Academic research in 360-degree feedback continues to be dominated by a positivist approach with analyses of the feedback ratings. In contrast, this qualitative study explores how people make sense of 360, across the chain of meaning making involving not only raters and feedback recipients but also HR managers, facilitators and external consultants. Two corporate case studies in the pharmaceutical sector show how 360 evolves as a social process and carries a variety of meanings in different organisations and management contexts. Quasi-scientific rituals are revealed, demonstrating the existence of pseudo-anonymity and of complex use of numerical ratings and narrative comments. Woven alongside these corporate case studies is an autoethnography, which examines emotional and cognitive responses to two rounds of 360 asking for feedback on coaching performance. The autoethnographic thread allows insights into the dynamic relationship between academic and practitioner perspectives, as the researcher moves between both worlds. This PhD makes three contributions: the conceptualisation of 360 as a social process; the questioning of taken-for-granted customs within 360; and a methodological contribution to the development of autoethnographic practice.

Sustainability issues have become increasingly high-profile and important in recent decades. In addition, quality issues have come to play a central role in corporate marketing, strategy and management. The word quality can be defined differently in different contexts. This paper focuses on the concept of quality, based on the Total Quality Management perspective, which in Swedish has come to be known as Offensiv kvalitetsutveckling. Offensiv kvalitetsutveckling has been described as a theoretical framework in which an organization continually strives to meet and preferably exceed customer needs and expectations at the lowest cost through continuous improvement, and in which all members of the organization are committed and focused on the organisation's processes. The purpose of this study was twofold. First, to clarify the applicability of the theoretical model Offensiv kvalitetsutveckling as a theoretical explanatory model. Second, to explore how Max Hamburgerrestauranger AB performs according to the values in Offensiv kvalitetsutveckling. A multiple case study was conducted in order to explore these topics. The results showed that Max Hamburgerrestauranger AB is working in a dedicated and value-driven manner, aligned with the values ​​that form the basis for Offensiv kvalitetsutveckling. The results also showed that the model for Offensiv kvalitetsutveckling could serve well as a theoretical explanatory model, but that the model would benefit from being developed, enriched or integrated with other models. This is true, particularly if the aim is to study organisations that emphasize social responsibility. / Hållbarhetsfrågorna har blivit allt mer uppmärksammade och viktiga under de senaste decennierna och kvalitetsfrågorna har även kommit att få en central roll i företagens marknadsföring, strategi och ledning. Ordet kvalitet kan definieras på olika sätt. Uppsatsen fokuserar på kvalitetsbegreppet utifrån Total Quality Management perspektivet, som på svenska har kommit att benämnas Offensiv kvalitetsutveckling. Den Offensiva kvalitetsutvecklingen, som teoretisk referensram, innebär i korthet att en organisation ständigt strävar efter att uppfylla och helst överträffa kundernas behov och förväntningar till lägsta kostnad genom ett kontinuerligt förbättringsarbete där alla är engagerade och som har fokus på organisationens processer. Syftet med denna uppsats är att redogöra för tillämpligheten av Offensiv kvalitetsutveckling som teoretisk förklaringsmodell och att undersöka hur Max Hamburgerrestauranger AB arbetar enligt värderingarna i Offensiv kvalitetsutveckling. En flerfallsstudie genomfördes i syfte att finna svar. Resultatet visade att Max Hamburgerrestauranger AB arbetar på ett dedikerat och värderingsstyrt sätt, väl i linje med de värderingar som utgör grunden för Offensiv kvalitetsutveckling. Uppsatsen visade även på att Offensiv kvalitetsutveckling fungerar som teoretisk förklaringsmodell men att den kan utvecklas eller kompletteras med andra modeller om syftet är att studera verksamheter som betonar sitt sociala ansvar.