Henkilöstöresurssien organisointi suuren alusöljyvahingon torjunnassa

Tässä pro gradu -tutkielmassa tarkastellaan henkilöstöresurssien organisointia suuren alusöljyvahingon torjuntatilanteessa. Tavoitteena on suunnitella Suomenlahden rannikon öljyntorjunnasta vastaavien viranomaisten käyttöön optimaalinen rekrytointistrategia pahimman todennäköisen alusöljyvahingon varalle. Tutkimuksessa selvitetään myös millainen työsopimus öljyntorjuntatyöntekijöiden kanssa voidaan sopia. Näiden lisäksi etsitään vastausta siihen,kuinka työvoima saadaan pidettyä. Tämän laadullisen tutkimuksen teoreettinen osuus toteutettiin kirjallisuuskatsauksena. Tutkimuksen empiirinen aineisto kerättiin haastattelemalla yhdeksää asiantuntijaa syksyn 2009 aikana. Haastattelut olivat muodoltaan puolistrukturoituja teemahaastatteluja. Tutkimustulosten mukaan merkittävin lisätyövoiman tarve ilmenee käsin tehtävässä rantapuhdistustyössä. Etenkin puhdistustyön pitkittyessä pelastusviranomaiset tarvitsevat avukseen ulkopuolista työvoimaa. Rekrytointi suoritetaan muutamien viikkojen kuluessa öljyvahingon aiheutumisen jälkeen. Alueellinen pelastuslaitos suorittaa rekrytoinnin käyttäen tehokkaita, laajan kohderyhmän tavoittavia rekrytointiviestinnän välineitä (esim. sanomalehdet, TV ja Internet). Työntekijöiden kanssa sovitaan määräaikainen, Kunnallista virkaja työehtosopimusta noudattava työsopimus. Tärkeimpinä puhdistustyöntekijöitä motivoivina tekijöinä nähdään työn merkitys yhteiskunnalle, selkeästi määritelty, saavutettavissa oleva tavoite sekä palaute tehdystä työstä.

Managing regulatory risks when outsourcing network-related services in the electricity distribution sector

Deregulation of the electricity sector liberated the electricity sale and production for competitive forces while in the network business, electricity transmission and distribution, natural monopoly positions were recognised. Deregulation was accompanied by efficiencyoriented thinking on the whole electricity supply industry. For electricity distribution this meant a transition from a public service towards profit-driven business guided by economic regulation. Regulation is the primary means to enforce societal and other goals in the regulated monopoly sector. The design of economic regulation is concerned with two main attributes; end-customer price and quality of electricity distribution services. Regulation limits the costs of the regulated company but also defines the desired quality of monopoly services. The characteristics of the regulatory framework and the incentives it provides are therefore decisive for the electricity distribution sector. Regulation is not a static factor; changes in the regulatory practices cause discontinuity points, which in turn generate risks. A variety of social and environmental concerns together with technological advancements have emphasised the relevance of quality regulation, which is expected to lead to the large-scale replacement of overhead lines with underground cables. The electricity network construction activity is therefore currently witnessing revolutionary changes in its competitive landscape. In a business characterised by high statutory involvement and a high level of sunk costs, recognising and understanding the regulatory risks becomes a key success factor. As a response, electricity distribution companies have turned into outsourcing to attain efficiency and quality goals. This doctoral thesis addresses the impacts of regulatory risks on electricity network construction, which is a commonly outsourced activity in the electricity distribution network sector. The chosen research approach is characterised as an action analytical research on account of the fact that regulatory risks are greatly dependent on the individual nature of the regulatory regime applied in the electricity distribution sector. The main contribution of this doctoral thesis is to develop a concept for recognising and managing the business risks stemming from economic regulation. The degree of outsourcing in the sector is expected to increase in years to come. The results of the research provide new knowledge to manage the regulatory risks when outsourcing services.

Anthropologists reflecting past, present and future

Raportti: Continuity through change: anthropological perspectives in the contemporary world. The annual convention of Finnish anthropologists in Tampere, 7-8 May, 2009.

Kattava yleisesitys Suomen väestön tilasta ja sen kehityksestä

Kirjallisuusarvostelu

Effect of forest-based biofuels production on carbon footprint, Case: Integrated LWC paper mill

International energy and climate strategies also set Finland’s commitments to increasing the use of renewable energy sources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The target can be achieved by, for example, increasing the use of energy wood. Finland’s forest biomass potential is significant compared with current use. Increased use will change forest management and wood harvesting methods however. The thesis examined the potential for integrated pulp and paper mills to increase bioenergy production. The effects of two bioenergy production technologies on the carbon footprint of an integrated LWC mill were studied at mill level and from the cradle-to-customer approach. The LignoBoost process and FT diesel production were chosen as bioenergy cases. The data for the LignoBoost process were obtained from Metso and for the FT diesel process from Neste Oil. The rest of the information is based on the literature and databases of the KCL-ECO life-cycle computer program and Ecoinvent. In both case studies, the carbon footprint was reduced. From the results, it can be concluded that it is possible to achieve a fossil-fuel-free pulp mill with the LignoBoost process. By using steam from the FT diesel process, the amount of auxiliary fuel can be reduced considerably and the bark boiler can be replaced. With a choice of auxiliary fuels for use in heat production in the paper mill and the production methods for purchased electricity, it is possible to affect the carbon footprints even more in both cases.

The role of power relations in strategic supply management – A value net approach

Supplier relationships are key elements of supply management and thus have attracted substantial research interest among academics and practitioners. The collaborative nature of relationships has been the focus of the mainstream research, and limited interest has been channelled towards power in buyer–supplier relationships. However, power is one of the key factors determining the outcomes in many business relations. Hence, one of the main objectives of this dissertation is to clarify how power may influence the nature of buyer–supplier relationships and, moreover, the depth of collaboration. Another main objective is to clarify the role of power relations in strategic supply management. Given the different nature of relationships, the firm needs divergent strategies in its supply management in order to handle them efficiently. Power has been identified as one of the factors that affect the nature of buyer–supplier relationships, and firms should thus develop strategies for handling power relations. Three research questions are addressed in pursuit of these objectives, the aim being to clarify the sources of power, the influence of power on collaboration, and the role of buyer–supplier relationships in the firm’s supply strategy. This dissertation has two parts. The first part provides a synthesis of the overall dissertation, and the second part comprises five complementary research papers. The qualitative research method is applied in an empirical case study from the Finnish food industry. The main contribution of this dissertation is that it clarifies the role of power relations in strategic supply management in value nets, and discloses the nature of power as an influencing factor in supplier relationships. It extends the discussion on power in buyer– supplier relationships in highlighting the context of networks and raising the question of network effects on power relations. It also illustrates how power positions and power relations in value nets can be determined based on the sources of power of the network actors, and shows their influence on collaboration.

Lappi karttakirjan kertomana

Kirjallisuusarvostelu