362 research outputs found

    Business model design for sustainable society: Therapy for the consumerist mindset

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    We address the problem of unsustainable business in the consumerist society with a reframing of the purpose of business, in recognition of the power of higher purpose for the company and contribution to society as the primary stakeholder. In this, the business model operated is crucial, but is generally under-invested, both conceptually unclear and usually more implicit than explicit, and thus lacking in guiding influence on the way a company performs. Despite the apparent significance of why and how a business operates, business model design is only in its infancy. A framework for business model design is outlined. We conclude with a discussion and proposed research agenda

    Barriers to business model innovation - A comparative case study of the Finnish paper and telecom industries

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    OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study is to describe the business model innovation (BMI) process, and the barriers and enablers related to that process in two for the Finnish economy significant industries: the paper industry and the telecom industry. The process of creating business model innovations has not been discussed to any broad extent in the literature, and the barriers to business model innovation described in the literature are of a very generic and abstract nature. The aim of this study is to identify the concrete barriers and challenges to business model innovation. By comparing two industries with very different characteristics, but the same problem (lack of business model innovation), the study aims at identifying both industry-specific as well as universal barriers to BMI, in order to bring some valuable insight to academics and practitioners alike. RESEARCH METHOD: This is a qualitative study. A comparative multiple case study has been conducted of the Finnish paper and telecom industries. After reviewing the literature on business model innovations and barriers and enablers of BMI, 17 interviews with practitioners and experts from both industries were conducted. Analysis of the data resulted in insight into both the BMI process and the barriers and enablers of BMI. The results were then compared to those suggested in the literature. FINDINGS: The study contributes with both development of the theory, as well as managerial implications. The theoretical contributions include introducing a new process model for BMI, and identifying universal, as well as industry-specific barriers to BMI. The universal barriers and enablers are compared to those suggested in the literature, and some additions are suggested. For practitioners, the study brings insight into the concrete barriers that are hindering organizations from creating new business models, and suggests some organizational changes which may enable the BMI process

    Does publish or perish lead to stylish rubbish?

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    Why are we doing academic research about business-to-business marketing? This is the fundamental question that all of us who are scholars of business and related fields should ask ourselves. To me, it is obvious that we conduct research to help managers do a better job - perhaps not immediately after they have read our individual efforts, but at least over time. If my view is a valid one, it suggests a need to redefine our impact measures, towards assessing the extent to which we influence management practice

    Finding market focus for solution business development

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    Firms wanting to move towards solution business models increasingly focus on their customers' value-in-use, and often end up redefining their market around what the solution makes possible for the customer. However, all customers do not accept a value-in-use based approach. Hence, a key determinant of success in solution business relates to a firm's ability to identify segments and customers that are best suited for solution business, i.e., to find market focus. In this paper we develop a framework that assists firms to choose the right markets to focus on, and illustrate the use of the framework with two action research case studies. The framework consists of a market picture, describing the broad ambit of a market actor, and market arenas within the market picture, selected based on morphological analysis. The case studies illustrate how the framework helped managers to escape the market myopia experienced by firms with established market definitions

    Kaverit, telkkari ja liikunta : neljÀsluokkalaisten vapaa-aika

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    Only abstract. Paper copies of master’s theses are listed in the Helka database (http://www.helsinki.fi/helka). Electronic copies of master’s theses are either available as open access or only on thesis terminals in the Helsinki University Library.Vain tiivistelmĂ€. Sidottujen gradujen saatavuuden voit tarkistaa Helka-tietokannasta (http://www.helsinki.fi/helka). Digitaaliset gradut voivat olla luettavissa avoimesti verkossa tai rajoitetusti kirjaston opinnĂ€ytekioskeilla.Endast sammandrag. Inbundna avhandlingar kan sökas i Helka-databasen (http://www.helsinki.fi/helka). Elektroniska kopior av avhandlingar finns antingen öppet pĂ„ nĂ€tet eller endast tillgĂ€ngliga i bibliotekets avhandlingsterminaler.Tutkimuksessa selvitetÀÀn lapsinĂ€kökulmaa kĂ€yttĂ€en neljĂ€sluokkalaisten lasten vapaa-ajan viettoa ja harrastuksia. Tutkimuksen lĂ€htökohtana oli uusimman yhteiskuntatieteellisen lapsuustutkimuksen kĂ€site lapsesta osaavana, aktiivisena ja uutta luovana sosiaalisena toimijana. Lasten kirjoittamista aineista on etsitty vastauksia kysymykseen: miten lapset mÀÀrittelevĂ€t vapaa-aikansa ja harrastuksensa. LisĂ€ksi tutkimuskysymystĂ€ tarkennettiin kahdella alakysymyksellĂ€. MitĂ€ lapset tekevĂ€t vapaa-aikanaan ja millaisia haaveita heillĂ€ on vapaa-ajastaan ja sen viettĂ€misestĂ€, jos he itse saisivat pÀÀttÀÀ asiat rahasta tai muista esteistĂ€ vĂ€littĂ€mĂ€ttĂ€? Millaisena lapset kokevat harrastuksensa tai niiden puuttumisen sekĂ€ muun koulun ulkopuolisen toiminnan? Tutkimusaineiston muodostivat neljĂ€sluokkalaisten kirjoittamat aineet kahdesta aiheesta, ”Minun vapaa-aikani” sekĂ€ ”Haaveiden vapaa-aika”. LisĂ€ksi oppilaat kirjoittivat omin sanoin, mitĂ€ he ymmĂ€rtĂ€vĂ€t sanoilla vapaa-aika ja harrastus. Oppilaat olivat kahdelta vantaalaiselta ala-asteelta, neljĂ€ltĂ€ eri luokalta. HeitĂ€ oli yhteensĂ€ 103, joista oli tyttöjĂ€ 65 ja poikia 38. Kvalitatiivisen tutkimusaineiston analysoinnissa ja tulkinnassa on kĂ€ytetty narratiivista eli tarinallista tutkimusotetta. Narratiivisuus on ymmĂ€rretty lĂ€hestymistavaksi, joka keskittyy kertomuksiin tiedon vĂ€littĂ€jĂ€nĂ€ ja tarkastelee ihmistĂ€ aktiivisena toimijana. Kertomuksissa ei koskaan kuitenkaan voida kertoa kaikkia, se on vain katkelma. NeljĂ€sluokkalaistet mÀÀrittelivĂ€t vapaa-ajan ajaksi, jolloin ei ole koulua ja kavereiden kanssa saa tehdĂ€ mitĂ€ haluaa. Harrastus on lasten mielestĂ€ sellaista sÀÀnnöllistĂ€ ja vapaaehtoista tekemistĂ€ vapaa-aikana, josta pitÀÀ. Lapsilla oli paljon erilaisia vapaa-ajan viettotapoja, joista suosituimmat olivat sosiaalinen kanssakĂ€yminen kavereiden kanssa, television katselu ja erilaiset liikunnalliset harrastukset. TytöillĂ€ oli lisĂ€ksi omia suosikkejaan: lemmikkielĂ€imet, lukeminen, musiikin kuuntelu, herkuttelu ja shoppailu. Myös erilaisia haaveita oli runsaasti, suosituimpana monet taloudellisiin toiveisiin liittyvĂ€t haaveet. Listan kĂ€rjessĂ€ olivat matkailu, lemmikkielĂ€imet, huvipuistot ja raha, jonka avulla olisi mahdollista hankkia melkeinpĂ€ mitĂ€ vain. Kaiken kaikkiaan lasten vapaa-aika kului hyvin ja tekemistĂ€ tuntui olevan riittĂ€vĂ€sti. Keskeiset lĂ€hteet ovat lapsiin, lapsuuteen ja lapsuustukimukseen liittyvĂ€t Leena Alasen, Marjatta Bardyn ja Jens Qvortrupin teokset. Narratiivisen tutkimuksen lĂ€hdekirjallisuutena on kĂ€ytetty mm. Vilma HĂ€nnisen, Hannu L. T. Heikkisen sekĂ€ Maria Nikolajevan teoksia. LisĂ€ksi vapaa-aikaan ja harrastukseen liittyviĂ€ taustatietoja on haettu aikaisemmista ja uusimmista tutkimuksista

    Vilsna mÀn. Personbeskrivningen i Lars Saabye Christensens roman Halvbroren och i Kjell Westös roman VÄdan av att vara Skrake

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    Tutkielmani aiheena on henkilökuvaus Lars Saabye Christensenin norjankielisessĂ€ teoksessa Halvbroren, sekĂ€ Kjell Westön ruotsinkielisessĂ€ teoksessa VĂ„dan av att vara Skrake. Tavoitteeni on tutkia mitĂ€ keinoja kirjailijat kĂ€yttĂ€vĂ€t luonnehtiessaan romaanien kahta pÀÀhenkilöÀ. Olen valinnut tutkimuskohteekseni molemmasta romaanista kaksi pÀÀhenkilöÀ. PÀÀhenkilöt ovat kummassakin romaanissa miehiĂ€. Tutkielmassani olen erityisesti keskittynyt tutkimaan kuinka pÀÀhenkilöt kuvaavat itseÀÀn, sekĂ€ kuinka romaanien muut henkilöt kuvaavat heitĂ€. Olen tutkinut henkilöhahmoja kerÀÀmĂ€llĂ€ kummastakin kirjasta luonteenpiirteitĂ€ kuvaavia esimerkkejĂ€. Esimerkit luonteenpiirteistĂ€ olen kategorisoinut neljÀÀn luonteenpiirteitĂ€ kuvaavaan ryhmÀÀn, ” ikĂ€, nimi ja sukupuoli”, ”ulkonĂ€kö ja vaatetus”, ”fyysiset ominaisuudet” ja ”psyykkiset ominaisuudet”. NĂ€mĂ€ ryhmĂ€t olen analysoinut ja lopulta verrannut keskenÀÀn. PÀÀhenkilöiden henkilökuvausta tutkiessani sain selville, ettĂ€ pÀÀhenkilöiden kuvauksessa löytyy samankaltaisuuksia, mutta myös pieniĂ€ eroja. Totesin ettĂ€ kummassakin kirjassa kertojana toimivaa pÀÀhenkilöÀ kuvaillaan tarkasti. Kertojana toimiva pÀÀhenkilö kuvailee itsensĂ€ huolellisesti, mutta sekĂ€ hĂ€nen luonteenpiirteensĂ€ ettĂ€ ulkonĂ€könsĂ€ tulevat hyvin esiin myös muiden romaanihenkilöiden kautta. Molempien romaanien toista pÀÀhenkilöÀ kuvaillaan pÀÀasiallisesti muiden romaanihenkilöiden kautta. Tutkielmassani ilmeni ettĂ€ kummatkin kirjailijat korostavat fyysisten ja psyykkisten luonteenpiirteiden kuvaamista. Erot löytyivĂ€t ikÀÀ, nimeĂ€ ja sukupuolta, sekĂ€ ulkonĂ€köÀ luonnehtivien piirteiden kuvaamisessa. NĂ€issĂ€ kategorioissa kirjailijat olivat valinneet henkilöidensĂ€ kuvailun hieman eri tavalla.fi=OpinnĂ€ytetyö kokotekstinĂ€ PDF-muodossa.|en=Thesis fulltext in PDF format.|sv=LĂ€rdomsprov tillgĂ€ngligt som fulltext i PDF-format

    Stress och stresshantering pÄ barnhem : Hur professionella pÄ barnhem diskursivt konstruerar stress och stresshantering och hur de positionerar sig i diskursen

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    Belastning och stress Àr aktuella utmaningar i dagens arbetsliv och stressforskning utgör ett centralt forskningsÀmne. Ett diskursivt perspektiv pÄ stress och stresshantering Àr underrepresenterat i forskningen kring arbetet inom barnskyddet. Syftet med denna avhandling Àr att studera hur professionella pÄ barnhem diskursivt konstruerar stress och stresshantering samt deras subjektspositionering. Studien söker svar pÄ frÄgorna: Hur konstruerar handledare diskursivt stress i sitt arbete pÄ barnhem? Hur konstruerar handledare diskursivt stresshantering? Vilka tolkningsrepertoarer och subjektspositioner kan identifieras i de diskursiva konstruktionerna? Materialet bestod av 17 semistrukturerade intervjuer som utförts med handledare pÄ tvÄ barnhem inom den tredje sektorn i södra Finland, och metodansatsen var kritisk diskurspsykologi (CDP). Ur materialet vÀxte tvÄ dominerande stressdiskurser och subjektspositioner fram: en passiverande stressdiskurs och en aktiverande stresshanteringsdiskurs. SpÀnningar mellan de tvÄ positionerna passiv/aktiv identifierades samt den resurssvaga/mottagande och den resursstarka/handlingskraftiga handledaren. Genom att anvÀnda sig av tolkningsrepertoarer identifierar eller disidentifierar sig handledarna med de pÄbjudna subjektspositionerna men saknar möjlighet att helt motsÀtta sig de diskursiva konstruktionerna. Implikationerna för handledarnas agentskap Àr att en begrÀnsning till en individuell nivÄ sker: Handledarna stÀlls inför valen att antingen acceptera att arbetet Àr stressigt och tungt, hantera stressen sjÀlv eller att byta bransch. Handledaren har inte möjlighet att Àndra organiseringen av arbetet. För att flera handledare skulle stanna i branschen föreslÄs ökad satsning pÄ förbÀttrade arbetsstrukturer, arbetshÀlsan och arbetsskyddet, samt föreslÄs fortbildning i positiv psykologi. Förslag ges för vidareforskning

    Erfarenhetshistoriska perspektiv pÄ nationen

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    Ville KivimĂ€ki, Sami Suodenjoki & Tanja Vahtikari (eds.), Lived Nation as the History of Experiences and Emotions in Finland, 1800–2000, Palgrave Studies in the History of Experience, 392 s., ill., Palgrave MacMillan Champ 2021

    Theorizing with managers: how to achieve both academic rigor and practical relevance?

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    Purpose. There are heightened concerns that the theory-praxis gap is widening, despite decades of academic literature addressing the issue. We propose that one viable solution to this challenge is involving practitioners in research processes as active, reflective and empowered participants. Most extant discussions addressing the inclusion of managers as partners in theorizing restrain themselves to an ‘if’ question, arguing whether or not it is possible to create sufficiently rigorous knowledge in collaboration with practitioners. This leaves the ‘how’ question unanswered, i.e., how should such gap-bridging research be conducted in practice. Thus, the aim of this paper is to investigate how academic researchers in management and marketing can theorize with managers in order to generate results that are both academically rigorous and managerially relevant. Design/methodology/approach. Based on a literature review of collaborative theorizing processes, we develop a conceptual framework highlighting the main research design decisions when theorizing with managers. The use of the framework is illustrated with four research program examples. Findings. Most accounts of theorizing with managers use – explicitly or implicitly – abduction as the main mode of inference. In addition to this philosophical commonality, our literature review identified twelve themes that should be considered when designing collaborative research processes. The four illustrative examples indicate that theorizing with managers is an effective way of producing and socializing both academically sound and managerially relevant knowledge. On the other hand, collaborative theorizing processes are time-consuming and studies using abductive reasoning may be more challenging to publish in top-tier journals. Originality/value. This paper makes two contributions. First, we go beyond the extensive academic literature which provides a plethora of explanations and ideas for potential remedies for bridging the theory-praxis gap by offering a detailed description how one particular solution, theorizing with managers, unfolds in practice. Second, we ground collaborative theorizing processes in the philosophy of science and put abduction forward as a common nominator for such studies

    Business models in servitization

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    This chapter sheds light on the different business models of manufacturing companies that have servitized their business operations. This chapter presents four distinctive yet simultaneously pursued business models for servitized manufacturers: (1) the product business model, (2) the service-agreement business model (3) the process-oriented business model, and (4) the performance-oriented business model. Depending on the direction taken, dedicated customer needs targeted, value propositions adopted, and services and solutions provided, a servitized manufacturer should decide which business model(s) the firm will adopt with different customers.fi=vertaisarvioitu|en=peerReviewed
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