Start-up entrepreneurs and university students in a co-learning mode : learning effects of a collaborative entrepreneurial coaching programme

Start-up companies have been recognized as key drivers of wealth and job creation. Many students now in universities will therefore find their future employment in start-up companies, or will found them. Success in the start-up environment requires a specific set of skills. There is a growing supply of university education for new venture creation and an increasing demand for interaction between universities and start-up ventures so that knowledge can be transferred between them. This article evaluates the potential of a programme designed to enable holistic collaborative entrepreneurial learning between start-up companies and students. The authors measure the impacts of the programme on participants' self-assessment of their capabilities and of critical capabilities for start-up success, comparing assessments before the start of the programme, at its end and 1 year subsequently. The results show that an impact on such assessments can be achieved and that the two distinct groups can learn together, but questions remain with regard to the retention of learning

Ariel - Volume 8 Number 4

Executive Editor James W. Lockard Jr. Issues Editor Neeraj K. Kanwal Business Manager Neeraj K. Kanwal University News Martin Trichtinger World News Doug Hiller Opinions Elizabeth A. McGuire Features Patrick P. Sokas Sports Desk Shahab S. Minassian Managing Editor Edward H. Jasper Managing Associate Brenda Peterson Photography Editor Robert D. Lehman, Jr. Graphics Christine M. Kuhnl

Predictors of latent tuberculosis treatment initiation and completion at a U.S. public health clinic: a prospective cohort study

Background Treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is a key component in U.S. tuberculosis control, assisted by recent improvements in LTBI diagnostics and therapeutic regimens. Effectiveness of LTBI therapy, however, is limited by patients’ willingness to both initiate and complete treatment. We aimed to evaluate the demographic, medical, behavioral, attitude-based, and geographic factors associated with LTBI treatment initiation and completion of persons presenting with LTBI to a public health tuberculosis clinic. Methods Data for this prospective cohort study were collected from structured patient interviews, self-administered questionnaires, clinic intake forms, and U.S. census data. All adults (>17 years) who met CDC guidelines for LTBI treatment between January 11, 2008 and May 6, 2009 at Wake County Health and Human Services Tuberculosis Clinic in Raleigh, North Carolina were included in the study. In addition to traditional social and behavioral factors, a three-level medical risk variable (low, moderate, high), based on risk factors for both progression to and transmission of active tuberculosis, was included for analysis. Clinic distance and neighborhood poverty level, based on percent residents living below poverty level in a person’s zip code, were also analyzed. Variables with a significance level <0.10 by univariate analysis were included in log binomial models with backward elimination. Models were used to estimate risk ratios for two primary outcomes: (1) LTBI therapy initiation (picking up one month’s medication) and (2) therapy completion (picking up nine months INH therapy or four months rifampin monthly). Results 496 persons completed medical interviews and questionnaires addressing social factors and attitudes toward LTBI treatment. 26% persons initiated LTBI therapy and 53% of those initiating completed therapy. Treatment initiation predictors included: a non-employment reason for screening (RR 1.6, 95% CI 1.0-2.5), close contact to an infectious TB case (RR 2.5, 95% CI 1.8-3.6), regular primary care(RR 1.4, 95% CI 1.0-2.0), and history of incarceration (RR 1.7, 95% CI 1.0-2.8). Persons in the “high” risk category for progression/transmission of TB disease had higher likelihood of treatment initiation (p < 0.01), but not completion, than those with lower risk. Conclusions Investment in social support and access to regular primary care may lead to increased LTBI therapy adherence in high-risk populations

Relocation of Nordic Manufacturing

Manufacturing industries have had an important role in the export-driven economies of the Nordic countries. Manufacturing companies from these countries have increasingly been moving production abroad in recent years. However, backshoring of previously offshored manufacturing is attracting growing attention among researchers and policy-makers. This phenomenon, and its consequences for the renewal of manufacturing, are yet little understood.The research project “Reshoring of manufacturing (ROaMING): Disruptive Technologies, Business Ecosystems and Performance Information as Key Enablers” focused on increased understanding of production relocation trends in the Nordic countries, Denmark, Finland, and Sweden. The aim was to create in-depth knowledge on the status of and potential for relocating manufacturing as a source of renewal of the manufacturing sector. The research approach consisted of quantitative and qualitative parts utilizing both available databases and new data collected through a large-scale survey and case research.The report consists of five main content chapters. First, the survey results of offshoring and backshoring trends in the Nordic countries Denmark, Finland, and Sweden are presented. Then we discuss the use of financial information in decision-making regarding manufacturing offshoring and backshoring. Thereafter the results of a study on manufacturing innovations and the adoption and implementation of new manufacturing technologies are reported. The fourth chapter presents the results of a study involving two manufacturing companies on the role of business ecosystems in manufacturing relocation decisions. Finally, the fifth chapter explores the global production investments made during the period 2005-2015 by large manufacturing firms with headquarters in Denmark, Finland, and Sweden.The results among the Nordic manufacturing firms indicate that offshoring is clearly more common than backshoring. The manufacturing relocations by Nordic firms are geographically wide-ranging. The most important regions for offshoring and of backshoring are Eastern and Western Europe, the Nordic countries, and China. Offshored production is typically cost focused, whereas production relocated to the Nordic countries is relatively complex and technology-intensive, seeking access to technology, skills and knowledge, and proximity to R&D and product development. Movement of production is expected to continue both offshore and back. The reinforcement of the Nordic countries as a strong base for high value-adding manufacturing firms can be influenced by policy measures and future research.Policy implications, as well as future research proposals are noted as the result of this study. Cost competitiveness in the Nordic countries needs to be ensured in relation to their reference group in the competition. This also exerts pressure for continuous productivity improvements through technological advances and process improvements. Access to skills, knowledge and technology are important factors for Nordic manufacturers to relocate production. Therefore product, process and supply chain innovation, as well as colocation of R&D and production, need to be promoted. Policy-makers need to pay attention to maintaining the Nordic innovation systems. Many firms seem to lack a clear strategy or analytical capabilities for manufacturing location decisions. Expertise on managing global manufacturing networks should be enhanced. Follow-up on the extent, drivers and benefits of production relocations of the Nordic manufacturing firms is needed to enhance the fact-based understanding of the longer-term trend of manufacturing relocations

kauniita järviä, komeita vaaroja

kuv., 11 x 23 c

Katsaus Suomen osanottoon Pohjois-Amerikan Yhdysvaltojen 200-vuotisjuhlien viettoon

Katsaus Suomen osanottoon Pohjois-Amerikan Yhdysvaltojen 200-vuotisjuhlien viettoo

Osallistavan työturvallisuuskulttuurin mittaaminen ammatillisessa oppilaitoksessa

Tämän tutkimuksen päätavoitteena oli arvioida organisaation osallistavan työturvallisuuskulttuurin nykytilaa henkilöstön näkökulmasta. Tutkimuksen kohdeorganisaationa oli ammattiopisto Samiedu. Työturvallisuuskulttuuri on merkittävä tekijä, joka vaikuttaa työntekijöiden hyvinvointiin, työskentelyolosuhteisiin ja koko organisaation turvallisuustasoon. Osallistavan työturvallisuuskulttuurin ymmärtäminen ja arvioiminen antaa organisaatiolle mahdollisuuden tunnistaa ne vahvuudet ja kehitysalueet, jotka ovat olennaisia turvallisuuden parantamisessa. Tutkimus pyrki tunnistamaan työturvallisuuskulttuurin keskeisiä vahvuuksia, joita voidaan hyödyntää strategisessa suunnittelussa ja johtamisessa, sekä kriittisiä kehitysalueita, joihin resursseja ja kehitystoimenpiteitä voidaan kohdentaa turvallisuuskulttuurin vahvistamiseksi. Lisäksi tutkimuksessa selvitettiin, eroavatko työturvallisuuskulttuurin kokemukset ja tasot eri henkilöstöryhmien välillä, mikä auttaa tunnistamaan, mitkä ryhmät saattavat tarvita erityistä huomiota ja tukitoimia turvallisuuden parantamiseksi. Tutkimuksen aineiston kerääminen toteutettiin kyselylomakkeen avulla, standardoituna Survey-tutkimuksena, ja kyselyn lopussa oli avoin sanallisesti vastattava kysymys. Kysely toteutettiin ei-todennäköisyysotantana tehtynä vapaaehtoisena näytteenä, jossa perusjoukkona olivat Samiedun työntekijät. Kysely sisälsi osioita, joiden avulla kerättiin tietoa henkilöstön kokemuksista organisaation työturvallisuuskulttuurista. Kyselyssä käytettiin strukturoituja kysymyksiä, joilla kartoitettiin turvallisuuskulttuurin eri osa-alueita, kuten turvallisuuskoulutusten riittävyyttä, viestintää ja työntekijöiden osallistamista turvallisuusprosesseihin. Kvantitatiivinen data analysoitiin tilastollisin menetelmin, ja kvalitatiiviset vastaukset analysoitiin teemoittelemalla. Aineiston keruu tapahtui 25.4 - 9.6.2024 välisenä aikana. Saatua aineistoa analysoitiin keskiarvojen, hajontojen ja teemojen esiintyvyyden avulla. Eri henkilöryhmien välisiä eroja tarkasteltiin ei-parametrisilla Mann-Whitneyn U -testillä, Kruskal-Wallis-testillä sekä Dunnin testillä. Tutkimuksen keskeiset tulokset osoittavat, että organisaation osallistava työturvallisuuskulttuuri on yleisesti ottaen hyvällä tasolla, erityisesti työntekijöiden sitoutumisen ja turvallisuuskäytäntöjen omaksumisen osalta. Kuitenkin merkittäviä kehitysalueita ilmeni koulutuksen jatkuvuudessa, viestinnässä sekä työntekijöiden osallistamisessa turvallisuuspäätöksiin. Työntekijät kokivat, että turvallisuuskoulutus ei ole riittävää ja viestintä turvallisuusasioista eri osastojen välillä on puutteellista. Lisäksi lähes puolet vastaajista koki, ettei heitä osallisteta riittävästi turvallisuuspäätöksiin. Tämän lisäksi sukupuolten välillä havaittiin eroja turvallisuusosaamisessa, ja eroja ilmeni myös eri osastojen välillä, erityisesti resurssien riittävyydessä turvallisuustyöhön

Suomen Taideteollisuusyhdistys - vuosikirja 1981 ja toimintakertomus vuodelta 1980

Julkaisu on kaksikielinen: suomi ja ruotsi. Koostuu vuosikirjan artikkeleista sekä yhdistyksen toimintakertomuksesta. Toimintakertomus sisältää tietoa mm. koti- ja ulkomaan näyttelytoiminnasta, museon toiminnasta, taideteollisen alan tiedotuksesta sekä yhdistyksen jäsentoiminnasta ja hallinnosta