STRATEGISKA SPÄNNINGAR I METALLBEARBETNINGSINDUSTRIN : EN STUDIE OM RELATIONEN MELLAN PRODUKTIONSEFFEKTIVITET OCH MILJÖANSVAR

Sammanfattning

ABSTRACT Date: 2026-06-01 Level: Master thesis in Business Administration, 15 credits Institution: School of Business, Society and Engineering, Mälardalen University Authors: Kevin Johansson and Alfred Achrenius (2003-03-06) (2003-11-15) Title: Strategic Tensions in the Metalworking Industry Supervisor: Jan Karlsson Keywords: Production efficiency, environmental responsibility, manufacturing industry,paradox theory, strategic decision-making, municipal supervision Research questions: 1. How do people with strategic insight perceive and interpret the relationship betweenproduction efficiency and environmental responsibility in the studied manufacturingcompanies? 2. How is the relationship between production efficiency and environmentalresponsibility managed in the studied companies’ strategic decision-making andgovernance processes? 3. How does Eskilstuna Municipality influence the studied manufacturing companies’work with production efficiency and environmental responsibility? Purpose: The purpose of the study is to examine how people with strategic insight in the studiedmanufacturing companies perceive, interpret and manage the relationship between productionefficiency and environmental responsibility in strategic decision-making and governanceprocesses. The study also aims to analyze how Eskilstuna Municipality, through its role as alocal supervisory and regulatory actor, influences the companies’ work with these issues.Thereby, the study aims to create a deeper understanding of how demands for efficiency andenvironmental responsibility are expressed, shaped and managed in organizational practicewithin a local industrial context. Method: The study is based on a qualitative research approach with an abductive design. Theempirical material consists of semi-structured interviews with individuals with strategic insightor operational-level managerial responsibility in manufacturing companies in Eskilstuna, aswell as one municipal respondent. The material has been analyzed thematically and interpretedwith support from paradox theory. Conclusion: The study shows that the relationship between production efficiency andenvironmental responsibility should be understood as a dynamic and conditional paradox. Thedemands can reinforce each other when environmental measures contribute to resourceefficiency, reduced costs or improved process control. However, tensions arise when measuresinvolve higher costs, uncertain payback periods or low customer willingness to pay. The companies manage this relationship through economic translation, selective integration,differentiation and legitimation. Eskilstuna Municipality’s influence appears mainly throughsupervision, documentation requirements and compliance control, rather than as a directstrategic driver.