Strategic Business Development

Advancing the practice and theory of strategy, the research group draws from the strategy and organization theory. The research program studies strategies, processes and practices within organizations, but also in networks and value systems. The research program conducts rigorous empirical studies, practical and collaborative company projects, and managerially relevant teaching in Strategic Business Development master program, and Levon institute’s Executive MBA Programs.

The researchers of the SBD research group contribute to teaching in Strategic Business Development eductation:

• Strategic Business Development Master Programme (EPAS accredited master programme)
• D.Sc. in Economics (Management)
• Bachelors degree in Management
• Executive MBA Programme (Levón Institute, Vaasa)

To advance the theoretical developments in strategy, we draw from our firm-level collaborations, and collaborative research projects. During the past 20 years, we have conducted large number of research and company development projects. Typically, our work with companies involve strategy-related business development research. In times, we faciliate workshops, craft strategic analysis, analyze and develop customer and supplier relationships, and help companies to facilitate business development. In many occasion, our work is participative involving personnel at different organizational levels.

Doctoral students in Strategic Business Development are trained to develop scientific research but also to solve challenging business problems. All our professors, assistant professors and PhD students also work with companies as advisors, consultants and researchers. Our doctoral students follow the Doctoral Programme in Business Studies. More information about this programme (study guide, how to apply) can be found here.

SBD program is co-directed by Professors Marko Kohtamäki, Annika Tidström ja Jukka Vesalainen.

One of the top strategy research groups in Europe focusing on technology firms.

The mission of our research group:

To solve strategic problems
To develop strategic competencies
In contribution to theory and practice of strategy

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In the strategic business development programme, we study the strategies, processes and practices in organizations, but also in networks and value systems. In our work, we conduct rigorous empirical studies, practical and collaborative company projects, and managerially relevant teaching. Our research program focuses on four particular themes:

• Strategic change
• Platforms and Ecosystems
• Digital Servitization
• Sustainability

During the past few years, members of the research group have published tens of studies in distinguished international journals such as Strategic Management Journal, International Journal of Operations and Production Management, Industrial Marketing Management, Long Range Planning, Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, International Journal of Production Economics, Technovation, amongst others.

• Strategic change processes, organizational transformation
• Strategic practices, strategy tools, and strategy processes
• Role of participation, middle management in strategic change

The groups research on digital servitization concentrates on the following themes:

• Manufacturing servitization, service transition, service infusion
• Digital servitization and Internet-of-Things
• Service business models, value creation and appropriation

The groups research on Platforms and ecosystems concentrates on the following themes:

• Ecosystems and platforms
• Supplier networks, network management
• Customer and supplier relationships, CRM, Supplier relationship management

The groups research on sustainability concentrates on the following themes:

• Strategic change processes, organizational transformation
• Strategic practices, strategy tools, and strategy processes
• Role of participation, middle management in strategic change