Sakari Luukkainen, Mikko Karjalainen, Juha Winter and Mehrdad Bagheri Majdabadi
The aim of this paper is to identify promoting and restraining factors of a novel mobile service in the pedestrian safety area.
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to identify promoting and restraining factors of a novel mobile service in the pedestrian safety area.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper uses the case study methodology that focus on analyzing a specific case of mobile safety services in depth. A case study is especially suitable for an emerging case, such as pedestrian safety, where the aim is to identify relevant influencing factors of the particular case and not to generalize the findings. To gather data for case study analysis, several expert interviews were performed. Because they provided a large volume of data, the Service, Technology, Organization, and Finance business model framework was used as a way of structuring the analysis.
Findings
The main restraining factors are end-user value proposition, battery life, accuracy of GPS positioning and the revenue model. However, the service could improve traffic safety considerably and it should be introduced first locally in places, where many accidents take place. There is a great interest on driver data, which could be the main advantage for this service in the future. Integration to navigation products would complement the service significantly.
Originality/value
Current traffic safety-related literature covers mainly technical issues, and there are only few papers related to business model issues on that particular service. Observations of the various factors affecting the related evolution at an early phase of the life-cycle support further service design process.
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Ulrika Uotila, Arto Saari and Juha-Matti Junnonen
Public authorities are required to organise new facilities to respond to changed user demands in terms of a public-owned school. The number of pupils attending the case study…
Abstract
Purpose
Public authorities are required to organise new facilities to respond to changed user demands in terms of a public-owned school. The number of pupils attending the case study school will increase in the following years, as will the number of children attending a day nursery located on the present campus. In addition, the users of the campus have complained of building-related symptoms. This study aims to understand the municipal decision-making process in organising the school’s facilities, in particular, the factors used for decreasing uncertainty around a project.
Design/methodology/approach
This study is a case study undertaken through an action research approach. The researchers participated in the project planning meetings concerning the future activities to take place in the building.
Findings
Over a 13-month period, multiple stakeholders participated in the project planning meetings providing a deeper understanding of the space demands posed, current challenges and opportunities offered by the existing building. In addition, the alternative solutions generated were evaluated. The problem identification and information gathering periods lasted over nine months, which was far longer than predicted. Thus, generating alternative solutions and evaluation of the solutions also delayed. As the entire process was delayed substantially, the final decision on organising the facilities was not made during this research.
Practical implications
This research may be of practical value for a property owner and a project team for decision-making concerning changed facility demands.
Originality/value
This paper provides information about how public authorities are making decisions on facility organisation during conditions of uncertainty.
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Describes the materials and methods used in the building of two multipurpose icebreaker vessels by a Finnish shipyard. Details the different welding processes used for each vessel…
Abstract
Describes the materials and methods used in the building of two multipurpose icebreaker vessels by a Finnish shipyard. Details the different welding processes used for each vessel and the welding consumables chosen for each of the vessels' hulls.
Henrikki Tikkanen, Juha‐Antti Lamberg, Petri Parvinen and Juha‐Pekka Kallunki
The purpose of the paper was to outline a generic framework for the business model and illuminate its linkages to managerial cognition.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the paper was to outline a generic framework for the business model and illuminate its linkages to managerial cognition.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper reviewed the focal literature focusing on the actions and evolution of a firm and built a synthesis that describes the different components of a business model.
Findings
The main finding was that a business model is essentially both a cognitive phenomenon as well as being built on the material aspects of a firm.
Research limitations/implications
The paper proposes that the business model can be scrutinized in future studies, especially from the viewpoints of cognition, thus creating new avenues for intra‐firm evolutionary studies.
Practical implications
The paper found several implications for practising managers. First, the concept itself creates possibilities for self‐analysis and scenario building. Second, the understanding that a business model is systemic helps managers to evaluate their actions vis‐à‐vis the evolutionary path of the business model. Third, the outlined business model is useful in executive education as it creates a cognitive map of the various aspects of business activities.
Originality/value
The paper offers new insights into the functions and evolution of firms and will be of interest to both researchers and practising managers.
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Ulrika Uotila, Arto Saari, Juha-Matti Kalevi Junnonen and Lari Eskola
Poor indoor air quality in schools is a worldwide challenge that poses health risks to pupils and teachers. A possible response to this problem is to modify ventilation…
Abstract
Purpose
Poor indoor air quality in schools is a worldwide challenge that poses health risks to pupils and teachers. A possible response to this problem is to modify ventilation. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to pilot a process of generating alternatives for ventilation redesign, in an early project phase, for a school to be refurbished. Here, severe problems in indoor air quality have been found in the school.
Design/methodology/approach
Ventilation redesign is investigated in a case study of a school, in which four alternative ventilation strategies are generated and evaluated. The analysis is mainly based on the data gathered from project meetings, site visits and the documents provided by ventilation and condition assessment consultants.
Findings
Four potential strategies to redesign ventilation in the case school are provided for decision-making in refurbishment in the early project phase. Moreover, the research presents several features to be considered when planning the ventilation strategy of an existing school, including the risk of alterations in air pressure through structures; the target number of pupils in classrooms; implementing and operating costs; and the size of the space that ventilation equipment requires.
Research limitations/implications
As this study focusses on the early project phase, it provides viewpoints to assist decision-making, but the final decision requires still more accurate calculations and simulations.
Originality/value
This study demonstrates the decision-making process of ventilation redesign of a school with indoor air problems and provides a set of features to be considered. Hence, it may be beneficial for building owners and municipal authorities who are engaged in planning a refurbishment of an existing building.
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Anna Tanskanen, Ari Jantunen, Juha‐Matti Saksa, Jarmo Partanen and Jukka Bergman
The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the governance choices of firms operating in the electricity distribution network operation activities. The study aims to consider…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the governance choices of firms operating in the electricity distribution network operation activities. The study aims to consider both costs and benefits of different governance choices and to examine which of the activities could be outsourced and which it is preferable to keep in‐house. The study makes a distinction between the electricity retail services and electricity distribution network activities and focuses solely on the network business.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is based on a four‐staged process and utilizes the extended transaction cost economics as a theoretical framework. The research design includes in‐depth interviews with ten managers and CEOs of Finnish electrical utilities, analysis and interpretation of findings and verification of results by electricity network business experts.
Findings
The extended transactional cost economics theoretical framework and research design support analysis of governance structures and make‐or‐buy decisions. The findings demonstrate that the activities of the companies operating in the electricity distribution business differ in terms of potential long‐term efficiency effects when sourced from the market or made in‐house. The determinants of the governance choice depend partly on the nature and strategic importance of the activity in question. Operations management seems to be a function to be kept in‐house in the current market situation, whereas there are clear potential benefits that can be obtained by outsourcing field work activities. The results related to the governance of control room activities are more complicated.
Originality/value
This study brings not only the transaction costs but also the benefit‐side and the dynamic aspects of boundary choices under assessment.
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Anne Laakkonen and Juha Kansikas
This qualitative study attempts to understand what kinds of evolutionary selection and variation occur in family businesses during the preparation of a managerial and ownership…
Abstract
Purpose
This qualitative study attempts to understand what kinds of evolutionary selection and variation occur in family businesses during the preparation of a managerial and ownership succession.
Design/methodology/approach
The study was conducted by interviewing members of one family business in Louisiana, USA and one in Finland in order to contribute to the understanding of succession preparation in small family businesses with two generations. Evolutionary economics was adapted for this interdisciplinary study to explain evolutionary changes in a family business succession.
Findings
The findings indicate that both selection and variation can take place through different routes during the preparatory phase of a family business succession. Selection is influenced both by the founder and next generations. However, it does not occur in company A due to the reluctance of the younger generation. In company B selection is processed through joint thinking and visioning. This will lead to variation which is shaped by both generations.
Research limitations/implications
This study is based on qualitative interpretation. Limitations of the study are the small number of informants and the lack of generalization of the results.
Practical implications
This study shows that selection and variation are intertwined. If selection does not occur in a family business, it leads to no variation between the generations. However, exits are possible; death and birth of companies are part of the life cycle of family businesses.
Originality/value
Evolutionary thinking has not been studied recently among family firms except in the field of evolutionary psychology. Evolutionary thinking offers a variety of topics to study in the future.
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Jaakko Aspara, Juha‐Antti Lamberg, Arjo Laukia and Henrikki Tikkanen
This paper aims to offer a conceptualization of how and why corporate level strategic change may build on historical differentiation at business unit level.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to offer a conceptualization of how and why corporate level strategic change may build on historical differentiation at business unit level.
Design/methodology/approach
Methodologically, an historical case study of Nokia Corporation's drastic business model transformation between the years 1987 and 1995 is reported.
Findings
The conceptual and historical work results in a process model of business model change, demonstrating how central business units feed strategic alternatives and capabilities to the corporate‐level transformation process.
Practical implications
The results highlight the importance of corporate level “market mechanisms' that allow promising strategic alternatives to emerge and select out inferior options. In this process, a key mechanism is the exchange of executives and cognitive mindsets between business units and corporate headquarters (CHQ).
Originality/value
The reported research offers an original contribution by showing the dynamic interplay of cognitive and organizational change processes, and highlighting the importance of building on existing capabilities and competencies despite the pressure to demonstrate strong turnaround activities.