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.

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss) (EGPA) Consensus Task Force recommendations for evaluation and management.

OBJECTIVE: To develop disease-specific recommendations for the diagnosis and management of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss syndrome) (EGPA). METHODS: The EGPA Consensus Task Force experts comprised 8 pulmonologists, 6 internists, 4 rheumatologists, 3 nephrologists, 1 pathologist and 1 allergist from 5 European countries and the USA. Using a modified Delphi process, a list of 40 questions was elaborated by 2 members and sent to all participants prior to the meeting. Concurrently, an extensive literature search was undertaken with publications assigned with a level of evidence according to accepted criteria. Drafts of the recommendations were circulated for review to all members until final consensus was reached. RESULTS: Twenty-two recommendations concerning the diagnosis, initial evaluation, treatment and monitoring of EGPA patients were established. The relevant published information on EGPA, antineutrophil-cytoplasm antibody-associated vasculitides, hypereosinophilic syndromes and eosinophilic asthma supporting these recommendations was also reviewed. DISCUSSION: These recommendations aim to give physicians tools for effective and individual management of EGPA patients, and to provide guidance for further targeted research.

Compruebe sus conocimientos sobre las técnicas de planificación (I)

Las llamadas técnicas de planificación sanitaria son reconocidas por su utilidad en el ámbito de los trabajos de grupo y en la realización de estudios. Por ejemplo, el brainstorming es muy utilizado para la detección de problemas en la mejora de la calidad asistencial. El Grupo Nominal se suele aplicar en las situaciones o casos que queremos mejorar basándonos en la reflexión y en el consenso de un grupo de participantes. Por otra parte, la técnica de Delphi permite ver tendencias de futuro, de acuerdo, por ejemplo, con la visión de los profesionales de la salud y los usuarios. El diagrama causa-efecto de Ishikawa puede ayudarnos a delimitar los problemas ante un acontecimiento determinado. A continuación le presentamos una serie de preguntas cuyas respuestas le darán a conocer su nivel de conocimientos sobre estas útiles técnicas.

Towards actionable international comparisons of health system performance: expert revision of the OECD framework and quality indicators.

OBJECTIVE: To review and update the conceptual framework, indicator content and research priorities of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's (OECD) Health Care Quality Indicators (HCQI) project, after a decade of collaborative work. DESIGN: A structured assessment was carried out using a modified Delphi approach, followed by a consensus meeting, to assess the suite of HCQI for international comparisons, agree on revisions to the original framework and set priorities for research and development. SETTING: International group of countries participating to OECD projects. PARTICIPANTS: Members of the OECD HCQI expert group. RESULTS: A reference matrix, based on a revised performance framework, was used to map and assess all seventy HCQI routinely calculated by the OECD expert group. A total of 21 indicators were agreed to be excluded, due to the following concerns: (i) relevance, (ii) international comparability, particularly where heterogeneous coding practices might induce bias, (iii) feasibility, when the number of countries able to report was limited and the added value did not justify sustained effort and (iv) actionability, for indicators that were unlikely to improve on the basis of targeted policy interventions. CONCLUSIONS: The revised OECD framework for HCQI represents a new milestone of a long-standing international collaboration among a group of countries committed to building common ground for performance measurement. The expert group believes that the continuation of this work is paramount to provide decision makers with a validated toolbox to directly act on quality improvement strategies.

Transición a la vida adulta de jóvenes con discapacidad intelectual. La opinión de los profesionales de servicios escolares y postescolares = Transition to adulthood of young people with intellectual disabilities. Views of professionals from school and postschool services

La transición a la edad adulta y vida activa es un proceso extremadamente complejo para los jóvenes con discapacidad. Para plantear propuestas de actuación que mejoren sus oportunidades de conseguir objetivos relacionados con la inclusión laboral y social en la vida adulta es imprescindible el diagnóstico en profundidad del contexto en que se construyen y desarrollan los procesos de transición. En este artículo se presenta un estudio en el que se ha aplicado el método Delphi con el propósito de obtener datos sobre la adecuación de los servicios o dispositivos que trabajan con jóvenes con discapacidad a lo largo de su proceso de transición a la edad adulta y vida activa, tanto en el escenario escolar como en el postescolar. Se han constituido dos paneles de expertos, uno con profesionales del ámbito educativo y otro con profesionales que trabajan en servicios postescolares. En ambos casos, los ejes temáticos son: visión del proceso de transición, aspectos curriculares y organizativos de los servicios, existencia de itinerarios de apoyo sistematizados, trabajo colaborativo entre profesionales, acciones de orientación con familias, adecuación de las alternativas postescolares, la formación de los profesionales, y coordinación de servicios. El análisis de los cuestionarios permite constatar las principales dificultades percibidas por los expertos en cada uno de los ámbitos y establece líneas básicas de actuación para mejorar los procesos de tránsito, entre las cuales destaca la necesidad de reforzar el papel de los equipos multiprofesionales en la articulación de redes de trabajo interprofesional

¿Continuidad o fragmentación? Percepción de los profesionales sobre la coordinación entre servicios en los procesos de tránsito a la vida adulta de los jóvenes con discapacidad intelectual

This article is part of a research focusing on the process of transition to adulthood of young people with intellectual disabilities. Specifically, this study analyses transition partnership programs, as the professionals involved in them see them. The information is obtained in two stages: in the first stage 45 interviews to professionals working in this field are conducted. In the second stage we develop a study applying the Delphi method in which two panels of experts, the first one with educational professionals and the second one with professionals working with afters chool services, were asked about several topics. The results show a lack of continuity underlying the actions taken in support of young people with ID during the transition process. Insufficient information and collaboration among services and professionals and a lack of leadership are the main problems perceived by professionals. The study helps to identify problems in the transition partnership programs and establishes actions in order to enhance the transition process

Tulevaisuuden ennakointi liiketoiminnassa: Delfoi- ja skenaariomenetelmät

Tämän kandidaatintyön aiheena on tulevaisuuden ennakointi liiketoiminnassa. Yritysmaailmassa tulevaisuutta ja sen mukanaan tuomia epävarmuustekijöitä ei voida jättää huomioimatta. Tulevaisuutta ei voida tarkkaan ennustaa, sillä liiketoimintaympäristön muutokset tapahtuvat nopeasti ja niitä on paljon. Yritykset voivat kuitenkin varautua tulevaisuuteen tarkkailemalla aktiivisesti toimintaympäristöä. Tulevaisuudessa menestyminen vaatii toiminnan suunnittelua tarpeeksi ajoissa ja muutostekijät on otettava päätöksenteossa huomioon. Muutosten ennakointi ja niihin varautuminen voivat olla tärkeitä menestystekijöitä. Tulevaisuuden ennakointiin on olemassa erilaisia menetelmiä, joita voidaan käyttää muun muassa apuna päätöksenteossa. Tässä työssä keskitytään kahteen keskeiseen menetelmään, Delfoi- ja skenaariomenetelmään ja siihen kuinka niitä voidaan hyödyntää tulevaisuuden ennakoinnissa. Tavoitteena on selvittää myös tulevaisuuden ennakoinnin merkitystä liiketoiminnassa. Aiheeseen liittyen käsitellään heikkoja signaaleja, jotka voivat olla tärkeässä asemassa ennakoinnissa. Trendit, megatrendit ja toimintaympäristön muutosvoimat vaikuttavat myös osaltaan siihen, millaiseksi tulevaisuus voi muuttua. Työssä käydään läpi Delfoi- ja skenaariomenetelmien ominaisuuksia ja tekijöitä, joihin niitä käytettäessä tulee kiinnittää huomiota. Työn empiirisessä osassa arvioidaan Suomen paperiteollisuuden tulevaisuutta. Nykyhetken tilannetta arvioimalla ja tarkkailemalla voidaan havaita monia eri tekijöitä, jotka tulevat vaikuttamaan siihen, millainen tulevaisuus alan yrityksillä voi olla. Työn tuloksena voidaan selkeästi ymmärtää tulevaisuuden ennakoinnin merkitys liiketoiminnassa. Case-esimerkin perusteella voidaan todeta, että jos tulevaisuudessa halutaan menestyä, on sen varalle laadittava toimintasuunnitelmia. Suunnitelmissa on otettava huomioon monipuolisesti toimintaympäristössä tapahtuvia muutostekijöitä. Skenaario- ja Delfoi-menetelmien osoitettiin soveltuvan hyvin tukemaan yritysten tulevaisuuden toiminnan suunnittelua.

Setting priorities in clinical and health services research: Properties of an adapted and updated method

Objectives: The objectives of this study is to review the set of criteria of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) for priority-setting in research with addition of new criteria if necessary, and to develop and evaluate the reliability and validity of the final priority score. Methods: Based on the evaluation of 199 research topics, forty-five experts identified additional criteria for priority-setting, rated their relevance, and ranked and weighted them in a three-round modified Delphi technique. A final priority score was developed and evaluated. Internal consistency, test–retest and inter-rater reliability were assessed. Correlation with experts’ overall qualitative topic ratings were assessed as an approximation to validity. Results: All seven original IOM criteria were considered relevant and two new criteria were added (“potential for translation into practice”, and “need for knowledge”). Final ranks and relative weights differed from those of the original IOM criteria: “research impact on health outcomes” was considered the most important criterion (4.23), as opposed to “burden of disease” (3.92). Cronbach’s alpha (0.75) and test–retest stability (interclass correlation coefficient = 0.66) for the final set of criteria were acceptable. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for overall assessment of priority was 0.66. Conclusions: A reliable instrument for prioritizing topics in clinical and health services research has been developed. Further evaluation of its validity and impact on selecting research topics is required

Improving Evaluation and Development Capability in Verification and Validation

Validation and verification operations encounter various challenges in product development process. Requirements for increasing the development cycle pace set new requests for component development process. Verification and validation usually represent the largest activities, up to 40 50 % of R&D resources utilized. This research studies validation and verification as part of case company's component development process. The target is to define framework that can be used in improvement of the validation and verification capability evaluation and development in display module development projects. Validation and verification definition and background is studied in this research. Additionally, theories such as project management, system, organisational learning and causality is studied. Framework and key findings of this research are presented. Feedback system according of the framework is defined and implemented to the case company. This research is divided to the theory and empirical parts. Theory part is conducted in literature review. Empirical part is done in case study. Constructive methode and design research methode are used in this research A framework for capability evaluation and development was defined and developed as result of this research. Key findings of this study were that double loop learning approach with validation and verification V+ model enables defining a feedback reporting solution. Additional results, some minor changes in validation and verification process were proposed. There are a few concerns expressed on the results on validity and reliability of this study. The most important one was the selected research method and the selected model itself. The final state can be normative, the researcher may set study results before the actual study and in the initial state, the researcher may describe expectations for the study. Finally reliability of this study, and validity of this work are studied.

Análisis de los apoyos que reciben los jóvenes con discapacidad intelectual en su transición a la vida adulta en España: una investigación a partir de experiencias de profesionales y personas con discapacidad = Analysis of support received by young people with intellectual disabilities in their transition to adulthood in Spain: an investigation based on the experiences of professionals and people with disabilities

The objective of this study is to gather information regarding the adaptation of the range of socio educational projects and services aimed at the transition to an adult life of young persons with intellectual disabilities in Spain. The research of the study has been done in three stages. During each stage, a specific tool has been used. One to one in-depth interviews have been undertaken with 45 professionals and 20 individuals with intellectual disabilities. The Delphi method has been applied to two panels consisting of 20 experts each. Firstly, results focus on the approach to different issues related to the devices. Secondly, the training opportunities that these individuals receive to ease the transition period is addressed. And finally, the study refers to the participation of the individuals themselves and their families in the process. The developed analysis allows us to propose strategies to improve the transition to adult life

Kirjallisuutta

Kirjallisuusarvostelu

Tulevaisuuden älykotiliiketoiminnan toimitusverkoston kartoitus

Tutkimus kartoitetaan tulevaisuuden älykotiliiketoiminnan palvelutuottaja-verkostoa. Lisäksi delphi-prosessia seuraten, pyritään kyselyn kautta vali-doimaan tulevaisuudesta tehty skenaario. Kysely tehtiin 42 yrityksen stra-tegiasta vastaavalle johtajalle. Selvitettäviä asioita olivat skenaarion liike-toiminnallinen kiinnostavuus, toteutumiskelpoisuus ja yrityksen siinä ha-luama rooli. Lisäksi selvitettiin mm. yritysten yhteistyökyvykkyyttä, innova-tiivisuutta, asiakassuuntautuneisuutta ja teknologinen valmiutta. Pääpaino oli selvittää verkoston muodostaja eli johtaja yritys. Kysely validoi kaikkien vastanneiden osalta tulevan skenaarion. Tulosten perusteella pystyttiin erottamaan 12 potentiaalista johtajaa. Nämä erottui-vat kyselyn kaikilla osa-alueilla parempina kuin muut yritykset. Potentiaali-set johtajat näkivät tulevaisuuden optimistisempana kuin muut ja lisäksi ne harjoittavat jo nyt liiketoimintaa, joka on lähellä kuvattua älykotipalveluver-kostoa. Tuloksia voidaan hyödyntää muodostettaessa palveluverkostoa uusille markkinoille. Kuvatun mallin toteutuminen vaatii kuitenkin julkisen sektorin palvelutoiminnan uudistusta, sillä se sisältää useita rinnakkaisia prosesseja julkisen terveydenhuollon kanssa.

Desenvolvimento de um sistema de apoio à decisão para a diagnose de doenças, pragas e distúrbios abióticos dos citros

A preocupação com a diagnose dos problemas que afetam as plantas cítricas proporcionou ao longo dos anos o acúmulo de conhecimento, que precisava ser organizado e divulgado de forma eficiente e rápida. Dessa forma, objetivou-se com esse trabalho construir uma base de conhecimentos para diagnóstico de doenças bióticas e abióticas dos citros, desenvolver e implementar o sistema de apoio à decisão (SAD) e avaliar o sistema. O SAD foi construído utilizando a ferramenta 'Borland Delphi' versão 5. Foram formuladas 562 perguntas, 322 regras e anexadas fotografias para facilitar o diagnóstico de 34 doenças, 40 pragas e 34 distúrbios abióticos dos citros. A avaliação do SAD foi dividida em verificação e validação. Na verificação, o SAD foi submetido a uma análise por meio de questionário a 5 especialistas em citros. A validação do programa foi realizada com quatro grupos, de diferentes níveis de conhecimento (10 pessoas/grupo), tentando diagnosticar corretamente. Obteve-se um acerto de 45,6% dos usuários e 93,6% do SAD. O sistema foi denominado Dr. Citrus (protótipo com registro no INPI n° 014070009188).

Instalação da disciplina de Atenção Básica em Saúde na Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (2003-2006)

INTRODUÇÃO: A disciplina de Atenção Básica em Saúde constitui um programa interdepartamental na Faculdade de Medicina da USP, apoiada por três Unidades Básicas de Saúde com o Programa de Saúde da Família. Este estudo avalia sua instalação. MÉTODOS: Questionários de avaliação de ambiente, Delphi e de auto-avaliação com escala de capacidades. Resultados:Cento e sessenta e dois primeiranistas em 2004 (93%), 142 em 2005 (81%) e 129 terceiranistas (74%) responderam. Orientar a utilização dos serviços de saúde, visitar famílias, promover saúde, oferecer suporte e identificar situações de risco, entre primeiranistas, e "consulta médica com adultos" e "reunião de grupo com pacientes", com alunos do terceiro, alcançaram o nível "fiz o procedimento com ajuda de alguém". Capacidades adquiridas: realidade social e de saúde, trabalho do agente comunitário, entendimento do Programa de Saúde da Família, Atenção Primária e Sistema de Saúde. As percepções de ambiente diferiram entre os locais ou equipes. DISCUSSÃO: As avaliações sugerem razoável conhecimento e capacitação para o trabalho dos agentes comunitários. O vocabulário dos alunos incorporou SUS, PSF e Atenção Básica. CONCLUSÃO: A disciplina alcançou avaliação positiva no seguimento de pessoas, famílias e comunidades.