Project
Sustainable Growth with Systems Intelligence and Network Competence
Project sponsors
Project type
Focus area
Implementation time
1.4.2025 - 31.10.2027
Financing program
European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) 2021-2027
UN Sustainable development goals
Project description
The everyday challenges and problems in leadership and work communities that hinder the growth of SMEs in the industrial sector often stem from a lack of systemic understanding. The increasing complexity of working life and the rapid pace of change challenge companies and require both management and staff to adopt not only new skills but also a new attitude toward change.
Renewing a company as part of a larger network requires human actions, where people and collective effort are placed at the center. Leadership by numbers and digital solutions alone are not enough. Operating in a complex world, where network relationships and collaboration are key cornerstones of renewal and development, demands cooperation skills from all personnel. Competitiveness requires the ability of company staff to grasp changes in the industry and the capacity to shape the business to fit those changes. This calls for an understanding of the operating environment and the broader network.
The purpose of this project is to enhance the systems intelligence and network competence of employees and managers in companies within the renewing industrial sector in Central Finland. By increasing these competencies, the project will also improve the well-being of personnel (including management). Based on the experiences gained during the project, a generally applicable systems intelligence application model will be developed for companies. This model will enable companies to develop systems intelligence -driven practices that improve productivity, innovation capability, and workplace well-being. A key component of the model is the enhancement of network competence, in which the active agency of personnel plays a crucial role, both as part of networks and as enhancers of their own company's potential.
Systems intelligence can be simply defined as the ability to succeed in complex systems. A systems intelligent individual or organization is capable of acting rationally within complex system structures (Saarinen & Hämäläinen, 2004). In systems intelligence, people and interpersonal interaction are at the heart of everything, serving as strong forces for change. The dimensions of systems intelligence emphasize capabilities related to thinking, perceiving, attitude, and action.
The project aims to engage a total of 27 renewing industry companies from Central Finland into two different pilot groups. From these companies, a total of over 160 individuals will participate in the project, where their systems intelligence and network competence will be developed. In addition, through the dissemination of the systems intelligence application model, which will be developed based on the experiences gathered from the pilot groups, as well as through continuous communication during the project, a kick-off event, and especially a final event aimed at company personnel, the project's activities will target a broader audience.
The project focuses on the renewing industrial sector, one of the growth areas identified in the Smart Specialization Strategy for Central Finland. The renewing industrial sector refers to a field that creates new technology, innovations, and expertise. However, it is clear that for the industry to renew itself, the skills of company personnel and management must be continuously developed due to the constant changes in the field.
This type of applied systems intelligence competence development has never been undertaken in SMEs by anyone. The Systems Intelligence Research Group's scientific research has focused on large companies, where only systems intelligence assessments have been carried out, without direct competence development. Through this project, industrial companies in Central Finland have a fantastic opportunity to be part of pioneering work in systems intelligence and to be leaders in the utilization of more systems intelligent practices.
The project will be implemented by Jamk University of Applied Sciences and Häme University of Applied Sciences 1.4.2025-31.10.2027.