Globalization of Finnish ICT Born Globals: Creating new market space with disruptive innovation strategy

ABSTRACT Objective Objective of this Master’s thesis is to research Finnish ICT Born Global companies that have globalized their operations leveraging disruptive technologies and how disruptive innovation influences the globalization? This topic has become increasingly relevant as many Born Globals do in fact, leverage disruptive innovation as a strategic approach. However, Born Global theory has not really been approached previously from the this type of value innovation perspective per se. Thus, this study focuses on the role of value innovation in the globalization of Finnish Born Globals as well as “blue ocean” creation. Methodology The theoretical part of this study was based on the latest literature on internationalization, globalization and companies referred to as Born Global. Literature on strategic innovation, value innovation and disruptive innovation theory were also reviewed and applied to the Born Global theory to form a theoretical framework for global disruption strategy. The empirical part of the research was conducted as a dual case study. In order to gain empirical insights the theoretical framework was applied to two case studies on Finnish Born Global companies from the ICT industry. Findings The case studies show that value/disruptive innovation is at the heart of Born Global activity. Research indicates that Finnish Born Globals look to offer unique value for their customers via a combination of innovative business proposition and technological innovation. The nature of the business models as well as the target market drives the international entrepreneurs to pursue opportunities globally and create new market space to thrive in. This is done in a relatively fast pace. Also the target markets could be described as “blue oceans” instead of traditional niche markets even though the initial market might be quite narrow. The case studies show that global disruption is based on the resources and capabilities of the company. Innovation, marketing, network and financial capabilities as well as the decision making in the company are all highly influenced by the founders of the Born Global company and their value

A patient with Korsakoff syndrome of psychiatric and alcoholic etiology presenting as DSM-5 mild neurocognitive disorder

Background: Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) and Korsakoff syndrome (KS) are underdiagnosed. The DSM-5 has raised the diagnostic threshold by including KS in the major neurocognitive disorders, which requires that the patient needs help in everyday activities. Methods: We report clinical, neuropsychological, and radiological findings from a patient who developed Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome as a result of alcohol use and weight loss due to major depression. We assess the diagnosis in the context of the scientific literature on KS and according to the DSM-IV and the DSM-5. Results: The patient developed ataxia during a period of weight loss, thus fulfilling current diagnostic criteria of WE. WE was not diagnosed, but the patient partially improved after parenteral thiamine treatment. However, memory problems became evident, and KS was considered. In neuropsychological examination, the Logical Memory test and the Word List test were abnormal, but the Verbal Pair Associates test was normal (Wechsler Memory Scale-III). There were intrusions in the memory testing. The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test was broadly impaired, but the other test of executive functions (difference between Trail Making B and Trail Making A tests) was normal. There was atrophy of the mammillary bodies, the thalamus, the cerebellum, and in the basal ganglia but not in the frontal lobes. Diffusion tensor imaging showed damage in several tracts, including the uncinate fasciculi, the cinguli, the fornix, and the corona radiata. The patient remained independent in everyday activities. The patient can be diagnosed with KS according to the DSM-IV. According to the DSM-5, the patient has major neurocognitive disorders. Conclusions: Extensive memory testing is essential in the assessment of KS. Patients with a history of WE and typical clinical, neuropsychological, and radiological KS findings may be independent in everyday activities. Strict use of the DSM-5 may worsen the problem of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome underdiagnosis by excluding clear KS cases that do not have very severe functional impairment.Peer reviewe

A patient with korsakoff syndrome of psychiatric and alcoholic etiology presenting as DSM-5 mild neurocognitive disorder

Background: Wernicke’s encephalopathy (WE) and Korsakoff syndrome (KS) are underdiagnosed. The DSM-5 has raised the diagnostic threshold by including KS in the major neurocognitive disorders, which requires that the patient needs help in everyday activities.Methods: We report clinical, neuropsychological, and radiological findings from a patient who developed Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome as a result of alcohol use and weight loss due to major depression. We assess the diagnosis in the context of the scientific literature on KS and according to the DSM-IV and the DSM-5.Results: The patient developed ataxia during a period of weight loss, thus fulfilling current diagnostic criteria of WE. WE was not diagnosed, but the patient partially improved after parenteral thiamine treatment. However, memory problems became evident, and KS was considered. In neuropsychological examination, the Logical Memory test and the Word List test were abnormal, but the Verbal Pair Associates test was normal (Wechsler Memory Scale-III). There were intrusions in the memory testing. The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test was broadly impaired, but the other test of executive functions (difference between Trail Making B and Trail Making A tests) was normal. There was atrophy of the mammillary bodies, the thalamus, the cerebellum, and in the basal ganglia but not in the frontal lobes. Diffusion tensor imaging showed damage in several tracts, including the uncinate fasciculi, the cinguli, the fornix, and the corona radiata. The patient remained independent in everyday activities. The patient can be diagnosed with KS according to the DSM-IV. According to the DSM-5, the patient has major neurocognitive disorders.Conclusions: Extensive memory testing is essential in the assessment of KS. Patients with a history of WE and typical clinical, neuropsychological, and radiological KS findings may be independent in everyday activities. Strict use of the DSM-5 may worsen the problem of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome underdiagnosis by excluding clear KS cases that do not have very severe functional impairment.Keywords: alcoholism, depressive disorder, diffusion tensor imaging, Korsakoff syndrome, neurocognitive disorders, Wernicke encephalopathy</p

Moderate hyperuricaemia ameliorated kidney damage in a low-renin model of experimental renal insufficiency

Uric acid has promoted renal fibrosis and inflammation in experimental studies, but some studies have shown nephroprotective effects due to alleviated oxidative stress. We studied the influence of experimental hyperuricaemia in surgically 5/6 nephrectomized rats. Three weeks after subtotal nephrectomy or sham operation, the rats were allocated to control diet or 2.0% oxonic acid (uricase inhibitor) diet for 9 weeks. Then blood, urine and tissue samples were taken, and renal morphology and oxidative stress were examined. Inflammation and fibrosis were evaluated using immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR (RT-PCR). Remnant kidney rats ingesting normal or oxonic acid diet presented with similar to 60% reduction of creatinine clearance and suppressed plasma renin activity. Oxonic acid diet increased plasma uric acid levels by >80 mu mol/L. In remnant kidney rats, moderate hyperuricaemia decreased glomerulosclerosis, tubulointerstitial damage and kidney mast cell count, without influencing the fibrosis marker collagen I messenger RNA (mRNA) content. In both sham-operated and 5/6 nephrectomized rats, the mast cell product 11-epi-prostaglandin-F-2 alpha excretion to the urine and kidney tissue cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) levels were decreased. To conclude, hyperuricaemic remnant kidney rats displayed improved kidney morphology and reduced markers of oxidative stress and inflammation. Thus, moderately elevated plasma uric acid had beneficial effects on the kidney in this low-renin model of experimental renal insufficiency.Peer reviewe

Ohjelmistorobotiikan hyödyntäminen myyntilaskutuksessa

Ohjelmistorobotiikan hyödyntäminen on jatkuvassa kasvussa alasta riippumatta. Varsinkin myynti- ja ostolaskujen käsittely on piirteiltään sopiva kohde ohjelmistorobotiikan hyödyntämiseen. Kun jokin työtehtävä toistuu kerrasta toiseen samalla tavalla, sen suorittaminen on työntekijälle epämiellyttävää ja työnantajalle kallista. Opinnäytetyön teoreettinen viitekehys muodostuu ohjelmistorobotiikasta ja myyntilaskutuksesta. Viitekehyksessä tavoitteena oli luoda lukijalle käsitys siitä, mitä on myyntilaskutus ja mitä ohjelmistorobotiikka on ja mihin sitä voidaan käyttää. Opinnäytetyön tavoitteena oli selvittää, miltä osin kohdeyrityksen myyntilaskutus on mahdollista siirtää ohjelmistorobotin hoidettavaksi, ja tämän perusteella luoda ohjeet ohjelmistorobotin kehittäjälle siitä, miten robotin tulisi toimia. Haastattelujen perusteilla saatiin selville kohdeyrityksen odotuksia ohjelmistorobotille ja mitä hyötyä ohjelmistorobotin kehittäjä näkee robotin tuovan yritykselle. Suurin odotus robotille on, että työntekijöiden työtehtäviä vapautuu vaativampiin tehtäviin, ja tämän myös kehittäjä näkee suurena mahdollisuutena. Työn tärkeimpänä tuloksena oli ohjelmistorobotille siirrettävän myyntilaskutuksen rajaus ja ohjeiden luonti kehittäjälle. Tässä vaiheessa on mahdollista siirtää ohjelmistorobotille vain sellaiset laskut, jotka eivät vaadi manuaalisia muutoksia. Ohjeita luotaessa työn teoreettista viitekehystä hyödynnettiin ja robotille luotiin mahdollisimman yksinkertaiset ohjeistukset. Ohjeet ovat salattua tietoa.The use of Robotic Process Automation is continuously rising, regardless of business sector. Especially the handling of sales invoices and purchase invoices is an excellent example of where RPA can be used. When a work task repeats itself the same way every time, it is both unpleasant for the employee and expensive for the employer. The theoretical framework of this thesis consists of sales invoicing and RPA. The aim of the framework was to create an understanding for the reader about sales invoicing and RPA. And the aim of this thesis in general was to find out what parts of Pihla Group’s sales invoices could be transferred to the robot for handling. After that, a guide was created for the developer of the robot about how the robot should operate. Interviews were held in order to find out the expectations of Pihla Group for the robot and to gain an understanding of the possible benefits of RPA. The greatest expectation for the robot is that it will free employees’ working time for performing more challenging and pleasant tasks. The developer also sees this as a real opportunity. The most important outcome of this thesis was the definition of the parts of sales invoices that the robot will handle in the future, as well as the creation of instructions for the developer on how the robot should work. While creating the instructions for the developer, the theoretical framework was utilized, and the instructions were made to be as simple as possible. The instructions are confidential information

Moderate hyperuricaemia ameliorated kidney damage in a low-renin model of experimental renal insufficiency

Uric acid has promoted renal fibrosis and inflammation in experimental studies, but some studies have shown nephroprotective effects due to alleviated oxidative stress. We studied the influence of experimental hyperuricaemia in surgically 5/6 nephrectomized rats. Three weeks after subtotal nephrectomy or sham operation, the rats were allocated to control diet or 2.0% oxonic acid (uricase inhibitor) diet for 9 weeks. Then blood, urine and tissue samples were taken, and renal morphology and oxidative stress were examined. Inflammation and fibrosis were evaluated using immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR (RT-PCR). Remnant kidney rats ingesting normal or oxonic acid diet presented with similar to 60% reduction of creatinine clearance and suppressed plasma renin activity. Oxonic acid diet increased plasma uric acid levels by >80 mu mol/L. In remnant kidney rats, moderate hyperuricaemia decreased glomerulosclerosis, tubulointerstitial damage and kidney mast cell count, without influencing the fibrosis marker collagen I messenger RNA (mRNA) content. In both sham-operated and 5/6 nephrectomized rats, the mast cell product 11-epi-prostaglandin-F-2 alpha excretion to the urine and kidney tissue cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) levels were decreased. To conclude, hyperuricaemic remnant kidney rats displayed improved kidney morphology and reduced markers of oxidative stress and inflammation. Thus, moderately elevated plasma uric acid had beneficial effects on the kidney in this low-renin model of experimental renal insufficiency.Peer reviewe