Bakgrund och problemformulering:I takt med ökad globalisering och en större press på att minska kostnader så blir företagens inköpsfunktion en allt mer viktig konkurrensfaktor. När inköp går från att vara en administrativ funktion till att få en alltmer strategisk roll så ökar betydelsen av att värdera hur denna funktion bidrar till företagets resultat och konkurrensförmåga. Eftersom andelen inköpta varor och tjänster ofta utgör en betydande andel av företagets kostnader så kan inköpsfunktionen få en avgörande strategisk roll. Vår studie tar avstamp i denna debatten och avser att studera och analysera fyra bolags inköpsprocesser för att se hur dessa är unika och skapar konkurrensfördelar.Syfte:Syftet med studien är att beskriva och analysera olika möjligheter att skapa konkurrensfördelar genom inköpsstrategiska val.Metod:För att besvara vårt syfte valde vi att intervjua och studera fyra företag i olika branscher för att få en bred bild av inköpsprocessen och hur den integreras i företagets värdekedja. Uppsatsens angreppssätt kan betraktas som abduktivt då vi har pendlat mellan teori och empiri för att nå till vår slutsats.Teori:Vi har studerat ett antal olika böcker och artiklar som behandlar inköpsprocessen, vilka metoder det finns för att värdera och mäta denna samt inköpsfunktionen ur ett strategiskt perspektiv.

The aim of this dissertation is the production of a landscape management document to protect and improve elements of biological, cultural and economic value found within the site at Tosthult. The study involves both analysis of the current grazing regime, comparison of today?s flora with flora collected in the fifties and a SWOT analysis of inhabitants? views on Tosthult?s landscape and neighbourhood. The resultant landscape management document applies to an area over 134 ha and is valid for thirty years. The proposal contains 26 separate management units, each with necessary information on the area, definition of management goals and the mix of management procedures to undertake.

Examensarbetet handlar om kvalitetsarbete i skolan och vad som uppfattas vara kvalitetsarbete av lärare och rektorer som arbetar i skolor där Total Quality Management (TQM) används eller har använts. I studien frågas efter vilka företeelser som uppfattas vara kvalitetsarbete och hur dessa företeelser ter sig avseende makt och form. Dessutom studeras lärares och rektorers förhållningssätt till kvalitetsarbete enligt TQM.Studien har en kvalitativ ansats och data har insamlats med hjälp av intervjuer. Sammanlagt har fyra lärare och fyra rektorer intervjuats. Data presenteras dels i form av kategorier av företeelser som uppfattas vara kvalitetsarbete, dels i form av mer övergripande tolkningar utifrån rektorers respektive lärares förhållningssätt till kvalitetsarbete.De företeelser som uppfattas vara kvalitetsarbete kategoriseras i tre områden: (I) Målfokuserat kvalitetsarbete som innebär arbete med att formulera och konkretisera mål.

In this study environmental work in the Swedish hotel chain "Scandic" is investigated. Earlier studies point out sustainability and different environmental certificate programs as essential for the housing sector to contribute to sustainable tourism. The purpose and willingness to fulfill such a mission has been investigated by interviewing central actors in the hotel chain. The result shows that there is a desire to be part of environmental certificate programs mainly for the reason to be part of the system and not for the benefit of nature. Sustainable development is understood as being environmentally friendly. Different solutions to adapt and being more environmentally friendly is discussed.

This study is a value chain analysis for timber in East Africa. It was commissioned by Vi Agroforestry, a nongovernmental organisation registered in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania engaged in a rural development program that involves promoting tree planting and enterprise development (Vi Agroforestry, 2012). The purpose of the study was to identify and describe common value chains for timber in the countries where Vi Agroforestry operated. Value chain is a concept and a framework describing how to structure information regarding activities included in satisfying a certain customer need, e.g. procurement, logistics, transactions, production and marketing.

This study investigates how performance management in primary schools can facilitate learning, relating to theories of efficient schools. This is done through a qualitative study of the performance management systems in two public primary schools in Sweden. The schools selected were similar in all major aspects, except pupil grades, where there was a clear difference between the schools. The analysis revealed differences in how the schools handled the process of management by objectives, the professional development of teachers as well as routines, rules, and policies. We conclude that having a rooted process for management by objectives, professional development of teachers, and clearly formalized values, gives a school a good foundation to support a pupil's learning and development..

Purpose: The Swedish correctional service is on the brink of its biggest expansion in history, due to political investments related to battling a rise in gang related criminality. The purpose of this thesis is to exam and understand the strategic competence supply work from an employer perspective and investigate the elements included in the Swedish correctional service competence supply form a regional perspective. The study specifically focus on what strategies the Swedish correctional service employ to attract, recruit, develop and retain workforce. Theory: The theoretical framework of the study includes among others, a model divided into three different phases (within, in and out) within competence supply, the demand-control-support model, push and pull factors, as well as the two-factor theory. Method: This study has a qualitative approach with semi structured interview as its specific method. A total of seven interviews were conducted with personnel within the swedish correctional service. Results: The main challenges are related to recruitment, staff retention, support of managers, and the fact that many correctional officers do not have time to complete their training before leaving. The latter is particularly significant are of concern.

AbstractThis report has been developed in cooperation with Peab Region Bostad Göteborg, mentor at Krook& Tjäder (through Chalmers), and examiner at Chalmers University of Technology. The report is the result of a research of a building project, constructed by Peab. The report is investigating and it means to identify and evaluate qualities in the dwelling and its surroundings. Its purpose is to evaluate how the residents in a chosen housing cooperative enjoy living there. It shall, with help of chosen quality aspects, identify what expectations the residents had before moving in, how they experience the dwelling and its surroundings today, and what hopes they have for the future planning of the area.

Background: Budgets has always been a main factor for the management of organisations. Yet, lately has the role of budgets been increasingly questioned. But how is an organisation managed without budgets and what other alternatives can be used? And can these instruments work more effective?Purpose: The purpose of this essay is to describe how non-budget management distinguish compare to traditional management and how to design an effective non-budget system of management. Furthermore we intend to explain the reasons to such management and to present a model for how such a management can be performed.Research method: Empirical material has been performed based on seven interviews with persons within Svenska Handelsbanken.

This study in the subject of forest planning is made for Sveaskog and its aim is to develop tools that prognosticate outcome in terms of volumes per sort from not yet cut forest stands. The degree of detail is just to get reliable results for at least one months volumes, for Sveaskogs own forestland in the market region of Norrbotten that is about 100 000 m3fub. The course of action to accomplish this is regression analysis and the data consists of cut tracts on own forestland in Norrbotten during the years 2006, 2007 and 2008. That is a little more than 4 million m3fub. Two tools were made.

Denna rapport handlar om Övervakning i en IT miljö som täcker både nätverk och system. Denna rapport inriktar sig på Fault Management och Performance Management..

Today?s farmers are constantly affected by the fluctuating world market prices on grain and thereby the price risk that comes with the price fluctuations. The volatile prices of grain increase the price risk within the business, which in turn affects the profitability of the business. The fluctuating prices together with the increased price risk within the farm business have opened up the market for hedging instruments. In this master thesis project, the aim is to identify the underlying end-values of 30 Swedish farmers? related to their choice of using hedging and the product; forward contract.

The purpose of this report is to illustrate potentials and problems with withdrawal of quality timber of birch. The purpose is also to describe possible ways to increase available quantities of quality timber. Former research is reviewed as introduction. The study begins with a prognosis of future volumes of birch timber based on consequence analyze by Swedish Forestry Agency. To illustrate the importance of active maintenance, two stands are estimated and simulated in the Heureka module StandWise.

The paper investigates the role of packaging within brand management of FMCG food companies and their attitude towards packaging. This study enhances the understanding of how FMCG food companies actually work and strive to work with packaging..

Med denna uppsats har vi kartlagt de administrativa reformerna som styr Sveriges sjukvård idag. Dessa reformer bygger på idéer hämtade från New Public Management och Total Quality Management. Vidare har dessa institutionaliserats i enlighet med den nyinstitutionella teorin som beskriver hur dessa reformer har kommit till samt hur och varför de har uppnått legitimitet inom sjukvården. I praktiken har kvalitetsstyrningen tagit sig i uttryck i form av kvalitetsregister som utgör ett styrinstrument. Detta är en kvalitativ studie som utgår ifrån att detta styrningssätt har en rad konsekvenser på läkarprofessionen.