The focus of the project is the issue of personal relations and their role for innovation and stagnation in Swedish business history. A hypothesis is that personal networks constitute an important resource, through which access to information, capital and key employees can be gained, and that personal networks also are important for the formation of ideas and attitudes to the company and its development. The project consists of three researchers and three separate studies:

Ylva Hasselberg's research concerns the role of personal networks in the Swedish steel, wood and pulp industry. Two separate investigations are conducted. The first study concerns the development of Stora Kopparberg 1878-1895. The aim is to analyse the development of the company, especially technological innovation, in relation to the networks of the executive manager Erik Johan Ljungberg. The aim of the second study is to place Stora Kopparberg in its context, and analyse the interrelatedness of the steel, wood and pulp companies in mid-Sweden during the period. How did the personal networks of the CEOs contribute to the spreading of for example new technology? Uddeholm, Sandviken and Forsbacka are included in this study.

Tom Petersson's research is concerned with the development of AB Åtvidaberg ( named Facit after 1965) under the leadership of Gunnar Ericsson, head of the Ericsson family, which was the majority owner of the company. The research focuses on Ericsson's role within the family company, mainly through studies of his business correspondence. How did Ericsson construct and use his personal networks in his position as CEO of AB Åtvidaberg? One of the main issues is why the company could not meet the technological challenges within the industry, for example the transition from mechanical to electronic calculators. The study also addresses some of the classical problems associated with family-owned/controlled businesses, such as succession problems and the limited access to capital.

The PhD. Thesis of Tomas Matti concerns the social construction of professionalism and the preofessionalization of business executives in early 20th century Sweden in. An important issue is the role of social networks in this process. The study relates to the classical thesis of Alfred D. Chandler regarding the professionalization of management. Three empirical areas are investigated: ownership, education and recruitment.

Ylva Hasselberg, FD
Ekonomisk-historiska institutionen, Box 513, S-751 20 Uppsala
Tel: +46 18-471 73 18
Ylva.Hasselberg@ekhist.uu.se