Customer driven business model – connecting customer value to firm resources in ICT value networks

The objective of this thesis is to provide a business model framework that connects customer value to firm resources and explains the change logic of the business model. Strategic supply management and especially dynamic value network management as its scope, the dissertation is based on basic economic theories, transaction cost economics and the resource-based view. The main research question is how the changing customer values should be taken into account when planning business in a networked environment. The main question is divided into questions that form the basic research problems for the separate case studies presented in the five Publications. This research adopts the case study strategy, and the constructive research approach within it. The material consists of data from several Delphi panels and expert workshops, software pilot documents, company financial statements and information on investor relations on the companies’ web sites. The cases used in this study are a mobile multi-player game value network, smart phone and “Skype mobile” services, the business models of AOL, eBay, Google, Amazon and a telecom operator, a virtual city portal business system and a multi-play offering. The main contribution of this dissertation is bridging the gap between firm resources and customer value. This has been done by theorizing the business model concept and connecting it to both the resource-based view and customer value. This thesis contributes to the resource-based view, which deals with customer value and firm resources needed to deliver the value but has a gap in explaining how the customer value changes should be connected to the changes in key resources. This dissertation also provides tools and processes for analyzing the customer value preferences of ICT services, constructing and analyzing business models and business concept innovation and conducting resource analysis.

Plataforma "Cloud Computing" per la comunicació entre pares i professors (Saas)

El projecte que es presenta a continuació és el resultat fruit de la detecció d’un problema de comunicació entre les escoles (sobretot de primària) i el pares dels alumnes que hi cursen els estudis, i la necessitat de trobar-hi una solució. Amb aquesta premissa, i tenint en compte que la tecnologia cada vegada ens ofereix més i millors eines per gestionar les nostres necessitats, es porta a terme la construcció d’un servei al núvol (Saas) capaç de cobrir aquestes necessitats i de fer-ho de la manera més senzilla i eficient possible. La plataforma Aula és un servei on tant professors com pares dels alumnes poden comunicar-se i consultar la informació referent als seus alumnes (en el cas del professors), i dels seus fills (en el cas dels pares/tutors). La solució adoptada ha de ser capaç de funcionar sobre qualsevol aparell (ordinador, tablet o mòbil) i en qualsevol lloc on hi hagi connexió a Internet. No s’ha de realitzar cap tipus d’instal·lació un cop el sistema estigui funcionant, i s’hi podran registrar tants centres com siguin necessaris, així com professionals i pares dels alumnes. També s’ha valorat el manteniment mínim del sistema i la seva escalabilitat, per poder fer front a diferents volums de dades. Així doncs, el projecte Aula es presenta com una solució per gestionar el dia a dia dels professors i alumnes, però que no pretén ser substitut de cap altre sistema de gestió que pugui tenir el centre.

Control remoto del robot ABB IRB 120 por tecnología Wifi

Durante toda la evolución de la tecnología, se han empleado aparatos interconexionados por cables. Los cables limitan la libertad de movimiento del usuario y pueden captar interferencias entre ellos si la red de cableado es elevada. Mientras avanzaba la tecnología inalámbrica, se ha ido adaptando al equipamiento electrónico a la vez que se iban haciendo cada vez más pequeños. Por esto, se impone la necesidad de utilizarlos como controles a distancia sin el empleo de cables debido a los inconvenientes que estos conllevan. El presente trabajo, pretende unificar tres tecnologías que pueden tener en el futuro una gran afinidad. · Dispositivos basados en el sistema Android. Desde sus inicios, han tenido una evolución meteórica. Se han ido haciendo cada vez más rápidos y mejores. · Sistemas inalámbricos. Los sistemas wifi o bluetooth, se han ido incorporando a nuestras vidas cada vez más y están prácticamente en cualquier aparato. · Robótica. Cualquier proceso de producción incorpora un robot. Son necesarios para hacer muchos trabajos que, aunque el hombre lo puede realizar, un robot reduce los tiempos y la peligrosidad de los procesos. Aunque las dos primeras tecnologías van unidas, ¿quién no tiene un teléfono con conexión wifi y bluetooth?, pocos diseños aúnan estos campos con la Robótica. El objetivo final de este trabajo es realizar una aplicación en Android para el control remoto de un robot, empleando el sistema de comunicación inalámbrico. La aplicación desarrollada, permite controlar el robot a conveniencia del usuario en un entorno táctil/teledirigido. Gracias a la utilización de simulador en ambos lenguajes (RAPID y Android), ha sido posible realizar la programación sin tener que estar presente ante el robot objeto de este trabajo. A través de su progreso, se ha ido evolucionando en la cantidad de datos enviados al robot y complejidad en su procesamiento, a la vez que se ha mejorado en la estética de la aplicación. Finalmente se usó la aplicación desarrollada con el robot, consiguiendo con éxito que realizara los movimientos que eran enviados con la tablet programada.

La technologie a-t-elle un sexe?

Si la technologie fait aujourd'hui pleinement partie de notre quotidien au point de prolonger nos organes des sens, l'histoire nous rappelle que son apparition à l'ère moderne n'est pas allée sans débats, controverses et résistances. Technophobes et technophiles s'affrontent régulièrement à l'avènement d'une technique ou d'un média responsable de bouleverser notre perception du monde et nos repères cognitifs. Or, les affrontements sur la nécessité du progrès social reposent systématiquement sur un socle idéologique qui confère une lecture genrée des rapports entre nature et culture. En étudiant les discours, les pratiques et les représentations qui accompagnent l'arrivée d'un artefact, on s'avise en effet que la technologie est très souvent appréhendée en termes sexués, qu'elle soit référée à la féminité ou, plus rarement, à la masculinité. Partant de ce constat, nous proposons de parcourir une série d'exemples qui cristallisent cette association implicite entre technique et genre, tels le train, le cinéma, la télévision, la haute fidélité (hi-fi) audio et le téléphone portable.

Tietoliikenteen tulevaisuuden näkymiä - Etelä-Karjala 2018

Tekniikan kehitys menee vauhdilla eteenpäin ja uusi verkkotekniikoita syntyy koko ajan. Haasteita tuottavat sopivien verkkotekniikoiden löytäminen käyttöön tietylle alueelle ja joissakin tapauksissa joudutaan tyytymään kompromissiratkaisuihin. Lyhyen kantaman langattomat kommunikaatioteknologiat soveltuvat esimerkiksi haja-asutusalueille ja saaristoon, mikäli perinteisen kuidun vetäminen niille alueille ei ole mahdollista. Tässä työssä tuodaan esille niitä langallisia ja langattomia tekniikoita, jotka ovat tällä hetkellä tai tulevaisuudessa merkityksellisiä Etelä-Karjalan kannalta. Osa tekniikoista voi jäädä kokonaan pois käytöstä kymmenen vuoden sisällä tai ne voivat yhdistyä ja muuttaa muotoaan. Työn tuloksena syntyneen kartoituksen perusteella saadaan visio siitä, miltä Etelä-Karjalan tilanne näyttää vuonna 2018. Nyt on jo tiedossa Soneran puhelinlankaverkon alasajo lähivuosina ja kuidun vetäminen viemäriin viemäröintitöiden yhteydessä. Tulevaisuuden kaistankäyttötarpeet ja erilaisten palvelujen lisääntyminen edesauttavat viihdepalveluiden tarjonnan monipuolistumista. Open Access ja triple-play ovat tulevaisuuden termejä. Viihteen lisäksi myös muilla eri osa-alueilla kuten työelämässä, sairaaloissa ja kouluissa on tarvetta laajakaistaisille monipalveluille.

55-64 —vuotiaiden käsityksiä eläkeajastaan ja eläkesäästöistään

Tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli selvittää, vastaavatko suomalaisten 55-64 vuotiaiden odotukset eläkkeensä tasosta ja eläkesäästöjensä riittävyydestä todellisuutta. Tutkimuksen empiirinen osa on kerätty haastattelemalla 55-64 vuotiaita suomalaisia eri puolelta Suomea. Aineiston on kerännyt TNSGallup puhelinhaastatteluina. Tutkimuksen perusteella voidaan todeta, että eläkeajalle varatut säästöt eivät riitä halutulla kulutustasolla koko eläkeajaksi. Elinajanodotus kasvaa koko ajan, jolloin eläkeaika on myös pidempi ja säästöjen tulisi vastata pidentynyttä elinaikaa. Eläkeaikaan varautuminen tulisi aloittaa aikaisemmin työuran aikana.

Projecte d'aplicació de dispositius mòbils Android : seguiment de pacients a distància

El projecte consisteix en una aplicació per a realitzar el seguiment de pacients a distància, evitant així desplaçaments innecessaris al centre de salut. Està format per una pàgina web, on el personal sanitari gestiona el sistema, i una aplicació Android, que és la que fa servir el pacient. El personal sanitari introdueix la medicació, les visites o les tasques periòdiques a fer pel pacient al sistema. El pacient consulta la informació en l’aplicació del seu mòbil, rebent avisos de recordatori i amb la possibilitat enviar respostes als formularis creats per el personal sanitari de manera periòdica.

Kolmiulotteisen konenakojärjestelmän soveltuminen matkapuhelimen alikokoonpanojen testaukseen massatuotannossa

Tässä diplomityössä tutkitaan kolmiulotteisen konenak6järjestelmän soveltuvuutta matkapuhelimien alikokoonpanojen testaukseen massatuotannossa. Tavoitteena oli saada tietoa 3D järjestelmän käytettävyydestä suorituskyvyn ja kapasiteetin suhteen sekä selvittää järjestelmän joustavuutta testattavia tuotteita vaihdettaessa. Haluttiin myös selvittää, että ratkaiseeko 3D järjestelmä käytössä olevan 2D järjestelmän kanssa ilmenneitä ongelmia Järjestelmän suorituskykyä tutkittiin tekemällä testiajoja, joista saatuja tuloksia analysoitiin tilastollisella laadunvalvontaohjelmistolla. Varsinaisen kehitystyön teki konenäköjärjestelmiin erikoistunut alihankkija, jolla on kokemusta 3D testauksesta muilta teollisuuden aloilta. Matkapuhelimien alikokoonpanojen testauksessa laatukriteerit ja tarkkuusvaatimukset ovat kuitenkin liian kovia saavutettaviksi 3D lasertriangulaatioon perustuvaa testausjärjestelmää käytettäessä

Elämänlaatu ja iäkkäiden kaatumisten ehkäisy

Quality of life and fall prevention among the aged Improvement of quality of life is considered to be one of the most important goals of prevention, treatment and rehabilitation among the aged. The study aimed to describe and assess fall prevention interventions as a quality of life indicator, and to describe the social dimension of health-related quality of life among the aged. In addition, it aimed to assess the effects of fall prevention intervention on quality of life among the aged. The study was implemented by using a methodological triangulation. The data in the systematic review was retrieved from the databasis of medical and nursing sciences. Home-dwelling aged (n=19) participated in the qualitative study of a social dimension of quality of life. The data was gathered by the thematic interview method. The quantitative multifactorial fall prevention study comprised 591 participants, either the aged living at home or in sheltered housing, showing an increased risk of falling. Participants were randomized into an intervention or a control group. Follow-up measurements were carried out after a 12 month intervention. The data was collected by the 15D quality of life instrument and a structured questionnaire. Based on the systematic review, only in a few studies fall prevention produced positive effects on dimensions of quality of life (physical function, social function, vitality, mental health, environmental domain). Based on the thematic interview the social dimension of quality of life consisted of three themes: personal values, personal milieu and personal daily life. Based on the fall prevention program, depressive symptoms and distress decreased, managing in usual activities improved, sexual activity and phone contacts increased among men. In women, managing in usual activities improved, socializing increased and discomfort and symptoms decreased. Within the groups, self-perceived health improved among women in the intervention group and among men in the control groups. In addition, fear of falling and feelings of insecurity reduced among women in the intervention group. Personal daily life with its activities opened up new perspectives into the social dimension of good quality of life, which was emphasized especially in the interviews of the oldest participants. Multifactorial fall prevention can affect positively some physical and psychosocial dimensions of quality of life among the community-dwelling aged. Additional studies with larger sample sizes, longer follow-up periods and multiple outcome measures are needed. Fall prevention intervention may affect quality of life by different mechanisms, and the quantitative and qualitative assessment of its effects should also be included in the interventions of randomized controlled trials.

Cost Optimisation of Mobile Advertising Client Data Transfer

Data traffic caused by mobile advertising client software when it is communicating with the network server can be a pain point for many application developers who are considering advertising-funded application distribution, since the cost of the data transfer might scare their users away from using the applications. For the thesis project, a simulation environment was built to mimic the real client-server solution for measuring the data transfer over varying types of connections with different usage scenarios. For optimising data transfer, a few general-purpose compressors and XML-specific compressors were tried for compressing the XML data, and a few protocol optimisations were implemented. For optimising the cost, cache usage was improved and pre-loading was enhanced to use free connections to load the data. The data traffic structure and the various optimisations were analysed, and it was found that the cache usage and pre-loading should be enhanced and that the protocol should be changed, with report aggregation and compression using WBXML or gzip.

Bile duct stones, strictures and iatrogenic lesions: studies on early diagnosis and treatment.

Aims: This study was carried out to investigate the role of common liver function tests, and the degree of common bile duct dilatation in the differential diagnosis of extrahepatic cholestasis, as well as the occurrence, diagnosis and treatment of iatrogenic bile duct injuries. In bile duct injuries, special attention was paid to gender and severity distribution and long-term results. Patients and methods: All consecutive patients with diagnosed common bile duct stones or malignant strictures in ERCP between August 2000 and November 2003. Common liver function tests were measured in the morning before ERCP on all of these 212 patients, and their common bile duct diameter was measured from ERCP films. Between January 1995 and April 2002, 3736 laparoscopic cholecystectomies were performed and a total of 32 bile duct injuries were diagnosed. All pre-, per-, and postoperative data were collected retrospectively; and the patients were also interviewed by phone. Results: Plasma bilirubin proved to be the best discriminator between CBD stones and malignant strictures (p≤0.001 compared to other liver function tests and degree of common bile duct dilatation). The same effect was seen in Receiver Operating Characteristics curves (AUC 0.867). With a plasma bilirubin cut-off value of 145 μmol/l, four out of five patients could be classified correctly. The degree of common bile duct dilatation proved to be worthless in differential diagnostics. After laparoscopic cholecystectomy the total risk for bile duct injury was 0.86%, including cystic duct leaks. 86% of severe injuries and 88% of injuries requiring operative treatment were diagnosed in females. All the cystic duct leakages and 87% of the strictures were treated endoscopically. Good long-term results were seen in 84% of the whole study population. Conclusions: Plasma bilirubin is the most effective liver function test in differential diagnosis between CBD stones and malignant strictures. The only value of common bile duct dilatation is its ability to verify the presence of extrahepatic cholestasis. Female gender was associated with higher number of iatrogenic bile duct injuries, and in particular, most of the major complications occur in females. Most of the cystic duct leaks and common bile duct strictures can be treated endoscopically. The long-term results in our institution are at an internationally acceptable level.

FEMA’s Capability Development After Katrina

After Action Reports for Hurricane Isaac & Sandy concluded that WebEOC was correct choice for FEMA’s Crisis Management System: real time data easily shared between FEMA Headquarters, Regions and Incident Management Assistance Teams; cloud capability allowed use on any web connected device, laptop, tablet, iPad, smart phone; intuitive System - Offgoing personnel able to train incoming reliefs on new features or changes within minutes; widespread use of WebEOC through out country in 19 other Federal Departments and Agencies, 40 States, hundreds of cities/counties and industry provided a number of users that had prior experience using WebEOC and reduced learning curve experienced when new systems are introduced; focusing on a single shared web database reduced creation of new single purpose databases, spreadsheets and share point sites allowing best practices to be captured, refined, shared and continued

Näkökohtia aloittavan yritysverkoston markkinointiin ja teknologiastrategiaan

Carelian EcoTec yritysverkosto on uusi käynnistymisvaiheessa oleva verkosto. Verkosto toimii pääosin Keski Karjalassa ja siinä on mukana 15 yritystä. Diplomityössä syvennytään kolmeen aihealueeseen: verkostoituminen, markkinatutkimus ja teknologiastrategia, yritysverkoston kannalta. Verkostoitumisen osalta arvioitiin verkoston nykytilaa, verkoston yritysten näkemystä verkostosta ja lisäksi tehtiin verkostolle SWOT analyysi. Verkostoitumisen osalta arvioitiin myös verkoston kehittämiskohteita tulevaisuudessa. Markkinaselvityksessä verkoston toimialat on segmentoitu ja näiden valittujen segmenttien markkinat on pyritty arvioimaan puhelinhaastatteluiden, koemarkkinoinnin, aiempien selvitysten ja tilastojen perusteella. Markkinaselvityksen perusteella muotoiltiin markkinointistrategia verkostolle. Teknologiastrategiassa pyrittiin rakentamaan verkostolle teknologiastrategia. Teknologiastrategian luomiseen käytettiin apuna kirjallisuudessa esitettyjä teknologiastrategian laadintamalleja. Teknologiastrategiassa määriteltiin kohteita, joihin verkoston tulisi teknologisesti keskittyä lähitulevaisuudessa.

Disseny i implementació d'una web administrable pel sector del caravàning

Vivim en una era digital on cada vegada més les persones estem connectades a la xarxa, ja sigui a través del mòbil, ordinadors o altres dispositius. Actualment internet és un gran aparador i des de fa temps, les empreses han vist en aquest una manera de treure’n profit. És per això, junt amb el seu baix cost, que fa que qualsevol empresa disposi del seu propi espai a la xarxa. D’aquestes idees sorgeix el projecte de fer la web per AutoSuministres Motor. La principal funció de la web es donar-se a conèixer i ensenyar els seus productes, que en aquest cas, són autocaravanes i caravanes. Tot i així, la pàgina web contindrà un espai de reportatges on l’usuari podrà conèixer més a fons un model concret d’autocaravana o caravana i on també podrà demanar més informació mitjançant un formulari de contacte. Per tant, la pàgina web serà totalment administrable perquè els comercials puguin introduir els vehicles corresponents i l’usuari final pugui consultarlos correctament d’una manera fàcil i senzilla. Per tal de dur a terme aquesta web s’ha tingut en compte utilitzar eines de programació de distribució lliure com és el llenguatge PHP, la base de dades MySQL i jQuery.

Amenzas a través de la telefonía móvil e internet: perfil psicológico y consecuencias emocionales

En los últimos años se ha producido un incremento del uso de la telefonía móvil e Internet con fines intimidatorios o simplemente para amenazar a los iguales en los centros escolares de nuestro país. Con la voluntad de aportar datos que puedan ayudar a su prevención, se ha realizado un estudio de encuesta en el que se ha obtenido información relativa a las amenazas recibidas a través de los nuevos medios de comunicación, es decir, Internet y la telefonía móvil. Los resultados indican que un 23.3% de los estudiantes de los centros públicos de Enseñanza Secundaria Obligatoria de la ciudad de Girona (Cataluña), durante el curso escolar, han recibido vía Internet o telefonía móvil algún mensaje que, por su contenido, ha supuesto una amenaza para su bienestar. Se analizan las consecuenciasemocionales y las estrategias de afrontamiento utilizadas por parte de estos adolescentes