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Article
Publication date: 17 June 2009

Juha Vaatanen, Daria Podmetina and Rajesh K Pillania

Russia is one of the fastest growing emerging economies and large Russian companies, mainly resource exporters, have entered the global markets in recent years. The…

Abstract

Russia is one of the fastest growing emerging economies and large Russian companies, mainly resource exporters, have entered the global markets in recent years. The internationalization process of Russian enterprises and its implications on foreign direct investment paradigms have attracted global interest. This paper studies the effect of internationalization on the performance of large Russian companies (state‐owned, privatized and de‐novo). The results show that international operations have a significant effect on company performance indicators. Companies with international operations have significantly higher profitability and labor productivity. However, profitability or labor productivity is not significantly higher in the early years of trade liberalization. The positive effects grow gradually with the integration of Russian companies to world markets. Specifically, the expansion of the de‐novo private sector has been strong.

Details

Multinational Business Review, vol. 17 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1525-383X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 November 2018

Juha Koivisto

This paper aims to increase the understanding of involvement and participation in the co-design of an outcome-based procurement.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to increase the understanding of involvement and participation in the co-design of an outcome-based procurement.

Design/methodology/approach

First, it presents a relational model for performing co-design activities. Second, it examines how the model might be applied in performing an outcome-based procurement. Third, it presents a Web-based platform for co-designing procurement, developed according to the relational model. Fourth, it illustrates the model with a concrete procurement where the collaboration is mainly performed face to face, but partly mediated by the Web-based platform.

Findings

As a conclusion, the relational co-design model seems to work well in framing the core tasks of an outcome-based procurement. In spite of that, the Web-based platform does not direct the user enough to perform procurement.

Details

Journal of Public Procurement, vol. 18 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1535-0118

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 11 January 2016

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.

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 21 July 2023

Harry Edelman, Joel Stenroos, Jorge Peña Queralta, David Hästbacka, Jani Oksanen, Tomi Westerlund and Juha Röning

Connecting autonomous drones to ground operations and services is a prerequisite for the adoption of scalable and sustainable drone services in the built environment. Despite the…

Abstract

Purpose

Connecting autonomous drones to ground operations and services is a prerequisite for the adoption of scalable and sustainable drone services in the built environment. Despite the rapid advance in the field of autonomous drones, the development of ground infrastructure has received less attention. Contemporary airport design offers potential solutions for the infrastructure serving autonomous drone services. To that end, this paper aims to construct a framework for connecting air and ground operations for autonomous drone services. Furthermore, the paper defines the minimum facilities needed to support unmanned aerial vehicles for autonomous logistics and the collection of aerial data.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews the state-of-the-art in airport design literature as the basis for analysing the guidelines of manned aviation applicable to the development of ground infrastructure for autonomous drone services. Socio-technical system analysis was used for identifying the service needs of drones.

Findings

The key findings are functional modularity based on the principles of airport design applies to micro-airports and modular service functions can be connected efficiently with an autonomous ground handling system in a sustainable manner addressing the concerns on maintenance, reliability and lifecycle.

Research limitations/implications

As the study was limited to the airport design literature findings, the evolution of solutions may provide features supporting deviating approaches. The role of autonomy and cloud-based service processes are quintessentially different from the conventional airport design and are likely to impact real-life solutions as the area of future research.

Practical implications

The findings of this study provided a framework for establishing the connection between the airside and the landside for the operations of autonomous aerial services. The lack of such framework and ground infrastructure has hindered the large-scale adoption and easy-to-use solutions for sustainable logistics and aerial data collection for decision-making in the built environment.

Social implications

The evolution of future autonomous aerial services should be accessible to all users, “democratising” the use of drones. The data collected by drones should comply with the privacy-preserving use of the data. The proposed ground infrastructure can contribute to offloading, storing and handling aerial data to support drone services’ acceptability.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the paper describes the first design framework for creating a design concept for a modular and autonomous micro-airport system for unmanned aviation based on the applied functions of full-size conventional airports.

Details

Facilities , vol. 41 no. 15/16
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-2772

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 28 December 2022

Ilari Valtonen, Samu Rautio and Juha-Matti Lehtonen

In this study, the authors explore how novel and relevant technologies can change the overall design of systems, and which factors influence the design of resilient systems in…

Abstract

Purpose

In this study, the authors explore how novel and relevant technologies can change the overall design of systems, and which factors influence the design of resilient systems in particular. After evaluating the effects of these factors, the authors describe the potential role of AM-supported maintenance operations in military logistics and draw broader conclusions regarding designing for resilience.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors build a simulation model of the AM-supported maintenance capability of a mechanised battalion to analyse factors affecting its resilience. AM production capacity specifically refers to metal printing and was verified by data generated from 3D printing of the actual APC parts.

Findings

The current AM speed is not able to increase resilience at the depot level, so at present, increasing the spare parts inventory is a better way to improve resilience. However, with future improvements in speed the AM may become feasible in battlefield maintenance.

Practical implications

AM holds great promise in increasing resilience of especially the spare part logistics. At present technology, it is not yet fully realised in the case.

Originality/value

The authors suggest a concrete system performance measure, where reaching a concrete limit, system resilience is lost. The authors present arguments for a definition of resilience where pre-disruption activities are not part of resilience. The authors maintain that simulation, with its ability to include detail, is well-suited in design-for-resilience because supply chains are context dependent and disruptions unexpected.

Details

Continuity & Resilience Review, vol. 5 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2516-7502

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 26 September 2022

Annukka Berg, Katriina Alhola, Juha Peltomaa and Satu Tietari

Public procurement is a major driving force that can be used to advance societal goals such as sustainability. The lack of strategic management and top-level commitment have been…

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Abstract

Purpose

Public procurement is a major driving force that can be used to advance societal goals such as sustainability. The lack of strategic management and top-level commitment have been found to be major hindrances to the promotion of sustainable public procurement (SPP). This study aims to examine the functioning of a successful Finnish SPP development programme, the KEINO Academy (2019–2020), that tackled these challenges in a holistic way.

Design/methodology/approach

The article is mainly based on qualitative analysis of interviews with 24 municipal representatives.

Findings

The KEINO Academy advanced SPP management through the following functions: legitimising SPP development work, structuring SPP development work, offering expert support and facilitating peer support. The functions were mainly able to meet the key challenges experienced by the participating municipalities. However, some challenges cannot be directly solved by an intermediary such as the KEINO Academy. These challenges include, for example, a lack of resources.

Social implications

On the basis of the study, SPP development programmes should: build a holistic working model; respect the versatility of the participating organisations; involve all the key people in the organisations, including the directors; and sustain change.

Originality/value

The main theoretical contribution is the combination of two streams of literature, those of SPP management and intermediary functions. Further, the article makes an empirical contribution by studying the KEINO Academy as a pioneering SPP development case.

Article
Publication date: 1 April 2000

Juha Nurmela

The aim of this article is threefold: first, to discuss a framework for understanding the penetration of information and communication technology (ICT) in Western households and…

1683

Abstract

The aim of this article is threefold: first, to discuss a framework for understanding the penetration of information and communication technology (ICT) in Western households and the abundance of associated risks such as capability deficits, a network society exclusive to internet users leading increasingly to net addicts living in virtual worlds and to new technology asserting new controls and diminishing productive and social human roles; second, to present some pertinent results from a survey conducted in Finnish households describing the selection and adoption of new ICT, regional differences in its use, the rate of growth in its availability and criteria for assessing the success of technology policies; and thirdly, to conceptualize the coming of the information society from the viewpoint of futures research given that much of the information society exists only in the mythical world of advertisements while the real society still retains many of its traditional features. The main conclusion is that the knowledge society, in contrast with the information society, will require the transparency and equality of human‐technology transactions. The ICT already gives possibilities for building explicit knowledge into society such that citizens and consumers are able to make better decisions in terms of being more informed.

Details

Foresight, vol. 2 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-6689

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 25 November 2019

Ulrika Uotila, Arto Saari and Juha-Matti Junnonen

This study aims to present property management challenges that municipalities have encountered regarding a public building with noted building-related symptoms. The study goes on…

1259

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to present property management challenges that municipalities have encountered regarding a public building with noted building-related symptoms. The study goes on to provide reasons for the failure of attempts to manage the symptoms and discusses the current challenges concerning the process.

Design/methodology/approach

A participatory case study was used as the research methodology to identify the current challenges concerning a municipal approach to managing the building-related symptoms in a case-study building. The researchers scrutinised the history of the health symptom management process and attended the project planning meetings focused on the investigation of the condition of the building.

Findings

Multiple challenges concerning maintenance and omitted or postponed repair actions, as well as vagueness in the management process were found. In addition to this, it was noted that the complexity of the initial design of the building and vandalism have resulted in challenges for the maintenance and moisture performance of the building structures. According to the study, more orderliness and a more systematic process is needed when managing a municipal property.

Practical implications

The identified property management challenges may be of practical value for the facility managers and the property owners, especially when managing the building-related symptoms and a damaged building.

Originality/value

This study highlights the importance of having an in-depth understanding of condition assessments as well as proper maintenance and timely repairs for the successful management of the building-related symptoms in a municipal building. This is a pilot project in a larger project of management of building refurbishment.

Details

Facilities , vol. 38 no. 5/6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-2772

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 March 2017

Juha Halme

The purpose of this paper is to theoretically explain the significance of discourse for the construction of the legitimacy of place marketing practice, and to illustrate…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to theoretically explain the significance of discourse for the construction of the legitimacy of place marketing practice, and to illustrate empirically how this is done in a “genre of strategy”.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper applies a critical discourse analysis perspective, and utilises a theoretical framework of four legitimation strategies of authorisation, moral evaluation, rationalisation and mythopoesis to analyse how the legitimacy of a place marketing project carried out in the region of North Karelia, Finland, is discursively constructed within strategic documents of the project.

Findings

Several discursive legitimation strategies were recognised. The authority of the project was constructed by referring to the organisational context of the project, while rational and moral legitimation strategies drew from hegemonic discourses of regional competitiveness, attractiveness and cooperation. These discourses were further connected to discussions of contemporary regional development in Finland and in Europe.

Research limitations/implications

While the paper underlines the significance of the “genre of strategy” for the discursive legitimation of place marketing projects, it points out that it does not extend to cover the reception or change over time of the legitimation strategies, that should be addressed in further studies.

Originality/value

The paper presents an original perspective on legitimacy of place marketing projects by introducing discourse as a central element in the construction of legitimacy. This is especially useful for critical purposes, as it allows the discourses that legitimise place marketing practice to be placed under scrutiny, hence opening up the possibility for alternative discourses to emerge.

Details

Journal of Place Management and Development, vol. 10 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1753-8335

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 9 May 2016

Juha Munnukka, Outi Uusitalo and Hanna Toivonen

Advertisers use various tactics to influence consumer purchases and create positive associations with their brands. The purpose of this study is to explore the formation of…

12419

Abstract

Purpose

Advertisers use various tactics to influence consumer purchases and create positive associations with their brands. The purpose of this study is to explore the formation of peer-endorser credibility and its influence on attitude formation. The role of product involvement in the formation of attitudes and endorser credibility is also examined.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative study was conducted among university students. Data were collected using an online questionnaire concerning three advertisements for which identical questionnaires were constructed; 364 responses were generated.

Findings

The authors show that the credibility of a peer endorser is constructed from trustworthiness, expertise, similarity and attractiveness dimensions that positively affect consumers’ attitude toward an advertisement and a brand. Product involvement affects advertising effectiveness indirectly through the endorser-credibility construct. Finally, the authors show that a consumer’s experience with an advertised product affects the perception of endorser credibility and the effectiveness of the advertisement.

Originality/value

The findings reveal new insights into the little studied area of peer-endorser effectiveness. The authors shed light on the construction of peer endorser credibility and the relative importance of specific credibility dimensions on the effectiveness of an advertisement. This study also provides information on the direct and indirect effects of consumers’ brand involvement on attitudes toward advertisements.

Details

Journal of Consumer Marketing, vol. 33 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0736-3761

Keywords

1 – 10 of 266