Title: Trust development: a marketing strategy in the Internationalization of Healthcare Services.The case of Elekta in Spain Level: Master Thesis in Business Administration Author: Sara Arrese and Wang Liao Supervisor: Maria Fregidou-Malama Examiner: Akmal Hyder Date: 2014-10-02 Aim: The aim of this research is to examine how trust developing affects International Healthcare Services marketing while settling down into a new country. Our study is applied to Elekta in Spain. Method: In order to carry out this research, qualitative data is used, a single case study is applied, questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were carried out to collect the needed primary data. Result and Conclusions: In the case of Elekta Spain, the trust development between suppliers and customer took place during the entire relationship. In addition, the trust level at company level and individual level were found to be the most significant leaving aside the country level as there were different opinions between customers (which did not find it a deciding factor) and Elekta. Hence, for the marketing strategy, standardization and adaptations can improve trust development. Suggestions for future research: Generalization cannot be made after this research as a single case study in one country has been the subject for investigation. Consequently, future research of other service industries and countries could expand this study. Contribution of the thesis: This thesis offers a new theoretical framework of trust development in the Spanish Healthcare Industry. This framework not only can be adapted to further study of other countries, but also can be adapted to further study of other service industries.

Master thesis explores self-esteem and chosen aspects of romantic relationships. At first were defined theoretical background of self-esteem concept, romantic relationship concept and chosen constructs - satisfaction, trust and conflicts. Conflicts are divided into 6 styles (compromise, dominant, submissive, separation, avoidant and reactive). For the empirical part of thesis a quantitative approach was chosen using questionnaire exploration. Main goal of the research was exploring of relationships between chosen relationship constructs and self-esteem. In research participated 345 respondents, whose answers were acquired using online testing. For the amount of self-esteem the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale was used, for amount of satisfaction Couples Satisfaction Index (CSI) was used, for trust The Dyadic Trust Scale was used, for a strategy of conflict solving Relationships Partner Conflict Scale (RPCS) was used. Every established hypothesis could be supported based on obtained results. Self-esteem correlates positively with satisfaction and trust in romantic relationships and also with compromise and dominant style of conflict solving. Self-esteem correlates negatively with separative, submissive, avoidant and reactive style of conflict solving.

The aim of this thesis is to through a series of co-design explorations develop guidelines for how analogue co-design methods and tools can be digitalized and used for the initial phase of a co-design process in remote settings. To nurture the discussion around how co-design practices can be digitalized several aspects are investigated and focused upon, presenting an overview of relevant factors for future researchers to delve deeper into.  Found challenges revolve around the lack of a shared physical environment, the implementation of physical materials and sketching, and the building of trust and relationships in remote settings.  The final product of this thesis is a set of guidelines that have been established through a series of co-design explorations drawing on perspectives found in both academia and the current industry.

The concept of formal networks is widely spread and appreciated as a way of building long-term relationships and creating value for the company. Value contains a number of different meanings and can therefore be valued differently by different people and businesses. This thesis focus on micro companies and how they create value through formal business networks. The thesis is all through divided into four different themes; networking, intentions, values and problems with formal networks. The themes are focusing on both aspects from theory and our seven respondents. The data collected through theories as well as interviews with members and former members has given a conclusion of what is most important while being in a formal network. The respondents had different views on what exactly they wanted to get out of being active in business networks. Overall we got a clear picture of the importance of goals, dedication, curiosity, loyalty, trust and preparation while attending a formal network.

Au Canada comme ailleurs, les peuples autochtones font preuve d’une grande résilience face à de nombreux problèmes de santé physique et psychosociale. Le traumatisme intergénérationnel issu de la colonisation passée et actuelle est vu comme l’une des explications de ces difficultés, additionné à un manque de services pour répondre aux déterminants du bien-être impliqués. Pour faire face à ces difficultés, des approches communautaires favorisant l’empowerment et l’autogouvernance sont recommandées. Des intervenants non-autochtones sont amenés à soutenir la mobilisation communautaire et leur apport peut être substantiel. Néanmoins, il apparait essentiel de décoloniser les interventions, notamment en procédant à une introspection sur sa propre présence et impact en contexte autochtone. En première partie, une analyse ethnographique sur mon processus comme jeune étudiante-chercheuse sera réalisée et permettra une analyse des sentiments, tensions, questionnements et réflexions qui ont façonné ce mémoire. Ensuite, les résultats d’analyse qualitative phénoménologique de cinq entrevues réalisées auprès d’intervenantes non-Inuit travaillant au Nunavik ou au Nunavut seront présentés. L’analyse de ces verbatim aura permis de faire ressortir des considérations de l’intervenante par rapport à elle-même et par rapport aux communautés, dans une perspective décoloniale. L’analyse qualitative inductive d’un groupe de discussion effectué auprès d’intervenantes Inuit sera ensuite présentée, permettant de valider certaines considérations. Cette étude aura permis d’appuyer l’importance de la connaissance de soi et de la reconnaissance des privilèges invisibles en lien avec l’histoire passée et actuelle de colonisation, de manière à répondre prioritairement aux besoins des communautés à travers l’établissement de relations de confiance significatives et maintenues dans le temps. / Aboriginal peoples are highly resilient to many physical and psychosocial health issues. Intergenerational trauma from past and current colonization is seen as one of the explanations for these difficulties, coupled with a lack of services to address the determinants of well-being involved. To address these challenges, community-based approaches that promote empowerment and self-governance are recommended. Non-Aboriginal stakeholders are involved in supporting community mobilization and their contribution can be substantial. Nevertheless, it seems essential to decolonize interventions, particularly by carrying out an introspection on one's own presence and impact in an indigenous context. In the first part, an ethnographic analysis of my process as a young student-researcher will be carried out and will allow an analysis of the feelings, tensions, questions and reflections that shaped this thesis. Then, the results of phenomenological qualitative analysis of five interviews conducted with non-Inuit stakeholders working in Nunavik or Nunavut will be presented. The analysis of these verbatim will have made it possible to highlight the speaker's considerations in relation to themselves and in relation to the communities, from a decolonial perspective. The inductive qualitative analysis of a focus group conducted with Inuit stakeholders will then be presented, validating some considerations. This study will have supported the importance of self-knowledge and the recognition of invisible privileges of non-aboriginal people in relation to past and current history of colonization, in order to meet the needs of communities as a priority through the establishment of meaningful and lasting trust-based relationships.