Technology is an integral part of both modern culture and day-to-day communication. Older adults' relationships with technology are completely different than younger adults' because of the way they have learned to incorporate it into their lives. Past research has shown that certain personality traits can predict technology use in younger adults. The current research hopes to take that finding and see if it applies to older adults, too. Four hypotheses were generated. Participants took a survey that consisted of five different scales and measures. Participants also were asked to answer demographic questions. Independent-sample t-tests and bivariate correlations were run on the data. Results showed that general technology use was not significantly correlated to a participant's age. There were significant correlations between the two age groups and psychological well-being, feelings of attachment to peers, technology use subscales and sensation seeking subscales. Future studies should examine the possible relationship of technology use subscales amongst the older population and their attitudes towards technology.

The transportation sector has a significant impact on the environment both nationally and globally since it is a major vehicle fuel consumption and emissions contributor. These emissions are considered a major environmental threat. Consequently, decision makers desperately need tools that can estimate vehicle emissions accurately to quantify the impact of transportation operational projects on the environment. Microscopic fuel consumption and emission models should be capable of computing vehicle emissions reliably to assist decision makers in developing emission mitigation strategies. However, the majority of current state-of-the-art models suffer from two major shortcomings, namely; they either produce a bang-bang control system because they use a linear fuel consumption versus power model or they cannot be calibrated using publicly available data and thus require expensive laboratory or field data collection. Consequently, this dissertation attempts to fill this gap in state-of-the-art emission modeling through a framework based on the Virginia Tech Comprehensive Power-Based Fuel consumption Model (VT-CPFM), which overcomes the above mentioned drawbacks. Specifically, VT-CPFM does not result in a bang-bang control and can be calibrated using publicly available vehicle and road pavement parameters. The main emphasis of this dissertation is to develop a simple and reliable emission model that is able to compute instantaneous emission rates of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) for the light-duty vehicles (LDVs) and heavy-duty diesel trucks (HDDTs). The proposed extension is entitled Virginia Tech Comprehensive Power-Based Fuel consumption and Emission Model (VT-CPFEM). The study proposes two square root models where the first model structure is a cubic polynomial function that depends on fuel estimates derived solely from VT-CPFM fuel estimates, which enhances the simplicity of the model. The second modeling framework combines the cubic function of the VT-CPFM fuel estimates with a linear speed term. The additional speed term improves the accuracy of the model and can be used as a reference for the driving condition of the vehicle. Moreover, the model is tested and compared with existing models to demonstrate the robustness of the model. Furthermore, the performance of the model was further investigated by applying the model on driving cycles based on real-world driving conditions. The results demonstrate the efficacy of the model in replicating empirical observations reliably and simply with only two parameters. / Ph. D.

This master thesis examines the interpretation of formal requirements when establishing a will according to the Inheritance Code. Chapter 10, paragraph 1 contains the main formal requirements for an ordinary will. The formal requirements are based on principles to preserve the testator’s intent. According to the legislator, the testator’s intent should be considered and preserved to the greatest extent possible, if the testator has established a valid will before deceasing. To gain validity, the will must contain a declaration and the testator’s signature in writing. The signature must also be signed or declared in front of two witnesses. However, the law does not specify any requirements of personal signatures, or if the signature needs to be written by a pen. This opens for a discussion if wills can be signed with electronic signatures. Additionally, the law does not protect a valid will from disappearing since the formal requirements do not require any formal registration that a will exist. Hence, there is a lack of regulation and interoperation of the formal requirements. The purpose of this thesis is to examine if the formal requirements fulfill their essential purposes of the protection of a testator’s intent and if the protection can be enhanced with electronic signatures.  The results of the research are as follows: Chapter 10, paragraph 1 does not explicitly prohibit electronic signature, although a personal signature is customary. Advanced electronic signatures, based on EU regulations and the interpretation of Swedish legislation and case law, should not be denied legal effect unless there is a specific national law that requires a personal signature. Although there is no explicit law that prohibits an electronic signature on ordinary wills, the legislator has not commented on this. There is a substantial need for guidance by the legislator on this issue, and guidance whether a copy of a will is equally valid as the original document.  In conclusion, the Inheritance Code does not require a personal signature for a valid ordinary will. Protection of the testator’s intent can be enhanced with an electronic registration of the will; however, this requires that the will can be established in an electronic way. Hence, the signature must be an electronic signature. The formal requirements should not extend to a mandatory registration of the will, but the registration should be voluntary.

Sex tech entrepreneurship navigates shifting societal norms, rapid technological innovation, and complex regulatory frameworks, presenting unique ethical and outsidership challenges. Despite valuable insights from the broader sex and tech industries on overcoming these barriers to mainstream markets, research specific to sex tech remains scarce. The initial aim is to qualitatively explore the experiences of sex tech entrepreneurs and their stakeholders, focusing on the ethical challenges and mainstream outsidership. The second aim is to discover the strategies used by sex tech startups and their stakeholders to overcome ethical and outsidership barriers to access mainstream markets. Drawing upon recorded video data from the Sx Tech Eu Conference 2023 of 15 sex tech entrepreneurs and their stakeholders, this qualitative phenomenological research explored and analysed the raw data with an inductive thematic analysis using NVivo. Three core themes emerged, including being pushed to the margins by misguided policies that censor broad swathes, overcoming barriers to the mainstream with common ground and startup common sense, and cultivating a safe haven that fortifies the sex tech ecosystem. While further research is needed on sex tech startups facing stigma and censorship, effective strategies for mainstream success are already in play.

本文考察了自20世紀70年代末台灣的高新技術產業化的過程中，由工業技術研究院（工研院）經歷了轉變。本文提出了一個框架，與經濟和政治變化的環境中所發生的高科技產業整合工研院的互動。使用機構學習模型，本文標識的組織學習能力。在本質上這些學習能力突出I工研院的相互作用調整的變化的機制。歷史分析表明三個階段，其中的研究院通過主要組織變革發生的背景。階段之間的過渡是不同的，嵌入在特定的經濟和政治背景。 / This thesis examines the transformations undergone by the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) during the course of Taiwan’s high-tech industrialization since the late 1970s. This study proposes a framework that integrates ITRI’s approaches in interacting with high-tech industries on the one hand, with the broad economic and political changes happening in its environment on the other. Using an institutional learning model, the thesis identifies the organizational learning capabilities, which in essence underlines the mechanisms of ITRI’s interaction adjustment to the changes. The historical analysis suggests three stages, in the contexts of which the institute undergoes through major organizational transformations. The transitions between the stages are different and embedded in the particular economic and political contexts.

「創新」與「研發」是高科技產業推動組織營運的重要後盾，並且需要藉由研發人員貫穿其間將新舊知識串連以開創新的知識領域，同時必需有效管理與運用逐漸累積形成的珍貴知識資源。然而，以往對於研發單位的績效衡量研究多以投入與產出的生產力觀點，此種模式淡化了知識工作者與研發團隊間知識互動與創新形成的過程，同時無法明確區隔研發部門與其他事業單位對於研發績效影響的差異；因而在研究中深入剖析研發單位的「研發管理實務」，並且試圖從中瞭解影響創新績效的關鍵因素。 本研究的研究程序分為三大部份，首先經由文獻回顧導出初步的觀念性架構，再以此理論觀念模式為主導進行個案訪談，並且經過跨個案綜合分析後進行初步觀念模式的調整，接續以此調整後的模式當成調查研究的實證研究架構，並且依據此模式進行研究問卷的設計。在研究中實地訪談六家電子產品研發製造的高科技公司，並從中解析組織推行研發管理實務的相關資訊，之後再以調查研究法探究台灣地區高科技產業研發管理實務的運作情形；因而先以質性再以量化的方式同時進行高科技產業之研發管理實務推行的瞭解與驗證。 研究中發現研發管理實務的推行主要受到高階管理階層涉入程度的影響，其中高階主管的高階權力型態可據此分為二類：「預應式」與「因應式」，前者高階主管主動積極參與研發專案的主導，給予研發人員實質經費補助參與外部學習與洽商的活動，因而使得研發人員感受到較多的關注與重視，影響其對於研發工作的投入程度；而後者相對較少。另一項直接影響研發管理實務運作的因子為研發主管的領導風格，研發主管是主要帶領與規範研發單位運行的人物，鼓勵與協助研發人員的專業知識學習和成長，同時凝聚與營造研發團隊的士氣與氣氛，與研發人員間具有深刻的互動。 而在研發管理實務推行過程中，同時需要藉助辦公室支援與聯盟的協助，以提升研發人員的專業知識養成與技術文件的撰寫和使用頻率，此資源是促使研發工作順利運作的重要樞紐；而研發經費、設備購置與設施規劃的資源輔助，對於研發績效具有舉足輕重的影響效果。然而，影響研發管理實務與創新績效間的更重要成因是研發人員的內隱知覺部份；換言之，研發人員內心對於研發管理實務推行的感受與高階管理階層的互動程度是主要影響成效的因素，並非研發單位提供給予研發人員的各項外顯形式，可知研發單位的提供的框架形式擂同，但彼此間的溝通與相互扶持成為提升創新績效的無形助力。總之，高階管理階層結構主導研發管理實務的運作過程，而研發管理實務的落實程度與相關支援的協助，以及資源輔助釋放出來的能量，是同時決定研發創新績效程度的關鍵。 / As the global competition becomes ever-intensive, and businesses have fewer areas on which to hinge their competitive advantage, innovation capability is emerging as the key source of competitive advantage. The R&D team in a business, which is responsible for most of its innovations, thus plays a vital role in business survivability. This paper seeks to identify the variables that affect the innovation performance of R&D teams and investigate the interactions among the variables. A research framework is first established by literature review, and then adjusted according to case studies of six high-tech companies in Taiwan. The adjusted model is subsequently tested by a survey of high-tech companies in Taiwan. It is concluded that the management style of the higher authority and the leadership of R&D manager are the main forces that determine the R&D management practice. The educational background, work experience, and the expertise of R&D managers do not distinguish the level of discipline and the sophistication of R&D management practice. Some aspects of R&D management practice can be reinforced by office support and alliance, for example, the generation and utilization of technical reports and the cultivation of professional knowledge. With adequate resource support, more sophisticated R&D management practice does lead to better innovation performance which is measured by number of new products, patents, and technical reports.

The rapid advances in technology and increase of tech investments across all the industries have promoted the emergence of several startups. Unfortunately, not all startups succeed despite of having good initial ideas. One reason to the poor business performance could be a lack of managerial control. Researchers and industry experts believe that performance management could support tech entrepreneurs to monitor and control the drivers that promote growth and their success. However, there is a lack of studies that could support these thoughts about its suitability for tech startups. Therefore, this study gathers empirical findings from Swedish tech startups as well as industry experts to discuss this issue. The findings show that a performance measurement system such as the Balanced Scorecard is a suitable practice for tech entrepreneurs. It also brings some insights about how the performance measurements evolve as the firms mature.

This case study, executed in school network driven by a private foundation for underprivileged children in Cambodia, provides a perspective from a unique situation of technology enablement in an environment with a predominantly instructivist teaching tradition.   The said environment is strongly influenced by private sector donors with strong constructivist traditions and expectations. The environment is thus unique in the sense that a relatively asset rich environment, with expectations of 21st century pedagogical skills, is transported into an asset poor environment that was/is strongly rooted in instructivism. The case study thus give a perspective on if technology itself is a possible solution for better teacher education/educational delivery, or if the underlying pedagogy first needs to be evolved to allow web-based platforms and tools to be fully leveraged.     In the specific environment being studies, teacher in-service training plays a larger role than formal teacher qualifications, and peer-to-peer, in-person, learning is the cornerstone of development (offline connectivism). Rather than changing the way the teachers learn, there should be opportunity in further strengthening the current practices of communities. Connectivist MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) do provide the community engagement and together with technology mediated professional learning platforms there should be opportunity to provide enhanced support for teachers’ education.   The two main hurdles to overcome, beyond functioning technology assets and web access, are teachers own comfort levels with technology platforms, as well as provision of platforms that support local language options. The comfort level with technology is important to address as, assuming technology and web access works, the openness and lack of control in a web environment is in direct contradiction to instructivist teaching. Unlocking the potential of the web requires that teachers are comfortable with the web itself and also truly support inquiry based learning over didactic teaching, and that they have the skills to help children navigate the openness of the web.   As economies shift towards becoming knowledge societies, collaborative problem-solving and navigation to knowledge are skills of increasing in importance, relative static knowledge recall that was previously viewed as value adding. This case study contributes to pedagogical theory and in particularly gives one more perspective on the shift from instructivist to constructivist teaching as a pre-requisite for capturing the power of the internet, and the shift to leveraging networks in a connectivist pedagogical approach. This case study also calls out the need for evolved frameworks to better describe technology mediated learning in least developing country environments. The case study also provides contribution to practice to technology mediated teacher education as it specifically addresses some of the opportunities in strengthening the support to teacher education in least developed countries.

The purpose of the thesis was to identify the tech startups main organizational resources and capabilities received from the Stockholm cluster. Correspondently, how those encourage to sustained competitive advantage internationally. The aim was to ensure a deeper understanding with a qualitative research method with a multiple case study and an abductive approach. The empirical findings were based on seven case companies that were committing within the tech sector and were internationalized. Further, the literature review takes off with the definition of the segment, namely the tech startups followed by industrial cluster, the network - and social network theory, the Resource-based view with concertation on the different firms’ resources, the VRIO framework, and capabilities, and thereby internationalization including international competitiveness. The conceptual framework has illustrated the correlation between investigated variables, mentioned above. Moreover, the empirical findings chapter was constituted of primary data presented by the seven companies. The analysis was established on the basis of the three voices, which are theoretical, empirical and authors to examine contrast and correlation with each other. The analysis part was followed by a conclusion chapter that presented the main findings/conclusions, thus answered the research question. In addition, the chapter provided with implications, , limitation and recommendations for future research.   The findings displayed that the main organizational resources and capabilities obtained from Stockholm consist of human and financial capital, alliances and relationships, innovation/technology and reputation. However, they are only three of them that bring sustained competitive advantage, which are the human capital, alliance and relationships, and reputation capability.

This thesis investigates the performance of business model innovation (BMI) by incumbent power utility and clean-tech start-up firms influenced by the German Energiewende. It emphasises the factors that impact BMI from a managers’ perspective, examines success factors for managers to overcome BMI challenges, and addresses contingencies to perform BMI in a more structured way. The research is driven by the German Energiewende. It has been chosen as Germany is considered one of the world’s leading markets for renewable energies and a transformation of the power sector is currently underway. Therefore, established power utility firms face severe changes, which have the characteristics of a potential disruption to their business model (BM). At the same time, new players are challenging these incumbents with new BMs. The research is underpinned by the extant literature on BMs and BMI. The research approach is based on two case studies; the incumbent power utility and the clean-tech start-up sector. The qualitative study comprises of 24 semi-structured interviews conducted with top tier managers, from 18 firms, responsible for BMI within these firms. Key findings: This study extends our knowledge of BMI in both a start-up and an incumbent environment that is influenced by various contingent events. It portrays barriers to BMI and depicts critical success factors for BMI that point out solutions on how to overcome these barriers. It provides a structured BMI framework for established firms and illustrates future BM archetypes in this sector. It clearly documents the German Energiewende is regarded as a disruptive threat from the perspective of incumbent power utility managers. The theoretical contribution of this thesis is a process framework including all identified drivers and challenges for BMI in both established and start-up firms. Contributions to practice include critical success factors for BMI, recommendations to overcome barriers to BMI and future BM archetypes within the newly evolving Energiewende industry based on sustainable technologies.