Ari Serkkola

Barriers to commercialisation from the 'four knowledge bases' perspective: a study of innovation in the software development sector

Barriers in commercialising software innovations are studied from the perspective of four knowledge bases in product innovation: technology knowledge base, end-user knowledge base, brand knowledge base and business-logic knowledge base. Hypotheses are formulated based on case studies of publicly-funded innovation development projects in Finnish Information and Communication Technology (ICT) companies. The perfect technology syndrome and diversification arising from any product innovation are put forward as important barriers of commercialisation.

Data analytics approach to create waste generation profiles for waste management and collection

Extensive monitoring data on waste generation is increasingly collected in order to implement cost-efficient and sustainable waste management operations. In addition, geospatial data from different registries of the society are opening for free usage. Novel data analytics approaches can be built on the top of the data to produce more detailed, and in-time waste generation information for the basis of waste management and collection. In this paper, a data-based approach based on the self-organizing map (SOM) and the k-means algorithm is developed for creating a set of waste generation type profiles. The approach is demonstrated using the extensive container-level waste weighting data collected in the metropolitan area of Helsinki, Finland. The results obtained highlight the potential of advanced data analytic approaches in producing more detailed waste generation information e.g. for the basis of tailored feedback services for waste producers and the planning and optimization of waste collection and recycling.

Information Management in Solid Wood Fuel Order-Supply Process

The validity and accuracy of information and its fast distribution is significant in effective wood fuel procurement. The authors’ objectives were i) to define the solid wood fuel procurement process of regional power plants, ii) to define a conceptual data model for the wood fuel order-supply process and iii) to create an application for managing the process. They did an interview study for representatives of 38 power plants, their fuel suppliers and subcontractors about wood fuel procurement. They studied further six plants and one major supplier with focus group interviews. It was found that a lot of data is available, but it’s not utilized efficiently. The authors used a methodology of designing information systems architecture and use-case derived methodology to determine the conceptual data model for the order-supply process and to develop an application to control it. Altogether, the hypothesis of the significant and wide-ranging role of information in the order-supply process was confirmed. The study gives a basis to further develop the systems to manage this information. Information Management in Solid Wood Fuel OrderSupply Process

The identification and research of product and service innovations: a microanalysis approach

The objective of the present study is to deepen the understanding of tangible (material) product concepts and intangible (immaterial) service concepts as well as the interconnections between them. The study utilises a microanalysis approach and a case study on a wrist computer for athletes is conducted. In the inductive phase of the present study, innovation matrixes are developed to help deconstruct the product concept and the service concept of the case example into their basic characteristics. In the deductive phase of the present study, the interconnections between the basic characteristics of the product concept and the service concept of the case example are analysed based on sources of value adding regarding technology, usage, service and processes.