Juha Törmänen, Raimo P. Hämäläinen and Esa Saarinen
Systems intelligence (SI) (Saarinen and Hämäläinen, 2004) is a construct defined as a person’s ability to act intelligently within complex systems involving interaction and…
Abstract
Purpose
Systems intelligence (SI) (Saarinen and Hämäläinen, 2004) is a construct defined as a person’s ability to act intelligently within complex systems involving interaction and feedback. SI relates to our ability to act in systems and reason about systems to adaptively carry out productive actions within and with respect to systems such as organizations, family and everyday life. This paper aims to develop an inventory to measure the SI construct.
Design/methodology/approach
A combination of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were carried out using data from self-report questionnaires.
Findings
Eight factors labeled systemic perception, attunement, attitude, spirited discovery, reflection, wise action, positive engagement and effective responsiveness are identified as the main components of SI. SI has associations with emotional intelligence but also captures additional dimensions. People in supervisor positions are found to score higher in a number of the SI factors.
Originality/value
A new measure is developed to evaluate and develop our ability to succeed in systemic contexts. The new measure is suggested to be particularly applicable in organizational contexts. It is directly related to the original core disciplines of the learning organization as described by Senge (1990), in particular personal mastery and systems thinking.
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Olli-Pekka Hilmola, Esa Hämäläinen and Maija Hujala
European paper industry has been struggling with margins and profitability for more than decade time period. At typical in markets of west, paper product demand is at long-term…
Abstract
Purpose
European paper industry has been struggling with margins and profitability for more than decade time period. At typical in markets of west, paper product demand is at long-term decline, mostly driven by continuously increasing internet use. However, in emerging markets demand still exists, and in Europe numerous small markets in east have even some growth available. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors analyse in this research work with longitudinal data (period of 2002-2009) from one large Finnish paper mill and data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach, how distribution efficiency to selected eight East European markets has evolved.
Findings
In general distribution efficiency has improved, but this has taken place in step-wise manner rather than being linear year-to-year development (year 2006 found to be the threshold). Reason is mostly in better management of transportation costs, and in particular lower monthly deviation of these costs. It is surprising that case paper mill has been able to manage transportation costs in rapidly increasing energy cost environment so efficiently. Maybe European Union enlargement of 2004 and 2007 has had its effects on distribution efficiency.
Research limitations/implications
The research is limited to the deliveries of one paper mill located in Finland. Also East European markets in the early periods of this study were emerging papers markets, and distribution practices were clearly evolving.
Practical implications
Based on the study East European paper market distribution should give more attention on transportation cost control, and trying to find solutions to minimize it with low monthly fluctuation.
Originality/value
Very few studies exist from East European distribution issues, and particularly that of paper industry. Also used quantitative method of DEA is relatively new in this context and gives valuable insights for the distribution efficiency development.
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Esa Hämäläinen and Ulla Tapaninen
The purpose of this paper is to reveal how the prices, costs, and logistics develop in the case mill and how these variables correlate with profits, and finally to give…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to reveal how the prices, costs, and logistics develop in the case mill and how these variables correlate with profits, and finally to give suggestions for improvements.
Design/methodology/approach
A typical Finnish paper mill is selected for the basis of the case study. The complete data for the mill for the years 2001 to 2007 at a monthly level are used. The data are obtained from the mill's financial management system and transferred to Excel. Statistica 4.1 software is used to run the statistical correlation analyses. The results can be generalized with certain limitations to paper manufacturing located at a long distance from its customers.
Findings
This paper gives an important insight into the economics of the Finnish paper industry. From theory‐building point of view, the empirical process data show that the variation in production lines is minimal, but there are important variations in paper deliveries. A lot can be gained in the logistics processes. Larger volumes delivered in tons also tend to increase profits. From the mill to the consignees, fluctuations in the process and paper sales grow substantially, which indicates longer storage times.
Research limitations/implications
The results of the case study are based on the data of a single large integrated paper mill in Finland covering the years 2001‐2007, so the results cannot be directly generalized to concern all Nordic paper mills. In May 2005, there was an industrial blackout, which considerably affected the production and deliveries of all Finnish paper mills in that year.
Practical implications
The competitive advantages of the Finnish paper industry are undermined by low paper prices and costly logistics. The mill managers should increasingly focus on overcapacity and cost issues and also deliver volumes, which all could contribute to higher profits.
Originality/value
In this paper, the Finnish paper industry is studied through a time series, economic geography, and statistical tools. This approach is a novel method and gives new insights into this research object. The mill's economic variables, such as paper prices, profits, and logistics and manufacturing costs, and the characteristics of these issues in a spatial context are studied.
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This paper aims to show that systems intelligence (SI) can be a useful perspective in knowledge management, particularly in the context of the socialization, externalization…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to show that systems intelligence (SI) can be a useful perspective in knowledge management, particularly in the context of the socialization, externalization, combination and internalization (SECI) model. SI is a recently developed systemic concept, a certain kind of human intelligence based on a systems thinking perspective.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper first provides an overview of the related literature, and then conceptually discusses the role of SI in organizational knowledge creations.
Findings
SI can work as a powerful momentum in each stage as well as the whole process of SECI.
Originality/value
This paper is the first application of SI to the field of knowledge management. It provides us with a new perspective to touch human factors in knowledge management processes, which are considered to be essential in the SECI model.
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Juha Törmänen, Raimo P. Hämäläinen and Esa Saarinen
This study aims to introduce the perceived systems intelligence (SI) inventory, developed based on the earlier published self-report SI inventory (Törmänen et al., 2016). It can…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to introduce the perceived systems intelligence (SI) inventory, developed based on the earlier published self-report SI inventory (Törmänen et al., 2016). It can be used together with earlier managerial level tools for building a learning organization and included in general 360-style evaluations in personnel development.
Design/methodology/approach
The inventory is validated with confirmatory factor analysis with a model based on the self-report SI inventory, using data from full-time used employees and managers in the USA and UK. Perceived SI factor scores are correlated with the perceived study performance of the individual.
Findings
The perceived SI inventory is found to have good factorial validity, and it correlates strongly with evaluations of perceived study performance. Managers perceived high in performance are also found to score high in perceived SI. Perceived SI does not depend on gender, age, organization size or industry.
Originality/value
The perceived SI inventory is the first personnel level peer evaluation tool suggested for developing learning organizations. The new inventory makes peer evaluations possible and provides a new grassroots level tool for personnel development programs in learning organizations.
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What makes employees feel well within an organization? The aim of the present chapter is to start from a paradigm that emphasizes human relationality, affectivity, and…
Abstract
What makes employees feel well within an organization? The aim of the present chapter is to start from a paradigm that emphasizes human relationality, affectivity, and intersubjective systems, and accordingly focuses on how well-being is emerging from contextual interrelations between employees. Applying this perspective to a qualitative study of nurses in a nursing home, I came to see the work community as a well-being-generating system in which the well-being of individual members is constructed together as an ongoing social accomplishment. In addition, I identified four systemic processes within the work community that greatly influence the well-being-generating capacity of the system.
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Barbara A. Norgard, Michael G. Berger and Christian Plaunt
Fredrick M. Nafukho and Machuma Helen Muyia
The main purpose of using technology in the delivery of virtual learning programs in higher education in Africa is to ensure access and equity as a strategy to develop human…
Abstract
Purpose
The main purpose of using technology in the delivery of virtual learning programs in higher education in Africa is to ensure access and equity as a strategy to develop human resources. Examining how specific educational innovations in higher education are working is necessary. The purpose of this study is to examine the World Bank ' s education policies in Africa with special focus on AVU Kenyatta University Project. In addition, the paper seeks to critically examine the use of information technology (IT) distance learning project initiated by the World Bank in Kenya. The project served as an important pioneering role to eLearning in Africa.
Design/methodology/approach
To achieve the primary purpose of the study, a critical analysis of relevant literature was conducted. The literature search included computerized search of accessible and available material on AVU and distance education in Africa.
Findings
The results of the study show that AVU ' s design and implementation in Africa was initially flawed like many other World Bank education projects. While distance learning should lower costs of higher education, this was not the case. The AVU project was initially faced with challenges, but, over a period of 16 years, the Africa Region is now considered one of the most dynamic e-learning markets on the planet. The continent has witnessed increased digitization of universities, booming enrollment in online higher education and the rapid adoption of self-paced learning.
Research limitations/implications
The concept of virtual learning if appropriately applied could be of great benefit to universities and students in Africa. Thus, design and implementation of innovations in education should be grounded in the relevant theories of learning and should involve educational experts.
Originality/value
There are limited studies that focus on the issues of access, efficiency, equity and use of innovative technologies in the design and successful delivery of virtual learning courses in African universities, hence the importance of this study.
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Olga Vybornova and Jean-Luc Gala
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the decision-making process and provide a decision support framework for deployment of an on-site analytical capacity (a fieldable…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the decision-making process and provide a decision support framework for deployment of an on-site analytical capacity (a fieldable laboratory (FL)) to contain an expanding outbreak and protect public health.
Design/methodology/approach
The FL mission cycle consists of five successive interlinked phases with a set of operational functions (OFs) performed during the mission. The list of phases, OFs and their contents were iteratively developed during and after FL missions and validated with operational partners.
Findings
The well-defined structure of the FL domain appears as the best functional basis for tracking the decision-making process across the whole mission cycle. Description of all the FL elements and information flows addresses the major issue of interoperability of resources used by similar international capacities (inter-)acting as operational partners in global response to the crisis.
Originality/value
The work presents the first attempt in this field to systematically describe and chronologically organize the decisions taken by a FL manager and staff during all phases of the FL mission cycle. Definition of OFs with all the related information flows allows for comparison of procedures, their better planning and refining, validation of protocols, mutual training and operational improvement between FLs from different geographical, organizational and cultural origins.