Jussi Kantola

Identification of trends from patents using self-organizing maps

Patent users such as governments, inventors, and manufacturing organizations strive to identify the directions in which new technology is advancing, and their goal is to outline the boundaries of existing knowledge. The paper analyzes patent knowledge to identify research trends. A model based on knowledge extraction from patents and self-organizing maps for knowledge representation is presented. The model was tested on patents from the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The experiments show that the method provides both an overview of the directions of the trends and a drill-down perspective of current trends.

Analyzing multilingual knowledge innovation in patents

In the process of analyzing knowledge innovation, it is necessary to identify the existing boundaries of knowledge so as to determine whether knowledge is new - outside these boundaries. For a patent to be granted, all aspects of the patent request must be studied to determine the patent innovation. Knowledge innovation for patent requests depends on analyzing current state of the art in multiple languages. Currently the process is usually limited to the languages and search terms the patent seeker knows. The paper describes a model for representing the patent request by a set of concepts related to a multilingual knowledge ontology. The search for patent knowledge is based on Fuzzy Logic Decision Support and allows a multilingual search. The model was analyzed using a twofold approach: a total of 104,296 patents from the United States Patent and Trademark Office were used to analyze the patent extraction process, and patents from the Korean, US, and Chinese patent offices were used in the analysis of the multilingual decision process. The results display high recall and precision and suggest that increasing the number of languages used only has minor effects on the model results.

Concurrent enterprise: a conceptual framework for enterprise supply-chain network activities

ABSTRACT Supply-chain management (SCM) in manufacturing industries has evolved significantly over the years. Recently, a lot more relevant research has picked up on the development of integrated solutions. Thus, seeking a collaborative optimisation of geographical, just-in-time (JIT), quality (customer demand/satisfaction) and return-on-investment (profits), aspects of organisational management and planning through ‘best practice’ business-process management – concepts and application; employing system tools such as certain applications/aspects of enterprise resource planning (ERP) – SCM systems information technology (IT) enablers to enhance enterprise integrated product development/concurrent engineering principles. This article assumed three main organisation theory applications in positioning its assumptions. Thus, proposing a feasible industry-specific framework not currently included within the SCOR model’s level four (4) implementation level, as well as other existing SCM integration reference models such as in the MIT process handbook’s – Process Interchange Format (PIF), the TOVE project, etc. which could also be replicated in other SCs. However, the wider focus of this paper’s contribution will be concentrated on a complimentary proposed framework to the SCC’s SCOR reference model. Quantitative empirical closed-ended questionnaires in addition to the main data collected from a qualitative empirical real-life industrial-based pilot case study were used: To propose a conceptual concurrent enterprise framework for SCM network activities. This research adopts a design structure matrix simulation approach analysis to propose an optimal enterprise SCM-networked value-adding, customised master data-management platform/portal for efficient SCM network information exchange and an effective supply-chain (SC) network systems–design teams’ structure. Furthermore, social network theory analysis will be employed in a triangulation approach with statistical correlation analysis to assess the scale/level of frequency, importance, level of collaborative-ness, mutual trust as well as roles and responsibility among the enterprise SCM network for systems product development (PD) design teams’ technical communication network as well as extensive literature reviews.

Combining crowdsourcing and Porter’s value chain

Porter’s value chain consists of operations which are required to provide a product or service to the customer. Customers, possible customers, and other individuals can be a part of Porter’s value chain in several ways. Crowdsourcing is a task taking place inside or outside the normal organizational setup in an undefined crowd. This paper introduces the application of crowdsourcing to Porter’s value chain which consists of primary and support activities. The research is a multi-case study and includes 18 organizations from a wide range of industry sectors. The organizations are micro, small, medium, and large size corporations.

Digitalization and Big Data Supporting Responsible Business Co-evolution

Circular economy as a business driver is growing in bio economy, industry and service business. That means great opportunity for all kind of businesses but at the same time a huge business transition. The opportunities of sustainability and circular economy have not been understood in full context and as new service innovation. Responsibility business management is an integrator on the path. The paradigm shift in the effective circular economy is the alteration of purchase behavior from ownership and selling of machines to offering of services. Obvious development activity is to increase the efficiency in supply network. Digitalization is rapidly increasing and enterprises must find new ways to innovate for business advantage. Through digital transformation, the use of new technologies like cloud, mobile, big data, and social networks with increasing intelligence and automation enterprises can capitalize on new business and optimization opportunities. Responsibility business leadership needs democratic innovation culture and co-innovation and co-evolution processes. This article introduces a concept tool for responsible business leadership. It helps to analyze co-evolution over the life cycle of business transition on circular economy by using Evolute, the intelligent web-based system, for managing human opinions and experiences as well as public- private-relationships and responsible business leadership capabilities.

Value Network Development in Industry 4.0 Environment

We are moving towards fourth industrial revolution through the development of digitalization. Globalization, shortage on resource, change on purchase behavior, urbanization e.g. influence on new competitive situation in every industry segment. This causes as well remarkable change pressures and opportunities for most of the industry. The development of competitiveness of the region as attractive and maintaining it continuously requires co-operation between actors and building up a Roadmap, how to do continuously and systematically small development steps towards the vision and start development activities according that. This article introduces created development process and framework for regional Roadmap-development for various industry segments in Industry 4.0 environment. It also analyses how the increase of digitalization influences on work environment. The most important is how the mindset of people and behavioral culture is possible to change. The introduced industry sectors are manufacturing industry and circular economy.

Adapting crowdsourcing in innovation management

Innovation is one of the most important economic drivers in modern businesses. A market pull innovation lowers the launching costs of new products and services. Crowdsourcing imports external and internal knowledge to an organisations innovation management more extensively. This multi-case study focuses on and analyses the utilisation of crowdsourcing in innovation management. This research utilises the four phase innovation management model: search, select, implement, and capture. This study contributes to understanding the crowdsourcing types which are utilised in innovation management. Its second contribution is the correlation analysis between crowdsourcing types in innovation management phases. Crowdsourcing utilisation in innovation management can support the production of innovations.

Crowdsourcing in a Project Lifecycle

Project management is an essential part of an organization’s research, development, and innovation activities. A new products or services are carried out with projects. New products and services are innovative because of elements of newness. Project management is managing the lifecycle of a project and it has four main phases: initiation, planning, execution, and closure. Crowd can be seen as a project resource. This research is focusing on how crowdsourcing is utilized in a project’s lifecycle and it is a case study. The case organizations are operating in a wide range of industry sectors. The outcome of the study shows that crowdsourcing can be utilized in a project’s lifecycle in several ways. Crowdsourcing can be effective in the projects. However, the risks and possible failure of crowdsourcing activities should be taken into account. Crowdsourcing activities can be private or public and can be implemented inside or outside of the organization.

A Co-evolute Approach to Analyze the Competencies of Sales Personnel of Banking Sector of Pakistan

The banking sector of Pakistan is playing a pivotal role in the economy of country. Over the last two decades, private banks have progressed rapidly. It resulted into highly competitive environment in the sector that raised the need of highly competitive human resources, especially sales personnel who play a very important role in the development of banks. The purpose of this research is to use The Evolute system as a tool to analyze competencies and devising training and developing of employees. The current competency levels and creative tension levels of the sample group were analyzed and individual and group level pictures of their competencies was provided. In this paper, Astroid 1.0 tool is chosen from The Evolute platform for the analysis of competencies of sales personnel. This study resulted into practical framework to enhance the competencies of sales personnel. It makes valuable contribution into applying HRM practices that will lead banking sector to develop the competencies of their sales personnel.

Training Culture: A New Conceptualization to Capture Values and Meanings of Training in Organizations.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to introduce and validate the concept of training culture defined as a subset of the main organizational culture that allows examining meanings and values attributed to the training within an organization by management and employees. Design/methodology/approach This study, following the deductive scale development process, examines the theoretical foundation and psychometric properties of the training culture scale (TCS), testing the utility and appropriateness of the measure. The TCS has been designed and developed on three specific dimensions: individual, group and organizational. A confirmatory factorial analysis has been performed to assess the internal structure. Findings Results confirm the three dimensions initially hypothesized: individual, group and organizational, with good reliability indexes on the three factors. Practical implications The implementation of the TCS allows training experts to have a broader understanding of training in the organization and to better tailor the training activities according to the training culture profile of the organization. Originality/value Cultural analyses are usually carried out from the managerial perspective. The TCS considers the individual perception, including both management and employees in the definition of a training culture profile that enables the organization to develop more effective strategies for training and development.