In this paper, we argue that incubators facilitate access to external financing for their incubatees. Incubators use a wide range of activities to facilitate the accessing of external financing from public and private sources. We have grouped these into two sets of activities. The general activities aim to develop the conditions for external financing through information, education of incubatees, network-building and lobbying activities. The specific activities aim to assist the individual incubatee in their pursuit of external finance through help in application procedures, establishing need for capital, making contacts with the best public or private investor, etc. Based on the survey data, we have also shown that it is more common for incubatees to attract external capital compared to non-incubator firms. The incubatees seem especially successful in attracting public capital. The incubatees also attract more private external capital, however, the observed frequency of private capital in the incubatees are low.

This article discusses experiences of on-going evaluation within a project funded by the EU Structural Funds. A question that is particularly illustrated is how we as on-going evaluators have handled the dilemma between closeness and involvement in the project in relation to distance and a critical approach. This dilemma is standard within action- and interactive research and becomes particularly evident in a concrete reality within a project. The problem is important to illustrate, especially considering the fact that the on-going evaluation task is politically governed, that is, the EU requires that the customary evaluation be replaced with an on-going evaluation. Furthermore, on-going evaluation finds itself in a developmental phase where discussions are carried on about how to define the concept and also on how the role as an on-going evaluator should be worked out. A possible outcome of this could be that the on-going evaluation becomes far too uncritical, or critical, and with that not come up to the expectations that are placed. In this article the point of departure is that the task of the on-going evaluator is to follow the development in a project vis-á-vis established goals with the purpose of creating practice-relevant knowledge. We also discuss the balancing that exists between being supportive of progress, giving constructive criticism and not being regarded as far too critical. After having worked in an innovative development project for two years, we have been strengthened in our understanding that the interactive research approach, concept usage, theoretical connection and methodological knowledge constitute imperative demands in order to handle the changing between closeness and distance

Studiens övergripande syfte är att fördjupa förståesen för jämställdhet inom en kommunal förvaltning utifrån tre teoretiska utgångspunkter; teoretiska perspektiv på organisation, könsperspektiv samt teorier om makt. I fokus står en grupp yrkesverksamma kvinnor och män. Vid genomförandet av den empiriska studien används observationer och kvalitativa intervjuer. När ett könsperspektiv är utgångspunkt vid studier av en organisation framträder könets betydelse på såväl struktur- som individnivå. I resultatet illustrerar en bild av både hinder och möjligheter för en jämställd organisation. De hinder som finns är hierarki, könssegregering, kunskapsbrist, kulturell kod samt språkbruk. Möjligherna utgörs av styrning, kunskap och metoder.

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to show how a model for sustainable learning has been formed in the meetings between practitioners and researchers. Design/methodology/approach: With the point of departure in an interactive research approach, the authors have worked with learning and common knowledge development. Empirical data were collected from nine learning seminars, which were carried out within the framework of an EU project. Findings: It is shown by means of empirical examples from an ongoing EU project how the pedagogic method of learning seminars came to be a mediating tool for reciprocal learning between researchers, project leaders and project participants. Originality/value: The learning seminars constituted an important part of a reflexive learning process where the learning consists of both practicable and theoretically anchored knowledge. Together with the project participants, the authors developed a model for sustainable learning. This model consists of a reflection model, which rests on four fundamental conditions; pedagogic leadership, the learning group, problem areas/situation and time aspects. This article fills a significant knowledge gap in terms of the development of learning within organizations.

Föreliggande rapport är en utvärdering av utbildningsdelen inom projekt Nyckelkrafter. Projektet bedrivs inom Equalprogrammet, vars övergripande mål är ett arbetsliv utan diskriminering och ojämlikhet, präglat av mångfald.

Choosing the right Business Intelligence (BI) software is critical to increasing productivity and effectiveness in organizations today. At the same time it is a very elaborating and complex process to choose the right software due to the fact that a large number of BI products exist on the market, which are quite different and updated frequently. The objective of this study is to develop and test a model for the evaluation of BI Software. The findings of the study revealed that it is difficult to declare what is the most competitive BI software as what is good for one user might not be good for another depending on their different business needs. Having said that the study initiated a new classification of BI Software vendors depending on the degree to which they comply with the functions in the Competitive Intelligence (CI) cycle. The software tested was divided into five categories: Fully complete, Complete, Semi Complete, Incomplete and Insubstantial. We conclude that the SSAV (Solberg Søilen, Amara, Vriens) Model Together with some proposed non technological variables and a classification developed can be used as a user's selection tool for deciding which BI Software to purchase.

We examine the role of regional import flows for renewal of regional industries. The hypothesis is that imports stimulate renewal of local industries by being vehicles for technology diffusion and means by which local firms can exploit advantages of global specialisation. We find robust and positive relationships between high-quality imports and renewal of regional exports, where the latter are measured by the introduction of novel export products of local firms. Connectedness to international markets via import networks appears to be a stimulus for the renewal of regional exports.

This paper examines innovation among very small firms and provides new insights into both internal and external determinants of patenting. Applying a non-linear panel data approach to about 160,000 observations on manufacturing firms in Sweden for the period 2000-2006, the following facts emerge: (i) in contrast to larger firms, innovation in micro firms with 1-10 employees is not sensitive to variation in internal financial resources, (ii) skilled labour is even more important for innovation among micro firms compared to other firms, (iii) affiliation to a domestically owned multinational enterprise group increases the innovation capacity of small businesses, (iv) small firms' innovation is closely linked to participation in international trade and exports to the G7-countries, and (v) there is no statistically significant evidence that proximity to metropolitan areas, or presence in a specialized cluster, increases the innovativeness of the smallest firm

Exporting firms in a region may reduce export entry costs for other local firms either through market or non-market interactions. This paper tests this proposition by analyzing whether the probability of exporting among Swedish firms is positively associated with the local presence of exporters in their region and industry. Our results support this conjecture, while also providing some support for such export spillovers being more important in contract-intensive industries and small firms. The results for different industries and size-classes of firms are also sensitive to whether we focus on firms' export status or restrict the sample to export starters.

ABSTRACT. This article discusses how theoretical and practical knowledge is integrated in higher education. With the point of departure in an interactive research approach we have worked with the formalizing of knowledge exchange and with common knowledge development. The overall purpose of the research project was to describe and analyze a learning process where both practicable and theoretically anchored knowledge is in the forefront. By following the education in a social-science programme, a model for sustainable learning was developed. In the centre of the model is a learning process for the integration of theory and practice where the intended learning outcomes, general skills, course literature and time constitute the established framework. Different forms of interaction and workplace-related studies became mediating tools, that is, they created opportunities for learning departing from dialogue, questioning, reflection and analysis.

The purpose of this article is to study interaction patterns within a steering group. Most large projects include a group of this kind whose task it is to steer towards set goals and provide the required resources. The origin of the research area lies in the observation that steering groups seem to have difficulties in living up to the expectations of project management and project participants, despite structured working methods such as regular meetings, distribution of responsibility and cooperation with different interested parties. By means of interviews and observations the article attempts to capture interaction patterns in a specific steering group. The study is anchored in theories of power with the purpose of supplying theoretical concepts and analytical tools. The most important conclusion is that the interaction patterns that emerged in the steering group rested on two foundations. The first one was that social relations in the steering group created power that was produced and manifested in different ways. The second one was that the exercise of power affected the action outcome, that is, the results of the actions and consequences for future actions. Another conclusion is that the exercising of the assignment presupposes four premises: the steering group member needs to have a positive approach to the project idea and the set goals, to have knowledge of the assignment, to have a position with the authority to make and carry out strategic decisions of the project, and be able to allocate time for active work and participation in meetings.

We consider the problem of explaining and forecasting the volume of cellular mobile traffic in a long-term perspective. To this end, we create a model of a market with both economic and non-economic variables, viz. the state of the economy, the current price level and the penetration effect on the market in question. We measure these variables by using publicly available data and by applying income theories and by combining theories of demand and technology diffusion. Applying the model to three markets, viz. China, Italy and Sweden, we show that it performs very well in explaining and predicting the volume of cellular mobile traffic. Noting the qualitative differences between these markets, we conclude that the model has some universality in that the results are comparable for all of them

We consider the problems of explaining and forecasting the penetration and the traffic in cellular mobile networks. To this end, we create two regression models, viz. one to predict the penetration from service charges and network effects and another one to predict the traffic from service charges and diffusion and adoption effects. The results of the models can also be combined to compute the likely evolutions of essential characteristics such as Minutes of Use (MoU), Average Revenue per User (ARPU) and total revenue. Applying the models to 26 markets throughout the world we show that they perform very well. Noting the significant qualitative differences between these markets, we conclude that the model has some universality in that the results are comparable for all of them.

In order to shed light on the role of higher education and its importance for innovation and entrepreneurship this paper presents the results of a survey of the four major technical universities in the Nordic countries; Aalto University in Helsinki, Finland; Chalmers Technical University in Gothenburg, Sweden; the Danish Technical University in Copenhagen, Denmark; and the Norwegian Technical University in Trondheim, Norway. Through the survey we have investigated what forms or tools the four technical universities use to collaborate with industry in education and to what extent these forms affect innovation in companies and entrepreneurship. The survey results show that there are five main forms of educational collaboration for innovation and entrepreneurship: 1) Thesis and project assignments, 2) Internships, 3) Executive and continuing education, 4) Entrepreneurship education, 5) Meeting spaces for innovation, platforms or arenas, between companies and students. All four technical universities use all five forms but with varying intensity. In terms of volume of activities and an innovation perspective thesis and project assignments by engineering students in their finishing year seems to be the most important form. From an entrepreneurship perspective the entrepreneurship education and related facilities such as incubators seem be most important.

The purpose of this paper is to present the process and evaluation of case writing projects in co-operation with companies and organizations in a course for engineering students. The case writing projects could provide an illustration and example framework for working with companies in constructing cases. Normally cases are constructed for teaching purposes in higher education. However, in order to get closer co-operation and more interest from the companies the authors encouraged the students and the companies to construct cases on issues that the companies felt were especially relevant for them. Drawing on previous research on case writing in teaching case writing projects were set up. The companies who worked closely with the students were very satisfied with both the case writing process and the final cases. These companies expressed several benefits like getting a good public reputation, getting an analysis by a third party, a free look on possible future employees, maintaining good relations with higher education and also getting material for internal development purposes. The companies that had a more distant relationship to the projects or were the process had been problematic had a more critical view of the process and outcome. They saw few benefits with the case writing projects besides maintaining a good image.

The practices of open innovation have been advocated as an efficient way to accelerate innovation processes and expanding the markets for innovations in turbulent times. One specific way of practicing open innovation is the use of web-based innovation tools whereby, among others, any user and customer in the world may be reached for the spawning ideas, sharing of experiences, testing of products and even designing products themselves. While research has been extensive on the opportunities these tools may provide, the managerial challenges and competences needed to implement and operate these tools have been scarce. The aim of the paper is to develop a framework of managerial challenges and competences related to the implementation of web innovation tools. The framework is based on previous research and a case study of a telecom company’s web innovation site and management of this web site. The research reported in the paper intends to contribute to the research on web innovation tools and the management of web innovation tools.

The purpose of the paper is to develop a framework of management competences related to the effective management of three types of online innovation tools. The framework highlights the development of three types of management competences and related practices: (a) disclosure competence in order to find, direct and motivate users to contribute, (b) appropriation competence in order to appropriate users' contributions, and (c) integration competence in order to direct, transfer and integrate user contributions to the relevant parts of the organization. The study provides a managerially relevant view of the complementarities between external sourcing of knowledge and necessary internal competences to reap the benefits of involving users through an online innovation tool.

Ur förordet: Högskolans ”tredje uppgift” är att samverka med aktörer utanför högskolan och göra det som ett nytt sätt att bedriva undervisning och forskning och inte som någon extra pålagd vid-sidan-uppgift. De tre artiklarna i detta nummer av FoU vid MAM har vi samlat under titeln I närkamp med den ”tredje uppgiften”. De är exempel på hur samverkan med utomakademiska aktörer kan se ut i praktiken. Denna praktik är förstås olikartad. Här i förordet lyfter jag fram två teman i artiklarna. Ett tema är vad för slags samverkan det är fråga om. Det andra temat är att samverkan kan vara konfliktfylld. Sammantaget säger dessa teman något viktigt om samverkansuppgiften: Vilka samhällsaktörer är inblandade och hur ska de olika intressen de representerar hanteras produktivt när nya utvecklingsgrupperingar skapas i FoU-arbetet?

Research in the area of family business aims to understand three primary issues: (1) how family firms are different from non-family firms, (2) what the competitive advantages for family firms are, and (3) how families can transfer knowledge about their competitive advantage between generations. In this paper we use the concept of family firm capital to differentiate competitive advantages of family and non-family firms, and to clarify what are the different types of knowledge that are important to transfer across generations of families. We also borrow from the socialization literature to provide a framework to explain how knowledge can be transferred across family generations and family employees. We discuss this model and present potential implications for family business research.

Based on a pilot study at a school where pupils work together exploring a virtual world (Fifth Dimension 5D), the objective of this article is to investigate the potential of software, interaction and integration related to instruction. Foci are set on a conceptual development of a virtual collaborative didactic. More concretely, we explore mediated interaction in collaborative weblogs between pupils managing classroom and computer room congenial problems, tasks and assignments. The objectives and foci are set on development of an integrated didactic on English and computer competence. From a starting point where the design of a virtual learning environment is investigated and developed, the idea of weblogs, agency, instruction and integration is portrayed as a situated approach for operating 5D as a game, a mystery and a challenge. The design of the study has motivated the whole class of pupils, as well as inspired and increased narrative text production.

In this article, we describe a collective biography that we convened in order to revisit the site of the radical theoretical break with the liberal humanist individual marked by the poststructuralist work of Henriques and colleagues and the feminist poststructuralist work of Weedon. These writers suggest that the new subject of poststructuralist theory will be more open to the changes desired by feminist and social justice movements. They describe the break with the liberal humanist subject as a break that heralds new possibilities of personal and cultural transformation. In this article, using the medium of collective biography stories, we revisit the relation between the liberal humanist individual and the transformative possibilities poststructuralist writers envisaged for the new subject of poststructuralism. We situate the discussion in the context of our transformation into neoliberal subjects over the last three decades.

Context and motivation: Finding a balance between commercial (customer specific, market pull and external quality requirements) and internal quality requirements is a recognized challenge in market driven software product development (MDSPD). In order to address this challenge it is important to understand the preferences and biases influencing decision makers selecting requirements for software releases. Question/problem: Prospect theory has been successfully applied to many disciplines. Applying it to MDSPD suggests decision makers will avoid risk when selecting between commercial requirements, take risk with internal quality requirements, and prefer commercial requirements over internal quality requirements in order to maximize their perceived value. This paper seeks to investigate this claim. Principal ideas/results: This paper presents an experiment investigating whether the biases proposed by prospect theory can be seen operating in MDSPD requirements engineering (RE). The results indicate risk avoidance when dealing commercial requirements, while greater risk is taken when dealing with internal quality requirements. Contribution: As this is the first paper to use prospect theory to explain requirements selection decisions, it presents opportunity to educate people in the biases they bring to the RE process, and facilitate the creation of strategies for balancing the different requirements types.

Abstract—Selecting requirements for a release of software is a difficult undertaking as people have trouble comparing requirements of different types and have natural biases towards short-terms gains over longer-term sustainability. Portfolio theory is proposed as a solution to this problem, as it provides a method for balancing investment options to maximize the likelihood of a given return. This approach is explored generally and through an example. The results suggest portfolio theory can be applied for this purpose. Applying portfolio theory to determine the amount of development time that should be spent on different types of requirements shows the most potential, especially when data on expected risks and returns is limited.

The purpose of Experiment 1 was to compare the effects of structured vs non-structured interaction and individual planning prior to interaction vs no planning on group performance, i.e. number of ideas generated. Participants (N = 99) were randomly assigned to 3-person groups. Analysis indicated that both strategies increased effectiveness of groups working on a task requiring creativity. Experiment 2 was a field experiment with 57 participants who worked in 3-person groups on an idea and goal-generating task. In Experiment 3 (N = 216), a more complex design was used to test the validity of initial findings in the first two experiments. Analysis showed that individual planning prior to interaction increase number of ideas

The aims of the study presented in this article were to validate the Swedish version of the Team Diagnostic Survey (TDS), and to examine effects of a feedback intervention to increase team effectiveness. The TDS is based on Hackman 's (2002) theory of group effectiveness which described three main criteria of performance and 14 factors that should affect team effectiveness. Participants in the survey were employees (N=533) across several different workplaces. Analyses were done at the group level, and data from 97 teams was included in the final data material. The sample (n=237) for the randomized field experiment consisted of 31 real life work teams from the larger survey sample (n=533/97). Results from validation data indicate that the TDS has satisfactory high Cronbach's Alpha values on most factors. Cronbachs's Alpha is a statistical measure of internal consistency; that is, how closely related a set of items are as a group. Results from the field experiment indicated that there was an overall increase in self-reported team effecti veness from first to second measurement. On several factors of team effectiveness a number were significantly higher for those receiving the TDS-based feedback. The outcomes suggest that group work practice might benefit from using research-oriented surveys such as the Team Diagnostic Survey as an effective feedback tool.

Purpose – The purpose of the study is to propose and test a buyer-supplier integration model, based on clients' collaborative purchasing practices, in a project-based industry. Design/methodology/approach – Hypotheses regarding the relationships among the three variables – i.e. incentive-based payment (IBP), partner selection (PS) based on multiple criteria, and joint action (JA) – are tested using structural equation modeling. Empirical data was collected through two survey rounds of 87 and 106 Swedish construction clients. Findings – The test of the proposed theoretical model receives strong empirical support, indicating that IBP should be coupled with PS based on multiple criteria in order to facilitate JA. Furthermore, it is seen that the occurrence of JA is higher in 2009 than in 2006 and that this is achieved through increased use of IBP. Research limitations/implications – The hypothesized and tested model provides a theoretical contribution, indicating how to facilitate buyer-supplier integration in project-based industries. In future studies it would be useful to adopt a multiple-informant approach, also including suppliers as respondents in order to capture their views on integration. Practical implications – An important managerial implication is that public clients need to improve their understanding of how to design bid proposals and evaluate bids based on multiple criteria instead of lowest price, without infringing public procurement acts. Originality/value – This paper offers unique contributions by addressing a gap in the relationship marketing literature and a lack of quantitative studies of buyer-supplier relationships in project-based industries.

In this conceptual paper, the concept of path dependency is used as an interpretive lens to examine the relationship between entrepreneurship and regional development. A critical review of the path dependency literature showed that the concept needs to be complemented first to fit the purpose of this paper. Three suggestions have been made. By using path dependency as an interpretive lens, five interrelated propositions could be made addressing the suggested complements. First, discussing entrepreneurship in a regional context, three different dimensions of path dependency should be taken into consideration: the technological, cognitive and social dimension. So far the cognitive and social dimension of path dependency has been neglected. Second, entrepreneurial activities form a regional path which is linked to the industries within the region. Third, there are two different types of entrepreneurship, namely radical and related entrepreneurship. Fourth, the same types of entrepreneurship will trigger different regional development processes depending on the specific situation of the region. Fifth, entrepreneurs who possess new information from outside the region will more likely alter the path of the region.

This article aims to analyse how innovative, individual actions influence the evolution of local industries according to three stages. When discussing the evolution of industries or economies, the concept of path dependency is often a central element. Its vague nature makes it however difficult to be used as an interpretative lens when studying the evolution of local industries. In order to limit the broad concept, several aspects have been identified for discussion; all are explicitly linked to path dependency in economic geography literature and all are acknowledged to be of significance for stimulating the evolution of local industries. Based on a review of the evolutionary economic theory literature, the following three stages have been identified: First, the entering of new knowledge which may, or may not, be the starting point for a new local industry; second, the formation of the new local industry; third, the anchoring process of the new local industry. All three stages are intertwined and include the question how the new emerging industry and the existing local structures relate to each other. The three stages will be illustrated through the discussion of the evolution of the IT industry in Linköping, Sweden.

The newest small firms – the start-ups in general and the international new ventures (INV) in particular – face major difficulties from the beginning. Not only do they need to bring competitively unique products to a new, highly competitive market, but they also must be successful in convincing customers of their products' benefits. This ultimate small firm test is in fact very similar to the criteria that define the core competence concept. Still, core competence matters have historically been delimited to large, preferably diversified companies. In this paper, we apply core competence theory and entrepreneurship theories on a small firm's empirical context. We concentrate on technology focused INVs and on the change, or transformation, these start-ups must complete in order to adopt a more market-oriented focus. Without the transformation, we argue, the small firm will not be able to expand. The purpose of the paper is to explore parts of the processes changed during the transformation and to enhance our understanding of core competence applicability on small companies. We formulate propositions, empirically guided and theoretically anchored, that describe four different components that facilitate the small firm technology-to-market transformation.

I use identity theory to conceptually develop board identities that help us explore and understand board behavior. I develop two specific board identities, which I label board’s organizational identity and board’s contextual identity and develop assertions about board behavior that can be expected based on these identities. A key contention is that each type of identity helps board conceptualize its role holistically and develop appropriate behavior routines, and a lack of a coherent and strong identity leads to poor discharge of board’s duties.

This article complements extant literature on entrepreneurship and trust by proposing a model of over-trust (the tendency to trust more than what is warranted) using entrepreneurial characteristics and effectual logic. We trace how entrepreneurs following effectual processes may tend to over-trust. More formally, we propose that specific personality characteristics of the entrepreneur interact with effectual logic to make the entrepreneur more susceptible to over-trust. The proposed model is value neutral in that we do not imply that over-trust has negative consequences for entrepreneurs. In fact, it may be part of the overall risk that entrepreneurs assume in a new venture creation.

Insights from agency theory and the theory of altruism are used to empirically examine the relationship between founder descendant board membership and the market value of publicly traded firms in Norway, Sweden, and Spain. We argue that both economic incentives and positive altruism drive the board room behavior of persons associated with inherited wealth. Consequently, founder descendant board membership may reduce agency costs in public firms by ensuring the continuity of the founder’s strategic vision. We also hypothesize a non-linear relationship between insider holding and firm value in firms with a descendant board member, arguing that both market discipline and altruistic behavior can be key competitive advantage for family-influenced firms. We also hypothesize an efficiency based argument for a positive influence of pyramid ownership structures on the performance of firms with descendant board membership. This suggests that pyramids favor the creation of firm value in second and later generation family firms. Evidence from 254 firms in the three non-Anglo-American countries largely supports the presented hypotheses.

This study builds on two significant quotations, one contemporary and another historic. First of all, mixed methods are frequently confused with multiple methods. Leech, Onwuegbuzie, Hansson and Robinson (2008) describe the distinction as follows (emphasis by this author): “mixed methodologies is distinguished from multiple methodologies, wherein mixed methodologies refers to approaches in which quantitative and qualitative research techniques are integrated into a single study, whereas multiple methodologies refer to approaches in which more than one research method or data collection and analysis technique […] is used to address research questions.” It is hard to separate a combination of (mixed) methods deployed for choosing the proper techniques of a single study and another combination of (multiple) methods for answering a narrowly defined research question. Furthermore, in commenting on the fact that when we look at a problem from a social science perspective, the method we choose for doing so has twofold implications. To the effect of clarifying the inherent complexity, Vygotsky (1978) says the method is a “prerequisite and product; the tool and the result of the study”, continuing: “In general, any fundamentally new approach to a scientific problem inevitably leads to new methods of investigation and analysis. The invention of new methods that are adequate to the new ways in which problems are posed requires far more than a simple modification of previously accepted methods.” The purpose of research is to position the concept values in a scientific context covering a comprehensive corpus elicited from an online journal. The theoretical framework builds on an earlier study identifying global values across cultures. This study enables comparison between Anglo-Saxon on the one hand and other culturally determined understandings of values on the other, be they collective, individual or Western. Examples of allegedly global values include Security, Power, Universalism and Self-direction. The theoretical framework consists of a structured collection of analytical concepts like value direction, ethics, attitude and stability. The research design is made up of a combination of three similar but different text analytical-semantic-logical software packages. The software is deployed for identifying, characterizing and structuring values in some 300 scientific journal articles, complemented by the authors’ analysis of software output. Expected outcomes cover (i) validation of values, value directions (e.g. openness to change and self-enhancement) and value categorizations; (ii) identification of and comparison between national values; (iii) value descriptions. The relevance for research is that the results of this basic research will indicate what characterizes Scandinavian values and in the future provide refined methods for identifying values related to specific contexts, schools, industry, nursing, journalism etc. Educational research in the information society and among young internet cultures needs to focus on emerging internet ethics and there are several methodological options for gathering, categorizing and structuring empirical data on values and value systems in formal schooling and informal workplace contexts. This is an interdisciplinary approach to citizenship education. National education is a basis for active citizenship from any of the given local, regional, national etc. perspectives as they hold a potential to empower individuals for working life purposes, for individual development or for public life. This presentation combines research into the practical use of software packages facilitating interpretation of diverging values as portrayed in an interdisciplinary journal series. The practical usage for educational purposes aims at furthering people’s awareness of values. As knowledge is far from the only aspiration in schooling, exploration of values in a computermediated context combined with ethical citizenship supply a valid framing of the congress theme.

It is an unsettled issue between research traditions how we should negotiate the implied rather than acknowledged dispute between individual agency, i.e. the ability/need/urge of a manager to act on/in the world on the one hand and the functioning of a structured social system where management and employee initiatives, relations and reactions are crucial for the main activity. This chapter resolves parts of the debate by drawing on general activity theory and a digital tool deployed for facilitating job-related group interaction.

Analysis of the content area – democracy – and the object of study – values – enable a diagnosis-analysis-synthesis approach tohuman behaviour, primarily by means of textual criticism. Some of the studied articles are classified as demagogically symbolmanipulative items for highlighting the writer’s competence. Other articles are democratically actionable for developing research and education. It seems as if social science research often forms into mere talk for the Academy, but sometimes research also provides useful pieces of advice for the practitioner. A crucial divide runs between is-pragmatic and should-idealist approaches to knowledge. Successful articles portray actionable knowledgen and striving articles illustrate textual knowledge.

It is desirable that people learn to describe the form and functions of Didactics. Any such description must spring from situations where the educator's planned method and sought contents build on experiences and competences which are founded on a shared design and shared completion of work. Paradoxically enough, co-operation on the didactic form and function of lessons influences learning processes with students as well as with educators.

A pilot study at a local school explores a virtual world during English lessons. The objective of applying a Vygotskian experimental design to the study is to investigate the potential of software, interaction and integration related to problem-solving defined as text composition in a foreign language. Focus of research and practices is on the development of a virtual didactic, more specifically text interaction by a virtual game in the classroom and face-to-face dialogue by direct speech-dialogue in the computer room. The two-fold objectives cover understanding an integrated didactic on English and computer efficacy . By investigating the design of a combined virtual and physical learning environment we describe how the video-game generation operates (in) a social system of peers as they develop their computer skills and text composing ability.

Different research traditions describe the implied rather than acknowledged dispute between individual agency and collective activity. The ability of an individual to take action has a positive effect on the functioning of a social system. Initiative is a praised self-controlled quality and inter-subjective relations between people and reactions to another person’s input are crucial for the main activity. I this chapter I draw on experiences of digital software deployed for facilitating teaching and learning.