Although gazillion of studies have been conducted regarding what influences auditors’ judgment, few studies examined the impact of conformity pressure on auditors’ judgment. Despite the few attempts to discover this area, different results rendered from these studies.The purpose of this study is to explain how the conformity pressures affect auditors’ judgement. The effect of other factors was taken into consideration such as professional commitment, Locus of control and the characteristics of Swedish culture. The method was quantitative using data collected by surveys sent to auditors working in big-four and non-big-four audit firms.The findings show that conformity pressure does not affect the judgment of the Swedish auditors.The limitations of the study are the number of responses received through the survey and the difficulty of accurately target the Swedish auditors.

The pandemic covid-19 had a major impact on the working life as workers are urged to comply with restrictions, which include distancing themselves from each other. This means that the auditors in this study had to work from home to reduce the spread of infection. The purpose of this study is to investigate how the covid-19 pandemic has affected the auditors work process and which digital tools have been used during the pandemic. A qualitative method has been used in the study to answer the research question and the purpose of the study. Six auditors from BDO, Frejs revisorer AB, PwC, EY and Mazars have been interviewed. Responses were then analyzed using the study's collection of theories. The collection of data is reported in the results chapter, which shows that the pandemic has affected the auditors both negatively and positively. What has been negatively affected is the auditors social working life, while the positive impact is that it has become more efficient to work from home. Finally, digital tools have been a great support in the auditors work process during the pandemic. Based on the empirical data collection, the pandemic could last many years. The theory in the study and the empirical data collection highlights the possibilities with digitization that makes the auditors independent of the workplace. The auditor’s well-being during the pandemic is what should be put in focus as the pandemic could last many years.

This study investigates the implementation of public sector accounting reforms in Egypt, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Data for the article are derived through document analysis and semi-structured interviews with public administrators, government accountants and members of professional accountancy bodies. The article brings out the factors that have either individually or collectively stifled the diffusion trajectory of public sector accounting reforms in Egypt, Nepal and Sri Lanka at the implementation phase, including the bundling process, pro-innovation biases, informal and interpersonal networks, a boundary-spanning process, organisational communication, power disparity, and dominance. As a result, public sector accounting reforms have resulted in resistance, internal conflicts and unintended consequences, including the fabrication of results, in all three countries without any evidence of yielding better results for public sector governance and accountability. Points for practitioners Public sector accounting practitioners should realise the importance of considering the specific contexts of emerging economies, including the power structures, communication channels, informal networks and communication flows, prior to the diffusion of reforms. When such contextual elements are de-emphasised, reforms would tend to encounter delay and resistance, ongoing reforms in Egypt, Nepal and Sri Lanka serving as examples. Also, instead of delegating power to professional accountants and expert groups, they can be employed as boundary spanners to facilitate communication with government accountants about the technical complexities of public sector accounting reforms. This may help establish an efficient communication network and strengthen interpersonal and informal networks, enabling reforms to pass through the diffusion trajectory without being stifled at the implementation phase.

Den 1 november 2010 avskaffades revisionsplikten för mindre företag i Sverige med avsikt att underlätta villkoren för de minsta företagarna. Kraven för frivillig revision är att företagen inte överstiger mer än ett av följande värden; högst tre anställda, nettoomsättning på högst 3 miljoner kronor och balansomslutning på högst 1,5 miljoner kronor. Syftet med en revisor var att denne skulle generera trygghet och trovärdighet både internt och externt. Internt i företaget som har reviderats samt även externt för att minska osäkerheten för bolagets intressenter och att förstärka den finansiella informationen som tillförlitlig. Trygghet och trovärdighet används ofta gentemot banker vid kreditbedömning. Syftet med studien är att undersöka revisorns betydelse för bankernas kreditbedömning sju år efter att revisionsplikten avskaffats. Vilken betydelse har den för småföretag i Sverige sett ur bankernas perspektiv? Utöver revisorns betydelse vill jag studera vilka faktorer banker utgår ifrån när man gör sin kreditbedömning av småföretag och om det finns svårigheter kring kreditbedömningen. Utifrån en kvalitativ studie har sex banker/kreditgivare intervjuats där empiri samlats in för att svara på dessa forskningsfrågor. Studien visar att revisorn har betydelse vid bankernas kreditbedömning av småföretag efter avskaffandet av revisionsplikten. Revisorn fungerar som en kvalitetsstämpel där banken kan känna sig trygg i att siffrorna från den kvantitativa informationen stämmer samt att det skapar ett förtroende mellan kreditgivare och kredittagare. 

This paper explores whether and in what way “dual learning” can develop understanding of the relationship between structure/judgement and explores audit student’s perceptions of the audit profession. Work Integrated Learning (WIL) module, serving as a tool of enabling dual learning, represents the context for this exploration. The study is based on a focus group and individual interviews conducted with students performing their WIL. Our data and its analysis indicates that when in a WIL context, students develop awareness of the use of standards and checklists on the one hand and the importance of discretional judgement on the other. Based on these results, we theorise as to how dual learning manifests itself in students’ experiences and understanding of the relationship between structure and judgement.

Previous research has solely been focusing on companies with the restriction LargeCap and in this study we have studied what MidCap companies report regarding intellectual capital. The study results show a similar pattern with previous studies that has only analysed LargeCap.

The purpose of this study is to examine what MidCap companies reports about intellectual capital, with collected data from Swedish listed companies. To meet the purpose has literature from previous research and empirical data from the sampled companies' annual reports from 2014 and 2018 been used. Due to this could an issue be established: which parts of intellectual capital are the listed companies reporting?

The study of MidCap companies follows the same pattern in the reporting of intellectual capital as LargeCap companies. However, the result shows a lower frequency of reports in MidCap companies in relation to previous research about LargeCap companies.

The study has contributed to a new theoretical perspective to illustrate companies reporting regarding intellectual capital. The research has contributed to differences in companies reporting are not dependent on the size to assess a reporting pattern. An empirical contribution is that the study has brought a new sample group for an existing theory and the practical contribution is that the stakeholders are getting informed which parts of intellectual capital companies are reporting and also how companies can utilize this study to adjust their reporting of intellectual capital. 

Small and large sport clubs, in big cities or in the countryside, need to respond to external pressures created by social, financial and environmental factors. These pressures may come from the commercial environment, communities, national governing bodies, or political stakeholders. This chapter introduces the reader to the current pressures faced by Nordic sport clubs and the entrepreneurs’ role in the clubs’ development through the lens of entrepreneurship, and especially social entrepreneurship. This chapter addresses the role of the entrepreneur in relation to the triple bottom line of corporate social responsibility (CSR)—economy, environment, and society—in the context of Finnish and Swedish team sport clubs by using two football clubs as examples.

Tidigare forskning har främst inriktat sig på återhämtning från påfrestningar i det avlönade arbetet. Det finns nu en allmän syn på att även utförande och planering av det oavlönade hemarbetet är påfrestande, detta om återhämtning inte sker. Brist på återhämtning är i längden skadligt. En utsatt grupp är småbarnsföräldrar där vardagen är hektisk, både det avlönade arbetet och oavlönade hemarbetet ska hinnas med. Utrymmet för återhämtning i hemmiljön är begränsad och bör därför ske någon annanstans. Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka om yrkesverksamma medarbetare med hemmavarande småbarn upplever arbetsplatsen som en plats för återhämtning. Genom ett kvalitativ tillvägagångssätt intervjuades sju småbarnsföräldrar om deras vardag. Detta för att undersöka var återhämtning från planering och utförande av det oavlönade hemarbetet sker. Resultatet visade att återhämtning till viss del sker på arbetsplatsen, där trivsel och socialt stöd var två komponenter av betydelse. Studien bidrar med en större förståelse för småbarnsföräldrars möjligheter av återhämtning från det oavlönade hemarbetet och belyser ett relativt outforskat område.

Business growth comes with complexity in operations, leveraging on the use of technology-based decision tools are becoming prominent in today's business world. Consequently, the audit profession is tuning into this change with the integration of artificial intelligence systems to stay abreast of the transformation.

The study is a qualitative research. It adopted an abductive approach. Data used for the study was collected through a semi-structured interview conducted with auditors from auditing firms within Sweden that has adopted the use of  AI-based tools in their audit process. As a result of exponentially increasing data, auditors need to enhance the processing capability while maintaining the effectiveness and reliability of the audit process. The study strongly agree that the use of AI systems enhances effectiveness in all stages of audit process as well as increases professionalism and compliance with standards. The study however favored the use of AI-enabled auditing systems as opposed to the use of traditional auditing tools.

Acquiring adequate skills in handling the AI tool and sound professional skepticism of auditors was seen to be an underlying factor that would further boost the interaction between AI tools and audit process. This prompted the need to modify the initially drawn research model to include skills in handling IT tools and audit professional competency. This which substantiated the abductive approach of the study.

This paper aims to reflect upon the emerging streams of institutional theory, their application and influence on the accounting research of the last decade. Specifically, the paper’s ambition is to review and understand the role of institutional logics (IL), institutional entrepreneurship (IE) and institutional work (IW) in accounting research. These streams of institutional theory become increasingly valuable in accounting research for their explanatory capacities. At the same time, but their application, especially in a combined form, can also raise criticalities within theoretical pluralism agenda. We compile a structured literature review of articles published in scientific journals in the accounting field (levels 4 and 3 in ABS list). We examine the way how current accounting literature utilizes the selected institutional streams of accounting theory, how the theories or their combination (if any) are justified and used in a flow of argument for the understanding of accounting practice.

More than 30 years have passed since first calls to see accounting as social and institutional practice (Burchell et al., 1980; Hopwood, 1987; Hopwood & Miller, 1994). During these years, a significant number of theories have been striving to extend and challenge the hegemony of particular ways of seeing accounting (Jacobs, 2012) with acknowledging the need for inter-disciplinary approach and theoretical pluralism in contemporary studies. Within this theoretical pluralism, the institutional theory was recognized as one of the dominating theories in accounting research during last decades (Jacobs, 2012; Lounsbury, 2008; Modell, 2015).

However, despite acknowledging the paradigmatic developments of institutional theory into several streams in organisational science (DiMaggio, 1988; Lawrence et al., 2009, 2011; Oliver, 1991; Thornton et al., 2012), few attempts were done to make a separate review of these  streams and their value for accounting literature (Modell, 2009). Here, influential work of Lounsbury (2008) rather reflected organizational science literature with seeing accounting as a context which can give crucial insights into institutional and practice theories rather than vice versa. Jacobs (2012) in his study of theoretical pluralism in accounting research during 1992-2008 acknowledged the institutional theory domination but made few reflections on its progressions and implications for seeing accounting as social and institutional practice. And finally, more recent studies of Modell and his colleagues (Modell, 2015; Modell et al., 2017) made overviews of two streams of institutional theory (e.g. logic and work) and institutional theory combination possibility with other theories. While giving the valuable insights into understanding of issues related to theories combinations in accounting, these studies hardly review the accounting literature related to institutional theory streams which were criticised for apolitical nature but at the same time acknowledged as self-sufficient.

Therefore, it seems that current studies rather ignore or criticize specific institutional theory streams, jumping into possible theory combinations agenda without revealing the value of these streams for accounting research. Such tendency may potentially lead to marginalization of accounting knowledge (Jacobs, 2016; Jacobs & Cuganesan, 2014) with the use of these streams under the quest for contribution to the interdisciplinary literature.

In this regard, this paper aims to reflect upon the emerging streams of institutional theory, their application and influence on the accounting research of the last decade. Specifically, the paper’s ambition is to review and understand the role of institutional logics (IL), institutional entrepreneurship (IE) and institutional work (IW) in accounting research. These streams of institutional theory become increasingly valuable in accounting research for their explanatory capacities. But at the same time, but their application, especially in a combined form,  can also raise criticalities within theoretical pluralism agenda. Therefore, we construct our research questions as:

• How have the emerging stream of institutional theory (IL, IE and IW) been used by accounting scholars?
• How have these streams influenced accounting research?
• What could be done in the future accounting research using emerging streams  of institutional theory?

In order to answer these research questions, we compile a structured literature review (Massaro et al., 2016) of articles published in scientific journals in the accounting field (levels 4 and 3 in ABS list). As a frame for analysis of the paper, we use conceptual clarification and analytical framework proposed by Lukka and Vinnari (2014) who made a distinction between domain theory and method theory in order to capture the relations between common knowledge about accounting as a social practice and the theories used to extend this knowledge. Applying to our paper, domain theory refers particularly to a set of knowledge about accounting as social and institutional practice. Method theory (i.e. IL, IE, IW) is a meta-level conceptual system, which can offer alternative perspectives and add new understanding/insights into domain theory. Following this analytical distinction, we examine the way how current accounting literature utilizes the selected institutional streams in domain-method dimension, how the theory or their combination (if any) are justified and used in a flow of argument for understanding of accounting practice.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate how participatory budgeting (PB), as a form of dialogic accounting, is produced in practice. Design/methodology/approach This is a qualitative case study of PB development for the period 2013-2016 in one Russian municipality. Based on triangulation of in-depth semi-structured interviews, documentary analysis, videotape data and netnographic observation, the authors employ ideas of dialogic accounting and institutional work. Findings The study shows that the PB experiment, which began with dialogic rhetoric, in reality, had very limited dialogic effects. However, the authors also observed that the PB dynamics over time made the practice neither inherently monologic nor dialogic. The authors explained such transformations by the way in which the individual reflexivity of actors altered when carrying out institutional work. Curiosity reflexivity was the most essential, triggering different patterns of institutional work to set up the PB experiment. However, further, the authors demonstrated that, over the course of the experiment's development, the institutional work was trapped by various actors' individual reflexivity forms and in this way limited PB's dialogic potential. Originality/value The study shows the importance of understanding and managing individuals' reflexivity, as it shapes the institutional work performed by different actors and, therefore, influences the direction of both the design and materialization of dialogic accounting experiments such as PB. In a broader sense, this also influences the way in which democratic governance is developed, losing democratization potential.

Problem Formulation: The clothing industry is characterised by fierce competition and booming growth. Since the start of the century, clothing consumption has increased tremendously. While consumers are demanding more clothes at cheaper prices, interest for sustainable sourced clothes is also on the rise, especially amongst the younger population. Thus, engaging in CSR could offer potential brand advantages for companies competing in the clothing industry.

Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to explain the relationship between consumers’ perceptions of the organisational actions that are perceived as “doing good”, “avoiding bad” and “doing bad”, and Consumer-Based Brand Equity.

Methodology: This thesis adopts a quantitative research method with questionnaires distributed physically at universities and shared in student Facebook-groups. The data collected from the questionnaire consists of 205 valid answers from students at Swedish universities.

Findings/Conclusions: The findings based on multiple regression analyses on the results of the distributed questionnaire suggest that organisational actions that are perceived as “avoiding bad” can positively affect Consumer-Based Brand Equity. Furthermore, the findings did not support that engagement in activities that are perceived as “doing bad” is detrimental to Consumer-Based Brand Equity, nor that philanthropic activities that are perceived as “doing good” positively affect Consumer-Based Brand Equity.

Promotion to partner has always been a future goal for auditors, still becoming a partner is not an easy task, and it has many requirements, and since the audit profession is a sensitive profession and it concern everyone in the society, and since partners are the most important capital that audit firms have, so that is why we thought it is very important to investigate how this position can be reached?This research has a qualitative methodology and has interviews and internal documents as research strategy. The research consist of 7 interviews varied between authorized auditors who are still working in auditing firms or left it before becoming partners, partners and HR, the interviews were performed personally via phone or face to face.The findings are based on semi structured interviews and internal documents. There is significant effect between profitability and promotion to partner beside many more aspects such as Reputation, personal characteristics, promotion systems, personal branding, overtime, industry specialized, education and gender, but being profitable was the most important one.

Previous research has identified which core values and added-values companies can perceive of the auditor. Research has shown that client companies perceived value of the auditor differ between companies due to different factors. However, to our knowledge no one has studied if industry is an explanatory factor for the client company’s perceived value of the auditor.

The purpose of the study is to explain if client companies perceived value of the auditor is affected by its industry. The study aims to further explain why client companies perceived value of the auditor differs between companies. To fulfill the purpose theory about core value (assurance, improvement and insurance) and added-value (relationship and advice) has been used. Hypotheses and a model has been constructed based on an argumentation about capital and knowledge intensive industries. To test the hypotheses and the model a survey was conducted among companies from capital and knowledge intensive industries.

The results show that the client’s industry is an explanatory factor for core value and added-value. More specific can improvement, the relationship and advice be explained by industry. The conclusion is that industry is an explanatory factor for the client companies perceived value of the auditor.

The theoretical contribution is that industry can be added to the explanatory factors of client companies’ perceived value of the auditor. The practical contribution is that auditors can understand that the perceived value of the auditor differ between companies, which is important since the abundance of the statutory audit to continuing selling their service.

Skandaler inom revisionsprofessionen har lett till en ökad kritik mot revisorer, eftersom deras förmåga att upplysa om problem med fortsatt drift ifrågasattes. I revisionsberättelsen ska revisorn uttala sig om det föreligger tvivel till fortsatt drift, vilket är ett stort ansvar eftersom det handlar om en bedömning av framtida händelser. Forskning visar att bedömningar av fortsatt drift mellan byråer skiljer sig åt beroende på olika faktorer som kan påverka revisorns bedömning. Detta leder till en nyfikenhet för vilka faktorer som kan påverka revisorns bedömning av fortsatt drift.

Syftet med studien är att identifiera revisorer i olika revisionsbyråers tillvägagångssätt vid bedömning av fortsatt drift för att skapa en ökad förståelse för vilka faktorer som kan påverka en revisors bedömning av fortsatt drift.

Studiens ansats är abduktiv där teorin utgår ifrån revisorns bedömning av fortsatt drift, men som vidare innehåller teorier som kan förklara och hjälpa till att tolka hur revisorn fattar sitt beslut om fortsatt drift. För att få ytterligare förståelse har semi-strukturerade intervjuer utförs med auktoriserade revisorer på olika revisionsbyråer. Empirin från intervjupersonerna resulterar i nya iakttagelser i form av de berättelser revisorerna ger om sin kunskap och erfarenhet av fortsatt drift.

Slutsatsen av denna studie är att de olika faktorer som påverkar revisorns bedömning av fortsatt drift är byråstorlek, klientportfölj, kunskap, erfarenhet, specialistpersonal, beslutsstöd, användning av beslutsstöd, samt lagar och standarder.

An internal audit strives to create value and improve the business of a company. On behalf of the board of directors, the aim of an internal audit is to review and make recommendations on the company's internal controls, risk management and governance. The internal audit is not mandatory for most organizations. The internal audit has changed due to organizations' changing needs. Previous research indicates that the primary stakeholders are the management, the board of directors and the audit committee. The purpose of this paper is to create an understanding of the role and expected value of the internal audit in organizations. The study is based on qualitative research and a deductive research strategy with inductive elements. A qualitative case study survey has been conducted on MKB, complemented by further interviews on other companies to support the study. In order to create a better understanding, the study has been based on semi-structured interviews. In conclusion the size of the companies affects the size and scope of the internal auditing activities. The review of internal control and risk management are covered by most companies' internal audit. In several cases the internal audit reports to the management as the first instance. An internal audit adds value to organizations by serving as a quality assurance system. The expectations of internal audit's internal stakeholders can depend on the extent internal stakeholders are involved in deciding what to review.

Even though power and influence of children on family buying behavior is growing little is known about their involvement. Previous studies of family and household consumption often neglect the role of children in decision-making, but nowadays, children are becoming one of the most powerful influencers in family buying behavior. They dominate family buying decision and can influence their parents in many product categories from cars till regular grocery shopping and therefore the question arises, what influences children when requesting products and what strategies they use to make their parents yield to their requests. Thus, this research paper tries to explain how are influence strategies that children use and family complexity related to parents buying behavior of groceries. The primary data have been collected through an electronic questionnaire, which resulted in sample of 164 parents respondents from around the globe. The data were analyzed by using various statistical tools and concluded that (1) aggressive, persuasion, rational and knowledge strategies are positively affecting parents buying behavior, (2) non-traditional family structure has positive impact on buying behavior, (3) older children have more influence power over parents buying behavior and (4) number of children has no significant influence on parents buying behavior.

Research shows that cardiac arrest is common outside hospitals and that they usually have a fatal outcome if they do not receive care as soon as possible. Many cardiac arrests occur in private settings where there is no pacemaker, family member or outsider who can help. The purpose of this study is to find out how a remote monitoring system with a user interface through an app can be designed to real-time diagnose patients with cardiovascular disease outside the hospital and accelerate emergency response. The study has been based on concept-driven design research with a qualitative approach and interviews with both open and closed questions. The individuals who have been interviewed are cardiologists who work in the cardiology department at Ryhov County Hospital in Jönköping. The chosen method has been combined with a literature search in healthcare technology and UX / UI design. The study results in a proposal for a user interface, through an app, which offers health overview and real-time diagnosis. Using these statistics, algorithms can notify the user in the app if their values are normal or abnormal. The algorithms can also warn the user through notifications in the event of serious health changes when the user needs urgent care. The app also offers site location and that SOS-alarm can be alerted directly in the event of serious health changes. Emergency response can then be accelerated by SOS-alarm sending an ambulance to the place where the patient is located immediately.

Background: The servitization process of capital goods manufacturing is a contemporary issue and indicates that organizations are transforming from offering only products and goods to providing combinations of augmented services with their products.

Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to contribute to the body of knowledge on servitization and the challenges that manufacturers face in the transformation process towards servitization in a B2B context.

Method: Through conducting a single- case study on a capital goods manufacturing organization in Sweden and interviewing six directors within the organization we have developed and intensified the current literature covering the challenges that encounter the organizations within this process.

Findings/conclusions: Challenge facing a servitized manufacturer business is how to handle service offering customization to suit the final customers ' distinctive requirements. To guarantee adequate delivery, it is essential to have standardized control processes to guarantee consistency and quality of service offerings.

Digitization has an impact on the change that the accounting industry is undergoing. The vision of development is to automate and systematize society, which means that the technology mainly implements tasks of society. The study aims to dig deeper which effects the digitization has on the accounting firm. These effects are derived from an analysis model in which the role of the accounting assistants is questioned. Employees with different occupational positions at the accounting firm have been interviewed for empirical data collection. The interviews were conducted in a purposeful manner, since the selection is aimed at employees who are helpful in answering the study's question and purpose. The interviews were used to find links with the theoretical reference frames. With the help of the theoretical frame of reference and the collected empirical data, conclusions have been drawn that digitization causes different effects. The work approach is streamlined by automating the basic tasks of the accounting firm. The streamlining will lead to the accounting firm being able to deliver a broader service during the same time frame, which leads to increased client satisfaction. Quality achieves higher levels by increasing customer satisfaction. When the accounting firm delivers services with higher time gains, profitability will be higher. Profitability is something accounting firms and other businesses strive for, therefore it is likely that digitization will be implemented even more. Finally, the different effects of digitization show that the need for accounting assistants is diminishing, which is why digitization is partly perceived as a threat.

The purpose of this study is to investigate what changes listed companies experience after a transition to IFRS 15. The study's scientific method is of qualitative research where the data collection is made through interviews. The study's selection consists of eight respondents from eight different listed companies. The selected respondents were chosen because of their knowledge of IFRS 15 and experience with IFRS both before and after the implementation of IFRS 15. Furthermore, the theoretical reference framework consists of four organizational changes as in systems and reporting systems, internal controls, disclosure requirements and contract design. The study has also chosen institutional theory as the basis because it explains how institutional forces influence companies to make changes. In the theory of the study, work tasks were mentioned as an indirect impact on companies. The study therefore chose to include work tasks as a fifth change in the empirical data collection. Results and conclusions show that the majority of respondent’s experience change and additional work regarding new disclosure requirements according to IFRS 15. In addition, the study shows that a minority of respondents introduced new systems and internal controls after the transition to IFRS 15. Due to that all the companies' current systems and policies are consistent with IFRS 15, the majority of respondents’ have experienced that contract design and work tasks have remained unchanged after the transition to IFRS 15.

The vast progress of digitization creates problems for the seniors who find it hard to keep up with modern technology development. At the same time, the Swedish government has set itself the goal of digitizing health care by 2025. In connection with the trend of using flat design in digital platforms, the situation of seniors is further complicated and may have a negative effect in expanding the digital divide.

Previous research shows that the style of the flat design is more difficult to understand than the traditional, skeuomorphic design previously used, as flat design lacks affordances. The aim of this thesis has been to investigate whether flat design is more difficult for seniors to understand than traditional skeuomorphic design, as well as how the design principle affordance could solve the problem of understanding flat design.

The thesis has been guided by the question: How are seniors' understanding of flat design compared to traditional design in the context of websites and what significance does affordance have to support their understanding? To answer the question, a quantitative questionnaire survey and a qualitative observation study have been conducted to investigate the variables of the question based on previous theories. The result shows that affordance does not seem to affect how seniors understand a design interface. On the other hand, indications suggest that design principles such as visual clues, or signifiers, are important to consider when designing for a senior audience design. 

Purpose – This study aims to explore an interdisciplinary pedagogical approach for advancing knowledge and understanding of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) at higher education institutions (HEIs).

Design/methodology/approach – This qualitative study conducted an explorative experiment to elaborate on forms to advance a pedagogical approach that embeds sustainability. The design of the pedagogical project was explorative and interdisciplinary, using a predefined framework on key competencies for sustainability.

Findings – The findings showed that an interdisciplinary approach can create a learning setting that stimulates students’ problem-solving competencies for sustainability-related issues. Students were trained in the five key sustainable competencies addressed by Wiek et al. (2011). Moreover, although it is not always possible to arrange an interdisciplinary pedagogical setting, this might be a key condition for the development of students’ key competencies regarding their understanding of the SDGs. Addressing the SDGs from an interdisciplinary perspective paved the way for the development of students’ strategic competencies, including systems thinking and anticipatory competencies. Practical implications – The pedagogical project, as an interdisciplinary explorative experiment, was shown to be a potentially suitable method to counteract “cherry-picking” approaches to teaching the SDGs at HEI.

Originality/value – The pedagogical approach advanced in this paper, extends active learning and interdisciplinarity in higher education. The authors argue that this approach encourages students to take ownership of and responsibility for their learning process and indicates a changed mindset and behavior.

The need to include sustainability issues in Higher Education represents both a challenge and an opportunity! Being engaged as PRME Champions (Principles for Responsible Management Education), Högskolan Kristianstad has created an arena stimulating new teaching content and activities, and joint research projects with relevant impact for society. We invite participants to share experiences in how to implement sustainability in Higher Education Institutions! The topics are: - The extent to which sustainability can(not) be “integrated” in business programmes curricula - How to find “your best practice” of implementing sustainability - Pros and Cons of moving towards an inter-disciplinary approach - In what ways can(not) business administration contribute to the discussion about sustainable development

In the auditing industry, few women appear in higher positions and especially in the position of co-owner. Previous research has also shown differences in the equality at the higher positions in the audit firms. Even though it has become more equal in the lower and middle positions in the auditing industry in recent years, there are still very small changes in the co-owner position. The purpose of this study is to understand and try to get a more detailed and multifaceted picture of how the career choices for authorized female auditors can look.In order to answer the study's question, the study was conducted with a qualitative method and with semi-structured interviews. The study is based on theories and previous research in the field of female auditors' careers in the auditing industry. The empirical material has been collected using semi-structured interviews with female authorized auditors from different auditing firms. Furthermore, the analysis has illustrated various theories and factors that were relevant for the results and conclusions.The conclusion of the study is that female auditors' career is influenced by several factors that are important and crucial for career development and advancement. Furthermore, to understand why few women have a co-ownership position, it can be explained by the fact that it depends on female authorized auditors themselves. Because they as individuals take different decisions and choices that affect and shape women's careers in the auditing industry. These decisions and choices are linked to other priorities and interests for example such as the family and motherhood.

The objective of this research is to explore how external auditors rely on the work of internal auditors in audit firms in China. This study uses a qualitative method of semi-structured data collection interviews. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with internal auditors and external auditors working in China. On the basis of a summary of the existing literature on internal audit, external audit, the reliance of external audits on internal audit and audit quality, this paper analyses and compares the external auditor’s reliance on internal audit and conceptualizes the results of the data analysis. Nevertheless, according to interviews, at present, small and medium- sized enterprises rarely set up an internal audit department, only large companies and government departments in China set up an internal audit, because, firstly, the cost of an internal audit, secondly , the lack of professional internal audit staff and internal audit outsourcing in China is of this kind of legal form. The study showed that the qualitative analysis has provided evidence of the dependence of external audits on internal audits continue to exist in China. In addition, the study showed that Internal auditing needs to maintain independence and objectivity, while external auditing needs to ensure professionalism, independence and authenticity. To a certain extent, external audit relies on internal audit to save time and improve efficiency in order to improve audit quality in china. However, this dependence is based on the independence of the internal audit and the external audit and cannot be entirely dependent on the authenticity that will lead to the recurrence of similar Yin Guangxia incidents.

The purpose with this bachelor thesis is to explore how board of director diversity affects the firmfinancial performance for Swedish high growth firms listed in First North Growth Market. High growth firms stand for half of the work employment and production in high income countries and constitute therefore a significant role in society. During the current circumstances with the Covid-19 pandemic, the companies’ finances are affected and risk liquidation. A crucial factor for high growth firms to continue to grow and survive financial difficulties, is the composition of the board. Thereby this study’s focus is on diversity in the board and its effect on the firm financial performance in terms of ROA and Tobins Q for Swedish high growth firms. Furthermore, this study has implemented agent theory and The Upper Echelon Theory to create an understanding about the connection between the board’s composition, the firm financial performance and the decision-making process.The study is based on a quantitative research approach together with a positivist research philosophy, which makes it possible for the result to be generalized. The study’s data collection consists of 40 Swedish high growth firms listed in First North Growth Market. The result in this study shows that ROA was positively correlated with diversity in gender in the board. Further, the study’s results find no significant correlation between ethnicity, education and the firm financial performance.

Research in the field of culture is increasing, and it is considered to be a sensitive topic. The impact of cultural diversity on international business has recently been the focus in the field. On the other hand, this research looks into the business culture impact on individuals involved in international business negotiation.

The purpose of the thesis is to investigate how business culture can have an influence on the individual in a negotiation process when doing international business negotiation. The method was qualitative by conducting interviews with eighth individual cases, which was dividing into two settings; therefore, four participants for each setting.

The findings and conclusion illustrate that the difference in business culture does indeed affect the international business negotiation process in this particular multi-case study of this thesis. Moreover, the finding also shows the impacts on the participants involving in this research on their ways of preparing and planning their strategy before negotiating internationally. Also, the study shows, being flexible and adaptable is a quite powerful solution for companies, as well as individuals. Since being open to new information and methods of thinking help in reducing the risk of failure and raise the opportunity of success.

Municipally Owned Corporations (MOCs) have several interest groups because they are established to serve the public interest. These stakeholders including citizens expect MOCs to deliver high-quality service. MOCs, on the other hand, need to attract and retain the best talents to pursue their mandate. Based on these, service quality and Human Resource performance were conceptualised as key performance indicators for MOCs. This adds to the various performance measures used by other scholars in measuring performance in public sector organisations. In recent times, organisational ambidexterity has become topical in public sector organisations including MOCs as scholars have found it to have an impact on firm performance.  Recognising the role of management in organisational success, this study investigated how two concepts (i.e. Managerial autonomy and Relationship) influence Service Quality and Human Resource Performance and how the relationships are mediated by organisational ambidexterity. A quantitative approach was adopted where 128 CEOs of MOCs in Sweden participated in a survey. The results indicate that managerial relationship and autonomy significantly influences ambidexterity. Ambidexterity was also found to significantly predict service quality and Human Resource performance. While evidence was found for ambidexterity’s mediation affection between autonomy/relationship and service quality, no mediation was found for autonomy and Human Resource Performance. The mediation of ambidexterity between the managerial relationship and Human Resource performance was however partial.  Aside from testing rarely used performance measures (i.e. service quality and Human Resource performance), the study builds on the Leader-Member Exchange theory by finding support for relationship between managerial relationship and service quality, mediated by ambidexterity. The implication is that leaders of MOCs should prioritize building mutually beneficial relationships with their employees to enhance quality service delivery and Human Resource performance. 

Digitalization is a transforming force with a significant impact within the auditing industry. The auditing process is developing towards being increasingly digital. Previous research has highlighted that the auditor’s competence needs have changed because of digitalization.

The purpose of this paper was to investigate the impact of digitalization within the auditing industry and thereby the Swedish Inspectorate of Auditors’ (SIA) educational requirements for authorization of auditors. A qualitative research method has been used to answer the purpose and research questions of this paper. Interviews have been conducted with employees from the SIA and auditors at the Big Four-firms. The empirical data were analyzed based on the theoretical framework. The conclusions show that digitalization has a significant impact on the auditing industry, but only a certain impact on the SIA’s educational requirements. The new requirements from 2018 enable a wider educational background for auditors, which is considered advantageous for the auditing industry.

Furthermore, the study shows that there is a need for change in the SIA’s educational requirements. Respondents from the auditing industry believe that basic technical education is beneficial for auditors, as most of the auditing process is performed by using digital tools. It is concluded that some technical knowledge is necessary for the auditors to gain an understanding of the clients’ financial information and its operations. It is therefore considered that basic technical knowledge should be implemented in the SIA’s educational requirements. However, the result indicates that changes in these requirements are prevented by institutional inertia at the SIA. 

The physical store frontline employees are the link between the organization and the customers. During 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic has had different effect on different retail sectors, some have had their worst results while ICA Maxi stores have increased their sales. This dissertation aimed to explore challenges the frontline employees and their store managers perceive they face during the COVID-19 pandemic in the retail store context. In order to explore these challenges semi structured interviews were conducted at an ICA Maxi store in the south of Sweden. The study found that the frontline employees are not involved in the decision-making process, that the leaders support is important for initiatives to be successful, and that there was no additional training for the frontline employees due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We draw the conclusion that while frontline employees are not included in the formal decision-making, they are still able to raise their concerns with their managers. We also draw the conclusion that managerial support is important when implementing initiatives for the frontline employees. Finally, we draw the conclusion that none of the frontline employees felt the need for any additional training. This study contributes to the scarce amount of research from the frontline employee perspective in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Practically, this study could be of value for store managers in order to enhance the customer interaction from a frontline employee point of view.

The purpose of this essay is to investigate how cultural factors, mainly in the form of religious factors, connects to trust in banks. With help of the World Value survey database, which is a survey based on approximately 300 questions, this essay will provide evidence and explanations of how the individual’s religiosity connects to trust. The goal of the study is to demonstrate and introduce that religious factors have a positive connection in relation to trust in banks. Thus has the database been examined to further select 10 significant questions regarding religion and trust as well as four controlling questions. The following four control questions will provide an explanation of the casual relationships and provide a deeper insight into the various attributes.

The study provides an expanded knowledge regarding the relatively unexplored connection between culture and economic behavior. Furthermore, it verifies the results that religion and trust have a positive connection to the individual’s financial behavior in relation to the banks. This is mainly seen through the connection that individuals with higher religiosity tend to have a higher confidence in banks.

In conclusion, it can be concluded that the following study contributes new data as well as new arguments about how religious factors have a connection to individual’s trust in the banks. The following can however be further developed and discussed in future research. 

Since year 2005 all Swedish listed companies has to present their financials and accountingaccording to the standard IFRS. This has allowed the management to make subjectiveinterpretations, which in turn has elaborated opportunities to influence the accounting. Thosepossibilities can be explained by Agency Theory and Positive Accounting Theory, which presumethe management acting opportunistically, in order to maximize self-interest. Management tend tomanipulate companies accounting, whereof goodwill can be used as an adjuster of results.The thesis disambiguate how management discretion affect companies accounting of goodwill,contingent of the organizational level. The thesis hypothesis elaborates thru factors of theorganizational level, which are also tested in order to see how the variables affect businesscorporations accounting of goodwill. A positive research philosophy is used in order to analyze thethesis purpose. The data collection has been accomplished using the company's annual reports.The thesis results indicates that the higher debt and stronger concentration of ownership, the lessamount goodwill is accounted. If companies has a lower debt and weaker concentration ofownership, it increases management discretion and thereby a potentially higher amount of goodwill.The thesis contribute to knowledge about managing goodwill and that management discretion hasa potentially impact on the accounting of goodwill. Finally, the thesis contributes to increasedopportunities to compare the thesis results with previous studies, which may result in the ownersbeing able to get more knowledge of how they best reduce management discretion and itsopportunistically decisions.

Firms have traditionally focused on creating and distributing value, where tangible output has been considered central. Due to the development of the service sector, it has become more important to grasp how intangible value is perceived by customers. This has led to a shift from transactional to relational exchanges, where customers are integrated in a value co-creating process, through customer engagements. 

The purpose of this thesis is to explore the customer's perception of engagements with firms and how customers can make contributions in a value co-creating process. 

A theoretical framework and analytical model were developed based on previous research on customer engagement. This thesis had a qualitative research method and abductive research approach. The empirical data was collected through three different focus groups, which consisted of three or four students in the ages between 20-25.

The study contributed with insights of the customer’s perception of engagements with firms. In addition, the study contributed with descriptions of activities, which were coded into customer behaviors and motivational drivers for customer engagements. 

We recommend that firms should utilize the potential of customer involvement in the value co-creating process and enhance the relationship with customers through engagements. Since the study focused on younger students, future studies could focus on other demographics to see if the findings are transferable to older age groups. 

Information technology is an expanding area that is evolving in step with technological development. As the society becomes more digital, it has a significant impact on the financial auditor and its audit work. There is previous research and discussions about how important IT competence is for the financial auditor due to the growing IT environment.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the financial auditor has sufficient IT competence to audit information systems, to understand if or when the financial auditor engages the help of an IT auditor and examine the expectations that exist for the financial auditors. To answer the studies purpose and the formulated questions, a qualitative research method with semi-structured interviews was conducted. The respondents who participated in the study were auditors from various auditing firms and a CEO, they formed the empirical data which were then analyzed by using the studies theoretical framework.

The key conclusions in the study are that the financial auditor considers themselves to have sufficient IT competence to perform their tasks and to be able to audit an information system. The study indicates that basic knowledge of how information systems work is required from a financial auditor to perform an audit of the system. The study also indicates that a financial auditor can engage the help of IT auditors when their knowledge is not sufficient. It appears mainly in audits of complex and special adapted information systems. Lastly the result of the study shows that the expectation of the financial auditor is in line with the customer’s expectations.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to examine the association between primary care consultations and a Care Need Index (CNI) used to compensate Swedish primary care practices for the extra workload associated with patients with low socioeconomic status.

DESIGN: Observational study combining graphical analysis with linear regressions of cross-sectional administrative practice-level data.

SETTING: Three Swedish regions, Västra Götaland, Skåne and Östergötland (3.5 million residents). Outcomes were measured in February 2018 and the CNI was computed based on data for 31 December 2017.

SUBJECTS: The unit of analysis was the primary care practice (n = 390).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: i) Number of GP visits per registered patient; ii) Number of nurse visits per registered patient; iii) Number of morbidity-weighted GP visits per registered patient; iv) Number of morbidity-weighted nurse visits per registered patient.

RESULTS: The linear associations between the CNI and GP visits per patient were positive and statistically significant (p<0.01) for both the unweighted and weighted measure in two regions, but the associations were mainly due to 10 practices with very high CNI values. The results for nurse visits varied across regions.

CONCLUSIONS: For most levels of the CNI, there was no association with the number of consultations provided. This result may indicate insufficient compensation, weak incentives to spend the money, decisions to spend the money on other things than consultations, or stronger competition for patients among low-CNI practices. The result of this observational study should not be taken as evidence against the possibility that the CNI adjustment of capitation may have affected the socioeconomic equity in GP and nurse visits.

Key Points

• Swedish primary care practices receive extra compensation for socioeconomically deprived patients but it is unknown how this affects service provision.
• Practice-level data from three regions years 2017-2018 indicate weak or no relation between the socioeconomic burden and the number of physical consultations per patient.
• Results are similar when adjusting for patients' morbidity levels, suggesting that the weak gradient was not explained by longer consultations.
• The exception is that a small number of practices with very high burdens provide more consultations per patient.
• The results may reflect insufficient compensation, lack of incentives, or funds being spent on other things than consultations.

Social and environmental issues are topics that play an important role in envisioning a sustainable and fair future. The purpose of this study was to investigate how industry affiliation and company size, measured by the number of employees, affect the amount of information a company reports in its sustainability report. The thesis examined fifteen companies listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange's Large Cap, which included companies in the finance, industrial and telecom sectors. The purpose and hypotheses of the study were examined by using a multiple case study through a quantitative research approach, where a content analysis was conducted on each of the respective companies' sustainability reports for the year of 2019. The content analysis was built upon a checklist based on GRI's established guidelines for sustainability reports. The collected data was then transferred from the checklist to a coding template. This was done in order to show and to quantify the study's research topic in to numbers. The collected empirical data was thereafter analyzed based on the given theoretical frame of reference, where the purpose and materials of the study were linked to the legitimacy and stakeholder theories. The study's conclusion indicates that both industry affiliation and company size in terms of the number of employees are a crucial factors in the amount of information a company puts in its sustainability report.

This study investigates the roles of institutional entrepreneurs and stakeholders’ involvement, and their interactions, in enabling the development and adaptation of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) for public sector financial reporting.  This back 25 years, when it was anticipated that public sector reforms in Australia, the UK and New Zealand would result in a shift from a public service, whose purpose had been to promote public welfare, to an enterprise culture based on ‘efficiency and economics’ (Mascarenhas 1993). Similarly Boyett had earlier noted that ‘there may be a “new strain of leadership - the public sector entrepreneur – (is) emerging to display many of the characteristics of their business counterparts’. However incentives for entrepreneurial activity are not the traditional profit motive. “Entrepreneurship occurs in the public sector where there is an uncertain environment, a devolution of power, and at the same time re-allocation of resource ownership, to unit management level” (Boyett 1996). The value of this study is in applying the theory of institutional entrepreneurs in such environments, in New Zealand, examining the development of NPM concomitant with leadership and entrepreneurship. We discuss the evolution and roles of institutional entrepreneurs (in the Treasury, standard setting appointees, and the Officer of the Auditor General) in the public sector, and reactions and involvement of other stakeholders in the development and adaptation of IPSAS.

A qualitative research design was implemented through conducting interviews with key actors whose responses are interpreted through the lens of Institutional Entrepreneurship Theory. The findings unveil the powerful role of the institutional entrepreneur that initiates divergent changes, which break with the institutionalized template for organizing public sector accounting within the Kiwi institutional context, and actively participate in the implementation of these changes. The change from ‘sector-neutral’ standards to sector-specific standards after 2010 was facilitated by the achievements to date of the institutional entrepreneurs, concomitant with New Zealand providing global leaders in public sector accounting.

The institutional entrepreneur ‘on the ground’ had at times mobilized their power relationships and deep personal networks to gain support of, and generate active involvement, of other stakeholders operating in the field. Stakeholder involvement is needed to complement the change agenda of the institutional entrepreneur, to the end of effectively implementing accounting changes. This paper contributes to the literature on public sector accounting change by theorizing on the mutual need of institutional entrepreneurs and stakeholders’ involvement to shape global standards in local contexts.

This paper aims at contributing to the recent literature about the internal dynamics of sustainability. The specific research question addressed in this paper is: how do various organizational actors understand and make sense of sustainability in their workplace? To answer this research question a case study was prepared by focusing on IREN, an Italian listed multi-utility operating in the electricity, gas, and energy district heating, integrated water service and waste sectors, with considerable engagements with sustainability work. Data was collected through a combination of methods, i.e. interviews, e-mail exchanges, observations and document study. Findings reveal that sustainability has multiple meanings and various organizational actors interpret it differently depending on their role within organizations. Different interpretations of the concept of sustainability are also reflected in how sustainability is implemented and monitored. Multiple expectations explain why sustainability is difficult to integrate in organizational practices.

This paper aims at contributing to the recent literature about the internal dynamics of sustainability. The specific research question addressed in this paper is: how do various organizational actors understand and make sense of sustainability in their workplace? To answer this research question a case study was prepared by focusing on IREN, an Italian listed multi-utility operating in the electricity, gas, and energy district heating, integrated water service and waste sectors, with considerable engagements with sustainability work. Data was collected through a combination of methods, i.e. interviews, e-mail exchanges, observations and document study. Findings reveal that sustainability has multiple meanings and various organizational actors interpret it differently depending on their role within the organization. Different interpretations of the concept of sustainability are also reflected in how sustainability is implemented and monitored. Multiple expectations explain why sustainability is difficult to integrate in organizational practices and into management control systems.

This paper aims to understand why and how the concept of social sustainability evolves over time by generating a gap between the initially desired strategy and the daily practices/results at the city level. The paper addresses the research question: Why and how does a social sustainability gap emerge during the implementation of smart city strategies? The empirical focus is on the city of Gothenburg (Sweden) actively engaged since 2012 in implementing smart city strategies with emphasis on social sustainability.

The purpose of this paper is to understand why and how the concept of social sustainability evolves over time by generating a gap between the initially desired strategy and the daily practices at the city level. An extensive ethnographic study was conducted focusing on how social sustainability, as defined in the smart strategy of the city of Gothenburg, was first translated and then turned into practice. Through the lens of Actor Network Theory, findings reveal that the translation of a smart city strategy aimed at ensuring social sustainability depends on how the actors involved at various organisational levels interpret the concept of social sustainability and work to translate it into practice. Such translation takes different  directionsand may lead to a transformation of the concept itself which becomes foggier over time.

The purpose of this paper is to understand why and how the concept of social sustainability evolves over time by generating a gap between the initially desired strategy and the daily practices at the city level. An extensive ethnographic study was conducted focusing on how social sustainability, as defined in the smart strategy of the city of Gothenburg, was first translated and then turned into practice. Through the lens of Actor Network Theory, findings reveal that the translation of a smart city strategy aimed at ensuring social sustainability depends on how the actors involved at various organisational levels interpret the concept of social sustainability and work to translate it into practice. Such translation takes different directions and may lead to a transformation of the concept itself, which becomes foggier over time.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore how a sustainability manager, embodying the role of change agent, legitimizes the implementation of Integrated Reporting. By focusing on an Italian public utility, operating in the electricity sector and listed on the Italian stock exchange, which has recently implemented the Integrated Report, this paper unveils how a voluntary change (i.e. the adoption of the Integrated Report) can be achieved thorough the legitimizing work carried out by a sustainability manager driven by strong intrinsic engagement, availability of resources and intense networking.

Design/Methodology/Approach – The case study methodology was adopted to reach the purpose of this research. A longitudinal and explanatory case study was realized by analyzing data collected from different sources. Relevant information was extrapolated from various corporate documents, visit to the case organization and thirteen in depth interviews conducted with sustainability managers, finance managers, communication managers and human resources managers. After triangulating data, findings were analyzed through the lens of institutional entrepreneurship which is the branch of neo-institutional theory explaining how actors can drive substantial changes.

Findings – This study uncovered how the adoption of Integrated Reporting – which requires a substantial change in organizational structure, processes and thinking – can be achieved over time through the perseverance of a sustainability manager who strives to legitimize his individual position and strengthen the value of the whole Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) area within the organization. Such perseverance, necessary to initiate and achieve the desired change, can be successful when the change agent uses available resources and networking skills, to gain support from various groups with different power balances, and to enable people of different organizational areas to collaborate to the end of preparing the Integrated Report.

Research limitations/implications – This research highlights that when people belonging to different organizational areas perceive the added value of implementing a substantial change, they engage in alternative practices and show availability to collaborate. Still, the reluctance to share strategic information in the light of its disclosure in the Integrated Report is perceived, meaning that bridging the gaps between finance and sustainability managers requires more efforts. The true transformation of organizational values and beliefs, in line with the ideas of Integrated Reporting, requires the full acceptance and practice of integrated thinking on each level of the organization.

Practical implications – This paper shows that the voluntary implementation of Integrated Reporting is possible when the reporting tool is not only perceived as a disclosure document, but also as a vehicle that increases the awareness and sharing of corporate integrated value. People in different areas interact in a different way facilitating the horizontal integration of operational activities.

Originality/Value – as an emerging phenomenon, literature has focused on many aspects of Integrated Reporting. This paper adds value to recent debates by focusing on how individual actors legitimize their projects within their organization by highlighting tensions and how they can be overcome to achieve the desired change.