Bringing strategy closer to everyday work at Thermocold

As part of the Norwegian Science Week 2026, Professor Gunnar Andersson conducted a workshop on strategy management with the board and management team of Thermocold AS in Sarpsborg. The workshop explored how an organisation can connect its strategic ambitions more closely to everyday work, learning and improvement.

The visit was organised through Book a Researcher, an initiative that allows companies and public organisations to invite researchers from Østfold University College to share knowledge and explore relevant challenges.

Strategy starts where value is created

The day began with a gemba walk through Thermocold’s production facilities. A gemba walk involves visiting the place where work is carried out, observing processes and speaking with the people who create value.

This provided an important starting point for the workshop. Strategy should be grounded in what an organisation actually does, the people who create value, and the challenges they encounter in their daily work.

Thermocold has produced refrigeration solutions since 1986. The company supplies cold rooms, refrigeration units and customised solutions for applications including wine rooms and wine cellars. Thermocold has also made workplace inclusion an important part of its values and business practices.

From strategic ambitions to action

The company’s strategic plan formed the basis for the workshop. The participants explored an inclusive and learning-oriented approach to strategy management, often referred to as hoshin kanri.

Hoshin kanri is an approach rooted in continuous improvement. It can help organisations reduce the gap between strategic ambitions and the decisions, priorities and activities that shape everyday work.

During the workshop, the participants discussed how Thermocold could:

involve employees in developing and implementing the strategy
challenge and improve strategic goals through catchball processes
translate the strategy into annual priorities and concrete projects
clarify the connections between goals, initiatives and projects using an X-matrix
integrate learning and continuous improvement into strategy work

Combining research and practical experience

Collaboration with researchers can introduce research-based methods, bring new questions into the discussion and help organisations view familiar challenges from different perspectives. At the same time, research-based knowledge must be adapted to the organisation’s own context.

The most interesting opportunities often emerge when research-based knowledge meets the experience and practical insight of the organisation.

A researcher visit does not have to end when the workshop is over. Relevant challenges can be developed further through student projects, bachelor’s projects, and joint research and development initiatives.

Such collaboration can give companies access to students and academic communities that can contribute to mapping, analysis, improvement work and project development. For students, it provides an opportunity to work with real challenges in close cooperation with an organisation.

The Research Group for Innovation would like to thank the board and management team at Thermocold KFD AS for their openness, the insightful tour of the production facilities and the valuable discussions.

Could your organisation work with us?

Does your company or organisation have a challenge that could be explored through a student project, bachelor’s project, or research and development collaboration?

Please contact Professor Gunnar Andersson at Østfold University College to discuss the possibilities.