How to mobilize knowledge-based Innovations in Service Industries? A Tourism Example

Service industries as tourism, cultural industries, finance, and retail are considered as under-represented in the trade and industry portfolio. This paper centres on the tourism industry and pay particular attention to Small and Medium Enterprises (SME). The purpose of the project was to identify SMEs' need for research-based knowledge, relevant topics, and to prioritize R&D ideas suitable for innovation and/or as a cooperation between academic and industry partners. Three virtual workshops were arranged in the period May – September 2020. All participants represented Norwegian destination associations, regional businesses, and SMEs. As a result of reflections in groups and plenary, specific tourism challenges and knowledge needs were identified. The tourism industry is characterized by many small businesses with few employees, tight finances, and limited resources for development. Challenges are related to seasonal employment, high workforce turnover, lack of strategically market insight, and limited ability to exploit new technology. Businesses are generally vulnerable to changes in demand from the market, which was reinforced by the outbreak of COVID-19. Three topics were emphasised for developing mutual project concepts and joint applications as a collaboration between the industry and scientific partners: (1) Partnership collaboration, (2) Virtual Tourism, and (3) All-Year Destinations. This paper discusses potential theoretical perspectives and empirical approaches for creation of future joint innovations and studies . Discussions are related to: How suitable are virtual workshops for joint reflection on common challenges and cocreation of prioritized actions? Which challenges and needs are tourism confronted with? What should the tourist industry emphasise in face of the Covid19 pandemic? An additional result of the workshops is the establishment of a tourism network among the participants, and with an intention to incorporate even more relevant actors. Further, the project has been significant for developing a program for SMB innovations, including both the service industries and additional sectors.acceptedVersio

The Relevance of Resilience Engineering and Community Resilience for Future Maritime Transport Systems

Maritime transport systems are becoming increasingly interconnected, automated, and complex. This paper presents the MARMAN (Maritime Resilience Management of an Integrated Transport System) project financed by the Norwegian research council for the period from 2021 to 2024. Implementation automated vessels will increase the complexity, change the interconnection between actors and change ways of working. Resilience is one of the main theoretical approaches in the project. Even though resilience perspectives are relatively new in safety studies, the resilience concept is increasingly reported in safety studies and literature. The resilience concept is used in different contexts, such as healthcare, aviation, chemical and petrochemical industry, nuclear power plants, and railways. The concept represents a proactive management approach and principles for handling both normal operations and unexpected events. There are differences between the organisational practices between countries and sectors. This includes emphasizing different aspects and variables. The purpose of this paper is to develop an initial framework addressing future challenges when implementing autonomous vessels in maritime transport systems. Resilience Engineering and Community Resilience are used as theoretical perspectives.publishedVersio

Are Safe and Resilient Systems less Effective and Productive?

During the last 50 years, people have become considerably more physical and virtually connected due to a more modern and mobile world, and new technologies for collaboration and communication, such as mobile phones, satellites and internet. Next era will likely be the introduction of autonomy that is still in its start phase. By increased global mobility and transport, people and transport solutions expect to be more efficient and productive. At the same time, the development implies challenges due to continuous technological and context changes, resulting in potential new risks and accidents. However, are safety and effectiveness two poles at the same dimension, meaning that increasing one means decreasing the other? Or - Is it possible to increase productivity and effectivity and at the same time maintaining safety? The purpose of this paper is to increase the awareness of adequate planning in order to improve resilience/safety and effectivity. Planning is important to cope with opportunities and challenges, and theoretical perspectives on planning and management may be useful. The paper uses scenarios from autonomous shipping to illustrate increased system complexity and interrelations between components.publishedVersio

Resilience - A Key Element in User-centred Services?

Population changes indicates a demographical distribution with even more elderly. The authorities emphasize the importance to stay in good health and being independent as long as possible. Still, some will need some assistance to be physical active by doing exercising and thus preventing incidents and injuries. The paper describes a project in a Norwegian local council aiming at developing a user-centred service model. The service may be characterized as a new model of public-private-voluntary partnership. The service model may be adapted to other areas and services. The work presented in this paper has been part of a more extensive research project, whose Norwegian title translates into "Be the boss of your own life". A new role to the local council is to take the responsibility as organizer, cocreator and coordinator of the services offered by different actors. Together they shall meet the individual user's needs. The research project has developed a method to develop performance indicators, and to measure and evaluate a new service model. The purpose of the method is to be a tool enhancing learning about effects both related to service user and service provider. The key performance indicators in the new model are based on theoretical knowledge and comprise the seven areas: resilience, service provision, user satisfaction, management and leadership, stimulating work conditions, coordination and improvement efforts, and efficiency improvements.acceptedVersio

Safety when implementing digital Technology and Infrastructure.

Increasing critical infrastructure (CI) resilience is a European strategy to enhance safety and security. A digital radio standard for the rail have been developed by The International Union of Railways (UIC) - The Global System for Mo-bile Communication in Railways (GSM-R). In Norway, GSM-R was implemented on the total rail network in the pe-riod 2003 – 2007. The system replaced all existing analogue communication systems and should also meet future re-quirements regarding radio communication. Implementation of the new CI digital platform is related to communication between train leaders at control centers and train drivers, especially regarding train conveyance, incidents and emergencies. Main arguments for implement-ing the GSM-R project was that it would support safe and efficient rail communication. In Norway several major public investments are evaluated. The Concept Research Program have developed a model for evaluating of long-term effects of CI projects. This paper present evaluation of the implementation of GSM-R using this model. The evaluation model comprises goal achievement (results, effects and society) and unintended effects, in addition to relevance, sustainability and so-cio-economic value. The study is based on documentation analysis and interviews of key stakeholders. The results are discussed considering resilience engineering perspectives on safety and measurement guidelines.acceptedVersio

Safety when implementing digital Technology and Infrastructure.

Increasing critical infrastructure (CI) resilience is a European strategy to enhance safety and security. A digital radio standard for the rail have been developed by The International Union of Railways (UIC) - The Global System for Mo-bile Communication in Railways (GSM-R). In Norway, GSM-R was implemented on the total rail network in the pe-riod 2003 – 2007. The system replaced all existing analogue communication systems and should also meet future re-quirements regarding radio communication. Implementation of the new CI digital platform is related to communication between train leaders at control centers and train drivers, especially regarding train conveyance, incidents and emergencies. Main arguments for implement-ing the GSM-R project was that it would support safe and efficient rail communication. In Norway several major public investments are evaluated. The Concept Research Program have developed a model for evaluating of long-term effects of CI projects. This paper present evaluation of the implementation of GSM-R using this model. The evaluation model comprises goal achievement (results, effects and society) and unintended effects, in addition to relevance, sustainability and so-cio-economic value. The study is based on documentation analysis and interviews of key stakeholders. The results are discussed considering resilience engineering perspectives on safety and measurement guidelines.publishedVersio

Automation of the Rail – Removing the Human Factor?

Digitalization is a global change affecting a variety of social conditions and businesses. In addition to changing products and services in businesses and the labour market, digitalization will also create radically new business models in many industries (Stene et al 2017). Automated vehicles will be increasingly used as transport in the future. However, it is unclear if this imply full autonomy or different levels of automa-tion. A unified definition of autonomy in transport is missing. 1.1 Safety and automation of transport systems Safety and environmental challenges of future intel-ligent transport systems are addressed in a newly es-tablished project founded by the Norwegian Re-search Council for 2017 – 2021. The SAREPTA pro-ject (Safety, autonomy, remote control and opera-tions of industrial transport systems) is established in 2017, and cover safety challenges of future intelli-gent transport systems that are autonomous, remote-ly controlled and normally not manned. The project covers both road, sea, aviation and rail. This paper focuses on issues related to rail transport, including both metros and railway. The purpose of the paper is to describe current rail acci-dents as a basis for questioning whether future digi-talisation will improve safety. The paper discusses the autonomy concept in relation to grades of auto-mation. Relevant questions are: What is automation and which accidents may be prevented by automa-tion? To what degree do automation and remote control imply removal of the Human Factor? And from a safety perspective – What is the safety poten-tial of future automation, and how can humans con-tribute to safety in future intelligent transport sys-tems? 1.2 Future automated trains and metros With more people living in urban areas than ever be-fore, metro systems around the world will need to adapt (Lufkin 2015). The next generation of sub-ways will develop from cities that are already at the cutting-edge. Self-driving trains are already being used in some countries, with varying degrees of autonomy. Sever-al pilots are currently running including technologies to detect obstacles, self-driving trains on main lines 1.3 The Human Factor in future rail systems Technology can improve safety, but there may be examples where human interaction is necessary. The development relies too heavily on old inertia, mean-ing too much emphasize on technology. More atten-tion should be paid to the organization, passengers, the infrastructure and passenger evacuation proce-dures. Based on experiences from operating both auto-mated and conventional metro lines, one conclusion is that the human factor is that key for the success of an automated line. (UITP 2016). The rail is far from being autonomous, in the sense of being independent of a human operator. Humans will still be a necessary resource to manage transport and cope with unex-pected incidents.acceptedVersio

Safety when implementing digital Technology and Infrastructure.

Increasing critical infrastructure (CI) resilience is a European strategy to enhance safety and security. A digital radio standard for the rail have been developed by The International Union of Railways (UIC) - The Global System for Mo-bile Communication in Railways (GSM-R). In Norway, GSM-R was implemented on the total rail network in the pe-riod 2003 – 2007. The system replaced all existing analogue communication systems and should also meet future re-quirements regarding radio communication. Implementation of the new CI digital platform is related to communication between train leaders at control centers and train drivers, especially regarding train conveyance, incidents and emergencies. Main arguments for implement-ing the GSM-R project was that it would support safe and efficient rail communication. In Norway several major public investments are evaluated. The Concept Research Program have developed a model for evaluating of long-term effects of CI projects. This paper present evaluation of the implementation of GSM-R using this model. The evaluation model comprises goal achievement (results, effects and society) and unintended effects, in addition to relevance, sustainability and so-cio-economic value. The study is based on documentation analysis and interviews of key stakeholders. The results are discussed considering resilience engineering perspectives on safety and measurement guidelines

Er opplæring et godt sikkerhetstiltak? : Forebygging av risiko og ulykker gjennom opplæring av trafikantene

The thesis has basis in the question some have to the usefulness of education in traffic safety prevention. The eighties were dominated by optimism concerning safety education, which was followed by pessimism in the nineties. The two studies in the thesis include young drivers and motor cyclists. Theoretical aspects are more in focus in the first study, while practical education is emphasized in the second. Both theory and the two studies illustrate the possibility to utilize education in traffic safety work. Discussion subjects in the thesis are - how education can be designed in order to achieve desired results, whether man is rational, and whether education can influence road user’s overestimation of their own skills and performance. Recommendations for future studies are e.g. the safety research would benefit from extending the traditional cognitive focus to include theory on emotion and individual differences; one should emphasize safety, mastery and how things work; theory can bring important ideas on how road users can develop realistically expectations of management and control. Together, the results indicate a relation between education and safety. The relation is influenced of the person’s thoughts, feelings, behaviour, and earlier experiences, in addition to the social context. Variables studied are education, personal variables (attitudes, personality, self concept, and social norm), risk behaviour, near accidents and accidents. It is a difference between men’s and women’s explanatory models for both groups (motor cyclists and drivers). The study of young drivers indicates that education has a varying effect on attitudes, social norms and self concept, and where the largest effect is on self concept. The significance of education on risk is mainly through driver’s risk perception. The study of motor cyclists emphasizes technical training. The results indicate that technical training may have more importance than theoretical education. The technical training seems to have significant influence on the motor cyclist’s interests, perception of challenges and experiences of flow. Similarly to the drivers, the education of motor cyclists has an indirect effect on accidents via the person’s behaviour and near accidents. Near accidents and accidents are influenced of both feelings and thoughts, in addition to the individual differences among the motor cyclists.Utgangspunktet for avhandlingen er at enkelte har uttrykt skepsis til nytten av opplæring for å fremme trafikksikkerhet. På 80-tallet var det optimisme med hensyn til troen på sikkerhetsopplæring som fulgtes av pessimisme på 90-tallet. De to undersøkelsene i avhandlingen er av bilførere og motorsyklister. Hos bilførerne er det lagt mest vekt på teoretiske deler av opplæringen, mens hos motorsyklistene er den praktiske opplæringen mer i fokus. Både teori og egne undersøkelser belyser muligheten for å utnytte opplæringen bedre i trafikksikkerhetsarbeidet. Tema som diskuteres er hvordan opplæringen kan utformes for å gi gode resultater, om mennesket er rasjonelt, hvorvidt opplæring kan ha innvirkning på trafikanters overdrevne tro på egne ferdigheter. Anbefalinger for framtidig forskning er eksempelvis: sikkerhetsforskningen vil være tjent med å utvide et tradisjonelt kognitivt fokus til å omfatte teori med vekt på emosjoner og individuelle forskjeller; det bør legges mer vekt på sikkerhet, mestring og hvordan ting fungerer; teori kan gi nyttige innspill til hvordan vi kan skape realistiske forventninger om mestring. Samlet sett tyder resultatene på at det er sammenheng mellom opplæring og sikkerhet. Sammenhengen mellom opplæring og ulykker er påvirket av personens egne tanker, følelser, atferd og tidligere erfaringer, i tillegg til de sosiale omgivelsene. Variable som studeres er opplæring, personlige variable (som selvoppfatning, holdninger, sosial norm, personlighet), risikoatferd, nestenulykker og ulykker. Det er forskjell på menn og kvinners forklaringsmodeller både for motorsyklistene og bilførerne. Studien av unge bilførere tyder på at opplæring har varierende effekt på variable som holdninger, sosiale normer og selvoppfatning, og hvor den største effekten er på selvoppfatning. Betydningen av opplæring på risiko går i første rekke via førernes risikopersepsjon. Studien av motorsyklister har stor vekt på teknisk trening. Resultatene tyder på at teknisk trening kan ha større betydning enn teoretisk opplæring. Den tekniske treningen synes å ha stor betydning for motorsyklistenes indre motivasjon - slik som interesser, oppfatning av utfordringer og følelse av flyt. Likeledes som for bilførne, så har opplæringen av motorsyklistene en indirekte innvirkning på ulykker via personens atferd og nestenulykker. Nestenulykker og ulykker er påvirket både av motorsyklistenes følelser og tanker, i tillegg til individuelle forskjeller mellom førerne

How to mobilize knowledge-based Innovations in Service Industries? A Tourism Example

Service industries as tourism, cultural industries, finance, and retail are considered as under-represented in the trade and industry portfolio. This paper centres on the tourism industry and pay particular attention to Small and Medium Enterprises (SME). The purpose of the project was to identify SMEs' need for research-based knowledge, relevant topics, and to prioritize R&D ideas suitable for innovation and/or as a cooperation between academic and industry partners. Three virtual workshops were arranged in the period May – September 2020. All participants represented Norwegian destination associations, regional businesses, and SMEs. As a result of reflections in groups and plenary, specific tourism challenges and knowledge needs were identified. The tourism industry is characterized by many small businesses with few employees, tight finances, and limited resources for development. Challenges are related to seasonal employment, high workforce turnover, lack of strategically market insight, and limited ability to exploit new technology. Businesses are generally vulnerable to changes in demand from the market, which was reinforced by the outbreak of COVID-19. Three topics were emphasised for developing mutual project concepts and joint applications as a collaboration between the industry and scientific partners: (1) Partnership collaboration, (2) Virtual Tourism, and (3) All-Year Destinations. This paper discusses potential theoretical perspectives and empirical approaches for creation of future joint innovations and studies . Discussions are related to: How suitable are virtual workshops for joint reflection on common challenges and cocreation of prioritized actions? Which challenges and needs are tourism confronted with? What should the tourist industry emphasise in face of the Covid19 pandemic? An additional result of the workshops is the establishment of a tourism network among the participants, and with an intention to incorporate even more relevant actors. Further, the project has been significant for developing a program for SMB innovations, including both the service industries and additional sectors