A Game-Based Method for Teaching Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is often thought of as the act of commercializing an innovation. In modern open economies, entrepreneurship is one of the key aspects for economic growth. Teaching and learning entrepreneurship is therefore of importance and schools, colleges and universities can play an important role by including entrepreneurship and innovation in their curricula. The Berkeley Method of Entrepreneurship is a holistic and student-centered teaching and learning approach that is hypothesized to enable engineers to be more entrepreneurial. It encompasses three main elements; networks, mindset and frameworks. Networks and Framewoks are covered in most entrepreneurial curricula, whereas only few curricula explicitly include the mindset perspective. The Berkeley Method of Entrepreneurship is based on the hypothesis that the mindset of an entrepreneur can be characterized by a distinct set of behavioral patterns, and that an inductive game-based teaching approach is a successful vehicle for introducing and re-enforcing these. The game-based teaching approach lets the students explore his/her current mindset and compare it with that of entrepreneurs. The paper presents two of the hypothesis behind the Berkeley Method of Entrepreneurship; the set of behavioral patterns, and the game based teaching approach. The paper outlines the concepts behind this novel teaching approach as well as future research

a gamE-basEd mEthod for tEaChing EntrEprEnEurship

Entrepreneurship is often thought of as the act of commercializing an innovation. In modern open economies, entrepreneurship is one of the key aspects for economic growth. The teaching and learning entrepreneurship is therefore of importance. Schools, colleges and universities can play an important role by including entrepreneurship and innovation in their curricula. The Berkeley Method of Entrepreneurship is a holistic and student-centered teaching and learning approach that is hypothesized to enable engineers to be more entrepreneurial. It encompasses three main elements: networks, mindset and frameworks. Networks and frameworks are covered in most entrepreneurial curricula, whereas only a few curricula explicitly include the mindset perspective. The Berkeley Method of Entrepreneurship is based on the hypothesis that the mindset of an entrepreneur can be characterized by a distinct set of behavioral patterns, and that an inductive game-based teaching approach is a successful vehicle for introducing and re-enforcing these. The game-based teaching approach allows the students to explore their current mindset and compare it with that of entrepreneurs. The paper presents two of the hypotheses behind the Berkeley Method of Entrepreneurship: the set of behavioral patterns and the game based teaching approach. This paper outlines the concepts behind this novel teaching approach as well as future research

Performance Estimation of Networked Business Models: Case Study on a Finnish eHealth Service Project

Purpose: The objective of this paper is to propose and demonstrate a framework for estimating performance in a networked business model. Design/methodology/approach: Our approach is design science, utilising action research in studying a case of four independent firms in Health & Wellbeing sector aiming to jointly provide a new service for business and private customers. The duration of the research study is 3 years. Findings: We propose that a balanced set of performance indicators can be defined by paying attention to all main components of the business model, enriched with of network collaboration. The results highlight the importance of measuring all main components of the business model and also the business network partners’ view on trust, contracts and fairness. Research implications: This article contributes to the business model literature by combining business modelling with performance evaluation. The article points out that it is essential to create metrics that can be applied to evaluate and improve the business model blueprints, but it is also important to measure business collaboration aspects. Practical implications: Companies have already adopted Business model canvas or similar business model tools to innovate new business models. We suggest that companies continue their business model innovation work by agreeing on a set of performance metrics, building on the business model components model enriched with measures of network collaboration. Originality/value: This article contributes to the business model literature and praxis by combining business modelling with performance evaluation

Business Model Canvas Should Pay More Attention to the Software Startup Team

Business Model Canvas (BMC) is a tool widely used to describe startup business models. Despite the various business aspects described, BMC pays a little emphasis on team-related factors. The importance of team-related factors in software development has been acknowledged widely in literature. While not as extensively studied, the importance of teams in software startups is also known in both literature and among practitioners. In this paper, we propose potential changes to BMC to have the tool better reflect the importance of the team, especially in a software startup environment. Based on a literature review, we identify various components related to the team, which we then further support with empirical data. We do so by means of a qualitative case study of five startups

Kulkevatko nuorten päihteiden käyttö ja mielenterveysongelmat käsi kädessä? : Satakunnan nuorisopsykiatrian poliklinikoiden nuorten mielenterveyskuntoutujien päihteiden käyttö ja päihdeasenteet

Tässä opinnäytetyössä tutkittiin nuorten mielenterveyskuntoutujien päihteiden käyttöä ja päihdeasenteita kaksoisdiagnostiikan ja päihdehuollon näkökulmasta. Tutkimuksen toteuttamiselle nousi tarve siitä, ettei päihteiden käytön ja mielenterveysongelmien välistä yhteyttä ole juurikaan Suomessa aiemmin tutkittu. Opinnäytetyön teoriaosassa käsiteltiin päihteitä ja mielenterveyttä nuoruuden kontekstissa. Näiden kahden seikan yhteenkietoutumista tarkasteltiin kaksoisdiagnoosin näkökulmasta. Teoriaosan jälkeen esiteltiin tutkimuksen kulkua ja sen tuloksia, joita analysoitiin teorian ja tutkimuskysymysten pohjalta. Tutkimuksen toteutuksen kohteeksi valittiin Satakunnan sairaanhoitopiirin nuorisopsykiatrian poliklinikoiden ja nuorten työryhmien (Harjavalta, Huittinen, Kankaanpää, Pori ja Rauma) 13-22-vuotiaat nuoret mielenterveyskuntoutujat. Tutkimuksessa käytettiin kvantitatiivista tutkimusmenetelmää ja analysoitava aineisto kerättiin kyselylomakkeilla tammi-toukokuussa 2007. Kyselylomake sisälsi perustietojen, päihteiden käytön, päihdeasenteiden sekä päihdetietouden ja päihdeongelmien hoidon kartoittamisen. Vastauksia palautettiin yhteensä 106. Tutkimusaineisto käsiteltiin tilastollisin menetelmin käyttäen Microsoft Excel-ohjelmaa ja Tixel-ohjelmaa. Tulokset raportoitiin sanallisesti ja graafisesti. Aineistosta saatujen tulosten perusteella ilmeni, että nuorten mielenterveyskuntoutujien päihteiden käyttö oli runsasta pääasiassa lääkkeiden huumausainekäytön ja sekakäytön osalta. Iällä ja psykiatrisella diagnoosilla oli jonkin verran vaikutusta päihdekäyttäytymiseen. Vastaajien päihdeasenteet olivat realistisia. Nuorisopsykiatrian poliklinikoiden ja nuorten työryhmien rooli päihdetietouden jakajana mielenterveyskuntoutujanuorille oli vähäinen.In this thesis the intoxicant abuse and attitudes towards intoxicants of young mental health rehabilitees were researched from the view of dual diagnosis and social work with intoxicant abusers. A demand to carry out this study was emerged because the connection between the intoxicant abuse and mental problems were barely researched in Finland before. The theoretical framework of this study was dealt with intoxicants and mental health in the context of youth. The association between these two subjects were scrutinised from the view of dual diagnosis. After the theory part the route and the results of study were described and analyzed on the basis of the theory and the research questions. 13-22 year old young mental health rehabilitees of the adolescent psychiatric outpatient departments of the hospital district of Satakunta (Harjavalta, Huittinen, Kankaanpää, Pori and Rauma) were selected as the target of the study. The used method was quantitative and the analyzed material was collected by questionnaires between January 2007 and May 2007. The questionnaire included the survey of the basic information, the use of intoxicants, attitudes towards intoxicants, knowledge of intoxicants and the treatment of intoxicant addiction. 106 answers were received. The data was processed by statistical methods using both Excel (Microsoft)- and Tixelprogrammes. The results were reported verbally and graphically. The results received from the data showed that the intoxicant use of the young mental health rehabilitees was plentiful, concerning mainly medicines as drugs and mixed alcohol and medicine use. Age and psychiatric diagnosis had some impact on behaviour with intoxicants. The attitudes towards intoxicants were realistic among respondents. The role of the adolescent psychiatric outpatient departments as a source of information of intoxicants to young mental health rehabilitees was insignificant

Sysäyksiä menestystarinoille

nonPeerReviewe

Adoption of mobile banking in Finland

Banking is an area in which technology has had a fundamental impact on the everyday lives of consumers. This article-based dissertation examines an innovation in the financial services industry, namely mobile banking services. It seeks to determine and explain the factors affecting the adoption of mobile banking services, thus the perspective taken by the dissertation is one that focuses on consumer behaviour patterns. In order to arrive at a theoretical model, it draws on traditional theories of innovation diffusion and adoption, and also on the literature relating to electronic banking and technology-based services. The model was tested with an empirical study. This aimed at conceptualising various factors and modelling the relationships between variables in the mobile banking adoption framework. Methodologically, the dissertation takes a descriptive approach to the phenomenon under study. The data in the empirical study were collected by means of a questionnaire mailed to banking customers (1253 responses received). The results indicated that certain attributes of mobile banking innovation drive usage or explain consumer behaviour, in particular relative advantage, compatibility, communication and trialability. By contrast, the investigation of complexity and risk of using mobile banking yielded no support as being barriers to adoption. The technology perceptions and certain demographical variables of the customers have a significant impact on the adoption behaviour. It is possible to arrive at a profile of a typical mobile banking user. Contrary to the assumptions of adoption theory, Internet banking does not emerge as a related service product. Overall, the dissertation goes some way beyond merely modelling consumer behaviour in the mobile banking context or questioning some aspects of adoption theory; it also presents insights that could be useful to banking practitionersMari Suoranta tutkii väitöskirjassaan mobiilin päätelaitteen eli matkapuhelimen ja kämmenmikron välityksellä käytettäviä pankkipalveluita, mobiilipankkipalveluita. Kansainvälisesti mobiilipankkipalveluiden käyttäjämäärät ovat olleet vielä vähäisiä, mutta Suomessa näillä palveluilla on jo omat käyttäjäryhmänsä. Mobiilipankkipalvelut tarjoavat yhä useammille kanavan pankkiasiointiin.Suoranta havaitsi, että mobiilia palvelukanavaa käyttävä henkilö on naimisissa oleva mies tai nainen, 25 – 34 -vuotias, keskiasteen koulutuksen omaava, keskituloinen ja työskentelee työntekijänä palvelusektorilla. Tämä tulos poikkeaa aikaisemmista tutkimuksista, joiden mukaisesti innovaatioiden, ja erityisesti mobiilipalveluiden, omaksujat ovat olleet korkeasti koulutettuja, suhteellisen suurituloisia ja usein toimihenkilöitä tai johtavassa asemassa olevia

Burundi An opportunity to confront torture and impunity; memorandum to the Transitional Government of Burundi and the international community

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:0859.3885(AFR 16/043/2001) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Impact of COVID-19 on Business Model Innovation at EdTech Startups

Purpose: COVID-19 occurred at the end of 2019 and forced the world to change daily routines. Schools and offices were closed and needed to move to online mode. Educational technology (EdTech) aims to advance the learning results for students, foster individual approaches, and diminish teachers' burnout. The study aims to understand the impact of COVID-19 on business model innovation (BMI) at EdTech startups. Modern scholars show interest in researching firms that have various business models simultaneously. It is still unclear how business model diversification corresponds to its accomplishments. COVID-19 was a rapid and unexpected change. Hence, companies did not have much time to change their strategies and act on the spot. The level of the company's agility depends on many factors. For example, the area of operations and its size may affect the eagerness to shift dramatically. The study sheds light on the research gap on how agility and dynamic capabilities help companies to survive during crisis. Approach: The data was collected by reviewing the existing literature and conducting 17 semistructured in-depth interviews with 14 EdTech startups and three industry’s experts. To analyze qualitative data, the researchers utilized content analysis and MAXQDA 2020 software in which data was coded into 14 categories to find answers to the research questions. Results: There is no doubt that COVID-19 compelled the educational industry to utilize digital tools more actively than ever before. As a result, COVID-19 forced the EdTech industry to grow faster than expected. EdTech startups did not invent a new business model. They still use SaaS (Software as a Service) as a basis and charge users per specific time. Business model innovation (BMI) occurred in all segments of a business model. The main alteration happened in discovering parents as a new target audience and offer pricing plans for them. Second, EdTech startups accentuated their marketing efforts on the advantages of remote education and usability of the products at home. Lastly, EdTech startups focus on adjustability to hybrid learning environments, integrations with the existing platforms, and customer support for teachers and parents. As for the pricing plan, most EdTech startups provided their solution for free for a longer time than usual to support the educational community, increase awareness of the tool, and boost the user base. Implications: The study is beneficial for EdTech startups in the following ways. First, it allows them understanding how other startups from the same industry coped with the pandemic. Second, the study makes it possible for EdTech startups to start internal discussions on revisiting the business model and think about what should be changed. Concerning uncertain time as COVID-19 in the future, EdTech startups must always believe in their product and understand the target audience.peerReviewe