Asiantuntijoiden kompetenssit ja käytännöt sekä käytäntöjen digitalisoituminen aistinvaraisen laadun arvioinnissa

The study focused on sensory evaluation professionals and the aim was to gain an understanding of the competencies and practices required in their work in Finnish food industry. In addition, sensory professionals’ assessments of how digitalization can change the evaluation practices were explored. The specific research questions were: 1) What kind of competencies did sensory evaluation professionals report to need in their work? 2) What kinds of knowledge-creating practices did the professionals report? and 3) How did the professionals perceive the influences of using digital technologies on certain aspects of sensory evaluation practices and sensory consumer testing? Altogether 114 sensory professionals from Finnish food companies and universities participated in the study. The first sub-study (I) examined the daily practices of sensory professionals and highlighted the perspective of competencies and contexts. The second sub-study (II) examined the routines and knowledge-creating practices at work, as well as the perceptions of the effects of digitalization on the work. The third sub-study (III) examined how did the sensory professionals perceive the possibilities of utilizing facial expression analysis in sensory evaluation work. According to the results, assessors learn extensively from each other in collaborative interactional and knowledge creation contexts. Learning and development takes place in various practical sensory evaluation assessments, test situations, quality control, and by learning from consumer feedback. Individual and collaborative knowledge-creating practices can be demonstrated in industrial sensory evaluation work. Sensory professionals described and identified practices relevant for creating knowledge. According to sensory professionals, product-specific competencies develop only through several years of long-term training, in which collaboration with other colleagues and product knowledge are key elements. According to the survey and interview results, professionals perceived that their work would change as a result of digitalization and the introduction of new methods. The research results showed that product-oriented assessment methods are accompanied by the tasks related to the management of various digital materials collected from consumer tests. New jobs require sensory professionals to have related digital competencies and understanding of related ethical responsibilities.

Grantor dc:publisher

Helsingin yliopisto

Year dc:date.issued

2021

Author dc:creator

• Savela-Huovinen, Ulriikka

• kuluttajaekonomia

Statement dc:rights

• Julkaisu on tekijänoikeussäännösten alainen. Teosta voi lukea ja tulostaa henkilökohtaista käyttöä varten. Käyttö kaupallisiin tarkoituksiin on kielletty.
• This publication is copyrighted. You may download, display and print it for Your own personal use. Commercial use is prohibited.
• Publikationen är skyddad av upphovsrätten. Den får läsas och skrivas ut för personligt bruk. Användning i kommersiellt syfte är förbjuden.

Language dc:language.iso

fin

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10138/329985

OAI record oai:identifier

https://helda.helsinki.fi/server/oai/request?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=dim&identifier=oai%3Ahelda.helsinki.fi%3A10138%2F329985