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Assessment through new technology has gained a firm foothold within the university system in the last decade. This paper summarizes the experiences that have been made during the introduction of digital examination over the past two years at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden. The experiences are divided between three different perspectives; the teachers, the students and the administrators. From the teachers perspective the experiences have been very positive--less time have been allocated to grading written exams, the grades are perceived as more just and the saved time can be spent on increasing the quality on other parts of the courses. From a student perspective the experiences have been very positive as well--most students are enjoying the fact that they get the results much quicker, that they can edit their answers on the exam easier and that the grades are more just. The experiences from the final perspective--that from the administrators' point of view--are far more complex. Some parts of the administrative system encouraged the introduction of digital examination, whereas other parts tried to stop it, using different measures. The paper concludes with some advice on implementing changes in written exams, based on the experiences from the Swedish case.

The purpose of the paper is to describe and analyse efforts to integrate research into teaching in a postgraduate degree program in real estate management. The long term goals of the changes were to increase graduation rates as well as the quality of dissertations. In order to validate our findings, the data for this paper emanate from a three main sources, namely; students' course evaluations, students' grades and a qualitative assessment of the students' thesis proposals made by senior lecturers. The results show that the first cohort of students found it stressful when individual research writing was introduced towards the end of their studies. With a more gradual and earlier introduction of writing in a series of courses in the program, coupled with changes in assessment tasks, the second cohort found individual research writing less stressful and more beneficial. Performance in the second cohort improved in appreciable ways.

Possible cost saving potentials in planning and construction of high performing nearly zero energy buildings (nZEBs) with advanced energy standards are often not sufficiently assessed, as only a few, out of numerous possible variants of technology sets are considered in the traditional planning process. Often planning and analysis are not carried out in parallel, and the alternative technical options are discarded at an early stage. If, on the other hand, possible variants are realistically compared in the planning phase, a profound decision can be made. nZEB-design is also a multi-objective optimization problem where stakeholder interests' conflict with each other. This research addresses a methodological approach to better understand the effects that technical variables have on energy, environmental and economic performance over the whole life cycle of a multi-family residential building in Sweden. The research goal is to identify the most significant technical nZEB design variables organized into a consistent framework. In this paper, in a first step an exhaustive search method is assessed for a multi-family residential building in Sweden that systematically investigates all possible variant combinations. In a second step the derived results are applied to multiple objectives and optimisation goals for a multi-target decision-making framework so that different actors can decide between optimal solutions for different objectives. This approach seeks to explore a set of optimal solutions rather than to find a single optimal solution. On the one hand, a variety of technologies, such as insulation of the building envelope, ventilation or electricity and heat supply, and on the other hand a variation of the boundary conditions (such as observation period, user behaviour, energy price increases or CO2 costs) was investigated. The results were analysed energetically and economically over the life cycle of the building with the objectives of identifying coherences, deriving trends and optimizations over a time span of 40 years. The results show that the variance in the financing costs (20%) and the net present value (15%) is relatively low, whereas the primary energy demand (66%) and the CO2 (73%) emission vary in a broader range. The optimum cost curve in relation to CO2 emissions is very flat. Low emissions and energy requirements can, therefore, be achieved with different energy concepts as long as the envelope is very efficient. Due to the nature of an exhaustive search approach, it is also possible to find technical solution sets and design strategies with nearly equal financing cost and/or net present values, but with less primary energy consumption and/or CO2 emissions.

An increasing demand for energy-efficient buildings has led to an increasing focus on predicted energy performance once a building is in use. Many studies have identified a performance gap between predicted energy use and actual measured energy use once buildings are in the user phase. However, none of the identified studies normalise measured energy use for both internal and external deviating boundary conditions. This study uses a Net-zero energy building (Net ZEB) building in Sweden to test two different approaches to the normalisation of measured energy use-static and dynamic methods. The normalisation of energy use for a ground source heat pump reduces the performance gap from 12% to 1-5%, depending on the method of normalisation. The normalisation of energy from photovoltaic (PV) panels reduces the performance gap from 17% to 5%, regardless of the method used. The results show that normalisation is important in order to accurately determine the energy performance of buildings. The most important parameters are the indoor temperature and internal loads, which have the largest effect on normalisation in this case study. Furthermore, the case study shows that it is possible to build Net ZEB buildings with existing technologies in a Northern European climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The built environment accounts for a significant share of energy consumption and energy efficiency in this sector is important for the Swedish environmental objectives. Only a limited share of the total new construction of multifamily houses are constructed as low-energy buildings. Current building regulations lay down requirements for energy efficiency for new construction, and these will be tightened further in the future. Public housing companies often aim to be at the forefront, and the public housing sector has now built half of Sweden’s low-energy blocks of flats. Many public housing companies have tried, but it is uncertain if they will, or have, the possibilities to construct low-energy buildings on a large scale. Twenty public housing companies around Sweden have been interviewed with the aim of identifying obstacles and possibilities to be forerunners and build better than required by the building regulations. The study shows that the public housing companies build better than the law demands and intend to continue doing so. Low-energy buildings are particularly suitable in central locations where land is attractive and the required returns lower. The driving motivation is to be at the forefront and to build green. The new pressure to increase house building can lead to a risk of energy and quality issues being passed over. For the increase in the construction of low-energy buildings to continue, extended, shared and comparable decision making support for the public housing companies is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of small business entrepreneurs’ relinquishment of control aversion and the impact of their interaction with external financiers on market connection. Design/methodology/approach – Questionnaires were sent to the chief executive officers of small businesses in the manufacturing and professional services sectors. A total of 459 valid responses were analyzed in a structural equation model. Findings – The attitude of small business entrepreneurs in relying on financiers’ advice is marked by control aversion. This fear of losing control creates information asymmetry, which in itself leads to decreased financing opportunities for small business entrepreneurs. The results of the study suggest that small firms seeking the aid of financiers will be provided with substantial additional information about the market. Issues pertaining to supply seem to be less relevant than those relating to demand, thus indicating that greater focus should be placed on the investment readiness of small businesses. Originality/value – This study emphasizes the importance of the role of attitudes among SMEs in understanding capital market failure and credit rationing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] The effect of different measuring methods to define building elements is addressed. [•] The state of knowledge regarding calculation of transmission heat transfer is investigated. [•] The increasing importance of correct calculations of thermal bridges is shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] LCE analysis of net zero energy buildings. [•] The changing role of embodied energy. [•] Important parameters to address in the context of a life cycle energy analysis. [•] Annual energy savings achieved for Net ZEBs, clearly exceed the increase in embodied energy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

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The purpose of the paper is to analyze how different dimensions of the relationship between banks and small to medium-sized enterprises (SME) influence the SMEs’ loyalty towards the banks. A survey was administered to 1024 CEOs of Swedish SMEs. In the questionnaire, a number of aspects of the relationship with the bank were examined, especially how banks contribute to the development of the SMEs, and how this affects the SMEs’ loyalty. This paper posits The Close Relationship Strategy, which implies that by being more active in the relationship, banks could create more satisfied and loyal SME customers. The study has relevance for banks that are trying to develop their corporate brands through a closer relationship with SMEs. The paper provides a framework for understanding how banks can achieve customer loyalty and develop their brands by focusing on important aspects of the relationship with their SME customers. This study provides important insights into SMEs’ perceptions of their banks’ capacity to deliver meaningful advice, and how a positive relationship can create more loyal customers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse the role of social capital and bridging networks on entrepreneurial activity in three different regions in Sweden. Design/methodology/approach – The empirical base of the paper comprises 120 in-depth interviews with entrepreneurs and other stakeholders in three municipalities in Sweden, statistical data from Statistics Sweden and a large postal survey conducted by the Confederation of Swedish Enterprises. Findings – The bridging networks between local civil servants and local politicians on the one hand and entrepreneurs on the other are pivotal for the development of an entrepreneurial community. Research limitations/implications – Despite the same rational-legal framework, this paper shows how the cognitive dimension of social capital influences the level of entrepreneurship in three municipalities. The importance of bridging networks is also highlighted. Practical implications – An open channel of communication between politicians and entrepreneurs allows the former to gain legitimacy in the eyes of the latter. By widening the network, more actors are involved in local and regional development, thereby raising the level of competence and resources. Originality/value – Using three different sets of data, this paper offers a deeper understanding into the complex nature of bridging networks between politics and business. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Business angels play an important role in the development and growth of many entrepreneurial ventures. They provide not only capital, but also much needed business know-how and connections to customers and other financiers that are pivotal for the success of the firm. The relationship between the business angel and the entrepreneurial team evolves over time, starting with a due diligence process and the formulation of a contract. In this paper we are interested in the post-investment phase of the relationship, and how the business angel abstracts different cues that the relationship is experiencing problems. From interviews with experienced business angels in very different settings and from very different backgrounds, six different cues have emerged as indicators that something is amiss in the relationship. These cues have the following themes; the outright rebellion, the strange report, missing deadlines, history revision, changing information flows and going underground. The majority of the business angels that we have interviewed claimed that these cues have different meanings and that some are more detrimental to the relationship than other. For instance, the outright rebellion and the urge to re-negotiate the contract are looked upon as serious breaches of the trust in the relationship. Strange reports and missing deadlines on the other hand, tend to activate the business angel and trigger some kind of action on his part, but initially with sustained trust. Earlier studies have used either the agent-principal approach or the procedural justice perspective when they have studied the relationship between investor and entrepreneur. Usually papers take one or the other as their point of departure for a study, where the first focuses on control and monitoring and the other on trust building initiatives. However, from our interviews it seems as though they complement each other in the relationship over time. When everything is going as planned the control and monitoring activities are kept at a minimum, with weekly or monthly progress reports, instead the trust building activities dominate. When a cue emerges, the trust building process comes to a halt and the control and monitoring activities gain the upper hand. Before the business angel has identified the problem and together with the entrepreneurial team worked out a solution, everything else is put on hold. Some time after the incident, control and monitoring activities will be higher than usual, before everything gets back to normal. The findings in this paper fit well within the theoretical framework put forward by Shepherd and Zacharakis (2001). In their model, they see communication as a moderating factor on the other three; commitment and consistency, being fair and just and obtaining a good fit between investor and entrepreneur. In our interviews it is clear that an open and frequent communication is a necessary condition for the development of a trusting relationship. Hence, most cues of a deteriorating relationship have to do with problems in communicating with each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research has sought to better understand resource and housing market cycles longitudinally and define clear phases in order to understand interactions between the two over time. This is a necessary step forward in housing market knowledge for this under researched area, particularly in an economically unique context. This paper expands knowledge by undertaking a comparative study of town housing markets in Queensland's coal mining Bowen Basin and Sweden's northern municipalities—specifically Gallivare and Kiruna—where a long history of iron ore mining exists. This paper analyses these housing markets using longitudinal data spanning two decades, which includes two resources cycles in two geographically disparate locations. The results indicate that the housing market in Queensland, Australia, is far more volatile than the housing market in the Swedish municipalities. The regional housing market in Sweden's municipalities tend to be less dependent on resource price and output from mines than their Australian counterparts. Part of the explanation for this is that the Swedish towns examined are less of the traditional mining town known from previous studies, and more a town with mining. Developing and improving understanding of markets over the duration of a cycle is important. Particular value is apparent in the comparison and contrasting of two separate resource regions encompassing resource reliant communities in two different countries. Importantly, the linkage of research regions through resource relationships leads to groundbreaking research which will have practical benefit to multiple economies, housing markets and for policy-makers alike. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the greatest challenges for the world today is the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. As buildings contribute to almost a quarter of the greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, reducing the energy use of the existing building stock is an important measure for climate change mitigation. In order to increase the renovation pace, there is a need for a comprehensive technical documentation that describes different types of buildings in the existing building stock. The purpose of this study is to analyse and describe existing residential buildings in Sweden. The data are based on published reports from 1967 to 1994 that have not been publicly available in a database for other researchers to study until now. Data from the reports have been transferred to a database and analysed to create a reference for buildings and/or a description of building typology in Sweden. This study found that there is a rather large homogeneity in the existing residential building stock. However, it is not possible to use a single reference building or building technique to cover the majority of the existing buildings. In Sweden, common constructions for exterior walls in multi-dwelling buildings which should be used for further studies are insulated wood infill walls with clay brick façades, lightweight concrete walls with rendered façades and concrete sandwich walls. The most common constructions for one- and two-dwelling buildings are insulated wooden walls with clay brick façades or wooden façades. Furthermore, roof constructions with insulated tie beam and roof constructions where the tie beam is a part of the interior floor slab are frequently used and should be included in further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is important to minimize transmission heat transfer losses through the building envelope when designing and building energy efficient buildings in heating dominated climates. In such a climate, a large part of the space heating demand is caused by transmission heat transfer losses through the building envelope. Calculations of these losses must be carried out in a correct way to ensure a properly sized heating system and a good indoor climate. Furthermore, underestimating the transmission heat transfer may lead to energy costs that exceed expectations. A Swedish study was published five years ago which concluded that the state of knowledge was low and simplified methods used were not accurate. Five years has passed since the previous study. The purpose of this follow-up is to investigate whether the state of knowledge among Swedish consultants has increased and to review the progress within the international field. The study shows that little has changed in Sweden. The state of knowledge regarding different measuring methods and the effect on thermal bridges is still not satisfying. Furthermore, the review of recent research shows that the relative effect of thermal bridges vary greatly. More guidelines and education/training are needed. Further research should be carried out with a holistic approach where thermal bridges are investigated with varying construction types, energy efficiency of building envelopes and different measuring methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]