Acknowledgements

I would like to thank all the colleagues and friends of mine at the University of Oulu and elsewhere for supporting me to accomplish this PhD thesis. Especially I want to extend my gratitude to my fellow researchers at the research group of “Technology, information society and changing educational organizations”. The support and constructive criticism I received in seminars was of great importance on my otherwise lonely mission of completing this thesis.

Special thanks to my mentor and friend, Professor Jaakko Luukkonen, who supported me to make creative decisions during the writing process. I am also grateful for Professor Seppo Tella, who gave feedback and very valuable advises related to the used concepts and the structure of the thesis. I also want to thank my colleagues, Lecturer Gordon Roberts and Emeritus Professor John LeBaron, who both gave me very welcomed advice related to my English writing and the concepts used in this document. Their assistance provided me the chance to make the final revision of my thesis.

Acknowledging that my thesis is not the easiest to read, I also want to thank the preliminary evaluators of the thesis, Professor Päivi Atjonen and Emeritus Professor Jouko Kari, who have assessed the document carefully and with a great expertise.

Writing a doctoral thesis is not only a personal academic mission but also a family affair. I know that the research work has often required my time in the evenings and the time I was supposed to spend with my family. Special thanks from my heart to my wife Ritva, my son Juho and my daughter Pipsa who all have understood my provisional dedication to my research work and supported me greatly to achieve my goal.

Oulu, on the Fathers’ day 2003

Jyrki Pulkkinen