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Intern kommunikation och medarbetarmotivation i förändringsprocesser : en fallstudie av ICA Maxi Häggvik
Full text linkKommunikation är en process som sker i alla organisationer och som kan utformas både i tal och skrift. Den interna kommunikationen syftar till att förse medarbetare med den information och förståelse som behövs för att de ska kunna arbeta mot organisationens mål på ett effektivt sätt, och den kan även spela en central roll i att stärka medarbetarmotivationen.
Denna studie har för avsikt att studera hur den interna kommunikationen påverkar medarbetarmotivationen i en planerad förändringsprocess. I studien används bland annat Herzbergs tvåfaktorteori för att förstå individuella motivationsfaktorer, möjliggörande och begränsande byråkrati för att analysera hur en möjliggörande byråkrati kan påverka motivation, samt Kotters förändringsmodell för att belysa den interna kommunikationens roll i ett förändringsarbete. Dessa teorier kombineras för att skapa ett ramverk som kopplar samman motivation, intern kommunikation och förändringsprocesser. Vi har genomfört en fallstudie av ICA Maxi Häggvik där vi har intervjuat både en chef och medarbetare i syfte att förstå hur den interna kommunikationen har påverkat medarbetarmotivationen i deras matsvinnsprojekt Zero food waste.
Slutsatserna visar att intern kommunikation har en avgörande betydelse för medarbetarmotivationen och därmed för en lyckad förändringsprocess. Fyra centrala faktorer identifierades: delaktighet och ansvar, tydlig och visuell kommunikation, återkoppling och belöningar, samt gemenskapsbyggande kommunikation. Kommunikationen som sker direkt på arbetsplatsen visade sig vara särskilt effektiv. Studien visar att när kommunikationen anpassas efter medarbetarnas motivationsfaktorer ökar chanserna för ett framgångsrikt genomförande av en förändring.Communication is a process that occurs in all organizations and can be expressed both orally and in writing. Internal communication aims to provide employees with the information and understanding they need to work effectively towards the organization’s goals, and it can also play a central role in strengthening employee motivation.
This study aims to investigate how internal communication affects employee motivation during a planned change process. The research draws on Herzberg’s two-factor theory to understand individual motivational factors, enabling and coercive bureaucracy to analyze how enabling bureaucracy can impact motivation, and Kotter’s change model to highlight the role of internal communication in a change process. These theories are integrated to create a framework that connects motivation, internal communication, and change processes. We conducted a case study of ICA Maxi Häggvik, where we interviewed both a manager and employees to understand how internal communication has affected employee motivation within their food waste project, Zero Food Waste.
The conclusions show that internal communication is crucial for employee motivation and thus for a successful change process. Four key factors were identified: participation and responsibility, clear and visual communication, feedback and rewards, and community-building communication. Communication that takes place directly in the workplace was found to be particularly effective. The study shows that when communication is tailored to employees' motivational factors, the chances of successfully implementing change increase
Jäst cellväggsnedbrytning av mikrobiella enzymer från jordisolat för effektiv nedströmsbearbetning av Rhodotorula toruloides för lipidproduktion
No full textRhodotorula toruloides is an oleaginous yeast recognized for its high lipid content, high production of oils and carotenoids and favorable fatty acid profile, making it a valuable candidate for food, feed, and biofuel applications. However, the robust structure of its cell wall poses a major challenge for cost-effective lipid extraction. This study aimed to identify soil-derived microbial strains capable of enzymatically degrading R. toruloides cell walls to improve biomass accessibility and processing efficiency.
Ten microbial isolates, including bacteria, filamentous fungi, and yeasts were cultivated in media containing R. toruloides cell wall material as the sole carbon source. Growth was assessed via optical density measurements (OD₆₀₀), results were further validated and assessed through biomass quantification using dry cell weight (DCW) analysis. The two methods produced consistent trends, reinforcing the observed differences in growth performance.
Among the isolates, Streptomyces seoulensis (strain 5) demonstrated the highest growth across both OD₆₀₀ and DCW measurements. 16S rRNA gene sequencing confirmed its identity with >99% sequence similarity to S. seoulensis. Genome annotation revealed a broad spectrum of cell wall-degrading enzymes, including multiple glucanases, chitinases, proteases, and GPI-cleaving enzymes, but no mannan-degrading enzymes were detected.
These findings suggest that S. seoulensis is a promising candidate for enzymatic pretreatment of R. toruloides, supporting more sustainable lipid extraction methods in biotechnologica
To achieve long-term rural development through projects : a study of experiences in organizing rural development as projects
Full text linkProjekt är en arbetsform som blivit allt vanligare inom olika sfärer i samhället, inte minst inom
arbetet med landsbygdsutveckling. Å ena sidan finns tilltro till projekt som förknippas med
exempelvis problemlösning och innovation. Å andra sidan lyfts en vanlig problematik fram i att den
tillfälliga projektverksamheten står i centrum på bekostnad av framtiden. Syftet med studien är att
ur erfarenheter av projekt analysera och skapa förståelse för hur lokala
landsbygdsutvecklingsprojekt organiseras för att bli långsiktiga och vad långsiktigheten kan
innebära.
Studien baseras på semistrukturerade intervjuer med representanter från fyra olika lokala
landsbygdsutvecklingsprojekt som fått projektmedel från Leader. Materialet från intervjuerna har
analyserats med hjälp av teorier om den temporära organisationen, samhällsentreprenörskap och
resursmobilisering. Den temporära organisationen, projektet, ses som arena för
samhällsentreprenörskap och resursmobilisering i analysen.
Analysen visar på en mängd aspekter av vad långsiktighet innebär för lokala
landsbygdsutvecklingsprojekt. Långsiktigheten handlar dock om en helhet, att kunna bevara och
driva samtidigt som det finns möjlighet till förändring och utveckling. Långsiktighet i de temporära
organisationerna och att organisera långsiktigt handlar om att lägga grunden för balansgången. I
analysen lyfts bland annat faktorer i samhällsentreprenörskapet som att bygga på bärande behov och
i resursmobilisering som att balansera personbundenhet kopplat till projektets kärntrupp och att
skapa långsiktigt engagemang som speciellt viktiga. Därutöver behandlas andra faktorer kring den
temporära organisationens uppbyggnad, projektplasticitet och förvaltning.Project has been increasingly common in different spheres of society, not least in the work with rural development. On the one hand there is a belief in projects that are associated with problem solving and innovation. On the other hand, a problem is highlighted in that temporary project activities are the center of attention at the expense of the future. The purpose of the study is to analyze and create understanding of how local rural development projects are organized to be long-term and what long-termism can mean, based in project experiences.
The study is based on semi-structured interviews with representatives from four different local rural development projects that has received funding from Leader. The material from the interviews has been analyzed using a theory of the temporary organization, social entrepreneurship and resource mobilization. The temporary organizations, the projects, are seen as arenas for the social entrepreneurship and resource mobilization.
The analysis shows a variety of aspects of what long-termism means for local rural development projects. Long-termism is about a wholeness, to be able to preserve and operate and at the same being able to change and develop. Long-termism in temporary organization and organizing long-term is about laying a foundation for this balance. Among other things factors in social entrepreneurship such as building on reel needs and in resource mobilization such as balancing the need of an entrepreneur with building a bigger team and creating long-termism in the commitment are seen as particularly important. In addition, other factors concern the structure of the temporary organization, flexibility and managing organization is discussed
Working Conditions for grooms in Sweden
Full text linkHästskötare har en stor betydelse i hästbranschen, men trots deras viktiga arbetsinsatser är arbetsförhållandena ofta utmanande. Problem kopplade till låga löner, bristande anställningsavtal och fysiskt samt psykiskt påfrestande arbetsmiljöer är vanligt förekommande. Syftet med studien var att undersöka hur arbetsförhållanden i hästbranschen påverkar hästskötares fysiska och psykiska hälsa, i både stora och små verksamheter i Sverige. För att besvara syftet formulerades tre frågeställningar. Vad har hästskötare i Sverige för arbetstider, lön och anställningsvillkor? På vilka sätt påverkar hästskötares arbetsmiljö deras fysiska och psykiska hälsa? Vilka förändringar anser hästskötare skulle behöva ske för att förbättra arbetsvillkoren?
Studien baserades på en enkätundersökning riktad till hästskötare som varit aktiva i yrket senast år 2020. Studiens resultat underströk behovet av förbättrade arbetsvillkor inom hästskötaryrket. Resultaten tydde på att många hästskötare arbetar under förhållanden som inte uppfyller kriterierna för ett hållbart arbetsliv fullt ut. Mycket övertidsarbete, låg lön och otillräcklig återhämtning framkom som återkommande problem. Otydliga anställningsformer nämndes också som en bidragande orsak till att många hästskötare upplever otrygghet och ohälsa. Samtidigt visade studien att en stor majoritet av hästskötarna har anställningsavtal och att de flesta var försäkrade genom sitt arbete vilket är positivt ur ett trygghetsperspektiv.
Många hästskötare såg sitt yrke som meningsfullt, lärorikt och positivt för den fysiska och psykiska hälsan. Samtidigt visade resultatet att många upplever att hästskötaryrket innebar en hög fysisk och psykisk belastning på grund av långa arbetsdagar, repetitiv arbetsbelastning och bristfällig trivsel på arbetsplatsen. Många respondenter uppgav att arbetsbelastningen ofta leder till stress, sömnproblem, ångest och arbetsrelaterade skador. Det framkom även att en del verksamheter präglas av bristande ledarskap och dåligt bemötande. En tydlig skillnad sågs mellan aktiva och inte längre aktiva hästskötare – där de som valt att lämna yrket, i större utsträckning uppgav att arbetsmiljön hade haft en negativ påverkan på deras psykiska hälsa. Det tydde på att bristfälliga arbetsförhållanden kunde vara en avgörande orsak till att hästskötare väljer att lämna branschen. Studien belyste hur resultaten relaterade till tidigare forskning och arbetsmiljölagstiftning samt hur förbättrade arbetsvillkor, inklusive bättre lön, tydligare struktur, respekt och erkännande kan bidra till att göra yrket mer hållbart i framtiden.
Slutsatsen var att många hästskötare i Sverige arbetade under förhållanden som på flera sätt avvek från vad som kan betraktas som hållbara arbetsvillkor. Långa arbetsdagar, låg lön, bristande återhämtning och otillräckliga anställningsvillkor utgjorde sammandraget faktorer för ohälsa och bidrar till att många lämnade yrket. Samtidigt framkom flertalet positiva aspekter med yrket, för detta krävs dock att de brister som förkommer i arbetsmiljön uppmärksammas och åtgärdas. Genom att säkerställa rimliga arbetstider och förändra kulturen där negativ påverkan på hälsan ses som normalt kan yrket bli hållbart även på lång sikt.Grooms play a vital role in the equine industry, but despite their important contributions, working conditions are often challenging. Common issues include low wages, a lack of formal employment contracts, and a work environment that is both physically and mentally demanding.
The aim of this study was to investigate how working conditions in the equine industry affect the physical and mental health of grooms, in both large and small-scale operations in Sweden. To address this aim, three research questions were formulated. What are the working hours, wages, and employment conditions for grooms in Sweden? In what ways does the working environment of grooms affect their physical and mental health? What changes do grooms believe are necessary to improve their working conditions?
The study was based on a quantitative survey distributed to grooms who had been active in the profession since 2020. The results highlighted a need for improved working conditions for grooms. The findings indicated that many grooms work under circumstances that do not fully meet the standards of a sustainable working life. Excessive overtime, low wages and insufficient recovery were recurring issues. Lack of clarity in employment terms were also mentioned as contributing factors to insecurity and poor health. At the same time, the study found that a large majority of grooms did have employment contracts and were insured through their workplaces, which was positive from a security perspective.
Many grooms perceived their work as meaningful, educational and beneficial to their physical and mental health. However, the findings also revealed that the profession involved significant physical and psychological strain due to long working hours, repetitive tasks and poor workplace satisfaction. Many respondents reported that their workload often lead to stress, sleep problems, anxiety and work-related injuries. Some workplaces were also characterized by weak leadership and poor treatment. A clear difference was found between active and former grooms where those who had left the profession were more likely to report that the work environment had a negative impact on their mental health. This suggested that poor working conditions may be a decisive factor in why individuals choose to leave the industry. The study connected these findings to previous research and labor legislation and emphasizes how improved working conditions, including better wages, better structures, respect and recognition could help make the profession more sustainable in the future.
In conclusion, many grooms in Sweden worked under conditions that in several respects, deviated from what can be considered sustainable employment terms. Extended working hours, low wages, insufficient opportunities for recovery, and inadequate employment conditions collectively contributed to negative health outcomes and were key factors behind the high attrition rate within the profession. At the same time, numerous positive aspects of the occupation were evident; however, addressing the existing shortcomings in the work environment is essential. By ensuring reasonable working hours and challenging a prevailing culture in which adverse health effects are normalized, the profession can be made sustainable in the long term
Culture Adapted Food for Elderly Care within a Sámi Administrative Municipality : public procurement of cultural ingredients
Full text linkUrfolks traditionella livsmedelssystem har upprätthållit människors välbefinnande i årtusenden. Trots livsmedelssystemens höga näringsinnehåll och motståndskraft har dessa betraktats som oproduktiva och bakåtsträvande. Det finns en önskan från det samiska civilsamhället att erbjuda samisk mat för samer inom äldreomsorgen. Samtidigt har förvaltningskommuner en skyldighet att erbjuda äldre inom äldreomsorgen kulturellt anpassad äldreomsorg. Den kulturella produktionen av livsmedel i Sverige upprätthålls i stor utsträckning av lokala småskaliga producenter. Småskaliga producenter har svårare att konkurrera i offentliga upphandlingar på grund av bland annat lagen om offentlig upphandling, LOU. Den här uppsatsen har genom kvalitativa intervjuer undersökt hur lokala aktörer, som producenter för kulturella råvaror och kommunens tjänstemän upplever hinder och möjligheter som finns för att integrera kulturella råvaror i den offentliga upphandlingen för äldreomsorgen. Resultatet analyserades utifrån teorier om det globala livsmedelsystemet, ekonomisk integrering, matregimer, urfolks ontologi och livsmedelssystem samt livsmedelssuveränitet. Resultatet visade att producenter för kulturella råvaror möter utmaningar i och med konkurrens med större aktörer och ett system som gynnar storskalig produktion. Kostchefens roll visade sig vara avgörande för att tolka handlingsutrymmet i LOU, vilket gav möjlighet att inkludera lokala producenters kulturella råvaror i den offentliga upphandlingen. Fortsatt forskning inom det berörda området är nödvändigt för framtiden.Indigenous traditional food systems have sustained people's well-being for millennia. Despite the high nutritional value and resilience of these food systems, they have been regarded as unproductive and backward. There is a desire within elderly care to be offered culturally appropriate food. At the same time, municipal authorities have an obligation to provide culturally adapted care for the elderly. The cultural production of food in Sweden is largely sustained by local small-scale producers. Small-scale producers find it more difficult to compete in public procurement processes due to, among other things, the Public Procurement Act (LOU). This thesis has used qualitative interviews to investigate how local actors, such as producers of cultural raw materials and municipal officials, perceive the barriers and opportunities for integrating cultural raw materials into the public procurement process for elderly care. The results were analyzed using theories on the global food system, economic integration, food regimes, indigenous ontology and food systems, as well as food sovereignty. The results showed that producers of cultural raw materials face challenges due to competition with larger actors and a system that favors large-scale production. The role of the food service manager proved to be crucial in interpreting the flexibility within LOU, which allowed for the inclusion of local producers' cultural raw materials in public procurement. Further research in this area is necessary for the future
Minskad mottaglighet för granbarkborreangrepp
Full text linkSedan 2018 har Sveriges största utbrott av granbarkborre observerats med rekordmycket skogsskador som följd och utbrotten förväntas öka med ett varmare klimat. Denna studie syftade till att jämföra olika skötselalternativs påverkan på skogens mottaglighet för granbarkborreangrepp och dess ekonomiska utfall. Med hjälp av beslutsstödsystemet Heureka PlanWise jämfördes standardförfarandet i svenskt skogsbruk med kortare omloppstider och ökad lövinblandning vid skötsel av granskog. Resultatet tyder på en konflikt mellan skötsel anpassad för nuvärdesmaximering och minskad mottaglighet för granbarkborreangrepp. Resultatet tyder även på att kortare omloppstider är ett alternativ för mycket låg mottaglighet. Mer forskning behövs gällande lövinblandningens påverkan på mottaglighet. Vid skötsel för minskad mottaglighet för granbarkborre minskade även skogens känslighet för stormskador. Riskhantering är en viktig del i vägen framåt och denna studie är en del av det arbetet.Since 2018 Sweden’s largest outbreak of European spruce bark beetle have been recorded with a record-breaking amount of forest damage as consequence, and outbreaks are expected to increase in a warmer climate. This study aimed to compare different silvicultures effects of the forest’s predisposition of bark beetle-attacks and its economic outcome. With the decision support system Heureka PlanWise the standard procedure in Swedish forestry was compared to shortening of rotation length and an increased abundance of broadleaf in silviculture of Norway spruce forests. The results indicate a trade off between maximization of present value and decreased predisposition of spruce bark beetle attacks. The result also indicates that shortening rotation lengths is an alternative for very low predisposition. More research is needed regarding the effect of an increased abundance of broadleaf. Adapting the silviculture for lower predisposition of bark beetles also lowers the forest’s sensibility to storm damage. Risk management is an important part of the way forward and this study is part of such work
Incentivizing Animal Welfare in Italian Poultry Farming – The Role of Consumers
Full text linkThis thesis investigates Italian consumers’ preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for improved farm animal welfare (FAW) in poultry production. Based on data from an online discrete choice experiment (n = 358), three FAW attributes were assessed: stocking density, growth rate, and outdoor access. A Mixed Logit Model (MXL) reveals an overall strong preference for welfare-enhancing attributes, indicating a general willingness to pay a price premium for FAW improvements. However, substantial heterogeneity in preferences exists. To better capture this variation, a Hybrid Latent Class Model (HLCM) was estimated, incorporating attitudinal variables into class membership. Three distinct consumer segments emerged: price-sensitive consumers, with a maximum WTP of €4.05 for outdoor access; welfare-oriented consumers, who show the strongest support for welfare improvements and the highest WTP of €10.47 for a longer growing period (46-80 days); and passive supporters, who consistently exhibit negative WTP for all attributes, reflecting an intention-behavior gap. This segmentation not only reveals the diverse valuation of welfare-friendly attributes but also underscores the importance of including negative WTP in aggregate welfare assessments to avoid inflated estimates. These findings highlight a clear gap between ethical attitudes and purchasing behavior, particularly among passive supporters. Policy recommendations include implementing a tiered FAW labelling system, providing financial support for producers, and fostering coordinated action along the supply chain. Overall, the results confirm a general willingness to pay a premium for FAW among Italian consumers, while also underscoring the need for inclusive market strategies and targeted policy interventions to effectively translate ethical concerns into purchasing decisions and foster a more animal-friendly poultry sector in Italy
The Distributional Aspects of Climate Change’s Impact on Swedish Dairy Farm Productivity
Full text linkThis study investigates the relationship between dairy farm productivity and high temperatures in Sweden over the period 2002–2021, addressing a significant research gap related to both geographical location and production method within the literature on climate change’s impact on agricultural production.
Using a Recentered Influence Function method combined with Unconditional Quantile Regression, we estimate the effect of an additional day per year with temperatures exceeding 25°C on various productivity quantiles. This approach captures not only the effect of extreme temperature days but also how the impact varies across the productivity distribution.
The results reveal stronger effects for lower-productivity farms as well as for organic farms. However, for organic farms, the effect is less statistically significant, suggesting considerable heterogeneity within this subgroup. These findings are then interpreted in the context of previous research, mainly conducted outside Northern Europe, that links high temperatures to productivity losses through three main channels: loss in cow health and fertility, reduced pasture quality, and decreased milk yield. Contrary to expectations, this study finds an increase in milk yield, potentially attributed to higher purchases of concentrate feed, which likely compensate for diminished pasture quality. No evidence supporting claims of high temperatures negatively impacting cow health was identified.
The results contribute to the literature by enhancing our understanding of the distributional impacts of climate change on farm productivity. They may offer valuable insights for future policy development, as well as for farmers and extension workers who will face the challenges posed by climate change firsthand
Is There a Sustainability Premium for Funds?
Full text linkThis study investigates whether sustainable funds exhibit significantly different fees and returns compared to their unsustainable counterparts, and whether a "sustainability premium" can be identified. Employing regression analysis, the research examines the relationship between sustainability and fund fees, as well as sustainability and fund returns. The results show that the sustainability variable had no significant impact on fund fees. However, the regression analysis of fund returns presents mixed results. In two out of three models the sustainability variable had a statistically significant impact on funds three-year returns but it is important to know that all models are deemed relatively unreliable. However, the results of this study do not provide clear support for the existence of a "sustainability premium". The absence of significant differences in fees and the mixed findings concerning returns suggest that investors are not consistently paying a premium for sustainable funds. The study identifies several limitations, including reliance on data from specific platforms, small sample size, short time horizon and potential non-linear relationships between variables. Future research should explore alternative methodologies when investigating the impact of sustainability on fund performance, using different time horizons and larger sample sizes while taking into account non-linear relationships between variables
The Impact of Bitcoin and Dollarization on Remittance Flows
Full text linkThis thesis examines whether the 2021 Bitcoin Law, introduced within El Salvador’s pre-existing dollarization, had any measurable effect on remittance inflows. Using a Difference-in-Differences design, the study compares El Salvador to the Philippines—a country with similarly high remittance dependence, a shared colonial legacy under Spanish rule, and broadly comparable institutional foundations, but unaffected by the reform—over the period 1990–2023. The analysis focuses on remittances per capita in natural logarithmic form and includes covariates such as GDP per capita and pandemic effects. The baseline model finds no statistically significant effect of the reform. In contrast, the fully adjusted model yields a large and marginally significant increase in remittances; however, the magnitude appears implausible given survey data and macroeconomic indicators. A placebo test using pre-treatment years supports the parallel trends assumption. Overall, the findings suggest that Bitcoin adoption did not meaningfully alter remittance behavior in the short term, highlighting the limitations of legal mandates in changing financial habits without enabling conditions. The study contributes to the literature on digital currency reforms by isolating a remittance-specific outcome and offering insights into the behavioral constraints of financial digitalization