Farm business development: the motives and effects of diversification strategies

This thesis investigates the factors underlying farm business development in Sweden, and the economic and social implications related to different development strategies. The thesis consists of four papers. Paper I uncovers the values that underlie farmers’ strategic choices for business development. The results indicated that a mixed set of use- and non-use values guide choices for farm strategic orientation. Paper II examines the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and farmers’ satisfaction with business performance while considering the moderating effects of the farm diversification strategy and the environmental conditions in which a farm business operates. The findings suggested that the combination of farm diversification strategy with the environmental conditions has a significant relationship with farmers’ satisfaction with business performance. These two papers differ in their methodological approaches, however, they focus on the farmer as the unit of analysis, whereas Papers III and IV that follow, focus on the farm business as the unit of analysis. In particular, Paper III investigates the role of diversification strategies in enhancing farm financial performance. The results show a heterogeneous relationship between agricultural and farm diversification with farm financial performance across farm types. Finally, Paper IV examines the impact of diversification strategies on farm-level employment and farm income variability. It suggests that farm diversification is a labour-saving strategy and that it increases farm income variability. In contrast, agricultural diversification is positively related to farm-level employment but negatively related to farm income variability

Values underlying farmers' business development decisions: evidence from Swedish agriculture using Zaltman metaphor elicitation technique

Purpose: This study aimed to uncover the values that underlie farmers' strategic choices for business development. In particular, we uncovered farmers' values related to business development through farm diversification and compared these with values regarding business development through non-diversified farm activities.Methodology: We considered diversified and non-diversified farm activities as two possible strategic orientations related to farm development. For each strategic orientation, the study systematically uncovered its values grounded on in-depth interviews with 23 farmers in Sweden, using the Zaltman metaphor elicitation technique. We analyzed values in terms of use- and non-use values related to the choice of strategic orientation.Findings: The results suggested that a heterogeneous set of use- and non-use values guide choices for farm strategic orientation. Particularly, for non-diversified farm activities, we identified eight values, of which three were categorized as use values and five as non-use values. For diversified farms, we found four values, all of which were categorized as non-use values.Practical Implications: Our results highlight that policymakers need to approach farm development differently for each strategic orientation, considering that the underlying values between these two groups differ. Also, for farm advisors, results can be useful for improving and adapting the communication and interaction with farmers, which can further improve the content and influence of advisory services.Theoretical Implications: The Zaltman metaphor elicitation technique expands the methodology of eliciting farmers' values and especially regarding farmers' strategic choices.Originality: This paper extends the knowledge of the driving forces that underlie farmers' choices for farm business development

Corporate Social Responsibility and Strategic Managerial Delegation

This thesis examines the strategic delegation model in a duopoly market. A strategic analysis is used to integrate Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) into managerial incentive design. We develop and examine two different scenarios of the delegation game. The first scenario is the model of simultaneous managerial delegation in which firms compete sequentially in quantities (Stackelberg fashion), while the second scenario is the model of sequential managerial delegation in which firms compete in quantities simultaneously (Cournot fashion). In light of this, the purposes of this thesis is to measure the business performance of the quantity competing firms and clarify under which circumstances the first mover has the advantage of commitment or not in these two scenarios

Corporate Social Responsibility and Strategic Managerial Delegation

This thesis examines the strategic delegation model in a duopoly market. A strategic analysis is used to integrate Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) into managerial incentive design. We develop and examine two different scenarios of the delegation game. The first scenario is the model of simultaneous managerial delegation in which firms compete sequentially in quantities (Stackelberg fashion), while the second scenario is the model of sequential managerial delegation in which firms compete in quantities simultaneously (Cournot fashion). In light of this, the purposes of this thesis is to measure the business performance of the quantity competing firms and clarify under which circumstances the first mover has the advantage of commitment or not in these two scenarios

Corporate Social Responsibility and Strategic Managerial Delegation

This thesis examines the strategic delegation model in a duopoly market. A strategic analysis is used to integrate Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) into managerial incentive design. We develop and examine two different scenarios of the delegation game. The first scenario is the model of simultaneous managerial delegation in which firms compete sequentially in quantities (Stackelberg fashion), while the second scenario is the model of sequential managerial delegation in which firms compete in quantities simultaneously (Cournot fashion). In light of this, the purposes of this thesis is to measure the business performance of the quantity competing firms and clarify under which circumstances the first mover has the advantage of commitment or not in these two scenarios

Design and optimization of multi-frequency antenna arrays

The main subject of this doctoral thesis is the design and optimization of multi-frequency antenna arrays. Specifically, the analysis and extension of the Orthogonal Method (OM) is performed to solve complex array design problems. The thesis is divided into five chapters. Chapter 1 includes an introduction to the antenna arrays. Relevant characteristic parameters and indices are also given. In Chapter 2 the specific characteristics of linear, planar and three-dimensional (3D) arrays are given while the properties of their elements are also analyzed. In particular, starting from isotropic sources, the elementary, the specific length as well as the crossed dipoles are analyzed. The properties of the horn antennas are then explained. In addition a numerical methodology of horn design with optimal characteristics is described, which is also one of the contributions of this thesis. The chapter concludes with the description of the microstrip antennas. Chapter 3 describes the design procedure of linear arrays with or without constraints. The constraints relate to the zeroing of the radiation pattern at specific directions (angles), the minimization of the pattern in specific angular sectors, the determination of the level of specific side lobes and the combination of all of the above. Also in this chapter is developed the Perturbation Method which in combination with the Orthogonal Method determines the positions of the antenna elements. Finally, the Orthosynthesis is analyzed, which is a new variant of the OM. In the context of the contribution of the thesis, specific detailed examples are given in all the above procedures. Chapter 4 describes the Orthogonal Perturbation Method (OPM) under constraints. The OPM is applied in planar antenna arrays with a large number of elements. The cost function and processing is done in the form of matrices. It is noted that the radiation pattern is given as an analytical function or in mask form. A set of examples shows the capabilities and accuracy of the method. Examples include cases involving satellite antennas. These antennas are required to be multi-frequency. This was achieved by using the Orthogonal Method. The specifications of the antennas under study were established by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the results were particularly satisfactory. The last part of the thesis is Chapter 5. This explains the numerical difficulties of the OM and describes the mathematical methods by which they are treated. The optimization methods used to check the validity of the results are also analyzed. The dissertation ends with the final conclusions and the list of publications that emerged from the research process.Η παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή αφορά στην σχεδίαση και βελτιστοποίηση πολυσυχνοτικών στοιχειοκεραιών. Συγκεκριμένα πραγματοποιείται η ανάλυση και επέκταση της Ορθογωνικής Μεθόδου (ΟΜ) για την επίλυση σύνθετων προβλημάτων σχεδίασης Στοιχειοκεραιών. Η διατριβή διαρθρώνεται σε πέντε Κεφάλαια. Στο 1ο Κεφάλαιο γίνεται μια εισαγωγή στις στοιχειοκεραίες και δίνονται σχετικές χαρακτηριστικές παράμετροι και δείκτες. Στο 2ο Κεφάλαιο αναπτύσσονται τα ιδιαίτερα χαρακτηριστικά των γραμμικών, των επίπεδων και των στοιχειοκεραιών τριών διαστάσεων ενώ αναλύονται και οι ιδιότητες των στοιχείων τους. Ειδικά αρχίζοντας από τις ισοτροπικές πηγές, αναλύονται τα στοιχειώδη, τα συγκεκριμμένου μήκους καθώς και τα διασταυρούμενα δίπολα. Στην συνέχεια εξηγούνται οι ιδιότητες των Χοανών. Μάλιστα, περιγράφεται μια αριθμητική μεθοδολογία σχεδίασης χοάνης με βέλτιστα χαρακτηριστικά, η οποία αποτελεί και μία από τις συνεισφορές της παρούσας διατριβής. Το κεφάλαιο ολοκληρώνεται με την περιγραφή των μικροταινιακών κεραιών. Στο 3ο Κεφάλαιο περιγράφεται η διαδικασία σχεδίασης γραμμικών στοιχειοκεραιών με ή χωρίς προϋποθέσεις. Οι προϋποθέσεις αφορούν στους μηδενισμούς του διαγράμματος ακτινοβολίας σε συγκεκριμένες διευθύνσεις, στην ελαχιστοποίηση του διαγράμματος σε συγκεκριμμένους γωνιακούς τομείς, στον καθορισμό του επιπέδου συγκεκριμμένων πλευρικών λοβών και στον συνδυασμό όλων των παραπάνω. Επίσης σε αυτό το κεφάλαιο αναπτύσσεται η μεθοδολογία των διαταραχών που σε συνδυασμό με την ορθογωνική μέθοδο καθορίζει τις θέσεις των στοιχείων της κεραίας. Τέλος, γίνεται ανάλυση της Ορθοσύνθεσης η οποία είναι μια νέα παραλλαγή της ορθογωνικής μεθόδου. Στα πλαίσια της συνεισφοράς της διατριβής, σε όλες τις παραπάνω διαδικασίες δίνονται συγκεκριμμένα αναλυτικά παραδείγματα. Στο 4ο κεφάλαιο περιγράφεται η ορθογωνική μέθοδος των διαταραχών (ΟΜΔ) με πρϋποθέσεις. Η ΟΜΔ αφορά επίπεδες στοιχειοκεραίες με μεγάλο αριθμό στοιχείων. Η συνάρτηση κόστους και η επεξεργασία γίνεται σε μορφή μητρώων. Σημειώνεται ότι το διάγραμμα ακτινοβολίας δίνεται ως αναλυτική συνάρτηση ή σε μορφή μάσκας. Ένα σύνολο παραδειγμάτων δείχνει τις δυνατότητες και την ακρίβεια της μεθόδου. Μεταξύ των άλλων στα παραδείγματα παρατίθενται περιπτώσεις που αφορούν στις κεραίες δορυφόρων. Οι κεραίες αυτές απαιτείται να έχουν, εκτός των άλλων, πολυσυχνοτικό χαρακτήρα. Αυτό επιτεύχθηκε με την χρήση της ορθογωνικής μεθόδου. Οι προδιαγραφές των υπό μελέτη κεραιών καθορίστηκαν από τον Ευρωπαϊκό Οργανισμό Διαστήματος (ΕΟΔ) και τα αποτελέσματα ήταν ιδιαίτερα ικανοποιητικά. Η διατριβή ολοκληρώνεται με το 5ο Κεφάλαιο. Σε αυτό εξηγούνται οι αριθμητικές δυσκολίες της ορθογωνικής μεθόδου και περιγράφονται οι μαθηματικές μέθοδοι με τις οποίες αντιμετωπίζονται. Επίσης αναλύονται οι μέθοδοι βελτιστοποίησης που χρησιμοποιήθηκαν για τον έλεγχο της εγκυρότητας των αποτελεσμάτων. Η διατριβή ολοκληρώνεται με τα τελικά συμπεράσματα και τον κατάλογο των δημοσιεύσεων που προέκυψαν από την ερευνητική διαδικασία