[gradu] Kauppakorkeakoulu / BIZ

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Dominant themes and narratives in Finnish media coverage of AI - How does Finnish online news media frame AI adoption and diffusion?
(2024) Lindholm, Julia; Schildt, Henri; Johtamisen laitos; Kauppakorkeakoulu; School of Business
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is widely regarded as one of the most transformative technologies of our time, revolutionising various industries and fundamentally altering the landscape of modern business. While the broader societal implications of widespread AI adoption and diffusion are still unfolding, media discourse is a key site where social and cultural negotiations around artificial intelligence take place. Media coverage on new technologies can influence public perception, and slow down or accelerate its adoption and diffusion. It can also influence how policymakers approach its regulation, with public concerns raised in the media prompting legislative action. Employing a social construction of technology perspective, this thesis explores what kind of key topics, frames, and perspectives emerge in the Finnish online news media's portrayal of AI, and what kind of social considerations the media emphasise around adoption and diffusion of artificial intelligence on the societal level. By analysing the dominant themes and narratives in Finnish media coverage, this study aims to uncover the underlying values, assumptions, and concerns that shape the societal integration of AI in the Finnish context. A qualitative study, guided by principles of critical discourse analysis and narrative analysis, of 123 online news articles identified two distinctly dominant themes: AI as a threat and AI transforming work. Furthermore, the findings show that discourses on these themes frame AI adoption in several ways. Narratives were identified that emphasise the negative impact of widespread AI diffusion, including disinformation and fake content, regulatory and governance challenges, ethical issues, and potential job losses. The findings also show positive discourses, with narratives highlighting the value and benefits of AI by discussing its positive overall impact on the job market, increase in productivity, and the shift from mundane tasks to creative work. The underpinning framing common to different narratives is the sense of urgency: organizations and individuals need to adopt AI or risk falling to a disadvantaged position. The findings of this study provide policymakers and business leaders insights into the societal concerns that might impact adoption and diffusion of AI in the Finnish context. Based on these findings, companies and public organizations can gain a deeper understanding about the societal perspectives that can promote the realization of AI's positive economic impacts.
The myth of sustainability: An ecology of fictions
(2024) Tulensalo, Onni; Tikkanen, Henrikki; Markkinoinnin laitos; Kauppakorkeakoulu; School of Business
In the face of an impending socio-ecological disaster that threatens the existence of the consumer society, stories about possible solutions are more prevalent than ever. While the seemingly inexorable trajectories of capital and commodification are recognised as being inherently opposed to any notion of true sustainability, such critique rarely punctures the narratives theorising or mobilising the destructive reality of consumption. This persistent problem of sustainability is discovered in extant research as an opportunity for consumption. It is narrativised as a reality where a future of sustainable capitalism is not only achievable via consumption but also already exists, consequently overseeing the reconstruction of the present according to its accumulative promises. In this thesis I argue that such narrativisation amounts to a myth of sustainability, that makes itself fictiously real in consumer culture. Using the concept of hyperstition coined by the controversial Cybernetic Culture Research Unit to dissect this convoluted relationship between fiction and reality, this thesis discusses how such fictions, consisting of narratives and semiotic productions come to temporally (in)form reality in a sedimentation of capitalist realism. Following the recent pessimistic theoretical attitude discovered in Terminal Marketing, I propose a darker alternative that challenges the agentic ontology of sustainability theorising found in existing research.
From retail to resale: Understanding how second-hand market participation shapes clothing consumption
(2024) Niemelä, Jannika; Turunen, Linda; Johtamisen laitos; Kauppakorkeakoulu; School of Business
The fashion industry, one of the most polluting industries, is in its linear nature a large contributor to the environmental crisis at hand. The textile industry is still growing, but simultaneously, concerns over the exploitative and polluting customs of the industry have started to emerge. One suggested solution to the issue, opposed to the linear fashion system, is circular economy. The concept of circular economy is based on a regenerative cycle, where materials and products are kept in the loop for as long as possible. Second-hand, an industry that is currently growing, is tightly linked with circular economy, as through reuse of clothing, it can be one part of creating a more circular fashion system. Reuse is one of the most efficient ways of keeping materials in the loop for longer, and thus, through promoting reuse of garments that already exist, the second-hand market could lead to decreased virgin production and slowing down of the fashion system. However, the sustainability of the second-hand market is not a given: the second-hand market can grow and be upheld without any actual changes in consumption habits, and in that case, can support the fast fashion paradigm and maintain the cycle of consumption. Second-hand acquisition and clothing disposal have been researched in previous literature, however, no holistic studies of second-hand consumption as a whole taking into consideration its effects on overall consumption seem to have been conducted. This thesis aims to answer this gap in research related to a holistic view in the second hand context by answering the research questions of how does engaging in the second-hand market, including both buying and selling, influence consumer behaviour in regard to consumption practices of clothes? and in what ways does this involvement either accelerate or decelerate the consumption cycle? These questions are approached utilizing the consumption cycle by Arnould and Thompson (2005) to understand how second-hand market participation shapes clothing consumption throughout clothing lifecycles. This study was conducted by interviewing 14 young women, who are active second-hand consumers. The results of the semi-structured interviews were analysed using content analysis. The findings of the study suggest that the effects of second-hand market engagement on consumer behaviour and on the consumption cycle are diverse, and likely vary across the different phases of the cycle, further demonstrating that the effects of second-hand on sustainable consumption are not straightforward.
The groundwater crisis: Approaching overexploitation of groundwater in rural India as a legal problem in need of a legal reform
(2024) Granö, Konsta; Reinikka, Ritva; Liski, Matti; Taloustieteen laitos; Kauppakorkeakoulu; School of Business
The groundwater crisis in this master’s thesis refers to depletion of aquifers across India. What causes depletion is voluminous human abstraction for agricultural needs. I argue that overexploitation of groundwater is analogous to famous social dilemma known as the tragedy of the commons, and that it takes place because of inadequate legal framework over groundwater rights. This master’s thesis explores how should the legal framework be updated. To do this I investigate groundwater, property rights, and institutional history of India. I find that groundwater should be regulated as common property of those who share access to an aquifer. This would affect hundreds of millions of people’s lives – but I argue that the severity of the situation and the inadequacy of present legal framework demand such a change. My conclusion applies solely to rural villages and does not concern urban water management.
Managing legitimacy during political disruption
(2024) Schnur, Taika; Saittakari, Iiris; Koveshnikov, Alexei; Johtamisen laitos; Kauppakorkeakoulu; School of Business
On the 24th of February 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine, many companies were faced with the choice to either exit or stay in Russia. For some companies leaving was easier, while for others the choice was more difficult, as many companies had invested large amounts of money in Russia over the years and they had numerous employees working in the country. The media and public, especially in western countries, were putting significant pressure on companies to fully exit the Russian market and not fully exiting could affect the legitimacy of a company. Due to the long border and history between Russia and Finland, the feelings that the war in Ukraine evoked in the Finnish public made Finns critical about the actions of Finnish companies with operations in Russia. This thesis is a case study on two Finnish companies, Nokian Tyres and Fazer. Through the lens of Legitimation Theory and Stakeholder Theory, this paper focuses on what discursive legitimation strategies the two companies employed to legitimise the future of their operations in Russia, how the largest Finnish newspaper, Helsingin Sanomat, wrote about the two companies, and how the Finnish public reacted. The findings of the thesis highlight how different factors affect the discursive legitimation strategies utilised by companies in their communication. In the case of Nokian Tyres, which is a publicly listed Finnish company and thus their main audience for legitimation are their shareholders, the predominant discursive legitimation strategy used by Nokian Tyres was rationalisation, founded upon financial capitalist ideology, where the company rationalised their actions from the perspective of how they affects the financial stance of the company. Fazer on the other hand, is not a publicly listed company, and thus their legitimation efforts were specifically targeted towards the general public, the main customer of Fazer. The main discursive legitimation strategy used by Fazer was moralisation, which was based on the ideology of humanism, as the press releases of Fazer focused on the effects of their action on their employees in Russia, Ukraine and the feelings of their customers in Finland. These legitimation strategies resulted in widely different results and reactions from the Finnish public.
Sustainable foraging and permaculture as degrowth practices in Singapore
(2024) Ngui, Pamela; Rintamäki, Jukka; Nesterova, Iana; Johtamisen laitos; Kauppakorkeakoulu; School of Business
Our current food systems contribute up to a third of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture, land use, transport, waste management, packaging, etc. (Crippa et al., 2021) with Singapore importing over 90% of its food, threatening local food security as well as negatively affecting the environment from transportation emissions (Deloitte & A*STAR, 2019b). In line with Singapore’s ’30 by 30’ goal to locally produce 30% of the population’s nutritional needs by 2030 (Singapore Food Agency, 2023b), various initiatives have been introduced to encourage people to grow edible plants (National Parks Board, 2023). Interest in growing edibles in community gardens has been on the rise (Montefrio et al., 2021; National Parks Board, 2024), and the practice of foraging is gaining newfound attention, despite being a long-standing tradition among indigenous communities (Johari, 2021). Permaculture community gardens and foraging present viable alternatives to the current unsustainable food system. This thesis explores how permaculture community gardens and foraging communities in Singapore promote sustainable practices and degrowth principles. It also aims to understand tensions that exist between these practices and a growth-oriented society, and how these tensions are managed within these communities. The research takes an ethnographic approach involving semi-structured interviews with individuals involved in permaculture community gardens and foraging in Singapore and the data was collected and analysed using thematic analysis. The findings show that permaculture community gardens and foraging communities play a vital role in promoting local food production, social equity through accessibility of food, relationships between communities and human-nature connection. However, these practices face challenges such as regulatory restrictions, loss of spaces, and disconnectedness of society from food sources. The tensions are addressed by creating more accessible spaces, engaging in collaboration, raising awareness and education, driving systemic change from bottom-up initiatives and facilitating experiences and experimentation. This study contributes to the literature on degrowth and sustainable food systems by highlighting practical examples in an urban context within Singapore.
Economics of carbon sinks - Case of Finland
(2024) Lahnalampi, Tuomas; Vehviläinen, Iivo; Taloustieteen laitos; Kauppakorkeakoulu; School of Business
In this thesis, I analyze the economics of carbon sinks in Finland, comparing natural and technological carbon sinks. I review research, and apply theoretical models to the topic of the thesis. I conduct a comparative analysis of two options that Finland may consider in its climate policy: increasing carbon sinks in forests, versus generating technological sinks with bioenergy and carbon capture and storage (BECCS). My research demonstrates, that the two climate mitigation methods are interconnected. I derive numerical results by applying a dynamic optimization model to the cases of BECCS and improved forest management. My numerical results show, that BECCS leads to shorter rotations and higher land values than enhancing the natural carbon sinks. In a simple cost-benefit analysis, I show that the costs of BECCS are higher than those of natural carbon sink enhancement. Based on these exercises, I recommend a policy for Finland that enhances the natural carbon sinks before BECCS is considered. I hypothesize BECCS as a technology with potential for Finland and Finnish companies in long term. The institutional framework of the thesis demonstrates, that both options have their challenges. Necessary incentives would likely need to be established, to ensure the economic viability of either option.
Tackling the challenges of circular business model innovation in the Finnish construction industry
(2024) Kurikka, Rosa; Moisander, Johanna; Pälli, Pekka; Johtamisen laitos; Kauppakorkeakoulu; School of Business
The aim of this research is to create further understanding about circular business models, innovating circular business models, and the challenges and enablers related to this process. Construction industry is the biggest consumer of raw materials globally and creates a big portion of the worlds carbon emission. Circular economy is increasing being considered as a route to sustainability by organizations, nations, and global institutions. Our current linear economic model has led to several environmental problems and strains natural resources, but luckily circular economy offers another promising standpoint for understanding and analysing consumption. In a circular economy, materials and products are kept in use as long as they provide value and manufactures take the role of service providers. The transition towards circular economy needs new circular business models, but their adoption is still low, and the process of innovating and implementing new circular business models is still uncertain. Thus, this thesis explores the barriers Finnish construction industry companies face when innovating circular business models, and how these challenges could be overcome. To fulfil this objective, this thesis has conducted a comparative case study between circular companies and “sustainable developing incumbents” operating in the construction industry. Semi-structured interviews were used as the primary sources of empirical materi-als. As the thesis plans to reflect the findings form the case studies to the CBMI barriers that have been already identified in the academic literature, this thesis follows an abductive research approach. The research findings demonstrate many similarities and differences related to CBMI barriers and enablers encountered by the two case clusters, and even between individual companies. Barries and enablers are categorized to four socio-technical levels. The main CBMI barriers encountered by the companies were located at the market and institutional level, but also majority of the enablers were located at the same level. The findings of the study give industry professionals some starting point when they start to ponder the possibility of engaging with CBMI in the industry.
The effects of school closures on violence against children - Empirical evidence from Finland during the covid-19 pandemic
(2024) Töyry, Elviira; Huttunen, Kristiina; Taloustieteen laitos; Kauppakorkeakoulu; School of Business
In this thesis, I study the effects of school closures on violence against children. During the COVID-19 pandemic many countries, including Finland, took preventative measures in order to stop the virus from spreading, and one of these measures was to switch to remote studying from the traditional classroom learning. During this time, many countries saw that the number of reported crimes against children and cases of child maltreatment dropped. According to previous literature, which includes studies from multiple countries, the increased time spent at home, simultaneously in isolation from peers and professionals working in education, increases the risk of underreporting violent crimes against children. However, there are no published empirical studies conducted in Finland with a similar focus. I analyse data from Finland during the years of 2018-2022 with a difference-in-differences framework. I find no statistically significant empirical evidence supporting the argument that the school closures had an impact on reported violent crimes against children. However, when graphically estimating the impact of the national school closure occurring in the spring of 2020, there was a drop in reported violent crimes against children in Finland. My empirical analysis includes all the Finnish municipalities, except four, which had no victim statistics available.
Uusien pienten asuntojen rakentaminen, sijainti, ja asukasvaihtuvuus
(2024) Heinonen, Mira; Saarimaa, Tuukka; Taloustieteen laitos; Kauppakorkeakoulu; School of Business
Viime vuosina asuntokoot ovat pienentyneet ja rakentaminen on kohdistunut alueellisesti epätasapainoisesti. Mediassa on noussut esille huolenaiheita, kuten asuntojen keskipinta-alan lasku, pienten asuntojen lisääntyminen, asuinalueiden eriytyminen ja "läpikulkualueiden" synty. Tämä tutkielma selvittää, pitävätkö nämä havainnot paikkansa ja onko rakentaminen johtanut alueisiin, joissa asukasvaihtuvuus on korkea. Tutkielma alkaa kirjallisuuskatsauksella monosentrisestä kaupunkimallista, sosiaalisesta pääomasta naapurustoissa ja naapurustovaikutuksista, jotka ovat usein huolenaiheina eriytyvissä alueissa. Seuraavaksi tarkastellaan asunto-tyyppien jakautumista ennen kaikkea uusissa asunnoissa, asuntojen pinta-alan kehitystä sekä pinta-aloja henkilöä kohden. Tämän jälkeen analysoidaan yksiöiden osuutta pääkaupunkiseudulla vuosina 2015–2022 rakennetuista asunnoista. Lopuksi tutkitaan yksiöiden ja muuttajien osuutta alueittain sekä siirrytään asukasvaihtuvuuden tarkasteluun regressioanalyysien avulla. Tulokset osoittavat, että asukkaiden piirteet ja elämäntilanne selittävät pääosin heidän muuttotodennäköisyyttään, ei asunnon koko. Samankaltaiset ihmiset hakeutuvat usein yksiöihin ja pieniin asuntoihin. Tämä voi välillisesti lisätä alueen asukkaiden muuton todennäköisyyttä yksiöiden osuuden ollessa suuri. Eri alueilla on toki myös oma vaikutuksena muuttotodennäköisyyksiin. Alueiden suunnittelussa päätöksentekijöiden tulisi mahdollisesti keskittyä enemmän alueen laadun, kestävyyden ja viihtyvyyden parantamiseen kuin pelkästään asuntojen kokojen säätelyyn, vaikka sekin on tärkeä asuntopoliittinen ohjauskeino.
Discretionary corporate citizenship initiatives as stakeholder engagement
(2024) Hietto, Maija; Frösén, Johanna; Markkinoinnin laitos; Kauppakorkeakoulu; School of Business
Through a qualitative, thematic analysis of empirical data, this thesis adds to the academic discussion of organizational reputation management by taking the perspective of external stakeholder engagement. Furthermore, this thesis studies how discretionary corporate citizenship initiatives rooted in the well-being of society influence the perceptions of an organization’s key stakeholders – that is, young physicians. Focusing on the Finnish pharmaceutical industry, this thesis derives its empirical data from 6 semi-structured, in-depth interviews investigating the perceptions of young physicians. This thesis examines how salient, external stakeholders perceive the use of discretionary corporate citizenship initiatives as strategic stakeholder engagement, how relevant stakeholders view the discretionary corporate citizenship initiatives of organizations in the pharmaceutical industry, and how these initiatives influence organizational reputations as perceived by salient, external stakeholders. Through these research questions, this study emphasizes the stakeholder preference of oneway, informative communication that is transparent, accurate, and credible without demanding participation in a continuous dialogue between an organization and its salient stakeholders. It provides novel insights into the academic discussion of organizational legitimation by examining the various accountability standards attributed to organizations. Additionally, this thesis adds to the current knowledge relating to the underlying motives attributed to organizational initiatives by salient stakeholders, and how these motives, together with the perceived outcomes of such initiatives, might affect the subsequent reputations of the organizations. A surprising finding of this thesis is the lack of influence that the underlying motives that physicians attribute to the initiatives of pharmaceutical companies have on the subsequent perceptions of the physicians. The key managerial implications of this thesis include the necessity for pharmaceutical companies to prioritize reputation management in order to reap the benefits of favourable stakeholder perceptions. The findings suggest that physicians prefer the use of both online platforms and more traditional media channels, such as posters and journal articles, where pharmaceutical companies should utilize highly regarded physicians as information intermediaries in order to increase credibility. Finally, organizations should pay close attention to targeting stakeholders whose perceptions they depend on for continued existence.
Degree of ESG integration in Finnish private equity funds across the maturity spectrum
(2024) Uusitalo, Daniel; Patala, Samuli; Johtamisen laitos; Kauppakorkeakoulu; School of Business
In recent years, the integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria into investment strategies has gained significant traction within the private equity (PE) sector, driven by increasing regulatory pressures and stakeholder demands. The investigation is focused on the degree of ESG integration exhibited in the Finnish PE industry, the state of which is evaluated via the challenges and opportunities inherent in the industry. The study utilises a Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) framework to comprehensively understand the influences occurring at different layers in the framework. The data for this study was collected through in-depth interviews which were held for 8 investment professionals operating at different sub-sectors of the private equity landscape. The interviews covered topics including but not limited to perceptions of the regulatory environment, practical steps taken towards integration, reflections on target maturities and their relationship to degree of ESG integration, and future-oriented questions surrounding the development of the industry at large. The findings indicate a widespread acknowledgment of ESG’s importance across interviewed funds, with varying degrees of integration into both operational and investment activities. All participants confirmed that their funds follow some form of ESG or sustainability strategy (either via framework adherence or internal strategy work), with six out of eight explicitly incorporating Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into their operations. Stakeholder pressure, especially from LPs and regulatory bodies, emerged as a significant driver for ESG adherence within the sample, highlighting the influence of external factors on fund specific strategies. While there was wide agreement surrounding the importance of ESG, funds displayed varying interest in serving as industry pioneers in the scope of ESG topics. Challenges observed by participating funds included the applicability of widely utilised reporting frameworks in dynamic business contexts (such as in startups), and an inherent lack of quality training resources for sustainable finance topics. In conclusion, this research highlights the evolving role of ESG in Finnish private equity, emphasizing both the progress made and the hurdles that remain. The findings contribute to a broader understanding of sustainable finance and offer valuable insights for policymakers, investors, and private equity firms aiming to enhance their ESG strategies and align with global sustainability goals.
Greenhouse gas emissions in real estate
(2024) Corda, Miro; Beyer, Bianca; Laskentatoimen laitos; Kauppakorkeakoulu; School of Business
Greenhouse gas emissions from real estate industry represents nearly 40 % of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Measuring and understanding these emissions is the first step in lowering them. For this thesis scope 1 and scope 2 emissions were calculated for a limited part of a real estate portfolio owned by a Finnish real estate owner company. The calculation model developed can be used by the company to calculate the emissions for their whole real estate portfolio. Calculation methods were based on the publications of Greenhouse Gas Protocol. Calculations were limited to only scope 1 and scope 2 emissions. The findings of this study suggest that for real estates’ scope 2 emissions are significantly greater compared to scope 1 emissions and that most of the emissions arise from heating the properties. As a result of these significant scope 2 emissions that arise from real estates, real estate owners can greatly reduce emissions resulting from their operations by purchasing renewable energy.
Can anyone be an angel? Consumers’ critical discursive strategies in navigating femvertising - Case Victoria’s Secret
(2024) Konttila, Julia; Mikkonen, Ilona; Markkinoinnin laitos; Kauppakorkeakoulu; School of Business
The popularity of woke culture, socially progressive and brand activism matters have increased in the 21th century, influencing brands´ marketing strategies. Companies have started to adopt feminist values, and create new progressive ways to market their products. As some customers are praising companies for being socially progressive, others have a hard time accepting the changes. The purpose of this paper is to analyse consumers' critical discursive strategies to Victoria´s Secret´s femvertising and socially progressive rebranding from August 2023 to May 2024. The promotion of body positivity and inclusion were studied by analysing 33 687 social media comments. The data indicates that Victoria´s Secret´s feminist brand activism has divided consumers into three different types of critical discursive strategies: nostalgia (remedicing about the past and preferring things to stay as they were), perceived inauthenticity (finding the marketing inauthentic, either because it does not fit the old brand image, it is believed to be caused by outside pressure or because of the unequal portrayal of plus-size models) and value conflict (conflict between the new brand values and consumers own personal values).
The role of adverse supply shocks in the post-pandemic euro area inflation surge: a DSGE approach
(2024) Hankimaa, Hertta; Honkapohja, Seppo; Taloustieteen laitos; Kauppakorkeakoulu; School of Business
The economy has faced unprecedented shocks during the past four years as the world was first shaken by the Covid-19 pandemic and shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. These shocks created a difficult environment for policymakers to act in and eventually most central bankers failed to predict the resulting inflation surge. This thesis aims to add to the on-going discussion on the drivers of the inflation surge by examining the inflationary effects of adverse supply shocks that the economy faced as a consequence of the pandemic and war. This thesis will examine this through a linear New Keynesian dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model adapted from \citet{harding}. The model is calibrated to represent the euro area in the beginning of 2021, a time when the initial lockdowns had begun to ease, increasing demand but supply constraints remained and inflation began to increase. Through the DSGE simulations, this thesis is able to show that two types of adverse supply shocks, a negative productivity shock and positive cost-push shock, both create a positive inflation response. The simulations highlight the role of cost-push shocks in euro area inflation. To test the robustness of the results, the persistence of the shocks are varied. Furthermore, in light of the policy implications, this thesis briefly explores and highlights the trade-off between inflation and the output gap that monetary policy encounters when faced with adverse supply shocks.
Enhancing financial customer service performance through prompt coaching in generative AI applications
(2024) Kleemola, Iivo; Penttinen, Esko; Tieto- ja palvelujohtamisen laitos; Kauppakorkeakoulu; School of Business
This study investigates the impact of prompt coaching on the performance of Service Advisors using Generative AI (GenAI) applications in the financial sector. GenAI and coaching have demonstrated benefits in enhancing employee performance. However, the specific advantage of prompt coaching in this context remains unexplored. The research is done by conducting a mixed-methods approach, combining both quantitative and qualitative research methods to provide a comprehensive evaluation of actual performance metrics and the perception of coachees and their feelings concerning the usefulness of coaching sessions and knowledge gained from them. The quantitative data involves operations received from call, chat, and web message channels, as well as numeric questions from the questionnaires. The qualitative data is gathered through open questions in questionnaires and oral feedback from the coaching sessions to provide a comprehensive understanding of the Service Advisors’ experiences and perceptions. The findings reveal that prompt coaching does not enhance the evaluated performance metrics among Service Advisors, as evidenced by a linear mixed methods model. The primary reason for this can be attributed to the developmental phase of the GenAI tool in use. However, coaching is perceived beneficial as it helps the coachees integrate the tool into their workflow and increase the specific knowledge required for the effective use of GenAI tools overall. This discrepancy highlights the potential utility of coaching, which can lead to greater acceptance and more effective use of GenAI tools in the long run, especially as the GenAI tool gets more sophisticated as it is now.
Naiskauppiasyrittäjyys – Tutkimus naisten yrittäjyysaikomuksista
(2024) Valonen, Aino; Lindblom, Arto; Markkinoinnin laitos; Kauppakorkeakoulu; School of Business
Yrittäjinä on vähemmän naisia kuin miehiä, ja naisten aikomukset ryhtyä yrittäjiksi ovat myös matalammat kuin miesten. Tämä heijastaa sitä, että yrittäjyystutkimuksessa on kiinnitetty vähän huomiota sukupuolikysymyksiin, ja esimerkiksi naisten motiiveja ryhtyä yrittäjiksi on tutkittu vähän. Tässä tutkimuksessa tarkastellaan suunnitellun käyttäytymisen teorian avulla tekijöitä, jotka ovat yhteydessä naisten yrittäjyyteen liittyviin aikomuksiin. Naisten yrittäjyysaikomusten nostamiseksi ja naisyrittäjien määrän kasvattamiseksi on tärkeää tunnistaa tekijät, jotka vaikuttavat naisten päätöksiin ryhtyä yrittäjiksi. Naisyrittäjyyttä ei aikaisemmin ole tutkittu kauppiasyrittäjyyden kontekstissa. Hyödyntämällä laadullista tutkimusmenetelmää pyritään saamaan kattava ymmärrys tekijöistä, jotka ovat yhteydessä naisten aikomuksiin ryhtyä kauppiasyrittäjiksi, sekä löytämään keinoja kannustaa naisia kauppiasyrittäjyysuralle. Alan kokemus, aiempi kokemus perheyrityksestä ja subjektiiviset normit nousevat tärkeimmiksi tekijöiksi, jotka ovat yhteydessä naisten aikomuksiin ryhtyä kauppiasyrittäjiksi. Toisaalta naissukupuoli itsessään on merkittävin tekijä, joka on yhteydessä matalampiin aikomuksiin ryhtyä yrittäjäksi. Yhteiskunnalliset tavoitteet, sosiaalisten verkostojen tuki ja roolimallit ovat myös merkittäviä tekijöitä, jotka ovat yhteydessä naisten yrittäjyysaikomuksiin. Muun muassa nämä tekijät muodostavat tämän tutkimuksen laajennetun suunnitellun käyttäytymisen teorian mallin, joka kuvaa paremmin tekijöitä, jotka ovat yhteydessä naisten yrittäjyysaikomuksiin. Naisten yrittäjyysaikomuksiin yhteydessä olevien tekijöiden tunnistaminen auttaa löytämään keinoja naiskauppiasyrittäjien määrän kasvattamiseksi. Esimerkiksi naiskauppiasyrittäjien uratarinoiden jakaminen ja roolimallien luominen nousevat konkreettisiksi keinoiksi saada lisää naisia kiinnostumaan kauppiasyrittäjyysurasta.
An exploration of sustainable innovation in the plastics industry
(2024) Hoek, Luka; Laine, Lauri; Johtamisen laitos; Kauppakorkeakoulu; School of Business
This thesis explores sustainable product innovation within the context of the plastics industry, addressing the so-called plastic paradox—where plastic is both a critical material for modern life and a significant environmental pollutant. The study focuses on the strategies and practices of two companies, Vita and AnaBio, to understand how sustainable innovation is implemented in different organizational and geographical settings. Vita, a global leader in foam and polymer products, and AnaBio, an emerging player in sustainable personal care products in India, provide contrasting yet complementary perspectives. Using a qualitative research design, the study employs in-depth interviews with key personnel from both companies to gather insights into their approaches to sustainable product innovation. The interviews reveal how Vita integrates sustainability into its product development and supply chain management, achieving significant reductions in carbon emissions and promoting industry-wide changes. AnaBio's innovative approach involves developing biodegradable sanitary products that align with local market needs and infrastructure. The findings highlight the importance of organizational size, geographic location, and regulatory environment in shaping sustainable innovation strategies. Vita's comprehensive sustainability measures and proactive industry engagement contrast with AnaBio's market-driven and locally adapted innovations. Overall, the thesis contributes to the understanding of sustainable product innovation by providing detailed case studies that illustrate the practical applications and challenges of implementing sustainability in different business contexts while addressing the inherent contradictions of the plastic paradox.
Green software development - Challenges and implementation approaches
(2024) Lohikoski, Aino; Ghanbari, Hadi; Tieto- ja palvelujohtamisen laitos; Kauppakorkeakoulu; School of Business
Software has a growing negative environmental impact, with great potential for im- provement. However, the scale of software emissions and the benefits of green software development are not widely understood. To increase green software development, a better understanding of the factors affecting it is required. This thesis studies the factors preventing and enabling green software development in ICT companies. Based on literature review, interviewing 10 IT professionals from five different companies and analysis, this study fills a research gap by providing practical insights and addressing the challenges that have not been adequately mapped or addressed previously. A key result is that there isn't a single solution to green software development. Instead, seven linked main factors were identified. By considering the challenges identified and potential solutions, leaders and individuals seeking to initiate green software development within their companies can take relevant action.The scientific community can explore identified areas of interest in more detail.
The impact of peripheral region to drivers and inhibitors of digital transformation: A case study of a shopping centre in northwest China
(2024) Wang, Dan; Koveshnikov, Alexei; Johtamisen laitos; Kauppakorkeakoulu; School of Business
Digital transformation has been a popular theme that has been active among re- searchers for years, many studies have been conducted regarding digital transformation progress in urban or developed environments, however, the impact of digital transformation in peripheral regions is under-researched till today. This study focuses on identifying the factors that impact a company's digital trans- formation processes on drivers and resistance, under the circumstances of remote regions where both economic development and workforce quality are relatively stationary and under-developed. To contribute to filling the gap in the academic world on the topic, the first objective is to identify the impact of drivers and inhibitors on a company's digital transformation progress, and then to further add the elements of remote regions on top of the impact of drivers and inhibitors. This study provides strategic suggestions for companies to tackle inhibitors for future development. To bringing more clarifications on different impacts, this study conducts an intensive case study to collect data via qualitative research methodology. As the key interest of the study is on the impact of peripheral characteristics, this study selected a company located in the developing region of Northwest China. Fifteen out of seventeen internal employees are invited to the interview to gain a holistic and deep picture of different scenarios in terms of their perspectives on digital development. The collected data is coded based on the transcription and notes. This study gives three strategic recommendations for the company to develop their digital future based on the resistance of lack of digital awareness and skillset, unclarified digital strategy, and insufficient financial support, appeared in analysis and discussion. First, companies shall conduct training to enhance digital knowledge, second, companies shall concretise the benefit from digital strategy to evaluate the worthiness, finally, companies shall seek external financial support. The research contributes to two key areas. First, this study fills a research gap in the literature by adding elements of remoteness into digital transformation factors and understand challenges and unique opportunities. Furthermore, the study contributes to providing insight into the interconnectedness between remote areas and the diverse factors that impacts a company's digital progress, mapping the influence from peripheral elements to external and internal factors.

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