Background: Circular economy is a topic that has received increasing attention amongcompanies and organizations in order to increase sustainability and counteract lack ofresources. The circular economy has no definition that is widely accepted even though it iswidely used around the world. However, there is something in common between the differentdefinitions, which is that the circular economy flows like a cycle where the products andresources do not lose value and are discarded just as quickly. The concept can be seen as animproved waste management and a business model that offers a sustainable economy.Previous studies show many different definitions of the term. At company level, it is thus stillunclear what is considered circular economy. Businesses that work with circular economyneed to adapt their financial management according to previous studies. How circularcompanies manage their operations is a topic that has not yet been investigated. Previousstudies claim that you work with circular economy as it generates economic benefits whileothers believe that it is about legitimacy. Some argue that it is more costly with circulareconomy in companies. It is therefore still not entirely clear why companies work withcircular economy.Porpuse: The purpose of the thesis is to gain an understanding of what circular economymeans according to companies, how circular companies manage and why they work withcircular economy.

Method: A qualitative interview study has been conducted in 14 different companies thatwork with circular economy.

Conclusion: The view of circular economy is thus different in different companies, but youcan still see similarities in how companies work with circular economy. The business's focusareas in the value chain can be different depending on the industry, size, product, and materialoffering. Circular businesses combine different strategies in order to work with circularity.Circular companies have a financial management that can be related to Malmi and Brown's(2008) manage and control package. However circular businesses management is based oncircular economy. All parts of the package such as vision, strategy, and goals have to beadapted to circular economy. The management within circular companies also needs to consider the time perspective. Managing in circular companies requires that you have a long-term mindset. In most companies, the big reason for working with the circular economy is profitability. However, it can be seen that other factors can also be important, such as lawsand environmental requirements. Another reason for circular economy is pressure fromvarious stakeholders and companies' personal interest in the environment.

Keywords: Circular economy, Cradle to Cradle, the 3R principle, financial management,control packages, formal financial management, the stakeholder model, legitimacy,contingency theory.

Forskningsfråga: Hur påverkas den mänskliga hållbarheten för fastighetsmäklare av resultatbaserade löneformer?  

Problem och syfte: Fastighetsmäklare är ett yrke som till stor del arbetar med resultatbaserade löner. Resultatbaserade löner kan argumenteras bidra med både positiva och negativa effekter för medarbetare. En negativ effekt som det argumenteras för är medarbetarnas välmående och att personalomsättning anses vara hög inom fastighetsmäklarbranschen. Vi ställer oss därför frågan hur den resultatbaserade lönen påverkar fastighetsmäklares välmående. Mänskligt välmående kan även ses som en del av social hållbarhet, men då social hållbarheten innefattar fler faktorer har vi i studien avgränsat det till tre faktorer som argumenteras vara viktiga för välmående på arbetsplatser. Faktorerna benämns tillsammans som mänsklig hållbarhet. Syftet med studien är att undersöka hur den resultatbaserade lönen påverkar anställdas välmående och den mänskliga hållbarheten.

Metod: Studien är en jämförande studie som utgår från en deduktiv ansats. Vi har samlat in kvalitativ data med inslag av kvantitativa data genom åtta intervjuer med fastighetsmäklare som har två olika resultatbaserade löneformer, som består av öppna frågor samt attitydfrågor.  

Slutsats: Studiens slutsats visar på att den resultatbaserade lönen inte har någon negativ påverkan på motivation och trivsel för välmående och den mänskliga hållbarheten. Den tredje faktorn hälsa visades däremot påverkas negativt för båda löneformerna. Men där skillnader för respektive löneform framkom.  

Title: Development and improvement of the purchasing process for transports. A case study at Wexiödisk Ab in Växjö. 

Background: An increasing number of companies choose not to perform transportation on their own and instead collaborate with third-party logistics companies. The purchasing process for transports is the process that ensures that the transport services for thecustomers are purchased. Wexiödisk experiences some problems regarding the purchasing process for transports in the form of lack of knowledge about the process’s activities, problems with standardization and feels that it is done in an old-fashioned way. This leads to waste, problems with delegation and inefficiency. An increased degree of outsourcing often leads to increased cost savings, but it is difficult to capture how costs change from managing the process internally to being managed by a third party.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify non-value creating activities that currently occurs in the purchasing process for transports by mapping the process, with the intention of developing and proposing improvement work. The purpose is also to identify and investigate how costs change and what factors may affect them in a potential outsourcing of the purchasing process for transports in SME, and to develop a cost model for identifying these costs.

Method: This study is a one-case study using qualitative methods. Relevant data for the study were collected using un- and semi-structured interviews and as well as on-site observations. First, the process maps were created for the process for each market with theaim to create knowledge about the process’s activities and identifying non-value-creating activities. Subsequently, improvement proposals were identified to reduce waste. At the end, possible outsourcing of the process is analyzed and cost changes that can occur.

Conclusions: The purchasing process for transport at Wexiödisk is characterized by anumber of manual work steps and short comings in the information flow that leads to waste, especially in the form of overworking. There are more non-value-creating activities regarding the process for the foreign market than the Swedish one. Improvement proposals that have been identified and can reduce waste are in form of digitalization and development of existing business systems and increased integration. Even increased standardization. Even increased standardization of the process can have positive effects on the process and a tool to achieve it is 5S. Several costs were identified by managing the process internally, especially indirect costs. The highest cost is personnel costs for the transport manager. Costs that may be incurred in outsourcing of the process were categorized into five categories, namely contract-related costs, transaction costs, entertainment and service costs, risk costs and hidden costs. These costs depend on various factors and the size may be greater or lower depending on different conditions.

Title: How is a trend valued? Inventory accounting in the clothing industry.

Background: Inventory is one of the major asset items in the balance sheet for clothing companies. It is therefore important that the valuation of it becomes fair and provides accurate information to the company's stakeholders. As trends today are moving faster, companies' inventories are subjected to greater obsolescence than before, making it harder to value. This means that companies in their pursuit of legitimate inventory accounting need to relate to their social context. This will be the basis for the study's problem and purpose, which therefore aims to identify the social factors that underlie inventory reporting in clothing companies.

Purpose: The study intends to provide an understanding of how the social context shapes the accounting of inventories in the clothing industry. The purpose is to supplement the knowledge of how clothing companies responds to the challenges and uncertainties in inventory accounting.

Method: Based on existing literature, a social context has been drawn up, to which companies need to relate its inventory report. The thesis then consists of a qualitative interview study with companies in the clothing industry. The purpose of the interviews is also to identify additional factors that may affect how companies inventory accounting shapes.

Results / Conclusions: The results of the survey shows that companies today are aware of the problems with fast-paced trends, but that's nothing they take into major account in their inventory accounting. It also appears that the inventory valuation in the industry today is standardized.

Syfte: Syftet med denna uppsats är att identifiera och analysera faktorer som påverkar utformningen av belöningssystem i hotellbranschen. Vidare syftar uppsatsen till att jämföra ledares och medarbetares perspektiv för att undersöka hur belöningssystemen bidrar till målkongruens.  

Metod: Studien har genomförts med en abduktiv ansats och kvalitativ metod. Genom semi- strukturerade intervjuer har data samlats in från fyra hotell i Kalmar. Data har analyserats tillsammans med teorier för att uppfylla studiens syfte och besvara dess forskningsfrågor.

Slutsatser: Ledarna spelar in på utformningen av belöningssystemet genom att belöna dem som de själva anser tillför något utöver det vanliga. Deras syn på rättvisa påverkar hur de delar ut belöningar och om man fokuserar på grupp eller individ. Ekonomiska förutsättningar styr belöningarnas storlek och budgetuppfyllelse leder till ytterligare belöningar. Att ingå i en hotellkedja bidrar med att kunna erbjuda belöningar som karriär- och utvecklingsmöjligheter men att inte tillhöra någon kedja ger däremot en större flexibilitet vid val av belöningar. En mix av individuella och gruppbaserade samt finansiella och icke-finansiella belöningar är att föredra för att uppnå målkongruens i en bransch som förutsätter samarbete. Kan man mäta prestationer på ett sätt som upplevs rättvist av medarbetare undkommer man svårigheterna med utdelning av individuella belöningar. Stämmer utdelade belöningar överens med medarbetares belöningspreferenser ökas graden av målkongruens. Finansiella belöningar kan kompensera bristande karriärmöjligheter. Icke-finansiella belöningar kan väga upp för avsaknaden av finansiella belöningar. Genom de studerade belöningssystemens utformning lyckas företagsledare på olika sätt skapa målkongruens.

Background: As a company it is more important than ever to consider the environmental sustainability aspect within the whole supply chain and all the stakeholders. Studies show that people's concerns about environmental sustainability increases and will continue to grow in the future. The wet dyeing process is the part of the textile production that consists of liquor and contains three main steps which are pretreatment, coloration and finishing. This process is presented as the most water, energy and chemicals consuming process within the textile industry and because of that, it is important to investigate it to be able to improve the environmental sustainability. 

Purpose: The purpose of the thesis is to increase the understanding of IKEA’s suppliers' current usage of water, energy and chemicals within the wet dyeing process. Followed by an identification of opportunities for improvements in the wet dyeing process, aiming to become more environmentally sustainable. 

Method: Through interviews with two suppliers, information regarding IKEA’s current wet dyeing processes will be collected. After that, data from relevant theoretical sources will be collected to analyze possible improvements of methods and colorants that can be relevant for IKEA as well as other companies within the textile industry to implement. 

Conclusion: For research question 1, the researchers reach the conclusion that IKEA’s supplier number one has a more environmentally sustainable wet dyeing process compared to the second supplier.. A conclusion is nevertheless drawn that improvements within both suppliers wet dyeing processes should be considered to become more environmentally sustainable. For research question 2, the researchers come to the conclusion that Spray dyeing is the best alternative method to implement for improving environmental sustainability within the wet dyeing process. The researchers also recommend companies to actively become a part of the development of bacterial colorants, the future of coloration. 

Titel: Rocket Padel - Rocket Padels order-till-leveransprocess, från inhouse till outsourcing 

Författare: Paulina Abrahamsson, Maja Johannesson, Nellie Reichel 

Handledare: Petra Andersson

Examinator: Hana Hulthén 

Bakgrund: Trenden kring outsourcing är något som pågår än idag och fortsatt visa sig lönsamt för företag. Rocket Padels nuvarande lager saknar den kapacitet som krävs för att kunna hantera de ökade antalet ordrar, som har tillkommit med dess tillväxt på marknaden. Utan tillräckligt med lagerkapacitet och resurser för att lyckas hantera den ökade antalet ordrar, kommer Rocket Padel att begränsa sig själva och bromsa sin tillväxt. Ett samarbete med en tredjepartslogistiker gör det då möjligt att hålla nere, alternativt sänka logistikkostnader i och med de stora kvantiteterna av ordrar dessa företag vanligtvis hanterar. 

Syfte: Studiens syfte är att kartlägga Rocket Padels nuvarande order-till-leveransprocess och dess brister, för att sedan kunna analysera hur tredjepartslogistikern Dreamlogistics ska kunna åtgärda dessa brister. Vidare syftar studien till att identifiera de risker och utmaningar som outsourcing resulterar i, för att slutligen komma med ett lösningsförslag på detta.  

Metod: Studien motsvarar en kvalitativ fallstudie på Rocket Padel. Analysmetodens utformning grundas i ett redan befintligt mönster i jämförelse med ett förväntat mönster. Det förväntade mönstret erhålls genom intervjuerna på Rocket Padel och Dreamlogistics, för att sedan analyseras och se det förväntade mönstret. 

Resultat: Bristsituationer har identifierats i Rocket Padels nuvarande order-till-leveransprocess, såsom: orderbekräftelse till kund i ett för tidigt skede, felplock, lager och kontor i samma lokal, storlek på packmaterial och en förväxling mellan transportbolag. Genom att Rocket Padel kommer att outsourca dess verksamhet till Dreamlogistics, kommer de att kunna åtgärda dessa brister. Som en följd av outsourcingen kommer det dock att kvarstå risker och utmaningar för Rocket Padel del.  

Bakgrund: Trenden kring outsourcing är något som pågår än idag och fortsatt visa sig lönsamt för företag. Rocket Padels nuvarande lager saknar den kapacitet som krävs för att kunna hantera de ökade antalet ordrar, som har tillkommit med dess tillväxt på marknaden. Utan tillräckligt med lagerkapacitet och resurser för att lyckas hantera den ökade antalet ordrar, kommer Rocket Padel att begränsa sig själva och bromsa sin tillväxt. Ett samarbete med en tredjepartslogistiker gör det då möjligt att hålla nere, alternativt sänka logistikkostnader i och med de stora kvantiteterna av ordrar dessa företag vanligtvis hanterar. 

Syfte: Studiens syfte är att kartlägga Rocket Padels nuvarande order-till-leveransprocess och dess brister, för att sedan kunna analysera hur tredjepartslogistikern Dreamlogistics ska kunna åtgärda dessa brister. Vidare syftar studien till att identifiera de risker och utmaningar som outsourcing resulterar i, för att slutligen komma med ett lösningsförslag på detta.  

Metod: Studien motsvarar en kvalitativ fallstudie på Rocket Padel. Analysmetodens utformning grundas i ett redan befintligt mönster i jämförelse med ett förväntat mönster. Det förväntade mönstret erhålls genom intervjuerna på Rocket Padel och Dreamlogistics, för att sedan analyseras och se det förväntade mönstret. 

Resultat: Bristsituationer har identifierats i Rocket Padels nuvarande order-till-leveransprocess, såsom: orderbekräftelse till kund i ett för tidigt skede, felplock, lager och kontor i samma lokal, storlek på packmaterial och en förväxling mellan transportbolag. Genom att Rocket Padel kommer att outsourca dess verksamhet till Dreamlogistics, kommer de att kunna åtgärda dessa brister. Som en följd av outsourcingen kommer det dock att kvarstå risker och utmaningar för Rocket Padel del.  

Title: Risk management of cloud-based ERP-systems

Writers: Fredrik Forsberg & Kevin Adamsson

Supervisor: Pia Nylinder

Examiner: Petter Boye

Course: Business administration, Bachelor thesis in finance/accounting

Course code: 2FE75E

Research question: How do companies in the automotive trade industry work with risk management of cloud-based ERP-systems?

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine what risks that the cloud based ERP-systems entail and how companies in the automobile trade work with the risk management.

Method: To fulfill the purpose of this paper we have used the abductive approach. Semi-structured interviews have been conducted in order to retrieve empirical data from eight different respondents who operates in the automobile trade.

Conclusion: We have come to the conclusion that the size of the companies has a major impact on how the risk process and the risk management are done, even if the risks have the same level of priority. Greater financial resources provides more space for the companies to work with the risk management.

Keywords: Cloud based services, Cloud based ERP-system, Risks with the cloud based ERP-systems, Risk management, Risk process.

Title: The user's role in Environmental Performance Measurement- A case study on Växjö municipality

Background: Increased awareness of the environment in society, growing public pressure and more regulations have affected public organisation's efforts in the environmental field. The result of this effort is that environmental performance measurements have been implemented from the private sector so that public organisations can demonstrate improvements and make evaluations of their work on environmental issues. However, researchers argue that collecting information about performance is not enough, the information also needs to be used in the organisation. Therefore it became interesting to study how public sector managers use information from Environmental performance measurements and why the information is used.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe and analyse how managers at Växjö municipality use information from Environmental Performance Measurements and explain why the information is used. In addition, the study aims at providing improvement proposals that support Växjö municipality's work on Environmental Performance Measurement.

Methods: This study is a qualitative case study with Växjö municipality as the case. In collecting data, qualitative interviews have been conducted, but data is also collected through internal documents, such as Växjö municipality's Environmental Program

Results and conclusions: The study's results shows that managers at Växjö municipality mainly use information from Environmental Performance Measurements for internal purposes, although some managers are more likely to use information than others. The study's results also shows that the work on environmental Performance Measurement can be further developed.

Abstract

Title: Reward system and motivation – A multi-case study in the construction industry

Authors: Philip Adamsson, Gabriel Andersson, Johannes Petersson

Examiner: Elin Funck

Supervisor: Natalia Semenova

Background and problem: A reward system is an instrument that is widely used, where management with help of a functional reward system can get a desired behavior from an employee. How a reward system is designed differs between sectors. The construction industry is a sector bordered by conflicts of interest between employers and employees. Is there a match between the employer's intention with reward systems and employee’s perception of the reward system? There are multiple rewards that can provide a desired behavior, but what is it that really motivate employees in the construction industry.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe how the reward system is designed in the construction industry. Furthermore, the purpose of the study is to see if the employer's intentions and the employee's perception of the reward system is consistent. The study also intends to describe why, or why not employees feel that the reward system motivates them.

Methods: We conducted a multi-case study of Svensk Vattenbilningsteknik AB and TECAB Ytskyddsprodukter AB. Both companies are active in the construction industry. Empirical material were obtained through semi-structured interviews. The study had a deductive research approach.

Conclusion: We can conclude that employers should focus on the purpose of their reward system to design a functional system. According to the study, a reward system should contain a combination of financial and non-financial rewards. Finally, a financial bonus should be a part of a construction company´s reward system, because it increases employee motivation and satisfaction.

Global warming issues are a widespread problem around the world and the emissions of greenhouse gases is one of the main contributors. The transport sector emits a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions; thus, this contributes to global warming. To tackle this challenge the Swedish state introduced in July 2018 a system called bonus-malus system which aims to increase the proportion of eco-friendly cars and in the long run reducing greenhouse gases emissions from the transport sector. This paper examines the tax system within the Bonus-Malus system. Primarily investigating if Malus, tax system, impacted the demand for electric vehicles since it introduced. The study conducted based on a short panel data from Sweden´s 21 counties for the period 2016-2020 and the analysis method applied is a regression analysis. The results of this thesis confirm a strong positive relationship between the share of newly registered battery electric vehicles (BEV) and the Malus, but much weaker influence of the other studied variables. Suggesting that tax system induce on emission seem to be efficient at boost the demand for BEV 

Purpose This study focuses on applicable methods used in the Inventory Management of Fresh Food Products and challenges encountered in their implementation. The area of concentration is the Fresh Food Retailers. Secondly, the challenges encountered in the implementation of fresh food products is also addressed. Methodology The study employs a qualitative research technique with the use of a semi-structured interview for five companies to gather data. Theory The theory section of this study first gives a brief explanation of fresh food retailers’. Secondly, it addresses the keywords of the research questions: Fresh Food Products Inventory Management, highlighting the management of the shelf-life and technological innovations in use in the inventory management of Fresh Food Products. It moves on to address the challenges encountered in the implementation of inventory management systems Empirical This represents the outcome of semi-structured qualitative interviews conducted with five companies. It started with a brief description of the company. Analysis and Discussion The analysis portrays the techniques and models used in the inventory management of shelflife and technological innovations and identification and discussion of implementation challenges or drawback of implementation. Conclusion This addresses my contribution and a futuristic approach to the topic.

Sammanfattning

Titel: Vad kostar din tröja?

Datum: 2014-01-15

Författare: Diana Adolfsson, Kristin Pettersson, Dennis Sjögren

Nivå: Kandidatuppsats i ekonomistyrning 15 hp

Handledare: Petter Boye

Examinator: Thomas Karlsson

Problem och Syfte: Globalisering har idag medfört att produktion och andra processer inom företag har förlagts i olika länder runt om i världen. Svenska textilföretag gör inköp främst från Asien och oftast ägs inte fabrikerna av företagen utan de har sin produktion placerad hos olika leverantörer. Negativa händelser inom textilindustrin kopplat till arbetsvillkor, miljö och djurskydd har under årens lopp avlöst varandra och högre krav på att företagen ska ta ett större ansvar i etiska och sociala frågor ställdes från olika intressenter. Dock medför antalet leverantörer tillsammans med andra faktorer som kulturella skillnader komplikationer inom uppföljningen av ställda krav. Huvudfokus i studien är att identifiera möjliga verktyg för att styra och kontrollera leverantörerna i etiska frågor. Vidare undersöks vilka svårigheter anställda i företagen upplever med styrningen och kontrollen vilket vi relaterar till intressenters krav värderingar och företagens strävan att leva upp till dessa. Slutligen kommer textilföretagens affärsrelation till leverantörerna undersökas och vad har de för betydelse för styrningsarbetet.

Metod: Undersökningen är av kvalitativ karaktär där en abduktiv ansats tillämpats. Totalt genomfördes sex intervjuer för insamling av primärdata. Fem utgjordes av medelstora och stora företag inom textilbranschen och återstående med en universitetslärare på textilhögskolan i Borås. Ett utav de ledande textilföretagen inom CSR är H&M där insamlad information kommer från deras hemsida vilken ger uttömmande svar angående deras arbete inom området.

Slutsats: Studien har identifierat nio verktyg företagen använder och kan använda sig av i arbetet med att styra och kontrollera leverantörerna i etiska frågor. Upplevda svårigheter angav anställda i företagen vara kulturella skillnader och geografiskt avstånd vilket leder till att intressenters krav och förväntningar blir svåra att leva upp till. Verktygen i studien som framkommit tillsammans med att bygga nära och långsiktiga relationer kan bidra till att skapa en verksamhet som lever upp till intressenters värderingar.

Turismbranschen anses vara en av världens största näringar och har i Sverige fortsatt växa under en lång tid och i relation till Sveriges totala ekonomi och sysselsättning har turismnäringen en stor betydelse. Ett stort problem inom turismnäringen är de säsongsvariationer som präglar branschen och bland annat innebär att företag behöver anställa personal för en kort period. Det har visat sig vara svårt att få tag på personal som vill jobba under endast några veckor av året och som har de kvalifikationer som krävs för jobbet. När företagen inte kan anställa personal som helt och hållet uppfyller alla krav så är det istället viktigt att utveckla styrsystem så att personalen arbetar i enlighet med företagets mål. Det behövs olika styrsystem beroende på vilket slags arbete som ska utföras och det är arbetsuppgifterna som avgör vilken form av styrning som passar. De olika styrsystem som behandlas i denna studie är regelstyrning, resultatstyrning och kulturstyrning. För att undersöka hur chefer i säsongsbetonade turismföretag använder sig av olika former av styrning genomfördes intervjuer med chefer som hade personalansvar. Efter genomförda intervjuer sammanställdes materialet och analyserades. Det framkom slutligen att cheferna hade varierande tillvägagångssätt i sin styrning av de säsongsanställda, men att likheter kunde hittas mellan deras styrsätt. De flesta använde sig av regelstyrning i varierande utsträckning men kombinerade även regler och detaljerade arbetsbeskrivningar med att sätta upp mål och skapa gemenskap i företaget. Men det allra viktigaste, vilket alla chefer poängterade, var att det var den säsongsanställdas personlighet som avgjorde om personen skulle anställas, vilken form av styrning och till vilken grad styrningen behövdes. 

Hur revisorerna ser på sig själva och sin profession har förändrats över tiden. I denna rapport utgår vi från den bild som professionen har gett av sig själva i tidskriften Balans från 1989-2011. Vi följer hur synen på professionella normer, kunskapsbas, yrkesroller, avgränsningar mot andra professioner, organisering av den professionella föreningen, självreglering och hur man ser på andra parters påverkan på professionen. Våra resultat pekar på en ökad kommersialisering av professionen där revision allt mer ses som en produkt bland andra konsultprodukter. I stort har utvecklingen av bilden av revisorn följt utvecklingen av verksamheten inom de stora revisionsföretagen. Samtidigt har makten över utvecklingen avrevisionsprocess och professionella normer allt mer lyfts från nationell till internationell nivå och inflytandet över utvecklingen sker via komplexa nätverk av personer, organisationer och företag. Det kan därför vara dags att omdefiniera vad som är profession inom revisionsbranschen.

De professionellas arbetssätt befinner sig i förändring. Att följa manualer och standarder, att möta en ny typ av redovisningsansvar, extern kvalitetskontroll och krav på dokumentation utmanar på flera sätt den traditionella bilden av professioner. I Frihet under ansvar eller ansvar under tillsyn belyses erfarenheter av dokumentstyrning från tre professioner, revisorer, lärare och socionomer.

Boken fokuserar vad dokumentstyrningen betyder för professionernas kunskapsbas och normbas samt hur professionernas autonomi förändras när det gäller att bedöma vad som ska göras, vad som är kvalitet i arbetet och när det gäller möjligheten att ta ett professionellt ansvar.

De professionellas erfarenheter analyseras utifrån en modell – kunskapstriaden – vars aspekter; kännarskap, känslomässigt engagemang och utvärdering av och ansvar för eget arbete tillsammans antas utgöra en motor för utvecklingen, upprätthållandet och vidareutvecklingen av de professionellas kunskaps- och normsystem.

Boken vänder sig till studerande inom professionsutbildningar företrädesvis på en avancerad nivå och till forskare och andra som har ett övergripande intresse för styrnings- och professionsfrågor. Frihet under ansvar eller ansvar under tillsyn manar också till fortsatt forskning om de professionellas villkor.

This paper explores whether and in what way “dual learning” can develop understanding of the relationship between structure/judgement and explores audit student’s perceptions of the audit profession. The Work Integrated Learning (WIL) module, serving as a tool of enabling dual learning, represents the context for this exploration. The study is based on a focus group and individual interviews conducted with students performing their WIL. Our data and its analysis indicates that when in a WIL context, students develop awareness of the use of standards and checklists on the one hand, and the importance of discretional judgement on the other. Based on these results, we theorise as to how dual learning manifests itself in students’ experiences and understanding of the relationship between structure and judgement.

Bachelor thesis (2FE24E), Civilekonomprogrammet, controller

Title:​ Control in all respects - ​A study of strategy and management control in fast-growing service companies

Authors:​ Ida Aggerstam & Josefin Johansson

Examiner:​ Elin Funck

Supervisor:​ Lise-Lotte Kans

Institution:​ School of Business and Economics at Linnaeus University in Växjö

Background and problem:​ Fast-growing companies account for a large part of the overall growth in the economy and are of major importance for the country's economy. As growth increases in companies, a more formalized management control is required. Some companies have a pronounced strategy while others' strategies are reflected in the organization's actions. Some researchers argue that fast-growing companies should use formal management control while other researchers argue that they should use informal management control.

Purpose: ​The purpose of the study is to gain a deeper understanding of strategy and management control in fast-growing service companies. The essay contributes to highlight similarities and differences in fast-growing companies strategy and management control. Focus in management control is on formal- and informal management control.

Method:​ A qualitative comparative multivariate study with semi-structured interviews forms the basis for empirical material. In the study, three companies have been interviewed that meet criteria for being fast-growing service companies.

Conclusion: ​A fast-growing service company's strategy may be pronounced and designed by management along with employees or may be reflected by the organization's actions. The formal management of fast-growing service companies is important for the organization's structure, division of responsibilities, planning and control while their informal management is important for employee motivation, satisfaction with duties and the organization's personal leadership style.

Purpose

The study aims to examine the moderating effect of ownership structure on the relationship between capital structure and firm value. Based on the results presented in this study, a deeper understanding is reached of how companies' governance of ownership structure and capital structure affects firm value.

Method

The survey is conducted according to a quantitative research method. The study is based on 263 companies listed on the main market on Nasdaq Stockholm over the years 2017-2019. Secondary data is retrieved and analyzed using statistical models. Results are discussed on the basis of a theoretical frame of reference.

Conclusion

The empirical results of this study show that ownership structure and capital structure have a significant negative effect on firm value. On the other hand, ownership structure has a non-significant effect on the relationship between capital structure and firm value. Therefore, this study can not confirm that control owners have a significant impact on financing decisions made by management.

Contribution

This study shows that ownership structure and capital structure separately can be used as instruments to achieve high firm value. This is an unexplored area for companies listed on the main market on Nasdaq Stockholm. Therefore, this study provides an empirical basis for how these companies in practice should govern ownership structure and capital structure in order to maximize firm value. However, the study found no evidence of the moderating effect of ownership structure on the relationship between capital structure and firm value. 

Problem: The organizational culture is one of five control types in the organization's Management Control System. This means that the organization's leader is able to exercise control over the employees' behavior and decision-making through the organizational culture to enable the organization's goals to be achieved. From a theoretical perspective, however, organizational culture is an area that still lacks consensus despite a considerable amount of previous research, which, among other things, emerges from its inability to map changes in organizational culture. In order for the leader of the organization to be able to exercise control of the employees' behavior in a desired direction with the help of the organization's culture, the ability to influence and change the same when the prevailing organizational culture is dysfunctional is required. One way of implementing such a change is considered to be a change of leader, despite the opposite perceptions that exist in the previous research regarding the leader's ability to influence and change the organization's culture.

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to describe how the organizational culture changes with a leadership change. Thus, the leader's opportunity to change the organizational culture is also treated.

Research question: How does the organizational culture change from a leadership change?

Literature review: Culture, organizational culture, leadership, the leader's possibility to change organizational culture and the Competing Values Framework.

Method: Primary data has been collected through the Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument, which is an instrument that measures the key dimensions of the organizational culture. This instrument was answered by five respondents.

Findings: This case study found that the leadership change that took place in the specific organization resulted in a change in the culture of the organization. Before the leadership change, the organizational culture was characterized by several types of culture, which means that the respondents then experienced an ambiguity regarding the organization's culture. However, as a result of the change of leader, this indistinctness was reduced, which meant that the change of leader led to a homogenization of the organizational culture. The change of leader thus resulted in a more dominant market culture.

Bakgrund

Forskning kring kapitalstrukturens betydelse för företagens lönsamhet är splittrad då olika studier visar på olika samband. Detta beror på att det är många andra faktorer utöver kapitalstrukturen som påverkar lönsamheten, likväl som det förekommer faktorer som påverkar kapitalstrukturen i sig. Dessa faktorer är i många fall dolda och manifesteras istället i resultatet, och dessa skiljer sig åt mellan branscher, länder och andra företagsspecifika särdrag.

Svensk elektronikindustri är den del av svensk industri som uppvisat störst tillväxt de senaste två decennierna samtidigt som den utgör en viktig del av svenskt näringsliv. Det faktum att tidigare forskning är blandad i kombination med att det saknas studier som enbart fokuserar på denna bransch i detta land uppstod ett intresse av att fastställa förhållandet mellan kapitalstruktur och lönsamhet för denna bransch. Kunskap om detta kan vara till hjälp för ägare och chefer i företag inom denna bransch när de ska fatta beslut som rör kapitalstruktur.

Syfte

Syftet med denna uppsats är att fastställa hur lönsamheten förhåller sig till kapitalstrukturen inom svensk elektronikindustri.

Metod

Uppsatsen använder sig av linjär regressionsanalys för att undersöka sambandet mellan kapitalstruktur och lönsamhet. De beroende variablerna som använts i regressionsanalysen har varit två olika lönsamhetsmått: avkastning på totalt kapital, ROA, och avkastning på eget kapital, ROE. De oberoende variablerna har utgjorts av tre olika skuldsättningsmått: kortfristig, långfristig respektive total skuldsättning. Som kontrollvariabler har omsättning och balansomslutning använts.

Slutsats

Empirin visar ett negativt förhållande mellan kortfristig, långfristig respektive total skuldsättning och lönsamhet när det mäts som ROA. När ROE används som lönsamhetsmått visade sig analysmodellen vara dåligt anpassad till att hantera datan, därmed gick det ej att dra några fullständiga slutsatser kring förhållandet mellan ROE och skuldsättning.

Succession in family firms is a crucial event, since it concerns the continuity ofthe firm as a family firm. The succession process starts with the introduction ofthe successor and ends with the withdrawal of the predecessor. The literatureindicates that the board of directors can have a role in both the introduction andwithdrawal phases, but this role has scarcely been researched. As the board isan intermediary between the family and the firm, and often consists of familymembers, it can be a means of managing family generations through thesuccession process. This paper aims to investigate the role of the board in thesuccession process, assuming that the board can be used as an arena in thisprocess. In addition to having governance functions over the firm, the board canhave a function directed at the family instead of the firm, related to thesuccession of family generations. More specifically, the board can providesupport in the process of introducing the next generation of family members tothe firm, and can engage the previous generation that is about to leave directoperations. This article contributes to the field by identifying the board as a toolin the succession process that can be used by the family for several purposes,depending on the family’s intentions.

This dissertation explores and develops our conception of the board in familyfirms. The family firm is a specific type of organization in terms of corporategovernance, since it encompasses both the family and business systems.Typically, family members are present as owners, but also on the board and inthe management of the firm, creating, among other things, ambiguity as toroles. The board is thus not the only point of contact between owners andmanagers in these firms. Moreover, family firms exhibit a goal orientationtowards non-financial goals, in addition to financial ones. These characteristicsimply specific conditions for the board of directors in family firms.

To fulfill its purpose, this dissertation investigates different aspects of the boardof directors in four papers. The point of departure is a model that encompassesthe family and its intentions, board composition, board processes, boardfunctions, and outcomes. Different methodological approaches are used for thedifferent papers, since the methods chosen were determined by the researchquestions. The constituent papers of this dissertation comprise a conceptualstudy, as well as survey and case studies.

The overall conclusion of the dissertation is that the role of the board in familyfirms can differ from the role of the board in other types of firms due toambiguity stemming from the coexistence of family and firm considerations.This can manifest itself in the board taking on functions other than the usualones, such as participating in the succession process. Moreover, the compositionof family board members can affect what functions the board emphasizes.

Furthermore, overlap in the roles of family members can result in boardfunctions being performed in other domains than the board meeting,highlighting the complexity of what a board is. Policy makers and externaldirectors of family firms need to understand the family firm characteristics thatinfluence the board before making recommendations as to the best boardcomposition. In conclusion, we cannot rely solely on traditional conceptions ofthe board of directors when it concerns the board in family firms.

Certain functions are ascribed to a board of directors, and are usually assumedto be performed within board meetings. However, research has observed boardfunctions to be performed in other domains, such as informal meetings. This isespecially prevalent in family firms, where directors usually have other roleswithin the firm in addition to being directors. This paper introduces bordertheory to family firm board research and analyzes four case studies of firms inorder to investigate board functions in other domains than the board meeting. Iidentify four different domains for board functions: board meetings, topmanagement team (TMT) meetings, spontaneous conversations, and familygatherings. Furthermore, I identify antecedents to board functions beingperformed in other domains. These are that the directors possess several roleswithin the firm, that they have the capacity for border-crossing, as well as thewillingness to cross borders. We also identify consequences of using otherdomains, which are that it can create tensions during certain circumstances, butunder other circumstances it can lead to the handling of family-specificquestions in other domains than the board meeting, and to convenient boardwork. Lastly, I discuss the management of the border of the board, meaning theefforts to align the directors’ views on where to conduct the board functions.

Bakgrund: I och med den tilltagande teknologiska utvecklingen och globaliseringen ställs dagens företag ständigt inför nya utmaningar. För att handskas med detta måste företag arbeta för att skapa innovationer på ett sätt som de inte gjort tidigare. Det handlar om att släppa sargen ochvåga göra saker påett nytt sätt! Ett sätt för dematt göra detta är att tillämpa synsättet som kallas “Open Innovation”, alltså att man tar hjälp av intressenter utanför företaget för att bli mer innovativa. Crowdsourcing är en del av open innovation ochinnebär bland annat attföretagtar hjälp av ”folkmassan”för att skapa nya idéereller lösa problem. Intresset för open innovation och crowdsourcing ökar allt mer men trots detta har det inte skrivits så mycket i ämnet. Vi ville skriva om ämnet för att öka förståelsen för hur det används i företag, vilka som använder det och vilka utmaningar det leder till. Syfte: Syftet med denna uppsats är att beskriva hur crowdsourcing används i företag som vill använda det som ett verktyg för att skapa nya idéer.Vi vill även beskriva varför företag använder sig av det, så att företag som inte använder det ännu kan få en idé om vad det kan bidra till. Vi kommer sedan identifiera vilka utmaningar detta leder till i företags verksamhetsstyrning och slutligen ta framen rekommendation på hur företagen kan utforma sin verksamhetsstyrning på bästa sätt för att hantera utmaningarna. Metod:Vi har i uppsatsen använt oss av en kvalitativ metod, tillsammans med en abduktiv förklaringsmodell då dessa passade vårt ämne bäst.Vår empirihar vi främst samlat in genom intervjuer med företag i olika branscher.Resultat, slutsatser:De slutsatser vi kom fram till var att företag främst använder sig av open innovation och crowdsourcing till följd av förändringar i omvärlden som lett till behov att finna nya sätt att innovera. Vi kom även fram till att crowdsourcing & open innovation leder till olika utmaningar för företag, bland annat att få med sig de anställda i de nya processerna.

Bachelor thesis in Business administration, School of Business and Economics at Linnaeus University, Controller, 2FE05E, spring semester 2013 Title: Non-profit sport associations management control- A multi case study of management tools Authors: Christoffer Ahlgren, Emelie Andersson and Emelie Nilsson Tutor: Anders Jerreling Examiner: Elin Funck Background: Non-profit sport associations activate a large number of people in Sweden and have a great impact on the social community. Because of the increasing complexity to operate sport associations some are experiencing serious financial problems. The daily financial work has a major impact on how the future unfolds for the sport associations. An adverse economy not only creates complications in the economic field, it also affects the sport itself. Purpose: Our purpose with this paper is to describe and explain how the economy is controlled in non-profit sport associations and the tool that is used to support this process. Methodology: This report is based on a multi case study of four non-profit sport associations in Kronoberg region, Sweden. By a qualitative study and semi-structure interviews we have collected the empirical materials. We have interviewed the president and the treasurer of each sport association. Results and conclusions: All of our chosen sport associations have defined goals, mostly sport related, for their organization but most of them are missing a strategy to achieve these goals. Budget is the most important management control tool and all of the sport associations are practicing some kind of follow up for their budgets. The associations are using non-financial measurement like game results but have a lack of financial measurements. Keywords: Non-profit sport association, management control systems, strategic planning, budget, performance measurement

Bakgrund och Problemdiskussion: De senaste årens företagsskandaler har bidragit till ökade krav på företags interna kontroll. När intern kontroll beskrivs används nästan alltid COSO:s ramverk som referenspunkt. Detta tog studien till en början utgångspunkt i och tanken var då att kartlägga i vilken utsträckning detta ramverk var utbrett bland svenska medelstora företag, men framförallt vad detta kunde bero på. Resultatet av studien visade att företag inte har implementerat ramverket, varpå nya frågeställningar dök upp kring vad som då kan förklara att kontrollaktiviteterna ser ut som de gör bland dessa företag.

Syfte: Syftet med studien har varit att utreda om företag använder sig av de kontrollaktiviteter som också är omnämnda i COSO:s ramverk, trots att ramverket inte är implementerat, och vad det beror på att företag använder sig av lika eller olika aktiviteter. Studien syftar då till att undersöka om de organisatoriska faktorerna kan förklara vilka kontrollaktiviteter som används, eller om den motsägande institutionella teorin ger en bättre förklaring.

Teori: Den teoretiska delen av studien innehåller en bakgrund om kontrollaktiviteter och intern kontroll, contingency teorin och institutionell teori. Delar av dessa teorier operationaliseras till hypoteser.

Metod: En kvantitativ studie genomfördes genom en enkätundersökning, underbyggd av teoretiska referenspunkter som studien hade i den inledande fasen. Ett antal hypoteser testades genom deskriptiva analyser, men främst genom bivariata analyser för att studera eventuella samband.

Resultat och Slutsats: COSO:s ramverk är inte utbrett bland svenska medelstora företag men kontrollaktiviteterna som ingår i ramverket används i väldigt stor utsträckning. Oavsett om dessa kontrollaktiviteter kommer från COSO:s ramverk eller om de existerat sedan tidigare, tyder resultatet av studien på att dessa ii institutionaliserats bland svenska medelstora företag. Studiens hypoteser, som ponerade att organisatoriska faktorer kan förklara vilka kontrollaktiviteter företag har, förkastades till stor del.

Background: The aim of audit is to independently review and reduce the information asymmetry that exists between the owners and management of the firm. A new law about the content of the audit report was implemented 2016 with the purpose of reducing the information gap on the market. Our study is based on whether or not the amount of information asymmetry affects the audit fee and if the purpose of the new law has been reached.

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to explain the relationship between information asymmetry and audit fee in Swedish companies listed on the stock exchange market. A comparison between the years of 2015 and 2016 is made to investigate if the new requirements on the audit report have any affection on the information asymmetry, audit fee and the relationship in between.

Method: The study has a deductive research approach with the base of agency theory to deduce hypotheses. The sample in the quantitative research methodology consists of Swedish companies listed on small-, mid- and largecap 2015 and 2016.

Conclusions: The result of the study concludes that there is a negative relationship between information asymmetry and audit fees. It can also be concluded that the new audit report does not contribute to a reduction of information asymmetry nor an increased audit fee.

Background: Big and complex organizations usually separate the ownership and control. This

separation is most common when organizations grow too big and complex for a single owner to

handle. In such case, they hire a management team, responsible for managing the organizations

day to day operations. The separation of ownership and control brings a problem into the

corporate governance. The management team doesn’t always act in the interest of the owner.

This behavior refers to the agency problem and brings agency costs to the organization. A lot of

studies have focused on agency problem, agency costs and how these costs in the best way can

be reduced by mechanisms. The central mechanism for this thesis, the capital substitution

mechanism, reduces agency costs by the organizations interest expenses. Thus it doesn’t take

into account the interest rate of the economy, set by the central bank.

Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to examine whether the interest rate of the economy

affects the mechanisms power to reduce agency costs.

Method: The thesis utilizes a deductive research method grounded in existing theory in agency

problem, agency costs, debt ratios and efficiency. The thesis utilizes a quantitative approach and

data of American companies to fulfill its purpose. To estimate the agency cost, this thesis

employs two different proxys for measuring agency costs.

Results: The results from this study can’t draw and conclusions about whether the interest rate

of the economy affects the capital substitution mechanisms power to reduce agency costs.

However it shows that the management team got bigger opportunities to engage in agency cost

related activities when interest rates are low compared to a high interest rate environment

Abstract

Master Thesis in Business Administration, School of Business and Economics, Linnaeus University, 2017.

Authors: Staffan Ahlqvist and Jesper Mattsson

Supervisor: Christopher von Koch

Co-examiner: Timurs Umans

Keywords: CSR, ESG, investment level, payout ratio

Title: Corporate Social Responsibility, an indicator of the investment level and payout ratio? An empirical study of the effect of CSR on the Swedish and American market

Background: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is and has been a well-considered subject with several theoretical approaches. CSR is difficult to define and how it affects company performance is and has been well debated. CSR has become increasingly important for investors, which makes it more interesting to investigate its impact. Different views and institutional differences are expected to explain the relationships and differences that may exist between the Swedish and US markets regarding CSR's impact on investments and the payout ratio.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate whether there is a link between the CSR-level, investments and payout ratio. As well as investigating whether there is a difference between the US and Swedish markets regarding the same relationships.

Method: The study follows a quantitative method where three hypotheses, one of which is divided into two partial hypotheses, are deduced. The hypotheses consist of ESG-ratings as the independent variable and eight other control variables that are expected to affect the dependent variables. The empirical material consists of 62 unique companies from the Stockholm Stock Exchange and 579 unique companies from the New York Stock Exchange with data for the period 2010-2015. The relationships are investigated and analyzed by multiple regressions.

Conclusion: The study shows contradictory results regarding the impact of the CSR-level on the investment level and the payout ratio. The study finds that in Sweden that has an institutional environment with a civil law-system, high degree of concentrated ownership and where the stakeholder theory is dominant, CSR has a positive impact on investments and the payout ratio. The study also finds that in an institutional environment where a common law-system exists, with a more diverse ownership and the shareholder perspective is dominant, there is no correlation between CSR and investment, and there is a negative relationship between CSR and the payout ratio. In addition to this, the study also finds support for that CSR affect Swedish companies more than American companies.

Title: “The Numbers Game” - A study on the effects of the audit committee's composition and work process on earnings management in Swedish listed companies

Background: The top management team's tendency to engage in earnings management is a well-known problem that has been frequently discussed in the literature. An audit committee is one of the control mechanisms set up to constrain the management's engagement in earnings management. Studies regarding the audit committee's relation to earnings management have focused primarily on the US market, which is characterized by its’ dispersed ownership structure. Few, if any, have studied the Swedish market, which differs from the US market through its’ higher ownership concentration. This therefore gives us a motif to study how the audit committee relates to earnings management in Sweden.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate how the audit committee's composition and work process affect the occurrence of earnings management in Swedish listed companies.

Method: We applied a deductive approach in which we used the theories Positive accounting theory (PAT), Agency theory, Institutional theory, Stewardship theory, and Critical mass theory and prior empirical studies in order to derive a number of hypothesis concerning the relationship between the audit committee's composition and work process and earnings management. The hypothesis were then tested in a cross-sectional study on companies that were listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange as of 2017.

Conclusion: The results from the study show that the audit committee's composition and work process do not have any major impact on the occurrence of earnings management in Swedish listed companies. This deviates from previous studies among US companies which show that the audit committee constraints earnings management. One explanation for this may be due to the difference in ownership structure between the countries, which indicates that major part of the monitoring role shifts from the audit committee to the controlling shareholders in Swedish companies. This in turn means that the importance of the audit committee as monitors reduces. Based on the results, we conclude that the audit committee’s composition and work process do not have any major impact on the occurrence of earnings management in Swedish listed companies.

Ideella föreningar skapar icke-finansiella värden som är viktiga för samhället i stort, men de måste samtidigt ha en fungerande ekonomi och hushålla med sina resurser, både pengar och ideellt arbete. I litteraturen uttrycks en oro att föreningarna marknadiseras genom att lägga ett större fokus på ekonomiska aspekter och anamma arbetssätt från näringslivet, och att detta leder till att föreningarnas demokratiska värden och ideella syften hamnar i skymundan.

I den här uppsatsen undersöks detta problem med hjälp av följande frågeställningar: Hur använder ideella föreningar ekonomistyrning för att främja sina syften och mål utan att förlora sina ideella värden? Vilken förankring har dessa arbetssätt i affärsmässiga metoder?

Syftet med uppsatsen är att förstå ekonomistyrningens roll i de ideella föreningarnas balansgång mellan ekonomisk effektivitet och ideella värden. Genom att studera hur ekonomistyrning används i ideella föreningar och se vilken anknytning den har till affärsmässiga metoder hoppas vi kunna bidra med kunskap och inspiration till ideella föreningar i deras arbete med ekonomistyrning. För att göra det har representanter från fem föreningar intervjuats. Föreningarna skiljer sig i storlek och verksamhetsinriktning.

De slutsatser som dras är att ekonomistyrning kan bidra till att ideella syften nås, men att de föreningar som anser sig framgångsrika inte lägger fokus på hur styrningen utformas.

Abstrakt

Titel: Att styra i kreativa företag - för att stimulera kreativitet och nå lönsamhet

Författare: Josefin Ahrenius och Annika Selerud

Handledare: Petter Boye

Examinator: Thomas Karlsson

Kurs: 2FE71E - Företagsekonomi III - Ekonomistyrning, examensarbete 15 hp

Frågeställning: Hur kan ett kreativt företag styras mot lönsamhet och samtidigt bibehålla kreativitet hos medarbetarna?

Syfte: Syftet är att beskriva hur kreativa företag kan utveckla en mer effektiv styrning och samtidigt behålla medarbetarnas kreativitet. Syftet är även att förstå varför företagsstyrningen kan behöva anpassas till de specifika förutsättningar som gäller för kreativa företag. Vi har också som syfte att ta fram och identifiera särskilt viktiga saker att tänka på vid styrning av företag som LEON och andra företag i en liknande situation.

Metod: Denna studie utgår från ett abduktivt angreppssätt. En kvalitativ undersökningsmetod har används för att få en djupare förståelse kring problemet som studerats. Primärdata har samlats in med hjälp av intervjuer gjorda med personer inom företag som verkar i en kreativ bransch.

Slutsats: Vår studie har visat att kreativa företag generellt har en kultur som innefattar mjuka värden. Det behövs en tydlig ledare som kan sätta ramar och styra mot mål, då det visats att målet för de som arbetar inom ett kreativt företag generellt inte är att maximera vinst, utan att skapa ett arbete de blir erkända för. Denna studie har också visat att kreatörer behöver hänsyn och en ledare som bejakar deras individualitet. En ledarstil som passar i kreativa företag är management by Walking around. Vår studie visar också på att de mest kreativa företagen inte bör bli för stora.

With the rise of social media platforms and the phenomenon of social mediainfluencers, consumer behavior has drastically changed within the tourismindustry.A case study was conducted by the authors to determine the ways consumerbehavior within the tourism industry has been affected by social media. Theempirical data in this study were gathered by semi-structured interviews,which is a qualitative research approach. A deductive approach was used forthis thesis and it is written from a tourism influencer / destinations’self-marketing perspective. The authors interviewed five travel influencers andtwo destinations about their perception of their job, their influence and theirexperiences.With the gathered data, the authors made a conclusion regarding several wayssocial media is influencing consumer behavior in the tourism industry. 

Purpose – The purpose of this research paper is to explore the challenges faced by Pakistani entrepreneurs in different cultural context of Sweden and Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach – In order to collect primary data, authors has conducted six interviews of Pakistani entrepreneurs. Three entrepreneurs were taken from Pakistan and three were taken from Sweden. For this research paper, authors has used Inductive approach as Research approach, Case study as research design, Qualitative data as research strategy, primary and secondary data as data sources and in-depth semi-structured interviews as data collection method, purposive and snowball method were used to select sample size. For the sake of collecting secondary data, two search engines were used; One Search and Google Scholar. Different published articles and journals were utilized in order to critically analyze Literature on similar topic.

Conclusion – Challenges faced by Pakistani entrepreneurs in Pakistan are brand registration problem, corruption, Lack of support, Labour problem, Law and order, High taxes, Loan problem, Load shedding problem, high approach and high rental expenses. Explored challenges in Sweden are; Language barrier, Employees problem, Loan problem, High taxes, Saturation, less availability of shops, Racism, requirements for Swedish licences.

Research limitations/implications – This research paper is only limited to Pakistani entrepreneurs who have start-ups in Pakistan and in Sweden.

Purpose: This thesis examines the perception of the usefulness of SMAT, its adoption, and expected outcomes among SMEs in the food processing industry of Nigeria.

Research Questions: Three research questions have been addressed in this thesis; (1)What is the perception of the usefulness of SMAT among SMEs in the food processing industry in Nigeria? (2) What leads to SMEs adoption of SMAT (antecedents) among SMEs in the food processing industry in Nigeria? and (3) What outcomes (consequences) are believed to result from using SMAT among SMEs in the food processing industry in Nigeria? 

Methodology: Qualitative studies are employed to handle empirical data gathering by semi structural interviews from four SMEs in the food processing industry in Nigeria. The data has been analyzed and thoroughly discussed in the light of previous theories, and findings are presented.

Findings: A significant positive perception of the usefulness of SMAT among the selected SMEs in the food processing industry in Nigeria was observed. With few exceptions, costing techniques, customer-focused techniques, and competitors' accounting are moderately and highly perceived while customer accounting techniques are not in use. The most adopted technique is target costing, and the other including; pricing strategy, competitor position tracking, brand valuation, and life cycle costing. Moreover, the management of the sample SMEs thought that benchmarking is the most suitable method to meet their operational targets. The perception of usage of SMAT positively and significantly impacts the perception of increasing customer base and obtaining competitive advantage. The findings imply that SMAT could replace the traditional management accounting practices such as budget and budgetary control in SMEs. Further, human capital is a more influential factor for SMEs than technology because human capital is better positioned to decide which technological tools are more effective for the firms to implement them in their business processes and operations to achieve the organizational goals.

Significance of the Study: The research work contributes towards the literature by increasing the knowledge regarding the perception of the usefulness of SMAT and the implications of SMAT practices and its awareness in the SME sector. The larger and smaller firms' policymakers, owners, and managers can benefit through the knowledge and awareness of SMAT and its implementation in their day-to-day business operations. Moreover, the knowledge of using SMAT can enhance the effectiveness of the organizations in achieving their goals that would result in the overall prosperity of the economy of any country.

Limitations: The study is restricted to the perception of the usefulness of SMAT, level of adoption, and outcomes among SMEs operating in the food processing industry with a sample size consist of four companies and limited to participants’ in particular geographic regions of Nigeria; therefore, provided information may not be valid for other areas and markets. This fact limits the global generalizability of our findings.

The increase in executive compensation in the last few decades has attracted interest in CEO compensation and other top management pay. This has caused the determinants of CEO compensation to remain at the center of debate and discussion among the academic literatures in recent time. Despite the growing discussion in this field, there has not been a definite solution and the problem remains unsolved. This is because different factors determining CEO compensation has been characterized by disagreements, while monetary rewards are considered by most studies as determinant for CEO compensation. Based on the above, the study investigates the determinants of CEO compensation in Nigerian. To accomplish it objectives, the study was conducted on fifty (50) listed companies in Nigeria where secondary data from year 2016 to 2018 were used. Linear regression was used to confirm the relationship between study dependent and independent variables. The study finds out that board compensation is a determinant of CEO compensation among the listed companies in Nigeria; CEO shareholding is not a determinant of CEO compensation; firm performance is not a determinant of CEO compensation among the listed companies in Nigeria; firm size is a determinant of CEO compensation among the listed companies in Nigeria; and board size is a determinant of CEO compensation among the listed companies in Nigeria. The study therefore recommends that board should generally review the compensation structure of the board and CEO to a level that would not be negatively affect firm performance and survival. The study also recommends an increase in the number of members on the board by firms.

The purpose of this thesis is to analyze and provide a deeper understanding of how the national culture of China affects the use of formal and informal management control systems of Swedish firms, operating in China. In order to conduct this research, relevant theories concerning internationalization, culture and management control systems were gathered and analyzed in relation to each other. This resulted in a conceptual framework, which illustrates the interrelationships between the concepts. Thereafter, this was used as the ground to which the empirical findings were analyzed and compared to. The analysis chapter involves a discussion of the similarities and dissimilarities between theory and empirical data, which leads to the conclusions of this study. This is lastly followed by theoretical implications, practical implications and recommendations, limitations and suggestions for further research.

The study has been conducted with a qualitative research method, in order to obtain a deeper understanding of how national culture can affect the use of  management control systems of Swedish firms in China. Further, due to the unexplored and limited research area of this complex subject, the study followed an abductive approach.

The findings of this research indicate that the Chinese culture affects the use of formal control systems, in which they are used extensively within Swedish firms, operating  in China. However, the national culture of China does not have an effect on the informal control systems of Swedish firms. Nevertheless, the use of the informal control systems should not be undermined, as the use of these triggers for more innovation and creativity among the members of an organization. This in turn could lead to Swedish firms operating more efficiently in the Chinese market. This research can be valuable for Swedish firms that wish to internationalize to the Chinese market, as well as firms operating in China with concerns regarding the use of management control systems in relation to the culture.

Introduction: Lately, more attention has been drawn to the benefits of physical stores, particularly now with an increased competition on the web. This has led companies to go from only selling online to also complement the e-commerce by establishing physical stores; clicks to bricks. When companies change their strategy, they also have to adapt their MCS.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to contribute knowledge by finding patterns in how the MCS has changed companies going from clicks to bricks.

Methodology: Two companies that’ve gone from clicks to bricks have been the basis for this study. To clarify our issue, semi-structured interviews were conducted with each company.

Conclusion: Companies that’ve gone from clicks to bricks have experienced both internal and external changes that resulted in an increased need for formal controls, where budget and short-term planning have been particularly prominent. The MCS has been more open to be able to quickly handle sudden changes as they occur. Some controls in the MCS, such as the business culture, hasn’t from this study's findings been affected. In other controls elements have been added; physical stores' requires other measurements, among others. Also some MCS controls are now used for other purposes than before clicks to bricks.

Key words: clicks to bricks, management control systems, contingency, MCS as a package

This study examines profiles of incubator tenants who provide the most positive evaluations of the use of advisory services and support from incubators. The study presents an application of qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) to a sample of 54 incubator tenants in Valencia, Spain. The study examines how entrepreneurs' age, gender, education and training, work experience, and family background affect the utility of advice and support from experts at the incubator. The results of the research inform that the incubator tenants who find the services of incubators most useful are young, have good studies, have professional experience, and have family experience.

Bachelor thesis, 15 hp, 2FE93E, Spring 2017

School of Business and Economics – Linnaeus University in Växjö

Authors: Tove Sjöstedt, Kristina Johansson and Sandra Aldin

Tutor: Yuliya Ponomareva

Examiner: Pia Nylinder

Title: Sustainability Report - A study on how six clothing companies balance positive and negative information according to GRI’s principle balance.

Keyword: Sustainability Report, CSR, GRI, Global Reporting Initiative, Balance, Strategies, Legitimacy

Background: Sustainability Report is about accounting that includes environmental, social and economic impact. The clothing industry is exposed to heavy pressure from both the media and consumers who have high demands on sustainability issues, and it is therefore important to openly communicate the information. As a support to openly communicate the CSR information, the global GRI framework contains guidelines for obtaining comparable reporting in sustainability reporting. A principle that is part of GRI's guidelines is about balance where companies should report both good and bad results.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the content of Swedish clothing companies' sustainability reports, which report according to GRI's guidelines to see how Swedish clothing companies report negative information and relate to GRI's principle balance in which both positive and negative information should be reported.

Method: The study is conducted in the form of a multiple case study. The data collection consists of secondary data where six clothing companies' sustainability reports and annual reports have been examined.

Conclusions: The study shows that all clothing companies report both positive and negative information in their reports, but it is predominantly positive information. It also emerged that clothing companies use different strategies when presenting negative information in their reports, which means that the information still can be perceived as positive.

Background and problem discussion: Lean consists of a variety of tools that have been created for different purposes, in order to create competitive advantages over other companies. The use of the method can mean that they become better communication, greater confidence or improvements in the operating economy. In recent years there has also been a changed demand for companies regarding the environment, which means that they can not focus only on how they can improve the unproductive processes. The companies are therefore trying to combine the traditional performance goals (eg: quality & efficiency) with environmental goals. Here it has been found that Lean's way of thinking can also be used to improve environmental performance and gain competitive advantages through it. But it is far from all companies that have implemented the method that managed to gain competitive advantage. This is because companies have a lack of knowledge about the impact of the various lean tools.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify which Lean tools Swedish manufacturing companies work with and how the companies work with them. Furthermore, the study aims to increase understanding of the perceived impact that companies' work with lean tools have on the operating economy and environmental performance.

Method: The approach is based on a comparative multi-case study with qualitative character. Where the material is obtained from three manufacturing companies. The interviews were conducted through structured questions via mail, as well as semi-structured questions via telephone interviews. The collected data is then analyzed to find similarities and differences between the fall companies, but also against previous research.

Conclusion: Based on this study, it appears that companies are adapting their use of the various lean tools to their business. Where the use of the lean tools is perceived to affect their becoming a greater customer focus in the companies. The work with the lean tools is also perceived to contribute to improving the quality of the companies products and processes, and that flexibility and reliability could be improved. In this study it also turns out that companies are starting to think more about how their processes and products affect the environment. Where working with the lean tools has shown that companies' environmental performance can be improved. In this study, it appears that the use of the lean tools has contributed to the reduction in material use.

Bakgrund och problem: I Sverige köper varje person cirka 12,5 kilo kläder årligen, varav cirka 8 kilo slängs. Idag tillverkas en stor mängd kläder av dålig kvalité som dessutom inte håller särskilt länge. Modebranschen genomsyras av linjär ekonomi som inte tar hänsyn till att materialanvändning görs utifrån ett hållbart sätt. Branschen anses även vara den näst mest destruktiva industrin. De flesta klädföretag har särskilda sektioner på sina hemsidor där läsare har möjlighet att ta del av företagens hållbarhetsarbeten, hållbarhetsrapporter etc. Det vi frågar oss är om de beskrivna strategierna och anvisningar om hållbarhet faktiskt motsvarar det dagliga arbetet som utförs.

Syfte: Syftet med den här uppsatsen är att få en djupare förståelse av hur klädbutiker arbetar med hållbarhet. Vi vill undersöka hur klädbutiker följer uttalade hållbarhetsstrategier.

Metod: I den här studien har vi använt oss av en abduktiv metod med en kvalitativ ansats. Vi har samlat in teoretiskt material som sedan sorterades och bearbetades. Därefter tog vi kontakt med klädbutiker, läste på om deras miljö- och hållbarhetsarbete och genomförde intervjuer med dem. Det empiriska materialet vi fick fram var till hjälp för att avslutningsvis kunna komplettera den teoretiska referensramen.

Slutsats: De största miljö- och hållbarhetsinsatserna som enskilda butikerna vidtar är återvinning och återanvändning av kläder. Samtliga butiker arbetar även med allmänna miljövänliga handlingar som att källsortera samt vara sparsam med användning av resurser. För att det dagliga arbetet ska kunna ligga i linje med uttalade hållbarhetsstrategier gör enskilda butiker insatser i den mån som är möjligt för dem. Det är insatser som att ta betalt för påsar, sortering, ansvarsfull resurshantering, återvinning. De insatserna bestäms och är influerade av ledningen och det är butikschefens uppgift att se till att det förverkligas.

AbstractPurposeThe primary and initial aim of the research paper is to highlight the automation anddigitalization in the supply chain management of textile industry. The context comparedtraditional and digitalized supply chain in the textile industry for digitalization.Research (Methodology/Design)The researcher adopted a qualitative approach to conduct the research on the providedtopic of supply chain management. The findings and results of the research are providedbased on the structured interviews conducted by the researchers. The evidence-basedresults will be used for porbing out the basic problems and future recommendations.FindingsThe finding of the research stated that a variety of challenges was being faced by thetextile industry in achieving the supply chain goals and objectives utilizing traditionalmethods of processing. Based on the reviews presented by interview participants, thetraditional model implemented in the textile industry was not strong enough and theindustry faces issues and challenges. The modern models, techniques, and methods arepresented in order to tackle the issues being faced by the textile industry. The researchpaper argues that the implementation of modern and innovative textile technology shouldbe ensured to speed up the SCM mechanism.Value/worthThe study reflected and presented useful and deep insight regarding the comparison oftraditional and modern supply chain management. The digitalization that occurred in thetextile industry is also highlighted in the research paper. The research also proposed amodern model and technique of supply chain that can be implemented in the textile supplychain in order to enhance the overall supply chain process.Keywords – Textile industry, Supply Chain, Digitalization, Mobility, Inbound Logistics,Outbound Logistics

Background: The need for a functioning welfare has been clarified as a result of Covid-19. Welfare is a collective concept, provided by the public sector. The task of government agencies is to maintain welfare by working quality-assuredly and cost-effectively. The controller's task is to analyze, control and support the business. Problematic however, is how the controller performs its tasks by combining cost-effectiveness and quality assurance, and whether they have an understanding of the meaning of creating welfare. Furthermore, it is stated to be more complicated for an individual who knows finances to subsequently learn the business, than vice versa. Of interest is therefore the importance of experience and education for the controller's performance of its tasks.

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to bestow knowledge regarding how a controller in the public sector contributes to the maintenance of welfare, and to study the importance of experience and education.

Method: The study applies a qualitative research method with an interpretive approach, where empirical data is collected through semi-structured interviews. Authorities included in the study are Kronofogden, Centrala studiestödsnämnden, Försäkringskassan, E-hälsomyndigheten samt Arbetsförmedlingen. 

Conclusions: The controller contributes indirectly to maintaining welfare by breaking down the authority's overall goals, relating to and working on the basis of current laws and guidelines set by each ministry, designing a decision basis and combining cost efficiency with quality assurance. Furthermore, experience and education are considered to be a significant part of the controller's performance of the tasks, which indirectly leads to maintaining welfare.

Background: The product development process has recently come to be seen as a strategic activity that is critical to its survival since the product's performance and costs are largely fixed before production begins. Target Costing originates from Toyota in Japan and is a method of strategic cost management that has emerged for the early control costs. The method is used to integrate cost management in the product development process in concert with customer requirements and the company's own profit requirements.

Purpose: The study aims to describe and analyze how target costing is used in the product development process at Volvo Construction Equipment in Braås to give knowledge to new potential users. The study also aims to analyze Target Costing process at Volvo CE to identify development opportunities. A secondary purpose is to provide suggestions for improvement.

Methodology: Data were collected through unstructured and semi-structured interviews, direct observation, and documentation where interviews were the main source of information.

Conclusion: Target Costing is used as a cost-reduction program at Volvo CE in their product development process in order to remain competitive and meet price pressure from competitors. Target Costing is not used in accordance with the characteristics because their objectives of cost-reduction represent the cost gap and is their starting point.