Turku School of Economics is developing the expertise and business competence of top-level corporate and organizational networks. This research focuses especially on the management of network-type global business operations as well as that of specialist and small enterprise networks.
Research targets particularly include
- strategic networks between businesses
- networks between units in international corporate entities
- internal multicultural specialist and actor networks inside business enterprises.
The goal is to create extensive and even multidisciplinary understanding of the challenges and requirements of network business. As a result of this research work, methodological tools are emerging to support the networks and operational models for the development of management practices at companies and the networking of firms.
Competence is being developed through the efforts of several units and research groups. Marketing, management and organization occupy the main role in development work, as well as the subjects in the information systems sciences and TSE Entre, a research and development unit for entrepreneurship and SME entrepreneurial activities.
Most significant projects
In cooperation with universities and enterprises
The cooperation going on with both domestic and international universities is comprehensive. Cooperation modes include, to mention some of the most important things, mutual research projects, visits by researchers, and the activity of elder researchers as opponents.
Corporate and association-level cooperation is engaged in with people from Southwest Finland as well as from other parts of Finland, in addition to organizations operating abroad. The cooperation amongst practical actors is inherently beneficial to both sides. The researchers gain access to interesting phenomena, and the organization conducting research is able to utilize, in the development of its own operations, both theoretical and practical knowledge connected with the researchers’ networks.
Contact person
Professor Aino Halinen-Kaila