Industrial Innovation in Transition

In this study, the innovation management processes of Finnish companies in significantly changing business environment were examined. Data collection for this study draws on qualitative methods and interviews. Based on the analysis, it can be summarized that innovation activities are often characterized as processual and hierachically structured with emphasis on the traditional stage-gate–model. As a contrast, in some interviews also highly informal and unsystematic origins and processes of innovation are described. Strategy processes are often characterized according to the established terminology emphasizing rationality and formal processes. However, business strategies are also perceived as a limiting and hindering factor for innovations.  Based on the analysis, there seems to be heavy emphasis on incremental innovation, which builds on advancing current competencies, businesses, and capabilities. Large foreign companies and "players" are described as trendsetters, which are followed. The majority of characterizations do not convey an exploration spirit or passion for radical, disruptive innovations and creation or transformation to entirely new businesses. Descriptions of developing new social innovations (eg. Facebook, Twitter), novel business models, intrapreneurship or start-up mentality as well as passionate visions of transformational ideas and business opportunities appear seldom. Activities for developing processes for open innovation are seen as a future possibility. Currently there is a lack of open innovation tools and processes. Many companies accumulate "big data" from their operations. However, developing its widespread analysis and utilization is seen to take place in the future. Descriptions of active development of ideas to transform businesses and business models based on "big data" analytics are rare.  Industrial innovations originate from networks involving customers, suppliers and public R&D organizations. The study raises also some suggestions how to reform the Finnish innovation system. Development is needed in company innovation management processes, TEKES activities, new funding instruments and university incentive system. On the Finnish societal level, an innovation gap emerges between small companies and large enterprises

RESERVIUPSEERIEN MAANPUOLUSTUSHENGEN INSTITUTIONAALINEN PERUSTA

Puuttu

Long-term results of surgical resection of lung metastases from soft tissue sarcoma : A single center experience

Background A single-institution experience of pulmonary metastasectomy in soft tissue sarcoma (STS) was retrospectively reviewed. Our specific aim was to examine, whether the resection of pulmonary metastases could be curative. We also compared overall survival (OS) of patients after complete or incomplete pulmonary resection and nonsurgical treatment. Methods Between 1987 and 2016, 1580 patients were treated for STS with curative intent by Soft Tissue Sarcoma Group at Helsinki University Hospital, Finland. Three hundred forty-seven patients (22%) developed advanced disease and 130 STS patients (9%) developed pulmonary metastases as first systemic relapse. Seventy four patients (5%) were operated for lung metastases. Results Fifty-five patients (42%) had a complete and 19 (15%) incomplete resection. Fifty-six (43%) were unoperated. Median OS after complete or incomplete metastasectomy, chemotherapy, or best supportive care was 22, 18, 8, and 5 months, respectively. Twelve patients (9%) developed no further metastases and are alive with no evidence of disease. Disease-free survival (DFS) for completely resected patients was 17% at 5 years. All long-term survivors had oligometastatic disease and they underwent one to three complete metastasectomies. Conclusions Complete pulmonary metastasectomy in STS results in 5 years DFS in nearly one-fifth of patients. Most of these patients are probably cured.Peer reviewe

Lower extremity functional scale -mittarin suomenkielisen version 155 Rasch-osioanalyysin tulokset nilkka- ja jalkateräpotilailla

English abstrac

Improved prognosis in soft-tissue sarcoma of extremity and trunk wall : Comparison of patients diagnosed during 1998-2001 and 2005-2010 in Finland

Background and purpose - Soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) is rare, with challenging individualized treatment, so diagnostics and treatment should be centralized. Historical controls are sometimes used for investigation of whether new diagnostic or therapeutic tools affect patient outcome. However, as yet unknown factors may affect the outcome. We investigated prognostic factors and prognosis in 2 nationwide cohorts of patients diagnosed with a local STS during the periods 1998-2001 and 2005-2010, with special interest in finding factors lying behind possible improvement of prognosis. Patients and methods - 2 cohorts of patients with STS of the extremities or trunk diagnosed during the periods 1998-2001 and 2005-2010 were retrieved from the nationwide Finnish Cancer Registry. Detailed information was gathered from patient files. Results - Compared to first cohort, a larger proportion of patients with inadequate surgery in the second cohort received radiation therapy, and both the local control rate and the sarcoma-specific survival rate improved in the second cohort. For sarcoma-specific survival, cohort (HR =0.6, 95% CI: 0.5-0.9), age, depth, grade, and margin were significant factors in multivariate analysis. For local control, cohort (HR =0.6, 95% CI: 0.5-0.9), age, and margin were significant in multivariate analysis. Interpretation - Known prognostic factors including type of treatment did not entirely explain the secular trend of continuous improvement in prognosis in STS. This illustrates the danger of using historical controls for investigation of whether new diagnostic or therapeutic tools have an effect on patient outcome.Peer reviewe

Treatment and Prognosis of Radiation-Associated Breast Angiosarcoma in a Nationwide Population

Background Radiation-associated angiosarcoma of the breast (RAASB) is an aggressive malignancy that is increasing in incidence. Only a few previous population-based studies have reported the results of RAASB treatment. Methods A search for RAASB patients was carried out in the Finnish Cancer Registry, and treatment data were collected to identify prognostic factors for survival. Results Overall, 50 RAASB patients were identified. The median follow-up time was 5.4 years (range 0.4-15.6), and the 5-year overall survival rate was 69%. Forty-seven (94%) patients were operated on with curative intent. Among these patients, the 5-year local recurrence-free survival, distant recurrence-free survival, and overall survival rates were 62%, 75%, and 74%, respectively. A larger planned surgical margin was associated with improved survival. Conclusions We found that the majority of RAASB patients were eligible for radical surgical management in this population-based analysis. With radical surgery, the prognosis is relatively good.Peer reviewe

Visual Counting and Automated Image-analytic Assessment of Ki-67 and their Prognostic Value in Synovial Sarcoma

BACKGROUND: Ki-67 is a widely used proliferation marker reflecting prognosis in various tumors. However, visual assessment and scoring of Ki-67 suffers from marked inter-observer and intra-observer variability. We aimed to assess the concordance of manual counting and automated image-analytic scoring methods for Ki-67 in synovial sarcoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Tissue microarrays from 34 patients with synovial sarcoma were immunostained for Ki-67 and scored both visually and with 3DHistech QuantCenter. RESULTS: The automated assessment of Ki-67 expression was in good agreement with the visually counted Ki-67 (r Pearson =0.96, p<0.001). In a Cox regression model automated [hazard ratio (HR)=1.047, p=0.024], but not visual (HR=1.063, p=0.053) assessment method associated high Ki-67 scores with worse overall survival. CONCLUSION: The automated Ki-67 assessment method appears to be comparable to the visual method in synovial sarcoma and had a significant association to overall survival.publishedVersionPeer reviewe

The Scandinavian Sarcoma Group Central Register : 6,000 patients after 25 years of monitoring of referral and treatment of extremity and trunk wall soft-tissue sarcoma

Purpose - We wanted to examine the potential of the Scandinavian Sarcoma Group (SSG) Central Register, and evaluate referral and treatment practice for soft-tissue sarcomas in the extremities and trunk wall (STS) in the Nordic countries. Background - Based on incidence rates from the literature, 8,150 (7,000-9,300) cases of STS of the extremity and trunk wall should have been diagnosed in Norway, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden from 1987 through 2011. The SSG Register has 6,027 cases registered from this period, with 5,837 having complete registration of key variables. 10 centers have been reporting to the Register. The 5 centers that consistently report treat approximately 90% of the cases in their respective regions. The remaining centers have reported all the patients who were treated during certain time periods, but not for the entire 25-year period. Results - 59% of patients were referred to a sarcoma center untouched, i.e. before any attempt at open biopsy. There was an improvement from 52% during the first 5 years to 70% during the last 5 years. 50% had wide or better margins at surgery. Wide margins are now achieved less often than 20 years ago, in parallel with an increase in the use of radiotherapy. For the centers that consistently report, 97% of surviving patients are followed for more than 4 years. Metastasis-free survival (MFS) increased from 67% to 73% during the 25-year period. Interpretation - The Register is considered to be representative of extremity and trunk wall sarcoma disease in the population of Scandinavia, treated at the reporting centers. There were no clinically significant differences in treatment results at these centers.Peer reviewe

Finnishness in cross cultural interaction in international engineering projects

This doctoral thesis is an empirically informed cultural study in an international, cross cultural setting. More specifically, the culture and the cultural identity examined here can be considered as that of Finnishness as it appears in cross cultural interaction in large, international engineering projects. The empirical focus is on the experiences of Finnish project managers. The thesis is primarily designed to provide an answer to the following research question: What kind of representation of Finnishness and Finnish cultural identity can be constructed based on the experiences of Finnish project managers of large and complex international engineering projects? In the organizational and management research, cultural studies have a relatively long history. Traditionally these have focused on cultural studies in single settings, i.e. studying a particular organizational culture in its home environment. In addition, due to the processes of internationalization and globalization, cultural studies in international organizational settings have also turned into an established field of research. This doctoral thesis builds on the latter approach to studying cultures in organizational contexts. That is, the thesis provides a portrayal of Finnishness as it appears in cross cultural interaction in situations where organizational groups with different (national) cultural backgrounds meet, interact, and collaborate with each other. In addition to the empirical contributions, this doctoral thesis is designed to provide one answer to the pleas increasingly voiced within the international cross cultural management research for more refined and in-depth cultural conceptualizations, methodologies, and portrayals. That is, in this stream of literature the need to move beyond its incumbent paradigm, and consequently, the need for more refined cultural understanding and portrayals have been increasingly expressed. By building on one of the proposed ways of refinement, this thesis then serves as one example for other more in-depth cultural portrayals to come