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Sirpa Ryynänen, KAD: Euro Crafts 21 / “Implementation Report” 1

Content

1 Introduction 3

1.2 Description of target group and participants 4

1.3 Tables of implementation of the QCC 5

2 Kick-off event and B1 Sustainability Development 9

2.1 Workshop, Kuopio Academy of Design 9

2.1.1 Participants: 9

2.1.2 Agenda: 9

2.1.3 Description of contents and results : 10

2.1.4 Evaluation results: 13

2.2 Workshop, Taito Group Organization 14


2.2.2 Agenda: 14



3 B2 Self Check 17

3.1 Workshop, Kuopio Academy of Design 17


3.1.2 Agenda: 17



3.2 Workshop, Taito Group Organization 21


3.2.2 Agenda: 21



4 S4- Marketing Concept 25

4.1 Participants: 25

4.2 Agenda: 26


4.3 Description of contents and results : 27

4.4 Evaluation results: 28

5 S10-Product Cycle and Usability 30

5.1 Participants: 30

5.2 Agenda: 30

5.3 Description of contents and results : 31

5.4 Evaluation results: 33

6 Conclusion and effects to participants: 36

7 Recommendations: 38


1 Introduction The following report is a description of a pilot project EC21 executed in Finland by Kuopio Academy of design as a part of Euro Crafts 21. The implementation process in Finland and its concept considers results from other working packages in the project Euro Crafts 21 (e. g. national qualification and consulting concept, national analysis of qualification needs) as well as first ideas from the project proposal. One teacher from Kuopio Academy of Design (KAD four consultants from Taito Group Re-gional Craft Associations participated to the first session of Euro Crafts 21 project titled Train the Trainer (TtT) on May 2009. Two of the Taito Group trainers along with a teacher from KAD continued as trainers in the EC21 –pilot project of Kuopio Academy described in this report. The EC21 pilot project consisted of two linked entities, which in actuality were two sets of workshops for collaborating pilot companies. The first set of workshops involved two pilot companies and was executed solely by the staff and students of KAD. The second set of workshops was collaboration with Taito Group f tor new pilot companies. Kuopio Academy of Design started the pilot project in August 2009 and Taito Group joined in few months later in February 2010. Because Kuopio Academy of De-sign started the basic module workshops six month earlier, many of the KAD’s experiences could be later referred to and utilized in the Taito Group’s pilot workshops The students of KAD assisted with both of the workshop entities. The students were a vital part of the workshops and could integrate their participation to their professional studies, in-ternship and thesis. The workshops of the EC21 pilot project formed a part of their degree studies offering them a good opportunity to get first-hand experience on how the craft sector businesses function which was a good way to learn about entrepreneurship in their field. The following report includes the implementation of both projects; the project by Kuopio Academy of Design and the project by Taito Group.


1.1 Description of target group and participants Trainers Kuopio Academy of Design Sirpa Ryynänen, lecturer, Fashion and Clothing Design Terhi Kuosmanen, assistant trainer, student Taito Group Organization Craft Association of Upper-Savo Sirkka-Liisa Haapasaari, director Craft Association of North-Savo Piia Kinnunen, head instructor Pilot companies Workshops by Kuopio Academy of Design: Daiga Daiga Duu / Katariina Haapalainen. Business sector: clothes and accessories from recycled clothes and materials. O.D.D.Metal Wear / Taina Böös. Business sector: clothes, clothing accessories and interior design. Workshops by Taito Group Organization: Tmi Ritva Peura Ritva Peura Business sector: felted textiles www.ritvapeura.fi/ Keramiikkastudio Jenni Linnove / Jenni Linnove Business sector: ceramics www.jennilinnove.fi/ Kuopio Academy of Design Kuopio Academy of Design (Kuopion Muotoiluakatemia) is the unit of Savonia University of Applied Sciences responsible for education in culture sector leading to degrees in design and graphic design. Kuopio Academy of Design is a centre of development and excellence exam-ining the experiential and functional product environment. Taito Group Organization in Finland Taito Group offers courses, workshops, crafts schools, exhibitions, products, materials and business services. The Finnish Crafts Organization takes care of Taito Group’s general mat-ters and forms an expert organization for the crafts and design industry. Together with the 21 regional Crafts Associations, the Finnish Crafts Organization forms the national Taito Group. The main services provided by the Crafts Associations are handicraft courses, children’s craft schools and basic art education, Taito business services, trade fairs and exhibitions, an agency for craft materials and products, and tourism services.


1.3 Tables of implementation of the QCC

Table 1. Status implementation Kickoff, B1, B2, Kuopio Academy of Design

Event Kick off event Starting B1

B1 work-shop, Part 1

B1 work-shop, Part 2

B2 Com-mon work-shop

B2 Self-check 1 (individu-al work-shops)

B2 Self-check 2 (individ-ual work-work-shops

Time 20.8.09

24.8.09

31.8.09

28.8.2009

8.9.09 Pilot company A 9.9.09 pilot company B

18.9.09 same day 2 individu-al work-shops

Participants KAD trainer Sirpa Ryynänen, 2 pilot com-panies: Daia Daiga Duu (A) O.D.D Metal Wear (B) KAD students

KAD train-er, 2 pilot companies, KAD stu-dents

KAD train-er, 2 pilot companies, KAD stu-dents

KAD

trainer,

2 pilot

compa-

nies,

KAD

students

KAD trainer 2 pilot compa-nies, KAD stu-dents

KAD trainer, 2 pilot compa-nies, KAD students


Event Kick off B1

B2, C3

Self-check (in-

dividual work-

shops)

B2

Self-check 2

analyses (indi-

vidual work-

shops)

Time 18.2.2010 18.2.2010

24.3.10 and

3.3.10

Company C

25.2.10

Company D

11.3.2010

Pilot company C

12.3.2010

pilot company D

Participants Taito trainers

Sirkka-Liisa

Haapasaari,

Piia Kinnunen,

KAD assistant

trainer Terhi

Kuosmanen

2 pilot compa-

nies:

Jenni Linnove

(C)

Ritva Peura (D)

Taito trainers

Sirkka-Liisa

Haapasaari,

Piia Kinnunen,

KAD assistant

trainer Terhi

Kuosmanen

2 pilot com-

panies:

Jenni Linnove

Ritva Peura

KAD assistant

trainer,

2 pilot compa-

nies

Taito trainers

KAD assistant

trainer,

2 pilot compa-

nies – participat-

ed on each oth-

ers’ B2-D2 -

events

Table 2. Status implementation Kick off, B1 B2, TAITO Group


Event S4

Individual workshop

S 4

Common workshop

Time 22.9.2009 21.4.2010

Participants KAD trainer,

pilot company A,

2 KAD students

KAD trainer,

KAD assistant trainer

2 Taito trainers

2 Taito Group’s pilot com-

panies (2)

Table 3. Status implementation S4. KAD, TAITO Group


Table 4. Status implementation S10, KAD, TAITO Group

Event Individual work-

shop

Individual

workshop

Individual

workshop

Common

workshop

Time 12.1.2010

2.2.2010

9.2.2010

21.4.2010

Partici-

pants

KAD trainer

Sirpa

Ryynänen,

Pilot compa-

ny(B)

O.D.D Meta

Wear

1 KAD student

KAD trainer

Pilot company

(A)Daiga Dai-

ga Duu

1 KAD stu-

dent

KAD trainer, 2

pilot compa-

nies, KAD

students

KAD trainer,

Pilot compa-

nies

Jenni Linnove

(C)

Ritva Peura

(D)

2 Taito Group

trainers

1 KAD student


2 Kick-off event and B1 Sustainability Development 2.1. Workshop, Kuopio Academy of Design 2.1.1 Participants

Pilot companies Company name: Daiga Daiga Duu Participant: Katariina Haapalainen Company name: O.D.D. Metal Wear Participant: Taina Böös Students, Kuopio Academy of Design, Savonia University of Applied Sciences Janne Joutsen Aino Koski Terhi Kuosmanen Hanna Miettinen Jaana Muhonen Student, Business, Savonia University of Applied Sciences Leena Vanhanen Trainer Sirpa Ryynänen, Kuopio Academy of Design

2.1.2. Agenda

Kick off 20.8.2009

Workshop

9.00 am

Welcoming, introduction of participants

EuroCrafts 21: the project at a glance

Working method and schedule

~10.30 End of Kick off

B1 Sustainable Development 24.8.2009

Workshop

8.00 am Welcoming Basic Module 1: Sustainable Development – introduc-

tion, pp- presentation and working sheets 10.30 End of day one

B1Sustainble Development 31.8.2009 Looking throw working materials

Evaluation and feedback round Kick off and B1 10.30 End of the workshop


2.1.3 Description of contents and results

Kick off The event began by an introduction of the participants. The trainer presented the EuroCrafts 21 – project and pilot companies presented their corporate strategies and products (for ex-ample, their web pages, later on the companies were also visited). The pilot companies in the KAD’s part of the project were: 1) Daiga Daiga Duu, represented by Katariina Haapalainen, The company designs and man-ufactures new clothes and accessories from recycled clothing and other recycled materials. The company has a shop which also sells other brands and products which share the same ideology. 2) O.D.D. Metal Wear, represented by Taina Böös. The company makes clothes, accesso-ries and interior design supplies in the spirit of “heavy metal”. Their long term goal is to start marketing and exporting their products also to the German market. Once the participants had been introduced, a discussion about a plan of action for the project and the schedule was held. At this first event, project teams we built, where students of KDA were assigned as assistants for the pilot companies. At the kickoff event both pilot compa-nies with their student assistants were together, later on the two teams worked mainly sepa-rately due to schedule reasons. The project teams were built so that the pilot company A, Daiga Daiga Duu was assigned two student assistants while the pilot company B, O.D.D. Metal Wear had three assisting students. The trainer’s role was one of a tutor/mentor of the project teams. The trainer also took main responsibility for the schedule and the practical implementation of the project. KDA students’ role was to act as assistants to the pilot companies. At the kickoff event another important issue was also discussed: the projects’ internal com-munication. It was decided that the communication would be handled weekly by emailing with the projects teams (sending memos, changes in schedule etc.) It was also decided that additional phone calls would be made if and when necessary.


2.1.4 Evaluation results

A. General feedback about the event: 1. I liked the event very much 2,0 2. My expectations were achieved 3,0 3. The atmosphere was very comfortable 2,0 B. Content: 1. The content was understandable 2,7 2. The content was interesting 1,7 C. Programme 1. The programme was very appealing 1,7 D. Trainers/Moderators 1.The trainers / moderators were competent 1,3 E.New information 1.To my mind the event was very gainful 1,3 2. I have learned topics very much 1,3 3. I’m interested to participate in pilot projects very much 1,3 Average: 1,8

Table: Feedback, Kick off, KAD 20.8.2009

General feedback

At the end of the workshop, the pilot companies were asked to evaluate its content using a pre-constructed evaluation form with a one to five scale where number one indicates the highest evaluation and number five the lowest. As the evaluation data in the chart above shows, both pilot companies were fairly satisfied with the workshop. They felt that the work-shop added to their motivation and brought new ideas. The materials used were also regard-ed as useful. Working with the KAD students was considered fruitful and easy. In the begin-ning of the project the main uncertainty of the pilot companies was if the project was going to be useful or not. By the end of the event the participants seemed convinced of the useful-ness of the project.


2.2 Kick off and B1 Sustainable development, TaitoGroup 2.2.1 Participants

Pilot companies Company name: Tmi Ritva Peura (felted textiles) Participant: Ritva Peura Company name: Keramiikkastudio Jenni Linnove (ceramics) Participant: Jenni Linnove Students, Kuopio Academy of Design, Savonia University of Applied Sciences Terhi Kuosmanen Trainers Sirkka-Liisa Haapasaari Piia Kinnunen 2.2.2 Agenda Kick off 18.2.2010

Workshop

16:00


EuroCrafts 21: the project at a glance

Working method and schedule

~17:15 End of Kick off

B1 Sustainable Development 18.2.2010

Workshop

17:30 Welcoming Basic Module 1: Sustainable Development – introduc-

tion, working sheets 19:00 End of day one

2.2.3 Description of contents and results

The events were held together to both piloting companies. Two events, Kick off and B1 were also held at the same time because there was a relatively small number of participants. Par-ticipants, beside the entrepreneurs, included Taito trainers Sirkka-Liisa Haapasaari, Piia Kin-nunen and KAD assistant trainer Terhi Kuosmanen. The event started with a friendly discussion, for most of the participants were already familiar with each other. After an informal chat, KAD assistant trainer introduced the project and handed out materials. The entrepreneurs were given folders which contained project flyers, presentation materials; printed pp-materials etc. This was especially useful since the space was not equipped with suitable devices for the realization of a pp-presentation.


2.2.4 Evaluation results

Table: Feedback B1 workshop; 2 Taito pilot companies

General feedback

The participants found that it was a little hard to give feedback since the form used was in English and questions were in part a bit tricky to understand. They felt that if it had been done in Finnish it would be easier for them to apprehend. All in all the end participants were quite satisfied with the event’s results and gave mainly very positive feedback. The entrepre-neurs told that they didn’t really know what to expect therefore they could not say whether their expectations were met or not. One said that she could not really say if she found the programme appealing.

A. General feedback to the event:

1. I liked the event very much 1,5

2. My expectations were achieved 3,0

3. The atmosphere was very comfortable 1,0

B. Content:

1. The content was understandable 1,5

2. The content was interesting 1,5

C. Programme

1. The programme was very appealing 2,5

D. Trainers/Moderators

1.The trainers / moderators were competent 2,0

E.New information

1.To my mind the event was very gainful 1,5

2. I have learned new topics very much 1,5

3. I'm interested to participate in pilot projects very much 1,0

AVERAGE 1,7


3. B2 Self-Check 3.1 Workshops in Kuopio Academy of Design 3.1.1. Participants

Pilot companies Company name: Daiga Daiga Duu Participant: Katariina Haapalainen Company name: O.D.D. Metal Wear Participant: Taina Böös Students, Kuopio Academy of Design, Savonia University of Applied Sciences Janne Joutsen Terhi Kuosmanen Aino Koski (Workshops 28.8 and 18.9.09) Hanna Miettinen (Workshops 28.8 and 18.9.09) Jaana Muhonen (Workshops 28.8 and 18.9.09) Student, Business, Savonia University of Applied Sciences Leena Vanhanen Trainer Sirpa Ryynänen, Kuopio Academy of Design

3.1.2 Agenda: Common workshop 28.8.2009

Workshop

9.00 am


Completion, collection and submission of completed evaluation forms Working method and schedule

~10.30 End of workshop

Self-check 1, individual workshop 8.9.2009, pilot company A

Workshop

8.00 am Welcoming First assessment workshop

9.30 End of workshop

Self-check 1, individual workshop 9.9.2009, pilot company B

Workshop

9.00 am Welcoming First assessment workshop

10.30 End of the workshop


Self-check 2 18.9.2009, two individual workshops

Workshop

Pilot Company

A

8.00


Identification of strengths and potentials for improvement

10.30 End of workshop

Workshop

Pilot Company

B

13.00

Welcoming

Identification of strengths and potentials for improvement 15.30 End of workshop

Action plan, two individual workshops

Workshop

9.00 -10:30 Pilot company

A

Welcoming Action plan and new modules Evaluation B2 End of the workshop

13-14:40 Pilot company

B

Welcoming Action plan and new modules

Evaluation B2 End of the workshop

2.1.3 Description of contents and results Process of Self-Assessment The first workshop was held together for the two pilot companies. The main goal was to make the method, assessment sheet and the self-assessment process clear and under-standable for everyone. Again, two project teams were built: the pilot company A, Daiga Dai-ga Duu worked with two KAD students and the pilot company B, O.D.D. Metal Wear worked with a business student. Students helped to fill in forms for the company A, while the compa-ny B filled in its own forms. During the process students and pilot companies had some ques-tions about unclear aspects and the problems were solved together with the trainer. Profiling: strengths and potentials for improvement After collecting filled assessments sheet KAD trainer made the radar charts for next work-shop. These charts were made first by computer and sent to the companies before next workshops. The reason for this method was to provide orientation for the following work-


Materials B2: Self-Check Manual /Guideline – material Self-Check assessment sheets Template for a plan of action Short description of existing qualification modules Workshop evaluation questionnaire (empty) 2.1.4 Evaluation results A. General feedback to the event:




B. Cource of workshop/event

1.the proceeding was diversified 1,5

2.comprehensible 1,5

C. Content:



D. Working/information materials

1. The working materials were understandable 2,5

E. Trainers/Moderators


2. the exchange between trainers and participants was very good

1,0

F.New information



3.In my field of activity I can benefit from the knowledge gained very much

1,5

AVERAGE 1,7

Table: Feedback B2 workshop; 2 KAD pilot companies General feedback The assistance of the students was regarded as very useful. It was considered easier to con-sider the questions carefully while someone else filled the forms. This also encouraged the companies to respond in greater detail. The materials used were again, regarded as useful,


though a certain difficulty in answering some of the question from solo entrepreneur’s point of view was also brought forward. The method used was considered to be very useful as it gave a good picture of the situation of the company and brought a lot of new ideas to mind. At the end of the workshops both pilot companies were fairly satisfied. Analyzing process with the visualized chart was gener-ally a good experience for both; companies and students who saw this as a good learning experience. 3.2 Workshops in Taito Group 3.2.1 Participants Pilot companies Company name: Tmi Ritva Peura Participant: Ritva Peura Company name: Keramiikkastudio Jenni Linnove Participant: Jenni Linnove

Students, Kuopio Academy of Design, Savonia University of Applied Sciences Terhi Kuosmanen

Trainers Sirkka-Liisa Haapasaari Piia Kinnunen 3.2.2 Agenda Look table 2 3.2.4 Description of contents and results Process of self assessment Self-check events were held separately at each entrepreneurs’ premises. At first the self-check event was planned as an interview in the end, it was found best that the entrepreneur filled the corresponding forms while the interviewer wrote down additional information. The interviewer was KAD assistant trainer. Like in former workshops, the entrepreneurs found many questions hard to understand. Some questions had to be modified to fit into solo entrepreneurs’ situation. Some parts were even left without an answer since they didn’t seem valid in the context of a very small busi-ness. For example, since the entrepreneurs do not have other staff besides themselves, it was considered that answering to questions about “Organisation and Leadership” was not necessary. Both of the entrepreneurs felt that they would not have done this kind of check without the assistant trainer interviewing them and encouraging them forward. Self-check was in general found to be a very heavy package to go through alone. Profiling: strengths and potentials for improvement These events were designed to be held to one piloting company at a time. Yet the entrepre-neurs voluntarily participated to each other’s events for being familiar to each other for a long time. This way they could also help each other in the future. Also this time participants, be-


Materials Self-Check Manual /Guideline – material Self-Check assessment sheets Template for a plan of action Short description of existing qualification modules Workshop evaluation questionnaire (empty) 3.2.4 Evaluation results

Table: Feedback B2 workshop; 2 Taito pilot companies General Feedback In general, the feedback of this event was somewhat more positive than in the case of the earlier events. It was suggested that a more compressed version of the B2 module should be developed in particular to the small companies. Bar graph was stated to be easier to com-prehend.

A. General feedback to the event:







C. Content:







2. the exchange between trainers and participants was very

good 1,0

F.New information



3.In my field of activity I can benefit from the knowledge

gained very much 1,5

AVERAGE 1,7


The feedback received was mostly positive. Again, one of the entrepreneurs found it hard to judge how one’s expectations were achieved for she had not known what to expect. The parts of proceeding, event’s schedule, content, material’s clarity and knowledge gained were also graded as 3 on a 1-5 scale. One entrepreneur said that the working/information materi-als were not so understandable, 2, because things were described as more complicated than they are in real life. What was particularly liked was the fact that someone (mostly assistant trainer in this case) got deep into the company’s matters and gave an insight from a different perspective. It was also said that the help that the assistant gave was crucial to get the ques-tions into a more understandable form. The entrepreneurs did not appreciate that in many cases it was hard to relate the questions to a micro company’s point of view. 4 S4- Marketing Concept Participants Workshop 19.9.2009

Pilot company Daiga Daiga Duu; Katariina Haapalainen Students, Kuopio Academy of Desing, Savonia University of Applied Sciences Janne Joutsen Terhi Kuosmanen Trainer Sirpa Ryynänen, Kuopio Academy of Design

Workshop 21.4.2020

Taito pilot companies Ceramic studio Jenni Linnove Tmi Ritva Peura Taito Group trainers Sirkka-Liisa Haapasaari Piia Kinnunen Student/ assistant trainer, Kuopio Academy of Desing, Savonia University of Ap-plied Sciences Terhi Kuosmanen Trainer Sirpa Ryynänen, Kuopio Academy of Design

Workshop 11.5.2020

Taito pilot company Tmi Ritva Peura Student/ assistant trainer, Kuopio Academy of Desing, Savonia University of Ap-plied Sciences Terhi Kuosmanen


4.2 Agenda

- 19. September 2009, Individual workshop o Introduction to S4 Marketing Concept o Working papers

- 21. April 2010, Common workshop

o Getting to know each others o Introduction to S4 Marketing Concept o Working papers

- 11.May 2010, Individual Workshop

o Advertising measures S4 Marketing Concept 22.9.2009

Workshop

8:00

Welcoming

Lecture

Working papers

Evaluation

10:30 End of workshop

S4 Marketing Concept 21.4.2010

Workshop

16:00


Lecture

Working papers

Evaluation


S4 Marketing Concept, extra workshop 11.5.2010

Workshop

14:00 Ritva Peura

marketing goals



4.3 Description of contents and results Workshop 22. September 2009 This was an individual workshop for the pilot company A, Daiga Daiga Duu. Two KAD stu-dents also participated. The same students worked in the project team with the pilot compa-ny also in earlier workshops B1 and B2. In the workshop, the students and the entrepreneur decided to continue with the same project team and to complete as homework working mate-rial: S4-C2 Working sheet Marketing Efficiency Check. S4 Marketing Concept material was available only in German and the trainer could only ex-plain main things of S4 materials in Finnish. Materials:

PP-presentations S4 A1, B1, C1, C2, Also brainstorming Evaluation results •tested S4 C2 material was useful •new ideas to make marketing together with local companies (brochure with a map) •Company started to use more Facebook for direct advertising •Ideas of new kind of PR campaigns Workshop 21. April 2010 Taito pilot companies Jenni Linnove and Ritva Peura participated in this workshop. The Taito trainers were present as listeners. Training assistant Terhi Kuosmanen took notes. The workshop started with working material S4-A2 Marketing goals accumulator. Participants named short and long term marketing goals and the assignment serves as an introduction to the topic »Defining Marketing Goals«, which could be implemented as a warm-up and ‘get-ting to know to each other’ exercise involving all seminar participants. This working material was a good start to the workshop! Next trainer (Sirpa Ryynänen) presented pp-presentations; S4-A1 Marketing goals, S4-B1 Marketing Mix-tools and S4-C1 Marketing Efficiency check. Working materials had already been passed to participants and the trainer presented them in more detailed. Presented working materials were S4-B2 Marketing Advertising Measures, S4-B3 Plan an Image Cam-paign and S4-C2 Working sheet Marketing Efficiency Check. Participants asked some ques-tions and promised to try to use the material presented. Extra training material “S4-D5 Green Marketing” gave more tools and concrete ideas to mar-keting. Participated pilot companies have quite ecological products, but there were also lot of things to improve; companies have to look for continuous improvements, providing open and reliable information to consumers. Green marketing involves a wide range of activities, which can be considered to be a part of green marketing. These are targeting, green pricing, green design and product development, green positioning, the greening of logistics, the marketing of waste, the greening of promotion, etc.


Extra workshop, 11. May 2010 Ritva Peura expressed a need for an additional workshop concentrating on marketing issues. The assistant trainer organized an extra meeting with the entrepreneur to tackle the ques-tions. Materials

- S4-A1 Marketing goals

- S4-B1 Marketing Mix-tools

- S4-C1 Marketing Efficiency check

- S-4-A2 Marketing Goals

- S4-B2 Marketing Advertising Measures

- S4-B3 Plan an Image Campaign

- S4-C2 Working sheet Marketing Efficiency Check

- extra material “S4 Green Marketing”

- Workshop evaluation questionnaire (empty)

4.4 Evaluation results A. General feedback to the event:







C. Content:









1,8

F.New information




2,4

AVERAGE 1,7

Table: Feedback S4 workshop; 2 Taito pilot companies, and 3 other participates General feedback

Micro size craft companies may not use enough the marketing tools and opportuni-ties for products and services marketing. Marketing Concept –module and workshop is gainful and effective for this kind of companies. Participants felt the forms used in the workshop were considered quite useful and clear. It was especially appreciated that they seemed to be suitable also for micro companies. The Marketing Goals - form filling and updating requires a significant amount of time. Therefore the entrepreneurs found it hard to do it alone. They wondered if the forms were in fact too detailed. With the B2 – form they felt they had a good opportunity to assess the areas quan-tified first and then look for the reasons for their occurrence. In this part, the forms were again seen as primarily intended to for large enterprises while cf. Finnish handicraft entre-preneurs are generally solo entrepreneurs. It was suggested that there should be another version of the forms which would serve specifically the exclusive needs of solo entrepre-neurs. The participants also stated that all of the materials should be available in Finnish and in plain language. It was stated that the forms should be drawn with support from a consultant equipped with a clear manual which would guide the activities of the consultant throughout the process logi-cally from A to Z. Overall; participants felt that the consultants/trainers are required to have strong business skills.


5 S10- Product Cycle and Usability 5.1 Participants Workshops 12.1.2010 and 9.2.2010

Pilot company O.D.D. Metal Wear; Taina Böös Student, Kuopio Academy of Design, Savonia University of Applied Sciences Mirja Savolainen Trainer Sirpa Ryynänen, Kuopio Academy of Design

Workshop 2. 2. 2010

Pilot company Daiga Daiga Duu; Katariina Haapalainen Student, Kuopio Academy of Design, Savonia University of Applied Sciences Niina Luoma Trainer Sirpa Ryynänen, Kuopio Academy of Design

Workshop 21.4.2010

Taito pilot companies Ceramics studio Jenni Linnove Tmi Ritva Peura Taito Group trainers Sirkka-Liisa Haapasaari Piia Kinnunen Student/ assistant trainer, Kuopio Academy of Design, Savonia University of Ap-plied Sciences Terhi Kuosmanen Trainer Sirpa Ryynänen, Kuopio Academy of Design

5.2 Agenda

S10 workshop 12.1.2010 14-16:00 Planning usability test S10 workshop 2.2.2010 14-16:00 Planning usability tests S10 workshop 9.2.2010 9-11:00 Results of usability tests Evaluation


S10 workshop 21.4.2010 18-20:00 Welcoming Lecture Working papers Evaluation End of the workshop

5.3 Description of contents and results S10 workshop 12.January.2010 The pilot company B, O.D.D. Metal Wear and one KAD student participated in this workshop.

Pilot company B had started a product development/design project and was also interested

to improve the usability of the company´s products. KAD student Mirja Savolainen had taken

the subject for her final project with thesis. First we discussed about company´s needs and

what kind of practical tests could be useful. Entrepreneur Taina Böös wanted to find out

abouth customer´s needs and values to optimize the company´s design. She was after con-

crete information about the materials and models of her products. Due to the pilot company’s

wishes, the trainer presented a couple of suitable methods; context mapping (S10-C2) and

observation (S10-C1). It was decided that customers of the company could be asked to act

as test users. To gain knowledge and support for the oncoming design work the student as-

sistant prepared a context mapping like study together with the company. The actual study

was executed to a sample of the company’s target group in order to discover what they ap-

preciate when buying new clothes. Usability of existing product was observed with user of

the product by interviewing the user and photographing the product in use.

Method for testing usability: S10-C2: Context mapping


The next presentation in the workshop was S10-B1 “Usability”. This material emphasizes

that usability can be tested in various stages of design process/product cycle and introduces

methods that can be used. Usability can be tested in various stages of design process, dif-

ferent phases in the products or product ideas and concepts. Usability testing should prefer-

ably be done so that the method chosen involves the users. Users’ role can be very diverse

and she/he may participate in the design / development process as a team member, or

she/he may simply be replying to a questionnaire. Usability can be tested without the user, if

for schedule or other reason users cannot participate. In this case, the designer / product

developer can make the usability issues related to the checklists, usability experts can be

used or the relevant design / development team can use method of the group discussions.

Taito trainer Haapasaari said that it would be a good thing if the user would be involved in

the assessment, as professionals´ vision is always different than the users’. All participants

thought up ideas to easily test usability, because small enterprises have limited time to do

any extra work. After the discussion on the topic the participants found two good and easy

techniques; in fairs or in your own boutique it is quite easy to receive feedback directly from

customers by discussion, interview or small survey/ questionnaire, also the participants found

the “Every day observation in real situations” – method easy and useful.

Materials

- S10-A1 Life Cycle Thinking (PPP)

- S10-B1 Usability (PPP)

- S10-C1Methods

- S10-C1: Model Table for Using the Observation Method

- S10-C2: Context mapping

- Workshop evaluation questionnaire (empty)

5.4 Evaluation results A. General feedback to the event:





B. Course of workshop/event



C. Content:








1,5

F.New information




2,0

AVERAGE 1,5

Table Feedback S10 workshop; 2 KAD pilot companies A. General feedback to the event:




B. Course of workshop/event



C. Content:









2,2

F.New information




2,2

AVERAGE 2,0

Table: Feedback S10 workshop; 2 Taito pilot companies, and 3 other participates General feedback

The aim of the workshop was also to develop the existing training materials. Taito trainers

Haapasaari and Kinnunen found the educating material quite good, but felt that usability

could be perhaps have a bigger role. In this kind of workshop, some kind of an introduction to

the topic would be useful. It could be implemented as a warm-up and ‘getting to know each

other’ type of exercise involving all seminar participants. Later, due to the feedback, trainer

Ryynänen added working material S10-B2 “Orientation to Usability” to the training materials.


6 Conclusion and effects for participants Qualification and consulting concept pilot project has been successfully implemented in Fin-land. Both Finnish trainers and the companies that participated learned a lot about the sub-ject and the concept. An easier and lighter version of the current material would be more usable for the kind of companies which participated in Finland. The fact that the participants were self-employed entrepreneurs working mostly alone is an important factor to pay attention to for in the case of such companies the time available to dedicate to this kind of projects is limited. For train-ers this presents a clear challenge and underlines the importance of motivating the partici-pants and reminding them of the importance of lifelong learning to improve the company’s sustainable development and give tools for a future-oriented way of thinking. Trainers and consultants are required to have strong business skills. They should also al-ready possess basic knowledge of sustainable development. The material was really wide to adopt and apply. In the other hand it was also good thing after getting familiar with it because it took so deep and close look into company’s things that almost everything were analyzed. Finnish trainers had very different knowledge and skills to the things that the project material was discussed. Also some of the trainer’s language skills were not sufficient to absorb edu-cational material in English. Part of the material was translated by professional translator; and other part by KAD trainer and her assistant. If all the material had been translated in Finnish, it would have motivated all trainers to use the material independently. One of such cases was the S4 Marketing Concept workshop held by KAD trainer. Here other trainers were involved as learners rather than trainers. One solution could be a constructing an even more thorough TtT workshop and trainers’ network, where new trainers could get support from the more experienced trainers. This would also be used to gather information about the best practices and implementations. Network web pages exclusively for the trainers‘use could be one possible tool for such purpose In Kuopio Academy of Design also a number of students were involved in the project. The subject was quite easy to integrate in the students’ professional studies, internship and the-sis. Students’ role was to work as assistants cooperating with the KAD pilot companies. The feedback from the experience was positive and the student felt they learned a lot about both sustainable development and entrepreneurship in the process. When trainers are familiar with the educating materials, many opportunities for it’s efficient use rise. Trainers can create special combinations of the material for different kinds of target groups. The existing material and concept is also easy to apply for different kind of target groups and companies. One example of such of creative combining of the material was the extra workshop on Lifecycle thinking. The workshop was held 6 th October 2010 in Kuopio Academy of Design, as a part of two students’ project with final thesis. Both students co-operated with the clothing companies and aimed to make their product life cycle more sustainable. Combined materials were B1-A1: Sustainable development, S4-D3: 4x3 P's: Sustainable Marketing check, S10-A1 Life Cycle Thinking (PPP) and S10-A3: Life Cycle Checklist. Both the enterprises and students were satisfied and the workshop helped to make the product development process of the companies better as well as more sustainable.


The companies that participated to the project generally found it to be useful and worth dedi-cating their time to. As the concept of the training is further developed it could also be pre-sented to e.g. government institutions as an additional education for professional working in the field. The content of the education entity could be integrated to entrepreneurship courses organized by the employment offices. Sustainability is an important theme in business and therefore this kind of information can be considered to be of great importance to entrepre-neurs who are just getting started with their business activities. Kuopio Academy of Design could also offer tailored courses to craft sector businesses where the material developed in the pilot project could be used. The material could also be applied to a create pre-structured courses or theme-seminars for the local businesses. From an educational point of view, sustainability can be considered to be one of the im-portant themes that follow through the entire curricula of studies. In Kuopio Academy of De-sign we aim to include sustainable development as a point of departure and a way of thinking which is increasingly relevant to all actions in the field of design. We are also in the process of preparing a number of projects with different funding sources with the aim to educate and increase the knowledge of the small business sector of the vast field.


7 Recommendations To sum up our experiences from the two pilot project the next some ideas for future refer-ences will be presented in the following chapter. Our experience indicates that e-learning courses could be a valuable addition to the existing materials. If given the opportunity of e-learning, more target group companies could be reached not forgetting the possibility to attract new target groups. TtT –workshops could be targeted especially for e-teachers. As with all education, the cultural differences and academ-ic traditions of each country should be taken into account. Each country could have it’s own e-academy and e-leaning courses. This would also help to solve the challenges of the lan-guage barrier, which was also discussed during the pilot projects. Sustainability is a globally relevant theme that should be widely discussed and developed. Emphasizing the role of e-learning would mean developing courses designed to be suitable for e-learning purposes. One of the factors behind this suggestion are the wishes stated by the companies who participated in the pilot project as they wished to have more self learning material available on the topics discussed in the learning materials. During the process, another theme linked to e-learning was discussed. There is an existing need a network for the trainers which would allow them to share their ideas and bring up the experiences on the subject of best practices. Such a network could be extremely useful to especially starting trainers since it would enable them to easily contact more experienced trainers for back up support and serve as a platform for an effortless exchange of ideas. As a practical implementation of the idea, a network website was suggested.

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