The purpose of this thesis is to analyze and propose improvements to the current procedure for cost estimations of purchased maintenance work at Banverket, the Swedish rail administration. This governmental institution is responsible for the procurement of maintenance services for the country?s railroad network through open tenders. Due to the generally low number of contractors, it is particularly necessary to establish accurate cost estimates in order to assess the offers and ensure that a fair price is being paid to the suppliers. Several flaws associated with the current practice are identified and analyzed according to cost accounting theories.

The smartphone is part of our daily life. Smartphone users type on a screen area that is no larger than the palm of a hand. To help with this endeavor the software known as AutoCorrect was created. However little is known about how AutoCorrect actually change the language and if AutoCorrect users at all perceive the impact it has. This study aims to find out if our test subjects are aware of AutoCorrect?s presence and how much it influences them.

This graduate essay treats how the cultural heritage of Gothenburg is mediated in different respect.The various sources that have been studied are literary such as guidebooks and books that tell thehistory of Gothenburg. Internet pages and citywalks have also been studied, as well as theinformation the visitor can extract in the area.The introduction presents the subject of the essay, as well as its significance. In the second chapter isthe mediation of the history behind cultural heritage as well as its present interpretation described.Therefore, in chapter three, is a short version of the history of Gothenburg described. The main partof the essay, the main examination, is treated in chapter four where literary sources, citywalks andsigns in the area are examined. Chapter four ends with a Suggestion of how the cultural heritage inVästra Nordstaden could in a better way be mediated to residents and visitors in Gothenburg.The results and concluding discussion in chapter five reflects on what was represented in chapterfour.

The aim of this study was to investigate the importance of nature for the health and well-being of young adults. A qualitative method was used and data was collected through semi-structured interviews with eleven people from the ages of 15-20. The interviews were transcribed with the results of the study revealing that nearly everyone felt calm and relaxed while they were in a natural environment. The most common motivation to be outdoors was socializing with friends, performing any kind of sport and/or taking walks. Reasons to stay indoors were rainy, cold weather, lack of time, and in some cases circumstances related to their surroundings, such as where they live.

A major issue that has been a subject for quite some time is whether there will be a scarcity of metals in the bedrock in the future and whether or not we might end up with a problem similar to that of the big oil crisis in the mid-seventies. Following the oil crisis many oil companies started up with risk management to control future risks. This work presents how Swedish mining companies work with risk management to handle risks that might come up in the future due to metal scarceness. How Swedish mining companies look at the possible metal scarceness and if they use risk management in their decision-making process is studied. By doing interviews with Swedish owned mining companies it was found that the mining companies did not see the future metal scarcity as a risk, even though 2/3 of the companies acknowledged the scarceness to be a reality.

This graduate essay treats how the cultural heritage of Gothenburg is mediated in different respect.The various sources that have been studied are literary such as guidebooks and books that tell thehistory of Gothenburg. Internet pages and citywalks have also been studied, as well as theinformation the visitor can extract in the area.The introduction presents the subject of the essay, as well as its significance. In the second chapter isthe mediation of the history behind cultural heritage as well as its present interpretation described.Therefore, in chapter three, is a short version of the history of Gothenburg described. The main partof the essay, the main examination, is treated in chapter four where literary sources, citywalks andsigns in the area are examined. Chapter four ends with a Suggestion of how the cultural heritage inVästra Nordstaden could in a better way be mediated to residents and visitors in Gothenburg.The results and concluding discussion in chapter five reflects on what was represented in chapterfour.

This survey is about pre-school teacher?s supervision over children?s play. In an earlier study children expressed that they had places they called their own. In those places where they were in charge the adults were not welcome unless they were invited by the children. This aroused our interest to do a survey about children?s influence over their playing time.

The aim for my thesis has been to investigate how literature, or fiction, is used in management education. What books are used ? is there a literary leadership canon? What do the educators and the writers on this subject suggest that these books can teach the leaders? What are the philosophical foundations of this education? And ? last but not least ? does what the educators and writers offer respond to the needs of the businesses? My investigation shows that there is a canon in the area of management and fiction, where realistic 19th century novels, alongside with Shakespeare?s plays are dominant. Female writers and non-western writers are very underrepresented. The positive outcomes of reading and discussing these literary works that the educators and writers suggest do substantially correspond with the needs of the businesses, as presented by my sources.

This thesis describes a further development of an existing prototype named Automatic pin bone remover. The further development was requested from the Swedish consulting firm ATM AB. The request of automatic pin bone removers is high and has the potential to be a worldwide leading product.The goal with the thesis work is to further develop an existing prototype. In order to achieve the goal a pre-study of the prototype had to be made in order to define a customer demand specification. The thesis work is then continued by a function analysis which differs from a conservative one.

The aim of this thesis is to investigate if an automation of the manual packaging process at Legosan AB is profitable. Legosan AB, located in Kumla, performs subcontract work of dietary supplements and medical products to companies within Europe. The chapterportal robot is used in the other. As there are several options in the choice of packaging robot the Suggestions of improvement are divided into two different designs. Other machines and equipment necessary for the different Suggestions of improvement are showed and their measurements are presented.

Urban agriculture is a current topic and this study examines the possibility of cultivating on balconies in the city. The study was performed at Uppsala University and examines, from a structural engineering perspective, how different existing balcony/terrace structures are affected by cultivation. A cultivation balcony defined in the study as a balcony/terrace which is specifically designed for cultivation. Three units of study have been selected according to this criterion. Four factors were examined, these were loads, moisture/water, economy and cultivation.

The work with Agenda 21 resulted in a larger focus on local participation and deliberation. The Swedish implementation of Agenda 21 is a result of these local governments´ political agendas and policies.The purpose with this paper is to examine the relationship between the citizen and the local government. It focuses on three theories of citizenship and how the view of "the environmental aware citizen?; in the local government?s municipalities policies differ and from which theory of citizenship do they come from.The analysis is of a valuing and comparing nature. The municipalities´ web pages have been the main source to generate an understanding of their view on the normative environmental work.

The aim of this project is to examine the needs and problems that exists amongst homeless people and to develop a solution that will help them in their everyday life. Since the homeless are a relatively large vulnerable group i Sweden, their everyday lives could be made easier in many ways.A clear definition of the target group is put together to create a good starting point. What state and help orginazations do to help the homelss and the society?s view of the homeless is also relevant and has been documented. Four personal stories have been put together to desicribe cases of clear problems existing in everyday life.Several interesting problems has been defined from the research and acceptance in the communtiy, desire to be seen and heard and a lack of confidence were the main needs.

This report aims to suggest recommendations that will increase the efficien¬cy in theconstruction process of a construction project. Through interviews, studies of budgetcalculations and examples given by the project management at the construction sightsan understanding of some complications have been gained. These complications havebeen tracked back in an attempt to find the source of the problem, and at the end ofthe report some Suggestions have been presented with the pur-pose of preventingthese complications. Through the interviews it is suggested that many complications re-late to lack ofcommunication and motivation due to poor planning be-fore and during theconstruction process, a Suggestion that is supported by the study of the budgetcalculations. The examples from the project management also points out someshortages in planning, but also coordi-nation related complications due to lack ofcommunication. To prevent these problems the recommendations suggested at the end of thisreport aims to improve the planning process through a properly fulfilledwalkthrough-planning of all of the construction activi¬ties during the time needed todo so. It is also suggested that the company uses experience from previous projects inorder to reduce costs, and that the qualifications of the employees is being appliedwhere it is needed.

Background: Currently Sweden has the possibility to like other EU countries raise the limits of statutory audit, but have chosen significantly lower limits. The reform was adopted in 2010 and only applies to smaller companies and there is great pressure for the limits to rise in future. This would enable Swedish companies to compete on equal terms in Europe. Aim: The aim of our study is to investigate the impact of the removal of the statutory audit for smaller companies from audit and accounting bureaus perspective and also the possible impact if the limits were to rise. Furthermore we want to explore how the supplies of other financial services have developed as a result of this.