Kristianstad University
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Regulation – For better or for worse? : A quantitative study on how the amortization requirements has affected mortgage advisors
No full textBostad är för de flesta den största investeringen en person gör och finansieras med hjälp av bolån. Bolån medför makroekonomiska risker, till följd av höga skuldkvoter och minskad konsumtion. För att minska dessa infördes år 2016 samt år 2018 amorteringskrav. Amorteringskraven kan ses som mindre reglering hos bankerna men är av många ansedd som ett komplext införande. Rådgivare på svenska banker är de som ansvarar för utlåning till privatpersoner och de har behövt anpassa sig efter de nya regelverken. Syftet med studien är att undersöka hur amorteringskraven påverkat bolånerådgivare i form av stress, standardiserad arbetsprocess och inlärning. Detta för att undersöka om det upplevdes som stressande att behöva anpassa sig till amorteringskraven. Vidare undersöktes vilka konsekvenser amorteringskravens införande fått för bolånerådgivares arbete, huruvida det i takt med ett ökande antal regleringar blivit mer standardiserat. Slutligen studerades om amorteringskraven upplevdes som svåra att lära sig eller implementera i det dagliga arbetet. Genom en kvantitativ forskningsmetod, har rådgivare svarat på en enkät baserad på studiens syfte. Tidigare studier har i större utsträckning fokuserat på amorteringskravens ekonomiska konsekvenser samt hur de påverkat bostadsmarknaden. Syftet med studien är därmed intressant att undersöka utifrån ett yrkesprofessionellt perspektiv. Resultatet av studien visade ett samband mellan amorteringskravens införande och en ökad stressnivå hos rådgivarna. Resultatet stödjer även tidigare forskning vad gäller att rådgivarna upplevt att amorteringskraven bidragit till en mer standardiserad arbetsprocess. Däremot fanns det inget stöd för att amorteringskraven varit svåra att lära sig eller att implementera i arbetet med bolånerådgivning.For most people, housing is the biggest investment in life, and it is financed by mortgages. However, this entails macroeconomic risks as a result of high debt ratios and reduced consumption. To reduce these risks, amortization requirements were introduced in 2016 and 2018. The amortization requirements can be seen as a minor regulation for the banks, but it is considered by many to be a complex regulation. Advisors in Swedish banks are the ones responsible for lending to private individuals and have therefore had to adapt to the new rules. The purpose of the study is to investigate how the amortization requirements has affected mortgage advisors in terms of stress, standardized work process and learning. This is with the reason to examine investigate whether it was considered stressful to have to adapt to the amortization requirements. Furthermore, the consequences of the introduction of the amortization requirements for the work of mortgage counselors were examined, whether, as a growing number of regulations became more standardized. Finally, it was studied whether the amortization requirements were perceived as difficult to learn or implement in the mortgage advisors daily work. Through a quantitative research, advisors have responded to a survey based on the purpose of the study. Previous studies have focused to a greater extent on the financial consequences of the amortization requirements and how they have affected the housing market. The purpose of the study is thus interesting to investigate from a professional perspective. The results of the study showed a link between the introduction of the amortization requirements and an increased stress level of the advisers. The result also supports previous research in that the advisers considered that the amortization requirements contributed to a more standardized work process. However, there was no support for the fact that the repayment requirements were difficult to learn or implement in the work of mortgage counseling
Sustainability reporting in municipalities : An analysis of the municipalities' voluntary sustainability reporting
No full textSyftet med studien har varit att undersöka och analysera hållbarhetsredovisningens förändring samt incitamenten bakom åtagandet av frivillig hållbarhetsredovisning i svenska kommuner. Utgångsläget för studien har varit att förklara hur kommunernas hållbarhetsredovisning har utvecklats och harmoniserats under perioden 2015–2019 samt vilka incitament som ligger bakom kommunernas frivilliga hållbarhetsredovisning. För att besvara studiens syfte och problemformulering har empiri samlats in genom en innehållsanalys av kommunernas hållbarhets- och årsredovisningar samt intervjuer. Innehållsanalysen har utförts på fem svenska kommuner och intervjuer har utförts med tre respondenter från hållbarhetsavdelningar i tre av studiens fem granskade kommuner. I analysen har insamlad empiri tolkats med hjälp av den teoretiska referensramen, vilken behandlar intressentteorin och legitimitetsteorin. Resultatet påvisar att kommunernas redovisningsform i de frivilliga hållbarhetsredovisningarna har utvecklats genom en övergång till separata hållbarhetsredovisningar. Resultatet konstaterar även att det sker ett skifte i kommunernas tillämpning av redovisningsstandard till att tillämpa SDG som redovisningsstandard i kommunernas hållbarhetsredovisningar. Till följd av övergången till tillämpningen av SDG som redovisningsstandard har antalet upplysta SDG:er ökat i majoriteten av kommunernas hållbarhetsredovisningar. Även upplysningsformen har förändrats genom en ökning av kvantifierade upplysningar, vilka redovisas verbalt i kombination med mätetal. Det framgår även en påtaglig ökning av harmonisering av hållbarhetsredovisning i kommunerna mellan åren 2015–2019. Både den formella och materiella harmoniseringen tilltar. Det primära incitamentet bakom kommunernas frivilliga hållbarhetsredovisning är uppdraget från politikerna som är kommunernas primära intressenter. De sekundära incitamenten framgick att vara påvisande av legitimitet och ansvarsskyldighet.The purpose of this study was to examine and analyze the change in sustainability reporting as well as the incentives behind the commitment of voluntary sustainability reporting in municipalities. The initial point for the study was to explain how the municipalities' sustainability reports have developed and harmonized during the period 2015–2019 and what incentives are behind the municipalities' voluntary sustainability report. To answer the study's purpose and problem formulation, empirical data have been collected through content analysis of the municipalities' sustainability and annual reports and interviews. The content analysis was conducted in five Swedish municipalities and interviews were conducted with three respondents from sustainability departments in three of the study's five municipalities. In the analysis, collected empirics have been interpreted with the help of the theoretical framework which deals with stakeholder theory and legitimacy theory. The result shows that the municipalities' form of accounting in the voluntary sustainability reports has been developed through a clear transition to separate sustainability reports. The result also clarifies that there is a shift in the municipalities' application of accounting standard to applying SDG as the accounting standard in the municipalities' sustainability reports. As a result of the transition to the application of SDG as the accounting standard, the number of informed SDGs has increased in the majority of the municipalities' sustainability reports. The form of information has also been changed through an increase in quantified information, which is reported verbally in combination with measurements. There is also a marked increase in the harmonization of sustainability reporting in the municipalities between the years 2015–2019. Both formal and material harmonization are increasing. The primary incentive behind the municipalities' voluntary sustainability report is the assignment from the politicians who are the municipalities' primary stakeholders. The secondary incentives proved to be legitimacy and accountability
Quality in preschool : Seven special educators perceive the concept quality and education
No full textDetta examensarbete handlar om hur sju specialpedagoger uppfattar kvalité och undervisning i förskolan. Syftet med studien var att undersöka hur sju specialpedagoger uppfattade begreppet kvalitet i förskolan samt hur begreppet undervisning i förskolan uppfattades. Datainsamlingen har gjorts med kvalitativa intervjuer. Informanterna representerar ett brett urval för att få med variation i svaren. Intervjuerna har sedan analyserats i flera steg med fenomenografisk ansats. Resultatet visar att specialpedagogerna uppfattar tre övergripande kategorier som betydelsefulla för kvalitén i förskolan. Dessa är läroplanens betydelse, att det finns kompetent personal och fungerande arbetslag samt skolledningens betydelse. Specialpedagogerna uppfattar sin egen roll som betydelsefull för kvalitén i förskolan. Dels i arbetet kring de barn som är i behov av särskilt stöd i någon form och dels genom att vara ett stöd för pedagogerna genom att vara rådgivande, vägledande och ha handledning. Specialpedagogerna uppfattar att kvalitén i förskolan har betydelse för de barn som är i behov av särskilt stöd. Barn får bättre förutsättningar när kvalitén är hög och det finns tydlig struktur i verksamheten. De sju specialpedagogerna menar att undervisning i förskolan sker i alla aktiviteter under hela dagen i förskolan. Undervisning kan vara planerad men även ske spontant, viktigt är dock att pedagogerna har en medvetenhet med vad de gör och att det går att koppla till målen i läroplanen.The purpose of this thesis is to examine how seven special educators within the sphere of special education perceives the concept quality and how the concept education is being comprehended in preschool. A qualitative approach has been chosen where interviews with seven special educators have been held. The answers have been analyzed with a phenomenographical approach. The result shows that the special education teachers find their own role important for quality of preschool, in both their work with children but also in their advisory and indicative role for the teachers at preschool. The quality in preschool has significance for children in need of special education. High quality and structure is important for the children’s ability to perform in school. The special education teachers perceive that teaching can be both planned and spontaneous
Organizational hindrances to the retention of older healthcare workers
No full textThe Swedish healthcare sector is currently experiencing recruitment difficulties combined with increasing demand for healthcare services.This study accordingly seeks knowledge of the obstacles to and opportunities for retaining older employees in the Swedish healthcare sector. Results of interviews with line managers and human resource (HR) partners indicate that the informants have positive attitudes toward older healthcare workers in general, particularly acknowledging their contributions based on long experience and skill. However, line managers' high workload, the absence of age-management strategies, and universal HR policies not conducive to older workers' individual needs are considered obstacles to retention on an organizational level. To retain older healthcare workers and maintain their ability and motivation, the healthcare sector and especially HR strategies need to be more proactive in addressing these issues, and formalized policies are required in order to benefit from the potential labor reserve that older employees constitute
Impact of bone defect morphology on the outcome of reconstructive treatment of peri-implantitis
No full textOBJECTIVES: To assess if (I) the alveolar bone defect configuration at dental implants diagnosed with peri-implantitis is related to clinical parameters at the time of surgical intervention and if (II) the outcome of surgical intervention of peri-implantitis is dependent on defect configuration at the time of treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a prospective study, 45 individuals and 74 dental implants with ≥ 2 bone wall defects were treated with either an autogenous bone transplant or an exogenous bone augmentation material. Defect fill was assessed at 1 year. RESULTS: At baseline, no significant study group differences were identified. Most study implants (70.7%, n = 53) had been placed in the maxilla. Few implants were placed in molar regions. The mesial and distal crestal width at surgery was greater at 4-wall defects than at 2-wall defects (p = 0.001). Probing depths were also greater at 4-wall defects than at 2-wall defects (p = 0.01). Defect fill was correlated to initial defect depth (p < 0.001). Defect fill at 4-wall defects was significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: (I) The buccal-lingual width of the alveolar bone crest was explanatory to defect configuration, (II) 4-wall defects demonstrated more defect fill, and (III) deeper defects resulted in more defect fill
How German consumers identify sustainable food products at the point of sale
No full textThe rise of sustainable food products in Germany highlights the desire of German consumers for food which was produced with respect to the three themes of sustainability, the environment, animal welfare and social aspects. Despite this development, previous research showed, that labels and claims used at the POS to promote sustainable food products, cause difficulties for consumers such as distrust or consumer confusion when searching and evaluating these products. The purpose of this thesis is to examine whether the German supermarket and discounter customers are able to understand sustainable information at the POS and consequently identify sustainable food products. In order to examine this, a qualitative approach was chosen where nine semi-structured interviews with German consumers were conducted. The interviews contained an experimental part, where the consumers’ search and evaluation processes were tested. The results of this thesis show that difficulties in identifying sustainable food products exist in terms of trustworthiness of the information provided on the products especially in case of brand names and unknown sustainability labels. Furthermore, spin-off effects between sustainable products and less sustainable, conventional products were observed, where a positive evaluation of a sustainable product, negatively affected the evaluation of another product. Next to these difficulties, motivational conflicts were found to be a major obstacle for consumers when evaluating sustainable products. These findings implicate that manufactures and retailers need to carefully choose which and how they present sustainable information at the POS, as this is decisive for the successful search and evaluation process of their customers
Internationalisation and international marketing in practice : three case studies of small and medium-sized B2B companies
No full textBecause of an increased Globalisation, it is no longer a question whether or not to operate on an international level. Globalisation refers to the fact that companies do not only compete with local companies; they also compete with companies that invade the domestic market. The international participation establishes a coercion to deliver a competitive international marketing. Guidelines for Internationalisation and international marketing have been done on the basis of the premise of big companies. Hence, when it comes to small and medium-sized B2B companies this thesis contributes with additional information. The purpose is to explore how small and medium- sized B2B companies market themselves in an international context. Understanding how these companies have come as far as they have come, how these companies perform on the international market and how they act to reach new markets. This has been explored through literature revolved around major steps in internationalisation and standardisation or adaptation of the marketing mix in the context of SME and B2B. The study is based on three case studies of three Swedish international small and medium-sized B2B companies. The research approach was abductive, and the empirical collection was of qualitative form. The empirical material was collected through in-depth semi structured interviews with knowledgeable representatives from international small and medium-sized B2B companies. The interviews were complemented with secondary data. Findings reveal that even though the three companies are in stage three in their internationalisation, there are differences in regard to how active they are internationally. Regarding how the companies internationalises, these companies internationalised because of a demand abroad or the benefit of increase profit. These companies mainly used waterfall approach and entered countries one by one with the exception of one company who used sprinkler approach. Also, these companies entered countries that are similar and close compared to the domestic country Sweden. Furthermore, these companies entered a market through Direct Export in forms of subsidiaries and own or locally agents. Furthermore, insights in standardisation and adaptation of the marketing mix were revealed, where product and place were adapted by all companies. Price and promotion were adapted in two out of three companies and standardised in one company. Connected to the context of the study, being a small and medium-sized company was not a crucial limitation for the companies’ internationalisation. Additionally, regarding the context of B2B, quality & design, Long-term customers & Word of Mouth showed to be the most important key factors for B2B companies that operate internationally.
Key success factors in teaching : – From a special educator, teacher and pupil perspective
No full textSyftet med föreliggande studie är att undersöka vilka framgångsfaktorer som finns i undervisningen, ur ett specialpedagog-, lärar- och elevperspektiv. På vilket sätt kan lärare arbeta med ledning och stimulans på gruppnivå, för att undvika för många extra anpassningar på individnivå? Utifrån studiens syfte har tre frågeställningar utformats och dessa är; Vad anser eleverna gynnar deras lärande i den undervisning de möter? Vad anser specialpedagoger och lärare gynnar eleverna i deras lärande? Vilka specialpedagogiska perspektiv framkommer i synen på elever? Metoden är kvalitativa intervjuer med tre lärare, tre specialpedagoger, och tre fokusgruppsintervjuer med fem elever i varje. De teoretiska perspektiv studien utgår från är det sociokulturella perspektivet med utgångspunkt i Vygotskijs fokus på relationer och samspel. Även de specialpedagogiska perspektiven, relationellt- och kategoriskt perspektiv ligger till grund för studien. Resultatet visar att det finns många framgångsfaktorer när det handlar om undervisningsmetoder och planering. Elever, lärare och specialpedagoger påvisar samma saker som centrala för att uppnå kunskapskraven. Visuellt stöd, begreppsinlärning, olika stödstrukturer och samarbete är några av de faktorer som lyfts. Resultatet visar även att relationen mellan lärare och elev har en central roll i elevernas lärande och utveckling. Relationen skapar trygghet, ökar elevernas självförtroende och får eleverna att känna tillhörighet, vilket skapar bättre förutsättningar för elevernas lärande.The purpose of this study is to identify the key success factors in teaching, from a special educator, teacher and pupil perspective. How can leadership and stimulation at a group level be applied in order to avoid excessive personalized adaptations at an individual level? Based on the purpose of the study, three questions have been formulated; What do the pupils consider to be beneficial in the education they get? What do special educators and teachers consider to be beneficial in the education they conduct? What special educational perspectives emerge with the pupils in mind? The chosen method is qualitative interviews with three teachers, three special educators and three focus groups with five pupils in each. The theoretical perspective this study is based on is the sociocultural perspective using Vygotskijs’ focus on relationship and teamwork. The study is also based on the special educational perspective, the relational perspective and the categorical perspective. The result shows that there are several success factors when it comes to teaching methods and planning. , teachers and special educators identify the same factors to be critical in order to achieve the required educational proficiency. Visual aids, learning concepts, different support structures, and collaboration are some of the main factors identified. The result also shows that the relationship between the teacher and the pupil is key when it comes to learning and development. A good relationship creates safety, increases students’ self-confidence and generates a sense of belonging. This environment creates a better foundation for the pupils’ learning
Psychometric evaluation of the Chinese version of the Person-Centred Care Assessment Tool
No full textOBJECTIVE: This study aims to test a Chinese cross-cultural adaptation of the English version of the Person-Centred Care Assessment Tool (P-CAT) and evaluate its psychometric properties. DESIGN: P-CAT was translated/back-translated using established procedures before the psychometric evaluation of the Chinese version was made. SETTING: Two hospitals covering urban and suburban areas of Kunming in the Yunnan province of China. PARTICIPANTS: 152 female hospital staff completed the survey. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Construct validity and reliability, including internal consistency and test-retest reliability, were assessed among a sample of hospital staff. RESULTS: The factor analysis resulted in a two-component solution that consisted of two subscales. The corrected item-total correlations for all of the items ranged from 0.14 to 0.44, with six items not meeting the cut-off level for item-total correlation (>0.3). The Chinese P-CAT demonstrated strong reliability, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.91-0.94 for the scales and a test-retest reliability coefficient of 0.88 for the overall scale scores. The intraclass correlation was 0.92 (95% CI 0.90 to 0.95). CONCLUSION: P-CAT appears to be a promising measure for evaluating staff perceptions of person-centredness in Chinese hospital environments. The results show that P-CAT can be a useful tool for improving the quality of healthcare in terms of person-centred care in the Chinese context
Changed Buying Behavior in the COVID-19 pandemic : the influence of Price Sensitivity and Perceived Quality
No full textA global crisis struck the world in the shape of the COVID-19 pandemic at the beginning of 2020. As a result, supermarkets have experienced panic buying behaviors, empty store shelves, out of stocks, and a large increase in online sales. Supermarkets, producers, marketers, and businesses have had to adapt to consumers' changed buying behavior in food consumption. In previous research, it has been found that price and quality are two of the most influential factors in the consumer decision- process, in particular, increased price sensitivity and perceived quality of food products concerns consumers in crisis situations. The aim of this study was to research beyond panic buying behaviors, by investigating if consumer buying behavior has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic regarding price sensitivity and perceived quality within two specific food categories, meat as well as fruits and vegetables. In addition, a moderating effect of residency in either Austria or Sweden was tested. A quantitative method has been used, in which consumers in Austria and Sweden were surveyed in an online questionnaire. 169 responses from consumers were analyzed. The result suggests that the buying behavior in regard to price sensitivity and perceived quality of meat, fruits, and vegetables has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. No moderating effect of residency was found. The findings in the study create a foundation in a unique crisis situation that has never been studied before and the exploratory nature of the study gives multiple indicators for future research