The purpose of this study is to gain understanding of how self employed entrepreneurs (hereafter referred to as “entrepreneurs”) develop their competence based on their perceived learning space. The main question is: How do these entrepreneurs develop their competence based on their perceived learning space? Other questions relevant for the study are: How important is the social environment for these entrepreneurs and how do they interact with their social environment in order to develop their competence. The study has a qualitative approach. Semi-structured interviews with six entrepreneurs were conducted, during March and April 2008. The main finding of this study is the process by which the entrepreneurs develop their competence based on their perceived learning space. This is done through interaction with the entrepreneurs’ social environment. With a specific work task in mind, the entrepreneur evaluates his/her own competence in order to solve the task at hand, and in parallell search for the needed competence in his/her social environment. The social environment is therefore found to be very important to the entrepreneurs in the study. The active and conscious interactions lead to learning and in turn to development of the individual competence. This approach is essential for the entrepreneur to keep up-to-date and to stay attractive on the work market. Another finding in the study is how the entrepreneurs are forced to be more selective in the development of their competence, compared to a traditional employee, i.e. the entrepreneur needs to be more aware of whether he or she will gain anything from engaging in the specific activity. The responsibility for development of the individual competence lies solely on the entrepreneur. The development of the competence is however not separated from the overall responsibility of the business, but can be seen as part of the daily work.

Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka vad ESG har för påverkan på privatainvesterare vid investeringsbeslut. I studien undersöks även hur den socialaomgivningen och finansiella rådgivare kan påverka investeringsprocessen ienlighet med ESG.Den teoretiska referensramen består av legitimitetsteorin, the socialcomparison theory och befintlig forskning på ämnet. Studien utgår från endeduktiv ansats med induktiva inslag. En kvalitativ forskningsmetod haranvänts och datainsamling har skett via semistrukturerade intervjuer.Efter genomförda analyser av datainsamlingen framgår det att företagensattityd till ESG inte har särskilt stor inverkan på privata investerare vidinvesteringsbeslut. Förväntad avkastning är alltid högst upp påprioriteringslistan. ESG-faktorer ses framförallt som ett komplement vidinvesteringsbeslut. Av studien framgick det även att de sociala aspekterna (S)är den faktor av de tre som värderas högst. Miljöaspekter (E) värderas främstnär den potentiella investeringen ska ske i ett företag som har en starkkoppling till miljön. En bra bolagsstyrning (G) skapar en trygghet förinvesteraren men är väldigt sällan en avgörande faktor. Fortsättningsvispåvisar studien att den sociala omgivningen påverkar en privat investeraresbeslut. I den sociala omgivningen är det närstående personer som har störstinverkan. Finansiella rådgivares påverkan på investeringsprocessen är låg dåförtroende ofta saknas. / The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of ESG on individualinvestors investment decisions. The study also investigates how the socialenvironment and financial advisors can influence the investment process inline with ESG.The theoretical framework consists of legitimacy theory, the socialcomparison theory and existing research on the subject. The study adopts adeductive approach with elements of an inductive approach. A qualitativeresearch method was applied and data collection was conducted throughsemi-structured interviews.After analyzing the collected data, it appears that a company's attitudetowards ESG does not have a significant influence on individual investors'investment decisions. Expected returns always rank highest on individualinvestors' priority list. ESG-factors are primarily seen as a supplementaryconsideration in investment decisions. The study also reveals that the socialaspects (S) are the most valued among the three factors. Environmentalaspects (E) are particularly prioritized when investing in companies withstrong environmental ties. A well-managed governance (G) provides a senseof security for investors but is seldom a decisive factor. Furthermore, thestudy demonstrates that the social environment influences the investmentdecisions of individual investors, with close acquaintances having the mostsignificant impact. The influence of financial advisors on the investmentprocess is low, often due to a lack of trust.