Publikationer från Karlstads Universitet
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Turbine replacement in Treen power plant: A technical and economic evaluation
No full textSyftet med denna studie är att utvärdera potentialen för ett turbinbyte vid Treens kraftverk, med fokus på modern varvtalsstyrningsteknik och reläskyddssystem. Genom att analysera tekniska, ekonomiska och miljömässiga aspekter syftar arbetet till att optimera kraftverkets prestanda och tillförlitlighet. Metoden innefattar en omfattande litteraturstudie, datainsamling från Treens kraftverk och beräkningar med hjälp av livscykelanalys (LCA) och livscykelkostnadsanalys (LCC). Resultaten visar att varvtalsstyrda turbiner med låsta löparblad kan minska mekaniska fel och förbättra energiutvinningen vid varierande vattenflöden. Moderna reläskyddssystem är avgörande för säker drift och integration med kraftverkets automatiseringssystem. Ne
Perceptions of Modular Service Architectures : Investigating the Customers’ Perspectives in the Context of Amusement Parks
No full textService offers can range between integral and modular, where an integral offer includes most or all components, while a modular offer consists of multiple modules that the customer can combine to create customised solutions. Customers have diverse preferences and evaluate things differently. To suit these varying needs, modular offers can be used. However, modularity can result in numerous choices, which some customers may find difficult. While previous studies have examined modular versus integral offerings, there has been relatively little attention on the customer's perspective. Specifically, their perception of the offers and what advantages and disadvantages they associate with them, which is the purpose of this study. This study employs a qualitative approach, investigating an amusement park through customer interviews as the primary research method, complemented by an analysis of the park’s current offerings. The interviews were analysed using a thematic analysis to discover key aspects for each offer. The findings suggest that to appeal to a broader population, there is a need to have more than one offer, which contains more or less. An integral offer simplifies the decisions, although it may pose a hindrance for others, while modular offers provide greater flexibility and a better fit for diverse needs, though they can complicate the decision process. In addition, the price is an important factor when purchasing the services, and should reflect the extent of inclusion. Key words: Customisation, standardisation, service architecture, service modularity, service specification process.Tjänsteerbjudanden kan variera mellan integrerade och modulära, där ett integrerat erbjudande inkluderar de flesta eller alla komponenter, medan ett modulärt erbjudande består av flera moduler som kunden kan kombinera för att skapa skräddarsydda lösningar. Kunder har olika preferenser och värderar saker på olika sätt. För att tillgodose dessa varierande behov kan modulära erbjudanden användas. Modulerbarhet kan dock leda till många valmöjligheter, vilket vissa kunder kan uppleva som svårt. Även om tidigare studier har undersökt modulära jämfört med integrerade erbjudanden, har kundens perspektiv fått relativt liten uppmärksamhet. Specifikt deras uppfattning om erbjudandena och vilka för- och nackdelar de associerar med dem, vilket är syftet att undersöka med denna studie. Denna studie använder en kvalitativ ansats och undersöker en nöjespark genom kundintervjuer som primär forskningsmetod, kompletterat med en analys av parkens nuvarande erbjudanden. Intervjuerna analyserades med tematisk analys för att identifiera nyckelaspekter för varje erbjudande. Resultaten tyder på att för att tilltala en bredare målgrupp finns behov av mer än ett erbjudande, som varierar i omfattning. Ett integrerat erbjudande förenklar beslutsprocessen, även om det kan utgöra ett hinder för vissa, medan modulära erbjudanden ger större flexibilitet och bättre anpassning till olika behov, även om de kan komplicera beslutsfattandet. Pris är dessutom en viktig faktor vid köp av tjänster och bör spegla omfattningen av inkludering. Nyckelord: Kundanpassning, standardisering, tjänstearkitektur, tjänstemodularitet, specifikationsprocess för tjänster
Emergency Nurses’ Perceptions of Nursing Care in an Emergency Department: A Phenomenographic Study
No full textOrganisational Agility in a Swedish Municipality
No full textOrganisatorisk agilitet har blivit ett allt viktigare begrepp i organisationers strävan att möta ökad komplexitet och förändringstakt. Trots ett växande intresse inom privat sektor finns få studier om hur organisatorisk agilitet kan implementeras i kommunal verksamhet. Denna uppsats undersöker hur organisatorisk agilitet kan skapas i en svensk kommun, vilka effekter som märks i praktiken, och vilka drivkrafter som ligger bakom viljan att arbeta agilt i en offentlig kontext. Studien har genomförts som en kvalitativ fallstudie i en svensk kommun, där åtta chefer intervjuats efter att ha deltagit i workshops och en påbörjad chefsutbildning om agila arbetssätt. Datainsamlingen har skett genom semistrukturerade intervjuer och data har analyserats tematiskt enligt Braun och Clarkes sexstegsmodell. Analysen resulterade i tre centrala teman: Ett minimum av byråkrati, Samtal och tillit samt Vardagseffekter. Dessa visar att organisatorisk agilitet i denna kontext tar sig uttryck i konkreta beteendeförändringar, ökad reflektion och förbättrade samtal inom och mellan arbetsgrupper. Verktyg som förenkling, fokusering, visualisering och retrospektiv har varit särskilt betydelsefulla, och upplevs bidra till ökad tydlighet, engagemang och bättre arbetsflöde. Studien visar även att drivkrafterna bakom arbetet med organisatorisk agilitet i en kommun skiljer sig från privata organisationer. Istället för marknadsanpassning handlar det främst om att hantera ökad komplexitet, använda resurser mer effektivt och bygga förändringsförmåga inför framtida händelser. Resultaten visar att organisatorisk agilitet är möjlig – och kanske nödvändig – även i en offentlig kontext, men att den måste formas lokalt och förankras genom lärande, dialog och ledarskap. Uppsatsen bidrar till forskningen genom att synliggöra hur ett agilt arbetssätt kan anpassas till kommunal verksamhet och pekar på behovet av vidare studier inom området.Organizational agility has become an increasingly important concept in organizations’ efforts to cope with growing complexity and rapid change. Despite rising interest in the private sector, there are few studies on how organizational agility can be implemented in municipal operations. This thesis explores how organizational agility can be developed in a Swedish municipality, what practical effects can be observed, and what drives the willingness to work in agile ways within a public sector context. The study was conducted as a qualitative case study in a Swedish municipality, where eight managers were interviewed after participating in workshops and the initial stages of a leadership training program on agile practices. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed thematically using Braun and Clarke’s six-step model. The analysis resulted in three central themes: A Minimum of Bureaucracy, Dialogue and Trust, and Everyday Effects. These themes show that organizational agility in this context manifests in concrete behavioral changes, increased reflection, and improved communication within and between teams. Tools such as simplification, focus, visualization, and retrospectives were particularly significant, and were perceived to contribute to increased clarity, engagement, and improved workflow. The study also highlights that the driving forces behind adopting organizational agility in a municipality differ from those in private organizations. Rather than market adaptation, the main motivations include managing increasing complexity, using resources more efficiently, and building the capacity for future change. The results indicate that organizational agility is both possible—and perhaps necessary—even in a public context, but it must be shaped locally and anchored through learning, dialogue, and leadership. This thesis contributes to the research by illustrating how agile ways of working can be adapted to municipal operations and highlights the need for further studies in this area
Children culture as a time capsule : A historical analysis DuckTales (1987–1990) with a backlash and genus perspective
No full textSyftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka hur tv-serien DuckTales (1987–1990) kan förstås som en historisk källa till 1980-talets könsideal och samhälleliga diskurser kring jämställdhet. Genom att analysera serien med hjälp av Susan Faludis teori om backlash och Yvonne Hirdmans genusmodeller avser uppsatsen att belysa hur kulturella produkter för barn både speglade och bidrog till de föreställningar om kön som präglade perioden. Detta har gjorts genom två forskningsfrågor. Hur framställs kvinnliga karaktärer i DuckTales (1987–1990), och på vilka sätt kan denna framställning förstås i relation till den backlash mot feminism som Susan Faludi beskriver under samma period? Hur synliggörs 1980-talets könsnormer i DuckTales när serien analyseras genom Yvonne Hirdmans tre genusformler? Detta har gjorts genom en kvalitativ filmanalys och en visuell textanalys. Resultat blev att de avsnitt DuckTales som analyserades så gick det att koppla avsnitten till den större ramen av 1980-talets politiska och kulturella klimat. Kvinnor i serien blev marginaliserade, nästan bortglömda. När kvinnor hade större roller i avsnitten så spelades det på stereotyper som är skadliga för kvinnor. Det fanns även stora inslag av skönhetsideal, fast alla karaktärer är djur. Med detta resultat går det dock inte att dra några större generella slutsatser om hela den samtida populärkultur. Då denna uppsats har jobbat på djupet i stället för bredden så har endast fåtal avsnitt analyserats från en serie. I stället får arbetet i denna uppsats ses som tendenser till 1980-talets politiska och kulturella klimat.
Hyper-personaliserade lojalitetsprogram – En väg till starkare kundrelationer : En kvalitativ studie om konsumenters attityd och uppfattning till hyper-personaliserade lojalitetsprogram och dess påverkan på kundlojalitet
No full textNon-Technical Debt in Agile Software Development : Insights from the NODLA Research Project (2021–2024)
No full textNon-Technical Debt (NTD) is a common challenge in agile software development, manifesting in four critical forms:•Process Debt arises from inefficient or outdated workflows that hinder agility and adaptability. Examples include misaligned processes, poor synchronization across teams, and unclear role definitions, all of which can slow progress.•Social Debt stems from suboptimal team dynamics or organizational culture, such as poor communication, lack of trust, or fixed silos. These issues hinder collaboration, increase misunderstandings, and often result in costly rework.•People Debt refers to issues with people and their competence. It reflects challenges related to human resources and expertise, such as inadequate training, hiring delays, or overworked teams. This form of debt limits an organization’s ability to retain skilled, motivated personnel and meet increasing demands.•Organizational debt arises from outdated structures, policies, or practices that no longer align with the organization’s goals. Such rigidity limits innovation, hinders adaptability, and prevents the pursuit of operational excellence.The NODLA project11 (2021–2024), a collaboration between Karlstad University and four leading Swedish industrial partners, reveals how various debt types disrupt large-scale Agile Software Development (ASD) environments. Through extensive surveys, in-depth interviews, and statistical analyses involving a diverse group of software professionals, we identified key drivers of NTD and their impacts. Our findings emphasize:•Well-structured, highly cohesive teams learn faster, adapt more effectively,and innovate consistently.•Psychological safety, fostered by proactive leadership, is essential for innovation, experimentation, and keeping employees.•Inefficient processes and unclear roles contribute significantly to drops in job satisfaction, productivity, and team morale.•Social fragmentation, particularly in remote and hybrid settings, breeds rework, delays, and increased costs.•Neglected human resource needs, such as delayed hiring or insufficient training, limit an organization’s ability to meet growing demands.This white paper distils these insights into practical, evidence-based strategies, such as refining team composition, clarifying roles, fostering psychological safety, streamlining workflows, and embracing failure as a learning tool. By implementing these strategies, organizations can reduce NTD, reclaim agility, and unlock their teams’ full potential.NODL
Risk management practice : A qualitative study on project managers' experiences and approaches to risks in construction projects
No full text The study aimed to examine how project managers perceive and work with risk management in practice within construction projects. By studying practical experiences, this study highlights how project managers’ approaches both confirm and challenge theoretical assumptions. The study adopts a qualitative approach, based on semi-structured interviews with ten project managers active in various types of construction projects. The empirical material was analyzed using thematic analysis according to Braun and Clarke (2006), resulting in three main themes: Before breaking ground, The pressure to stay ahead of the risks and Something unexpected always comes up.The results show that risk management often begins early in a construction project, where risks are identified, assessed, and managed based on the project managers’ experience and available risk management tools. The use of these tools varies depending on the project’s context. Follow-up of risks is carried out through both formal procedures and informal approaches, where the project’s risk culture determines how systematically the risk work is conducted. Uncertainty is mainly managed through flexibility, experience-based judgments, and close collaboration, rather than strict methodological control. To strengthen the execution of construction projects and reduce vulnerability, risk management should be given a more prominent role in both leadership and risk culture, with particular focus on planning, continuous follow-up, and practical application
Den perfekta mäklaren : En kvalitativ studie om hur personlighetstyper påverkar rekryteringsbeslut inom mäklaryrket
No full textIn today´s labor market, companies compete not only by offering high-quality products and services, but also by positioning themselves as attractive employers. This has led to the concept of employer branding gaining a central role within corporate strategy, while recruitment processes have undergone a significant transformation. Personality assessment and other evaluative tools have become increasingly prevalent in hiring practices, particularly withing the sales industry. The real estate brokerage sector is distinguished by its high pace, intense competition, and considerable employee turnover, prompting questions about the factors that contribute to success and longevity in the profession. The purpose of this thesis is to deepen the understanding of how real estate agencies perceive and integrate personality considerations when recruiting new employees. This study adopts a qualitive research design and is based on six semi structured interviews with real estate agents and recruiters, primarily operating in Värmland. The interviews explore participant´s perceptions of how personality influences professional success, person-organization fit. And the likelihood of remaining in the profession over time. The findings suggest that real estate agencies do not place significant emphasis on personality or systematically consider it in the recruitment process. Instead, the industry is characterized by an informal recruitment approach, where great importance is placed on personal chemistry and group dynamics rather than specific personality models or the use of various assessment tools. The study also indicated that personality influence how well individuals adapt to the profession and their long-term engagement in the role. However, these aspects appear to be context dependent rather than explainable by any theoretical framework. Moreover, personality assessments were perceived as more applicable in other organizational domain than in recruitment. The results indicate that such tools are more beneficial for internal development purposes, such as enhancing team dynamics or supporting tailored training efforts, rather than serving as definitive selection instruments during hiring
Investigation of sheet molding during through air drying of tissue paper : A numerical and of the solid content
No full textThrough Air Drying (TAD) technology enhances high-quality tissue-grade paper production by shaping a wet paper web on a structured fabric using vacuum or molding boxes, followed by hot air displacement drying over TAD cylinders. This study uses CFD modeling with COMSOL Multiphysics to understand drying rate during the molding process better. Two-dimensional models of paper sheets estimated solid content over vacuum time. Tissue samples were generated using COMSOL's interface with MATLAB, enabling a random fiber distribution. Fluid flow and moisture transport were simulated by coupling the Navier-Stokes and advection-diffusion equations, while Darcy's law with inertial correction described fluid migration within fibers, considering equilibrium between moist air and liquid water. Simulations examined the impact of refining levels and fiber compositions for basis weights from 15 to 30 g/m2. Material properties, including porosity and permeability, were calibrated with laboratory tests and validated in pilot experiments. Results showed that increased refining of softwood pulp significantly affects porosity and initial dryness, achieving reasonable agreement between predicted and actual tissue dryness. The calibrated models could be a first step to improve energy efficiency in TAD processes, paving the way for more sustainable tissue-making methods