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Accelerating implementation of condition-based maintenance with artificial intelligence
No full textABSTRACT Purpose – This thesis investigates how organizations can accelerate the implementation of Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM) and effectively leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) inindustrial maintenance contexts. The study aims to identify critical enablers and barriersacross technological, organizational, and human dimensions, and to propose a maturity-basedframework to guide firms through the staged adoption of AI-assisted CBM. Method – The research is based on a qualitative, explorative case study conducted incooperation with company Alphas’ liquified natural gas (LNG) site. Nineteen semi-structured interviews were held with professionals from both the case company and externalorganizations. Data was analyzed thematically with People, Process and Technologydimensions in focus, to identify maturity patterns and implementation dynamics. Findings – The study identifies four maturity stages of CBM implementation: CBMpreparation, Organizational CBM engagement, Introducing intelligent CBM, and Scalingintelligent CBM. Each stage is characterized by specific technical requirements,organizational structures, and cultural conditions. Key findings include the importance ofdigital literacy, leadership involvement, cross-functional collaboration, and trust in AIoutputs. The study also highlights the shift from rule-based systems to conversational,generative AI tools and the resulting impact on roles, workflows, and governance. Implications – The proposed maturity framework offers practical guidance for firms seekingto implement or scale AI-assisted CBM. It enables managers to assess organizationalreadiness, align CBM efforts with strategic goals, and design interventions tailored to theircurrent maturity level. The research also contributes to the theoretical understanding of digitaltransformation in asset-heavy industries. Limitations and future research – The findings are primarily based on a single in-depth casestudy within the energy sector, which may limit generalizability. Future research couldvalidate the maturity model across different industries and explore quantitative methods tomeasure CBM readiness and performance outcomes. Additionally, the integration of largelanguage models in CBM warrants further exploration.
Assessing the perceived believability of duration extended environmental sounds in Games: : Comparing granular synthesis and looping
No full textSound designers for games are often faced with constrains when implementing environmental sounds that must play for extended durations without consuming excessive storage. This thesis investigates two techniques for addressing this challenge: looping and granular synthesis. The thesis evaluates their impact on the perceived believability of environmental sounds. A listening test was conducted with 31 subjects, with each comparing sounds extended using either looping or granular synthesis across four categories: bees, fire, rain, and wind. The subjects selected which version they found more believable and explained their reasoning. Quantitative results, supported by chi-square analysis, revealed significant differences in believability perceptions depending on sound type: granular synthesis was preferred for fire and wind, while looping was rated more believable for bees and rain. Thematic analysis of qualitative responses highlighted the importance of texture, dynamics, and contextual fit in shaping listener perceptions. The findings offer sound designers practical guidance for selecting duration-extension techniques based on the characteristics of the environmental sound at hand. Audio Engineering, Game Audio, Environmental Sounds, Granular Synthesis, Looping, Believability, Synthesizatio
Promoting Health Through Culture : Staff Experiences of Culture as a Complement to Other Forms of Care and Treatment in Dependency Care at Region Stockholm
No full textEstetiska och kulturella aktiviteter kan fungera som värdefulla komplement till medicinsk och terapeutisk behandling för att främja hälsa och välbefinnande, men inom beroendevården är sådana insatser fortfarande begränsade. Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hur medarbetare vid Beroendecentrum i Region Stockholm upplever att estetiska aktiviteter fungerar som komplement till övrig vård och behandling inom beroendevården. Utifrån detta besvaras frågeställningarna: Hur genomförbara är estetiska aktiviteter i denna vårdkontext, samt vilka utmaningar finns ur ett organisatoriskt och deltagandeperspektiv? Hur upplever medarbetarna att dessa estetiska aktiviteter fungerar som ett komplement till övrig behandling, både vad gäller patienternas känsloreglering/återhämtning och helhetssyn på patienten? 10 kvalitativa intervjuer genomfördes med medarbetare, varav nio kvinnor och en man. Intervjumaterialet analyserades genom en induktiv tematisk analys, vilket resulterade i fyra huvudteman; 1) Frivillighet och förutsättningar – att skapa på egna villkor i vårdkontext, 2) Skapande som känsloreglering och återhämtning, 3) Att bli sedd som hel människa –normalitet, bemötande och relation, 4) Att skapa mening, stärkt självkänsla och identitet i gemenskap. Resultatet i denna studie visar att estetiska uttryckssätt upplevs som meningsfulla av personalen och beskrivs kunna bidra till känsloreglering, återhämtning och sammanhang för patienten. Patientens autonomi upplevs främjas vilket stärker återuppbyggnad av självkänsla och en frisk identitet. För att möjliggöra implementering krävs frivillighet att delta samt organisatoriska förutsättningar såsom resurser, kompetens och stöd. Sammantaget indikerar studien att estetiska aktiviteter är genomförbara och har potential att utgöra ett viktigt komplement till övrig vård och behandling inom beroendevården. Aesthetic and cultural activities can serve as valuable complements to medical treatment inpromoting health and well-being, but such interventions are still limited within dependency care. The aim of this study is to explore how staff at Stockholm Centre for Dependency Disorders perceive aesthetic activities as a complement to other treatment and care. The research questions addressed are: How feasible are aesthetic activities in this healthcare context, and what challenges exist from both an organizational and participant perspective? How do staff perceive these aesthetic activities as complementary to other treatments, particularly in terms of patients’ emotional regulation, recovery, and a holistic view of the patient? Ten qualitative interviews were conducted with staff members, including nine women and one man. The interview material was analyzed using inductive thematic analysis, which resulted in four main themes: 1) Voluntariness and preconditions – creating on one’s own terms in a care context, 2) Creative expression as a means of emotional regulation and recovery, 3) Being recognized as a whole person – normality, interaction, and relationship, 4) Creating meaning, strengthening self- esteem, and identity through community. The findings indicate that aesthetic forms of expression are perceived as meaningful by the staff and are described as contributing to patients’ emotional regulation, recovery, and a sense of coherence. Patient autonomy is perceived to be supported, which promotes the rebuilding of self- esteem and a healthy identity. To enable implementation, voluntary participation and organizational conditions such as resources, competence, and support are required. Overall, the study indicates that aesthetic activities are feasible and have the potential to serve as an important complement to existing care and treatment within addiction care
Nudging för bättre ledarskap : En kvalitativ studie om den dyadiska relationen mellan medarbetare och ledare
No full textDetta kandidatexamensarbete studerar den dyadiska relationen mellan ledare och medarbetare ur perspektivet genom nudging. Syftet med studien är att analysera hur nudging kan användas för att uppnå bättre ledarskap. Där nudging ses som en ledarskapsstrategi att influera individen mot önskvärda beteenden, utan att begränsa individens alternativa val. Vilket kan vara nödvändigt för att få en individ eller grupp att arbeta mot samma mål. Genom metodtriangulering i form av tidigare forskning, semistrukturerade intervjuer samt observationer visar den insamlade empirin att en korrekt utförd nudge absolut kan hjälpa att bygga ett bättre ledarskap. Detta förutsätter dock att ledarskapet har medvetenhet kring effekterna nudging kan få, samt att utförandet av denna ledarskapsstrategi bygger på att vara medvetet, situations- och individanpassad, samt transparent. Genom att exempelvis ha förståelse för hur nudging kan uppfattas och tas emot olika av olika internationella kulturer, så har man bättre grund för att nudgen ska lyckas och tas emot väl både nationellt och internationellt. This bachelor's thesis examines the dyadic relationship between leader and employee through the lens of nudging. The purpose of the study is to analyze how nudging can be used to achieve better leadership. Nudging is viewed as a leadership strategy aimed at influencing individuals toward desirable behaviours without limiting their alternative choices. Which may be necessary to get an individual or group to work toward the same goal. Through methodological triangulation consisting of previous research, semi-structured interviews, and observations the collected empirical data shows that a properly implemented nudge can indeed contribute to better leadership. However, this requires that the leader is aware of the potential effects of nudging, and that the implementation of this leadership strategy is conscious, situationally and individually adapted and transparent. For instance, by understanding how nudging may be perceived and received differently across international cultures, leaders are better positioned to ensure that the nudge is successful and well-received both nationally and internationally
Förståelsen av trygghet : Analys av SD:s migrationspolitik i relation till externa samhällshändelser
No full textI denna studie analyseras hur Sverigedemokraterna ramar in trygghetsbegreppet i relation till migration mellan åren 2011–2023. De språkliga förändringarna och kontinuiteten undersöks i valmanifest och principprogram genom att kombinera Entmans inramningsteori med Piersons teori om spårbundenhet samt kritiska vägskäl. Studien består av en tvådelad metod; dels en kvantitativ ordfrekvensanalys för att kunna kartlägga trygghetsrelaterade ord, dels en kvalitativ innehållsanalys för att tolka hur trygghetsbegreppet ramas in. Resultatdelen visar på hur trygghet konsekvent kopplas till nationell identitet samt kulturell homogenitet. I valmanifesten uppvisas en mer explicit samt konflikorienterad inramning, framför allt efter flyktingkrisen och de ökade skjutningarna. Principprogrammen förblir däremot ideologiskt stabila över tid. Studien visar att samhällsutmaningar fungerar som förstärkande snarare än omformande faktorer. Slutsatsen blir att trygghetsdiskursen utgör ett centralt ideologiskt verktyg för att legitimera en restriktiv migrationspolitik. Denna studie bidrar med en tematiserad analys av ett hittills begränsat utforskat begrepp inom den svenska politiska diskursen
Prevalence of kinesiophobia in football players after ACL reconstruction
No full textIntroduktion: ACL-ruptur är en vanligt förekommande skada hos fotbollsspelare. En skada som innebär en lång rehabiliteringsperiod vilket ofta leder till att säsongen är över för spelaren. Rehabiliteringen innebär en krävande fas med mycket fysisk träning i form av styrketräning och neuromuskulär kontroll. Vidare kan också psykologiska faktorer som kinesiofobi vara en bidragande faktor hur vida fotbollsspelaren är redo för återgång till fotboll. Syfte: Syftet var att undersöka prevalensen av kinesiofobi hos fotbollsspelare efter en ACL rekonstruktion. Metod: Det genomfördes en enkätundersökning som undersökte fotbollsspelare som var aktiva eller som avslutat sin karriär. Enkäten bestod av egenformulerade frågor följt av TSK-11 formuläret och var tillgänglig på Facebook under en vecka. Därefter samlades svaren in i Excel och analyserades via JASP. Resultat: Studien inkluderade 14 deltagare nio män och fem kvinnor. På TSK-11 skattade 57% minimal nivå, 14 % låg och 28 % medel. Medelvärdet bland kvinnorna på TSK-11 var 26 ± 6,2 och bland männen var det 22 ± 6,3. Det var ingen större skillnad mellan fotbollsnivåerna däremot högst skattad var Allsvenskan – Div.1 25,3 och lägst Div.4 – nedåt 21,3. Konklusion: Studien visade på en låg prevalens av kinesiofobi bland fotbollsspelare som genomgått en ACL-rekonstruktion. Introduction: ACL tear is a common injury in football players. An injury that requires a long rehabilitation period, often resulting in the player being out for the rest of the season. Rehabilitation involves a tough period with a lot of physical training in the form of strength training and neuromuscular control. Furthermore, psychological factors such as kinesiophobia may also be a contributing factor to how far the football player is ready for a return to football. Purpose: The purpose was to investigate the prevalence of kinesiophobia in football players after ACL reconstruction. Method: A questionnaire survey was conducted among active and retired football players. The survey consisted of self-completed questions followed by the TSK-11 form and was available on Facebook for one week. The responses were then collected on Excel and analyzed via JASP. Results: The study included 14 participants, nine men and five women. Of these, 57% rated their TSK-11 score as minimal, 14 % as low and 28 % as moderate. The mean value among the women at TSK-11 was 26 ± 6,2 and among the men it was 22 ± 6,3. There was no major difference between the football levels, however the highest estimated was Allsvenskan – Div.1 25,3 and the lowest Div.4 – down 21,3. Conclusion: The study showed a low prevalence of kinesiophobia among football players who had undergone ACL reconstruction.
From Fight Flight or Freeze to Self-Regulated Well-being : A Minor Qualitative Study on Exploring the Perceived Health Impact of Inner Engineering in India
No full textIntroduction: Mental and emotional resilience, sense of coherence and empowerment are central to mental health and physical health. These capacities support individual's ability to mangage stress, make health choices and effectively navigate challenges. This qualitative study explores how practitioners of Inner Engineering, a program integrating yogic practices and self-regulation strategies, percieve the program's role in enhancing these capabilities. Methodology: individual interviews were conducted with four pilot partipants and five experienced Inner Engineering facilitators at the Isha Yoga Center in Coimbatore, India. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, coded and categorized using manifest content ananlysis. Results: one overaching category, Self-regulated well-being through Inner Engineering, emerged, alonf with five core categories. Participants described perceived improvements in vitality, emotional regulation and relational awareness. Limitations: The study was conducted in an ashram setting, with a relatively small and homogenous group of experienced practitioners. The absemce of baseline or longitudinal measures limits generalizability of findings and the ability to draw causal conclusions. Further research across more diverse populations and secular contexts is recommended. Conclusion: Emotional resilience stands out as a central category in this study, reflecting a perceived shift from stress-reactive patterns (fight, fight or freeze) toward self-regulated well-being through consistent contemplative practice. The findings suggests that structured techiques such as meditation and self-reflection, may support mental and emotional resilience, empowerment and overall well-being. These insights may be of revelance to health promotion and stress management initiatives.Introduktion: Mental och emotionell resiliens, känsla av sammanhang och egenmakt är centrala för både psykisk och fysisk hälsa. Dessa förmågor stärker individens kapacitet att hantera stress, fatta hälsosamma beslut och navigera livets utmaningar. Denna kvalitativa studie undersöker hur personer som praktiserar Inner Engineering, ett program som integrerar äldre yogiska metoder och strategier för självreglering, uppfattar programmets roll i att stärka dessa förmågor. Metod: Individuella intervjuer genomfördes med nio personer som praktiserar Inner Engineering, varav fem även är erfarna ledare av Inner Engineering -programmet vid Isha Yoga Center i Coimbatore, Indien. Materialet spelades in, transkriberades och analyserades med hjälp av manifest innehållsanalys, där fokus låg på deltagarnas uttryckta upplevelser utan tolkning av underliggande mening. Resultat: En övergripande huvudkategori, Självreglerande välbefinnande genom Inner Engineering, framkom tillsammans med fem kärnkategorier. Deltagarna rapporterade upplevda förbättringar inom vitalitet, emotionell reglering och interpersonella relationer. Begränsningar: Studien genomfördes i en ashram-kontext, med en relativt homogen och liten grupp av erfarna praktiker. Avsaknaden av baslinjemått eller longitudinella data begränsar generaliserbarheten och möjligheten att dra kausala tolkningar av resultaten. Ytterligare forskning i mer diversifierade populationer och sekulära sammanhang rekommenderas. Slutsats: Emotionell resiliens framträdde som en central kategori i denna studie och speglar deltagarnas självupplevda förändring från stress-reaktiva mönster (kamp, flykt eller frys/handlingsförlamning) till självreglerat välbefinnande genom en daglig kontemplativ praktik. Resultaten belyser potentialen i strukturerade metoder för inre utveckling, -som medveten-närvaro-övningar och självreflektion, för att främja mental och emotionell resiliens, empowerment (egenmakt) och övergripande välbefinnande. Insikter som kan vara särskilt relevanta inom hälsopromotion och stresshantering
Exploring Middle Manager's Perceptions of Digital Readiness in Multinational Firms : A Qualitative Study
No full textThis study investigates the role of middle managers in facilitating digital transformation, with a focus on their beliefs, competencies, and organisational environments. Drawing on qualitative data from interviews with managers across diverse industries in Sri Lanka and Sweden, the research explores digital readiness at both individual and organisational levels. The conceptual framework integrates perceived digital readiness, empowerment, involvement, and barriers to innovation within the Dynamic Capabilities View. The findings reveal that individual confidence in digital tools is shaped by previous exposure, willingness to learn, and attitudes toward adaptation. Middle managers' competencies, specifically digital knowhow and skills, emerged as critical enablers of transformation. Organisational beliefs, such as inclusion in decision-making and support for experimentation, significantly influenced their engagement. The study also highlights infrastructural limitations and cultural inertia as major obstacles. These insights provide a nuanced understanding of how middle managers function as change agents, brokers, and implementers in digital transitions. The research contributes theoretically by linking individual and organisational readiness with dynamic capabilities, and practically by offering strategic recommendations for enhancing transformation readiness through targeted support for middle managers. Methodologically, the study employs rigorous thematic analysis and ensures trustworthiness through strategies such as member checking and reflexivity. Future research could extend this inquiry through longitudinal approaches or cross-sectoral comparisons
Geological and geotechnical challenges on the Great Dyke of Zimbabwe and their impact on hardrock pillar design
No full textThe Great Dyke of Zimbabwe is a major geological formation renowned for its rich deposits of platinum group metals. This study addresses the geological and geotechnical challenges faced during mining on the Great Dyke, focusing on the implications for hardrock pillar design. The Great Dyke's geological complexity includes diverse rock types—dunites, harzburgites, pyroxenites, and norites—and notable structural features like joints, faults, and shear zones. These factors complicate the stability of underground workings. Traditional empirical methods and numerical modeling are used in pillar design but fall short in capturing the full complexity of the Great Dyke. The study highlights the absence of advanced methods such as machine learning (ML), artificial intelligence (AI), and geostatistical techniques in current pillar design practices. Incorporating these methods could significantly enhance pillar stability. Geostatistical techniques like kriging offer detailed estimates of rock quality and quantify prediction uncertainty, while ML and AI can analyze extensive data sets to uncover patterns and improve predictions. Integration of real-time data from Industrial Internet of Things sensors into these models allows for dynamic updates and better risk management. Continuous monitoring and adaptive design are essential for maintaining stability in this challenging geological environment. The study's findings aim to guide future mining practices, ensuring enhanced safety and efficiency on the Great Dyke.Full text license: CC BY 4.0;Funder: University of Johannesburg, South Africa;</p
On the Interplay Between Behavior Dynamics, Environmental Impacts, and Fairness in the Digitalized Circular Economy with Associated Business Models and Supply Chain Management
No full textIn contemporary research, the digital transformation of industries and societies has increased the importance of interdisciplinary exploration, particularly when addressing the complex challenges faced by modern organizations and social systems. From the perspective of digitalization, this literature review examines the intricate interactions between three key research domains: behavior dynamics, environmental impact, and fairness. By reviewing a wide range of studies and methodologies, it reveals new insights, challenges, and opportunities that arise at the intersection and through the interdependencies of these areas within digital ecosystems. Through a structured approach covering preliminary background, state-of-the-art methods, and comprehensive analysis, this document seeks to reveal the synergies and divergences among these domains. Special emphasis is placed on their implications in the digitalization of modern circular economy, business models, and supply chain management contexts where these domains converge in meaningful ways. Additionally, through an extensive review of the existing literature, this document highlights the current state of research and identifies notable gaps. These include issues such as ensuring fairness in digitalized sustainable strategies, understanding the role of digital behavior dynamics in promoting environmental management, and managing environmental impacts in new digitally driven business models. By weaving together these diverse elements, this work offers a novel perspective, emphasizing the importance of collaborative and integrative research in shaping a sustainable and equitable digital future.Validerad;2025;Nivå 2;2025-05-14 (u2);Full text: CC BY license;Funder: European Union, RemaNet project (grant number 101138627);</p