Based on the assumption by Cochran-Smith and Lytle (1993), educational scholars need insight on the “particulars” of what works for classroom teachers within the context of their own classrooms. This dissertation is a self-study that addresses my work as a high school Multicultural Literature teacher and the impact of how my own philosophical/theoretical belief system resulted in significant transformative learning experiences for students as demonstrated in their feedback. Using intercultural competence, value-creation pedagogy, and compassion as theoretical frameworks that encourage greater social cohesion and collective participation, I used autoethnography as my primary method of investigation to treat data through an analytical, self-reflective, and interpretive lens within the cultural context of my classes. Types of data included personal memory, self-observational, self-reflective, and external data, such as end of the year anonymous student evaluations, personal memoirs, journal entries, notes, course documents, past student assignments, personal communications, and a blog, collected from my 13 years of teaching. By sharing and examining my ethical/moral-motivation in relation to the positive feedback from students, I demonstrate how my pedagogical interactions and relationships with students manifest through value creation/culturally responsive pedagogy, the empowered voice, intercultural dialogue, transformative learning, and the development and nurturing of empathy and compassion. The study shares personal insights into the elements and processes that contributed to the overwhelmingly positive feedback of students throughout the study. Recommendations suggest greater research and discourse in developing a pedagogy of compassion.

Produktorienterade industriföretag strävar alltid efter att producera och leverera produkter som möter kundens behov och preferenser. Produktutveckling är därför en viktig del i företag för att kunna vara konkurrenskraftig i en alltmer konkurrensutsatt miljö på marknaderna. Stora delar av den befintliga litteraturen inom produktutveckling förklarar att produktutvecklingsprocessen behöver involvera externa aktörer för att möta kundbehov. Denna uppsats avser därför att behandla ett produktorienterat industriföretags process för utveckling av nya produkter och möjligheten till att involvera externa aktörer.  Syftet eftersträvar därför att beskriva hur produktorienterade industriföretag kan involvera kunder, återförsäljare och leverantörer i deras produktutvecklingsprocess, för att gynna utvecklingen av nya produkter.   Studien har genomförts via en deduktiv ansats av kvalitativ karaktär utifrån ett hermeneutiskt perspektiv. En litteraturinsamling inom Co-Creation och Usability Testing är till grund för uppsatsens teoretiska innehåll och insamling av empiriskt material. Forskningsdesignen är en fallstudie tillsammans med ett utvalt företag. Det empiriska materialet hämtades in genom intervjuer med tre respondenter från det valda fallföretaget. Valet av intervjupersonerna gjordes utifrån deras olika roller i verksamheten och dess betydelse för att inkludera externa aktörers involvering i produktutvecklingen.  Resultatet av studien visar att det produktorienterade industriföretaget har goda möjligheter att involvera externa aktörer i processen för utveckling av nya produkter. Utifrån det studerade fallföretaget arbetar de redan framgångsrikt med kundinteraktion och insamling av feedback från återförsäljare och leverantörer. Däremot bör fallföretaget utveckla produktutvecklingsprocessen genom att använda informationen från de externa aktörerna för att bättre möta kundbehov och bygga kundrelationer.  I slutsatsen tydliggörs också hur kundinvolverade tester kan ge företaget ytterligare information och kunskap som kan vara nyttig att använda i processen. Utifrån slutsatsen kan fallföretaget genomföra förändringar och ges möjligheten att bättre möta kundernas behov, vilket kan generera nyttiga konkurrensfördelar.

The diploma thesis deals with identifying the potential for the development of competitiveness of the LABTECH s.r.o. in the market for leak detection measurement, by strengthening value creation in this market, which is presented as a value-creating network concept. The theoretical part of the thesis introduces the selected theoretical basis for the concept of value-creating network, which is further considered as a possible framework for the development of the company's competitiveness. Based on market analysis and competitive environment in a defined value-creating network provisions are being presented to develop value creation in this network, and steps are being taken to implement these provisions in such a way that LABTECH s.r.o. competitiveness in the chosen market could develop.

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to develop a conceptual understanding of how blockchain could serve as an enabler for servitization in the automotive industry. In doing so, we are studying what value-creating mechanisms that are associated with blockchain and how mobility providers could apply these to drive business value, while also considering prerequisites in the ecosystem.  Method – The study adopted an abductive research approach by conducting a case study of a specific business environment with firms taking part in the ongoing transformation towards mobility services. In total, ten companies participated in the study where all were involved or had experience from the prevailing context. The data collection was performed via three waves of interviews and the results were derived through a reflexive thematic analysis. Findings – This study resulted in a conceptual framework illustrating how value-creating mechanisms of blockchain could drive business value for mobility providers. Three categories of value-creating mechanisms were identified: anchor points, configuration elements and inherent qualities. In turn, these mechanisms enabled a set of mobility solutions which then could generate certain business values. For this to become a reality, five ecosystem prerequisites were identified: technology convergence, appropriate permissions, common standards, change management and value management. Theoretical implications – The study provide implications to the nascent literature at the intersection of blockchain and servitization by contributing with empirical evidence for mobility solutions underpinned by blockchain and how these drive business value. Furthermore, we also add to the existing literature by providing a holistic conceptualization of how value-creating mechanisms interrelate to enable mobility solutions.  Practical implications – The study provide managers with a conceptual understanding of how six distinctive use-cases could be solved with blockchain. Moreover, by bridging the gap between business and the technology, we contribute to reducing the knowledge gap that exist among automotive managers in this area, while also providing them with prerequisites needed to deploy blockchain at scale in the ecosystem and reach its full potential.     Limitations and future research – The study is limited by a single case study in a specific context and also by focusing on conceptualization of blockchain-enabled servitization in early stages. Hence, future studies could benefit from extending and validating our findings in other contexts as well as investigating how certain solutions may be implemented in practice. / Syfte – Syftet med denna studie är att utveckla en konceptuell förståelse för hur blockchain kan fungera som en möjliggörare av tjänstefiering inom bilindustrin. I studien studeras vilka värdeskapande mekanismer som är förknippade med blockchain och hur mobilitetsleverantörer kan tillämpa dessa mekanismer för att skapa affärsnytta, samtidigt som nödvändiga förutsättningar i ekosystemet analyseras. Metod – Studien adopterade en abduktiv forskningsansats och utfördes genom en fallstudie av en specifik affärsmiljö med företag som deltar i den pågående omställningen mot mobilitetstjänster. Sammanlagt deltog tio företag i studien, där alla var involverade eller hade erfarenhet från den rådande kontexten. Datainsamlingen genomfördes via tre faser av intervjuer och resultaten härleddes genom en reflexiv tematisk analys. Resultat – Denna studie resulterade i ett konceptuellt ramverk som illustrerar hur värdeskapande mekanismer kopplat till blockchain kan skapa affärsnytta för mobilitetsleverantörer. Tre kategorier av värdeskapande mekanismer identifierades: förankringspunkter, konfigurationselement och inneboende egenskaper. I sin tur visades att dessa mekanismer kan möjliggöra en uppsättning mobilitetslösningar som genererar olika affärsvärden. Vidare kom studien fram till fem förutsättningar som krävs i ekosystemet för att realisera lösningarna vilka var teknisk konvergens, lämpliga behörigheter, gemensamma standarder, förändringsledning och värdehantering. Teoretiska implikationer – Studien tillhandahåller implikationer för den framväxande litteraturen i skärningspunkten av blockchain och tjänstefiering genom att bidra med empiriska bevis för mobilitetslösningar som stöds av blockchain och hur dessa driver affärsvärde. Vidare bidrar studien också till den befintliga litteraturen genom att tillhandahålla en holistisk konceptualisering för hur värdeskapande mekanismer samverkar för att möjliggöra mobilitetslösningar. Praktiska implikationer – Studien ger utövare en konceptuell förståelse för hur sex distinkta applikationer kan upprättas med hjälp av blockchain. Genom att brygga gapet mellan affären och teknologin bidrar vi till att minska den kunskapslucka som finns bland utövare, samtidigt som studien redogör för de förutsättningar som krävs för att kunna använda blockchain i stor skala i ekosystemet och uppnå dess fulla potential. Begränsningar och framtida forskning – Studien är begränsad av en specifik fallstudie i en viss kontext och även genom att fokusera på konceptualisering av tjänstefiering med blockchain i tidiga faser. Därför rekommenderas framtida studier att utvidga och validera resultaten i andra kontexter samt undersöka hur olika mobilitetslösningar kan implementeras i praktiken.

In my dissertation, I study factors that affect the value-creating interactions between value producers and value consumers on two-sided platforms (e.g., Freelancer and Kickstarter). In the first essay, I study how bid price dispersion affects the value-creating interactions (i.e., contracting) between service providers (freelancers) and buyers in online labor markets. I find that bid price dispersion has a negative effect on buyers' offering a contract and service providers' tendency to accept the contract if offered one. I theorize that both service providers and buyers face uncertainty over price as to how much to charge or to pay for IT services and a higher bid price dispersion leads to higher uncertainty, and thus a lower contracting rate. In the second essay, I examine the role of the lottery in value-creating interactions (namely backings) in crowdfunding platforms. I find that the lottery, when designed as an option with a participation cost, decreases backers' average contribution and the total value created for a project, albeit it incentivizes more low-value interactions (i.e., more low-value backings). I theorize that the lottery, on the one hand, incentivizes low-value interactions that would otherwise not happen, but on the other hand, transforms high-value interactions into low-value interactions. In the third essay, I study the effect of backers' online identity concealment on the value-creating interactions (i.e., backings) in crowdfunding platforms. Contradictory to a common practice that crowdfunding platforms often maintain a public list of all backers’ identity information, assuming a positive observational learning effect among peer backers, the empirical results demonstrate with backers' online identity concealed completely, campaigns on average gain more backings and money as well as become more likely to succeed. And this effect is larger for donors-those back a campaign without receiving any reward-than for rewardees-those back the campaign for the reward. / Business Administration/Management Information Systems

Many companies do not prioritize warehouse logistics sufficiently in their core business, with the help of increased knowledge, more companies can reduce non-value-creating activities on their warehouse space. There is research and methods designed for standard warehouses that help reduce picking time and non-value-adding activities, however, there is not enough research regarding companies with limited warehouse space and how they can work towards continuous improvement. The purpose and contribution of the study is increasing knowledge of how companies with limited warehouse space can manage and time-efficient their warehouse space with the help of warehouse logistics. A qualitative case study has been performed with observations and an interview where picking time has been the main focus. The collection of the theoretical framework has been reviewed and revised through scientific articles and other literature to strengthen the empirical research. The research is delimited and focuses on limited storage areas. More specifically, the study has placed its emphasis on warehouse logistics and picking time. The study looked at a company's limited storage space and focused on a small part in a delivery, from arrival control to storage. In the empirical study, a case company has been studied and confirmed that warehouse logistics needs to be given better priority in companies with limited warehouse space. With the help of reduced time in warehouse routines, many companies can reduce non-value-creating activities. The purpose of the study and issues will contribute to future research and can be used as a basis. Future research will also help other companies in the same situation to eliminate non-value-adding activities and reduce picking time. / Många företag prioriterar inte lagerlogistik tillräckligt i sin kärnverksamhet, med hjälp av en ökad lagerlogistik-kunskap kan fler företag reducera icke-värdeskapande aktiviteter på lagerytan. Det exister forskning och metoder som är utformade för standardlager som hjälper till att reducera plocktid och icke-värdeskapande aktiviteter, däremot saknas det tillräcklig forskning gällande företag med begränsad lageryta och hur dom kan arbeta mot ständiga förbättringar när det kommer till lagerlogistik.  Studiens syfte och bidrag ligger i att öka kunskapen om hur företag med begränsad lageryta, med hjälp av lagerlogistik, kan hantera och tidseffektivisera sin lageryta. En kvalitativ fallstudie har utförts med observationer och mejlkommunikation där plocktid varit huvudfokus. Samling av det teoretiska ramverket har genom vetenskapliga artiklar och annan litteratur granskats och reviderats för att stärka den empiriska undersökningen. Forskningen avgränsas och fokuserar på begränsade lagerytor. Mer specifikt har studien lagt sin vikt på lagerlogistik och plocktid. Studien har tittat på ett fallföretags begränsade lageryta och på en liten del i en leverans, från ankomstkontroll till förvaringsförråd.  I den empiriska undersökningen har ett fallföretag studerats och bekräftat att lagerlogistik behöver prioriteras bättre hos företag med begränsad lageryta. Med hjälp av reducerad tid vid lagerrutiner kan många företag reducera icke-värdeskapande aktiviteter. Studiens syfte och frågeställningar kommer att bidra till framtida forskningar och kan användas som underlag. Framtida forskning kommer även bidra med att hjälpa andra företag i samma sits att eliminera icke-värdeskapande aktiviteter och reducera plocktid.

<p>geography, where segregation and social exclusion of neighbourhoods and marginalised groups are mounting problems. Concurrently, globalisation and structural changes have altered the conditions for the national state and the public sector as well as for other actors. Previous efforts to decrease social inequalities have failed to achieve sufficient results. Today, promoting social inclusion and integration is a top priority on the political agenda and calls for innovative interventions.</p><p>These changes in society have resulted in new constellations of collaboration, crosscutting sectors and borders in which various actors work towards collective goals. Many of the issues and subsequent responsibility that once belonged to the public sector are now handled through interplay between private and public actors in so-called governance arrangements.</p><p>The thesis discusses if governance arrangements where new actors engage to promote social inclusion and integration can be more effective than traditional efforts. To reach satisfactory results, the relations between involved actors need to be solid and trustworthy, and the perspective of benefit must be long-term. In this respect, social capital is a central theory as it focuses on social relations between people, and emphasises networks, trust and reciprocal norms as important foundations for such relations. </p><p>The aim of the thesis is to rethink strategies to promote social inclusion and integration by providing a theoretical discussion about value-creation. An assumption analyzed is that in situations where power and other resources are unevenly distributed, all parties involved can benefit by trustful cooperation. The ambition is to critically examine the concepts of governance and social capital, and to discuss their possibilities and shortcomings related to the value-creating processes. The usefulness and capacity of the theoretical framework is tested by analysing two unconventional approaches to promote social inclusion and societal integration, carried out by a public housing company in Malmö. </p>

<p>Uppsatsens syfte är att öka kunskapen och förståelsen kring CSR som värdeskapande strategi. Vårt angreppsätt utgår från hermeneutiskt forskningsstrategi. Vi gör en kvalitativ fallstudie av beskrivande karaktär genom intervjuer och granskning av offentliga rapporter från IKEA, Telenor och Sveaskog. Enligt induktiv metod utgår undersökningen från vår frågeställning som tillsammans med relevant teori och empiri leder fram till analys och slutsatser.</p><p>Genom vår undersökning har vi fastställt att CSR är en värdeskapande strategi. Detta baserar vi på resultaten av vår undersökning som bland annat säger 1) att det saknas en gemensam och allmängiltig definition av CSR och företagens ansvarstagande; 2) att begreppen CSR, CR och hållbarhet mer eller mindre är utbytbara; 3) att ett fullständigt ansvarstagande kräver en helhetssyn som innefattar både ekonomiska, sociala, miljömässiga och etiska frågor; 4) att en fullständig integrering av ansvarsarbetet i organisationen såväl som i den dagliga verksamheten är att eftersträva; 5) att bättre möjligheter för företagens fortlevnad är det viktigaste motivet till respondenternas arbete med ansvarsfrågor; 6) att ansvarsarbete är mycket värdefullt för företagen men att inget av dem mäter värdet i ekonomiska termer eller sätter upp finansiella mål för arbetet; 7) att det generella målet med ansvarsarbetet är att bidra till uppfyllande av generella företagsmål; 8) att attitydundersökningar hos viktiga intressentgrupper är det vanligaste sättet att mäta resultatet av ansvarsarbete; 9) att kommunikation är mycket viktigt för att bli framgångsrik i sitt ansvarsarbete; 10) att respondenternas viktigaste intressenter är deras medarbetare, kunder och ägare.</p> / <p>The purpose of our thesis is to increase knowledge and understanding of CSR as value-creating strategy. Our research is based on a hermeneutic research approach. We make a qualitative descriptive case study through interviews and review of public reports from IKEA, Telenor and Sveaskog. According to the inductive method our survey is based on the research problem, which, together with relevant theory and empirical evidence leads to the analysis and conclusions.</p><p>From our investigation, we have determined that CSR is a value-creating strategy. This conclusion is based on the results from our study that says; 1) there is no common and universal definition of CSR and corporate accountability; 2) the concepts of CSR, CR and sustainability are more or less interchangeable; 3) that full accountability requires a holistic approach that includes financial, social, environmental and ethical issues; 4) full integration of the CSR work in the organization as well as in daily practice is to strive for; 5) better opportunities for business survival is the main reason for respondents' work on sustainability issues; 6) sustainability is very valuable to respondents, but none of them measures value in economic terms or put up financial targets for the sustainability issues; 7) the general objective of sustainability is to contribute to the fulfillment of the overall business goals; 8) the attitude of key stakeholder groups are the most common way to measure the outcome of sustainability; 9) communication is very important to the success of the sustainability work; 10) the respondents most important stakeholders are their employees, customers and shareholders.</p><p><strong> </strong></p>

geography, where segregation and social exclusion of neighbourhoods and marginalised groups are mounting problems. Concurrently, globalisation and structural changes have altered the conditions for the national state and the public sector as well as for other actors. Previous efforts to decrease social inequalities have failed to achieve sufficient results. Today, promoting social inclusion and integration is a top priority on the political agenda and calls for innovative interventions. These changes in society have resulted in new constellations of collaboration, crosscutting sectors and borders in which various actors work towards collective goals. Many of the issues and subsequent responsibility that once belonged to the public sector are now handled through interplay between private and public actors in so-called governance arrangements. The thesis discusses if governance arrangements where new actors engage to promote social inclusion and integration can be more effective than traditional efforts. To reach satisfactory results, the relations between involved actors need to be solid and trustworthy, and the perspective of benefit must be long-term. In this respect, social capital is a central theory as it focuses on social relations between people, and emphasises networks, trust and reciprocal norms as important foundations for such relations. The aim of the thesis is to rethink strategies to promote social inclusion and integration by providing a theoretical discussion about value-creation. An assumption analyzed is that in situations where power and other resources are unevenly distributed, all parties involved can benefit by trustful cooperation. The ambition is to critically examine the concepts of governance and social capital, and to discuss their possibilities and shortcomings related to the value-creating processes. The usefulness and capacity of the theoretical framework is tested by analysing two unconventional approaches to promote social inclusion and societal integration, carried out by a public housing company in Malmö. / QC 20101018

Titel: e-Commerce and Relationships – Customer Relationship Management   This bachelor thesis is brought together to analyze the transformation from traditional marketing to Customer Relationship Management. The development in the technology world has made the marketing focus shift from products and their functionality to customers and value creation. Because of the tougher competition that developed from new channels of communication, corporations had to generate new sources of value for their customers in order to establish lasting relationships with them. Therefore we found it interesting to investigate how companies within the e-commerce business handle the transition towards customer relationship management. Considering that their servicescape only exists on the virtual platform were no physical encounters occur. This became possible because we used a qualitative method approach, we interviewed corporations within the e-commerce business. The interviews became the substratum for empirics, together with the theory they lay the foundation for the analysis.   Keywords: Customer relationship management, e-commerce, relationships, transfer                    within marketing, value creating