The best Master's theses in Innovation and Entrepreneurship awarded
The Richard C. Malmsten Award for Best Theses is awarded each year to the best thesis within each of the School’s Master’s Programmes. These awards have been given since the initiation of the Shool's Master's programmes in 1997. With this award, Johan Malmsten and the Richard C. Malmsten Memorial Foundation show their encouragement and appreciation directly to the students. The award is 10 000 SEK for each author
Recipients in the Innovation and Industrial Management programme
Agnes Knutsson and Isac Boukachabia in the programme Innovation and Industrial Management won the Malmsten Award with their thesis ”Preparing for Change - An exploratory study on how Swedish organizations can implement strategic agility”.
Summary
Today’s market is characterized by rapid change and this forces organizations to develop the ability to quickly adapt to these changes and remain competitive.
Our thesis explores the topic of strategic agility which is defined as the ability of management to continuously and rapidly respond to changes in the business environment by intentionally making strategic moves, renewing the business model and adapting the necessary organizational layout for successful implementation.
Through a literature review together with in-depth interviews at organizations of various sizes the thesis proposes a number of key capabilities, actions and challenges important for an organization when wanting to implement strategic agility.
About the Innovation programme
MSc in Innovation and Industrial Management
Recipients in the Entrepreneurship programme
Anna Marija Jefimova and Sophia Tafertshofer in the Entrepreneurship programme received the Malmsten Award for their thesis “Innovation Adoption for Eco Materials in the Construction Industry in Sweden: How Three Players Can Actively Foster the Adoption Process – A Case Study on the Material Hempcrete with the Company House of Hemp”.
Summary
The construction industry is currently experiencing environmental problems associated with greenhouse gas emissions, in particular due to the extensive use of unsustainable materials.
In this regard, the industry is in need of alternative solutions, one of which is the introduction of innovative green materials. However, the number of adopted new innovations in the market is low which indicates challenges in the process of adoption by potential users. As a result, the two authors decided to investigate the innovation adoption of eco materials in the Swedish construction industry more closely and examine how the whole process can be fostered.