Suomen ICT-sektori vuonna 2015

T��ss�� diplomity��ss�� ���Suomen ICT-sektori vuonna 2015��� k��sitell����n Suomen tietoyhteiskunnan ja tietotekniikan tulevaisuutta kansainv��lisest�� ja kansallisesta n��k��kulmasta. Se koskee niin Yhdysvaltojen, Japanin, Euroopan Unionin kuin Suomenkin tietoyhteiskuntia. Suomen tietoyhteiskunnan ja EU:n ICT-sektorin vahvuudet, heikkoudet, uhat ja mahdollisuudet k��yv��t t��st�� diplomity��st�� ilmi. Yhdysvallat, Japani ja EU toimivat suunnan antajana Suomen ICT-sektorin tulevaisuudelle. Euroopan Unioni on laatinut ICT-sektoria ja koko EU:ta koskevan Lissabonin strategian, joka k��sitt���� niin EU:n eri kansakuntia koskevan taloudellisen panostuksen, innovaatiokehityksen, koulutuksen kuin tutkimuksen ja tuotekehityksenkin. Suomen tietoyhteiskunta on monilla alueilla maailman k��rkitasoa, muutamilla sen keskitasoa. Suomen tietoyhteiskunnan vahvuudet, heikkoudet, uhat ja mahdollisuudet on kartoitettu Suomen tietoyhteiskuntastrategiassa vuosille 2007-2015. Se k��sitt���� ne keinot, mill�� Suomi pystyy tulemaan kansainv��lisesti tasapainoiseksi, hyv��ksi ja houkuttelevaksi paikaksi asua ja ty��skennell�� sek�� se k��sitt���� ne keinot, jolla Suomen kilpailukyky taataan globaalisti kiristyv��ss�� kilpailutilanteessa.

Older consumers adopting information and communication technology: Evaluating opportunities for health care applications

The purpose of this dissertation is to analyse older consumers' adoption of information and communication technology innovations, assess the effect of aging related characteristic, and evaluate older consumers' willingness to apply these technologies in health care services. This topic is considered important, because the population in Finland (as in other welfare states) is aging and thus offers a possibility for marketers, but on the other hand threatens society with increasing costs for healthcare. Innovation adoption has been under research from several aspects in both organizational and consumer research. In the consumer behaviour, several theories have been developed to predict consumer responses to innovation. The present dissertation carefully reviews previous research and takes a closer look at the theory of planned behaviour, technology acceptance model and diffusion of innovations perspective. It is here suggested that there is a possibility that these theories can be combined and complemented to predict the adoption of ICT innovations among aging consumers, taking the aging related personal characteristics into account. In fact, there are very few studies that have concentrated on aging consumers in the innovation research, and thus there was a clear indent for the present research. ICT in the health care context has been studied mainly from the organizational point of view. If the technology is thus applied for the communication between the individual end-user and service provider, the end-user cannot be shrugged off. The present dissertation uses empirical evidence from a survey targeted to 55-79 year old people from one city in Southern-Carelia. The empirical analysis of the research model was mainly based on structural equation modelling that has been found very useful on estimating causal relationships. The tested models were targeted to predict the adoption stage of personal computers and mobile phones, and the adoption intention of future health services that apply these devices for communication. The present dissertation succeeded in modelling the adoption behaviour of mobile phones and PCs as well as adoption intentions of future services. Perceived health status and three components behind it (depression, functional ability, and cognitive ability) were found to influence perception of technology anxiety. Better health leads to less anxiety. The effect of age was assessed as a control variable, in order to evaluate its effect compared to health characteristics. Age influenced technology perceptions, but to lesser extent compared to health. The analyses suggest that the major determinant for current technology adoption is perceived behavioural control, and additionally technology anxiety that indirectly inhibit adoption through perceived control. When focusing on future service intentions, the key issue is perceived usefulness that needs to be highlighted when new services are launched. Besides usefulness, the perception of online service reliability is important and affects the intentions indirectly. To conclude older consumers' adoption behaviour is influenced by health status and age, but also by the perceptions of anxiety and behavioural control. On the other hand, launching new types of health services for aging consumers is possible after the service is perceived reliable and useful.

Suorituskyvyn analysointij��rjestelm��n rakentaminen pk-yrityksess��

Tutkimuksen p����tavoite oli kehitt���� suorituskyvyn analysointij��rjestelm�� metalliteollisuuden alihankintaa suorittavalle pk-yritykselle. Lis��ksi tutkittiin toimintatapoja, jotka edesauttavat menestyksekk����n analysointij��rjestelm��n rakentamista. Tutkimuksessa k��siteltiin my��s mittausj��rjestelm��n hy��tyj�� ja haittoja pk-yritykselle. Tutkimuksen teoreettisessa osassa k��sitell����n yleisesti suorituskyky��, esitell����n erilaisia suorituskyvyn analysointij��rjestelmi�� ja selvitet����n j��rjestelmien eroja. Lis��ksi esitell����n erilaisia prosessimalleja, joiden avulla yritys voi rakentaa suorituskyvyn analysointij��rjestelm��n. Tutkimuksen empiirisess�� osassa esitell����n yrityksess�� l��pik��yty prosessimalli, jonka avulla rakennettiin suorituskyvyn analysointij��rjestelm��. Yrityksess�� l��pik��ydyn prosessin pohjana toimi SAKE-prosessimalli, mutta ideoita haettiin my��s Toivasen mallista. Tutkimuksen tuloksena syntyi teoreettinen paketti suorituskyvyn analysoinnista ja malli suorituskyvyn analysointij��rjestelm��st��. Teoreettinen paketti toimi hyv��n�� pohjana ja tarjosi taustatietoa aiheesta projektissa mukana olleille henkil��ille. Tutkimuksen tuloksena syntynyt malli soveltuu parhaiten metallin mekaanista ty��st���� suorittavalle yritykselle, mutta my��s muut yritykset voivat ottaa t��st�� mallia. Hy��dyllisimm��ksi n��k��kulmaksi voi nostaa itse prosessin, jonka avulla p����st����n tarkastelemaan yrityksen menestymisen taustalla olevia tekij��it��.

Competence Development and Capacity Building of Sawmill Enterprises in Kenya ��� A Human Resources Development Approach

The Kenyan forestry and sawmilling industry have been subject to a changing environment since 1999 when the industrial forest plantations were closed down. This has lowered raw material supply and it has affected and reduced the sawmill operations and the viability of the sawmill enterprises. The capacity of the 276 registered sawmills is not sufficient to fulfill sawn timber demand in Kenya. This is because of the technological degradation and lack of a qualified labor force, which were caused because of non-existent sawmilling education and further training in Kenya. Lack of competent sawmill workers has led to low raw material recovery, under utilization of resources and loss of employment. The objective of the work was to suggest models, methods and approaches for the competence and capacity development of the Kenyan sawmilling industry, sawmills and their workers. A nationwide field survey, interviews, questionnaire and literature review was used for data collection to find out the sawmills��� competence development areas and to suggest models and methods for their capacity building. The sampling frame included 22 sawmills that represented 72,5% of all the registered sawmills in Kenya. The results confirmed that the sawmills��� technological level was backwards, productivity low, raw material recovery unacceptable and workers��� professional education low. The future challenges will be how to establish the sawmills��� capacity building and workers��� competence development. Sawmilling industry development requires various actions through new development models and approaches. Activities should be started for technological development and workers��� competence development. This requires re-starting of vocational training in sawmilling and the establishment of more effective co-operation between the sawmills and their stakeholder groups. In competence development the Enterprise Competence Management Model of Nurminen (2007) can be used, whereas the best training model and approach would be a practically oriented learning at work model in which the short courses, technical assistance and extension services would be the key functions.

Palveluv��yl���� hy��dynt��v��t j��rjestelm��integraatiot

T��ss�� ty��ss�� kuvataan Lahti Fenix Kuntalaistilij��rjestelm��n ja Tekla Xcity-j��rjestelm��n v��lille toteutetun j��rjestelm��integraation eri vaiheet. Kuntalaistilij��rjestelm�� on Lahden kaupungin Fenix-hankkeessa kehitteill�� oleva s��hk��inen palvelualusta, jota pitkin kuntalaisille tarjotaan erilaisia kunnallisia palveluja, kuten vastaanottoaikoja hammasl����k��rille. Tekla Xcity on kuntien ja kaupunkien k��ytt����n tarkoitettu j��rjestelm��, josta on mahdollista hakea esimerkiksi henkil��- ja paikkatietoja. Aluksi ty��ss�� esitell����n lyhyesti erilaisia tapoja toteuttaa j��rjestelm��integraatioita. Seuraavaksi kiinnitet����n erityist�� huomiota niin sanottuihin web-palveluihin, joiden etuja ja haittoja arvioidaan k��yt��nn��n esimerkin kautta. T��ss�� pidet����n viitekehyksen�� Kuntalaistilij��rjestelm���� ja siin�� k��ytetty�� palvelukeskeist�� arkkitehtuuria. Arkkitehtuurin ja viestiliikenneratkaisujen arvioinnin j��lkeen siirryt����n k��yt��nn��n osuuteen, jossa itse j��rjestelm��integraatio toteutetaan. J��rjestelm��integraatio toteutetaan k��ytt��en avoimen l��hdekoodin palveluv��yl���� ja sille saatavissa olevia viestint��kehyksi��. Integraation eri vaiheissa tutustutaan erilaisiin viestiliikenneprotokolliin ja niiden k��ytt����n valittujen viestint��kehysten kanssa. Kunkin protokollan toimivuus varmennetaan analysoimalla integraatioon liittyvien komponenttien ja p����tepisteiden v��list�� tietoliikennett��.

Innovativeness in an industrial enterprise

Innovativeness is one of the most important factors of a successful and competitive company, and because of this every company wants to be more and more innovative. The purpose of this study is to clarify the current state of the case company���s innovativeness with the help of a questionnaire survey based on characteristics of an innovative company presented in the literature. In addition, an action plan for improving the case company���s innovativeness is formulated. Based on theoretical background the components of an innovative company can be divided in six classes. These classes are innovation strategy, innovation management, cooperation and communication, idea management, support mechanisms and innovative organizational culture. The empirical study proves that there are notable differences between and inside these previously mentioned classes within the case company. The study indicates also that although systematic innovation activities are rather new issues to the case company, the prerequisites for innovation and innovativeness exist. In order to be able to develop its innovativeness, the case company should invest resources in aligning its innovation operations towards a more systematic approach. However, perceivable results in the company���s innovativeness can be achieved by proper communication.

Technological and business challenges of smart grids

Growing recognition of the electricity grid modernization to enable new electricity generation and consumption schemes has found articulation in the vision of the Smart Grid platform. The essence of this vision is an autonomous network with two-way electricity power flows and extensive real-time information between the generation nodes, various electricity-dependent appliances and all points in-between. Three major components of the Smart Grids are distributed intelligence, communication technologies, and automated control systems. The aim of this thesis is to recognize the challenges that Smart Grids are facing, while extinguishing the main driving factors for their introduction. The scope of the thesis also covers possible place of electricity Aggregator Company in the current and future electricity markets. Basic functions of an aggregator and possible revenue sources along with demand response feasibility calculations are reviewed within this thesis.

On Doing Successful ICT Business with Russian Manufacturing Enterprises

This Master���s thesis addresses different approaches using which a foreign IT company could enter Russian manufacturing industry with its enterprise information systems and IT services. In order to define the most suitable market entry approach, several aspects related to Russian manufacturing enterprises are studied. These aspects include challenges of doing ICT business with the previously mentioned enterprises, their perception of ICT role and their ICT preferences, as well as their buying behavior related to acquisition of information systems (IS). The study results show that there are several challenges that can be faced by a foreign IT vendor when starting conducting ICT business with Russian manufacturing enterprises. The results also show that Russian manufacturing industry is still rather immature in sense of business process automation, and its IT buying behavior is rather specific and complicated. The results suggest that an efficient way to approach these enterprises is through a network of trusted partners that consists of reliable Russian IS integrators and business consultants having established connections to Russian manufacturing companies and possessing the needed competence.

Distributed ControlArchitecture of Power Electronics Building-Block-Based Frequency Converters

The increasing power demand and emerging applications drive the design of electrical power converters into modularization. Despite the wide use of modularized power stage structures, the control schemes that are used are often traditional, in other words, centralized. The flexibility and re-usability of these controllers are typically poor. With a dedicated distributed control scheme, the flexibility and re-usability of the system parts, building blocks, can be increased. Only a few distributed control schemes have been introduced for this purpose, but their breakthrough has not yet taken place. A demand for the further development offlexible control schemes for building-block-based applications clearly exists. The control topology, communication, synchronization, and functionality allocationaspects of building-block-based converters are studied in this doctoral thesis. A distributed control scheme that can be easily adapted to building-block-based power converter designs is developed. The example applications are a parallel and series connection of building blocks. The building block that is used in the implementations of both the applications is a commercial off-the-shelf two-level three-phase frequency converter with a custom-designed controller card. The major challenge with the parallel connection of power stages is the synchronization of the building blocks. The effect of synchronization accuracy on the system performance is studied. The functionality allocation and control scheme design are challenging in the seriesconnected multilevel converters, mainly because of the large number of modules. Various multilevel modulation schemes are analyzed with respect to the implementation, and this information is used to develop a flexible control scheme for modular multilevel inverters.

Energiatehokkuuden parantaminen teollisuushalleissa - Etel��-Karjalan pienten ja keskisuurten konepaja- ja kunnossapitoyritysten energiaohjelma

Ty��n tarkoituksena on lis��t�� Etel��-Karjalan pienten ja keskisuurten konepaja- ja kunnossapitoyritysten tietoisuutta energiatehokkuudesta sek�� muista niit�� koskettavista energia-asioista. Tietoisuuden lis����miseksi tutkittiin yritysten energiankulutusta ja kulutustapoja. Tutkimusten pohjalta on kehitetty ty��kalu, energiaohjelma, jonka avulla tutkimuksen kohteena olleet yritykset voivat itse tarkastella omaa energiankulutustaan ja ���tehokkuuttaan. Energiaohjelmaa l��hdettiin kehittelem����n tutkimuksessa mukana olevan yritysryhm����n kuuluvien yritysten haastattelujen pohjalta. Lis��ksi muutamiin kohteisiin k��ytiin tutustumassa energiatehokkuuden mahdollisiin parannuskohtiin paikan p����ll��. Ohjelma muodostettiin n��iss�� tapahtumissa havainnoitujen tarpeiden pohjalta. Haastattelujen lis��ksi tutkimuksessa on k��ytetty l��hteen�� my��s kirjallisuutta, t��rkeimpin�� Suomen rakentamism����r��yskokoelmat. Ohjelman testausta varten toteutettiin pilottiprojekti, josta saatiin laskennallisesti lupaavia tuloksia. L��mm��ntalteenoton lis����minen teollisuushallin poistoilmaan osoittautui hyv��ksi tavaksi lis��t�� pilottiprojektissa mukana olleen yrityksen energiatehokkuutta ja hankkeen takaisinmaksuaika j��i alhaiseksi. Jatkoa ajatellen olisi hyv��, jos ohjelmaa voitaisiin kehitt���� edelleen samankaltaisten kohteiden avulla enemm��n yrityksi�� palvelevaksi kokonaisuudeksi.

Knowledge Sharing between Generations in an Organisation - Retention of the Old or Building the New?

The study explores knowledge transfer between retiring employees and their successors in expert work. My aim is to ascertain whether there is knowledge development or building new knowledge related to this organisational knowledge transfer between generations; in other words, is the transfer of knowledge from experienced, retiring employees to their successors merely retention of the existing organisational knowledge by distributing it from one individual to another or does this transfer lead to building new and meaningful organisational knowledge. I call knowledge transfer between generations and the possibly related knowledge building in this study knowledge sharing between generations. The study examines the organisation and knowledge management from a knowledge-based and constructionist view. From this standpoint, I see knowledge transfer as an interactive process, and the exploration is based on how the people involved in this process understand and experience the phenomenon studied. The research method is organisational ethnography. I conducted the analysis of data using thematic analysis and the articulation method, which has not been used before in organisational knowledge studies. The primary empirical data consists of theme interviews with twelve employees involved in knowledge transfer in the organisation being studied and five follow-up theme interviews. Six of the interviewees are expert duty employees due to retire shortly, and six are their successors. All those participating in the follow-up interviews are successors of those soon to retire from their expert responsibilities. The organisation in the study is a medium-sized Finnish firm, which designs and manufactures electrical equipment and systems for the global market. The results of the study show that expert work-related knowledge transfer between generations can mean knowledge building which produces new, meaningful knowledge for the organisation. This knowledge is distributed in the organisation to all those that find it useful in increasing the efficiency and competitiveness of the whole organisation. The transfer and building of knowledge together create an act of knowledge sharing between generations where the building of knowledge presupposes transfer. Knowledge sharing proceeds between the expert and the novice through eight phases. During the phases of knowledge transfer the expert guides the novice to absorb the knowledge to be transferred. With the expert���s help the novice gradually comes to understand the knowledge and in the end he or she is capable of using it in his or her work. During the phases of knowledge building the expert helps the novice to further develop the knowledge being transferred so that it becomes new, useful knowledge for the organisation. After that the novice takes the built knowledge to use in his or her work. Based on the results of the study, knowledge sharing between generations takes place in interaction and ends when knowledge is taken to use. The results I obtained in the interviews by the articulation method show that knowledge sharing between generations is shaped by the novices��� conceptions of their own work goals, knowledge needs and duties. These are not only based on the official definition of the work, but also how the novices find their work or how they prioritise the given objectives and responsibilities. The study shows that the novices see their work primarily as maintenance or development. Those primarily involved in maintenance duties do not necessarily need knowledge defined as transferred between generations. Therefore, they do not necessarily transfer knowledge with their assigned experts, even though this can happen in favourable circumstances. They do not build knowledge because their view of their work goals and duties does not require the building of new knowledge. Those primarily involved in development duties, however, do need knowledge available from their assigned experts. Therefore, regardless of circumstances they transfer knowledge with their assigned experts and also build knowledge because their work goals and duties create a basis for building new knowledge. The literature on knowledge transfer between generations has focused on describing either the knowledge being transferred or the means by which it is transferred. Based on the results of this study, however, knowledge sharing between generations, that is, transfer and building is determined by how the novice considers his or her own knowledge needs and work practices. This is why studies on knowledge sharing between generations and its implementation should be based not only on the knowledge content and how it is shared, but also on the context of the work in which the novice interprets and shares knowledge. The existing literature has not considered the possibility that knowledge transfer between generations may mean building knowledge. The results of this study, however, show that this is possible. In knowledge building, the expert���s existing organisational knowledge is combined with the new knowledge that the novice brings to the organisation. In their interaction this combination of the expert���s ���old��� and the novice���s ���new��� knowledge becomes new, meaningful organisational knowledge. Previous studies show that knowledge development between the members of an organisation is the prerequisite for organisational renewal which in turn is essential for improved competitiveness. Against this background, knowledge building enables organisational renewal and thus enhances competitiveness. Hence, when knowledge transfer between generations is followed by knowledge building, the organisation kills two birds with one stone. In knowledge transfer the organisation retains the existing knowledge and thus maintains its competitiveness. In knowledge building the organisation developsnew knowledge and thus improves its competitiveness.

Smart homes as service platforms. Research report of ��LYKOP sub-project ���Competitive advantage from customer value���

In this report, we summarize results of our part of the ��LYKOP-project on customer value creation in the intersection of the health care, ICT, forest and energy industries. The research directs to describe how industry transformation and convergence create new possibilities, business opportunities and even new industries.The report consists of findings which are presented former in academic publications. The publication discusses on customer value, service provision and resource basis of the novel concepts through multiple theorethical frameworks. The report is divided into three maim sections which are theoretical background, discussion on health care industry and evaluations regarding novel smart home concepts. Transaction cost economics and Resource- Based view on the firm provides the theoretical basis to analyze the prescribed phenomena. The health care industry analysis describes the most important changes in the demand conditions of health care services, and explores the features that are likely to open new business opportunities for a solution provider. The third part of the report on the smart home business provides illustrations few potential concepts that can be considered to provide solutions to economical problems which arise from aging of population. The results provide several recommendations for the smart home platform developers in public and private sectors. By the analysis, public organizations dominate service provision and private markets are emergent state at present. We argue that public-private partnerships are nececssary for creating key suppliers. Indeed, paying attion on appropriate regulation, service specifications and technology standards would foster diffusion of new services. The dynamics of the service provision networks is driven by need for new capabiltities which are required for adapting business concepts to new competitive situation. Finally, the smart home framework revealed links between conventionally distant business areas such as health care and energy distribution. The platform integrates functionalities different for purposes which however apply same resource basis.

Tiedon jakaminen sosiaalisen median ty��kalujen avulla ICT-yrityksen tulosyksik��n sis��ll��

Ty��ss�� on tutkittu ICT-yrityksess�� ja sen Yritysasiakas-tulosyksik��ss�� k��yt��ss�� olevien sosiaalisen median ty��kalujen hy��dynt��misen mahdollisuuksia ja haasteita yrityksen sis��isess�� tiedonjakamisessa. Ty��ss�� on teorian ja kohdeorganisaatioon tehdyn web-kyselyn avulla selvitetty, mit�� haasteita nykyisiss�� sosiaalisen median ty��kalujen k��yt��ss�� on ja mill�� edellytyksill�� sosiaalista mediaa voitaisiin hy��dynt���� nykyist�� paremmin yrityksen sis��isess�� tiedon jakamisessa ja toimintatapamuutoksissa. Tutkimuksen empiirinen osuus toteutettiin web-kyselytutkimuksena Yritysasiakas-tulosyksik��n henkil��ille kes��kuussa 2011. Web-kysely kohdistettiin 493 henkil��lle, joista 138 (28 %) vastasi kyselyyn. Kokonaisuudessaan tutkimuksen tuloksina ilmeni, ett�� sosiaalisen median ty��kalujen k��yt��st�� yrityksen sis��ll�� saadaan eniten hy��ty��, kun ne on kytketty osaksi jokap��iv��isi�� ty��rutiineja ja prosesseja. Yrityskulttuurin tulee olla vahvasti yhteis��llinen ja organisaatiorakenteen mahdollisimman kevyt. Sosiaalisen median k��ytt�� edellytt���� avointa ja luottamuksellista ilmapiiri��, jossa annetaan my��s aikaa sosiaalisessa mediassa k��yt��ville keskusteluille. K��ytett��vien sosiaalisen median ty��kalujen m����r�� tulee olla mahdollisimman pieni. Sosiaalisen median k��yt��n tavoitteiden ja ohjeistusten tulee olla selke��t. Tutkimustulosten perusteella kohdeorganisaation tulee ensin asettaa selke��t tavoitteet sosiaaliselle medialle ja sen ty��kalujen k��yt��lle. Ty��kalujen pit���� olla kytketty kiinte��sti osaksi p��ivitt��isi�� toimintatapoja. Ty��kalujen nykyist�� m����r���� pit���� v��hent���� ja keskitt���� k��ytt�� mahdollisesti yhteen ty��kaluun. Valitun ty��kalun ja sosiaalisen median k��ytt���� tulee kouluttaa ja kannustaa k��ytt��ji�� sen k��ytt����n.

A design and a prototype for a mobile information service for tourists

Tourism is one of the biggest industry branches with billions of tourists traveling every year around the world. Therefore, solutions providing tourist information have to be up to date with both changes in the industry and the world���s technological progress. The aim of this thesis is to present a design and a prototype of a tourist mobile service which is individual-oriented, cost-free for the end user, and secure. On the information providers��� side, the solution is implemented as a Webbased database. The end users access the information through a Bluetooth application on their mobile devices. The Bluetooth-based solution allows to avoid any costs for the end users, that is tourists. The study shows that, even with small data transfers, the tourists could save significantly when compared to possible roaming charges for data transfer. Also, the proposed mobile service is not intrusive, as it is provided through an application installed by tourists voluntarily on their mobile devices. Through design and implementation this work shows that it is possible to build a system which can be used to provide information services to tourists through mobile phones. The work achieved a successful ongoing synchronization between the client and the server databases. Implementation and usage were limited to smart phones only, as they provide better technological support for the solution having features like maps, GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Databases. Moreover, the design of this system shows how Bluetooth technology can be used effectively as a means of communication while minimizing its shortcomings and risks, such as security, by bypassing Bluetooth server service discovery protocol (SDP) and connecting directly to the device. Apart from showing the design and implementation of the end-user costfree mobile information service, the results of this work also highlight the possible business opportunities to the provider of the service.

Building object-oriented software with the D-Bus messaging system

Object-oriented programming is a widely adopted paradigm for desktop software development. This paradigm partitions software into separate entities, objects, which consist of data and related procedures used to modify and inspect it. The paradigm has evolved during the last few decades to emphasize decoupling between object implementations, via means such as explicit interface inheritance and event-based implicit invocation. Inter-process communication (IPC) technologies allow applications to interact with each other. This enables making software distributed across multiple processes, resulting in a modular architecture with benefits in resource sharing, robustness, code reuse and security. The support for object-oriented programming concepts varies between IPC systems. This thesis is focused on the D-Bus system, which has recently gained a lot of users, but is still scantily researched. D-Bus has support for asynchronous remote procedure calls with return values and a content-based publish/subscribe event delivery mechanism. In this thesis, several patterns for method invocation in D-Bus and similar systems are compared. The patterns that simulate synchronous local calls are shown to be dangerous. Later, we present a state-caching proxy construct, which avoids the complexity of properly asynchronous calls for object inspection. The proxy and certain supplementary constructs are presented conceptually as generic object-oriented design patterns. The e ect of these patterns on non-functional qualities of software, such as complexity, performance and power consumption, is reasoned about based on the properties of the D-Bus system. The use of the patterns reduces complexity, but maintains the other qualities at a good level. Finally, we present currently existing means of specifying D-Bus object interfaces for the purposes of code and documentation generation. The interface description language used by the Telepathy modular IM/VoIP framework is found to be an useful extension of the basic D-Bus introspection format.