Aim: As the ageing population in China increases, support required from family caregivers for older relatives living with long-term health conditions also increases. This being so, this thesis explored the experiences and perceptions of current and prospective family caregivers, under the culture of Xiao (孝; filial piety). Design and Methods: Phase 1 was conducted with 19 Chinese students using 3 focus groups to gain greater familiarity with the culture and inform the main study (Phase 2). Adopting a social constructivist philosophical position, data for Phase 2 were obtained from three generational sub-samples: only-children affected by the One-Child Policy (OCP), parents affected by OCP, and family caregivers in the workforce, totaling 23 participants through virtual in-depth interviews with participants in mainland China. Interviews were translated, transcribed, and analysed using reflective thematic analysis. Findings and Conclusion: Phase 1 confirmed the centrality of the concept of Xiao to attitudes and beliefs around future caregiving for parents. Phase 2 findings’ overarching theme was ‘Competing pressures’, which comprised of three inextricably linked themes: (i) Caregiving beliefs, (ii) Contextual factors, and (iii) Caregiving conditions. Participants expressed meaningful desires to fulfil obligations, reflecting value-based convictions, stemming from their socio-cultural environment. Stressors experienced reveals structural and personal barriers to seeking support. Ultimately, extensive demands and limited coping strategies could diminish meaning in caregiving. This thesis makes a novel contribution on perceptions and experiences of family caregivers of older relatives within China as a collectivist society. Findings have implications for research, policy, and practice, highlighting the need for culturally attuned services to build resilience.

The purpose of the research is to study the “Orange and Ericsson case” while developing the method Actors and System Map. The interaction between actors within Ericsson’s Device Connection Platform is investigated in order to identify improvement opportunities in the interaction between the provider and the customer. To answer the purpose the following research questions was formulated: RQ1)  What type of actors may be involved in a telecom related IPSO? RQ2)  How can the connections between actors in the telecom related IPSO be illustrated? RQ3)  How can the Actors and System Map method be refined? In order to answer the research questions different methodologies were used for the analysing process. The research started with a widespread literature study to collect knowledge related to the area of Product Service System (PSS) and methodologies for identifying how actors interact with one another. Studying different mapping methods the conclusion was made that Actors and System Map was most suitable for this study. In the methodology background the previous selected method, Actors and System Map from an Integrated Product Service Offering (IPSO) perspective, was examined in order to be able to refine and improve the mapping method. Actors Map provides a visual and clear overview of the actors involved while a System Map shows the information flows and activities between the actors. To understand the interaction between the two companies, the definition of IPSO and the importance of value-based selling for a service offering are described in the theory background. Also, different ways of looking at a business model within the telecommunication industry is presented. Obtaining information regarding making an Actors Map and a System Map an improved mapping method was refined. The adaption of the method was divided into eight steps. The refined Actors Maps of the DCP shows the actors involved, how they are connected and their main assignments from each respondent’s point of view at Ericsson. The refined System Map shows what kind of information is transferred between the actors within the companies and between Orange and Ericsson. Both maps delivered as a decision basis will help identification of non-value giving links and non-optimal distances in the information flow for both companies.