The joint project between the University of Lapland and Laurea University of Applied Sciences will study the challenges related to the digital transformation of work. The University of Lapland's subproject is coordinated by Dr Kiwoong Nam from the Faculty of Art and Design. Photo: Ville Rinne.
The Faculty of Art and Design at the University of Lapland has received a Business Finland funding of 198,100 euros as a part of a joint project which will study the employee-centric workplace, particularly from the perspectives of hybrid work, digital applications, leadership and employee experience. The research project at the University of Lapland will be led by Dr Kiwoong Nam, University Lecturer for the SDSI Master's degree programme, in the Service Design Research Group.
The Digital Solutions, Inclusive Leadership, and Employee Centricity in Hybrid Work (DILEC) project by the Faculty of Art and Design at the University of Lapland and Laurea University of Applied Sciences will study the challenges related to the digital transformation of work. The research aims to find solutions to these challenges and promote a more efficient and healthier working environment in Finnish companies.
"The digitalisation transformation can enable employees to work more flexibly, freely and efficiently. However, it also exposes challenges such as widening the generation gaps among employees and reducing personal interaction in the workplace, as well as concerns regarding work productivity," says Dr Kiwoong Nam, University Lecturer from the Faculty of Art and Design.
During the project, digital and in-person employee-centric solutions, such as the customised use of AI tools and employee training programmes, will be developed. Subsequently, these solutions will be refined by benchmarking against practices in Sweden and Japan. This process and the resulting solutions will strengthen the global competitiveness and adaptability of Finnish companies in the digital era.
The Digital Solutions, Inclusive Leadership, and Employee Centricity in Hybrid Work (DILEC) project partners are the Mälardalen University in Sweden, Kyushu University in Japan, Nokia Solutions and Networks, Elis Textile, Ramirent, Digia, Ravintolatalot, and Folkhälsan. The project will run from August 2025 to June 2028. The total funding for the subproject at the University of Lapland is 247,629 euros, of which Business Finland's contribution is 198,100 euros. The Business Finland contribution is awarded through Business Finland's Working Life Research call, which aims to produce new, widely disseminated solutions for the development of leadership, work, organizational practices and the quality of working life amidst digital transformation.
Further information:
Dr Kiwoong Nam, University Lecturer in SDSI Master's degree programme
University of Lapland, Faculty of Art and Design
kiwoong.nam (at) ulapland.fi