Purpose: This thesis aims at exploring some of the possibilities,opportunities and challenges within the temporary agency work sector from boththe regular and the temporary agency workers points of view within the Swedish labourmarket. Background: Temporary agency work sector in the past two decadeshas been a fast growing sector that has got many young people into the labourmarket. With the current changes in the global economy, many organizations areturning more to these organizations to enable them adapt to changes in theirenvironment. In Sweden for instance, the growth and development of this sectorhas primarily been due to the constantly increasing rates of unemployment,massive job losses and also as a result of de-regulation of labour regulations. Methodology: A quantative survey was carried out using structuredquestionnaires in three companies that largely engage in hiring of temporaryworkers.  A total of 137 regular andtemporary agency workers, took part in the survey which was conducted through aweb-survey to e-mail addresses provided by client companies and temporary work agenciesand for those who had no access to e-mail received the questionnaires duringstaff meetings. Findings: Majorityof those engaged in this sector are young people of ages between 20 and 30years old, with high school education level and not married but maybe livingwith girlfriend or boyfriend. It resulted that many see these sectors asoffering an entry point into the labour market through which they feelrecognized and hopefully can advance their careers. Although all that glittersis not gold, those who work within this sector are also faced with variouschallenges that make it more of a stepping stone work place such as lack ofcontrol, complex interpersonal, insecurity and being treated as commodities andthe inability to decide when, where and how to work, with very little or nocontrol of when they can take off. Conclusion: On testing thehypothesis in relation to the possibilities, opportunities and challenges ofworking in the sector, it was not very obvious within the sector that ingeneral the regular staff had more favourable conditions than the temporary,but it did vary from one situation to the other and more often than not theyhad similar conditions. For instance, individualized flexibility was equallynot easy to achieve by the employees within the two groups. Keywords; Temporary Agency Work, Temporary Agency workers, Client Company, Regular/ordinarystaff, Motivation

<p>Purpose – There is growing evidence of organizations increasingly seeking to outsource logistics activities. This has been concluded in several other countries. There has not been made any prior systematic studies made over the practice of TPL usage in Sweden. Since Sweden has a large amount of manufacturing companies, the purpose aims to ex-amine and give a broad view of the usage of third party logistics (TPL) services for the manufacturing firms in Sweden. At the same time a comparison study will be made be-tween Sweden and the other countries.</p><p>Design/Methodology/Approach – The empirical research is used to study the extent firms use the services of logistics companies; the decision making process for choosing contract logistics and its impact on the organization; The TPL services used and plans for the future in terms of the usage; TPL usage in a supply chain perspective.</p><p>Findings – The study indicates that Swedish manufacturing firms are quite experienced in the use of third party logistics services. The usage of TPL services reveals positive and significant impact on the business performance within the organization; most of the users are satisfied with the services providers. Additionally, the usage of TPL services is expected to increase in the future. In terms of the supply chain perspective, certain number of respondent in manufacturing companies are aware of and influenced by the usage of the TPL services providers from the supply chain partners.</p><p>Research limitations/implications – This survey focused on the largest, 350 manu-facturing companies in Sweden. However, many small- medium size companies also use the TPL services, study can be done to compare the use of TPL services in terms of the size of the companies. Further, concerning the supply chain perspective, research can be done to investigate whether more benefits in sharing the same primary TPL providers with major customers and vendors than in using different TPL providers. Studies can further be done to identifying who has more power in the supply chain concerning the use of TPL providers, for the Swedish manufacturing companies.</p><p>Practical implications – The results provide managers with evidence supporting the benefits of outsourcing logistics activities. The study also contains useful information for the TPL providers concerning the most frequently used services and the potential services which are currently absent in the market.</p><p>Originality/value – This study makes a significant addition to literature on logistics outsourcing, since little empirical research has been previously reported from Sweden. Moreover, the results of this study will also serve as a future benchmark for the entire Nordic region.</p>

The overall aim of this thesis was to explore the school as a site for ethical practice. Specific objectives were to elucidate, encourage understanding for, and discuss: (i) teachers' and students' lived experience of ethical situations in school, (ii) teachers' and students' working together to promote learning in subjects and also to develop an ethical attitude towards society and the way people interact, and (iii) teachers' and students' working together to create an appreciative and positive climate in school. The research was conducted in a secondary school in Northern Sweden, which participated in a school improvement process, entitled Full of Value. The process has aimed at promoting learning through the development of an ethical attitude. This involves both the psycho-social and the physical community of the school.The research was inspired by life-world phenomenology. A total of 45 teachers and 45 students participated in the study. To create empirical data, the following methods have been used: written reflection, interview, close observation, and photo documentation. Through empirical findings during the research process, some parts of the research were inspired by participatory and appreciative action research (PAAR).The thesis consists of five part studies, published in international pedagogical journals. The findings show essential values for teachers and students in school, such as: openness, communication, trust, respect, care, empathy, truth, justice, appreciation, participation, and mutual learning.Teachers' and students' experiences of school as a site for ethical practice imply the value of: striving for ethical awareness, building ethical relationships, and encouraging ethical actions. The findings in this thesis suggest that the schools' mission to integrate ethics into the curriculum can be viewed as a process whereby, together with students in different educational settings, an ethical learning community can be created and sustained. / Godkänd; 2009; 20090426 (ulrber); DISPUTATION Ämnesområde: Lärande / Teaching and Learning Opponent: Professor Tom Tiller, Tromsö universitet, Norge Ordförande: Professor Eva Alerby, Luleå tekniska universitet Tid: Fredag 5 juni 2009, klockan 09.00 Plats: D-huset, Sal D770, Luleå tekniska universitet

As environmental problems today are understood as being problems of collective action, they also depend on the broad engagement of individual citizens for their successful solution. Policymakers are thereby faced with the challenge of designing policy and constructing policy tools, which contribute to an increase in individual environmental responsibility and voluntarily behavioural change. Here, this challenge is approached from the point of departure of policy legitimacy, concluding that the problem of legitimacy facing public policy is threefold: affecting the performance (in terms of effectiveness and efficiency) of political programs and policy tools; the boundaries of the policymaking process itself (through the legitimacy/effectiveness dilemma) as well as the democratic standing and future overall performance of political government. As such, the thesis aims both at exploring the level of legitimacy for contemporary Swedish environmental public policy as well as at analysing the prospects and prerequisites for designing future environmental policy that holds a high(er) level of legitimacy. In order to fulfil these aims, a further objective is to discuss the meaning and function of policy (as opposed to political-) legitimacy as well as to suggest methods and approaches to its study.By reviewing and synthesising key concepts and theories from legitimacy theory, public opinion research, and policy analysis, as well as from social and environmental psychology, the first part of the thesis constructs a framework for studying policy legitimacy, focusing content rather than process or actors, and systems of belief rather than opinion. The level of policy legitimacy is seen as the extent to which values and beliefs underpinning public policy content corresponds to those established among the public. This suggests that the evaluation of policy legitimacy is a three-step process, requiring an exploration of policy belief-systems; a mapping of public belief-systems and a subsequent comparison of the two.In the second part of the thesis, the analytical framework is put to the test in an empirical exploration of the legitimacy for Swedish environmental public policy during the period 1994-2006. By examining and comparing data from a qualitative text analysis of national policy documents with the results of two mass-surveys conducted in the years of 2004 and 2006, important insights are reached in terms of how both policymakers and the public understand and frame the environmental problem in terms of causes, seriousness and possible solutions; how they assign costs and responsibilities in amending the problem; as well as their preference for overall goals in the environmental policy domain. The thesis concludes that although public policy and public values align on several instances, belief-system divergences potentially affecting policy performance might nevertheless be identified. These findings deepen our understanding of the character of those legitimacy issues facing Swedish environmental public policy, providing relevant insights into how the level of legitimacy, and thereby policy performance, might be furthered. Lastly, it is possible to conclude that through the elaboration of an analytical framework, contributions are made to the scientific study of policy legitimacy, also beyond the environmental policy domain. / Godkänd; 2009; 20090813 (simon_m); DISPUTATION Ämnesområde: Statsvetenskap/Political Science Opponent: Professor Neil Carter, University of York, United Kingdom Ordförande: Professor Torbjörn Bergman, Luleå tekniska universitet Tid: Fredag den 18 september 2009, kl 10.00 Plats: A 109, Luleå tekniska universitet

Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka om känslor som väcktes hos potentiella givare i mötet med tiggare predicerade hur de förstnämnda bedömde sannolikheten för att ge eller inte ge ett bidrag. Dessutom undersöktes även om personlighet och ålder korrelerade med givmildhet, samt om könsskillnader förelåg med avseende på givmildhet. Metoden var kvantitativ och undersökningen genomfördes via onlineenkät. Undersökningsgruppen utgjordes av 51 st kvinnor och 36 st män. Åldersspannet var från 18-75 år. Resultatet visade att grundaffekterna intresse och ledsnad korrelerade signifikant positivt med givmildhet, medan avsky, avsmak och vrede korrelerade negativt med givmildhet. Inga andra signifikanta korrelationer förelåg. Dock går inte att dra några slutsatser kring varför korrelation fanns mellan affekterna och givmildhet. Studien visar inte vad som väckte affekterna, det kan vara mötet med tiggare men även bero på andra faktorer.

The main aim of the study is to create insight into students' algebraic knowledge and the conditions for their algebra learning at upper secondary level. An additional goal is to suggest ways to improve algebra teaching and learning within the Swedish edu­cational system, based on the results from the study. The study builds on an extended research and development project, which are presented in four phases. In the empirical study two cohorts of students were followed during their time of study at one upper secondary school in southern Sweden, and some main factors for success in algebra learn­ing were identified. This part of the study was presented more in detail in my licentiate thesis. The following three phases are described in the three articles, on which this thesis rests. In the second part of the study I reflect upon my development from being a teacher into being a teacher-researcher and what this has meant for my understanding of what happens in the classroom, and in what ways this has changed, especially enhanced, my way of teaching. In the third part, a deepened analysis is made of stu­dents' answers to how a functional relation can be explained. The fourth part is a literature review of recent research of the influence of calculators and other tech­nological tools on algebraic knowledge and skills. All parts of the project are put into one overarching frame, based on the didactical triangle with its main parts: the learning/the student, the teaching/the teacher, and the learning matter/the result of the education. As a background for the study a theoretical framework is used with five main components: mathe­matics and philosophy of mathematics, theories of knowledge and learning, the meaning of symbols, representational forms, and tools for learning. A thorough overview of earlier research in the field of algebra education is given, with a multi-dimensional perspective and with special focus on areas of importance for the study. A range of findings from the different parts of the study are presented and compiled, both on the basis of the theoretical framework and the didactical tri­angle. These results then form the starting point for consideration of significant implications for educational practice in mathematics within the areas: knowl­edge and development, symbols and representational forms, algebra as a strand in mathematics education, technology in mathematics education, and the importance of affective factors. Moreover, some suggestions is given to teachers about different methods and ways for local development projects in schools, and also suggestions for further research. / Huvudsyftet med studien är att skapa insikter om algebrakunskaper och villkor för algebralärande hos gymnasieelever. Ett andra syfte är att med utgångspunkt i resultaten föreslå vägar till en förbättrad algebraundervisning inom det svenska skolsystemet. Studien bygger på ett längre forsknings- och utvecklingsprojekt, som kan indelas i fyra faser. I den empiriska grundstudien följdes två årskullar elever under sin studietid på en gymnasieskola i Sydsverige, och några huvudfaktorer för framgång i algebrastudierna identifierades. Denna delstudie har närmare presenterats i min licentiatuppsats. De tre följande faserna är beskrivna i de tre artiklar, som denna avhandling vilar på. I den andra delstudien reflekterar jag över vad min utveckling från att bara vara lärare till att även bli forskare betytt för min förståelse för vad som händer i klassrummet och på vilka sätt detta förändrat mitt sätt att undervisa. I den tredje fördjupas analysen av elevernas svar på frågan om hur ett centralt funktionssamband kan förklaras. Den fjärde delstudien är en litteraturöversikt över nyare forskning kring räknares och andra teknologiska verktygs inverkan på algebrakunskaper och -lärande.Samtliga delstudier sätts in i ett övergripande sammanhang som utgår från den didaktiska triangeln med huvuddelarna: den lärande/eleven, läraren/undervisningen och det lärda/resultatet av undervisningen. Som bakgrund för studien används ett teoretiskt ramverk bestående av fem huvudkomponenter: matematik och matematikfilosofi, teorier om kunskap och lärande, symbolernas betydelse, representationsformer och verktyg för lärande. En utförlig översikt över tidigare forskning inom området algebraundervisning ges, med ett multidimensionellt perspektiv och med speciellt fokus på delområden av betydelse för studien.En rad resultat från de olika delstudierna presenteras och sammanställs, utgående från såväl det teoretiska ramverket som den didaktiska triangeln. Dessa resultat bildar sedan utgångspunkt för viktiga implikationer för undervisningspraktiken i matematik inom områdena: kunskap och kunskapsutveckling, symboler och representationsformer, algebra som en röd tråd i matematikundervisningen, teknologi i matematikundervisningen och de affektiva faktorernas betydelse. Dessutom ges förslag till lärare om olika metoder och tillvägagångssätt för lokala utvecklingsarbeten på skolorna, samt förslag till vidare forskning. / Godkänd; 2010; 20100204 (ysko); DISPUTATION Ämnesområde: Matematik och lärande Opponent: Professor Carl Winsløw, University of Copenhagen, Danmark Ordförande: Gästprofessor Barbro Grevholm, Luleå tekniska universitet Tid: Fredag den 12 mars 2010, kl. 13.00 Plats: A109

<p>Strategic change projects allow companies to align their strategy to the turbulent external environment in today’s marketplace and are therefore crucial for retaining the competitive advantage of the firm. The identification of the critical success factors for these projects has become increasingly important, because of the reported high failure rates in the implementation of such projects. The important role of SMEs for the social and economic development of a country is well-known. However, SMEs as an area of study are not often discussed by researchers and an appropriate set of critical success factors for them is lacking. Therefore, it is vital to identify the critical success factors for the implementation of strategic change projects in SMEs to ensure the success of their efforts.</p><p>This study, which seeks to determine the critical success factors for the implementation of strategic change projects within the context of SMEs makes use of a multiple-case study strategy. The cases are based in two companies where semi-structured interviews were conducted in order to obtain the primary data required. The information retrieved from the selected cases was analysed using a qualitative approach. For the elaboration of the conclusion, an iterative process was followed, moving from the data collected, to the theoretical background and to the development of theory.</p><p>At the end of the study it was possible to identify a set of eleven critical success factors that answers the research question of this thesis. In addition, a conceptual model was derived from the theoretical and empirical studies of this work, outlining three dimensions that are considered to influence strategic change project success in the SME-setting. The present study would be beneficial to the practitioners of SMEs as the identified set of critical success factors can be used as a checklist of points to concentrate on when implementing strategic change projects. This will assist them in ensuring that the crucial factors and issues are addressed during implementation. For academics, the study contributes new knowledge to the field and offers a common language for discussing the critical success factors of strategic change projects in SMEs.</p>

No description available.

<p>Abstract</p><p>Community management of the rural water supply and sanitation services is considered as one of the options for achieving sustainability of the water services. International communities and donors are steering this concept. National water policy in Tanzania puts more emphasis on community participation and management of water and sanitation (WATSAN) schemes. This study on the sustainability of the rural water supply and sanitation services focused on community management and participation as one strategy, which could contribute to the sustainability of WATSAN provision. A study was conducted in six water schemes in six villages in Tanzania, four of the villages had water schemes in operation and two schemes were under construction. Data was collected from water users, water management committees and water providers. A structured questionnaire was administered to 92 water users in four water schemes in operation, focus group discussion was conducted to water management committees in six water schemes and three water providers responded to the questionnaire.</p><p>Given changes and increasing diversity in the management of rural WATSAN schemes (village water committees, board of directors and public private partnership), it is apparent that community management of rural water schemes without support is not an ideal solution for achieving sustainability. It was also affirmed that to achieve a real community participation in the project is difficult. Village government leaders and water management committees were mainly involved during the planning phase and local communities during implementation. Interference by the politicians, village government leaders and inability of the water schemes to recover costs were the main problems facing water schemes. The consequence was poor performance and failure of some schemes to deliver the services. Generally, the findings lead to a subjective inference that community management of rural water schemes alone is not an ideal solution for attaining sustainability. Community management of rural WATSAN schemes is a good idea if implemented where there is demand-driven community involvement right from the beginning of the projects. Nevertheless, with the right capacity building and continuous support, community management of the rural WATSAN schemes can deliver reliable and sustainable water and sanitation services.</p>

<p>Recurrent crises of food insecurity and poverty are widespread in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). There is an urgent need to increase food production so as to reduce bad nutrition and alleviate poverty. The availability and management of water contributes crucially to the variation in yields. Since the majority of farmers in SSA practice rain-fed agriculture under adverse climatic conditions, it is crucial to use water-conserving technologies systematically and make rainwater management an integral part of land use and crop management. While rainwater harvesting technologies (RHT) can increase productivity of rain-fed agriculture significantly at reasonable costs, successful adoption of RHT and accompanying high yields still remain primarily at family level and/or in geographical ‘pockets’. The big question is ‘why have farmers not widely adopted these apparently cheap and beneficial practices?’ An adequate understanding of the factors that lead some farmers to adopt RHT, characteristics of households that use RHT as well as technology transfer approaches offer valuable insights. Based on focus group discussions and a questionnaire survey covering adopters and non-adopters of RHT, and interviews with extension officers conducted in two banana growing districts in Uganda, this paper reveals circumstances, incentives, and support that would facilitate widespread adoption of RHT.</p>