Potential efficiency of digital signatures to Finnish SMEs.
Nguyen, Tham (2014)
HAAGA-HELIA ammattikorkeakoulu
2014
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2014121119485
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2014121119485
Tiivistelmä
This study was conducted based on the needs of the commissioning company, Tieto Oyj. The company’s interest was to get a better view of the benefits of digital signatures to Finnish SME’s provided in a scenario such as its done in Estonia. The research objective was to estimate if digital signatures would bring efficiency to the operations of Finnish SMEs.
In order to provide the information to answer for the question of Tieto Oyj, the literature review and qualitative research method were used. The lietrature review purposedly clarified the digital signature’s definition, the current working model, its benefits, drawbacks and legislations in Estonia and Finland.
The qualitative research method was applied to gain practical knowledge about features of the current working digital signature model in Estonia and analyze the empirical benefits to Estonian companies before learning Finnish SME’s point of view toward digital products. The researcher focused on interviewing five (5) selected Estonian companies and six (6) Finnish construction and real estate SMEs for practical acknowledgement. The data collected by interviews, skype calls, emails and face to face meetings was applied to the situation of the commissioning company. Lastly, the researcher did cost analysis in order to value if the digital signatures would save more budget to Finnish SMEs compared to issue handwritten signatures.
The outcome of the research is included in this report in words and tables as well as in recording tapes. Although the research results proved the positive effects of digital signatures to individuals, they were taken from several (11 in total) interviews in Estonia and Finland. The reality should be still fluctuative and flexible. The representatives of the commissioning company are still recommended to make re-evaluations about significance as well as efficiency of digital signatures to Finnish SMEs.
In order to provide the information to answer for the question of Tieto Oyj, the literature review and qualitative research method were used. The lietrature review purposedly clarified the digital signature’s definition, the current working model, its benefits, drawbacks and legislations in Estonia and Finland.
The qualitative research method was applied to gain practical knowledge about features of the current working digital signature model in Estonia and analyze the empirical benefits to Estonian companies before learning Finnish SME’s point of view toward digital products. The researcher focused on interviewing five (5) selected Estonian companies and six (6) Finnish construction and real estate SMEs for practical acknowledgement. The data collected by interviews, skype calls, emails and face to face meetings was applied to the situation of the commissioning company. Lastly, the researcher did cost analysis in order to value if the digital signatures would save more budget to Finnish SMEs compared to issue handwritten signatures.
The outcome of the research is included in this report in words and tables as well as in recording tapes. Although the research results proved the positive effects of digital signatures to individuals, they were taken from several (11 in total) interviews in Estonia and Finland. The reality should be still fluctuative and flexible. The representatives of the commissioning company are still recommended to make re-evaluations about significance as well as efficiency of digital signatures to Finnish SMEs.