Publikationer från Högskolan i Gävle
Not a member yet
18512 research outputs found
Sort by
Exploring ventilation efficiency through scalar transport equations with existing and new CFD-based indices
No full textIn practical ventilation design for contamination control, it is commonly assumed that perfectly mixed or well-mixed conditions exist. However, due to the complex fluid dynamics within indoor environments, the actual distribution of indoor scalar concentrations is often heterogeneous. Ventilation efficiency indices provide valuable insights into the mechanisms that lead to heterogeneous distributions. In CFD-based ventilation efficiency studies, once a steady-state flow field is established, various ventilation efficiency analyses can be conducted by coupling the steady-state flow field with scalar transport equations. This study focuses on CFD-based ventilation efficiency indices to explore the correlation between ventilation efficiency and the number of scalar transport equations required for their calculations. In addition to the ventilation efficiency indices proposed to date, a new index, the average return time, was introduced as a time scale for scalars recirculating within the source point. Furthermore, we provide deeper insights into ventilation efficiency by decomposing the average staying time of scalars within a room into three distinct components: recirculation, staying, and direct exhaust. The results of these ventilation efficiency analyses offer valuable information for describing fresh/clean air supply, scalar removal, recirculation, and dispersion within indoor spaces
När tiden inte räcker till för hälsan : En intervjustudie om utmaningar och medvetenhet kring fysisk aktivitet hos vuxna med stillasittande arbete
No full textAbstrakt Introduktion: I dagens samhälle präglas många yrken av en stillasittande arbetsmiljö, vilket kan bidra till minskad fysisk aktivitet och negativa hälsoeffekter. Trots väletablerade rekommendationer för fysisk aktivitet, visar tidigare forskning att det finns utmaningar som medför svårigheter att få in motion i sin vardag. Genom denna intervjustudie är avsikten att undersöka eventuella utmaningar samt deras påverkan på individens fysiska aktivitet. Studien syftar även till att belysa målgruppens medvetenhet om de riktlinjer som Folkhälsomyndigheten rekommenderar. Syfte: Syftet med den här studien är att undersöka om det finns eventuell problematik hos individer i åldern 30–55 år med stillasittande arbete angående Folkhälsomyndighetens rekommendationer kring fysisk aktivitet. Metod: Studien genomfördes med en kvalitativ intervjustudie där sex deltagare intervjuades med en hjälp av en semistrukturerad intervju. Tematisk analys användes för att identifiera återkommande mönster i deltagarnas svar. Resultat: De huvudsakliga utmaningarna som identifierades var tidsbrist, brist på motivation, upplevd trygghet samt en låg medvetenhet om vad Folkhälsomyndigheternas riktlinjer för fysisk aktivitet innebär. Deltagarna beskrev hur arbete och familjeansvar ofta medförde att det blev utmanande att prioritera fysisk aktivitet, samt att motivationen påverkas av säsongsvariationer. Vissa kvinnor upplevde även en otrygghet vid utomhusträning. Studien visade också att ingen av deltagarna var medvetna om innebörden av Folkhälsomyndighetens rekommendationer angående fysisk aktivitet. Slutsats: För att främja en mer aktiv livsstil bland denna målgrupp föreslås åtgärder såsom ökad tillgång till träningsmöjligheter, flextid eller kortare arbetsdagar. Vidare forskning bör fokusera på att utveckla effektiva strategier för att öka både motivation och kunskap kring fysisk aktivitet. Studien visar att målgruppen har utmaningar för att nå de mål som Folkhälsomyndigheten har angående fysisk aktivitet, exempelvis tid och motivation. Målgruppen var inte medvetna om vad de aktuella rekommendationerna innebar och det medförde att ingen av deltagarna visste om de nådde de uppsatta målen från Folkhälsomyndigheten. Nyckelord: vardagsmotion, rörelse, familjelogistik, trygghet, tidsbrist, prioriteringa
Unraveling critical success factors of local food supply chains: a systematic literature review
No full textPurpose: Local food supply chains (LFSCs) are floundering to be viable and grow. Existing studies lack a comprehensive framework of critical success factors (CSFs), that might serve as a checklist for focal firm managers while establishing and expanding such chains. Therefore, this study aims to propose a framework of CSFs for LFSCs. Design/methodology/approach: To achieve the research purpose, a total of 80 empirical papers published between 2005 and 2023 were systematically reviewed. CSFs were first identified through thematic analysis; thereafter, these CSFs were ranked and labeled using Pareto analysis. Findings: The thematic analysis reveales “11 CSFs” and “12 CSFs” for the establishment and expansion of LFSCs, respectively. While “10 CSFs” are similar, “3 CSFs” differ across phases. Pareto analysis reveals “marketing mix” as first and “engagement” as second “vital few CSFs” for both the establishment and expansion phases. Research limitations/implications: The proposed comprehensive framework of CSFs for the establishment and expansion phases of LFSCs adds new knowledge to the extant literature. Moreover, the framework will assist managers of LFSCs in deciding what factors to prioritize over others across the development phases of the LFSCs, consequently minimizing the risk of failure while establishing and expanding such chains. Practical implications: The framework of CSFs can assist the management and entrepreneurial decision-making process of varying business models of LFSCs (e.g. B2C, B2B, and B2G). Reporting of subfactors under each critical success factor (CSF) will inform managers about what specific issues they should focus on to attain certain CSF. The clear representation of “vital few” and “useful many” CSFs will solve the managers’ dilemma of which factors to prioritize over others while establishing or expanding LFSCs. Furthermore, the comparison of CSFs between phases will let managers know what factor requires more attention at what phase. By considering the proposed framework, managers of LFSCs thus could minimize their risk of failure while establishing and expanding such chains. Social implications: The increased number of viable LFSCs will raise access to local food and create new employment opportunities, thus indicating the social contribution of this research. Originality/value: To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper proposes the first comprehensive framework of CSFs for the establishment and expansion of LFSCs based on extensive evidence from diverse geographical contexts.Greener: Success factors for establishing and scaling up local food chain
Enablers for reductions of fossil fuel consumption for personal transportation in rural areas
No full textThis study focuses on the transition towards “fossil-free” (meaning fossil fuel-free)passenger transport in rural areas. We identify enablers for travel behaviour changethrough alternative transport and accessibility solutions from a bottom-up/travellerperspective, reducing the current knowledge gap and adding nuances to our existingbody of knowledge. Rural environments are particularly challenging with longdistances, inadequate accessibility to services, and limited public transport. As fossilfuel cars are the dominant means of achieving essential accessibility for many ruralresidents, maintaining accessibility with alternative solutions in connection withthe transition to a sustainable transport system is vital. The study was conducted inVästerbotten and Norrbotten, located in Northern Sweden, Europe’s most sparselypopulated area. The empirical material consists of focus groups with rural inhabitantsand (separately) civil servants, and material gathered from various other transport-related projects. The results identify five enabling themes: motivation, personaland local community, opportunities and adaptability, expectation or anticipationof the transition, and physical proximity. The research material was analysed throughsocial innovation theory, meaning that the changes under consideration were notonly seen from the perspective of simple technical changes in transport but also asa complex social process moving towards changing travel habits
Circularity metrics and life cycle assessment: Evaluating the outcome of circular economy strategies
No full textA key aspect of transitioning to a circular economy (CE) is integrating its principles at the micro-level (i.e., product level) through innovative business models and design strategies. To ensure that such initiatives both contribute to resource efficiency and effectively reduce environmental burdens in product lifecycles, CE practitioners require tools for calculating and communicating the environmental performance of their initiatives. Two key tools serving this purpose are Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and circularity metrics. While LCA is a standardized method that can produce information about contributions to different types of environmental impact, its results can be difficult to interpret and communicate. Meanwhile, circularity metrics often require less data and can quickly provide insights into the resource efficiency of circular economy initiatives. However, their contribution as indicators for environmental impact remains an underexplored research area. Extant circularity metrics have yielded results that contradict LCA indicators, though such findings have only been observed in a limited number of contexts. Specifically, their alignment with midpoint categories is not fully understood, and few circularity metrics have been systematically tested for such alignment. Therefore, the aim of this thesis is to explore and enhance the use of C-metrics as proxies for midpoint impacts, thereby providing guidance for reducing environmental impact of CE initiatives. To reach this aim, two new circularity metrics that systematically capture resources throughout product lifecycles are developed. Their alignment to key midpoint categories is tested by conducting several case studies in which LCAs are applied. By analyzing how the alignment is influenced by the product characteristics and CE strategies at hand, their usefulness across different systems is evaluated. Furthermore, to explore the practical use of circularity metrics and identify key areas of utility, a literature study and a multiple-case study are conducted. The general utility of the C-metrics in different settings is discussed based on their theoretical and practical advantages and disadvantages. The findings reveal that the first developed C-metric provides similar conclusions as the impact category assessing mineral resource scarcity. The second circularity metric generates results more aligned with the impact category global warming potential. This suggests that in several contexts, full-scale LCAs may not be necessary to indicate these key midpoint categories, as the circularity metrics can provide sufficient information. This includes some of the research gaps revealed in the literature review, in which LCAs targeting specific CE interventions on micro-level are lacking. Lastly, the findings also suggest that the circularity metrics could offer practical utility in overcoming barriers related to impact assessment faced by CE practitioners. In particular, they could be applied in public procurement and policy development to incentivize micro-level adoption of CE initiatives, as well as for communication purposes, helping to reduce costs associated with impact assessment. To conclude, the developed C-metrics can serve as simplified indicators for midpoint impact, requiring significantly less data collection and methodological expertise compared to LCA. In future work, the circularity metrics could be integrated into tangible tools that can help guide different actors in making environmentally informed decisions. This can provide valuable insights quickly at low cost, which is crucial given the urgent need to transition towards a less resource-intensive society.En viktig del i övergången till cirkulär ekonomi (CE) är att integrera dess principer på mikronivå (d.v.s. produktnivå) genom att anamma innovativa affärsmodeller och designstrategier. För att säkerställa att sådana initiativ både bidrar till resurseffektivitet och effektivt minskar miljöbelastningen under produktlivscykler behövs verktyg för att beräkna och kommunicera miljöprestanda. Två viktiga verktyg som används i detta syfte är livscykelanalys (LCA) och cirkularitetsmått. Även om LCA är en standardiserad metod som kan informera om bidrag till olika typer av miljöpåverkan så kan resultaten vara svåra att tolka och kommunicera. Cirkularitetsmått kräver däremot ofta färre data och kan snabbt ge insikt om resurseffektiviteten av cirkulära initiativ. Deras bidrag som indikatorer på miljöpåverkan är dock fortfarande relativt outforskat. Befintliga studier visar att cirkularitetsmått inte ger resultat som är i linje med specifika miljöpåverkanskategorier. Samtidigt har sådana slutsatser endast kunnat dras i ett begränsat antal sammanhang och på ett fåtal cirkularitetsmått. Hur väl cirkularitetsmått överensstämmer med olika miljöpåverkanskategorier är därför inte helt klarlagt. Med denna bakgrund är syftet med denna avhandling att utforska och förbättra användningen av cirkularitetsmått som schablon för miljöpåverkan, och därigenom ge vägledning för att minska miljöpåverkan från CE-initiativ. För att uppnå detta syfte designas i den här avhandlingen två nya cirkularitetsmått som systematiskt kan beräkna resursåtgången under produkters livscykler. Genom att utföra flera fallstudier där resultaten jämförs med viktiga miljöpåverkanskategorier går det att dra slutsatser om deras robusthet i olika system. Detta görs genom att analysera hur robustheten påverkas beroende på vilken typ av cirkularitetsstrategi och produktkategori som är i fokus. Utöver det genomförs en litteraturstudie och en intervjustudie för att undersöka den praktiska användningen av cirkularitetsmått och identifiera de områden där de kan göra mest nytta. Cirkularitetsmåttens användbarhet i olika situationer diskuteras baserat på deras teoretiska och praktiska fördelar och nackdelar. Resultaten visar att det första cirkularitetsmåttet ger liknande resultat som den miljöpåverkanskategori som mäter bidrag till utarmning av mineralresurser (mineral resource scarcity). Det andra cirkularitetsmåttet genererar resultat som är mer i linje med den miljöpåverkanskategori som beräknar bidrag till global uppvärmning (global warming potential). Detta indikerar att fullskaliga LCA i flera sammanhang kanske inte är nödvändiga för att utvärdera dessa miljöpåverkanskategorier eftersom cirkularitetsmåtten ger tillräcklig information. Det inkluderar även några av de forskningsluckor som identifierades i litteraturstudien, där en brist på LCA-studier inriktade på specifika cirkularitetsstrategier på mikronivå framkom. Slutligen tyder resultaten också på att cirkularitetsmåtten är praktiska att använda och kan underlätta miljökonsekvensbedömningar. De skulle i synnerhet kunna tillämpas vid offentlig upphandling och policyutveckling för att uppmuntra CE-initiativ på mikronivå. De kan även användas för kommunikation på företagsnivå och för att minska kostnaderna för miljökonsekvensbedömningar. Sammanfattningsvis kan de utvecklade cirkularitetsmåtten fungera som förenklade indikatorer för specifika miljöpåverkanskategorier, vilka ställer betydligt mindre krav på datainsamling och metodrelaterade kunskaper än LCA. Framtida arbete består i att integrera cirkularitetsmåtten i konkreta verktyg som kan hjälpa olika aktörer att fatta miljömedvetna beslut. Detta kan snabbt och kostnadseffektivt ge värdefulla insikter, vilket är avgörande med tanke på det akuta behovet av omställning till ett mindre resurskrävande samhälle
Factors influencing self-management in older people with type 2 diabetes : A descriptive literature review
No full textBackground: Type 2 diabetes is a serious and common chronic disease and is the most common form of diabetes. People over 60 years of age have a higher risk of developing diabetes than other age groups, and the incidence of diabetes in the elderly is increasing. The challenges facing older adults with type 2 diabetes are even more unique. Therefore, effective self-management in daily life is particularly important. However, patients encounter various types of influencing factors in their self-management practices. Each of these factors has its own characteristics, and it is important for people with diabetes to identify these factors in the actual situation, which can help patients achieve good self-management results.Aim: To investigate the influencing factors of self-management in older people with type 2 diabetes.Design: We conducted a descriptive literature review.Methods: Through a quantitative study of factors affecting self-management in older people with type 2 diabetes from PubMed. The authors compared the similarities and differences in the nine articles and summarized the results.Results: A total of nine articles described the older type 2 diabetes self management factors, and refined a major theme: self-efficacy, and three sub themes: 1) personal factors and 2) family factors and 3) social factors, and further discuss these factors on the older type 2 diabetes patients of positive and negative effects.Conclusion: The factors influencing the self-management ability of elderly patients with type 2 diabetes are multi-dimensional, complex and personal. Although these factors vary greatly from individual to individual, as nurses, we should prevent or control them through early identification and systematic intervention. Understanding these factors and establishing a scientific evaluation system are of great significance for precision medicine
Arbetsrelaterad stress bland socialsekreterare : En kvantitativ studie om skillnaden att arbeta som socialsekreterare i utsatta och mindre utsatta områden
No full textAim: The study examined whether there are differences in perceived work-related stress between social workers employed in different geographical areas with varying degrees of vulnerability. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among social workers (n=80) in Gothenburg and Stockholm. Half of the participants (51%) worked in vulnerable areas and 49% in less vulnerable areas. Data was collected through a digital, shortened version of the COPSOQ III questionnaire. Variables included work-related stress, job demands, organizational commitment and offensive behavior. Descriptive and inferential analyses including ANOVA, ANCOVA, MANOVA and Chi-square tests were used to compare area-based groups. Results: No statistically significant differences were found between the groups in terms of work-related stress, job demands or offensive behavior. However, both groups reported higher levels of work-related stress and demands than national reference values for social workers. Conclusion: Taking the study´s limitations into account, the conclusion is that levels of work-related stress, job demands, organizational commitment and exposure to offensive behavior were similar across areas. This may indicate that general organizational interventions are more relevant than locally adapted efforts. Socialsekreterare är en yrkesgrupp som ofta arbetar under hög belastning och i emotionellt krävande situationer. Tidigare forskning har belyst stressrelaterade utmaningar bland poliser i områden med låg socioekonomisk status och hög kriminalitet, där högre stressnivåer och emotionell utmattning rapporterats. Inom socialtjänsten saknas motsvarande kunskap om hur arbete i områden med olika grad av utsatthet påverkar socialsekreterares upplevelse av arbetsrelaterad stress. Syftet med studien var att undersöka om det finns skillnader i upplevd arbetsrelaterad stress mellan socialsekreterare som arbetar i olika geografiska områden med varierande grad av utsatthet. Studien genomfördes som en kvantitativ tvärsnittsdesign med 80 socialsekreterare från Göteborg och Stockholm. Deltagarna arbetade antingen i utsatta (51%) eller mindre utsatta (49%) områden. Datainsamlingen skedde via en digital enkät med frågor om arbetsrelaterad stress, arbetskrav, organisatoriskt engagemang och utsatthet för kränkande beteende. Resultaten visade att arbetsrelaterad stress förekom i hög grad oavsett grad av områdets utsatthet. Inga statistiskt signifikanta skillnader kunde påvisas mellan grupperna. Samtliga grupper rapporterade högre upplevd arbetsrelaterad stress och arbetskrav jämfört med nationella referensvärden för socialsekreterare. Med hänsyn till studiens begränsningar är slutsatsen att upplevd arbetsrelaterad stress, arbetskrav, organisatoriskt engagemang och utsatthet för kränkande beteende förekom på liknande nivå i områden med varierande grad av utsatthet. Vilket kan indikera att generella arbetsmiljöinsatser inom hela organisationen skulle vara relevant istället för lokalt anpassade åtgärder.
Motivations for Sustainable Procurement in the Swedish Food Industry : A Study on Organizational Drivers and Stakeholder Influence
No full textThis study examines the drivers and challenges of sustainable procurement in the Swedish food industry, with a focus on how organizational and stakeholder dynamics shape decision-making. Using stakeholder theory as an analytical lens, the research explores how instrumental, relational, and moral motives influence procurement strategies within Sweden’s unique regulatory, cultural, and market context. A qualitative multiple case study approach is used. Six firms operating in different areas of the food supply chain are investigated through semi-structured interviews and document analysis. The findings reveal that sustainability in procurement is often driven by a combination of compliance with EU regulations, customer expectations, and a broader sense of ethical responsibility. A key finding is that intermediaries, such as grocery chains and wholesalers, exert considerable influence over producers' sustainability efforts, often more than individual consumers or regulations. Furthermore, the study identifies barriers such as limited supplier control, regulatory complexity, and internal tensions between social- and environmental sustainability goals and cost-efficiency. The research contributes to the existing literature by providing context-specific insights into how sustainability is interpreted and operationalized in procurement and offers practical implications for procurement professionals and policymakers aiming to enhance sustainability in supply chains. Suggestions for future research include continued research in the same theoretical area, incorporating results from multiple organizations, but in different industries and different geographical areas. It would also be valuable to explore the extent to which moral motivations are sustained over time, especially in the absence of strong external pressure
Ledarskap i skuggan av frånvaro : En studie om autonomi, kompetens och samhörighet i hemtjänsten
No full textTitel: Ledarskap i skuggan av frånvaro – En studie om autonomi, kompetens och samhörighet i hemtjänsten Nivå: Examensarbete på grundnivå (kandidatexamen) i ämnet företagsekonomi Författare: Alna Ahmadi och Malin Swing Handledare: Monika Wallmon Datum: 2025 – juni Syfte: Studien undersöker hur ledarskap och organisatoriska strukturer i hemtjänsten stödjer medarbetarnas psykologiska behov enligt Självbestämmandeteorin (SDT), samt hur detta påverkar motivation, engagemang och vilja att stanna kvar. Metod: Kvalitativ studie med tio semistrukturerade intervjuer inom kommunal och privat hemtjänst. Analysen utgår från SDT och Cognitive Evaluation Theory (CET). Resultat och slutsats: Medarbetares behov av autonomi uppfylls i det dagliga arbetet men saknas i större organisatoriska beslut. Behovet av kompetens är ofta försummat på grund av bristande återkoppling och utvecklingsmöjligheter. Samhörighet framstår däremot som ett konsekvent uppfyllt behov och fungerar som ett avgörande stöd när övriga behov brister. Ledarskapets roll är central men ojämn, där dess närvaro och stöd är avgörande för medarbetares motivation. Examensarbetets bidrag: Teoretiskt bidrar studien genom att nyansera SDT:s balansprincip och visa att samhörighet kan fungera kompensatoriskt, vilket utmanar tidigare teorier. Praktiskt bidrar studien med insikten att kollegialt stöd är avgörande för att skapa hållbara arbetsmiljöer i krävande omsorgsyrken, där det ofta saknas formellt ledarskapsstöd och strukturer. Förslag till fortsatt forskning: Framtida forskning bör utforska chefers perspektiv på att stödja psykologiska behov och undersöka vilka organisatoriska förutsättningar som möjliggör effektivt stödjande ledarskap. Kvantitativa och longitudinella studier rekommenderas för att undersöka kopplingen mellan psykologiska behov, motivation och faktisk personalomsättning över tid.Title: Leadership in the Shadow of Absence – A Study on Autonomy, Competence and Relatedness in Home Care Services Level: Bachelor’s Thesis in Business Administration Author: Alna Ahmadi and Malin Swing Supervisor: Monika Wallmon Date: 2025 – June Aim: This study explores how leadership and organizational structures within home care services support employees’ psychological needs according to Self-Determination Theory (SDT), and how this, in turn, affects motivation, engagement, and retention. Method: A qualitative study based on ten semi-structured interviews within both municipal and private home care organizations. The analysis is grounded in SDT and Cognitive Evaluation Theory (CET). Results and conclusions: Employees’ need for autonomy is generally met in daily work but is lacking in broader organizational decision-making. The need for competence is often neglected due to insufficient feedback and limited development opportunities. In contrast, relatedness consistently emerges as a fulfilled need and serves as a crucial support when other needs are unmet. Leadership plays a pivotal but inconsistent role, where its presence and support are key factors in sustaining employee motivation. Contribution of the thesis: Theoretically, the study contributes by refining SDT’s principle of balance, demonstrating that relatedness can act as a compensatory mechanism—challenging prior assumptions. Practically, the study highlights the critical importance of collegial support in fostering sustainable work environments within demanding care professions, where formal leadership and structures are often absent. Suggestions for future research: Future studies should examine managers’ perspectives on supporting psychological needs and investigate the organizational conditions that enable effective supportive leadership. Quantitative and longitudinal research is recommended to further explore the relationship between psychological needs, motivation, and actual staff turnover over time
Första linjens chefers uppfattning om hur de främjar välbefinnande i byggbranschen : En kvalitativ studie om ledarskap och välbefinnande
No full textSystematic work environment management is important to prevent ill health and promote health and well-being in a high-risk industry, as the construction industry. Transformative leadership strategies are seen to contribute to increase job satisfaction among employees and first-line managers seems to be a significant part of applying such strategies. Previous research on how first-line managers perceives their use of such strategies has not been found. The aim of this study was to investigate how first-line managers in the construction industry perceives their efforts to promote well-being of their employees. Five semi-structured interviews were conducted with first-line managers from three different construction companies. PERMA framework has worked as a support for the design of the research question and the interview guide. Collected data was analysed by a qualitative content analysis with an abductive approach. The results showed that five first-line managers perceive that they work with conscious leadership strategies to promote well-being of their employees. This was done by creating participation, being attentive and open to feedback, having a daily dialogue that contributes to the ability to notice any digression, and adapting work tasks according to employees needs and conditions. Therefore, could this study contribute to further dialogue about health promotion initiatives in the construction industry. For the purpose to continuing to develop and work with systematic work environment aspects and leadership strategies that can promote employee well-being.