Elina Hiltunen has succesfully defended her PhD thesis named: Weak signals in Organizational Futures Learning at Aalto University, school of Economics (faculty of organization and management), 22nd June,2010. The thesis consists of 5 articles. Three of the articles focus on the definition of weak signals and coneecting them to change process. The articles also differentiate the concepts wild cards and weak signals that are sometimes used as synonyms for weak signals. Hiltunen presents a new concept “the future sign” that tries to clarify the dilemma of weak signal definition. The future sign is based on the semiotic thinking of Charles Peirce.

Hiltunen also examines the concept “organizational futures learning”, first time presented in this thesis. This concept includes weak signals (and other futures’ information) and its use in the organizational learning process. Hiltunen   has studied global futurist commumnity and their ways and sources to find weak signals. She also introduces a new tool, the Futures Windows, in the thesis. This tool is one way in organizational futures learning process to efficiently disseminate weak signals in organizations.

The PhD thesis of Hiltunen can be bought from the Aalto University, school of economics book store.