Student theses, total
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Hille, Lise M. (Frederiksberg, 2009)[More information][Less information]
Abstract: Corporate social responsibility, CSR, has gained respect both as an idea and a company strategy (W.C. Frederick 2008). Being corporate socially responsible means that environmental concerns, animal welfare and concerns about people and community are taken are taken into account by the institution. CSR triggers many discussions among scholars from different fields, and the discussion about a definition and a common understanding of what CSR really means is still ongoing. One of the most interesting discussions is about the business case of CSR, and the thought that companies can perform financially well by doing social good in the society. Another debate is whether or not companies should engage in social initiatives at all, and the argument that managers should not act as social change agents are put forward by Friedman (1970). On the other hand there is the stakeholder theory arguing that the actions of companies not only has economic consequences for the shareholders, but also have different impact on the various stakeholders in the environment. In this paper I focus on the mechanisms that can influence the institutionalization of corporate social responsibility in the industry of farmed salmon, and I investigate a shift from conventional to organic salmon farming in the fisheries. As argued by DiMaggio and Powell (1991:64) institutional analysis "seek to explain homogeneity, not variation... Once a field becomes well established, however, there is an inorexable push toward homogenization". The change into becoming similar is driven by three isomorphic forces; coercive, normative and mimetic. I elaborate upon how these three mechanisms work when I analyze the process of institutionalization of corporate social responsibility. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10417/922 Files in this item: 1
lise_m._hille.pdf (745.3Kb) -
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Abstract: Today, the youth subculture of skateboarding and commercialism forms a complex relationship on the verge of mainstream profitability and subcultural marginality. It is with this in mind that I set out to answer the following research question: How do youth subcultures negotiate commercial influence? In order to answer this question, I have set following two working questions: • How can we bridge signs of ambiguity from a theoretical perspective? • How do members of the Copenhagen skate culture enact their skate identity in the face of increased commercial influence? The structure implied by this disposition involves that the first part of the thesis attends to the theoretical void, that I feel needs to be filled in order to comprehend the complexities of the subcultural and commercial interplay. By integrating a wide and diverse area of insights, I will set up a theoretical framework that bridge dominant perspective and, hence, provides a tool that is apt to detect signs of consensus as well as ambiguity. In the second part I will employ the framework, in order to seek understanding of the way in which the skate subculture and commercialism interact in the Copenhagen skate scene. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10417/923 Files in this item: 1
lars_wraae_jensen.pdf (45.77Mb) -
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Abstract: Climate Change and the global challenge of mitigation are at the fore of the global political agenda these days. Storytelling about the abyss of climate change is almost omnipresent and has been specifically so up to and during the Copenhagen COP15 summit. This dissertation has taken on to investigate how this affects the strategic situation of at large city – in casu Copenhagen. What become goals in terms of mitigation, how are these goals affected by external factors and prevailling images of what a city municipality is and does, what capability to act on these goals is at hand, and which room for action do external factors leave the municipality? These questions are analyzed on the empirical basis of the recently issued Copenhagen Climate Plan, including its preceding reports, and interviews, predominantly with leaders and staff from the city administration. A special, a bit more in-depth scrutiny is undertaken, concerning one of the plans so-called Lighthouse Projects, “Cars should run on wind power”, aiming, at a considerable pace, to introduce and build infrastructure for electric and hydrogen powered vehicles. Theoretically, the analysis takes an institutionalist stance and builds on three elements: • A model on strategic, environmental setting for a public actor as three normative vector dimensions, named Civil Society, Market and Government • A model on legitimacy as consisting of pragmatic, moral and cognitive elements • A capability model on an actors ability to act, constituted by common values and legitimacy, authority and finally capacity in terms of time, organisation and money The main findings are, that the goals and room for action are primarily defined by • a prevailing conception, that citizens at large and thus local politicians favour concrete, user-affiliated benefits and services in the city, which doesn’t allow very much for aspirations to spend municipality money on mitigation endeavours in their own right • a heavy “market competition” between large cities and a special drive and possibility for Copenhagen to build on to its already existing brand as the Eco Metropolis by flavouring it with an ambitious Climate Action profile – specifically in view of the exposure generated by the hosting of COP15. • a conspicuous absence of a specific role for cities and municipalities in national and international Climate Policy, which accordingly fails to counterbalance the aforementioned prevailing position of citizens by legitimizing municipal spendings on ambitious climate goals The capability to act is found to be considerable, due to a strong legitimacy, originnating from the city brand – the Copenhagen Story – and a strong leadership commitment. An important question mark is attached to the durability and profoundness of local political support. It is noted, that there is a highly dynamic balance, and that a shift in the external factors simultaneously affect goals, capability and room for action, and might cause non-linear changes and a potentially radically new situation. It is evaluated, that so far the Climate Agenda has not shown to be anything like a revolutionary force, influencing municipality practices in a dramatic way, but that the potential is there, pending on a general cognition of even greater, political urgency and united and forceful political action on the global scene. This, indeed, did not occur as an outcome of the COP15. But who knows? URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10417/919 Files in this item: 1
soeren_floee_jensen.pdf (5.175Mb) -
New Public Management, staten, professionelle og non-governmental organizationsjacobsen, Leif (Frederiksberg, 2010)[More information][Less information]
Abstract: How does innovation and modernization come about within public services? Are they the simple results of isomorphistic influences, crossing national boarders – without much ado? Aotearora New Zealand has been up front within the group of OECD countries which dramatically changed the face of the public sector since 1984. This Master-thesis deals with some general aspects of New Public Management (NPM) as this concept was dealt with in Aotearora New Zealand – with a particular emphasis on the socalled „child protection‟. This basic philosophy within Anglo-Saxon handling children, young persons and families is – as well as other historical perts – the very basis of this thesis. Two main angles are the very bulk of the historical and analytic intentions of this text: 1) the historical background of Aotearora New Zealand and its socioeconomic ambition to be in and maintain a position of a modern welfare state. In having this intention, however, Aotearora New Zealand seemed to fail in noticing the inevitable backlashes of economic prosperity. In this historical development the country was closely connected to others nations witin the Commenwealth and Anglophone world. But Aotearora New Zealand also picked and chose in for instance scientific results and legislation on children, young persons and families – leaving behind initiatives which might lead som to conclude that the status of being a welfare state did not appear on solid ground anaway. 2) Around the turn of the millennium the government of Aotearora New Zealand implemented the intention of a withdrawal of the state from insuring children and young persons good living conditions etc. Instead the non governmental organizations were expected to take over. The implementation suffered from several strategic failures – and the reaction from the ngo‟s were overwhelming. The thesis cocludes that NPM as such can not be seen as the simple cause of these failures. NPM could have become a leading management trend if not the basic ideas of NPM had been „taken over‟ and ideologized by political and economically oriented senior managers. The classical social welfare system, child protection and a modern network of formal and informal assistance to existence have suffered from this. Leadership across vectors of society, opening of agendas of locality and sociality are the main tasks for the future. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10417/920 Files in this item: 1
leif_jacobsen.pdf (912.4Kb) -
I et styringsteknologisk perspektivDanielsen, Inge; Steffensen, Rolf (Frederiksberg, 2010)[More information][Less information]
Abstract: In this thesis for the Master’s Degree in Public Administration we analyse research management and try to contrast public research managers in University and Hospital settings with research managers in the private sector. Specifically we analyse the use of steering technologies. Our interest in this field is motivated by current institutional changes in the research area elicited by the reorganization of The Advisory and Funding System for Research and Innovation and the University Reform which both aim at a closer relationship between the research and the surrounding society, while the University Reform is also intended to strengthen management at the universities. In all, these innovations challenge the balance between independent and strategic research. On the basis of institutional theory, we present a theoretical outline for observing the institutional sphere in which research is taking place. The focus is on the survival of institutions in this sphere, as well as their ability to attract and retain resources, and to gain and maintain legitimacy. These issues may contribute to the framing of research management, and to the handling by responsible managers of the uncertainties and contingencies that may importantly impact survival and success of their institutions. Being aware of the potential collision of the steering agendas of the research manager, of the social institutions, and of governmental politics, we include theory of steering technologies and power to further study the conditions for and effects of research management. The usage of steering technologies and power is examined by interviewing four research managers at Novo Nordisk A/S, representing a reputable firm with a large and effective research department, and five research managers employed in the public sector, all affiliated with the University of Copenhagen. Although the contexts and personal modes of leadership vary between the two sectors, we identify in both circumstances three similar and dominant steering technologies: organization, strategic management, and emphasis on measurable results. While organizing and emphasis on measurable results positions the research manager in the role of an ambassador relative to his (her) superiors, strategic management appears to encourage initiation of personal initiatives and deliberate usage of steering technologies in order to achieve specific targets. In the Discussion we interpret our observations regarding steering technologies and power in the context of the institutional structure. In this respect, there are differences between the two sectors. In the public sector, we discover that increasing reporting requirements are in opposition to the traditional rationale with less controlled and more independent research, and that financial conditions are strongly restrictive and increasingly direct which research projects can be performed. In comparison, the power is surprisingly decentralised in the private sector, which also – like the public sector - does not connect much real and strong, applicable power – only formal power - with the position of the research managers. In the public sector, the managers have the possibility to expand the power for example through external relations. With regard to strategic management, it depends on the decisions by the public research manager whether and to which extent management of professional specialties is going to be achieved, or if the strategic management is restricted to educational activities, as well as budget and staff management. The former approach is associated with substantial institutional resistance because of the norms of the research field. It may be less problematic to manage and exercise power through networks and external engagement, although this approach will require entrepreneurial skills. In conclusion, public research management is highly restricted by institutional frames such as structure and financials conditions on the one hand and norms and traditions on the other hand. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10417/921 Files in this item: 1
inge_danielsen_og_rolf_steffensen.pdf (652.7Kb)
