Contribution of livestock to food production in developing countries

Selostus: Kotieläintuotannon osuus kehitysmaiden ruoantuotannosta

Mining in Developing Countries: A Case Study of Sustainability Challenges

Mining has severe impacts on its surrounding. Particularly in the developing countries it has degraded the environment and signigicantly altered the socio-economical dynamics of the hosts. Especially relocation disrupts people from their homes, livelihoods, cultures and social activities. Mining industry has failed to develop the local host and streghten its governance structures; instead it has further degraded the development of mineral rich third world countries, which are among the world poorest ones. Cash flows derived from mining companies have not benefitted the crass-root level that however, bears most of the detrimental impacts. Especially if the governance structure of the host is weak, the sudden wealth is likely to accelerate disparities, corruption and even fuel wars. Environmental degradation, miscommunication, mistrust and disputes over land use have created conflicts between the communities and a mining company in Obuasi, Ghana; a case study of this thesis. The disputes are deeply rooted and further fuelled by unrealistic expectations and broken promises. The relations with artisanal and illegal miners have been especially troublesome. Illegal activities, mainly encroachment of the land and assets of the mine, such as vandalising tailings pipes have resulted in profits losses, environmental degradation and security hazards. All challenges mentioned above have to be addressed locally with site-specific solutions. It is vital to increase two-way communication, initiate collaboration and build capacity of the stakeholders such as local communities, NGOs and governance authorities. The locals must be engaged to create livelihood opportunities that are designed with and for them. Capacity can also be strengthened through education and skills training, such as women’s literacy programs. In order to diminish the overdependence of locals to the mine, the activities have to be self -sufficient and able to survive without external financial and managerial inputs. Additionally adequate and fair compensation practises and dispute resolution methods that are understood and accepted by all parties have to be agreed on as early as possible.

Mobile banking in developing countries

This Master’s thesis examines the feasibility of eBusiness in developing countries by looking at the current mobile banking solutions. The research involved reviewing literature that was relevant to the research questions. It was discovered that the Wizzit and M-PESA are the current solutions to mobile banking. Furthermore, it was found out that the Wizzit and M-PESA were either transformational or additive. Additive mobile banking is the use of mobile phones as a channel to provide services to existing customers within financial institutions. Transformational mobile banking extends financial services to the unbanked. The results of the thesis are M-PESA works with only Safaricom while on the other hand Wizzit has compatibility with any mobile operator. The other result is that both M-PESA and Wizzit are transformational mobile banking technologies at the sametime Wizzit is an Additive mobile banking technology. Wizzit can provide financial services to both the unbanked and existing bank customers. It can be said the merits of Wizzit outweigh those of M-PESA which makes Wizzit better.

Microbusiness: A new social business model to alleviate poverty in developing countries?

Poverty alleviation views have shifted from seeing the poor as victims or as potential consumers, to seeing them as gainers. Social businesses include microfinancing and microfranchising, which engage people at the bottom of the pyramid using business instead of charity. There are, however, social business firms that do not fit to the existing social business model theory. These firms provide markets to poor producers and mix traditional, local craftsmanship with western design. Social business models evolve faster than the academic literature can study them. This study contributes to filling this gap. The purpose of this Master’s thesis is to develop the concept of social business as poverty alleviation method in developing countries. It also aims; 1) to describe the means for poverty alleviation in developing countries; 2) to introduce microbusiness as a social business model; and 3) to examine the challenges of microbusinesses. Qualitative case study is used as a research strategy and theme interviews as a data collecting method. The empirical data is gathered from four interviews of Finnish or Finnish-owned firms that employ microbusiness – Mifuko, Tensira, Mangomaa and Tikau – and this is supported with secondary data including articles on case companies. The results show that microbusiness is a valid new social business model that aims at poverty alleviation by engaging the poor at the bottom of the pyramid. It is possible to map the value proposition, value constellation, and economic and social profit equations of the case firms. Two major types of firms emerge from the results; the first consists of design-oriented firms that emphasize the quality and design of the products, and the second consists of bazaar-like firms whose product portfolio is less sophisticated and who promote more the stories of the products – not the design. All microbusiness firms provide markets, promote traditional handicrafts, form close relationships to their producers, and aim at enhancing lives through their businesses. The attitudes towards social businesses are sometimes negative, but this is changing for the better. In conclusion, microbusiness answers to two different needs at the same time – consumers’ needs for ethical products and the social needs of the producers – but the social need is the ultimate reason why the entrepreneurs started business. Microbusiness continues as a poverty alleviation tool that sees the poor as gainers; by providing them steady employment, microbusiness increases the poor’s self-esteem and enables them for a better living. Academic literature has not been able to offer enough alternative business models to cover all social businesses; the current study contributes to this by concluding that microbusiness is another social business model.

Bridging the digital divide in developing countries: The role of mobile technology in bridging the digital divide

This thesis investigates how mobile technology usage could help to bring Information and communication technologies (ICT) to the people in developing countries. Some people in developing countries have access to use ICT while other people do not have such opportunity. This digital divide among people is present in many developing countries where computers and the Internet are difficult to access. The Internet provides information that can increase productivity and enable markets to function more efficiently. The Internet reduces information travel time and provides more efficient ways for firms and workers to operate. ICT and the Internet can provide opportunities for economic growth and productivity in developing countries. This indicates that it is very important to bridge the digital divide and increase Internet connections in developing countries. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate how can mobile technology and mobile services help to bridge the digital divide in developing countries. Theoretical background of this thesis consists of a collection of articles and reports. Theoretical material was gathered by going through literature on the digital divide, mobile technology and mobile application development. The empirical research was conducted by sending a questionnaire by email to a selection of application developers located in developing countries. The questionnaire’s purpose was to gather qualitative information concerning mobile application development in developing countries. This thesis main result suggests that mobile phones and mobile technology usage can help to bridge the digital divide in developing countries. This study finds that mobile technology provides one of the best tools that can help to bridge the digital divide in developing countries. Mobile technology can bring affordable ICT to people who do not have access to use computers. Smartphones can provide Internet connection, mobile services and mobile applications to a rapidly growing number of mobile phone users in developing countries. New low-cost smartphones empower people in developing countries to have access to information through the Internet. Mobile technology has the potential to help to bridge the digital divide in developing countries where a vast amount of people own mobile phones.

Building high technology complete products for the markets of humanitarian organizations and developing countries

Tämä tutkielma käsittelee high-tech kokonaisratkaisun rakentamista kehitysmaiden ja humanitääristen organisaatioiden markkinoille. Tavoitteena on löytää ne komponentit joita case-yritys Mediburner Ltd:n polttouuni tarvitsee rinnalleen. Jotta täydentävien elementtien määritteleminen olisi mahdollista, pitää ensin selvittää keitä ovat asiakkaat, ja mitkä ovat heidän tarpeensa. Tutkimusmetodina käytetään kuvailevaa case-tutkimusta. Empiirinen materiaali kerättiin henkilökohtaisissa- ja puhelinkeskusteluissa. Niihin henkilöihin, joiden tavoittaminen oli aikaeron vuoksi hankalaa, otettiin yhteyttä sähköpostitse. Toinen tietolähde olivat dokumentit. Tutkielmassa käytettiin internetsivuja, sairaalajätehuoltoon liittyvien kansainvälisten konferenssien ja kenttätutkimusten raportteja sekä humanitääristen organisaatioiden suosituksia ja lehdistötiedotteita. Tulokseksi saatiin kymmenen tarvittavaa tukevien elementtien ryhmää: lisälaitteet, astiat jätteen keräilyyn ja tilapäiseen varastointiin, polttoaine, sähkö, logistiset ratkaisut, asennus ja käyttöönotto, huolto- ja korjauspalvelut, koulutus, help-desk –palvelu ja rahoitus. Lisäksi tarvitaan imago, joka konkretisoi tarjotun ratkaisun hyödyt. Yksi toimivan imagotyylin perusta voisi olla vastuullisuus.

In search of good relationships to music : understanding aspiration and challenge in developing music school teacher practices

This study focuses on teacher practices in publicly funded music schools in Finland. As views on the aims of music education change and broaden, music schools across Europe share the challenge of developing their activities in response. In public and scholarly debate, there have been calls for increased diversity of contents and concepts of teaching. In Finland, the official national curriculum for state-funded music schools builds on the ideal that teaching and learning should create conditions which promote ‘a good relationship to music’. The meaning of this concept has been deliberately left open in order to leave room for dialogue, flexibility, and teacher autonomy. Since what is meant by ‘good’ is not defined in advance, the notion of ‘improving’ practices is also open to discussion. The purpose of the study is to examine these issues from teachers’ point of view by asking what music school teachers aim to accomplish as they develop their practices. Methodologically, the study introduces a suggestion for building empirical research on Alperson’s ‘robust’ praxial approach to music education, a philosophical theory which is strongly committed to practitioner perspectives and musical diversity. A systematic method for analysing music education practices, interpretive practice analysis, is elaborated with support from interpretive research methods originally used in policy analysis. In addition, the research design shows how reflecting conversations (a collaborative approach well-known in Nordic social work) can be fruitfully applied in interpretive research and combined with teacher inquiry. Data have been generated in a collaborative project involving five experienced music school teachers and the researcher. The empirical material includes transcripts from group conversations, data from teacher inquiry conducted within the project, and transcripts from follow-up interviews. The teachers’ aspirations can be understood as strivings to reinforce the connection between musical practices and various forms of human flourishing such that music and flourishing can sustain each other. Examples from their practices show how the word ‘good’ receives its meaning in context. Central among the teachers’ concerns is their hope that students develop a free and sustainable interest in music, often described as inspiration. I propose that ‘good relationships to music’ and ‘inspiration’ can be understood as philosophical mediators which support the transition from an indeterminate ‘interest in music’ towards specific ways in which music can become a (co-)constitutive part of living well in each person’s particular circumstances. Different musical practices emphasise different aspects of what is considered important in music and in human life. Music school teachers consciously balance between a variety of such values. They also make efforts to resist pressure which might threaten the goods they think are most important. Such goods include joy, participation, perseverance, solid musical skills related to specific practices, and a strong sense of vitality. The insights from this study suggest that when teachers are able to create inspiration, they seem to do so by performing complex work which combines musical and educational aims and makes general positive contributions to their students’ lives. Ensuring that teaching and learning in music schools remain as constructive and meaningful as possible for both students and teachers is a demanding task. The study indicates that collaborative, reflective and interdisciplinary work may be helpful as support for development processes on both individual and collective levels of music school teacher practices.

Different approaches to municipal solid waste management in Brazil : case study Rio de Janeiro

Inadequate final disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW) is associated with significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emission, environmental, health and safety issues, space consumption, public health and developmental issues in general. The environmental impact of waste is mostly felt in developing countries, inadequate waste management and treatment solution, inadequate policies and outdated practices are some of the factors leading to the significantly high final disposal of waste in dumps in developing countries. Brazil and other developing countries are changing the status quo by adopting polices that will adequately address this problem of inadequate waste management and disposal. Life cycle analysis (LCA) identifies the potential environmental impact of a product though environmental impact assessment, International Organization for Standardization (ISO) created the ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 to serve as principle guidelines for conducting LCA. Various waste treatment solution was applied to identify the waste management solution with the least Global warming potential (GWP) for treating the MSW generated from the city of Rio de Janerio, while reducing significantly final waste disposed in landfill.

Climatic conditions for crop production in Nordic countries

Selostus: Kasvintuotannon ilmasto-olosuhteet Pohjoismaissa

Changes in the thermal growing season in Nordic countries during the past century and prospects for the future

Selostus: Termisen kasvukauden muutokset Pohjoismaissa viimeisen vuosisadan aikana ja tulevaisuudessa

A conspectus on estimating function theory and its applicability to recurrent modeling issues in forest biometry

Summary

The application of agricultural land rating and crop models to CO2 and climate change issues in Northern regions : the Mackenzie Basin case study

Selostus: Viljelyvyöhykkeiden ja kasvumallien soveltaminen ilmastonmuutoksen tutkimisessa: Mackenzien jokialue, Kanada

Intra-plant variation for progress of cell division in developing oat grains : a preliminary study

Selostus: Esitutkimus kauran röyhyn sisäisestä vaihtelusta jyvän täyttymisen käynnistyessä

Entry Strategy Issues in the Ophthalmic Industry: Entry Mode, Pricing and Distribution

Maahantulostrategia asettaa yrityksen kansainvälisiä liiketoimintoja ohjaavat tavoitteet, päämäärät, resurssit ja toiminnan suuntaviivat. Tämä diplomityö käsittelee yrityksen maahantulostrategian elementeistä operaatiomuodon valintaa, hinnoittelua ja jakelua. Työssä rakennetaan teoriakehys elementteihin liittyvien päätösten tutkimiseksi lääketeollisuuden ominaispiirteet huomioiden. Lääketeollisuudella on muihin teollisuudenaloihin verrattuna useita erityispiirteitä, joihin työ perehdyttää. Lisäksi työn olennainen osa on selvittää lääketeollisuuden maakohtaisia säädöksiä ja toimintamalleja. Diplomityö on tehty silmäläkkeitä valmistavalle, kehittävälle ja markkinoivalle Santen Oy:lle, joka suunnittelee toimintansa laajentamista Keski- ja Etelä-Euroopan markkinoille. Tässä laajentumisprosessissa ensimmäisenä kohdemaana on Saksa, jonka markkinoille suuntautuvia toimenpiteitä työ tutkii. Teoriakehyksen, markkinoiden ominaispiirteiden sekä useiden erilaisten analyysien pohjalta työn tavoitteena on antaa operaatiomuotoa, tuotteiden hinnoittelua ja jakelua koskevia suosituksia.