Institutionaalinen luottamus - yrityksen ei-henkilöityvä luottamuksen ulottuvuus työntekijän näkökulmasta

Ylläpitääkseen kilpailuetua ja menestyäkseen markkinoilla yritysten tulee teknologisen ja liiketoimintaosaamisen lisäksi hallita tehokas sisäinen toimintansa. Tieto on tärkein tuotannontekijä ja sen jakaminen yrityksessä onkriittistä innovaatioiden syntymisen kannalta. Luottamus edistää tiedon luomista ja jakamista. Luottamusta yrityksissä on tutkittu pääasiassa henkilöiden välisenä luottamuksena omiin esimiehiin ja kollegoihin. Kansainvälisistä omistaja- jamuista yritysjärjestelyistä johtuen yritysten sisäinenkin toiminta on usein maantieteellisesti hajautettua, mikä vähentää henkilöiden välisten luottamussuhteiden syntymistä. Tällaisissa tilanteissa yritykseen itseensä kohdistuva ei-henkilöityvä luottamus täydentää tutkimusten mukaan vähäisiä henkilöiden välisiä luottamussuhteita. Yrityksen ei-henkilöityvää luottamusta on tutkittu vain vähän ja kokonaisvaltaista teoriapohjaista ja/tai empiiristä tutkimusta ei ole tehty tai sitä ei ole raportoitu. Tässä pro gradu -tutkielmassa tutkittiin, mitä yrityksen institutionaalinen luottamus on ja mistä se muodostuu. Tutkielman teoriatausta nousee sosiologian, taloustieteen ja sosiaalipsykologian eri teorioista sekä aikaisemmasta monitieteisestä luottamustutkimuksesta. Empiirinen aineisto kerättiin neljässä fokusryhmäkeskustelussa ja aineisto analysoitiin sekä aineistolähtöisesti että teoriaohjaavasti hyödyntäen ATLAS.ti kvalitatiivisen aineiston analyysiohjelmaa. Työn keskeisenä tuloksena oli teorian ja empirian synteesinä muodostunutyrityksen institutionaalisen luottamuksen määritelmä. Yrityksen institutionaalisella luottamuksella tarkoitetaan yksilön odotuksia työnantajayrityksen kyvykkyydelle ja oikeudenmukaisuudelle. Kyvykkyydellä tarkoitetaan yrityksen havaittua kyvykkyyttä menestyä markkinoilla jatkuvasti ja organisoida sisäinen toimintansa tehokkaasti ja varmasti. Oikeudenmukaisuudella tarkoitetaan koettua oikeudenmukaista henkilöstöpolitiikkaa ja hyvää työnantajamainetta.

Työnantajan sivukulujen poiston vaikutus työllisyyteen

Tutkielman tavoitteena oli osoittaa minkälaisia vaikutuksia työnantajan sivukulujen poisto toisi työllisyyteen. Tutkielman empiirinen osio toteutettiin survey-tutkimuksella. Tämä toteutettiin postikyselyllä, jossa 810 Etelä-Karjalalaiselle yritykselle lähetettiin joulukuussa 2004 kyselylomake. Kyselyyn vastanneiden yritysten määrä oli 141 ja vastausprosentti oli 17. Vastanneiden yritysten toimialajakauma vastasi koko Etelä-Karjalan alueen yritysten toimialajakaumaa, jossa suurimpana toimialana oli eri palvelualan yritykset. Tutkielma eroaa aikaisemminista työllisyyden parantamiseksi esitetyistä malleista. Ensimmäineneroavaisuus on sivukulujen poistaminen yrityksiltä kokonaan eikä vain muutamilla prosenttiyksiköillä. Toinen eroavaisuus on sivukulujen poiston kohdistamisessavain niille yrityksille, joilla työllistävyys kasvaa merkittävästi. Näiden tarkoituksena on maksimoida työllisyysvaikutukset ja vaikuttaa aiheutuneiden kustannusten minimointiin tai kustannusten korvaantumiseen täysimääräisesti. Asetetut tavoitteet voidaan saavuttaa kohdistamalla sivukulujen poisto vain niihin yrityksiin, jotka työllistävät alle 5 henkilöä. Näiden yritysten kohdalla mahdollistuvauusien työntekijöiden määrä nousee keskimäärin 36 prosentilla. Tämä merkitsee laskelmien mukaan sitä, että sivululujen poiston aiheuttama sosiaalivakuutusmaksujen väheneminen korvaantuu vanhojen ja uusien työntekijöiden maksamilla tuloveroilla ja vähentyvillä työttömyyskorvauksilla. Uusien työpaikkojen kasvu merkitseeEtelä-Karjalan työttömyysprosentin laskua yli 4 prosenttiyksiköllä.

Intercultural Competence of Masters of Science in Business Administration and in Technology

Tutkielman tavoitteena on selvittää minkälaista kulttuurienvälistä kompetenssia Lappeenrannan teknillisestä yliopistosta vastavalmistuneilla kauppatieteenmaistereilla sekä diplomi-insinööreillä tulisi olla työnantajien näkökulmasta. Tutkimuksen tarkoituksena on myös tarkastella, että voidaanko kaikkia Lappeenrannan teknillisestä yliopistosta valmistuvia kutsua Kansainvälisiksi Huippuosaajiksi sekä kuinka Lappeenrannan teknillinen yliopisto voisi parantaa vastavalmistuvien kulttuurienvälistä kompetenssia. Teoreettinen osa tarkastelee kulttuurienvälisen kommunikaation tärkeimpiä elementtejä, kulttuurienvälistä kompetenssia ja vastavalmistuneiden kauppatieteenmaistereiden sekä diplomi-insinöörien tarvitsemaa ammatillista osaamista. Empiria koostuu kymmenen työnantajien teemahaastattelun tuloksista. Lopuksi johtopäätöksissä empirian tuloksia verrataan teorian löydöksiin. Tulokset osoittavat että kulttuurienvälinen kompetenssi koostuu kolmesta dimensiosta: henkilökohtaisista ominaisuuksista, tiedosta ja kommunikointikyvystä. Henkilökohtaisiin ominaisuuksiin sisältyvät empaattisuus, epävarmuuden sietokyky sekä avoin ja utelias asenne. Tieto - ulottuvuus koostuu yleisestä ja erityisestä kulttuuritiedosta, kielitaidosta sekä ammatillisesta osaamisesta. Kommunikointikykyyn puolestaan sisältyvät hyvät vuorovaikutustaidot. Työnantajat olettavat nykyään vastavalmistuneilla olevan ammatillisen osaamisen ja kielitaidon lisäksi, kulttuuritietoutta sekä kansainvälistä kokemusta. Lappeenrannan teknillinen yliopisto voisi parantaa vastavalmistuneiden kulttuurienvälistä kompetenssia tarjoamalla kulttuurienvälisen kommunikaation opetusta.

Distribution systems of the food sector in Russia: the perspective of Finnish food industry

Finnish food producers' trade with Russia has experienced profound changes since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Simultaneously, the distribution systems of foodstuffs have changed remarkably. This study sheds some light into these changes and analyses the current situation in distribution systems of foodstuffs in Russia. In addition, the study discusses the possibilities of Finnish food producers to get more of their products to the shelves of Russian food retail stores. Before the 1998 financial crisis, the import of foreign foodstuffs was booming in Russia due to the overvalued rouble. As a result of the financial crisis, food import collapsed. The export of Finnish foodstuffs to Russia has been slowly recovering during the past few years, but in the most important product categories the pre-crisis levels have so far not been reached and maybe will not be reached. In certain product categories the growth has been only marginal. It seems that starting localproduction will become increasingly important in the future. This is further encouraged by the fact that Russian consumers favour domestic food products. Russian consumers are very price conscious and demand quality in food products. The perceived price-quality ratio is an important criterion in the purchase decision.The majority of foodstuff retail is still conducted via unorganised forms of trade (e.g. kiosks and marketplaces) but modern retail chains are developing at a fast pace in Russia. They are also expected to dominate the retail trade in foodstuffs over the unorganised forms of trade in the future. This will change the distribution systems as well. The retail chains are trying to shorten the distribution chain, similarly to what has been seen in the Western countries. This together with the strengthening of retail chains is likely to shrink the role of wholesalers, as the chains increasingly want to work directly with the producers. Many large retail chains are acquiring or have already acquired a distribution centre or centres in order to boost efficiency and control the flow of products. The strengthening of the retail chains also gives them power in negotiations, which the producers and distributors have to adjust to. For example store entry fees and retail chains' own private label products pose challenges to the food producers. In the food production sector the competition is fierce, as large Russianand foreign producers want to ensure their piece of the market. The largest producers utilise their size: they invest in big marketing campaigns and are willing to pay high entry fees to retail chains in order to secure a place on the store shelves and to build a strong brand in Russia. This complicates the situation from the viewpoint of small producers. Currently, the most popular type of distribution system among the interviewed Finnish food producers is based on a network of local distributors. There is, however, a strong consensus on the importanceof starting local production in order to be a serious actor in Russia in the future. Factors that hinder the starting of local production include the lack of local infrastructure and qualified staff, and the low risk tolerance of Finnish firms. Major barriers for entry in Russia are the actions of authorities, fierce competition, fragmented market and Finnish producers' heavy production costs. The suggested strategies for increasing the market share include focusing geographically or segment-wise, introducing new products, starting local production, andcooperation between Finnish producers. Smallness was one reason why Finnish producers had to cut down their operations in Russia due to the 1998 crisis. Smaller producers had fewer resources to tolerate losses during the period of crisis. Smallness is reflected also on trade negotiations with retail chains and distributors. It makes it harder to cope with the store entry fees and to differentiatefrom the mass of products propped up by expensive advertising. Finally, it makes it harder for Finnish producers to start or expand local production, as it is more difficult for a small producer to get financing and to tolerate the increased risks. Compensating for the smallness might become the crucial factor determining the future success of Finnish food producers in the Russian market.

Solid and liquid biofuels markets in Finland - a study on international biofuels trade

This study considered the current situation of solid and liquid biofuels markets and international biofuels trade in Finland and identified the challenges ofthe emerging international biofuels markets for Finland. The fact that industryconsumes more than half of the total primary energy, widely applied combined heat and power production (CHP) and a high share of biofuels in the total energy consumption are specific to the Finnish energy system. One third of the electricity is generated in CHP plants. As much as 27% of the total energy consumption ismet by using wood and peat, which makes Finland the leading country in the use of biofuels. Finland has made a commitment to maintain greenhouse gas emissions at the 1990 level at the highest during the period 2008-2012. The Finnish energypolicy aims to achieve the target, and a variety of measures are taken to promote the use of renewable energy sources and especially wood fuels. In this study, the wooden raw material streams of the forest industry were included the international biofuels trade in addition to biomass streams that are traded for energy production. In 2004, as much as 45% of the raw wood importedinto Finland ended up in energy production. The total international trading of biofuels was evaluated at 72 PJ, of which the majority, 58 PJ, was raw wood. About 22% of wood based energy in Finland originated from imported raw wood. Tall oil and wood pellets composed the largest export streams of biofuels. The annual turnover of international biofuels trade was estimated at about ¤ 90 million fordirect trade and at about ¤ 190 million for indirect trade. The forest industryas the biggest user of wood, and the producer and user of wood fuels has a central position in biomass and biofuels markets in Finland. Lately, the international aspects of Finnish biofuels markets have been emphasised as the import of rawwood and the export of wood pellets have increased. Expanding the use of biofuels in the road transportation sector would increase the international streams ofbiofuels in Finland. In coming years, the international trading of biomass for energy purposes can be expected to continue growing.

Russia's food retail sector from the point of view of Finnish food producers

This research paper focuses on the Russian food retail sector and its structure and development. At the momentit is one of the fastest growing markets today with 12.1% growth last year (2004). The growth originates from high oil price, which has been accumulated to people's wages. They are growing nominally more than 20% annually. But even though the income increases, the share of food of all retailtrade has been fairly stable with only a slight decline. Thus, the consumption is shifting to products with more quality and value. The shareof modern retail outlets is low, as the Russian retail sector is still very dispersed to traditional retail outlets such as kiosks, open markets and small grocery stores. The store chains are, however, becoming more and more significant. The biggest market for retailers is Moscow but nowadays the chains are expanding rapidly into other regions. Even though the markets have not been saturated in Moscow, the best prospects for growth are in the regions. The most important factor restricting the growth in Moscowis the availability of real estate and land plots for stores. The market is moving forward to saturation, and a consolidation process will follow. In fact, it has already started but not many acquisitions have been made so far. To this point the domestic chains have settled to form only alliances. The foreign players will be very strong in the tightening competition in the future. The problem of domestic chains is that the stores are nonstandardized, which is not cost-efficient. The chains are trying to enhance their power in price negotiations by forming purchasing alliances, introducing private label goods and using the regional expansion as a striking weapon. In order to follow the growing chains to other regions the producer must sell its products to the chains at favorable terms. Suppliers are strong in negotiations when they have a functioning distribution network, ability to JIT deliveries, proper documentationpolicies, a strong brand, reliability in deliveries and a fair price. The size of the entry ticket, i.e. the listing fee may define the shelf space a producer gets in the stores.

Challenges in packaging waste management: A case study in the fast food industry

The main research problem of this thesis is to find out the means of promoting the recovery of packaging waste generated in thefast food industry. The recovery of packaging waste generated in the fast food industry is demanded by the packaging waste legislation and expected by the public. The means are revealed by the general factors influencing the recovery of packaging waste, analysed by a multidisciplinary literature review and a case study focusing on the packaging waste managementof McDonald's Oy operating in Finland. The existing solid waste infrastructure does not promote the recovery ofpackaging waste generated in the fast food industry. The theoretical recovery rate of the packaging waste is high, 93 %, while the actual recovery rate is only 29 % consisting of secondary packaging manufactured from cardboard. The total recovery potential of packaging waste is 64 %, resulting in 1 230 tonnes ofrecoverable packaging waste. The achievable recovery potential of 33 %, equalling 647 tonnes of packaging waste could be recovered, but is not recovered mainly because of non-working waste management practises. The theoretical recovery potential of 31 %, equalling 583 tonnes of packaging waste can not be recovered by the existing solid waste infrastructure because of the obscure status of commecial waste, the improper operation ofproducer organisations, and the municipal autonomy. The sorting experiment indicated that it is possible to reach the achievable recovery potential inthe existing solid waste infrastructure. The achievement is promoted by waste producer -oriented waste management practises. The theoretical recovery potential can be reached by increasing the consistency of the solid waste infrastructure through governmental action.

Database Rights in Safe European Home: The Path to More Rigorous Protection of Information

1. Introduction "The one that has compiled ... a database, the collection, securing the validity or presentation of which has required an essential investment, has the sole right to control the content over the whole work or over either a qualitatively or quantitatively substantial part of the work both by means of reproduction and by making them available to the public", Finnish Copyright Act, section 49.1 These are the laconic words that implemented the much-awaited and hotly debated European Community Directive on the legal protection of databases,2 the EDD, into Finnish Copyright legislation in 1998. Now in the year 2005, after more than half a decade of the domestic implementation it is yet uncertain as to the proper meaning and construction of the convoluted qualitative criteria the current legislation employs as a prerequisite for the database protection both in Finland and within the European Union. Further, this opaque Pan-European instrument has the potential of bringing about a number of far-reaching economic and cultural ramifications, which have remained largely uncharted or unobserved. Thus the task of understanding this particular and currently peculiarly European new intellectual property regime is twofold: first, to understand the mechanics and functioning of the EDD and second, to realise the potential and risks inherent in the new legislation in economic, cultural and societal dimensions. 2. Subject-matter of the study: basic issues The first part of the task mentioned above is straightforward: questions such as what is meant by the key concepts triggering the functioning of the EDD such as presentation of independent information, what constitutes an essential investment in acquiring data and when the reproduction of a given database reaches either qualitatively or quantitatively the threshold of substantiality before the right-holder of a database can avail himself of the remedies provided by the statutory framework remain unclear and call for a careful analysis. As for second task, it is already obvious that the practical importance of the legal protection providedby the database right is in the rapid increase. The accelerating transformationof information into digital form is an existing fact, not merely a reflection of a shape of things to come in the future. To take a simple example, the digitisation of a map, traditionally in paper format and protected by copyright, can provide the consumer a markedly easier and faster access to the wanted material and the price can be, depending on the current state of the marketplace, cheaper than that of the traditional form or even free by means of public lending libraries providing access to the information online. This also renders it possible for authors and publishers to make available and sell their products to markedly larger, international markets while the production and distribution costs can be kept at minimum due to the new electronic production, marketing and distributionmechanisms to mention a few. The troublesome side is for authors and publishers the vastly enhanced potential for illegal copying by electronic means, producing numerous virtually identical copies at speed. The fear of illegal copying canlead to stark technical protection that in turn can dampen down the demand for information goods and services and furthermore, efficiently hamper the right of access to the materials available lawfully in electronic form and thus weaken the possibility of access to information, education and the cultural heritage of anation or nations, a condition precedent for a functioning democracy. 3. Particular issues in Digital Economy and Information Networks All what is said above applies a fortiori to the databases. As a result of the ubiquity of the Internet and the pending breakthrough of Mobile Internet, peer-to-peer Networks, Localand Wide Local Area Networks, a rapidly increasing amount of information not protected by traditional copyright, such as various lists, catalogues and tables,3previously protected partially by the old section 49 of the Finnish Copyright act are available free or for consideration in the Internet, and by the same token importantly, numerous databases are collected in order to enable the marketing, tendering and selling products and services in above mentioned networks. Databases and the information embedded therein constitutes a pivotal element in virtually any commercial operation including product and service development, scientific research and education. A poignant but not instantaneously an obvious example of this is a database consisting of physical coordinates of a certain selected group of customers for marketing purposes through cellular phones, laptops and several handheld or vehicle-based devices connected online. These practical needs call for answer to a plethora of questions already outlined above: Has thecollection and securing the validity of this information required an essential input? What qualifies as a quantitatively or qualitatively significant investment? According to the Directive, the database comprises works, information and other independent materials, which are arranged in systematic or methodical way andare individually accessible by electronic or other means. Under what circumstances then, are the materials regarded as arranged in systematic or methodical way? Only when the protected elements of a database are established, the question concerning the scope of protection becomes acute. In digital context, the traditional notions of reproduction and making available to the public of digital materials seem to fit ill or lead into interpretations that are at variance with analogous domain as regards the lawful and illegal uses of information. This may well interfere with or rework the way in which the commercial and other operators have to establish themselves and function in the existing value networks of information products and services. 4. International sphere After the expiry of the implementation period for the European Community Directive on legal protection of databases, the goals of the Directive must have been consolidated into the domestic legislations of the current twenty-five Member States within the European Union. On one hand, these fundamental questions readily imply that the problemsrelated to correct construction of the Directive underlying the domestic legislation transpire the national boundaries. On the other hand, the disputes arisingon account of the implementation and interpretation of the Directive on the European level attract significance domestically. Consequently, the guidelines on correct interpretation of the Directive importing the practical, business-oriented solutions may well have application on European level. This underlines the exigency for a thorough analysis on the implications of the meaning and potential scope of Database protection in Finland and the European Union. This position hasto be contrasted with the larger, international sphere, which in early 2005 does differ markedly from European Union stance, directly having a negative effect on international trade particularly in digital content. A particular case in point is the USA, a database producer primus inter pares, not at least yet having aSui Generis database regime or its kin, while both the political and academic discourse on the matter abounds. 5. The objectives of the study The above mentioned background with its several open issues calls for the detailed study of thefollowing questions: -What is a database-at-law and when is a database protected by intellectual property rights, particularly by the European database regime?What is the international situation? -How is a database protected and what is its relation with other intellectual property regimes, particularly in the Digital context? -The opportunities and threats provided by current protection to creators, users and the society as a whole, including the commercial and cultural implications? -The difficult question on relation of the Database protection and protection of factual information as such. 6. Dsiposition The Study, in purporting to analyse and cast light on the questions above, is divided into three mainparts. The first part has the purpose of introducing the political and rationalbackground and subsequent legislative evolution path of the European database protection, reflected against the international backdrop on the issue. An introduction to databases, originally a vehicle of modern computing and information andcommunication technology, is also incorporated. The second part sets out the chosen and existing two-tier model of the database protection, reviewing both itscopyright and Sui Generis right facets in detail together with the emergent application of the machinery in real-life societal and particularly commercial context. Furthermore, a general outline of copyright, relevant in context of copyright databases is provided. For purposes of further comparison, a chapter on the precursor of Sui Generi, database right, the Nordic catalogue rule also ensues. The third and final part analyses the positive and negative impact of the database protection system and attempts to scrutinize the implications further in the future with some caveats and tentative recommendations, in particular as regards the convoluted issue concerning the IPR protection of information per se, a new tenet in the domain of copyright and related rights.

L'avaluació, tria i eliminació de fons fotogràfics digitals. Estudi de cas del fons del fotògraf Efren Montoya a l'Arxiu Històric de Sabadell

Durant la última dècada hem viscut l’explosió de la fotografia digital. Les possibilitats de captar imatges s’ha multiplicat de manera gairebé infinita sense implicar costos afegits pel fotògraf. Això ens obliga a replantejar-nos la necessitat d’establir uns criteris ben definits per avaluar, triar i eliminar les fotografies que ingressen als nostres arxius. El treball que es presenta aquí té com a objectiu establir uns protocols per tal de poder aplicar aquests procediments al nous fons que passin a formar part del nostre patrimoni documental. Finalment, s’ha dut a terme l’experiència d’entregar al productor d’un fons part de la seva documentació per tal que ell l’avalués i després comparar els resultats amb l’avaluació duta a terme des de l’arxiu. Paraules clau: avaluació, tria, eliminació, fotografia born-digital, ingrés, metadades, arxiu digital, formats de preservació

Sujetos responsables por los daños derivados del uso de un producto peligroso. Comentario a la STS, 1a, 21.11.2008 (MP:José Antonio Seijas Quintana), RJ 2009\144

La STS, 1a, 21.11.2008, objeto de este comentario, plantea a un tiempo la responsabilidad del consumidor, vendedor, fabricante y Administración pública por los daños materiales causados por la explosión de un producto altamente inflamable que había sido vendido a un particular para la desinfección de su vivienda.

Karyotype characterization of Malpighia emarginata (Malpighiaceae)

Malpighia emarginata Sessé & Mociño ex DC. or West Indian cherry (acerola) is a wild plant originated in southern Mexico, Central America and the northern region of South America. The species was introduced to Brazil about 60 years ago and now the country is the world's biggest producer. Even though the fruits of acerola have high commercial value, as they are an important source of the natural vitamin C, very little chromosome information is available for this species. Previous studies showed that most Malpighia species are diploids, including M. emarginata with 2n = 20. In the present paper, the chromosome number of acerola was confirmed, and for the first time, its karyotype was described, providing the identification of the homologues for the ideogram construction. The acerola chromosomes are small (1.71 to 2.56 µm) and metacentric with the exception of chromosome 2 that is classified as submetacentric. In addition, it is recommended a protocol to produce rooted-plantlets in vitro for mitotic studies that could be also used for micropropagation of acerola.

Evaluation of substrates on the emergence of "araticum-de-terra-fria" (Annona emarginata (Schltdl.) H. Rainer) Seedlings

Choosing a substrate is the determinant factor for the seedling producer; thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different types of substrates on the emergence of "araticum-de-terra-fria" (Annona emarginata (Schltdl.) H. Rainer) seedlings. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse and the experimental design was in randomized blocks, with three treatments and five replicates of 72 seeds per plot. The treatments consisted of the following substrates: coconut fiber, vermiculite and Plantmax® Citrus. The number of emerged seedlings was weekly counted for 105 days. Data regarding seedling height were obtained, and the emergence velocity index and mean time, besides total emergence percentage and that over time were calculated. Results from total mean emergence percentage, seedling height, emergence velocity index (EVI), and mean emergence time (MET) were subjected to analysis of variance and means were compared by the Tukey's test at 5% significance. The curves concerning the emergence percentage over time were fit by the logistic growth equation for each treatment and the means of each parameter (A, B, C) were compared by the Duncan's test at 5% significance. The substrates vermiculite led to the highest values of emergence percentage differing from the PlantMax® Citrus, but not of the coconut fiber, however the vermiculite promoted seedling height in a shorter time; therefore, this substrate is recommended for the initial development of "araticum-de-terra-fria" (Annona emarginata (Schltdl.) H. Rainer) seedlings.

Räjähdyssuojausasiakirjan vaatima riskin arviointi muille kuin sähkölaitteille

Turvatekniikan keskuksella (TUKES) on valvottavanaan noin 1 000 teollisuuslaitosta, joissa on räjähdysvaarallisia tiloja. Olosuhdedirektiivin (1999/92/EY) mukainen kansal-linen asetus (VNa 576/2003) tuli voimaan 1.9.2003. Asetus koskee uusia räjähdysvaa-rallisia tiloja välittömästi, kun taas käytössä olevat tilat on saatettava sen mukaisiksi 30.6.2006 mennessä. Asetus edellyttää, että työnantaja laatii räjähdysvaarallisille tiloille räjähdyssuojausasiakirjan ja arvioi kirjallisesti näissä tiloissa käytettävien, ilman Ex-merkkiä olevien työvälineiden riskin. Räjähdyssuojausasiakirjan ja kirjallisena tehdyn riskin arvioinnin eräs keskeinen tarkoitus on varmistaa mahdollisten syttymislähteiden laaja-alainen hallinta ja pienentää onnettomuusriskiä. Tässä diplomityössä selvitetään, mitä riskin arvioinnin täytyy sisältää ja etsitään tehokas menetelmä arvioinnin tekoon. Kolmelta yritykseltä saatiin tutkittavaksi niiden alalle tyypillinen muu kuin sähkölaite, jota käytetään räjähdysvaarallisessa tilassa. Laitteiden tuli olla Ex-merkittömiä ja olla ollut käytössä ennen asetuksen voimaan tuloa. Laitteiden ja niiden dokumenttien tutkimisella testattiin eri menetelmien soveltuvuutta riskin arviointiin. Samalla selvitettiin jo käytössä olevien laitteiden turvallisuustaso. Jokaisen pilottitapauksen kohdalla on arvioinnissa menetelty eri tavoin. Työssä esitellään keskeisimmät menetelmät, joilla riskin arviointi voidaan tehdä. Suosi-tuksena esitellään ratkaisumalli, jonka avulla voidaan päätellä laitteen tarvitsema riskinarviointimenetelmä. Pilottitapauksia arvioitiin laitteiden sijoituksen ja lukumäärän pohjalta. Suosituksena on, että riskin arvioinnissa lähdetään liikkeelle itse laitteesta ja sen soveltuvuudesta räjähdysvaaralliseen tilaan. Tällä tavalla pystytään kohdistamaan käytössä olevat resurssit paremmin niihin laitteisiin, jotka vaativat tarkemman riskin arvioinnin. Pilottitapausten perusteella räjähdysvaaralliseen tilaan tarkoitetut laitteet soveltuivat käytettäväksi tarkoitetussa käytössään. Räjähdyssuojausasiakirjaa varten on dokumentoitava tiedot niiden käytöstä, mahdollisista syttymislähteistä ja suojaavista toimenpiteistä.

World temperate fruit production: characteristics and challenges

In the last 30 years world population has increased 70% but per capita global fruit consumption is only 20% higher. Even though tropical and temperate fruit have similar contributions to the 50 kg/person/year of US consumption of fresh fruit, in the last 30 years this has been slightly greater for temperate fruit. Within fruit consumption, the largest expansion has been for organic fruit which increased more than 50% in the 2002-2006 period. The largest expansion of area planted in the 1996-2006 has been for kiwi (29%) and blueberries (20%), while apples (-24%) and sour cherries (-13%) have had the largest reductions. Nearly 50% of the total global volume of fruit is produced by 5 countries: China, USA, Brazil, Italy and Spain. The main producer (China) accounts for 23% of the total. While the main exporters are Spain, USA and Italy, the main importers are Germany, Russia and UK. Demands for the industry have evolved towards quality, food safety and traceability. The industry faces higher productions costs (labor, energy, agrichemicals). The retailers are moving towards consolidation while the customers are changing preferences (food for health). In this context there is greater pressure on growers, processors and retailers. Emerging issues are labor supply, climate change, water availability and sustainability. Recent developments in precision agriculture, molecular biology, phenomics, crop modelling and post harvest physiology should increase yields and quality, and reduce costs for temperate fruit production around the world.

Core Competence of a Small or Medium Sized Content Providing Company Operating in the Information and Communication Technologies Secto

Tutkimuksen tavoitteena on tarkastella tekijöitä, joista ydinosaaminen muodostuu, sekä sitä kuinka yritykset voisivat parhaiten hyödyntää omia resurssejaan ja osaamistaan tunnistetun ydinosaamisen avulla. Teoria osuudessa käydään läpi kuinka ydinosaaminen on kirjallisuudessa määritelty ja miten yritykset voivat sen määritellä sisäisesti itselleen. Empiirisessä osiossa käydään läpi Telecom Business Research Centerissä tehdyn kvantitatiivisen selvityksen pohjalta valitut kolme sisällöntuottaja case - yritystä sekä kuvataan näiden osaamista. Tiedot yrityksistä perustuvat niiden edustajille tehtyihin haastatteluihin ja heidän käsitykseensä omasta yrityksestään. Tämä näkemys on tutkimuksen kannalta äärimmäisen relevanttia, koska ydinosaamisen määrittely tehdään yrityksessä sisäisesti juuri haastatellun kaltaisten yrityksen ydintoimijoiden toimesta. Varsinaisten case -yritysten lisäksi käydään läpi käytännön tapaus action-oriented -tutkimusosuudessa. Tutkimusta ja siinä käsiteltyjä esimerkkejä tulisi hyödyntää yrityksen oman ydinosaamisselvityksen apuna prosessin varrella.