Multidisciplinary practice vs. inter-firm collaboration in professional services market

Yritysten v��linen yhteisty�� kasvaa asiantuntijamarkkinoilla. Suppean palvelutarjooman omaavat yritykset muodostavat laajempia palveluita yhdist��m��ll�� osaamisiaan kumppaneidensa kanssa. N��in muodostuvat yritysryhmittym��t uhkaavat alaa hallitsevia monipuolisen palvelutarjooman omaavia kansainv��lisi�� moniosaajayrityksi��. T��m��n diplomity��n tavoitteena on selvitt���� mink��laisia hy��tyj�� moniosaajayritys voi saada n��it�� ryhmittymi�� vastaan lis����m��ll�� omaa yhteisty��t����n. Tavoitteeseen p����semiseksi markkinoilla olevat yritysryhmittym��t tunnistetaan ja selvitet����n mink��laisia asioita asiakas pit���� t��rke��n�� ostaessaan asiantuntijapalveluita. Toimialan trendit ja aikaisemmat tutkimukset yritysten v��lisest�� yhteisty��st�� sek�� asiakkaan ostok��ytt��ytymisest�� osoittavat, ett�� yhteisty��n avulla yrityksell�� on mahdollisuus saavuttaa monia hy��tyj��. Tietoa olemassa olevista yritysryhmittymist�� ja asiakkaiden ostok��ytt��ytymisest�� ker��ttiin haastattelemalla yhden kansainv��lisen moniosaajayrityksen henkil��st���� sek�� asiakkaita. Tuloksena l��ytyi yritysryhmittymi��, joista osa uhkaa moniosaajayrityksen kilpailuetua. Asiakkaiden ostok��ytt��yminen suosi hieman enemm��n asiantuntijapalveluiden hankkimista yritysryhmittym��lt�� moniosaajayrityksen sijaan. Tekem��ll�� yhteisty��t�� ja tarjoamalla tiettyj�� palveluita yhdess�� kumppanin kanssa, moniosaajayritys voi saavuttaa hy��tyj�� yritysryhmittymi�� vastaan ja vaikuttaa positiivisesti asiakkaan ostok��ytt��ytymiseen.

Creating Brand Awareness for a B2B Professional Services Subsidiary

Tutkielman tavoitteet: Tutkielman tavoitteena oli selvitt���� miten branditunnettuutta voidaan kasvattaa yritysasiantuntijapalveluiden markkinoilla toimivassa tyt��ryhti��ss�� yleens��, ja erityisesti case yrityksess��. Vaikka yritysasiantuntijapalvelualan markkinointia on tutkittu melko paljon, ovat tutkimukset keskittyneet p����asiallisesti henkil��kohtaiseen myyntity��h��n ja suhdemarkkinointiin. My��s branditunnettuuden kehitt��mist�� on tutkittu, mutta enimm��kseen kuluttajamarkkinoilla. Tutkimusmetodologiat: Tutkimus on toteutettu kvalitatiivisena deskriptiivis-analyyttisen�� case-tutkimuksena. Tutkimuksen teoriaosuus perustuu kirjallisuuskatsaukseen ja empiirinen tutkimus puolistrukturoituun teemahaastatteluun.. Haastateltaviksi valittiin tutkittavan case organisaation ylin johto, sek�� viestinn��st�� ja markkinoinnista vastaava henkil��. Tutkimustulokset ja p����telm��t: Tutkimuksen tuloksena syntyi ehdotus siit��, mill�� tavoin case-yritys voisi kasvattaa branditunnettuuttaan potentiaalisten asiakkaidensa keskuudessa. Ehdotus etenee teoriarakenteen mukaisesti muodostaen mallin jossa kaikki viestint��prosessin oleelliset vaiheet on k��yty l��pi. Branditunnettuus rakennetaan viestint��prosessissa johon kuuluu: kohdeyleis��nidentifiointi, viestinn��n tavoitteiden asettaminen, viestin suunnittelu, viestint��kanavien valinta ja toimenpiteiden suunnittelu.

Service Concept Development - An Appoach for Professional Service Firm

Specific demand for service concept creation has come about from industrial organizations��� desire to find new and innovative ways to differentiate their offering by increasing the level of customer services. Providers of professional services have also demanded new concepts and approaches for their businesses as these industries have become increasingly competitive. Firms are now seeking better ways to understand and segment their customers, to ensure the delivery of quality services and strengthen their position in aggressively competitive markets. This thesis is intended to provide management consulting companies with a new work method that enables service concept creation in a business-to-business environment. The model defines the service concept as a combination of delivered value and the target customers; the third-dimension operating model is brought to the new system in testing of the service concept creation guidelines in the target organization. For testing, service concepts for a management consulting company are created. Service concepts are designed to serve as a solid foundation for further service improvements. Recommendations and proposals for further action related to service development in the target organization are presented, and recommendations to further improve the model created are given.

Virtual Professional Network as a Value Creator in the Dental Business

The research of virtual professional networks has been enormous but the lack of research in the dental field was obvious. This study focuses on those uses and gratifications, and motives of participants that a virtual pro-fessional network should fulfil. The aim of this study is to understand the factors behind the successful virtual professional network, and motives of participants that support a particular business network���s building up for contributing its further success. In this study the focus is on particular mo-tives, needs and benefits of participants that are significant for the net-work���s further development. The study will explore relevant scientific research and theory that is char-acteristic in networking, and theories of user���s needs and motives. Empiri-cal data was collected from dental professionals by net based question-naire that was sent by e-mail. Data analysis was done by quantitative fac-tor analysis. The findings of this study were obvious that virtual knowledge of implantology is inadequate and knowledge is rather difficult to find in the Internet. Sharing of virtual knowledge, net-learning and communication were seen to improve the quality of impolantological professionalism and also the development of these areas was experienced essential. On the grounds of this study a host of a virtual professional network can focus on those aspects that serve the users at best, can develop professionalism in implantology and can profit in its own business operations.

Conditions for EFL learning and professional development : Finland-Swedish learner and teacher perspectives

Engelskans dominerande roll som internationellt spr��k och andra globaliseringstrender p��verkar ocks�� Svenskfinland. Dessa trender p��verkar i sin tur f��ruts��ttningarna f��r l��rande och undervisning i engelska som fr��mmande spr��k, det vill s��ga undervisningsm��len, de f��rv��ntade elev- och l��rarroller, materialens ��ndam��lsenlighet, l��rares och elevers initiala erfarenheter av engelska och engelskspr��kiga l��nder. Denna studie unders��ker f��ruts��ttningarna f��r l��rande och professionell utveckling i det svenskspr��kiga nyb��rjarklassrummet i engelska som fr��mmande spr��k. Utg��ngsl��get f��r 351 nyb��rjare i engelska som fr��mmande spr��k och 19 av deras l��rare beskrivs och analyseras. Resultaten tyder p�� att engelska h��ller p�� att bli ett andraspr��k snarare ��n ett traditionellt fr��mmande spr��k f��r m��nga unga elever. Dessa elever har ocks�� goda f��ruts��ttningar att l��ra sig engelska utanf��r skolan. S��dan var dock inte situationen f��r alla elever, vilket tyder p�� att det finns en anm��rkningsv��rd heterogenitet och ��ven regional variation i det finlandssvenska klassrummet i engelska som fr��mmande spr��k. L��rarresultaten tyder p�� att vissa l��rare har klarat av att p�� ett konstruktivt s��tt att tackla de f��ruts��ttningar de m��ter. Andra l��rare uttrycker frustration ��ver sin arbetssituation, l��roplanen, undervisningsmaterialen och andra akt��rer som kommer ��r av betydelse f��r skolmilj��n. Studien p��visar att f��ruts��ttningarna f��r l��rande och undervisning i engelska som fr��mmande spr��k varierar i Svenskfinland. F��r att st��da elevers och l��rares utveckling f��resl��s att dialogen mellan akt��rer p�� olika niv�� i samh��llet b��r f��rb��ttras och systematiseras.

Generic and professional caring in a Chinese setting: an ethnopraphic study

The objective of the present study is to describe the cultural care practices, meanings, values and beliefs which form the basis of caring in a Chinese context. The research has its starting point in a caring science perspective and a qualitative research approach with interpretative ethnography as methodological guideline. The theoretical perspective is formed by elements of the theory of caritative caring, developed by Eriksson, and the theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality, developed by Leininger. Previous research of suffering, culture and caring is described and also a presentation of actual transcultural nursing research as well as a presentation of the social structure dimensions of Chinese culture is included in the theoretical background. The empirical part includes patients and relatives, nurses and Hu Gongs as informants. The data collected are analysed based on Geertz���s idea of forming ���thick descriptions��� through examining the ���what, how and why��� of people���s actions. The findings show that the family has a prominent position in Chinese caring practices. The patient plays an unobtrusive role and a mutual dependence between the patient and the family members is evident. The professional nursing care is an extended act which includes the family in the caring relationship. The care practices of the Chinese nurse are characterized by great professional nursing skills. Suffering is described by the informants as being caused by disease, pain and social circumstances. ���Social suffering��� is described as worse than physical or mental suffering. Culturally competent and congruent care is a prerequisite for avoiding cultural pain, imposition and blindness when caring for the suffering human being. The findings of the present study necessitate a broadening in caring theory to include the family in the caring relationship. A further conclusion is that a broadening in our perception and understanding of culture would promote the delivery of culturally competent and congruent care. Suffering need to be seen as enclosed in cultural patterns of how it is expressed, interpreted, understood and relieved. Care and caring need to be seen as embedded in culture and the care practices values and beliefs have to be congruent with the cultural patterns where the care is provided.

Customer relationship management through life cycle analysis, case professional service firm in B2B market

The objective of this master���s thesis was to study how customer relationships should be assessed and categorized in order to support customer relationship management (CRM) in the context of business-to-business (B2B) and professional services. This sophisticated and complex market is utilizing possibilities of CRM only rarely and even then the focus is often on technology. The theoretical part considered first CRM from the value chain point of view and then discussed the cyclical nature of relationships. The case study focused on B2B professional service firm. The data was collected from company databases and included the sample of 90 customers. The research was conducted in three phases first studying the age, then the service type of relationships and finally executing the cluster analysis. The data was analysed by statistical analysis program SAS Enterprise Guide. The results indicate that there are great differences between developments of customer relationships. While some relationships are dynamically growing and changing, most of customers are remaining constant. This implies expectations and requirements of customers are similarly divergent and relationships should be managed accordingly.

Delay reduction in courts of justice ��� possibilities and challenges of process improvement in professional public organizations

Delays in the justice system have been undermining the functioning and performance of the court system all over the world for decades. Despite the widespread concern about delays, the solutions have not kept up with the growth of the problem. The delay problem existing in the justice courts processes is a good example of the growing need and pressure in professional public organizations to start improving their business process performance.This study analyses the possibilities and challenges of process improvement in professional public organizations. The study is based on experiences gained in two longitudinal action research improvement projects conducted in two separate Finnish law instances; in the Helsinki Court of Appeal and in the Insurance Court. The thesis has two objectives. First objective is to study what kinds of factors in court system operations cause delays and unmanageable backlogs and how to reduce and prevent delays. Based on the lessons learned from the case projects the objective is to give new insights on the critical factors of process improvement conducted in professional public organizations. Four main areas and factors behind the delay problem is identified: 1) goal setting and performance measurement practices, 2) the process control system, 3) production and capacity planning procedures, and 4) process roles and responsibilities. The appropriate improvement solutions include tools to enhance project planning and scheduling and monitoring the agreed time-frames for different phases of the handling process and pending inventory. The study introduces the identified critical factors in different phases of process improvement work carried out in professional public organizations, the ways the critical factors can be incorporated to the different stages of the projects, and discusses the role of external facilitator in assisting process improvement work and in enhancing ownership towards the solutions and improvement. The study highlights the need to concentrate on the critical factors aiming to get the employees to challenge their existing ways of conducting work, analyze their own processes, and create procedures for diffusing the process improvement culture instead of merely concentrating of finding tools, techniques, and solutions appropriate for applications from the manufacturing sector

Professional development among educators pursuing a B.Ed. program in special education in Tanzania : a study of motives and perceived outcomes

Implementation of different policies and plans aiming at providing education for all is a challenge in Tanzania. The need for educators and professionals with relevant knowledge and qualifications in special education is substantial. Teacher education does not equip educators with sufficient knowledge and skills in special education and professional development programs in special education are few in number. Up to 2005 no degree programs in special education at university level were available in Tanzania. The B.Ed. Special Education program offered by the Open University of Tanzania in collaboration with ��bo Akademi University in Finland was one of the efforts aimed at addressing the big national need for teachers and other professionals with degree qualifications in special education. This pilot program offered unique possibilities to study professional development in Tanzania. The research group in this study consisted of the group of students who participated in the degree program 2005-2007. The study is guided by three theoretical perspectives: individual, social and societal. The individual perspective emphasizes psychological factors as motives, motivation, achievement, self-directed behavior and personal growth. Within social perspective, professional development is viewed as situated within the social and cultural context. The third perspective, the societal, focuses on change, reforms, innovations and transformation of school systems and societies. Accordingly, professional development is viewed as an individual, social and societal phenomenon. The overall aim of the study is to explore the participants��� motives for participating in a B.Ed. Special Education program and the perceived outcomes of the program in terms of professional development. In order to achieve the objectives of the study, a case study approach was adopted. Questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were administered in three waves between January 2007 and February 2009 to the 35 educators participating in the B.Ed. Special Education program. The findings of the study reveal that the participants expressed motives which were related to job performance, knowledge, skills, academic degree and career. Also altruistic motives were expressed by the participants in terms of helping and supporting students with special needs and their communities. The perceived outcomes of the program were in line with the expressed motives. However, the results indicate that the participants also learned new skills, as interaction skills and guidance and counseling skills. Increased self-confidence was also mentioned as an outcome. The participants also got deepened understanding of disability issues. In addition, they learned strategies for creating awareness of persons with disability in the communities. Thus the findings of the study indicate positive outcomes of the program in terms of professional development. The conclusion of the study is that individual, social and societal factors interact when it comes to explaining why Tanzanian educators in special education choose to pursue a degree program in special education. The individual motives, as increased knowledge and better prospects of career development interact with the social and societal motives to help and support vulnerable student groups. The study contributes to increased understanding of the complexity of professional development and of the realities educators meet when educational reforms are implemented in a developing country.

Productizing professional consultancy services modularly through service blueprinting: Case QPR Software

Services are getting more complex and difficult to manage, but much less attention and resources are directed towards service development than product development both in literature and business life. The paper sheds light on how productization together with modularization and service blueprinting would help make consultancy services more manageable, scalable and efficient while retaining their customer focus. The research was qualitative and based on active research and participant observation. A theoretical framework was constructed on the basis of relevant literature and was then evaluated in two steps: first the overall framework was evaluated by mirroring it to a real life case at QPR Software. Then a service blueprint was created of a selected service, and its benefits and challenges were evaluated. The framework reflected the case company's situation well. Service blueprinting proved to be a valuable tool for facilitating discussion and knowledge sharing. The characteristics of consultancy services provide many challenges for productization. They are highly heterogeneous and people-centric whereas productization is based on standardizing the offering, the delivery processes and managing the service's tangible properties. The research indicated that by modularizing services, both customer focus and standardization can be achieved by creating variety.

Professional sports and gambling regulation in Finland - Examining the institutional factors of gambling affecting professional sport clubs in Finland

This study examines how to institutional environment of gambling is currently in motion both in Europe and Finland. Furthermore, it examines the criticism by Finnish professional sport clubs directed towards the national gambling monopolies, especially Veikkaus Oy. This criticism addresses the acclaimed issue of low or non-existing sponsorship funds coming to the clubs despite the clubs��� duties to promote Veikkaus Oy in their stadiums etc. In essence the main research objective was to examine the interaction and institutional environments of both Finnish professional sport clubs and gambling regulation. This was done through three sub-objectives: 1) to analyze professional sport as business and its institutional environment 2) to analyze the institutions of gambling in their current state and their potential future 3) to evaluate the potential impact of an institutional change in gambling legislation to the professional sport clubs The findings from Finland were then compared to those of Denmark where an institutional change had occurred in gambling regulation. Empirical data was collected through multiple interviews. Interviewees represented sport clubs (7), sport association (1), sport league (1), Finnish monopoly representatives (2), commercial gambling providers (1), Danish monopoly system representatives (1), Danish sport club (1). In addition a vast amount of secondary data (e.g. Green and white books by EU, court decisions, a variety of studies etc.). Theoretically this study combines the aspects of institutional theory with the theory of professional sports as business. This proved to be a rather new approach and no published literature was found to have done specifically this. The findings of this study are twofold, on the European level it is clear that the momentum if towards a more liberated gambling market while Finland is at the moment trying to go the opposite direction and uphold its monopoly. From the sport club���s level the findings suggest that currently sport clubs do not directly benefit from the funds originated from Veikkaus Oy as these funds are more or less used on the association/league levels. However, the clubs themselves are also lacking in self-criticism as they are lacking in clear sponsorship packages/programs which Veikkaus Oy might be interested in participating. If liberation of the gambling market would occur it is highly possible that that the largest clubs in football and ice-hockey would be the main beneficiaries while smaller clubs and sports could possibly be worse off than currently. These interpretations were well supported by the findings from Denmark.

Sport-based corporate social responsibility in European professional football

In the past few decades, sport has become a major business with remarkable international reach. As part of the commercial sector of sport, professional sport is said to be intrinsically different from other businesses due to its unique characteristics, such as the peculiar economics and the intense loyalty of fans. Simultaneously with the growing business aspect, sport continues to have great social and cultural impacts on our society. Sport has also become an increasingly popular means of attending social problems due to its alleged suitability for such purposes and its popular appeal. A great number of actors in the professional sport industry have long been involved in socially responsible activities, many of which have been sport-related. While Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has been extensively studied in general, its role in the professional sport industry has received less attention in the academic research until recently. It has been argued that due to the unique characteristics of professional sport, CSR should also be studied in this particular context. The objective of this study was to contribute to filling the research gap and increase the understanding of CSR in the context of professional sport by examining sport-related CSR realized by professional football clubs in Europe. The theoretical part of this study leaned on previous literature about using sport as a means of attending social issues and the role of CSR in professional sport industry. The empirical part of the study was carried out through web site analyses and interviews. The clubs to be examined were chosen by using purposive sampling technique and taking into consideration the accessibility and suitability of information the clubs could offer. The method used for analyzing the data was qualitative content analysis. The empirical findings were largely in line with the theoretical framework of the study. The sportrelated CSR of the clubs was concentrated on teaching the participants diverse skills and values, improving their health, encouraging social inclusion, supporting disabled people, and promoting overall participation in sport. The clubs also emphasized the importance of local communities as targets of their CSR. CSR had been an integral part of the clubs��� activities from the beginning, but there were remarkable differences between large and small clubs in terms of structured organization and realization of their CSR. Measuring and evaluation of CSR appeared to be a challenge for most clubs regardless of their size and resources. The motives for the clubs to engage in CSR seemed to be related to the clubs��� values or to their stakeholders��� interests. In general, the clubs��� CSR went beyond what the society is likely to expect from them in legal or ethical sense.

���Development work thesis��� as a tool for continuing professional education

Julkaisumaa: 158 TW TWN Taiwan

Productizing professional marketing services through service blueprinting

The goal of this research is to study how knowledge-intensive business services can be productized by using the service blueprinting tool. As services provide the majority of jobs, GDP and productivity growth in Europe, their continuous development is needed for Europe to retain its global competitiveness. As services are turning more complex, their development becomes more difficult. The theoretical part of this study is based on researching productization in the context of knowledge-intensive business services. The empirical part is carried out as a case study in a KIBS company, and utilizes qualitative interviews and case materials. The final outcome of this study is an updated productization framework, designed for KIBS companies, and recommendations for the case company. As the results of this study indicate, productization expanded with service blueprinting can be a useful tool for KIBS companies to develop their services. The updated productization framework is provided for future reference.