The challenges and opportunities of the European Union leadmarket initiative:case bio-based products

The role of innovations as an engine for European competitiveness is largely accepted as a part of the EU Lisbon strategy, and the Lead Market Initiative (LMI) has been seen as an innovative platform for advancing the knowledge-based bio-economy in Europe. Our research questions are; first, what are the main challenges and opportunities of the LMI on bio-based products in comparison to other EU initiatives such as JTIs and CIP? Second, does the LMI address those challenges adequately, and what areas of improvement can be identified? Methodologically, we use a qualitative case study approach with data from both documentary sources and in-depth elite interviews. Based on our results, the strong demand-side characteristics of LMI, such as public procurement, standardization and legislation, can accelerate the time-to-market in case of the bio-based products and services. However, the speed of diffusion is dependent on overcoming the problems of the critical-mass market creation and fragmented supply-side of bio-based industry. Ensuring coherence and coordination of activities between policy-makers in the Member states, EU Commission services, businesses and other stakeholders is also crucial to the success of LMI for bio-based products

Työntekijöiden ja esimiesten kokemuksia ja näkemyksiä työyhteisön toimivuudesta

Tiivistelmä. Tutkimuksessa tarkastellaan työntekijöiden ja esimiesten kokemuksia ja näkemyksiä työyhteisön toimivuudesta Oulun yliopiston kirjastossa. Tutkimuksen tavoitteena on selvittää, mitä vahvuuksia sekä haasteita työyhteisössä koetaan tällä hetkellä ja millainen on työntekijöiden ja esimiesten näkemys toimivasta työyhteisöstä. Tutkimus on kvalitatiivinen tapaustutkimus, joka on toteutettu puolistrukturoiduin yksilöhaastatteluin yhteensä yhdeksälle henkilölle. Analyysimenetelmänä on käytetty aineistolähtöistä sisällönanalyysia ja apuna on käytetty myös teemoittelua ja osassa tuloksissa kvantifiointia. Teoriapohja rakentuu työyhteisön käsitteen ympärille. Käsitteet toimiva työyhteisö, työyhteisön ilmapiiri, vuorovaikutus työyhteisössä sekä ammatillinen käyttäytyminen liittyvät tutkimukseen ja ne on määritelty teoriaosuudessa. Myös aiempaa tutkimusta kirjastoalan työyhteisöistä käydään läpi. Lisäksi käsittelyssä on työelämän muutoksen teema ja siihen liittyen myös esimiestyön muutokset ja työyhteisön kehittäminen. Tutkimuksen tulosten mukaan työntekijät ja esimiehet kokevat työyhteisön vahvuuksia ja haasteita viidessä eri kategoriassa: työn vaatimissa resursseissa, ilmapiirissä ja suhteissa, esimiestyössä, organisaatioon ja käytäntöihin liittyvissä asioissa sekä työn sisällössä ja työnjaossa. Ajatuksia toimivasta työyhteisöstä nousee esille kolmesta eri kategoriasta: työyhteisön ilmapiiriin ja työntekijöiden asenteeseen, organisaatioon ja sen käytäntöihin sekä työn sisältöön liittyviä. Tuloksissa nousee erityisesti esille työntekijöiden pitkät työurat, jotka koetaan toisaalta vahvuutena vahvan osaamisen, ammattitaidon ja pitkän yhteisen historian myötä mutta toisaalta haasteena, koska eläköitymistä tapahtuu työyhteisössä koko ajan. Ilmapiirin koetaan olevan pääosin hyvä, mutta haastateltavien mukaan erilaiset henkilökemiat ja epäammattimainen käytös tuovat haasteita siihen. Näkemys tämän hetken työyhteisön tilanteesta suhteessa tavoitteeseen näyttäytyy melko positiivisena; koetaan, että työyhteisö on jo pääosin toimiva mutta siinä nähdään myös parantamisen varaa. Näkemykseen toimivasta työyhteisöstä liitetään vahvasti avoimuus, arvostus, työn mielekkyys sekä käytäntöjen sujuvuus.The views and experiences of employees and supervisors of the functioning of their workplace. Abstract. This study examines the experiences and views of employees and supervisors of the functioning of their workplace in Oulu University Library. The aim in this study is to find out what strengths and challenges is currently experienced in the workplace and what is employees’ and supervisors’ vision of the workplace that works well and healthy. This study is a qualitative case study conducted with semi-structured individual interviews for a total of nine participants. The data is analyzed with content analysis but also thematizing and quantification is used in some results. The theory is built with the concept of work community. The concepts of functioning and the atmosphere of the workplace, communication and organizational behavior are related to the study and defined in the theoretical part. Previous research in library workplaces is also presented. In addition, the topic of changes in working life is discussed with changes in leadership and developing workplaces. According to the results of my study, employees and supervisors perceive the strengths and the challenges in their workplace in five different categories: the required resources, the atmosphere and relationships, leadership, organizational and practical issues and the content and division of the work. Thoughts of functioning and healthy workplace was emerged in three different categories: the atmosphere and attitudes in the workplace, organizational and practical issues and work content. Especially long careers are experienced as a strength by employees’ strong knowledge and skills but also as a challenge because retirement is happening all the time. The atmosphere is perceived to be mostly good, but there are also different personal chemistry and unprofessional behavior. The view of the current situation of the workplace compared with the goal was quite positive: they experience that the workplace is already functional but there is also space for improvement. Openness, appreciation, meaningful work and fluent practices are strongly associated with the workplace that works well

ISO 26000 in Corporate Sustainability Practices: A Case Study of the Forest and Energy Companies in Bioeconomy

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Effects of industrial plantations on ecosystem services and livelihoods : Perspectives of rural communities in China

This paper addresses the current research void on local community views of changes in ecosystem services associated with rapid land use transformation in the context of plantation-based forestry. This interview-based study, conducted in southern China, aims at assessing the perspectives of local communities of: 1) the effects of Eucalyptus industrial plantations on selected ecosystem services and on local development; and 2) opportunities for future community livelihood development, based on the relations with the government and with forest industry operating locally. We analysed data from semi-structured interviews with 70 villagers for their views on changes in ecosystem services after the establishment of plantations, and their future expectations on the local livelihood development. Most interviewees mentioned some negative development on environmental quality after the establishment of the industrial plantations, especially on soil and water. Furthermore, the reduced productivity of cropland surrounding industrial plantations, coupled with other financial drivers, induced several villagers to switch from agricultural crops to household plantations. In the absence of destructive typhoons, household plantations can provide owners more free time, higher income, while industrial plantations provided some employment opportunities. Interviewees' expectations for the future included receiving financial support and capacity building for household plantations and crops, support to local roads and schools, and higher employment opportunities. Some interviewees suggested that solutions should be implemented for improving degraded water quality, while others suggested reducing forestry operations. Even though being highly context-specific, our findings open up the discussion about the further community development opportunities in the context of plantation forestry. In particular, the potential of value sharing mechanisms between the private sector and the local communities should be further studied. (C) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.Peer reviewe

Green, circular, bio economy : A comparative analysis of sustainability avenues

Despite their evidently different assumptions and operationalization strategies, the concepts of Circular Economy, Green Economy and Bioeconomy are joined by the common ideal to reconcile economic, environmental and social goals. The three concepts are currently mainstreamed in academia and policy making as key sustainability avenues, but a comparative analysis of such concepts is missing. The aim of this article is thus to comprehensively analyse the diversity within and between such concepts. The results are drawn from a bibliometric review of almost two thousand scientific articles published within the last three decades, coupled with a conceptual analysis. We find that, for what concerns environmental sustainability, Green Economy acts as an 'umbrella' concept, including elements from Circular Economy and Bioeconomy concepts (e.g. eco-efficiency; renewables), as well as additional ideas, e.g. nature-based solutions. In particular, Circular Economy and Bioeconomy are resource-focused, whereas in principle Green Economy acknowledges the underpinning role of all ecological processes. Regarding the social dimension, Green Economy is more inclusive of some aspects at local level (e.g. eco-tourism, education), while there is an emerging discussion in Bioeconomy literature around local processes in terms of biosecurity and rural policies. When considering weak/strong sustainability visions, all concepts remain limited in questioning economic growth. By comparing the different sustainability strategies promoted by these concepts we do not advocate for their substitutability, but for their clarification and reciprocal integration. The findings are discussed in light of the concepts' synergies and limits, with the purpose to inform research and policy implementation. (C) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.Peer reviewe

Hydrogenation of alkylaromatics over Rh/silica

The hydrogenation, and competitive hydrogenation, of toluene, ethylbenzene, propylbenzene and the xylenes has been studied over a rhodium catalyst in the liquid phase at 323 K and 3 bar(g). The reactivity of the aromatics gave an order of para-xylene > ortho-xylene > meta-xylene > toluene > ethylbenzene ≫ propylbenzene. Kinetic analysis revealed that the order of reaction in hydrogen was typically first order while the reaction order in toluene was zero order and negative half order for ethylbenzene. The reaction order for propylbenzene and the xylenes was negative first order. Apparent activation energies were calculated and all were in the range 26–46 kJ mol−1. Competitive hydrogenation between toluene, ethylbenzene and propylbenzene revealed that the propylbenzene was the most strongly adsorbed aromatic in agreement with the strongly negative reaction order. The xylenes gave an order of reactivity of para > ortho > meta following the increasing negative reaction order. Reactions with deuterium revealed an inverse kinetic isotope effect, most likely related to the change in hybridization of the carbon from sp2 to sp3, for all reactions, except that of ortho-xylene. Rapid exchange of the methyl group hydrogens was observed with all the xylenes, whereas total exchange was noted with toluene. The generation of trans-1,2-dimethylcyclohexane was explained by the formation of two intermediates, 1,2-dimethylcyclohexene and 1,6-dimethylcyclohexene, which give the cis-1,2-dimethylcyclohexane and trans-1,2-dimethylcyclohexane, respectively

The Role of Continuing Professional Training or Development in Maintaining Current Employment : A Systematic Review

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