Uplifted spirits, earthbound machines : studies on artists and the dream of flight, 1900-1935

Doctoral dissertation, Academy of Fine Arts

The fear of openness : an essay on friendship and the roots of morality

Det f��refaller sj��lvklart att begrepp som lojalitet, respekt, r��ttigheter eller altruism beskriver n��got entydigt gott. Men t��nk om det i sj��lva verket ��r s�� att de aktualiseras bara d��r vi avvisat godheten? T��nk om v��r moral och hela v��rt liv genomsyras av en djup f��rvirring, av en ovilja att se vad som egentligen p��g��r mellan oss? I min avhandling st��ller jag de h��r obekv��ma fr��gorna. Utg��ngspunkten ��r en diskussion om v��nskap, som jag beskriver som en f��rbeh��llsl��s, helhj��rtad ��ppenhet mellan m��nniskor. Denna ��ppenhet ��� som lika v��l kan kallas godhet eller k��rlek ��� ��r det sv��raste som finns. Samtidigt finns ��ppenheten alltid d��r mellan oss, om s�� bara som en anad m��jlighet som skr��mmer oss, som vi sluter oss f��r och inte vill veta av. Vi lever i en st��ndig sp��nning mellan ��ppenhet och avvisande, och denna sp��nning yttrar sig i allt vi g��r, k��nner och t��nker. Det ��r vad jag vill visa. Bland de filosofer jag diskuterar kan n��mnas Aristoteles, Kant, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche och Emmanuel Levinas.

The effect of the birth hospital and the time of birth on the outcome of Finnish very preterm infants

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the birth hospital and the time of birth on mortality and the long-term outcome of Finnish very low birth weight (VLBW) or very low gestational age (VLGA) infants. This study included all Finnish VLBW/VLGA infants born at <32 gestational weeks or with a birth weight of ���1500g, and controls born full-term and healthy. In the first part of the study, the mortality of VLBW/VLGA infants born in 2000���2003 was studied. The second part of the study consisted of a five-year follow-up of VLBW/VLGA infants born in 2001���2002. The study was performed using data from parental questionnaires and several registers. The one-year mortality rate was 11% for live-born VLBW/VLGA infants, 22% for live-born and stillborn VLBW/VLGA infants, and 0% for the controls. In live-born and in all (including stillbirths) VLBW/VLGA infants, the adjusted mortality was lower among those born in level III hospitals compared with level II hospitals. Mortality rates of live-born VLBW/VLGA infants differed according to the university hospital district where the birth hospital was located, but there were no differences in mortality between the districts when stillborn infants were included. There was a trend towards lower mortality rates in VLBW/VLGA infants born during office hours compared with those born outside office hours (night time, weekends, and public holidays). When stillborn infants were included, this difference according to the time of birth was significant. Among five-year-old VLBW/VLGA children, morbidity, use of health care resources, and problems in behaviour and development were more common in comparison with the controls. The health-related quality of life of the surviving VLBW/VLGA children was good but, statistically, it was significantly lower than among the controls. The median and the mean number of quality-adjusted life-years were 4.6 and 3.6 out of a maximum five years for all VLBW/VLGA children. For the controls, the median was 4.8 and the mean was 4.9. Morbidity rates, the use of health care resources, and the mean quality-adjusted life-years differed for VLBW/VLGA children according to the university hospital district of birth. However, the time of birth, the birth hospital level or university hospital district were not associated with the health-related quality of life, nor with behavioural and developmental scores of the survivors at the age of five years. In conclusion, the decreased mortality in level III hospitals was not gained at the expense of long-term problems. The results indicate that VLBW/VLGA deliveries should be centralized to level III hospitals and the regional differences in the treatment practices should further be clarified. A long-term follow-up on the outcome of VLBW/VLGA infants is important in order to recognize the critical periods of care and to optimise the care. In the future, quality-adjusted life-years can be used as a uniform measure for comparing the effectiveness of care between VLBW/VLGA infants and different patient groups

R&D Performance Analysis: Case Studies on the Challenges and Promotion of the Evaluation and Measurement of R&D

Due to the intense international competition, demanding, and sophisticated customers, and diverse transforming technological change, organizations need to renew their products and services by allocating resources on research and development (R&D). Managing R&D is complex, but vital for many organizations to survive in the dynamic, turbulent environment. Thus, the increased interest among decision-makers towards finding the right performance measures for R&D is understandable. The measures or evaluation methods of R&D performance can be utilized for multiple purposes; for strategic control, for justifying the existence of R&D, for providing information and improving activities, as well as for the purposes of motivating and benchmarking. The earlier research in the field of R&D performance analysis has generally focused on either the activities and considerable factors and dimensions - e.g. strategic perspectives, purposes of measurement, levels of analysis, types of R&D or phases of R&D process - prior to the selection of R&Dperformance measures, or on proposed principles or actual implementation of theselection or design processes of R&D performance measures or measurement systems. This study aims at integrating the consideration of essential factors anddimensions of R&D performance analysis to developed selection processes of R&D measures, which have been applied in real-world organizations. The earlier models for corporate performance measurement that can be found in the literature, are to some extent adaptable also to the development of measurement systemsand selecting the measures in R&D activities. However, it is necessary to emphasize the special aspects related to the measurement of R&D performance in a way that make the development of new approaches for especially R&D performance measure selection necessary: First, the special characteristics of R&D - such as the long time lag between the inputs and outcomes, as well as the overall complexity and difficult coordination of activities - influence the R&D performance analysis problems, such as the need for more systematic, objective, balanced and multi-dimensional approaches for R&D measure selection, as well as the incompatibility of R&D measurement systems to other corporate measurement systems and vice versa. Secondly, the above-mentioned characteristics and challenges bring forth the significance of the influencing factors and dimensions that need to be recognized in order to derive the selection criteria for measures and choose the right R&D metrics, which is the most crucial step in the measurement system development process. The main purpose of this study is to support the management and control of the research and development activities of organizations by increasing the understanding of R&D performance analysis, clarifying the main factors related to the selection of R&D measures and by providing novel types of approaches and methods for systematizing the whole strategy- and business-based selection and development process of R&D indicators.The final aim of the research is to support the management in their decision making of R&D with suitable, systematically chosen measures or evaluation methods of R&D performance. Thus, the emphasis in most sub-areas of the present research has been on the promotion of the selection and development process of R&D indicators with the help of the different tools and decision support systems, i.e. the research has normative features through providing guidelines by novel types of approaches. The gathering of data and conducting case studies in metal and electronic industry companies, in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector, and in non-profit organizations helped us to formulate a comprehensive picture of the main challenges of R&D performance analysis in different organizations, which is essential, as recognition of the most importantproblem areas is a very crucial element in the constructive research approach utilized in this study. Multiple practical benefits regarding the defined problemareas could be found in the various constructed approaches presented in this dissertation: 1) the selection of R&D measures became more systematic when compared to the empirical analysis, as it was common that there were no systematic approaches utilized in the studied organizations earlier; 2) the evaluation methods or measures of R&D chosen with the help of the developed approaches can be more directly utilized in the decision-making, because of the thorough consideration of the purpose of measurement, as well as other dimensions of measurement; 3) more balance to the set of R&D measures was desired and gained throughthe holistic approaches to the selection processes; and 4) more objectivity wasgained through organizing the selection processes, as the earlier systems were considered subjective in many organizations. Scientifically, this dissertation aims to make a contribution to the present body of knowledge of R&D performance analysis by facilitating dealing with the versatility and challenges of R&D performance analysis, as well as the factors and dimensions influencing the selection of R&D performance measures, and by integrating these aspects to the developed novel types of approaches, methods and tools in the selection processes of R&D measures, applied in real-world organizations. In the whole research, facilitation of dealing with the versatility and challenges in R&D performance analysis, as well as the factors and dimensions influencing the R&D performance measure selection are strongly integrated with the constructed approaches. Thus, the research meets the above-mentioned purposes and objectives of the dissertation from the scientific as well as from the practical point of view.

Essays on Innovativeness and its Evaluation in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

Tutkimus koostuu nelj��st�� artikkelista, jotka k��sittelev��t suomalaisten pienten ja keskisuurten teollisuusyritysten (PKT-yritysten) innovatiivisuutta, sen attribuutteja (ominaispiirteit��) sek�� indikaattoreita. Tutkimuksessa tarkastellaan sek�� kirjallisuudessa esitettyj�� ett�� PKT-johtajien ja PKT-yritystenkehityshankkeiden rahoitusp����t��ksiin osallistuvien yritystutkijoiden haastatteluissa esitt��mi�� innovatiivisuuden m����ritelmi��. Innovatiivisuusindikaattoreista tarkastellaan PKT-yritysten kehitt��mishankkeille sovellettavia rahoitus- ja arviointikriteerej�� sek�� yritysten ulkopuolisten rahoittajien ett�� PKT-johtajien n��k��kulmasta. Erityist�� huomiota kohdistetaan sovellettuihin laadullisiin ja ei-numeerisiin innovatiivisuuden arviointikriteereihin. Sek�� kirjallisuudessa ett�� kymmenen yritystutkijan ja kuuden esimerkkiyrityksen johtajan haastatteluissa innovaation uutuus yhdistet����n innovatiivisuuteen. Muita t��rkeit�� innovatiivisuuteen liitettyj�� ominaisuuksia olivat markkinat, muista yrityksist�� erottuminen ja yksil��iden luovuus. Ihmisl��heiset ja yksil��ihin liittyv��t n��k��kulmat korostuvat yritystutkijoiden ja PKT-johtajien innovatiivisuuden m����ritelmiss��, kun taas kirjallisuudessa annetaan enemm��n painoa ymp��rist��lle, tuotteille ja markkinoille. Yritystutkijat pitiv��t yritykseen ja sen johtajaan liittyvi�� tekij��it�� t��rkein�� rahoitettavien kehitt��mishankkeiden panosten arviointikriteerein��. Tuotteiden kaupallinen menestys oli rahoittajan kannalta t��rkein tulostekij��. Tarkastelluissa esimerkkiyrityksiss�� kehityshankkeista p����tt��minen ja hankkeiden arviointi on toisaalta intuitiivista ja saattaa olla tiedostamatontakin, koska yritysten kehitt��mistoiminta on v��h��ist��. Pienyritysten johtajat korostavat arvioinnissa rahallisiamittareita, vaikka sek�� numeerisia ett�� laadullisia kriteereit�� sovelletaan. Todenn��k��isin syy t��lle on pienyritysten rajalliset taloudelliset voimavarat. Toinen mahdollinen syy rahoituksellisten tekij��iden painottamiseen on, ett�� t��m��n p��iv��n ihannejohtaja ymm��rret����n analyyttiseksi ja mm.rahavirtoja valvovaksi. Kuitenkin innovatiiviset yritysjohtajat pit��v��t innovaatioiden luomista yhten�� el��m��n hauskoista puolista. Innovatiiviset esimerkkiyritykset ovat tulevaisuuteen ja kasvuun suuntautuneita strategisella tasolla. Operationaalisella tasolla ne tuottavat keksint��j�� ja innovaatioita. Patentteja tarkastelluilla yrityksill�� on kuitenkin v��h��n. Sek�� innovatiiviset ett�� v��hemm��n innovatiiviset esimerkkiyritykset ovat voimakkaasti asiakassuuntautuneita ja erikoistuneita tiettyihin tuotteisiin ja asiakkaisiin. Asiakkaiden tarpeita tyydytet����n kehitt��m��ll�� niit�� vastaavia tuotteita. T��st�� johtuu, ett�� valtaosa yritysten kehitt��mistoiminnasta kohdistuu tuotteisiin tai tuotantoon.

On Innovative Search: the use of internal and external sources of innovation among Finnish innovators

This dissertation explores the use of internal and external sources of knowledge in modern innovation processes. It builds on a framework that combines theories such as a behavioural theory of the firm, the evolutionary theory of economic change, and modern approaches to strategic management. It follows the recent increase in innovation research focusing on the firm-level examination of innovative activities instead of traditional industry-level determinants. The innovation process is seen as a problem- and slack- driven search process, which can take several directions in terms of organizational boundaries in the pursuit of new knowledge and other resources. It thus draws on recent models of technological change, according to which firms nowadays should build their innovative activities on both internal and external sources of innovation rather than relying solely on internal resources. Four different research questions are addressed, all of which are empirically investigated via a rich dataset covering Finnish innovators collected by Statistics Finland. Firstly, the study examines how the nature of problems shapes the direction of any search for new knowledge. In general it demonstrates that the nature of the problem does affect the direction of the search, although under resource constraints firms tend to use external rather than internal sources of knowledge. At the same time, it shows that those firms that are constrained in terms of finance seem to search both internally and externally. Secondly, the dissertation investigates the relationships between different kinds of internal and external sources of knowledge in an attempt to find out where firms should direct their search in order to exploit the potential of a distributed innovation process. The concept of complementarities is applied in this context. The third research question concerns how the use of external knowledge sources ��� openness to external knowledge ��� influences the financial performance of firms. Given the many advantages of openness presented in the current literature, the focus is on how it shapes profitability. The results reveal a curvilinear relationship between profitability and openness (taking an inverted U-shape), the implication being that it pays to be open up to a certain point, but being too open to external sources may be detrimental to financial performance. Finally, the dissertation addresses some challenges in CISbased innovation research that have received relatively little attention in prior studies. The general aim is to underline the fact that comprehensive understanding of the complex process of technological change requires the constant development of methodological approaches (in terms of data and measures, for example). All the empirical analyses included in the dissertation are based on the Finnish CIS (Finnish Innovation Survey 1998-2000).

Individual dietary counselling during and after pregnancy: Impact on diet and body weight

In Finland, maternity and child health clinics play a key role in promoting health in young families. Currently, obesity causes the greatest challenges to clinics. In obese pregnant women, an increased risk for metabolic diseases exist which can affect both the mother and child. The purpose of this thesis was to explore the role of dietary counselling: in Finnish health clinics; in the regulation of dietary intake; and in affecting the body weight of women. The main aim was to test the effect of dietary counselling and probiotic intervention on dietary intake and maternal body weight during and after pregnancy. In addition to dietary counselling, the effect of other factors, such as eating behaviour on dietary intake and body weight control after pregnancy was assessed. Another aim was also to evaluate dietary counselling practices by nurses (n = 327) in Finnish health clinics assessed by a questionnaire. At the beginning of the pregnancy, women (n = 256) enrolled in a dietary intervention study, were randomised into three groups. One group received dietary counselling with probiotics, one had counselling with placebo and the third group was the control group. The control group consisted of women whom did not receive counselling and took placebo. Probiotics and placebo supplements were used until the end of exclusive breastfeeding or six months after pregnancy. Women were followed from early pregnancy up to four years after pregnancy. Follow-up visits took place three times during pregnancy, at one and six months, and one, two and four years after pregnancy. Dietary counselling, provided by a nutritionist, aimed to influence the quality of dietary fat intake. Dietary counselling is important to provide in clinics, as determined by the nurses, and these nurses expressed a want to improve their own nutritional knowledge through education. The nurses had varying knowledge of current dietary recommendations. Dietary counselling for women during and after pregnancy resulted in beneficial changes in dietary intake up to one year after pregnancy and body weight and waist circumference up to four years after pregnancy. Probiotics had a beneficial effect together with dietary counselling on waist circumference until one year after pregnancy, but not throughout the long term, four years after pregnancy. Other factors, such as eating behaviour, associated with dietary intake and body weight control after pregnancy. Specifically, dietary recommendations are reached amongst women whom had high cognitive restraint in their eating behaviour and did not demonstrate uncontrolled eating. Overweight women more frequently emotionally ate compared to normal weight women and women with central adiposity related more frequently to having an uncontrolled eating behaviour than women with normal waist circumference. In addition, being overweight prior to pregnancy and excessive weight gain during pregnancy associated with increased body weight retention after pregnancy. This study showed that individual dietary counselling is useful in influencing dietary intake which adheres to dietary recommendations and this counselling influences, favourably, body weight after pregnancy. Especially, women with the risk for weight retention, such as women who have emotional and uncontrolled eating behaviours, who were overweight prior to pregnancy or those who had excessive weight gain during pregnancy, may benefit from individual dietary counselling. This study underscores the need to develop dietary counselling practices for pregnant women and their follow-up after pregnancy in Finnish health clinics. These practices include increasing the efficacy of the counselling such as collaboration with families, having knowledgable health professionals and having sufficient resources.

Finnish game developers��� perception on public and private funding sources: a survey analysis

The aim of this study is to find out how game companies perceive the three traditional funding sources and how well their opinions and needs are reflected on the choices they make. To accomplish this, 20 game companies were questioned about multiple topics with the help of Tekes and Neogames. The results of this study show that game developers clearly differentiate the three major funding sources and the public sector ends up being the most significant source of external funding. This study also points out that most game companies are indeed facing issues in acquiring funding as well as various other resources.

The impact of industrial context and institutional factors on innovation and internationalization of Russian companies

Innovation and internationalization nowadays play significant role in formation of the competitive advantage for the companies and it is important to explore these processes deeply and use their potential. Such parameters, as industrial context and institutional factors, are essential parts of the business life and their influence may be crucial for the company���s performance. The Master���s Thesis explores impact of industrial context and institutional factors on innovation and internationalization of Russian companies. This research is quantitative and based on the analysis of the relevant scientific literature and results of the survey, conducted among Russian manufacturing companies. Findings show positive influence of industrial context factor ���international threat��� and institutional environment factor ���lack of resources and the market imperfections��� on internationalization of innovative Russian companies.