtidigt är det inte ovanligtatt patienter efterfrågar eutanasi med hänvisning till att dödendärigenom kan bli mer stilla och fri från lidande. Genom sinnära kontakt med patienten har sjuksköterskan en given roll idet som här kallas eutanasiprocessen. Syftet med litteraturstudienvar att beskriva sjuksköterskans delaktighet i eutanasiprocessen.Utifrån riktlinjerna för en litteraturstudie i Friberg(2008) har 11 artiklar granskats. Artiklarna söktes i databasernaCinahl, PubMed och Academic Search Elit. Resultatetpresenterades i teman vilka var; att ta emot frågan, attdelta vid ELD, att vara delaktig i den aktiva handlingen, attvara ett stöd för anhöriga efteråt och att uppleva delaktighetensom sjuksköterska. Det visade sig att det fanns flertaletfaktorer som påverkade sjuksköterskans medverkan i eutanasiprocessen.De sjuksköterskor som deltog i beslut om dödshjälpdeltog för det mesta också i den aktiva handlingen viddödshjälp samt i eftervården av anhöriga. Sjuksköterskornauppfattade det som viktigt att ha ett nära och bra samarbete iarbetsgruppen. Slutsatsen är att sjuksköterskan har en viktigroll i vården om patienter som efterfrågar eutanasi. Det ärviktigt att det finns klara och tydliga riktlinjer och regler attfölja för att säkerställa omvårdnaden vid situationer som dessa.Det behövs även tydliga instruktioner och handledning avnya sjuksköterskor för att de skall förberedas för möte medpatienter som efterfrågar eutanasi. Ytterligare forskning inomområdet kan bidra till en utveckling av vården som då bättrekan möta patienter som efterfrågar eutanasi.</p> / <p>Euthanasia means that a health professional through variousmeasures accelerates dying in severely ill patients. Euthanasiais illegal in Sweden as in most other countries. While it´snot uncommon for patients requesting euthanasia on thegrounds that death thus can be more quiet and free from suffering.Through their close contact with the patient nurse hasa specific role in the euthanasia process. The aim of thisstudy was to describe nurses' involvement in the euthanasiaprocess. Based on the guidelines for a literature review ofFriberg (2008) 11 articles has been reviewed. Articles weresearched in the databases Cinahl, PubMed and AcademicSearch Elite. The results presented in themes which were, toreceive the question, to participate in the end of life decisions,to be involved in the active process, to provide supportfor relatives afterwards and to experience the involvement asa nurse. It turned out that there were several factors that influencednurses' participation in the euthanasia process. Thenurses who participated in decisions on euthanasia were forthe most part also in the active process of euthanasia and inthe aftercare of relatives. The nurses felt that it was importantto have close and good cooperation of the working team.The conclusion is that the nurse has an important role in thecare of patients seeking euthanasia. It is important to haveclear guidelines and rules to follow to ensure nursing care insituations like these. There is also need for guidelines and introductionof new nurses so that they can be prepared to meetpatients who requests euthanasia. Further research on euthanasiacan contribute to the development sot that the caregiversbetter can meet the patients requesting euthanasia.Euthanasia means that a health professional through variousmeasures accelerates dying in severely ill patients. Euthanasiais illegal in Sweden as in most other countries. While it´snot uncommon for patients requesting euthanasia on thegrounds that death thus can be more quiet and free from suffering.Through their close contact with the patient nurse hasa specific role in the euthanasia process. The aim of thisstudy was to describe nurses' involvement in the euthanasiaprocess. Based on the guidelines for a literature review ofFriberg (2008) 11 articles has been reviewed. Articles weresearched in the databases Cinahl, PubMed and AcademicSearch Elite. The results presented in themes which were, toreceive the question, to participate in the end of life decisions,to be involved in the active process, to provide supportfor relatives afterwards and to experience the involvement asa nurse. It turned out that there were several factors that influencednurses' participation in the euthanasia process. Thenurses who participated in decisions on euthanasia were forthe most part also in the active process of euthanasia and inthe aftercare of relatives. The nurses felt that it was importantto have close and good cooperation of the working team.The conclusion is that the nurse has an important role in thecare of patients seeking euthanasia. It is important to haveclear guidelines and rules to follow to ensure nursing care insituations like these. There is also need for guidelines and introductionof new nurses so that they can be prepared to meetpatients who requests euthanasia. Further research on euthanasiacan contribute to the development sot that the caregiversbetter can meet the patients requesting euthanasia.</p>

<p>In 1996, the artillery regiment, A4, in Östersund was disbanded. Their former premises underwent remodelling to serve as the new campus for the Mid Sweden University. The express intention was that the new occupiers would be allowed to take part in the planning process. During 1997 the company Vasallen became the owner of the premises, by direction of the Ministry of Finance. Vasallen was charged with the management of former military premises and increasing their value with the aim of selling the property.</p><p>Thanks to their well-defined mission and good financial resources, Vasallen became a new actor on the property market. In the same year, a number of architectural firms were invited to take part in a competition. At the beginning of 1998, SWECO FFNS was chosen as the winner, and the planning process started immediately. The new campus was inaugurated on September 6, 2002 with the Swedish Prime Minister, Göran Persson, in attendance.</p><p>The aim of this study was to monitor how well the demands of the new occupiers regarding quality and environment were met, and how these demands were managed during the construction process. My ambition was to study the process as a case study in order to better understand and reflect on what actually happens in the communication between partners. The material on which the study is based was gathered by participation in planning meetings and by following the construction process. The Campus Östersund project was unique in many ways. In the first place, the existing buildings form a sound basis as they were intentionally designed with the needs and well-being of the individual in mind. Many qualities were thus already incorporated into the buildings on the site.</p><p>The strict regulations imposed by the fact that these were classed as historical buildings set certain limitations, while at the same time posing a challenge to be overcome. The stark contrast between a military regiment and the activities of a modern university placed high demands on those involved in the project. The user’s wishes and demands, working environment factors, structural issues and demands on comfort always have a tendency to take second place after financial factors. In this case, however, the owner’s and user’s joint ambition led to the reconsideration of priorities concerning, for example, the working environment. Finally, the project was unique as a fully comprehensive view of the process and final product was adopted by the two main partners. This includes, for example, observing environmental assets throughout the whole project.</p><p>In 1996, the artillery regiment, A4, in Östersund was disbanded. Their former premises underwent remodelling to serve as the new campus for the Mid Sweden University. The express intention was that the new occupiers would be allowed to take part in the planning process. During 1997 the company Vasallen became the owner of the premises, by direction of the Ministry of Finance. Vasallen was charged with the management of former military premises and increasing their value with the aim of selling the property.</p><p>Thanks to their well-defined mission and good financial resources, Vasallen became a new actor on the property market. In the same year, a number of architectural firms were invited to take part in a competition. At the beginning of 1998, SWECO FFNS was chosen as the winner, and the planning process started immediately. The new campus was inaugurated on September 6, 2002 with the Swedish Prime Minister, Göran Persson, in attendance.</p><p>The aim of this study was to monitor how well the demands of the new occupiers regarding quality and environment were met, and how these demands were managed during the construction process. My ambition was to study the process as a case study in order to better understand and reflect on what actually happens in the communication between partners. The material on which the study is based was gathered by participation in planning meetings and by following the construction process. The Campus Östersund project was unique in many ways. In the first place, the existing buildings form a sound basis as they were intentionally designed with the needs and well-being of the individual in mind. Many qualities were thus already incorporated into the buildings on the site.</p><p>The strict regulations imposed by the fact that these were classed as historical buildings set certain limitations, while at the same time posing a challenge to be overcome. The stark contrast between a military regiment and the activities of a modern university placed high demands on those involved in the project. The user’s wishes and demands, working environment factors, structural issues and demands on comfort always have a tendency to take second place after financial factors. In this case, however, the owner’s and user’s joint ambition led to the reconsideration of priorities concerning, for example, the working environment. Finally, the project was unique as a fully comprehensive view of the process and final product was adopted by the two main partners. This includes, for example, observing environmental assets throughout the whole project.</p><p>Brukarmedverkan i byggprocessen –en fallstudie 12</p><p>Building the “right product” is an important argument for including the end user in the project. By initiating a planning process in which the user’s demands and wishes are considered, one not only initiates the actual building process, but also a process in the client’s organisation. The capacity to participate in such a process within the organisation is, however, not always good. Clarity and respect for the processes initiated were not always particularly pronounced in this case. Lack of clarity sometimes led to confusion, which in turn led to complications in communication and thus delay in the project. The internal process in an organisation should, if possible, progress simultaneously with, and be firmly established before, meetings with the consultants. Theoretical studies have confirmed the importance of utilizing the process of change in internal organisational development in order to achieve a positive attitude among employees.</p><p>Participation of the end user in a large organisation is often based on representatives in working parties. These representatives should be motivated, be given the time required within the framework of their job, and have the confidence of their colleagues. The opportunity to influence decisions is great in the initial stages. The user should have knowledge concerning the various phases of construction, the financial and legal framework, and the rules and regulations governing the project. Being able to participate in creating one’s own working environment elicits various degrees of commitment and levels of expectation in the user organisation. Both the occupants and the consultants should have the capacity for this kind of development, especially the latter as they constitute the “front line”. The user should understand the relation between desires and possible financial effects. The price tag for alternative demands/wishes and the effects these will have on the final rent should be clearly visible. It is an advantage if this is made clear very early on in the project. The dialogue between the parties should thus be supplemented by the architect explaining to the new occupiers where limitations and opportunities lie in the project. The parties involved must have a certain degree of pedagogical competence in order to explain and manage the project to everyone’s satisfaction. A good environment is seldom described in terms of formulated concepts outside the architectural community. Projects in which the end user is involved thus provide a unique opportunity to start building up a bank of knowledge including expressions used by non-experts to describe concepts of space. Difficulties are encountered when all these views are to be accepted and implemented in the building process through descriptions and drawings. Words are replaced by numbers, and more and more actors are involved, for example, engineering consultants. We simply do not have all the necessary tools with which to express wishes concerning the physical environment. We can, however, bridge the communication gap between users and consultants by using computer-aided information systems. The ideas expressed by the user can be transformed into three-dimensional video sequences, and thus be confirmed as being, “just what we meant”.</p><p>It was apparent quite early on in this research that the technical terms available were not adequate to describe the events of this case. The end user’s feeling of not being able to keep up with the consultants’ technical concepts may lead them to feel that they are at a disadvantage, which certainly will not benefit the process. Here, the role of the architect as a pedagogue is important in leading the various participants into the planning process. One of the actors should perhaps have some kind of skills in behavioural science and Brukarmedverkan i byggprocessen –en fallstudie education. Perhaps changes should be made in the training of architects and other consultants.</p><p>Respect for the common process is perhaps the most important factor for its success, together with clarity and openness. These are terms not traditionally used in construction projects. The interpretation of the customer’s wishes, explaining the opportunities and limitations of the building, and planning for future expansion are the responsibility of the architect. Does a single actor have a reasonable chance of coping with this in a large-scale project? All the participants should gain broad insight into each other’s jobs and roles early on in the project. Respect for the responsibilities and roles of others can be built up by concentrated efforts to exchange knowledge through dialogue early in the process. The incentive for participating varies from one actor to another. Theoretical studies, for example, give clear advice that each actor’s interests in the project be clarified. Trust is one of the most important mainstays in establishing good communication. Feelings of suspicion and unreliability can be disastrous in this kind of project. The development of legal issues and forms concerning contractors and their work is also desirable in order to aid the process.</p><p>When the owner sees the opportunity to take an active part in the management of the premises, this leads to a continuous dialogue and process during and after the planning and construction phases. These studies have given me a greater respect for processes involving the end user, from planning to management. One of my most important personal  reflections, and a partly new realisation, is that the involvement of the user in the process has such a large influence on the building project. Communication and continuous information are essential in projects in which the user is involved.</p><p>Communication can also be made easier if the parties regard each other as fellow partners and not opposing partners. The period spent in education and training is the most important in laying the foundation for these attitudes among professionals. A great deal of responsibility thus lies with teachers to ensure that end users have increased opportunity to participate in and influence the building process. There is no short cut to customer-focused working methods.</p>

<p>The Youth Outcome Questionnaire 2.0 Self Report (Y-OQ 2.0 SR) has been implemented in residential treatment centre in the Municipality of Örebro as a result of the strive for a more evidence-based working approach within social work. This study aims to examine how personnel and adolescents describe the treatment/counseling and support and the application of the Y-OQ 2.0 SR in the units. The questions cover the values the personnel and adolescents ascribe to the application of the Y-OQ 2.0 SR, if the result from Y-OQ 2.0 SR is congruent with how the adolescents have been affected during the placement, which obstacles and/or possibilities emerge in the management of the instrument and if there are any indications that the Y-OQ 2.0 SR is advantageous or disadvantageous in the treatment process. The study has a qualitative approach; four interviews were carried out with adolescents and five with personnel. The result shows that structure is an important component in attaining a change in behaviour. The adolescents' functional ability is to some extent congruent with the result from the Y-OQ 2.0 SR. The instrument is primarily used to evaluate the treatment and to guarantee the quality of the work of the personnel. Both obstacles and possibilities emerged in the management of the instrument. The personnel's attitude towards the instrument's purpose is positive. The adolescents' attitudes vary and this seems to be connected with how involved they are in the feedback process of the instrument's result. Whether or not the feedback of the result from the Y-OQ 2.0 SR is an advantage or disadvantage in the treatment process on the basis of involvement is discussed.</p> / <p>Ett evidensbaserat arbetssätt har blivit allt mer eftersträvansvärt inom socialt arbete och som ett led i detta har mätinstrumentet Youth Outcome Questionnarie 2.0 Self Report (Y-OQ 2.0 SR) implementerats i behandlingsverksamheter i Örebro kommun. Studien syftar till att undersöka hur personal och ungdomar uppfattar behandlingen/råd och stöd och tillämpningen av Y-OQ 2.0 SR i verksamheterna. Frågeställningarna omfattar vilket värde personal och ungdomar tillskriver instrumentet, huruvida instrumentets resultat överensstämmer med ungdomarnas förändringar under placeringstiden, vilka hinder/möjliggörande faktorer som framkommer i handhavandet av instrumentet, samt om det finns indikationer på att tillämpningen av Y-OQ 2.0 SR gynnar/missgynnar behandlingsprocessen. Studien har en kvalitativ ansats, fyra intervjuer har genomförts med ungdomar och fem med personal. Resultatet visar att struktur är en viktig komponent i behandling för att uppnå beteendeförändring. Ungdomarnas funktionsförmåga stämmer till viss del överens med resultatet från Y-OQ 2.0 SR. Instrumentet används främst för att utvärdera behandlingsinsatser och för att kvalitetssäkra arbetet. Det framkommer både hindrande och möjliggörande faktorer i handhavandet av instrumentet. Personalens inställning till syftet med Y-OQ 2.0 SR är positiv. Ungdomarnas inställning till instrumentet varierar vilket tycks ha samband med hur delaktiga de är i återkopplingen av resultatet. I diskussionen förs resonemang kring huruvida återkopplingen av resultatet från Y-OQ 2.0 SR gynnar eller missgynnar behandlingsprocessen utifrån delaktighet.</p>