Human Factors, Business Management and Society

AHFE International

Accelerating Open Access Science in Human Factors Engineering and Human-Centered Computing

Human Factors, Business Management and Society

book-cover

Editors: Vesa Salminen

Topics: Management and Leadership

Publication Date: 2025

ISBN: 978-1-964867-52-6

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1005987

Articles

Reasonable Living as a Proactive Customer Value: Feeling Heard, Seen, and Understood

We examine how the concept of procedural fairness could proactively guide value creation and sustainable wellbeing in public services, and decision making concerning it. First, we review the concept of procedural fairness to understand what it means as an aim for the public sector. Second, using pragmatic constructivism, we lay ground for fulfilling such aim by proactively constructing fair public services that will create value, also in the future. Third, we examine a “Value scale”- exercise of the City of Tampere, to understand how stakeholders’ values are incorporated to proactive construction of procedural fairness. Procedural fairness must be made visible so that it can be viewed based on values and customer orientation. The value scale can be used to localize meanings that enable connecting procedural fairness to customer value more effectively. Using the concept of procedural fairness, public administrators can create flexibility into the service system, to enable creating value also in the future.

Keijo Houhala, Tuomas Korhonen, Teemu Laine, Vesa Salminen

Conference Proceedings

Regional Innovation Valleys Enhancing Place-Based Innovation

The Regional Innovation Valleys (RIVs), a cornerstone of the New European Innovation Agenda, were launched in 2023 to catalyze regional innovation across Europe. In June 2024, over 150 regions, including Kanta-Häme, were designated as RIVs to bolster their research and innovation (R&I) capacities. These valleys aim to foster a vibrant European innovation ecosystem focused on critical areas like climate adaptation, circularity, healthcare, food security, digital transformation, and energy independence.Kanta-Häme, renowned for its bio and circular economy expertise, boasts a robust industrial base and cutting-edge research. Key circular economy sectors, including bioeconomy, food, construction, and waste management, are thriving. The region's three eco-industrial parks (Envitech, RiiCycle, and Industrial Park MORE) provide exceptional platforms for industry networking and the development of innovative business models.This paper examines three regional development projects that prioritize stakeholder engagement and collaboration within innovation ecosystems.The "Häme Goes into Ecosystems" project assessed the efficacy of participatory approaches in fostering understanding and motivation among stakeholders. A key outcome was the "Häme Ecosystem Guidebook for SMEs," designed to encourage SME participation in research, development and innovation activities.The "Häme Regional Innovation Valley" project emphasizes international collaboration and the visibility of regional research, development and innovation services in order to enhance placed-based innovation activities.The CIRC-2-ZERO project, involving Baltic Sea region partners, accelerates carbon emission reduction among SMEs in the electronics and wood industries. It promotes advanced manufacturing practices by facilitating the adoption of digital tools and solutions for circular economy transitions. HAMK leads the Resilience Transformation Hub, serving as the central point of contact for regional SMEs and stakeholders.These case studies underscore the effectiveness of participatory approaches in driving stakeholder engagement and collaboration, fostering place-based innovation. By convening diverse stakeholders and facilitating open dialogue, these approaches cultivate a shared vision for the innovation ecosystem and contribute to the development of sustainable and resilient economies and regions.

Minna Takala, Taina Tukiainen, Marina Weck, Vesa Salminen

Conference Proceedings

Green Advantage: Key Differentiators in Business Sustainability

More and more companies are recognizing that they have a responsibility to the environment but can also gain a competitive advantage through environmental sustainability. This is due to the fact because many customers prefer products that are advertised as climate-neutral, fairly traded or sustainable. In addition, companies are constantly faced with new regulatory requirements that need to be complied with. Environmental sustainability is also playing an increasingly important role in politics. Companies are required to tap into real potential to achieve sustainability effects and act economically at the same time. This requires them to formulate clear sustainability goals, incorporate these into their corporate objectives and the services they offer. While environmental sustainability is becoming increasingly recognized in the product sector, the service industry and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in particular are lagging behind in incorporating environmentally sustainable services into their portfolio. As part of a publicly funded project, the Smart Services Competence Center, the research team conducted a survey among 99 companies in Baden-Württemberg, Germany in summer 2024 to gain insights into their concepts of environmental sustainability. To what extent are environmentally sustainable measures already established in these companies? What motivates firms to become more sustainable and where do they see obstacles? Based on the company survey conducted, this conference paper will present what practices differentiate successful companies from less successful ones when it comes to environmental sustainability. For the classification into the success categories, the respondents answered three questions in the online questionnaire on the development of the following key figures over the period from 2021 to 2023: Number of employees, profit and turnover. Using a hierarchical cluster analysis, the respondents were divided into three groups based on their response behavior to the three questions mentioned: 35 respondents form the group of successful companies, another 35 respondents form the group of less successful companies. The remaining respondents fell between these two groups and thus form a group of moderately successful companies. These are not considered further, only the first two groups are compared.The data shows that successful companies use processes for measuring and evaluating sustainability more frequently and already offer their customers environmentally sustainable services more often. Further analyses are carried out to find out in which other aspects the successful companies differ from the less successful ones: What measures have they already implemented? What motivates them to deal with environmental sustainability?The survey responses show that SMEs are lagging behind large companies when it comes to environmental sustainability. The paper therefore examines what recommendations for action can be derived for SMEs from the knowledge gained, particularly from the successful companies.

Katharina Schulze, Michaela Friedrich

Conference Proceedings

Opportunities of Systems Intelligence in Systemic Design

To tackle complex and wicked problems, systemic approaches are needed. Systems Intelligence (SI) takes behavioral, interactional and bottom-up perspectives on systems. Systemic design aims to design desired futures to solve complex and interconnected problems. As a process, it consists of framing the system, sensemaking and analysis, reframing, codesigning, and roadmapping (Jones & Van Ael, 2022). The goal of this paper is to demonstrate how SI can be applied in systemic design. As an outcome, we propose a three-part model that combines these systemic approaches in design principles, methodology, and evaluation. This paper contributes a new theoretical model to the field of systemic design.

Satu Jumisko Pyykko, Jukka Pulkkinen

Conference Proceedings

The Need for Ethics and Good Leadership as the Foundation for Aviation SMS Programs: Have we Forgotten Something?

Safety Management Systems (SMS) in aviation is now mandated in the US by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). While SMS brings with it a strong safety standard in the areas of Safety Policy, Safety Promotion, Safety Risk Management (RM) and Safety Assurance for all aviation organizations using it, at the same time it can become potentially vulnerable to accidents and incidents from a historical conflict between economic decision making (DM) and safety DM. The researchers point out the dangers of this dilemma through the example of the Alaskan Airlines door plug decompression accident of 2024 where Boeing made the decision to eliminate many of their quality assurance inspectors on the 737 Max assembly line in favor of technology. The researchers note that while the standardized SMS themes represent 4 legs on the SMS table, the tabletop that holds the SMS together is accountability. Accountability from top management, accountability from every employee and accountability of the organization through its just culture. The researchers then commence an analysis by using a Human Factors Analysis and Classification Systems (HFACS) to demonstrate how SMS accountability and the DM is constantly being challenged by revenue service accountability and DM from levels of leadership to every employee and the organization’s culture. From the HFACS analysis the researchers determined that the SMS accountability and the DM on all levels of the organization need to be influenced by ethics and good leadership in some kind of human factors training intervention to prevent the human error of the wrong DM. To help substantiate this is an organizational influenced human factors training issue, the researchers complete a historical analysis of safety reporting systems as they relate to both proactive safety programs, SMS and aviation human factors. The historical analysis points to both RM safety programs and human factors playing significant roles with safety reporting systems in making the US commercial aviation industry proactively safer. It also shows that SMS and human factors complement another to eventually merge to reduce human error and increase efficiencies. This integration of SMS and human factors is significant toward what is missing in SMS in the form of organizational human factors training and specifically ethics and good leadership training toward better DM and stronger SMS accountability. Survey data from a graduate level SMS course with ethics and good leadership in it was analyzed with favorable results.

Mark Miller, Mandira Gerrels

Conference Proceedings

Smart Tokens for Proximity Marketing and Supply Chain Tracking - Vicima

Facing the predominance of online market places like Amazon physical stores are increasingly losing valuable customers. This challenge is particularly acute for smaller business owners who face additional hurdles. Expanding their physical shops into the digital world not only causes labor and marketing costs but also needs to meet various legal requirements. Even then, small shops are easily overshadowed by the vast competition of digital offerings. Due to the pervasiveness of mobile phones and internet usage the pressure on local stores will likely become an increasing thread. In an attempt to counter these effects, concepts like Proximity Marketing have emerged, merging digital technology with locality. A prominent representative is Bluetooth Beacons. Those are typically small devices equipped with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to send a specific data packet using a session-less connection. The data can be used to transmit very specific information related to an actual physical location. However, due to the nature of statically transmitted data, traditional Bluetooth Beacons offer limited variability and lack interactivity between sender and receiver. In particular, they cannot easily tailor information to specific users, as every user in proximity receives the same broadcast. Additionally, interpreting these messages typically requires specialized applications tailored to specific locations, which hinders the widespread adoption of this technology. With Vicima, we introduce a unified solution that consolidates the emission of tailored tokens into a single interactive app. This approach reduces entry barriers for both local businesses and users by leveraging symbiotic effects across different locations. Unlike traditional systems, our smart token system establishes a BLE connection with individual devices. This enables the enforcement of dynamic rules, such as issuing only one token per person within 24 hours or requiring proof of possession of specific previous tokens. By adding these capabilities, the system creates a secure, user-specific interaction layer, addressing key limitations of traditional proximity marketing solutions. Furthermore, the system is designed to support offline functionality for the token emitters. This allows for token emission without a constant network connection, reducing infrastructural requirements for shop owners. The workflow is outlined in Fig. 3, which is divided into three steps (A) Token Request; (B) Activation Request and (C) Receiving Request. The Receiving Request is initiated by a shop owner. It includes a user-defined coupon description, along with its emission locations and emission rules which define the conditions under a Emitting Device is allowed to generate tokens. The Token will then be listed as an for customers within the neighborhood, who can activate the tokens initiating an Activation Request. When the user is nearby a Emitting Device it can send a Receiving Request locally. Using the generated Receiving Certificate followed by the Activation Request, the user can prove to the Device that they interacted with the App and are allowed to receive a the specific token. The Emitting Device will then check the Emission Rules and create a unique Token tailored to the user. This Token is signed using the Key proven by the Emission Certificate issued by the Token Request.The described workflow allows for the emission of verifiable, unique tokens while enforcing customer-tailored rules in an offline scenario. This lowers the entry barrier for shop owners, providing them with a digital presence and increasing the visibility of small shops within a relevant group of nearby customers, all in a frictionless system.

Richard Vogel, Robert Manthey, Max Schlosser, Michael Walther, Josefine Welk, Marc Ritter, Matthias Vodel

Conference Proceedings

Servitization and corporate culture

Servitization in the manufacturing industry is progressing worldwide in response to changes in customer needs and the resulting decline in margins for physical goods. In this study, we focus on corporate culture, which is one of the institutions in the service ecosystem (Vargo and Akaka, 2012), and clarify its structure.According to Hofstede (1984), Japan has a high level of uncertainty avoidance and is male-dominated, while the opposite is true of Northern Europe (Hofstede 1984). This national character is reflected in corporate culture, and differences in innovation levels, the number of start-up companies per capita, and working styles (such as vacation and working hours) have arisen. The tendency to avoid uncertainty is a psychological obstacle to entering the service business, which is not familiar to the manufacturing industry, and at the same time, it is assumed that it will hinder the transformation of internal systems, such as performance evaluation of departments suitable for services and employee personnel evaluation systems.We will discuss how differences in corporate culture affect the development of the service industry based on the results of a quantitative survey of manufacturing industry managers in Northern Europe (Sweden) and Japan.In practice, we classify the service orientation into five stages based on previous research (Toya 2023). Each stage is as follows: Stage 0: No service orientation, Stage 1: Services provided for product sales, Stage 2: Services provided to increase margins through the establishment of long-term relationships, Stage 3: Services provided to revitalize customers' businesses, Stage 4: Services provided to innovate customers' businesses.The quantitative survey will be conducted in January 2025 in Japan and Scandinavia simultaneously, based on seven categories of Japanese manufacturing industry (metal, chemical, machinery, electrical, transportation, food & beverage, and pulp & printing), using stratified random sampling from a database. We plan to analyze the differences between large companies and small and medium-sized companies, as well as the differences between the seven categories, in addition to international comparisons.

Keiko Toya

Conference Proceedings

The challenges, limitations, and opportunities of using exosuits and exoskeletons to assess human performance at work

The novel solutions offered by exosuits and exoskeleton robots enable their use in supporting human performance across sports, leisure, and work. Some articles report how exosuits and exoskeletons have been applied to enhance human performance in areas such as agriculture, logistics, industrial tasks, and rehabilitation. However, there is a limited number of studies and experiments addressing the use of exosuits and rigid body exoskeletons for assessing human performance, such as muscle power and motion, in real-world environments. Our article explores the challenges, limitations, and opportunities of using exosuits and exoskeletons to assess human performance on-site. This discussion is based on a literature review as well as professionals’ and end users’ interviews during former and ongoing three pilot studies conducted between 2022 - 2025.

Kimmo Vanni, Xiaofeng Xiong, Emanuel Gunnarsson

Conference Proceedings

A Participative Management Approach using the Company Democracy Model on the Indian Ministry of Education

Participatory management encourages employees across an organization to engage in decision-making processes, fostering strategic thinking and instilling full accountability for deliverable outcomes. The Company Democracy Model (CDM) offers a participatory management methodology designed to generate actionable business information and knowledge, fostering the development of insights, ideas, and innovations. These elements collectively build competitive advantages critical for organizational extroversion and modern entrepreneurship.This paper explores the adaptation of the Company Democracy Model within the Indian Ministry of Education, a large and multifaceted organization comprising numerous departments, some of which function autonomously. The Ministry’s workforce reflects a mix of diverse qualifications and experiences, operating within a hierarchical organizational structure. This structure positions the Ministry as an ideal candidate for implementing the spiral method embedded in the CDM. The hierarchical delegation of authority enhances the effectiveness of leadership and guidance, while an employee-centric work approach boosts capabilities, performance, and job satisfaction—key factors for success in a pivotal public sector institution.This research provides an in-depth analysis of the implementation pathway for adopting participative management models like the CDM within the Ministry. It particularly focuses on adapting the Company Democracy Levels to address the challenges and opportunities specific to India’s public sector.

Evangelos Markopoulos, Chaitrali Anil Bhoi, Georgios Markopoulos, Akash Nandi, Hannu Vanharanta

Conference Proceedings

Human aspects in Situation Analysis, Resource Control, and Operation Command

This research examines the human-centered aspects of natural disaster management using as a case study environment the Start-up company Husqtec Corp., which is focused on situation and operational management. The created and analyzed solution is an intelligent and innovative MobiJOPA™ product and service concept. This research concentrates on how human-based management of situation analysis, resource control, and operation command is organized during the management of a case study of a disaster. First, this study answers the question “how can user-centred design and modularity enhance the effectiveness and usability of disaster management systems? Second, it introduces how AI-based simulation pedagogy is arranged in an operative environment and how GenAI, VR/XR, and simulation technologies are able to improve training, decision-making, and teamwork for emergency and disaster management teams..The study highlights the critical role of user-centered design, AI-driven decision support, and team cohesion in fostering effective emergency response. This case study prioritizes user-centered design to address the needs of diverse user groups, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility in disaster scenarios. Modular and customizable features enhance the system's adaptability and user experience. AI-Powered Decision Support can be executed by AI tools that provide situational analysis, real-time data assessment, and personalized training to prepare better for responders. Strong cohesion within response teams is achieved through focused training and establishing both T-shaped (broad knowledge with expertise in one area) and X-shaped (interdisciplinary expertise) role profiles. Simulations and VR/XR exercises enhance coordination among agencies, fostering trust and efficient collaboration. This research emphasizes how cohesive teams improve crisis response through swift communication, high morale, and trust. These factors enable quicker, more effective decision-making during critical situations.

Vesa Salminen, Matti Pyykkönen, Carita Salminen

Conference Proceedings

Optimizing Fundraising Appeals: USING DATA AND MACHINE LEARNING

Fundraising is a critical component of non-profit and educational institutions, and optimizing these efforts is essential for ensuring financial sustainability. This paper examines the challenges and solutions involved in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of fundraising appeals, utilizing data and machine learning techniques to enhance donor engagement and campaign outcomes. By implementing predictive analytics through methods such as neural networks and random forests, we analyze donor behaviors and optimize campaign strategies. The research explores the use of unique identifiers for tracking donor responses, the impact of tailored communication on donor relationships, and how these strategies lead to more targeted appeals. Results indicate that data-driven decision-making can significantly enhance conversion rates and overall donation outcomes. Furthermore, improving fundraising efforts directly impacts a university's capacity to support its programs and initiatives, ultimately contributing to student success and enriching the educational experience.

Emmanuel Nkansah

Conference Proceedings

Systems Intelligence and Perceived Teamwork Efficiency in an Organizational Context

Teams play a fundamental role in modern organizations where effective teamwork is essential for success in increasingly complex and dynamic environments. Systems Intelligence (SI) approaches human systems, such as organizations and teams from bottom-up, human-centered, behavioral and interactional perspectives. Although previous research has reported positive correlations between SI and different successive behavioral outcomes in organizations, the work is limited in terms of examining interactional aspects between actors. The goal of this study was to examine the relationship between SI and perceived teamwork effectiveness. We conducted a survey in a financial sector company. The results showed a positive correlation between SI, its eight factors, and perceived teamwork effectiveness. The results also showed that higher perceived teamwork effectiveness is associated with higher systems intelligence. These results give further support for the systems thinking concept in which team emergent successive behavior is closely linked to interconnected relationships between actors.

Aleksi Juvonen, Satu Jumisko Pyykko

Conference Proceedings

The Impact of Leadership on Establishing a Data-Driven Organization: a qualitative study

This paper analyzes the impact of leadership on a data-driven culture (DDC) as part of establishing a data-driven organization (DDO). As the costs for gathering, storing and processing data decrease and the volume of data increases, the trend of “democratization of data” continues. It is a concept to make data available to as many employees as possible, across all organizational departments and thereby breaking down organizational and hierarchical silos. In parallel, artificial intelligence will play a pivotal role in changing workplace processes, particularly in how data is handled and interpreted. Therefore, organizations pursue data-driven initiatives to improve decision-making, develop innovative business models and gain a competitive advantage. Those initiatives and trends can be challenging for employees at all levels, regardless of managerial responsibility. They require considerable effort to acquire new knowledge and to re- or upskill one’s skill set. Establishing a DDC is essential to supporting employees and thus organizations in becoming more data-driven. This includes fostering continuous learning, adapting to new technologies, and collaborating cross-functionally. In this transformation, the eminent role of leadership teams comes into play, as the required leadership skills are changing as well. The concept of DDOs has drawn academic and practical attention in previous research. The different aspects of a DDO are researched from various perspectives and theories and a new discipline is evolving by combining leadership research and information systems research. Based on a socio-technical framework, this article examines the impact of leadership on establishing a DDO from a DDC perspective. By drawing upon the existing literature on leadership in DDO and enriching the results with semi-structured expert interviews conducted in a German multinational corporation, we identifiy critical factors for leaders while implementing a DDC, offering guidance for both academic research and practical application. As a result, we contribute to a common understanding of the leadership requirements and the impact of leadership in a DDO by fostering a DDC.

Stefan Niggl, Vinzenz Krause, Alexander Nedelchev, Sebastian Smerat

Conference Proceedings

Business Management in the Digital Transformation Era: Effective Strategies for Achieving Competitive Advantage

Modern management thought has evolved significantly due to numerous scientific and intellectual contributions, propelling advancements in the field of management. In its contemporary sense, management involves the effective utilization of available resources to achieve organizational goals, guided by a set of prevailing modern strategies.Therefore, it’s essential that strategies be periodically evaluated and adapted to changes in the external environment. Consequently, the study of business strategies and competitive advantage is one of the most critical areas in business administration, given its direct impact on organizational success and sustainability.In today's rapidly changing business world, effective strategies and a competitive advantage are vital for the survival and growth of companies. These are enhanced through adaptation to shifts in markets, technologies, and consumer trends, providing valuable insights for decision-makers to make better strategic choices.Business strategies and competitive advantage are two fundamental concepts in the field of management, closely linked to organizational success and sustainability.

Zahra Hamdani, Aicha Dif

Conference Proceedings

PDCA-Based Smart Problem-Solving Process for Systematic Failure Management in SMEs

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face persistent challenges in failure management due to limited resources, inadequate methodological support, and the absence of digital assistance systems. Current practices often rely on reactive, fragmented approaches with insufficient documentation, leading to recurring problems, inefficiencies, and increased quality costs.This paper presents a digitally supported, Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA)-based smart problem-solving process tailored to the specific needs of SMEs. Rooted in the principles of quality management, lean management, and failure management, the proposed process systematically integrates selected quality methods into the sub phases of the PDCA cycle. The selection and integration of these methods—based on their cognitive simplicity, practical relevance, and compatibility with SME constraints—enable structured decision-making directly on the shop floor.A key innovation lies in the development of a knowledge-based assistant system that provides context-sensitive guidance for each PDCA phase. The system not only supports users in applying appropriate quality methods but also enables the dynamic development of a failure knowledge base through structured documentation and systematic root cause analysis. In cases of unknown failure patterns, an interactive problem-solving platform enables users to identify suitable methods and interpret results through dialog-based interaction. This fosters organizational learning and builds a reusable knowledge infrastructure for failure prevention.The approach encourages a proactive failure culture in SMEs, transforming failures into learning opportunities. By facilitating low-threshold access to structured problem-solving and leveraging digital assistance, the system strengthens the methodological capabilities of employees and contributes to long-term quality improvement and cost reduction.The findings underscore the potential of method-integrated, digitally enhanced frameworks for transforming failure management into a sustainable strategic capability in SME production environments.

Turgut Refik Caglar, Dogan Efe, Fatih Zor, Elena Andrushchenko, Roland Jochem

Conference Proceedings

Deception in marketing: Implications for consumer product warnings

One of the goals of human factors is to make things and tasks easier, more productive, and safer by using scientific findings and good practices. But the fields of marketing and advertising use similar methods and tests to collect data from people but have different goals than human factors people. Marketers want to make their product advertising noticeable, memorable, convincing, produce positive beliefs that the product is useful and safe. A fundamental principle of safety is that when products have hazards that are not designed out or guarded against, then there should be warnings about those hazards so that users can easily apprehend the information and act to avoid the hazards.Many products have inadequate warnings, lacking information on the actual (and often known) risks. Thus, people do not get necessary information to use in decision making to protect themselves. But lawsuits alleging personal injury from products often show that companies “hide” or obscure some of the negatives associated with their product. An explanation for this is that the sellers/manufacturers are worried about the potential for warnings having negative effects on sales. It would be a competitive disadvantage to give prominent warnings when other brands having the same safety profile only have absent or inadequate warnings. Of course, the other brands could put good warnings on their products, but it is unlikely if their sales increase as a result. People may think the poorly warned product is safer. Sometimes a whole industry wants the federal regulatory agencies to require specific warnings so that all companies have the same competitive disadvantage (e.g., as was the case with airbag warnings). Nevertheless, if a product needs a warning to use it safely and proper warnings were absent or inadequate then the manufacturer can be found liable for plaintiff’s injury. The likely success by parties in lawsuits can depend on whether an effective warning was provided.Marketing tries to obscure hazards whereas human factors people want to expose hazards through effective warnings. There are many opportunities that a manufacturer can use to warn users (e.g., on labels, manuals, etc.). One opportunity that is not used is in advertising. The only warnings in broadcast TV are in advertisements for prescription drugs because the U.S. FDA requires a balanced presentation of risks and benefits when information is provided by manufacturers. But most everything else that is advertised has no warnings whatsoever. General phrases may be given such as “Use as directed” or “Drink responsibly” but these are generic and ineffective. Advertising content is imbalanced: ads give only the benefits and no risks. Also, the messages can have double meanings that may generate inaccurate beliefs about safety. There are other deceptive methods are being used in marketing including the collection of personal information without awareness of users, making some tasks purposely difficult, popups that interfere with main tasks, among others. Human factors could use their knowledge within their discipline to expose and potentially to counteract the use marketing techniques that negatively affect users.

Michael Wogalter

Conference Proceedings

Supporting Small and Medium-sized Enterprises with Smart City Data for Circular Innovations

The exponential growth of data and the rapid advancement of technology are driving transformative changes globally. Simultaneously, urbanization is speeding up, positioning cities as the primary environments in which vast amounts of data are generated and used. This trend presents both opportunities and challenges, particularly in the context of sustainable urban development and carbon neutrality goals. Many services in urban areas are provided by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), making their development critical to achieving these goals. Cities have a strong interest in supporting the growth of companies that provide urban services and operate within city infrastructures. This work-in-progress paper presents the preliminary findings from an exploratory case study. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of cities in enabling circular innovations among service providers, with a specific focus on how city-generated data can support SMEs in adopting circular practices. The findings highlight the crucial role cities play in helping service providers develop circular innovations by offering digital platforms, ensuring open data access, fostering public–private partnerships (PPPs), implementing supportive policies, and providing financial incentives. Together, these efforts create an environment where service providers can adopt circular business models (CBMs) and integrate resource-efficient, waste-reducing practices into their operations. The findings also suggest that SMEs can drive circular innovations by integrating open city data with their proprietary "my data" and by leveraging smart city data to optimize resource use. They can further strengthen their efforts by adopting advanced AI and analytics tools for predictive insights and by following a structured CBM development cycle.

Heikki Ruohomaa, Marina Weck, Vesa Salminen, Heidi Kerkola

Conference Proceedings

Evaluating Virtual Reality Fire Extinguisher Training: A Qualitative User Experience Analysis

Virtual Reality (VR)-based technologies have changed the scenario regarding critical training industries. VR creates immersive and interactive experiences for users and it can easily replicate real-life scenarios and situations. The greatest advantage of VR-based training is that it provides a controlled and risk-free environment for training in critical industrial practices such as those undertaken during work using open fires, flames and the application of heat by means of tools or equipment, otherwise known as ‘hot works’. This study is based on qualitative open-ended survey questions that record participants’ perception on VR-based fire extinguisher training. This study focuses on measuring the effectiveness of VR as a training tool based on users’ evaluation of usability, strengths and challenges. The questions guide the users to evaluate the training method according to different themes such as clarity of the instructions, users’ experience and emotional response, physical and sensory challenges, positive and negative aspects of the training, future improvements and influence of prior experience with VR. Participants have provided critical feedback on key aspects such as the realism of the virtual environment and the level of engagement during training sessions. Furthermore, the responses were analyzed using deductive thematic analysis. The analysis addresses metrics that are required to further develop this transformative technology as a training tool. This study contributes to the ongoing development of VR-based training methods by analyzing user experience. It evaluates both the strengths and limitations of VR as a training tool as identified by the participants. The findings could have significant implications in the development of VR as a scalable and sustainable training tool for critical training methods thereby avoiding the chances of injury for the user while participating in the training.

A K M Ishtyak Hossain, Rida Kamal, Janne Heilala, Jussi Kantola

Conference Proceedings

Assessing Virtual Reality Fire Extinguisher Training Effectiveness: A Quantitative Empirical Study

This study conducts a quantitative assessment based on empirical evidence to measure the effectiveness of virtual reality-based fire extinguisher training. The data were collected from 71 participants who first underwent virtual reality (VR) fire extinguisher training and then practical fire extinguisher training with a gap of one week between these sessions. After finishing the practical training, participants filled out a structured quantitative questionnaire evaluating five key aspects: Knowledge Acquisition, Knowledge Retention, Realism, Usability, and Engagement. To assess the effectiveness and identify the stronger predictor of the effectiveness, a quantitative analysis was conducted encompassing descriptive statistics, t-tests, and regression analysis. The findings from this research reveal that Engagement and Usability were ranked highest in terms of the effectiveness of VR training. Participants felt that for VR training Engagement and Usability enhanced their overall experience. Furthermore, Engagement and Usability had the strongest impact on the effectiveness of the overall training. Respondents also reflected on the insufficiency of the VR environment in relation to realism, emphasizing the need for advancements in this area. These results imply that VR is an effective, engaging, and usable tool for safety training, but that refinements in interactive fidelity are needed in order to boost learning outcomes. Future research may investigate realism enhancements and knowledge retention strategies to further optimize VR-based safety training programs.

Rida Kamal, A K M Ishtyak Hossain, Janne Heilala, Jussi Kantola

Conference Proceedings

A Qualitative Study of Leader-Member Exchange Theory and Psychological Safety in High School Baseball Team

This study examined the relationship between coaches and players in Japanese high school baseball teams through the framework of Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) theory, with a particular focus on its influence on team psychological safety. With the aim of elucidating specific relational dimensions and behaviors related to trust, communication, and support within the coach-athlete relationship, semi-structured interviews were conducted via Zoom. An interview guide was developed based on the Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) scale (Graen & Uhl-Bien, 1995) and the Psychological Safety scale (Edmondson, 1999), and the interviews were administered accordingly.Participants included four coaches (mean age = 46.3 ± 4.78 years) and sixteen players (mean age = 16.8 ± 1.04 years) from. four championship-level high school baseball teams with proven success in Japan’s highly competitive national high school baseball tournaments. The narrative data obtained were transcribed verbatim and analyzed through the categorization process of the KJ method, yielding 617 data points. These were grouped into 135 sub-categories, then into 23 mid-level categories, and ultimately organized into seven overarching themes: (1) Ideal-Based Actions, (2) Multifaceted Communication, (3) Driving Forces, (4) Achievements and Evaluations, (5) Coaching Competence, (6) Comfort, and (7) Tokenism.Findings suggest that psychological safety fosters trust between coaches and players, enabling open expression of opinions and encouraging players to take on challenges without fear of negative repercussions. High-quality LMX relationships—characterized by mutual trust and respect—further enhance psychological safety by creating a supportive environment in which players feel valued and motivated to contribute.Conversely, traditional coaching styles such as " traditional authoritarian coaching" and the use of "critical language" increase psychological stress and weaken coach-player relationships by discouraging open communication and limiting players' willingness to take initiative.These findings highlight the importance of individualized trust-building by coaches and mutual understanding among players in fostering a psychologically safe team environment. Such an environment contributes to stronger team cohesion, improved performance, and a more positive overall sports experience.Future research should explore how coaching styles can be adapted to enhance psychological safety, optimizing both individual growth and team success.

Sakura Nemoto, Motoki Mizuno, Yasuyuki Hochi

Conference Proceedings

Leveraging AI Technologies to Augment and Advance Human Expertise with JIT Learning

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies in decision-making and workflow automation is emerging as an obvious companion to the enterprise profession. Prominent businesses are integrating the use of both automation protocols to improve human performance. This increases operational efficiency with AI-powered automation, seamless experiences, and enterprise productivity to manage business complexity in a progressively dynamic business environment. One of the biggest issues facing organisations today is the worldwide lack of skilled technical personnel. This disparity is impeding innovation and, more importantly, is starting to affect companies' capacity to stay competitive in the quickly changing digital economy. However, it is possible that the same technologies that are causing this skills gap - in particular, AI technologies - will also provide ways to bridge it. By leveraging AI to augment and advance human expertise, companies can enhance productivity, optimize workflows, and maximize the value of their workforce. AI can help combat the shortage on human expertise and skills augmentation in innovative ways which can help the business – just in time. The goal of this article is to identify and understand circumstances leading to the need to supplement human expertise and explore how AI technologies can be leveraged to provide improved methods of corporate knowledge expertise. This research is partly constructive, conceptual, and analytical because it introduces the concept of AI-powered competency models and its adoption by organizations when they deal with the dynamic business opportunities in the marketplace.

Oliver Tian, Vesa Salminen, Bryon Tian

Conference Proceedings

Clusters and factors influencing student satisfaction among graduates of Turku university of applied sciences

Student satisfaction in studies is one of the most critical areas of information for universities, often highlighted through student questionnaires. Understanding why some students are more satisfied with their studies than others is essential for improving organizational performance. These aspects have been under scrutiny at Turku University of Applied Sciences (TUAS) in earlier studies. TUAS has previously investigated the attributes influencing student satisfaction and the correlation between staff satisfaction and student satisfaction. While some factors explaining variations in satisfaction are straightforward, others are more complex and potentially critical for the institution’s future. Our prior research demonstrated that student satisfaction correlates with staff perceptions of justice. Additionally, we identified several variables influencing student satisfaction. Student satisfaction is particularly intriguing because it is often associated with positive outcomes, such as higher graduation rates. Given that universities of applied sciences aim to produce new professionals for society, understanding the variables impacting student graduation remains a priority. In previous research, we studied the correlation between student satisfaction and on-time graduation. Interestingly, no significant correlation was found. This finding motivated further exploration into student satisfaction, focusing on identifying clusters and factors in the data. This study utilized data from the AVOP feedback questionnaire, which collects evaluations and feedback from graduating students about their education. The AVOP findings are used locally by institutions to enhance processes and nationally for performance-based monitoring and funding decisions. All graduating degree students from Finnish universities of applied sciences are invited to complete the questionnaire. The dataset comprised responses from 1 814 TUAS graduates who completed the AVOP questionnaire in 2023. The data analysis was conducted using Excel and Python. Samples were extracted from the dataset and incorporated into a statistical model using Excel spreadsheets. This study aimed to answer the following research questions: Is there a correlation between student satisfaction and specific factors at the time of graduation? Can students be grouped into clusters based on the data? How can these correlations and clusters be interpreted, and what conclusions can be drawn? The findings provide valuable insights for understanding the dynamics of student satisfaction. Future research directions and practical recommendations will also be presented in the paper.

Tero Reunanen, Vesa Taatila

Conference Proceedings

Combining AI Tools, Low-Code Platforms, and Product Development in ICT Education: A Reflective Study on Educational and Practical Outcomes

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and low-code/no-code (LCNC) platforms are reshaping the processes of product development, offering new pathways for efficiency, accessibility, and creativity. By reducing technical barriers, these technologies enable novel approaches to problem-solving and innovation. This research examines the design and implementation of a university-level course structured around the CDIO (Conceive, Design, Implement, Operate) framework, leveraging AI-powered LCNC platforms. The course introduces foundational software development skills, including system design, UI/UX principles, and the creation of innovative solutions for everyday problems in a practical and accessible manner. As a project-based course, it emphasizes interpersonal and strategic skills, fostering personal and team productivity, as well as small-scale project management using an adapted agile approach. By integrating AI-driven tools into the curriculum, the course bridges human creativity and technological capabilities, enabling students to rapidly ideate, design, and deliver concrete solutions with a user-centered mindset. This study reflects on the outcomes of the first implementation of the course from both educator and student perspectives. It focuses on the course’s impact on collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving in small-scale software development projects, while also considering whether AI-assisted LCNC platforms provide a more accessible entry point into programming. The findings lay the groundwork for future research, including a planned AI-assisted programming course, which will further investigate how these tools can make programming more approachable for beginners. From the students’ perspective, the course highlighted the potential of AI-powered tools to reduce cognitive load, enable rapid prototyping, and foster multidisciplinary teamwork. However, challenges arose with the restricted functionality of free versions, particularly when students attempted to scale their projects or access advanced features. Despite these limitations, many students reported increased confidence in their ability to contribute to technology-driven projects, even with limited prior technical experience. Instructors observed that the course significantly accelerated the development process, enabling students to focus more on user-centric design and strategic decision-making. However, they emphasized the need to address tool limitations through careful project scoping and creative solutions. Ethical discussions on AI usage, data privacy, and societal impacts were particularly impactful, encouraging students to critically reflect on the broader implications of their work and the practical realities of deploying such tools in professional contexts. The course also underscored the importance of equitable access to resources and a deeper understanding of licensing models for LCNC platforms. While the free versions lowered barriers to entry, they presented challenges in replicating the functionality required for real-world project deployment. Balancing the course’s educational goals with these constraints became a central consideration, preparing students to navigate similar challenges in professional environments. In conclusion, the initial implementation of the course demonstrated the potential of AI-powered LCNC platforms to enhance human factors in product development by streamlining workflows and fostering collaboration. At the same time, it highlighted the importance of adaptive teaching practices to meet diverse student needs and prepare them for practical challenges. These findings provide a foundation for refining future iterations of the course.

Noora Nieminen, Tero Reunanen

Conference Proceedings

Sociotechnical leadership for the digital transformation of global corporations

Literature assumes that leaders can successfully implement transformation like strategic changes by leading the social systems with the desired behaviors while the technological behaviors are of minute nature. Meanwhile, the thesis of our paper is that the wide-scale and diverse nature of digital transformation requires that leaders must learn socio-technical behaviors. We conducted a grounded theory-based pilot case study with twelve leaders of digital transformation from four large multinational corporations in energy, forestry, and mobility businesses. The thematic analysis of our data reveals eight socio-technical behaviors. We grouped these behaviors into the social, technical, ecosystem, and organizational design of traditional industrial organizations.

Faisal Imran, Aurangzeab Butt

Conference Proceedings

The Mediating Role of Teamwork in the Relationship between Authentic Leadership and Work Engagement among Japanese Nurses

Authentic leadership has attracted increasing attention in healthcare settings as a leadership style that fosters trust, transparency, and ethical behavior among healthcare professionals. While previous studies have demonstrated its positive impact on staff motivation and team performance, the pathways through which authentic leadership influences work engagement among nurses remain insufficiently understood, particularly regarding team-level factors such as teamwork. This study aimed to investigate whether teamwork mediates the relationship between authentic leadership and work engagement among hospital nurses in Japan.A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 47 nurses working at hospitals in Japan. Participants completed validated scales measuring authentic leadership, teamwork, and work engagement. Data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation analysis and mediation analysis with the PROCESS macro in SPSS.The correlation analysis revealed significant positive associations among authentic leadership, teamwork, and work engagement at the 1% significance level. The mediation analysis further indicated that authentic leadership had a significant positive effect on teamwork, and teamwork had a significant positive effect on work engagement. The direct effect of authentic leadership on work engagement was not significant when teamwork was included as a mediator, while the indirect effect through teamwork was statistically significant.These findings suggest that authentic leadership enhances nurses’ work engagement primarily by promoting teamwork rather than through a direct effect. The study highlights the critical role of teamwork in translating authentic leadership into higher engagement among nurses. These results have important implications for leadership development and team-building strategies within healthcare organizations. Further research is needed to explore these relationships in diverse healthcare settings and with larger samples.

Kentaro Inaba, Yasuyuki Hochi, Takumi Iwaasa, Yuki Mizuno, Yasuyuki Yamada, Emiko Togashi, Yumi Arai, Motoki Mizuno

Conference Proceedings

Embracing New Culture in the Pressure of New Technology

New technology (XR-technology, Artificial intelligence (AI) e.g.) are supporting educational institutional operations throughout all processes. To realize the importance of organization culture and its sub-cultures will be essential when education institutes implement new technology or scale its educational products to global markets.The objective of this research activity has been to analyze education institutes on how they embrace cultural approach in the pressure of new technologies. They bring new opportunities as well as challenges when implementing them. The analysis of the development of the educational institutions has concentrated on sorting out How the organizational culture should be observed, analyzed and studied during the transition of technology?How to manage the subcultures of organization?What does it mean for the business model of university?The article outlines the importance of human factors, team cohesion, organization culture and its subcultures. In this research it has been verified that the organization culture is formed of several subcultures, and it is important to manage them in integrated way during digital transformation.

Heikki Ruohomaa, Vesa Salminen, Heidi Ahokallio-leppala

Conference Proceedings

Bridging Technology and Academia: A Qualitative Exploration of GenAI Integration in GCC Higher Education

The integration of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in higher education institutions within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region is fundamentally reshaping organizational paradigms and human-AI collaboration (Al-Emran et al., 2020; Zawacki-Richter et al., 2019). This qualitative study introduces a nuanced interpretive framework for strategic AI integration, exploring its transformative potential across pedagogical innovation, research methodologies, and administrative optimization. By situating this analysis within the unique sociocultural and technological context of the GCC region, we address a significant gap in the literature on GenAI adoption in non-Western academic settings (Selwyn, 2019). Employing an interpretive phenomenological approach, our study utilizes in-depth interviews and narrative analysis to provide a contextually grounded understanding of institutional adaptations to GenAI technologies. We examine classroom dynamics, student engagement mechanisms, research workflow optimization, and curricular development, addressing the complex interplay between technological advancement and deeply rooted academic traditions (Popenici & Kerr, 2017). While acknowledging the efficiency gains of GenAI, we critically investigate the challenges of maintaining academic rigor and mitigating potential risks to established scholarly practices (Bostrom & Yudkowsky, 2018). Our analysis reveals that the adoption of GenAI technologies in GCC higher education institutions is characterized by a complex interplay of cultural, institutional, and technological factors. Drawing on institutional theory (DiMaggio & Powell, 1983) and the technology acceptance model (Davis, 1989), we argue that successful GenAI integration in this context requires a nuanced understanding of the region's unique institutional logics and cultural values. The study identifies key challenges, including concerns about the erosion of traditional pedagogical approaches, fears of academic dishonesty, and apprehensions about the impact of AI on academic job security (Selwyn et al., 2020). Simultaneously, we uncover significant opportunities for GenAI to enhance educational practices, such as bridging language barriers, facilitating personalized learning, and enhancing research capabilities (Holmes et al., 2019). The proposed framework synthesizes technological innovation with fundamental academic values, offering actionable insights for implementing GenAI technologies responsibly within the unique context of GCC higher education institutions. By providing the first comprehensive framework tailored to the GCC region's specific academic context, our research makes a significant contribution to understanding AI integration in higher education, particularly in non-Western settings (M Alshater, 2022). This study offers a valuable tool for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners seeking to navigate the challenges and opportunities of AI integration in diverse educational contexts.

Federica Polo, Vishal Rana, Kousay Abid, Daraneekorn Supanti

Conference Proceedings

Evaluating the Impact of a Sports-and-Agriculture Workcation on Employees’ Well-Being: A Controlled Study Among Japanese Workers

Workcation, a blend of “work” and “vacation,” has garnered increasing attention in Japan amid expanding flexible work styles. Integrating sports and agricultural activities into such programs may boost physical and mental well-being, alleviate stress, and enhance productivity; however, empirical data remain sparse. In a four-week study conducted in Yamaguchi Prefecture from late November to mid-December 2023, employees (n = 10) from three Tokyo-area companies participated in a sports-and-agriculture workcation, while a non-participating control group (n = 35) served as a comparator. Data were collected at four time points to assess psychological detachment, perceived exercise benefits, daily step counts, and a range of mental health indicators (Athens Insomnia Scale, K6, work engagement, and psychological safety). An ECG-based wearable device monitored sleep and stress, and semi-structured interviews explored participants’ experiences in a novel work setting. Although quantitative analysis revealed no significant difference in psychological detachment between groups, workcation participants demonstrated substantially heightened perceptions of exercise benefits during and shortly after the on-site period. Interview responses further indicated that exposure to new environments, physical activities, and agricultural tasks contributed to a sense of mental refreshment. By contrast, some participants encountered logistical obstacles such as limited infrastructure, restricted workspace availability, and organizational concerns related to fairness. These findings highlight both the potential advantages of sports-and-agriculture workcations and the importance of addressing infrastructural and policy barriers to fully capitalize on their benefits.

Takumi Iwaasa, Mayu Shirakawa, Shinya Sato, Shota Nagata, Yuta Takahashi, Katsutake Okimoto

Conference Proceedings