Ekonomistyrning för balanserad flexibilitet och förutsägbarhet: en fältstudie av innovationsprocessen i ett kostnadsledande företag

Problematisering: Ekonomistyrning i kostnadsledande företag etablerar stabila förhållanden och eliminerar variation för att kontrollera kostnader, vilket enligt traditionell forskning ses som innovationshämmande. Samtidigt tycks företag i ökad utsträckning arbeta med kombinerade affärsstrategiska fokus, då viss innovation har visat sig nödvändig för att upprätthålla konkurrenskraft. Detta problematiserar tidigare forskning inom ekonomistyrning som behandlar affärsstrategi som ett val mellan antingen kostnadsledarskap eller differentiering. Syfte: Genom att utvärdera om kostnadsledarskap och differentiering kan kombineras för att skapa konkurrenskraft är syftet med denna studie att utveckla en fördjupad förståelse för hur en lågprispositionerad organisation kombinerar och använder styrmedel för att stödja innovation genom produktutvecklingsprocessen. Metod: Studien utvecklar befintliga teoretiska ramverk genom ett kvalitativt induktivt tillvägagångssätt. En inledande litteraturstudie resulterade i fem teoretiska förväntningar som möjliggjorde en analys av utförd fältstudie. Genom att intervjua fem respondenter från olika funktioner och hierarkiska nivåer i en kostnadsledande organisation som samtidigt utmärks av innovativ differentiering, kunde de fem teoretiska förväntningarna diskuteras samt utvecklas. Resultat: Studien visar att affärsstrategiska fokus kan kombineras för att skapa konkurrenskraft samt att affärsstrategi och ekonomistyrning påverkar varandra ömsesidigt. Såväl indirekt som direkt styrning stödjer innovation i kostnadsledande organisationer. Indirekt styrning stödjer kreativitet genom flexibilitet, medan direkt styrning skapar förutsägbarhet genom att utvärdera strategisk relevans. Kostnadsledarskap gör att direkta och indirekta styrmedel fördelaktigt kombineras redan i initiala faser av innovationsprocessen, då egenskaper hos styrmedlen kompletterar varandra. Genom att integrera direkt styrning i indirekta styrformer minimeras begränsande effekter som enligt teorier karaktäriserar direkt styrning

Emotion dysregulation, self-image and eating disorder symptoms in University Women

BACKGROUND: We studied associations between emotion dysregulation, self-image and eating disorder (ED) symptoms in university women, and contrasted two indirect effect models to examine possible intervening mechanisms to produce ED symptoms. METHODS: 252 female Swedish university students completed the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), the Structural Analysis of Social Behavior (SASB) self-image measure, and the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q). Correlations between scales were followed by five simple mediation analysis pairs with two possible pathways using five ED symptom variables as outcome. The models posited either self-image or emotion dysregulation as mediator or independent variable, respectively. ED symptoms were EDE-Q Global score, objective binge eating episodes (OBE), subjective binge eating episodes (SBE), and two variants of EDE-Q excessive exercise. RESULTS: Emotion dysregulation and self-image were strongly correlated, and both correlated moderately with EDE-Q Global score. There were distinct indirect effects through self-image on the relationship between emotion dysregulation and ED symptoms, but not vice versa. These indirect effects were evident in relation to cognitive ED symptoms and both OBE and SBE, but not in relation to excessive exercise. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that even if closely related, emotion dysregulation and self-image both contribute unique knowledge in relation to ED symptoms. Self-image as an intervening mechanism between emotion dysregulation and ED symptoms is relevant for models of the development, maintenance and treatment of ED, as well as treatment focus

Personality predicts drop-out from therapist-guided internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy for eating disorders. Results from a randomized controlled trial

Internet-based guided self-help cognitive behavioural therapy (ICBT) seems a promising way of delivering eating disorder treatment. However, treatment drop-out is a common problem and little is known about the correlates, especially in clinical settings. The study aimed to explore prediction of drop-out in the context of a randomized controlled trial within specialized eating disorder care in terms of eating disorder symptomatology, personality traits, comorbidity, and demographic characteristics. 109 outpatients diagnosed with bulimia nervosa or similar eating disorder were randomized to two types of ICBT. Participants were assessed with several clinical- and self-ratings. The average drop-out rate was 36%. Drop-out was predicted by lower scores in the personality traits Dutifulness and Assertiveness as measured by the NEO Personality Inventory Revised, and by higher scores in Self-affirm as measured by the Structural Analysis of Social Behaviour. Drop-out was also predicted by therapist factors: one therapist had significantly more drop-outs (82%) than the other three (M = 30%). Theoretical and clinical implications of the impact of the predictors are discussed

Personality predicts drop-out from therapist-guided internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy for eating disorders : Results from a randomized controlled trial

Internet-based guided self-help cognitive behavioural therapy (ICBT) seems a promising way of delivering eating disorder treatment. However, treatment drop-out is a common problem and little is known about the correlates, especially in clinical settings. The study aimed to explore prediction of drop-out in the context of a randomized controlled trial within specialized eating disorder care in terms of eating disorder symptomatology, personality traits, comorbidity, and demographic characteristics. 109 outpatients diagnosed with bulimia nervosa or similar eating disorder were randomized to two types of ICBT. Participants were assessed with several clinical- and self-ratings. The average drop-out rate was 36%. Drop-out was predicted by lower scores in the personality traits Dutifulness and Assertiveness as measured by the NEO Personality Inventory Revised, and by higher scores in Self-affirm as measured by the Structural Analysis of Social Behaviour. Drop-out was also predicted by therapist factors: one therapist had significantly more drop-outs (82%) than the other three (M = 30%). Theoretical and clinical implications of the impact of the predictors are discussed

Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for bulimic eating disorders in a clinical setting : Results from a randomized trial with one-year follow-up

Background Those who suffer from eating disorders often experience serious impairment in quality of life and the majority never receive treatment. Treatment availability may be increased by implementing methods that demand less resources and are more easy accessible such as internet-based treatments, but knowledge about their effects is still insufficient. The study evaluated effects of two types of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy and a structured day patient program, the latter being a standard treatment at an eating disorder clinic at the time for the study. Methods 150 participants with bulimic eating disorders randomized to two types of internet based treatments (one pure online treatment and one based on a self-help guide in book-format) or an intensive 16-week day patient program. The number of participants that started treatment was 120 of which 98 in internet treatment and 22 in the day program. Outcome assessments were carried out at baseline, post treatment, and at one-year follow-up. Results All treatments were associated with significantly improved eating disorder pathology, self-image, and clinical impairment. Although the day program generally showed larger effects, only one significant difference found was in diagnostic remission post treatment; 51 % of the participant was in remission in internet treatment and 88 % in the day program. At one-year follow-up, participants in the internet treatments had continued to improve, whereas in the day patient program the effect sustained. Internet treatment had a 36 % drop out rate, there were no dropouts found in the day program. Conclusions All treatments were comparable in effect at follow-up, suggesting that internet treatment is a conceivable alternative to standard treatment. Internet treatment in a book-based format was also equally effective as a pure online format. Internet delivered cognitive behavioral treatment forms can make important contributions to achieve increased access to treatment for patients with bulimic eating disorders. Future research and clinical implications for internet delivered treatments in eating disorder services are discussed