Bringing the Customer Closer to the Innovation Process

Problem Definition: The Swedish foresight division, SFD, of Bramble AB is charged with developing concepts for new products and innovations. At the time, this process is generally disjointed from external input from customers about the needs of the target group. Ideas are generated based on hypotheses, proposed by the employees at SFD, after which concepts are developed and tested internally. However, the validity of the hypotheses is rarely tested. This suggests an opportunity for improvement to the innovation process within SFD by including external information from potential customers to more effectively meet the market needs. As a part of this thesis external information is gathered through personal interviews with potential customers with the purpose of increasing SFD’s information base about the domain of business meetings. This method produces qualitative data which can be utilized in the innovation process. However, the information obtained may be differently suited for different phases of the innovation process. As such, an analysis is required to evaluate what type of customer input is suitable in the different phases of the innovation process. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to explore how external input from the customer can be utilized in different phases of the innovation process at Swedish foresight division of Bramble AB by (1) describing and analyzing the current innovation process and (2) conducting market research about the domain of business meetings as an implementation to include external input in the innovation process. Furthermore, recommendations are made as to iii how to include external input from the customers in the innovation process at SFD at Bramble AB. Methodology: Due to the dual characteristics of the purpose, the methodology is twofold. For the first part of the purpose the innovation process of SFD is described, which corresponds with a descriptive research strategy. The research conforms to a case study. The data used to describe the innovation process at SFD is both gathered through unstructured interviews without specific interview questions, and through semi-structured interviews with three key persons working in three different projects. For the second part of the purpose a market research is conducted in order to generate knowledge about needs and behaviors of customers, which corresponds with an exploratory research strategy. The chosen method for the market research is personal semi-structured interviews. The primary data collected through the interviews is following an interview guide. Thus, the market research method conforms to a qualitative case study. Conclusions: SFD adheres to an innovation process, which combines a supply-push and demand-pull approach and includes feedback loops and iterations of phases. New products and solutions are developed with a focus on the customer. However, external input from the customer is currently limited throughout the innovation process. Analysis of the empirical findings revealed the need for different types of knowledge in the different phases of the innovation process. Through the application of theory, suitable modes and methods of customer involvement could be assigned to the phases of the innovation process at SFD. Methods where customers take a passive role are suitable for the early phases of the innovation process. As the process progresses the customer may take on a more active rol

Spatial Adhocism as Practice for Conflict Politics: Theorising Urban Politics in Kolkata

This thesis critically examines how people at the urban margins of Kolkata form various kinds of political relationships with the postcolonial state to exert rights in the city. It considers these relationships as conflict politics and analyses its spatial manifestations through the notion of ‘spatial adhocism’. Spatial adhocism refers to the quasi-permanent state-political society relations for the mobilisation of resources outside legality. The thesis expands upon existing literature to provide new analytical and empirical insights into the discursive socio-spatial subjectivities of postcolonial cities. It does so, by examining how the practices of conflict politics and spatial adhocism are deployed by the postcolonial state and the political society. The thesis also contributes to the understanding of adhoc geographies which exist in postcolonial urbanism. The empirical evidence underpinning this thesis is collected from three illustrative case studies from Kolkata, namely Loomtex jute mill worker’s movement, Salt Lake anti-eviction movement and Bhangar anti-power-grid movement. Methodologically, this thesis adopts an ethnographic approach, particularly semi-structured interviews, document analysis, participant observation. In terms of comparison, this thesis utilises the experimental comparison method of analysing differential patterns of conflict politics and interconnected trajectories of spatial adhocism. The central findings of the thesis are that the relationships between the state and political society are heterogeneous and that spatial adhocism is omnipresent in postcolonial urbanism. Firstly, the thesis challenges the binary relation of dominance and resistance between the state and the political society and establishes the relation as various forms of engagements. Secondly, it shows that spatial adhocism enables political society to practice various forms of conflict politics with the state to alter hegemonic socio-spatial relations. For the postcolonial state adhoc practices limit conflict politics and help it to maintain an ambiguous relationship with people at the urban margins. This ambiguity serves a two-fold aim. It helps the state to promote capital accumulation in a contingent way, and it also promotes a selective allowance of rights for the people at the margins of the state. Overall the thesis claims that postcolonial urbanism can be theorised through an understanding of the heterogeneity of discursive political practices and their spatial manifestations

Spatial Adhocism as Practice for Conflict Politics: Theorising Urban Politics in Kolkata

This thesis critically examines how people at the urban margins of Kolkata form various kinds of political relationships with the postcolonial state to exert rights in the city. It considers these relationships as conflict politics and analyses its spatial manifestations through the notion of ‘spatial adhocism’. Spatial adhocism refers to the quasi-permanent state-political society relations for the mobilisation of resources outside legality. The thesis expands upon existing literature to provide new analytical and empirical insights into the discursive socio-spatial subjectivities of postcolonial cities. It does so, by examining how the practices of conflict politics and spatial adhocism are deployed by the postcolonial state and the political society. The thesis also contributes to the understanding of adhoc geographies which exist in postcolonial urbanism. The empirical evidence underpinning this thesis is collected from three illustrative case studies from Kolkata, namely Loomtex jute mill worker’s movement, Salt Lake anti-eviction movement and Bhangar anti-power-grid movement. Methodologically, this thesis adopts an ethnographic approach, particularly semi-structured interviews, document analysis, participant observation. In terms of comparison, this thesis utilises the experimental comparison method of analysing differential patterns of conflict politics and interconnected trajectories of spatial adhocism. The central findings of the thesis are that the relationships between the state and political society are heterogeneous and that spatial adhocism is omnipresent in postcolonial urbanism. Firstly, the thesis challenges the binary relation of dominance and resistance between the state and the political society and establishes the relation as various forms of engagements. Secondly, it shows that spatial adhocism enables political society to practice various forms of conflict politics with the state to alter hegemonic socio-spatial relations. For the postcolonial state adhoc practices limit conflict politics and help it to maintain an ambiguous relationship with people at the urban margins. This ambiguity serves a two-fold aim. It helps the state to promote capital accumulation in a contingent way, and it also promotes a selective allowance of rights for the people at the margins of the state. Overall the thesis claims that postcolonial urbanism can be theorised through an understanding of the heterogeneity of discursive political practices and their spatial manifestations

Border control cooperation in the European Union: the Schengen visa policy in practice

This research project investigates the governing of Europe’s external border. It analyses how the common Schengen short-stay visa policy has been applied in practice by member states in the period from 2005 to 2010. So far, little systematic theoretical and empirical research has been carried out on the implementation of Schengen. The contributions of the thesis are two-fold. Firstly, it makes available a comprehensive and easily accessible database on the visa requirements, issuing-practices and consular representation of EU states in all third countries. It enables researchers to map out and compare how restrictively the visa policy is implemented by different member states and across sending countries. Secondly, the project provides three separate papers that in different ways make use of the database to explore and explain the varying openness of Europe’s border and dynamics of cooperation among member states. The three papers are tied together by a framework conceptualising Schengen as a border regime with two key dimensions: restrictiveness and integration. The first paper asks to what extent, and why, Europe’s border is more open to visitors of some nationalities rather than others. The second paper investigates to what extent, and why, EU states cooperate on sharing consular facilities in the visa-issuing process. The third paper examines to what extent, and why, Schengen participation has a restrictive impact on the visa-issuing practices of member countries. The analyses test existing theories and develop new concepts and models. The three papers engage with rationalist and constructivist theories and seek to assess their relative explanatory power. In doing so, the project makes use of different quantitative comparative approaches. It employs regression analysis, social network analytical tools and quasi-experimental design. Overall, the thesis concludes that Schengen is characterized by extensive cooperation and restrictive practices towards especially visitors from poor, Muslim-majority and refugeeproducing countries

The American Middle Class, Income Inequality, and the Strength of Our Economy

Analyzes 1979-2007 income growth by income group and how the state of the middle class and level of income inequality affect factors shaping the economy, such as human capital, demand for goods and services, entrepreneurship, and inclusive institutions

How to design a distribution flow to the Indian market - Based on market potential, import regulations, and trade barriers

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE A global company aiming at a high market position in the future, which Axis Communications AB is, is forced to address the emerging markets. Axis has previously focused on Brazil, Russia, and China and now it is time to address the fourth BRIC country; India, since it is considered to have one of the world's greatest market potential. Axis works according to their partner model, which defines how Axis goes to market. Axis always sells products to distributors, the distributors sell the products to the system integrators/resellers, and the system integrators/resellers sell the products to the end users. Today, Axis sells products to the Indian market through applying ExWorks Singapore, which means that Axis Communications AB ships the products to Singapore where the distributor buys the products. The distributors sell the products to the system integrators/resellers, and the system integrators/resellers finally sell the products to the end users on the Indian market. Axis wants to know how this distribution flow can be designed to better fit the corporate strategy based on market potential, import regulations, and trade barriers. The research questions in the thesis are: 1. Does the Indian market opportunity for video surveillance for the coming three years, 2014-2016, indicate positive or negative sales potential for Axis's products? 2. Based on local requests or requirements for network video on the Indian market, what adjustments, if any, in the offer of products or services would be preferable for Axis's sales in India? 3. Which, if any, trade agreements or other governmental incentives in India could Axis benefit from? 4. Based on costs and partner program aspects, what are the advantages and disadvantages for Axis to start importing to India compared to letting the distributors continue handle the import? The purpose with this project is to clearly explain the advantages and disadvantages with Axis importing products to India. Since the market opportunity for Axis in India, requirements from the market and applicable trade agreements will impact the distribution flow design, this will be examined and presented as well. METHODOLOGY For this Master's Thesis project, the Constructive research approach has been selected as method with slight adjustments to answer the research questions and fulfil the purpose. The Constructive research approach is focusing on solving an existing problem or finding a solution to a given situation. The data collection was made through desk research and interviews. This process was structured according to the research areas: corporate strategy, macro environment, sales and market potential, trade regulation, and distribution flow. The empirical data was analysed to create a problem solving construction that first was tested practically through a workshop at the company and then refined. FRAME OF REFERENCE From the framework for network design decision by Chopra and Meindl (2004) and the framework for import/export decision by Nelson (2000), the researchers developed a research framework. The framework has five research areas: Corporate Strategy, Macro environment, Sales and Market Potential, Trade Regulation, and Distribution Flow. CONCLUSION The refined solution for research question one is that the sales potential is positive for Axis's products on the Indian market for video surveillance for the years, 2014-2016. Although, Axis will need to invest a lot of effort and resources to follow the market's estimated growth. The refined solution for research question two suggests that it would be beneficial for Axis sales in India to implement the following changes to today's offer: * Requirement: Take over the activity of labeling the products with MRP-labels. * Requests: Extend the warranty to match the competitors; shorten the lead time from order until the product reaches the end user; continue to have a broad range of products; introduce a customized product portfolio. The refined solution for research question three is that there are no trade agreements applicable for Axis activity in India and that the governmental incentives of interest are the reduction of duty for some end users. The refined solution for research question four is that the major advantages and disadvantages for Axis to start importing are: * Advantages: Possible to establish a price list; conditions for implementing the partner program will be in place; Back-end rebates will be applicable. * Disadvantages: India is a very corrupt market. Hence, regulations on the paper might not be equal to practice; price pressure and negotiation are fundamental parts of the culture. The recommendation is that Axis should start import to India, to have Axis's strategy operational and to be able to build further on the basis of the corporate strategy.BAKGRUND OCH SYFTE Ett globalt företag som syftar till att långsiktigt öka sin marknadspotential, vilket Axis Communications AB gör, måste adressera utvecklingsmarknaderna i världen. Axis har tidigare haft Brasilien, Ryssland och Kina i focus och vill nu adressera Indien då den Indiska marknaden anses ha en av väldens bästa marknadspotentialer. Axis arbetar utefter sin partnermodel, vilken definierar hur de tar sina produkter till marknaden. Axis säljer alltid produkter till distributörer, distributörerna i sin tur säljer vidare till system integratörer/återförsäljare, vilka sedan säljer till slutkunden. Till de indiska kunderna levererar Axis i dagsläget produkterna som ExWorks Singapore, vilket i praktiken innebär att Axis Communications AB skickar produkterna till sitt säljkontor i Singapore där de indiska distributörerna hämtar upp produkterna och importerar dem till Indien. När produkterna kommit till Indien säljs de vidare av distributören till systemintegratören/återförsäljaren, som i sin tur säljer till slutkunden. Axis vill nu veta hur man kan utforma detta distributionsflöde för att bättre passa företagets strategi baserat på marknadens potential, importregler samt handelshinder. Forskningsfrågorna för detta examensarbete är: 1. Påvisar marknadspotentialen på den Indiska marknaden för videoövervakning positiv eller negativ försäljningspotential för Axis produkter mellan åren 2014-2016? 2. Baserat på marknadens önskemål och krav, vilka förändringar av Axis erbjudande vore fördelaktiga för försäljning på den indiska marknaden? 3. Finns det några handelsavtal eller statliga incitament i Indien som är fördelaktiga för Axis? 4. Baserat på kostnads- och partnerprogramaspekter, vilka är för- respektive nackdelarna för Axis att börja importera till den indiska marknaden jämfört med att låta distributörerna sköta importen som idag? Syftet med projektet är att utröna för- och nackdelarna för Axis att importera produkter till Indien. Då försäljningspotentialen för Axis i Indien, önskemål och krav från marknaden, samt handelsavtal och statliga incitament kan komma att påverka hur distributionsflödet utformas kommer även dessa aspekter att tas med i projektet. METOD För detta examensarbete har the Constructive research approach valts som metod. Metoden har modifierats något för att besvara forskningsfrågorna och uppnå syftet. Metoden fokuserar på att lösa ett befintligt problem eller att hitta en lösning till en given situation. I datainsamlingsfasen har metoderna skrivbordsundersökning och intervjuer använts. Datainsamlingen har strukturerats utefter forskningsområdena företagsstrategi, makromiljö, försäljnings- och marknadspotential, handelsregler och utformning av distributionsflöde. Insamlade empiriska data analyserades för att ta fram en lösning som först testades praktiskt genom en workshop och sedan förfinades till den slutliga lösningen, alltså svaren på forskningsfrågorna. TEORETISK REFERENSRAM Utifrån ramverket för nätverksdesignbeslut av Chopra och Meindl (2004) och ramverket för import och export av Nelson (2000) har författarna till föreliggande examensarbete utvecklat ramverket Pyramiden för undersökningsområden, även kallad Pyramidmodellen. Syftet med modellen är att tydliggöra de aspekter som påverkar svaret på forskningsfrågorna. Ramverket består av de fyra delarna företagsstrategi, makromiljö, försäljnings- och marknadspotential, handelsregler samt utformning av distributionsflöde. SLUTSATS Den slutliga lösningen på forskningsfråga ett är att marknadspotentialen på den indiska marknaden för videoövervakning påvisar positiv försäljningspotential för Axis produkter för åren 2014-2016. Dock kommer Axis att behöva investera mycket energi och resurser för att följa med i marknadens estimerade utveckling. Den slutliga lösningen på forskningsfråga två föreslår att det skulle vara fördelaktigt för Axis försäljning i Indien att införa följande förändringar i erbjudandet till kunderna: * Krav: överta MRP-märkningen av produkterna. * Önskemål: utöka garantilängden för att matcha konkurrenterna, minska ledtiden från order tills produkten når slutkund, fortsätta erbjuda ett brett produktutbud, samt introducera en specialanpassad produktportfölj. Den slutliga lösningen på forskningsfråga tre är att det inte finns några fördelaktiga handelsavtal eller statliga incitament i Indien som kan nyttjas av Axis. Den slutliga lösningen på forskningsfråga fyra är följande för- respektive nackdelarna för Axis att börja importera till den indiska marknaden: * Fördelar: Möjligt att etablera en prislista, förutsättningar för att partnerprogrammet ska fungera kommer skapas, back-end rabatter kommer kunna appliceras. * Nackdelar: Indien är en väldigt korrupt marknad vilket gör att regler som står nedskrivna inte alltid stämmer överens med praktiken, förhandling och prispress är grundpelare i den indiska kulturen. Rekommendationen till Axis är att börja sköta importen till den Indiska marknaden för att på så sätt skapa förutsättningar för att följa Axis strategi och därmed kunna bygga vidare på partnermodellen, vilken anses vara en av Axis nycklar till framgång

A ‘conversation’ between Frank Land [FL] and Antony Bryant [AB] – : Part 2

Part 1 of the ‘conversation’ offered important insights into a groundbreaking era for computer development – adding further detail to existing writings by Frank Land, the work of the LEO group in general, and extended accounts such as those by Ferry, Hally and Harding. This should have whetted the appetite for readers keen to know more, also prompting others to offer their own accounts. Part 2 moves on to Frank Land’s subsequent activities as one of the founding figures of the Information Systems (IS) Academy, and his ‘Emeritus’ phase

Performance measurement system for warehouse activities based on the SCOR® model : A research study in collaboration with Consafe Logistics AB, Sweden

Background: SCOR is a worldwide accepted and renowned process reference model that is developed and endorsed by the non-profit organization Supply Chain Council. It’s a cross-industry diagnostic tool for supply chain management. Consafe Logistics wanted to know if a performance measurement system for warehouse activities could be developed based on the SCOR model, and how it could be applied in their organization to offer enhanced customer satisfaction. Research issue: Previously, there’s been no standardized model used to define warehouse metrics at Consafe Logistics. If more relevant and standardized metrics would be used, Consafe Logistics could arguably be more efficient, give better support to customers and consequently generate greater customer satisfaction. The research should investigate if the SCOR framework can be applied to the company’s services within warehouse management. Furthermore, Consafe Logistics would like to gain a comprehensive picture of what metrics their customers currently measure in order to identify if metrics from the SCOR portfolio are applicable. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a performance measurement system for warehouse activities; the system should be based on the Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) model. Method: The method used in this study was a combination of many elements. First a situation analysis were performed to clarify the initially vague information and to be able to construct the research issue, the purpose and the delimitations for this study. Then a literature study was conducted to make sure enough knowledge was gained about warehouse management, performance measurements and the SCOR model. The empirical data was gathered in a combinatory approach between a qualitative pre-study and a quantitative and qualitative web-based survey. The main purpose of the prestudy was to gain relevant and in depth information from practitioners. The survey was a broader investigation and thereby gave more opportunity for generalization. The information was then analyzed and a performance measurement system for warehouse activities was developed. Conclusions: This study has reached its purpose to develop a performance measurement system based on SCOR. A process model that focuses on the operational tasks within warehousing was designed. If Consafe Logistics implements this warehouse process model, a relevant set of metrics can be achieved for each customer. In this way Consafe Logistics could save a lot of resources in trying to figure out what clients want to measure

Designed agency in collaborations: Exploring cross-sector collaboration in Finland’s artificial intelligence programme AuroraAI.

Prospects of advanced digitalisation, namely applications of algorithmic computation and artificial intelligence, are expected to improve data-driven decision-making in business and government alike. Overshadowed by this vast momentum in technology and predicted progress, societal questions of human dignity and democratic participation in anticipation of futures are fading out of attention. Cross-sector collaborations in the public sector are perceived as a viable means to address complex socio-technical problems, such as the above, as part of an emerging shift from market- and performance-focused governance and towards public good. Simultaneously, the discipline of design, increasingly permeating other fields, sees progressive application in the public realm where it provides encouraging means of participatory engagement to support the reorientation of governance towards the human being. My research takes a critical perspective on the preliminary, pre-2020, preparations of AuroraAI, the Finnish national programme for artificial intelligence, and interconnected cross-sectoral service provision. By developing a human-centric lens of design, the mixed-methods study constructively investigates barriers in the collaborative development and how these closely relate to the currently present and omitted actors and their respective agency. Normative aspects inherent to questions of fair participation in the creation of public good and joint futures are substantiated with the reviewed literature ranging from design to political theory. The thesis highlights the importance of actively nurturing intangible structures of trust and mutual understanding to establish ownership and equity in decision-making. Different levels of agency among actors in the programme appear to be profoundly determined by consciously and unconsciously taken design choices regarding the structures that create the foundations for the processes of collaborative engagement. If agency is the capacity of an actor to exert power in a given context, this capacity can be deliberately or unintentionally limited and expanded; hence agency is open to be designed towards a preferred level of capacity. In the context of collaborations, designed structures, rules and norms then become the main lever to manipulate agency and thereby power dynamics, according to prefigured values and principles. Thus far, the collective agency in AuroraAI seems to be affected by the ramifications of structural limitations regarding actor involvement, open communication and the collaborative engagement regarding a partly prefigured techno-centric agenda. I propose a strategic reframing towards jointly deliberated values of public good within a wider network of actors in their self-determination of digital futures. Structures that guarantee continuous public engagement are not only considered a matter of principle but as a direct means for sustaining relational trust between the government and civil society, as well as to augment internal goal consistency and enhanced legitimacy. Hence, the study acknowledges the design of agency via formal and informal structures to be the reflection and reproduction of value-decisions regarding power dynamics in a collaboration and its political environment