Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to study business clients’ technology acceptance of e-commerce within business-to-business in the work wear sector. In specific, develop and test a framework in order to analyze the antecedents of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use behind business clients’ behavioral intention to the usage of e-commerce. Problem: There is not sufficient research regarding industries and companies that are categorized as laggards (Del Aguila-Obra & Padilla-Melendez, 2006), and furthermore regarding clients’ technology acceptance in a business-to-business context (Doherty & Ellis-Chadwick, 2010). Actors within the work wear sector conduct their businesses in the most traditional way, with physical stores (Ekberg, Fraenkel, Gustavsson, Hamsten & Hedin, 2014). The question is whether this traditional way remain due to skepticism among the business clients’ and their level of technology acceptance. Method: A proposed framework is developed by the authors, adapted from Technology Acceptance Model (Venkatesh & Davis, 2000) and Diffusion of Innovation Theory (Rogers, 1983). This framework is tested through quantitative research, and more specific a questionnaire. Subsequently, the empirical data gathering is assembled, analyzed and concluded into a final proposed framework.  Findings: The final proposed framework incorporates antecedents from the proposed framework, but also new influences that are identified in the empirical findings as relevant. These influences are Age, Gender, Experience and Compliance. Further, the antecedents presented in the final proposed framework are the following: Subjective norm/Opinion leaders, Job relevance/Compatibility, Output quality, Result demonstrability/Observability and Trialability.

Background:Fristads has noticed needs and necessity of high visibility work wear in the market, particular for the high risk working industries. In addition to it, new international standards for work wear will be introduced in year 2013 which may put higher requirements on visibility of the work wear. Fristads aims to be the first company to develop the new product and pricing is one of the major problems they encounter. After studying different relevant literatures, we have decided to approach the pricing problem using customer value based pricing as the starting-point.Purpose:To identify and analyse the pricing with focus on customer values and product launch. Methodology:My research methodology has a qualitative approach with a certain quantitative feature, and it follows the inductive reasoning. Uncontrolled studies of preferences and intentions have been used when three dealers and one end-customer were interviewed. Secondary sources have been reviewed and the critical pricing issues are identified. The primary data obtained from the interviews is made as foundation for the creation of the price strategy.Result:The interviews have shown that the customers like Fristads’ product idea and the design of the work wear with enhanced visibility. A probably accepted price on the new work wear has been defined according to the customer survey. Pricing strategies for the product launch focusing on the customer value have been recommended. The final decision on the price strategy shall however be made in concurrence with the other strategies at Fristads in order to cover all the aspects. / Program: Master Programme in Fashion Management

Title:Price Strategy for Product Launch – from the Customer Value Perspective Seminar date:29th August 2011Course:Master thesis in Fashion ManagementCredits:15 ECTSAuthor:Sandra Yin-Kwan KoTutor: Lisbeth Svengren HolmBackground:Fristads has noticed needs and necessity of high visibility work wear in the market, particular for the high risk working industries. In addition to it, new international standards for work wear will be introduced in year 2013 which may put higher requirements on visibility of the work wear. Fristads aims to be the first company to develop the new product and pricing is one of the major problems they encounter. After studying different relevant literatures, we have decided to approach the pricing problem using customer value based pricing as the starting-point.Purpose:To identify and analyse the pricing with focus on customer values and product launch. Methodology:My research methodology has a qualitative approach with a certain quantitative feature, and it follows the inductive reasoning. Uncontrolled studies of preferences and intentions have been used when three dealers and one end-customer were interviewed. Secondary sources have been reviewed and the critical pricing issues are identified. The primary data obtained from the interviews is made as foundation for the creation of the price strategy.Result:The interviews have shown that the customers like Fristads’ product idea and the design of the work wear with enhanced visibility. A probably accepted price on the new work wear has been defined according to the customer survey. Pricing strategies for the product launch focusing on the customer value have been recommended. The final decision on the price strategy shall however be made in concurrence with the other strategies at Fristads in order to cover all the aspects. / Program: Magisterutbildning i Fashion Management

Syftet med undersökningen är att undersöka, beskriva och analysera kring hur vida det finns ett bra substitut till bomull. Undersökningen kommer att belysa hur marknaden ser ut i dag och vilka material som används. Vidare utreds parametrarna funktion, kundnytta och hållbarhet, som kan komma att spela roll i valet av material för producenter av yrkeskläder. I dagsläget finns det inget solklart val av material som skulle kunna mäta sig med bomullen gällande de parametrarna som uppsatsen tar upp. Vad man väljer att använda istället för bomull beror mycket på hur företagen väljer att fokusera gällande just funktion, kundnytta och hållbarhet. Faktorer så som ledtider och prisaspekter spelar också roll, men dessa har uppsatsen valt att förbise. Det handlar om att ha tillräckligt starka argument som väger över bomullens fördelar. Där kan man exempelvis trycka på miljöfrågor gällande nykommande material. Om man bara ska se till att hitta ett bättre alternativ hållbarhetsmässigt än bomull så finns det många alternativ att välja mellan.The purpose of the study is to explore, describe and analyze on how there is a good substitute for cotton. The study will illustrate how the market stands today and what materials that are being used. Further investigation of the various parameters of operation, customer value and durability, which may play a role in the selection of materials for the manufacturers in work wear.Today, there is no obvious choice of materials that could compete with cotton with the current parameters which the essay addresses. What companies choose to use instead of cotton depends on how they choose to focus on function, customer value and durability. Factors such as lead times and price aspects also play an important role, but these are excluded in the essay. It all comes down to having strong arguments that weigh more than the benefits of cotton. For example, pressing environmental issues concerning newcomer materials. If you only want to find a better alternative in terms of durability than cotton, there are many options to choose from. / Program: Textil produktutveckling med entreprenörs- och affärsinriktning

Textilindustrin står inför stora utmaningar när det kommer till forskning, utveckling ochproduktion på ett miljöanpassat och socialt ansvarsfullt sätt. Ökat miljömedvetetande hoskonsumenten har lett till ökat intresse och möjlighet för företaget att arbeta mot ett hållbartföretagande.Examensarbetet är skrivet som en del av kandidatexamen i textilingenjörsprogrammet föruppdragsföretaget BlåKläder AB och utfördes för att även kunna fungera som ett underlag förandra företag i avsikt med att påbörja/utveckla sitt arbete med socialt ansvarstagande.I arbetet presenteras miljöpåverkan av en arbetsbyxa i bomull från råväv till distribuering.Fyra miljöbelastande kategorier har tagits med i undersökningen, där mängden av kemikalie,vatten- och energiåtgång samt koldioxidutsläpp räknades ut per arbetsbyxa av minimumorder. Sammanställning av resultat visar att det används 2,5 kg kemikalier, 10,3 liter vatten,756 Wh energi och det släpps ut 0,4 kg kodoxid vid tillverkning av en arbetsbyxa.Rapporten behandlar och beskriver produktion av en rå bomullsväv medflamskyddsbehandling. Processflödet för hela behandlingsförloppet analyseras i arbetet därbåde kemikalier, energi- och vattenåtgång tas upp vid varje delprocess. Koldioxidutsläppanalyseras som en särskild del av rapporten och omfattar de direkta utsläppen av tung lastbiloch fraktfärja. Sammanställning av resultatet visar hur produktionen påverkar miljön utifrånde direkt påverkande kategorierna.The textile industry is facing major challenges when it comes to research, development andproduction in an environmentally friendly and socially responsible manner. Increasedawareness of consumers led to increased interest of the company and opportunities to worktoward a sustainable enterprise.This thesis is written as a part of the bachelor's degree in textile engineering program for theassigned company Blåkläder AB and was conducted to also serve as a basis for othercompanies in order to start/develop their work with social responsibility.The work presents the environmental impact of work wear trousers of cotton fromraw weave to distribution. Four environmental impact categories have been includedin the survey, in which the quantity of chemicals, water and energy use and carbonemissions were calculated per work wear trousers of the minimum order.Compilation of results indicates the use of 2,5 kg chemicals, 10,3 liters water,756Wh energy and 0,4 kg release of carbon dioxide for production of the work weartrousers.The report discusses and describes the production of a raw cotton fabric with flame retardanttreatment. The entire treatment process is analyzed in this report, where chemicals, energyand water consumption have been calculated for each sub-process. Carbon dioxide emissionsare analyzed as a separate part of the report and include the direct emissions of heavy truckand cargo ferry. Compilation of results indicates how the production of the work weartrousers affects the environment. / Program: Textilingenjörsutbildningen

Denna studie är en kandidatuppsats inom designteknik. Studien görs efter praktik på ett Svenskt företag som producerar arbetskläder. Företaget, som idag är min uppdragsgivare, har ett intresse i att starta egen produktion av produktgruppen 3-lagersjackor. För företaget ses det som en utmaning med produktgruppen, vilket skapade en nyfikenhet hos mig i att utforska ämnet. En 3-lagersjacka kräver tejpning för att bli ett vattentätt plagg, och detta är något som kräver mycket resurser, tid och kunskap. Vid uppstart av ny produktgrupp behöver arbetet starta från grunden med rätt materialval, för att sedan gå vidare till rätt konstruktion och sömnad. Studiens innehåll är vinklat för att undersöka tejpning av 3-lagersmaterial och konstruktion av dess sömmar. Syftet är att ta fram viktigt information- och identifiera vad som är svårt vid tejpning. Studiens resultat bygger till stor del på tester av de tejpade prototyper som skickats för test via ett externt testinstitut. Produktion av produkter bestående av 3-lagersmaterial är beroende av många olika faktorer under både sömnad och konstruktion och blir därför ett brett ämne, men studien har lyckats skrapa lite på ytan och kommit fram till slutsatser som kan vara hjälpsamma vid produktutveckling av 3-lagersprodukter. / This study is a bachelor thesis in design technology. The study is done after an internship at a Swedish company that produces work wear. The company, which today is my client, has an interest in starting its own production of the product group 3-layer jackets. For the company, it is seen as a challenge with the product group, which created a curiosity with me in exploring the subject. A 3-layer jacket requires taping to become a waterproof garment, and this is something that requires a lot of resources, time and knowledge. When starting a new product group, the work needs to start from scratch with the right choice of material, and then move on to the right design and sewing. The content of the study is angled to examine the taping of 3-layer material and the construction of its seams. The purpose is to produce important information and identify what is difficult when taping. The study's results are largely based on tests of the taped prototypes sent for testing via an external test institute. Production of products consisting of 3-layer material is dependent on many different factors during both sewing and construction and therefore becomes a broad subject, but the study has managed to scrape a little on the surface and come to conclusions that can be helpful in product development of 3-layer products.