Kokonaisarkkitehtuurimenetelmä tietojärjestelmien kehittämisessä : Case: Tampereen evankelis-luterilainen seurakuntayhtymä

Opinnäytetyön tarkoituksena oli tutkia kokonaisarkkitehtuurimenetelmän soveltuvuutta tietojärjestelmien kehittämiseen Suomen evankelis-luterilaisessa kirkossa. Työn toimeksiantajana ja tapausesimerkkinä oli Tampereen evankelis-luterilainen seurakuntayhtymä. Opinnäytetyön tavoitteena oli kehittää toimeksiantajalle kokonaisarkkitehtuurimenetelmään pohjautuva tietojärjestelmien kehitysmalli, joka ottaa huomioon seurakuntaorganisaation erityispiirteet. Malli nimettiin Apostoliksi. Työn teoriaosuuden muodostavat kokonaisarkkitehtuurin määritelmän käsittely, organisaation kokonaisarkkitehtuurisuunnittelun vaiheet ja seurakuntayhtymän nykytila eri osa-arkkitehtuurien näkökulmista sekä mallin suunnittelussa huomioon otettavien tekijöiden teoriataustan hahmottaminen, analysointi ja pohdinta. Tutkimusongelmana oli selvittää toimeksiantajan kokonaisarkkitehtuurin nykytila ja keskeisimmät ongelmat. Tutkimus toteutettiin haastattelemalla kahdeksaa henkilöä. Tutkimus todisti, että kokonaisarkkitehtuurimenetelmä auttaa Tampereen evankelis-luterilaista seurakuntayhtymää tuntemaan toimintansa paremmin. Tämä puolestaan auttaa tunnistamaan seurakuntayhtymän yhteiset tietotarpeet. Rajapintaratkaisut voidaan toteuttaa todellisiin tarpeisiin perustuen. Toimintanäkökulman huomioiminen tietojärjestelmien rakentamisen kaikissa vaiheissa tekee toiminnasta joustavaa ja ennakoivaa. Nopea reagointi ja nykyaikaisten tietoteknisten mahdollisuuksien tehokas hyödyntäminen tuovat Tampereen seurakuntien toiminnan lähemmäksi tamperelaisten arkea, ehkä jopa kiinteäksi osaksi sitä. Näistä lähtökohdista palvelukeskeinen lähimmäislähtöinen toimintakulttuuri syntyy kuin itsestään.The purpose of the thesis was to study the applicability of the method of Enterprise Architecture in developing information systems in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Finland. The client was the Federation of the Evangelical Lutheran Parishes in Tampere. The aim of the thesis was to develop an information system development method, which takes into account the special characteristics of the organization. The model was named Apostoli. The theory part consists of clarifying the definition of the Enterprise Architecture, the steps of the planning organization’s enterprise architecture, and analyzing the present state of the organization from a partial architectures’ point of view. The conceptualization of the theory basis for the special characteristics of the organization and analyzing and reflecting on them is also included in the theory part. The aim of the empirical study was to find out the present state of the organization’s enterprise architecture. The research was carried out by personally interviewing eight persons. The research proved that it is possible for the Federation of the Evangelical Lutheran Parishes in Tampere to be better acquainted with its operation by the way of the method of Enterprise Architecture. The interface solutions can be carried out based on the real needs. The flexibility and the proactivity can be increased by taking the operational point of view into account at every point of the information system’s life cycle. The quick response and the efficient utilization of the possibilities of the modern information technology can increase the familiarity of the Evangelical Lutheran Parishes. The service-oriented organizational culture will come about easily from these starting points

Evaluation of Functional Characteristics of Lactose by Inverse Gas Chromatography

AbstractThe work was focused on the analysis of different batches of the common pharmaceutical excipient lactose using inverse gas chromatography (IGC). Several batches of amorphous (spray dried) and crystalline form of lactose were studied. Surface properties represented by the surface energy and specific (acid-base) interactions between probes and analyzed samples shows batch variations and significant differences between manufacturers and technological processes. The second part of this work was focused on effect of relative humidity and temperature on stability of lactose. The variations of surface energy and specific interactions over time were studied. The changes in surface properties of two batches of lactose-amorphous and crystalline caused by higher relative humidity were measured by IGC. From measured values are obvious different chemical and physical properties of both lactose forms. Negative effect of higher temperature and air humidity lead to changes in surface energy and mainly rapid changes of electron–acceptor and electron-donor surface sites. Lactose monohydrate shows dramatic decrease in the surface energy and in the strength of electron-accepting sites on the contrary of spray dried where the acidity of surface increased

Assessing students wellbeing in a spatial dimension

This paper examines the issues related to the double-sided dimension of wellbeing: subjective and objective. In the theoretical framework developed by Fleuret and Atkinson (2007, The New Zealand Geographer 63 106–29), spaces of wellbeing are shaped by four dimensions (spaces of security, spaces of capability, therapeutic spaces and integrative spaces). In the case of the student population in Angers, we observe a major imbalance: the component that really stands out is capability, which is quite logical because students are a population in a transition between youth and adulthood. The results reveal that the student population has a specific relation to space due to a transitory presence in the university town, with, as a consequence, a simultaneous embedding in different places. This could explain why the students do not perceive the characteristics of place to be a major influence on their wellbeing; instead it is the perception they have of their wellbeing that influences their perception of place

Public views on principles for health care priority setting: findings of a European cross-country study using Q methodology

International audienc

Bestial boredom: a biological perspective on animal boredom and suggestions for its scientific investigation

Boredom is likely to have adaptive value in motivating exploration and learning, and many animals may possess the basic neurological mechanisms to support it. Chronic inescapable boredom can be extremely aversive, and understimulation can harm neural, cognitive and behavioural flexibility. Wild and domesticated animals are at particular risk in captivity, which is often spatially and temporally monotonous. Yet biological research into boredom has barely begun, despite having important implications for animal welfare, the evolution of motivation and cognition, and for human dysfunction at individual and societal levels. Here I aim to facilitate hypotheses about how monotony affects behaviour and physiology, so that boredom can be objectively studied by ethologists and other scientists. I cover valence (pleasantness) and arousal (wakefulness) qualities of boredom, because both can be measured, and I suggest boredom includes suboptimal arousal and aversion to monotony. Because the suboptimal arousal during boredom is aversive, individuals will resist low arousal. Thus, behavioural indicators of boredom will, seemingly paradoxically, include signs of increasing drowsiness, alongside bouts of restlessness, avoidance and sensation-seeking behaviour. Valence and arousal are not, however, sufficient to fully describe boredom. For example, human boredom is further characterized by a perception that time ‘drags’, and this effect of monotony on time perception can too be behaviourally assayed in animals. Sleep disruption and some abnormal behaviour may also be caused by boredom. Ethological research into this emotional phenomenon will deepen understanding of its causes, development, function and evolution, and will enable evidence-based interventions to mitigate human and animal boredom

Public consultation changes guidance on the use of health-care interventions. An observational study.

To investigate the responses to public consultation on draft guidance on interventional procedures (IP) for the UK National Health Services, and the changes made as a result of consultation.This article is freely available via Open Access. Click on the 'Additional Link' above to access the full-text via the publisher's site.Published (Open Access

Improving medical students' attitudes towards the chronic sick: a role for social science research

<b>Background</b> Many medical students are negatively disposed toward the elderly and chronic sick. The present study assessed the impact of a community-based teaching initiative, the Life History Project, on students' attitudes to these groups. <p></p> <b>Methods</b> A questionnaire including Likert based responses and free text comments was distributed to all first-year MBChB students after completion of their Life History coursework. Data was analysed using SPSS and content analysis. <p></p> <b>Results</b> A high proportion of students believed the Life History Project had increased their understanding of both psychological and social aspects of health and illness and the role of the humanistic social sciences within this. We discovered that the Life History Project not only gave students first-hand experience of the elderly and chronic sick but also had a positive effect on their attitudes towards these groups. The qualitative free text comments corroborated these views. <p></p> <b>Conclusions</b> It is possible to positively influence medical students' attitudes towards these stigmatised groups; it is therefore important that we continue to enhance opportunities for learning about the impact of chronic illness on individuals and society throughout the curriculum