Digital Dilemmas

Social media is at the core of digital transformations in organizations. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other social media platforms widen the scope for rapid and effective communication with stakeholders. They also create a range of new and challenging ethical dilemmas. This open access book categorizes the dilemmas organizations across a range of industries can face when they implement social media to communicate with stakeholders. This book provides a systematic framework for analyzing these ethical dilemmas in social media using the Navigation Wheel. This tool leads the decision-maker through a series of considerations such as legal questions, corporate identity, morality, reputation, and ethics. Finally, the author considers implications for leaders and presents potential solutions to these dilemmas. Based on five years of original research with 250 executive students at a European business school, all of whom work with social media communications in their organizations, this book is the first major study to explore the ethical use of social media across industries and is a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners alike

Fallibility at Work

This book is published open access under a CC BY 4.0 license. This book addresses how organizations can deal with human fallibility in order to create space for excellence at work. Some mistakes in work settings put lives at risk, while others create openings for innovative breakthroughs. In order to deal constructively with fallibility, an organization needs a communication climate where it is normal to voice opinions, admit mistakes, and ask for help in critical situations. The book builds on interviews with practitioners in healthcare, aviation, IT, public governance, and industry. It connects narratives from these fields with theories from organizational psychology and philosophy, as well as from positive organizational scholarship. In the final chapter, an overall ethics of fallibility at work is outlined. Fallibility at Work contributes to research in multiple academic disciplines, but also reaches out to practitioners who are interested in the connections between error and excellence in organizations. ; Provides a systematic account of what the phenomenon of fallibility amounts to, why it matters, why it turns out to be difficult to cope with, and finally how we may deal with it in constructive ways Highlights the relational aspects of organizational behaviour, with theoretical input from the three disciplines of philosophy, psychology and pedagogy Explores how the challenges posed by fallibility change when emphasis moves from heroic to distributed leadership, and from vertical to horizontal leadership Open Acces

Moral Reasoning at Work : Rethinking Ethics in Organizations

This book is published Open Access under a Creative Common Licence - CC-BY.Moral dilemmas are a pervasive feature of working life. Moral Reasoning at Work offers a fresh perspective on how to live with them. How do we cope with situations where no matter what we decide to do, something will be wrong? How do we live with the moral dissonance between what we are tempted to do and what is in line with our moral convictions? What can organizations do to establish a foundation for responsible decision-making and conduct? This book combines research streams from ethics and moral psychology using extensive experience of sessions of moral reasoning with leaders and employees in organizations. It argues that there is a need to go beyond compliance and traditional approaches to ethics in order to prepare decision-makers for moral dilemmas. Organizations can do that by encouraging people to become actively and regularly involved in moral reasoning at work.BI Norwegian Business School1, O

Techno-economic assessment of an automated lithium-ion battery module disassembly process: Investigating the optimal level of automated disassembly

The use of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has rapidly increased recent years, mainly due to the global adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). Continued growth is expected, which will inevitably lead to a large amount of battery waste. Proper recycling is then required to reinsert valuable raw materials to the value chain. Recycling of LIBs are normally initiated by disassembly, followed by various mechanical and metallurgical treatments. Disassembly is one of the most labour intensive steps when recycling LIBs. Considering the expected growth, a fully automated disassembly process will be required. However, this represents a non-negligible investment. Determining the optimal disassembly level prior to recycling is a crucial step that must be considered before investing in automated disassembly. Currently, most EV LIBs are only disassembled to module level prior to recycling. Instead, disassembly to cell level could produce greater purity material streams and less material to handle downstream. The question is whether or not it is economic viable to carry out deeper robotic disassembly down to cell level instead of stopping at module level. This study presents a techno-economic assessment of a robotic module disassembly line, furnishing guidelines on the necessary degree of automation in EV LIB disassembly. Different case study scenarios are proposed, demonstrating that investments in a robotic module disassembly line could be profitabl

Techno-economic assessment of an automated lithium-ion battery module disassembly process: investigating the optimal level of automated disassembly.

The use of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has rapidly increased recent years, mainly due to the global adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). Continued growth is expected, which will inevitably lead to a large amount of battery waste. Proper recycling is then required to reinsert valuable raw materials to the value chain. Recycling of LIBs are normally initiated by disassembly, followed by various mechanical and metallurgical treatments. Disassembly is one of the most labour intensive steps when recycling LIBs. Considering the expected growth, a fully automated disassembly process will be required. However, this represents a non-negligible investment. Determining the optimal disassembly level prior to recycling is a crucial step that must be considered before investing in automated disassembly. Currently, most EV LIBs are only disassembled to module level prior to recycling. Instead, disassembly to cell level could produce greater purity material streams and less material to handle downstream. The question is whether or not it is economic viable to carry out deeper robotic disassembly down to cell level instead of stopping at module level. This study presents a techno-economic assessment of a robotic module disassembly line, furnishing guidelines on the necessary degree of automation in EV LIB disassembly. Different case study scenarios are proposed, demonstrating that investments in a robotic module disassembly line could be profitable

The Effect of Uncertainty on Investment Empirical evidence from listed Norwegian firms 2005-2018

The relationship between uncertainty and investment is an extensively explored topic in economic and financial literature. Regardless, the dramatic events of recent years have reinvigorated the need to garner a greater understanding of this relationship. Diverse and often competing theoretical literature on the effects of uncertainty on investment has not managed to provide a conclusive answer on the direction of this relationship, underscoring the need for additional empirical research. This thesis aims to investigate the relationship between uncertainty and investment on a panel of listed Norwegian firms from 2005 to 2018. In addition, we analyse potential differences in the direction and magnitude of this relationship between business sectors. Controlling for both firm-specific and macro-specific characteristics, we find evidence of a negative relationship between both firm-specific and an aggregate uncertainty on firm-level investment. Furthermore, when conducting a comparative analysis, we observe indications that there are differences in the magnitude of the effect between business sectors. Lastly, our results suggest that manufacturing firms are less responsive to demand shocks during times of higher uncertainty. Our findings shed light on the effect of uncertainty on firm investment behaviour in a Norwegian context. As with earlier empirical literature, our findings could have important implications for fiscal and monetary policy.nhhma

De vet at jeg har epilepsi : tre skolehistorier med fokus på tilpasset opplæring

Masteroppgave i tilpassa opplæring - Universitetet i Nordland, Bodø 201

Density-dependent selection and the maintenance of colour polymorphism in barn owls

The capacity of natural selection to generate adaptive changes is (according to the fundamental theorem of natural selection) proportional to the additive genetic variance in fitness. In spite of its importance for development of new adaptations to a changing environment, processes affecting the magnitude of the genetic variance in fitness-related traits are poorly understood. Here, we show that the red-white colour polymorphism in female barn owls is subject to density-dependent selection at the phenotypic and genotypic level. The diallelic melanocortin-1 receptor gene explained a large amount of the phenotypic variance in reddish coloration in the females (R2 ¼ 59:8%). Red individuals (RR genotype) were selected for at low densities, while white individuals (WW genotype) were favoured at high densities and were less sensitive to changes in density.We show that this density-dependent selection favours white individuals and predicts fixation of the white allele in this population at longer time scales without immigration or other selective forces. Still, fluctuating population density will cause selection to fluctuate and periodically favour red individuals. These results suggest how balancing selection caused by fluctuations in population density can be a general mechanism affecting the level of additive genetic variance in natural populations.Density-dependent selection and the maintenance of colour polymorphism in barn owlspublishedVersio

Svartelistearter i Bergen - En trussel for det biologiske mangfoldet?

The subject of this Masters thesis is alien species; a topic of increasing debate within the field of biogeography in recent years. Alien species are species that, aided by human activity, are able to spread beyond the natural extent of their habitats. These species play different roles within their adopted ecosystems; some complement the naturally occurring flora and fauna while others dominate and out-compete it leading to a loss in biodiversity. In the latter case the alien species is referred to as invasive. The aim of this thesis has been to study three black-listed, alien species in the wider Bergen area as well as one red-listed native species. The three black-listed species are Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica), Giant knotweed (Reynoutria sachalinensis) and Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum). The red-listed species is Masterwort (Peucedanum ostruthium). A theoretical framework for the thesis is provided in Chapter 3. This includes the themes of biological diversity, the definition of invasive species (both native and alien) and the concept of biological invasion and factors determining its success. Three sources have been used in this study. The first is a collection of maps produced by the author from GPS data gathered during fieldwork and processed with GIS. These maps show the current extent of the four species within the area of study. The second source is the national database for species data Artsdatabanken. Comparing the historical database data with the new fieldwork data allows for a (limited) evaluation of the spreading of the four species over time. The third source of information for this study is a series of interviews with stakeholders from the spheres of public administration and academia. Their different, and at times conflicting, opinions are compared and contrasted. The Discussion chapter considers the types of habitats where the species have most successfully established themselves and whether the black-listed species should be considered an invasive threat to the study area. One of the main finds is that they haven't established themselves in areas of natural vegetation, despite having been present in the area for a long time. Furthermore, the distinction between red-listed and black-listed species is considered and its practical implications. Drawing on the interview material, the actions and opinions of the different stakeholders are compared to the theoretical framework. Another of the main finds of the study is that the interviewee from academia is more interested in why the species spread whereas the others are focused on how to tackle this spreading.GEO350MASV-GEO

Evolution by natural selection in age-structured populations in fluctuating environments

Summary of thesis: In age-structured populations, subject to environmental and demographic stochasticity, the response to selection on fitness-related traits will be a complex result of selection at different life stages. Understanding how selection at different stages of the life history interacts to determine the total selection differential is important to enable predictions of evolutionary change. This thesis contributes to this end by showing how current methods for estimating selection can be extended using a demographic framework. Then reproductive values and the stable age distribution can be used to account for the effects of age-structure and estimate selection. The individual reproductive value is the relevant measure of fitness in age-structured populations with no density regulation. This measure of fitness is defined as an individual’s contribution to the total reproductive value of the population next year. Then the total selection on a trait was shown to be a weighted sum of age-specific selection gradients with weights equal to the stable age distribution. This enabled the estimation of temporal mean selection and fluctuation selection using maximum likelihood methods. The R package lmf was developed to implement these methods in statistical analyses. In the Robertson-Price equation, the total change in a mean trait over a time step is separated into two additive components. The first is the covariance of trait and relative fitness (i.e. the selection differential). The second, an expectation which describe how offspring differ from their parents (a transmission term). A generalization of the Robertson-Price equation for a weighted mean was derived. The correct selection differential was obtained by using reproductive values as weights. For any other choice of weights, estimated selection differentials contained transient quasi-selection due to fluctuations in the age-distribution and variation in the mean trait between age classes. Harvesting has repeatedly been shown to be non-random with respect to age in wild populations. For instance, due to a preference for old individuals which also are large. In a harvested moose population, an extension of the generalized Robertson-Price equation for multiple traits was applied to investigate harvest-induced selection. Hunters were shown to induce selection for later birth dates and smaller calf body mass. This may have detrimental effects on the population in the long run, as early birth date and high calf body mass are generally associated with high fecundity in moose. An artificial selection experiment successfully perturbed body size in a population of house sparrows from their natural mean. This induced large age-specific variation in mean phenotypes and fluctuations in the age distribution. Using the R package lmf, natural selection was shown to oppose the artificial selection, indicating the presence of an optimal phenotype. While offspring of artificially selected parents produced less recruits than individuals with unselected parents, there was also some indications that this effect was most pronounced in the first age class. The results in this thesis emphasize the advantages of using methods which allows for handling fluctuations in age distribution and variation in mean phenotypes between age classes when analysing selection in wild populations. Ignoring age-structure may seriously affect inferences of natural selection.Norsk: I aldersstrukturerte bestander er den evolusjonære responsen til seleksjon på fitnessrelaterte trekk et komplekst resultat av seleksjon ved ulike livshistoriesteg. Miljø- og demografisk stokastisitet vil påvirker denne responsen gjennom å skape kohorteffekter og tilfeldige forskjeller mellom individer i individuell fitness. For å kunne predikere evolusjonære endringer trengs en forståelse av hvordan seleksjon ved ulike alderstrinn bidrar til å bestemme den totale seleksjonen i bestanden. Denne ph.d.-avhandlingen bidrar til dette gjennom å se på seleksjon og evolusjonære endringer i et demografisk rammeverk. Vekting ved reproduktive verdier benyttes for å håndtere forskjeller i vitale rater (overlevelse og fekunditet) mellom aldersklasser og temporære fluktuasjoner aldersstruktur. Nye metoder for å estimere seleksjon i aldersstrukturerte bestander ble utviklet og gjort tilgjengelig gjennom å utvikle en tilleggspakke til den statistiske programvaren R, R pakken lmf. De nye metodene tillater å beregne fluktuerende og temporært gjennomsnittlig seleksjon over år. Det ble vist tydelig at ved å ignorere aldersstruktur vil beregnede seleksjonsgradienter inneholde en falsk seleksjonskomponent. Denne komponenten introduseres av fluktuasjoner i aldersfordeling og forskjell i gjennomsnittlig verdi av fitness og egenskap mellom aldersklasser. Vekting ved aldersspesifikke reproduktive verdier setter denne komponenten til å ha forventing null slik at seleksjon kan estimeres korrekt. Gjennom å benytte disse metodene i seleksjonsanalyser med lange tidsserier av individdata vises flere interessante resultater. Hos elg på øya Vega ble jegere vist å introdusere seleksjon for senere fødsler og lavere kalvevekt. Dette kan ha negative konsekvenser for bestanden i det lange løp, da tidlig fødte kalver med høy vekt tidligere er funnet å bidra til høy fekunditet hos elg. I to øybestander av gråspurv ble et kunstig seleksjonseksperiment utført. En bestand ble selektert for lang tars og en bestand for kort tars. Tarsen er et av beinene i foten som hos spurvefugler er en god indikator for generell kroppsstørrelse. Resultatet var en reduksjon i individuell fitness hos individer som var selektert for en avvikende kroppsstørrelse og dermed naturlig seleksjon mot det opprinnelige gjennomsnittet. Dette tas som en indikator for at det finnes en optimal fenotype som opprettholdes gjennom seleksjon i et fluktuerende miljø. Resultatene i denne ph.d.-avhandlingen vektlegger viktigheten av å benytte metoder som korrekt håndterer aldersstruktur i beregninger av naturlig seleksjon. Ved å ignorere aldersstruktur kan estimater av seleksjon og forventninger til evolusjonære endringer bli feilaktige