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A merger or acquisition is usually a challenging endeavor with a single ultimate aim: to create value for the owner. However, stakeholder theory shows how such a narrow and one-sided focus is detrimental to value-creation in general - not only for other stakeholders within and outside the organization, but also for the owner. Especially in a merger or an acquisition, it is evident that there are many groups and individuals who have a stake in the success or failure of a business.So far, the overwhelming majority of research in the field of mergers and acquisitions has focused on the merging or

A merger or acquisition is usually a challenging endeavor with a single ultimate aim: to create value for the owner. However, stakeholder theory shows how such a narrow and one-sided focus is detrimental to value-creation in general - not only for other stakeholders within and outside the organization, but also for the owner. Especially in a merger or an acquisition, it is evident that there are many groups and individuals who have a stake in the success or failure of a business. So far, the overwhelming majority of research in the field of mergers and acquisitions has focused on the merging or.

In this overview essay, which also introduces the other contributions to the AJAR Special Collection about the Erasmus+-funded research project on 'Mapping, Reflecting and Developing PhD-by-Design Programs', we as the guest editors venture from a situated position based on our experiences of that collaborative process. From that stance, and as part of the dynamics sprouting from the Mapping/Reflecting/Developing project, we focus here on one specific characteristic of research-by-design – that of the inherently political dimension in positioning such research. It is a dimension which often seems to be ignored or under-articulated within discussions about Research-by-Design projects and PhD-by-Design programs. To counteract that deficiency, the notion of the 'political' is connected in this introductory essay to the realms of architecture, architectural practice, and architectural design research, on multiple levels. For the other essays which make up this Special Collection, this essay presents what we call the 'agonistic table'.

For many of the countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, fruit and vegetables are very important products. In light of the increasing trade liberalization and thus increasing competition between countries, this paper aims to investigate the competitiveness of ten Mediterranean countries with respect to fresh fruit and vegetables. The analysis rests on two foundations. Firstly, a set of indicators are calculated to give a general impression of trends and potentials. Secondly, two constant market share analyses are performed. In the first analysis, the countries' competitiveness in world trade is investigated and used as a reference scenario. In the second analysis, the investigated countries' competitiveness has been investigated with respect to trade with one major trading partner; the European Union. The results generally show that the competitiveness of the investigated countries has deteriorated over the period.

"Establishing and nurturing contacts are important and time-consuming
elements of interactive research. It is usually the researcher who has to
establish and nurture collaboration with practitioners – a task that is not
normally part of traditional research. A mutual interest in the subject of
the research is a prerequisite for collaboration, but there are quite often
other factors that explain why collaboration begins and endures. On the
basis of the experience gained in a number of interactive research projects,
we address the conditions required for an effective and lasting interplay
between collaborating partners. Theoretical inspiration has been provided
by studies of so-called imaginary organisations." (author's abstract)

This report sets out to explore possible adaptations in the strategies of Swedish multinational corporations (MNCs) following changes in economic globalization. Specifically, it investigates the possible shifts and future directions of strategies to the global drivers of technology, politics, and sustainability, and how these drivers may impact the future competitiveness of Swedish firms. Using data from 20 in-depth interviews with CEOs, CFOs, and other executive decision-makers, representing 19 Swedish MNCs, the results suggest this is a major question for both concern and opportunity with regards to the future competitiveness of these firms. Specifically, the report highlights the following main conclusions: A strong global corporate identity coupled with a Swedish moral compass: Swedish MNCs view themselvesas global but with strong local embeddedness. Yet, interestingly, a moral compass with a Swedish flavor suggests a 'Swedish way' of conducting business, even in far-away locations. Parallelism in changing value chains: The political risks of being a global firm are evident. The firms areacutely aware of risks associated with disruptions in their value chains, and some firms have responded byconsidering their value chain configurations or are even developing several sets of value chains. This parallelism is deemed to facilitate de-coupling of regions and lower the risks stemming from external shocks. Reshoring to Sweden is not an option: Surprisingly few firms seem to consider reshoring value chain activitiesto Sweden to be an attractive option. This is despite movement in the locational footprint where the firms are abandoning or considering pulling out of markets due to unfavorable conditions relating to political andsustainability issues. The big bet on sustainability: Many firms are positioning their businesses based upon a vision of providing sustainable products and services. The big bet on sustainability offers many opportunities and could propel Swedish MNCs to a strong position on the global market for sustainable products, rendering a price premium. To conclude, the last 18 months have made firms well aware of the strengths and the weaknesses in their strategic orientation. Firm resilience appears as generally high with few firms reporting that the pandemic itself will have significant long-term effects on MNC strategies. Moving forward, Swedish MNCs seem equipped to combine a business strategy of new technology with sustainable solutions. The activity strategy shows indications of becoming increasingly regional, which could prove to be supportive of the often-decentralized strategies adopted by the Swedish MNCs.

In 2015, the Swedish government initiated a national cancer reform program to standardize cancer care pathways. Primary aims included shortened waiting times among patients with suspected cancer, increased patient satisfaction and reduced regional variation. The implementation phase of the program is now more than half way through and both achievements and challenges have been identified. The ongoing evaluation demonstrates that professional engagement and adjustments on the meso- and micro-level of the system are essential to achieving sustainable improvements. Waiting times have shortened for the pathways launched first, and patients are satisfied with a more transparent process. Physicians in primary care are satisfied to inform patients about the pathways but point out problems with comorbidity and complicated diagnostic procedures related to unspecific symptoms. Mechanisms and ethical considerations behind possible crowding-out effects need to be thoroughly highlighted and discussed with staff and management. The results so far appear promising but meso- and micro-levels of the system need to be more involved in the design processes. (C) 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. ; Funding Agencies|Ministry of Health and Social affairs, Sweden