Digitaliseringens roll för hållbarhet i IT-beroende arbetssystem : En socioteknisk analys av strategier och utmaningar för att främja hållbar utveckling

In an era of increasing sustainability demands and accelerating digitalization, organizations face the challenge of integrating technological solutions with long-term sustainability goals. This bachelor's thesis explores how digital transformation influences sustainability work within IT-dependent work systems, adopting a sociotechnical perspective. The aim is to analyze the opportunities and challenges that emerge from the interaction between technology, organizations, and human actors, as well as how responsibility for sustainability initiatives is distributed and coordinated across IT, operations, and sustainability units. The study employs a qualitative research approach based on in-depth interviews with professionals from organizations operating in a Swedish context. The theoretical framework combines five established theories: the Integrated Sustainability Framework, the Belief–Action–Outcome framework, the Digital Transformation Process Model), sustainability integration through socio-environmental indicators, and the affordance theory for sustainability practices. A deductive conceptual model is developed to guide the analysis. Findings indicate that digital technologies can act as enablers of sustainability by supporting automation, information dissemination, and organizational transformation. However, organizational silos, unclear responsibility structures, and cultural resistance pose significant barriers. The study highlights that functional affordances—such as sensemaking and sustainable practices—are critical for realizing the potential of digitalization in sustainability initiatives.  This thesis contributes to the field of information systems by providing insights into how IT-dependent work systems can be structured to support sustainable development, emphasizing the need for integrated efforts across organizational levels in digital transformation processes.

Kulinarisk turism : Skärgårdsmat i Stockholms skärgård

Stockholms skärgård har länge förknippats med naturnära måltider, rökta fiskar och en känsla av det enkla och äkta. Under senare år har dock förutsättningarna förändrats. Denna uppsats undersöker hur skärgårdsmaten presenteras i dag, särskilt i digitala miljöer, och hur denna bild förhåller sig till platsens faktiska utbud, turismens förväntningar och ekologiska villkor. Genom intervjuer, etnografiska observationer och netnografisk analys av restaurangers digitala uttryck framträder en bild, där maten bär på berättelser om tradition och identitet, som också påverkas av globala trender och praktiska begränsningar. Resultatet visar att skärgårdsmat i dag snarare uttrycker en känsla än en geografisk sanningshalt. Maten förmedlas ofta genom stämningar och bilder snarare än råvarors ursprung. Uppsatsen visar hur matkulturen formas i mötet mellan plats, turism och digital kommunikation.

IT-dependent work systems and digital marketing strategies in a data-driven environment : A qualitative study on socio-technical factors and their impact on digital campaign processes

I en snabbt föränderlig digital värld har IT-beroende arbetssystem blivit centrala för att stödja och optimera digitala marknadsföringskampanjer i en datadriven miljö. Denna studie undersöker hur socio-tekniska faktorer påverkar processen och effektiviteten hos dessa system, med särskilt fokus på strategier som tidsbegränsade erbjudanden (LTO). Genom en kvalitativ ansats analyseras samspelet mellan tekniska och sociala komponenter för att belysa hur automatiserade processer och stora datamängder kan förbättra anpassningsförmåga och beslutsfattande. Arbetssystemteorin (WST) och socio-tekniska systemteorin (STS) används som analytiska ramverk för att förstå hur IT-beroende arbetssystem integrerar mänskliga och tekniska resurser. Samtidigt kompletterar analys av stora datamängder (BDA) genom att belysa hur realtidsdata och prediktiva insikter stödjer strategisk kampanjoptimering. Studien identifierar att framgångsrika kampanjer kräver en dynamisk balans mellan teknik och mänskliga aktörer för att möjliggöra flexibilitet och snabb respons på marknadsförändringar. Resultaten visar att företag som effektivt inför IT-beroende arbetssystem kan dra nytta av automatisering för att minska manuellt arbete och optimera resursanvändning. Dock framhålls utmaningar såsom organisatoriska flaskhalsar och tekniska begränsningar som kan försvåra systemens anpassningsförmåga. Etiska och juridiska överväganden kring dataskydd identifieras också som avgörande för att bibehålla kundförtroende och kampanjers effektivitet. Slutsatsen är att IT-beroende arbetssystem, när de används strategiskt, erbjuder en möjlighet för företag att skapa datadrivna och flexibla marknadsföringsstrategier som möter dagens dynamiska affärskrav. In a rapidly evolving digital world, IT-reliant work systems have become central to supporting and optimizing digital marketing campaigns in a data-driven environment. This study examines how socio-technical factors influence the processes and effectiveness of these systems, with a particular focus on strategies such as Limited Time Offers (LTO). Through a qualitative approach, the interplay between technical and social components is analyzed to highlight how automated processes and big data can enhance adaptability and decision-making. The Work System Theory (WST) and Socio-Technical Systems Theory (STS) are employed as analytical frameworks to understand how IT-reliant work systems integrate human and technical resources. Additionally, Big Data Analytics (BDA) complements these perspectives by elucidating how real-time data and predictive insights support strategic campaign optimization. The study identifies that successful campaigns require a dynamic balance between technology and human actors to enable flexibility and a swift response to market changes. The findings indicate that companies effectively implementing IT-reliant work systems can benefit from automation to reduce manual tasks and optimize resource utilization. However, challenges such as organizational bottlenecks and technical limitations are highlighted as potential obstacles to system adaptability. Ethical and legal considerations regarding data protection are also identified as critical to maintaining customer trust and campaign efficiency. The conclusion is that IT-reliant work systems, when strategically employed, offer an opportunity for companies to create data-driven and flexible marketing strategies that address today’s dynamic business demands

An Ethnohistory of Souls and Violence : On the Animation of Humans among the Recent Past Animists of Northwestern Siberia and Animism in Hunter-gatherer Archaeology

In this paper, I question the view that prehistoric animism(s) were solely peaceful ideologies with a focus on caring for the environment and its non-human co-inhabitants. While this is true in many cases when surveying the ethnographic materials for analogies, the same materials also show a different side of animism(s) that legitimise human violence and warfare. By analysing the ethnohistory in relation to the ethnolinguistics and the material culture of northwestern Siberia, I argue that archaeologists must rethink the notion of human animation and consider the complexity of animism(s) that includes both peaceful and violent aspects which, based on archaeological materials, also existed within prehistoric animism(s).    

Riskjusterad avkastning hos aktivt förvaltade fonder : En jämförande studie mellan svenska och norska marknader 2020–2024

This study examines the relationship between systematic, total risk and risk-adjusted returns of actively managed equity funds in Sweden and Norway during the period 2020–2024. Based on Markowitz's Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT) and the Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH), the study uses the Sharpe ratio, Treynor ratio and Jensen’s alpha to evaluate fund performance. Data was collected through Morningstar and Avanza, and a total of 39 funds were selected based on criteria such as registration country, management style and asset class. The results show that Swedish funds generally outperform Norwegian funds in terms of risk-adjusted returns, particularly according to Treynor and Jensen. However, the impact of risk factors on the Sharpe ratio was weak or non-significant in both countries. These findings challenge the EMH and highlight the importance of using multiple performance measures when evaluating fund performance. As the results are only partially explained by systematic and total risk, the study also discusses potential structural factors that may underlie these findings. Future research should therefore consider additional influencing variables that were not included in the present analysis

Why Don't We Use Them? Understanding the Infrequent Use of Voice Assistants in Sweden

This study explores how Swedish users interact with voice assistants (VAs), and what hinders the adoption of VAs in Sweden. Combining a pilot study with qualitative interviews, the study indicates that while the awareness of VAs is high, regular use still remains limited. The use of VAs are mostly for simple, practical tasks like making phone calls, texting and navigation. Barriers to use include privacy concerns, lack of knowledge about the VAs capabilities, linguistic challenges and VAs inability to understand context.  Users preferred to use the VA in private settings and avoided using them in public environments due to discomfort. The default female VA voice and interactions were often described as robotic, but were sometimes the preferred choice in order to avoid humanizing the technology. The study shows that addressing privacy concerns, improving onboarding, and enhancing conversational interactions and voice customization options could make them easier and more appealing to users

Demokratiska kommuner – moderna tider : Festskrift till Stig Montin

Den kommunala politiken och förvaltningen är centrala komponenter i medborgarnas vardag och i samhällsutvecklingen i stort. Stig Montin har genom sin forskargärning spelat en avgörande roll för att fördjupa förståelsen av det kommunala landskapet. Som en av förgrundsgestalterna inom svensk kommunforskning har han inspirerat studenter, politiker och tjänstepersoner både i Sverige och internationellt. I denna festskrift samlas forskare för att i dialog med Montins forskning belysa samtida kommunpolitiska och organisatoriska frågor

The Relationship Between ESG Scores and Market Return. : A Study of Large-Cap Companies in Stockholm (2020–2024)

This thesis investigates the relationship between ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) scores and market returns among large-cap firms in Stockholm between 2020 and 2024. The purpose of this study is to contribute to the existing body of knowledge and provide insights for investors seeking to maximize returns through ESG. Guided by the Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH), the Adaptive Market Hypothesis (AMH), and the Risk–Return Tradeoff, the study uses both cross-sectional and panel data, applying multiple regression analysis to test whether ESG performance correlates with excess returns, varies across industries, or influences market sensitivity (beta). The results show no statistically significant relationship between ESG scores and market returns, nor any evidence that ESG performance reduces a firm’s systematic risk. These findings suggest that, in their current form, ESG factors may not provide added value for return-maximizing investors. The study also highlights challenges related to data availability and suggests that future research should investigate this relationship over longer time periods, across broader markets, and with consideration of investor behavior to gain deeper insight into the financial implications of ESG

The influence of popular culture in the after-school center : A qualitative study on the impact of popular culture on students' social interactions in after-school activities

The purpose of this study is to examine how popular culture affects children's social interactions in Swedish school-age educare. The study begins by describing how the increase in popular cultural expressions in children's daily lives can affect their social interactions and relationships. Previous research suggests that popular culture can be used as an inclusive resource, but can also be a factor in exclusion between children if they do not have knowledge or access to these expressions. The theoretical starting point used in this study is the perspective of situated learning and the concept of communities of practice, which clarify how social participation and learning are seen within meaningful contexts. Using a qualitative approach, semi-structured interviews have been conducted with four school-age educare educators and four children at two different schools. The analysis was conducted based on a thematic analysis. The results of the study show that popular culture plays a significant role in children's social interaction with each other. Common interests in popular cultural references and expressions can increase inclusion between children, but on the other hand can risk children being excluded if they do not share the same popular cultural interests. The leisure educators express that popular culture can function as a kind of tool for participation, but also as something that requires active educational planning. It is emphasized in the discussion that integrating popular cultural expressions and references into school-age educare is important for promoting learning and inclusion. This study highlights the need for educators and teachers to increase their understanding of children's popular cultural expressions and references, both in practice and education