Göteborgs universitets publikationer - e-publicering och e-arkiv
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Brickwork in the National Romantic Style- Swedish Ideals and Local Practice in Gothenburg
No full textUppsats för avläggande av filosofie kandidatexamen med huvudområdet kulturvård med inriktning mot bebyggelseantikvarisk verksamhet 2025-06-23, 15 hp
GrundnivåThis thesis aims to contribute to the understanding of the aesthetic expressions of National Romanticism by examining the relationship between brickwork design and the architectural ideals communicated during the era. Focusing on the city of Gothenburg, the study combines architectural analysis with discourse analysis to shed light on how ideals were both expressed in theory and materialised in practice. Through an inventory of 14 public buildings in Gothenburg from the National Romantic period, the study analyses brickwork in terms of brick type, bond type, mortar joint type, colour, and dimensions. These physical characteristics are then compared with the aesthetic ideals communicated in the architectural journal Arkitektur during the years 1903-1923. A discourse analysis of the journal identifies three dominant discourses: a preference for a vibrant expression in practice, characterised by variation, material richness, and irregularity; an emphasis on functional appropriateness, where the inherent qualities of brick are celebrated and utilised; and a nationalistic discourse, which encourages the use of Swedish historical models and local traditions as sources of inspiration. The findings demonstrate a strong alignment between these articulated ideals and the actual execution of Gothenburg’s brickwork, particularly in the widespread use of red hand-made bricks. However, the study also reveals subtle variations and deviations from the ideals, indicating that while the influence of National Romantic discourse was significant, it was carried out in varied ways. This variation gives insight into how theory and practice interacted in architecture. By bridging the gap between the architectural discussion and the material expression, this thesis contributes with new knowledge to the field and offers a more nuanced view to the prevailing narrative about the aesthetic expression of Swedish National Romanticism
Can Safety and Profitability Coexist? Performance Analysis of Pairs Trading among S&P 500 Stocks
Get PDFMSc in FinanceThis study examines the effectiveness of pairs trading strategies in U.S. equity markets from 2005 to
2024, with a particular focus on how trading volume affects performance. Using a comprehensive
approach that analyzes 270 distinct parameter combinations, various weighting methodologies, and
realistic transaction cost scenarios, the research demonstrates that volume is a fundamental driver of
pairs trading success. High-volume pairs consistently outperform low-volume pairs across all tested
configurations and optimal parameters yielding Sharpe ratios well above 2 in the testing period.
Contrary to efficient market expectations, strategy performance improved in recent years (2015-2024)
compared to the earlier period (2005-2014). Transaction cost analysis reveals that while the strategy
remains successful under institutional-level cost structures, trading commission fees impact performance
more significantly than borrowing costs. The findings contribute to both theoretical understanding of
market efficiency and practical implementation of statistical arbitrage strategies, suggesting that pairs
trading continues to offer attractive risk-adjusted returns for sophisticated investors despite its
widespread documentation in financial literature
Ideation to Generate Social Value: How Different Types of Social Enterprises Ideate to Develop Social Innovation. A comparative case study of organizational approaches to social innovation
No full textThis thesis investigates how different types of early-stage social enterprises in Sweden
engage in ideation processes to develop social innovation. Against the backdrop of growing
societal challenges and increased emphasis on systemic change, social entrepreneurship has
emerged as a critical force for creating transformative solutions. While social innovation
differs from traditional innovation by emphasizing social impact over commercial gain, the
pathways through which early ideas evolve into impactful initiatives remain underexplored,
particularly within the Swedish context.
Drawing on Abu-Saifan’s (2012) Social Entrepreneurship Spectrum and Goffin and
Mitchell’s (2017) Pentathlon Framework, the study examines five Swedish social enterprises,
each positioned differently along the non-profit and for-profit continuum. Through qualitative
interviews, the research reveals how organizational missions, strategic orientations, and
entrepreneurial characteristics influence ideation processes across four dimensions: People,
Process, Place, and Product. By exploring how social entrepreneurs generate and shape
early-stage ideas, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of how mission-driven
innovation is developed in practice. It highlights the balancing act required to maintain a
social mission while adopting market-based mechanisms, offering insights into how ideation
strategies can scale and contribute to long-term societal change. Ultimately, the research aims
to inform policymakers, practitioners, and aspiring social entrepreneurs on best practices that
strengthen Sweden’s social innovation ecosystem, promoting more inclusive and sustainable
development
Strategic Implications of Intangible Resources and Capabilities on Construction Logistics - A Case Study of NCC’s Intangible Resources and Capabilities
Get PDFThe report addressed the topic of intangible resources, capabilities and strategy in relation to construction logistics. This was done through a case study of NCC, a major Swedish construction company. The background highlighted the relevance of this research based on the lagging labor-productivity development within the construction industry, the lacking amount of strategy found within construction logistics and further, the lacking contextualization of the resource based view (RBV) to construction logistics. Followingly, the report aimed to answer two questions, one regarding what intangible resources and capabilities can be found to be insufficient at NCC, and the second regarding how NCC should act strategically based on that. This was performed through a qualitative, single case study utilizing semi-structured interviews and a thematic analysis. The report included interviews with employees at NCC, a professor, as well as an external logistical partner. The findings identified a set of themes based on codes which was later connected to theory in the analysis section to answer the research questions. Regarding the first research question, the report highlights how NCC can be seen to have insufficient organizational resources, knowledge resources and managerial capabilities in relation to construction logistics. Further, lacking dynamic capabilities was shown related to construction logistics through inadequate help and support, cultural resistance, insufficient logistical education and unstructured collaborations. The answer to the second research question is shown through a problem solving model signaling that NCC ought to clearly define their logistical roles, create further strategic congruence between projects and business areas as well as enforce stricter requirements on construction logistics. Additionally, measures to develop logistical knowledge must be performed, more project manager support is necessary and certain documentation must be required. The report shines a light on the fact that construction logistics within the Swedish context has the potential for many improvements related to efficiency and competitive advantage. Regarding the theoretical contribution, the report augments the RBV through a contextualization, providing groundwork to further the understanding of strategy within construction logistics
A FUTURE FOR OUR PAST? Case study of Falun 50 years after the European Architectural Heritage Year in 1975
No full textUppsats för avläggande av filosofie kandidatexamen med huvudområdet kulturvård med inriktning mot bebyggelseantikvarisk verksamhet 2025-06-20, 15 hp GrundnivåIn 1975, the city of Falun was selected as one of three Swedish pilot projects during the European Architectural Heritage Year, with a focus on preserving its historic wooden urban environment. Fifty years later, this bachelor’s thesis examines how the visions and goals from that initiative have influenced Falun’s heritage management over time. Grounded in critical heritage studies and using the concepts of Authorized Heritage Discourse (AHD) and heritagisation, the study explores how cultural heritage is defined, valued, and maintained in a contemporary local context. The research is based on a qualitative case study, combining document analysis, site visits, and semi-structured interviews with professionals involved in heritage work in Falun. The findings show that Falun has established a long-term, institutionalized approach to heritage management and is frequently highlighted as a good example in the use of accessible planning tools, clear preservation guidelines, and active efforts to include and engage citizens. There is a notable continuity in the principles introduced in 1975, particularly regarding the integration of heritage into urban planning. At the same time, the study shows that heritage values are not fixed. They are shaped by changing political, economic, and social conditions. Some original priorities have been reformulated, while new values and interpretations have emerged. Tensions between preservation and development are an ongoing challenge, especially in a growing city. This case study illustrates how local heritage work is shaped by both historical frameworks and contemporary changes. It highlights the importance of understanding heritage as a dynamic process, negotiated, selective, and context-dependent. Falun’s experience offers insights into how municipalities can sustain cultural heritage as a living part of community development, while navigating the competing demands of modern urban life
Obsolete inventory and how to reduce it
Get PDFObsolete inventory imposes a significant challenge for companies, resulting in increased
storage costs, inefficiency and undermining a company’s profitability. The purpose of this
study is to develop a framework for effectively managing obsolete inventory by identifying
reactive and proactive strategies. The research is built on two central research questions: (i)
Which reactive strategies can be implemented to manage obsolete inventory? And (ii) Which
proactive strategies can be implemented to avoid the occurrence of obsolete inventory?
The research is based on a qualitative approach and an abductive method, combining
literature review and qualitative data collection. Data was collected through semi-structured
interviews with companies within the Axel Johnson International Group. A thematic analysis
was conducted for the identification of patterns, in the form of recurring practices, strategies
and management of obsolete inventory.
The results suggest that the companies, while recognising the negative financial impact of
obsolete inventory, approach and address the issue in varying ways. Most companies rely on
reactive measures, such as discounts or promotional campaigns, to dispose of goods. The
recommendation includes practical tools to prevent obsolescence through improved
management in classification, forecasting and cost awareness. A more structured approach is
recommended to ensure consistency and long-term effectiveness
Determining how levoglucosan partitions between gas and particle phases Investigating temperature effects in the presence of ammonium sulphate aerosols
Get PDFAir pollution is a major environmental concern and affects millions of people worldwide.
Biomass burning is a common practice which contributes emissions to the atmosphere, which
reduce air quality. Levoglucosan is created from cellulose at high temperatures and is the
most abundant pollutant from biomass burning. It contributes to the formation of primary
organic aerosols and secondary aerosols since it is a semi-volatile organic compound subject
to gas-to-particle partitioning. This study investigated levoglucosan's partitioning behaviour
at four different temperatures (0, 10, 20, and 40 °C) in the presence of ammonium sulphate.
A filter inlet for gases and aerosols, combined with a time-of-flight chemical mass
spectrometer was used alongside a scanning mobility particle sizer. The results demonstrated
a clear temperature dependence, with a decreasing gas-to-particle ratio observed as
temperature increased. However, the enthalpy of vaporisation of 31 kJ mol-1 was lower than
literature values. This was likely caused by vapour wall losses. Despite this uncertainty, the
method is advantageous as it can be used to study aerosol mixtures rather than focusing on a
singular compound
Det nya svenska biståndet: kolonialism med andra medel? En kvalitativ innehållsanalys av tidöavtalets reformagenda och strategi för Sveriges utvecklingssamarbete med Zambia 2024-2028
Get PDFThis study investigates the newly reformed Swedish development aid policy, focusing on its
driving forces and what can be inferred regarding neocolonial perspectives. Specifically, it
examines the primary Swedish document for development aid policy, known as the
”Reformagenda”, and the specific country strategy for Zambia. The changes in priorities and
goals introduced by the ”Tidö agreement” are historical, particularly the abolition of the
one-percent target which has defined the ambitious Swedish aid policy since its legislation in
1968. Western colonial history has shaped and influenced the practice of development aid,
and scholars argue that it is a form of neocolonial tool to maintain economic and political
control over postcolonial states. The study reveals that the driving forces behind the new
Swedish aid policy can be perceived as self-serving and linked to a ”forgotten historical
causal relationship” between modernity and colonialism, and between Europe and Africa.
However, it is important to acknowledge the complexity in development aid and the
limitations and shortcomings of this study, hence it should not be concluded that Sweden’s
development aid is inherently selfish
Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Minimized Food Waste: Analysis of the Restaurant Industry in Gothenburg
Get PDFFood waste management is a critical imperative to corporate sustainability and environmental targets. This thesis explores drivers and barriers to implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven solutions, based on demand and the effects of overproduction, as an efficient tool to minimize food waste in the kitchen for restaurants in Gothenburg. Applying a qualitative method of semi-structured interviews, this study integrates the Circular Economy (CE), Triple Bottom Line (TBL), and Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) frameworks in critically assessing enablers and barriers to AI adoption. To investigate the research questions, a qualitative method is approached with four semi-structured interviews with the restaurant groups Nordrest, Strawberry, Götaplatsgruppen and with a digital consultant. Findings demonstrate that although restaurants have adopted systematic waste management behaviors, AI remains underutilized due to technology unfamiliarity, cultural opposition and perceived integration complexity. Nevertheless, AI is recognized as a tool for predictive demand forecasting, inventory optimization, and real-time waste tracking. The study adds to the digital sustainability literature by illustrating that AI-driven initiatives can generate synergistic environmental, economic, and social value, positioning digital innovation as a driver of systemic change in the restaurant industry. Earlier findings, research outcomes and theoretical frameworks are discussed
Digital care and physical queues - a study on the impact of online doctor costs on accessibility in primary healthcare
No full textDigitala vårdtjänster har blivit alltmer populära i Sverige under de senaste åren, men det råder delade meningar bland forskare och vårdanställda om huruvida dessa har en positiv påverkan på vårdsamhället eller inte. Denna uppsats syftar till att undersöka hur kostnaden för utomlänsersättning i samband med användningen av privata digitala vårdtjänster har påverkat väntetiderna inom primärvården. Detta görs genom en regressionsanalys, där ytterligare variabler så som bra självskattad hälsa, medianålder, ekonomisk standard och eftergymnasial utbildningen kontrolleras för. Undersökningen baseras på data över Sveriges samtliga regioner som samlats in för tidsperioden 2019–2023. I studien undersöks även om väntetiderna skiljer sig åt i landets största regioner jämfört med övriga. Eventuell förändring över tid studeras inte i denna uppsats.
Med den data som används i studien kan inget signifikant samband mellan kostnadsandelen för utomlänsersättning i samband med digitala vårdbesök och väntetider i primärvården påvisas. Däremot tenderar ett flertal socioekonomiska faktorer, så som ekonomisk standard och eftergymnasial utbildning ha en påverkan på väntetiderna. Detsamma gäller för självskattad hälsa och om man befinner sig i en av de tre största regionerna i landet eller inte. Resultatet i denna undersökning bör tolkas med försiktighet på grund av bristfällig data. En stor del av den undersökta perioden präglades dessutom av covid-19-pandemin, vilket kan ha påverkat resultatet men inte ryms inom ramen för denna uppsats