Strategic Business Development
About the research group
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 directed by Professor Marko Kohtamäki
Research programme
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
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
News and events
Master’s programme in strategic business development acknowledges Matti Mehtälä’s thesis as the best in 2023
New competence network enhances the adoption of AI in the Ostrobothnian region
Publications
- New publications 2023–2024
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2024
- Learning from success and failure: implications for entrepreneurs, SMEs, and policy
Lafuente, Esteban; Rabetino, Rodrigo; Leiva, Juan Carlos, 2024, Small business economics, HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1007/s11187-024-00889-0, D6 Edited professional book
- Teaching Social Sustainability Through Antenarrative Imaginaries of Energy Cultures
Narayan, Rumy; Laine-Kronberg, Annika, 2024, Šilenskytė Aušrinė; Cordova Miguel; Schmitz Marina A; Toh Soo Min, The Palgrave Handbook of Social Sustainability in Business Education, The Palgrave Handbook of Social Sustainability in Business Education, 127-145, HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1007/978-3-031-50168-5_7, A3 Book chapter (peer-reviewed)
- Embedding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in International Business Education
Šilenskytė, Aušrinė; Rašković, Matevž, 2024, Sinkovics, N., Sinkovics, R.R., Boussebaa, M., Fletcher, M., International Business and SDG 8: Exploring the Relationship between the IB and Society, The Academy of International Business, 299-318, HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1007/978-3-031-46802-5_15, A3 Book chapter (peer-reviewed)
- GHG emission reduction measures and alternative fuels in different shipping segments and time horizons – A Delphi study
Hellström, Magnus; Rabetino, Rodrigo; Schwartz, Henry; Tsvetkova, Anastasia; Syed, Hammad Ul Haq, 2024, Marine policy, 160, 105997, HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1016/j.marpol.2023.105997, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)
- Sustainable servitization in product manufacturing companies: The relationship between firm's sustainability emphasis and profitability and the moderating role of servitization
Kohtamäki, Marko; Bhandari, Krishna Raj; Rabetino, Rodrigo; Ranta, Mikko, 2024, Technovation, 129, 102907, HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1016/j.technovation.2023.102907, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)
- A transition towards clean propulsion in shipping: The role of PESTLE drivers and implications for policy
Tsvetkova, Anastasia; Hellström, Magnus; Schwartz, Henry; Rabetino, Rodrigo; Syed, Hammad, 2024, Marine policy, 161, 106002, HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1016/j.marpol.2023.106002, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)
- Ecosystem orchestration practices for industrial firms: A qualitative meta-analysis, framework development and research agenda
Shen, Lei; Shi, Qingyue; Parida, Vinit; Jovanovic, Marin, 2024, Journal of business research, 173, 114463, HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1016/j.jbusres.2023.114463, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)
- Artificial intelligence capabilities for circular business models: Research synthesis and future agenda
Madanaguli, Arun; Sjödin, David; Parida, Vinit; Mikalef, Patrick, 2024, Technological forecasting and social change, 200, 123189, HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1016/j.techfore.2023.123189, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)
2023
- Impacts and Indicators of Regional Innovation Ecosystems Supporting Sustainable Development
Takala, Minna; Tukiainen, Taina; Salminen, Vesa; Sarkkinen, Jyri, 2023, Salminen, Vesa, Human Factors, Business Management and Society, AHFE international, 97, 40-49, HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.54941/ahfe1003881, A4 Article in conference proceedings (peer-reviewed)
- Anticipatory Innovation Governance Model and Regional Innovation Ecosystems Supporting Sustainable Development
Takala, Minna; Tukiainen, Taina, 2023, Salminen, Vesa, Human Factors, Business Management and Society, AHFE international, 97, 1-10, HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.54941/ahfe1003877, A4 Article in conference proceedings (peer-reviewed)
- Organisational Metamorphosis Through Balancing On A Tightrope: Identifying Tensions Of And Building Balancing Routines For Identity Change
Huikkola, Tuomas; Kohtamäki, Marko; Makkonen, Hannu, 2023, Bigdeli, Ali; Kohtamäki, Marko; Rabetino, Rodrigo; Baines, Tim, Proceedings of the Spring Servitization Conference: The Role of Servitization in Grand Challenges, 137-144, A4 Article in conference proceedings (peer-reviewed)
- Breaking Down The Black Box Of Industry Platform Processes: A Systematic Literature
Abed Alghani, Khaled; Kohtamäki, Marko, 2023, Bigdeli, Ali; Kohtamäki, Marko; Rabetino, Rodrigo; Baines, Tim, Proceedings of the Spring Servitization Conference: The Role of Servitization in Grand Challenges, 161-175, A4 Article in conference proceedings (peer-reviewed)
- Finland’s recovery and resilience journey: Helsinki metropolitan area on the path to green, digital and resilient transformation
Tukiainen, Taina, 2023, Martinez, Ricardo; Reviglio, Pietro, Urban recovery watch: Empowering cities in the EU green and digital transition, 69-78, A3 Book chapter (peer-reviewed)
- Implementing and scaling artificial intelligence: A review, framework, and research agenda
Haefner, Naomi; Parida, Vinit; Gassmann, Oliver; Wincent, Joakim, 2023, Technological forecasting and social change, 197, 122878, HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1016/j.techfore.2023.122878, A2 Review article in a scientific journal (peer-reviewed)
- Case-based learning in collaboration across universities to enhance students' understanding of sustainability
Eriksson, Victor; Holma, Anne-Maria; Lind, Frida, 2023, Lyng, Reidar; Bennedsen, Jens; Bettaieb, Lamjed; Bodsberg, Nils Rune; Edström, Kristina; Guðjónsdóttir, María Sigríður; Roslöf, Janne; Solbjørg, Ole K.; Øien, Geir, The 19th CDIO International Conference: Proceedings - Full Papers, Proceedings of the International CDIO Conference, 567-580, 168, A4 Article in conference proceedings (peer-reviewed)
- Artificial Intelligence Enabling Product-Service Innovation Models: Past Achievements and Future Directions
Naeem, Rimsha; Kohtamäki, Marko; Parida, Vinit, 2023, Bigdeli, Ali; Kohtamäki, Marko; Rabetino, Rodrigo; Baines, Tim, Proceedings of the Spring Servitization Conference, Abstract
- Open Innovation Cultures
Macher, Georg; Narayan, Rumy; Dragicevic, Nikolina; Leino, Tiina; Veledar, Omar, 2023, Yilmaz, Murat; Clarke, Paul; Riel, Andreas; Messnarz, Richard, Systems, Software and Services Process Improvement: 30th European Conference, EuroSPI 2023, Grenoble, France, August 30 – September 1, 2023, Proceedings, Part II, Communications in computer and information science, 1891, 275–286, HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1007/978-3-031-42310-9_20, A3 Book chapter (peer-reviewed)
- Recovering the divide : A review of the big data analytics—strategy relationship
Talaoui, Yassine; Kohtamäki, Marko; Ranta, Mikko; Paroutis, Sotirios, 2023, Long range planning, 56, 2, 102290, HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1016/j.lrp.2022.102290, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)
- Overcoming barriers to transformation in manufacturing firms. A path-dependence perspective of digital servitization
Brekke, Thomas; Lenka, Sambit; Kohtamäki, Marko; Parida, Vinit; Solem, Birgit Andrine Apenes, 2023, Review of managerial science, 18, Published: 15 May 2023, 385–412, HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1007/s11846-023-00641-0, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)
- Business model innovation in the Finnish power electricity sector
Rabetino, Rodrigo; Kohtamäki, Marko; Rahman, Nayeem; Huikkola, Tuomas, 2023, 2023 International Conference on Future Energy Solutions (FES), HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1109/fes57669.2023.10182564, A4 Article in conference proceedings (peer-reviewed)
- Exploring the effects of SMEs’ platform-based digital connectivity on firm performance : the moderating role of environmental turbulence
Rajala, Anni; Hautala-Kankaanpää, Tuire, 2023, Journal of business and industrial marketing, 38, 13, 15-30, HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1108/JBIM-01-2022-0024, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)
- The Role of Geospatial Data in Data Economy
Tuomi, Ville; Selvan, Kannan; Warraich, Tayyab; Ranta, Mikko; Huculak, Elina; Haq, Hafiz; Kohtamäki, Marko; Välisuo, Petri; Nousiainen, Essi; Haveri, Johanna; Kuusniemi, Heidi; Laakso, Mari, 2023, MMM:n julkaisuja, 18, D4 Published development or research report or study
- Complementary and contingent value of SMEs' data capability and supply chain capability in the competitive environment
Hautala-Kankaanpää, Tuire, 2023, Industrial management and data systems, 123, 8, 2128-2149, HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1108/IMDS-01-2023-0013, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)
- Imagining market shaping through innovative organizing for transitions to sustainable energy systems
Narayan, Rumy, 2023, Acta wasaensia, 504, G5 Doctoral dissertation (articles)
- From transactions to partnerships: Essays in honor of Jukka Vesalainen
Rajala, Anni; Kohtamäki, Marko; Tidström, Annika, 2023, Acta wasaensia, 502, 113, D6 Edited professional book
- Strategiakirja - 25 työkalua
Vuorinen, Tero; Huikkola, Tuomas, 2023, D5 Textbook, professional manual or guide, dictionary
- What we talk about when we talk about entrepreneurship and stress: Essays on entrepreneurial stress
Pak, Yekaterina, 2023, Acta wasaensia, 521, 1-162, G5 Doctoral dissertation (articles)
- Developing blockchain-based business globally
Šilenskytė, Aušrinė, 2023, Henry Stewart Talks, The Business & Management Collection, I1 Audiovisual publication
- Työkalu verkostotason digitalisaation arviointiin - kuvaus tavoitteista ja sisällöstä
Joensuu-Salo, Sanna; Tuurinkoski, Emmi; Rajala, Anni; Hautala-Kankaanpää, Tuire, 2023, Joensuu-Salo, Sanna; Viljamaa, Anmari; Karvonen, Minna, Yhteistyöstä etumatkaa: Liiketalouden kokoomateos 2023, Seinäjoen ammattikorkeakoulun julkaisusarja B: Raportteja ja selvityksiä, 185, 82-91, D2 Article in a professional book
- Essays on digitalization among small and medium-sized firms: Complementary and contingent approaches
Hautala-Kankaanpää, Tuire, 2023, Acta wasaensia, 513, G5 Doctoral dissertation (articles)
- Socio-Technical Imaginaries of Cultural Transformation Toward Sustainable Development
Dziubaniuk, Olga; Ivanova-Gongne, Maria; Narayan, Rumy, 2023, Arte, Pratik; Wang, Yi; Dowie, Cheryl; Elo, Maria; Laasonen, Salla, Sustainable International Business: Smart Strategies for Business and Society, Contributions to Management Science, 433–458, HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1007/978-3-031-43785-4_18, A3 Book chapter (peer-reviewed)
- Digital service innovation (DSI): a multidisciplinary (re)view of its origins and progress using bibliometric and text mining methods
Rabetino, Rodrigo; Kohtamäki, Marko; Huikkola, Tuomas, 2023, Journal of service management, Article publication date: 19 September 2023, HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1108/JOSM-12-2022-0375, A2 Review article in a scientific journal (peer-reviewed)
- A definition, review, and extension of global ecosystems theory: Trends, architecture and orchestration of global VCs and mechanisms behind unicorns
Burström, Thommie; Lahti, Tom; Parida, Vinit; Wartiovaara, Markus; Wincent, Joakim, 2023, Journal of business research, 157, 113605, HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.113605, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)
- Managing start-up – incumbent digital solution co-creation : a four-phase process for intermediation in innovative contexts
Garcia Martin, Patricia Carolina; Sjödin, David; Nair, Sujith; Parida, Vinit, 2023, Industry and innovation, Published online: 29 Mar 2023, HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1080/13662716.2023.2189091, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)
- Artificial intelligence enabling circular business model innovation in digital servitization: Conceptualizing dynamic capabilities, AI capacities, business models and effects
Sjödin, David; Parida, Vinit; Kohtamäki, Marko, 2023, Technological forecasting and social change, 197, 122903, HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1016/j.techfore.2023.122903, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)
- Literature review on industrial digital platforms : A business model perspective and suggestions for future research
Madanaguli, Arun; Parida, Vinit; Sjödin, David; Oghazi, Pejvak, 2023, Technological forecasting and social change, 194, 122606, HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1016/j.techfore.2023.122606, A2 Review article in a scientific journal (peer-reviewed)
- Consolidating digital servitization research : A systematic review, integrative framework, and future research directions
Shen, Lei; Sun, Wanqin; Parida, Vinit, 2023, Technological forecasting and social change, 191, 122478, HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1016/j.techfore.2023.122478, A2 Review article in a scientific journal (peer-reviewed)
- Digital disruption of optimal co-innovation configurations
Lafuente, Esteban; Vaillant, Yancy; Rabetino, Rodrigo, 2023, Technovation, 125, 102772, HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1016/j.technovation.2023.102772, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)
- Artificial intelligence (AI) competencies for organizational performance : A B2B marketing capabilities perspective
Mikalef, Patrick; Islam, Najmul; Parida, Vinit; Singh, Harkamaljit; Altwaijry, Najwa, 2023, Journal of business research, 164, 113998, HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1016/j.jbusres.2023.113998, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)
- Virtual integration in SMEs : The digitalization circuitry of dynamic strategic planning for SMEs
Ojha, Divesh; Patel, Pankaj C.; Parida, Vinit, 2023, International journal of information management, 73, 12, 102657, HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2023.102657, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)
- Conceptualizing business model piloting : An experiential learning process for autonomous solutions
Thomson, Linus; Sjödin, David; Parida, Vinit; Jovanovic, Marin, 2023, Technovation, 126, 8, 102815, HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1016/j.technovation.2023.102815, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)
- Learning in strategic alliances : Reviewing the literature streams and crafting the agenda for future research
Kohtamäki, Marko; Rabetino, Rodrigo; Huikkola, Tuomas, 2023, Industrial marketing management, 110, 68-84, HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1016/j.indmarman.2023.02.011, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)
- Crisis dead – long live the crisis! Apple inc.: managing the post-pandemic and cargo thefts crises
Ahsan, Jaweria; Šilenskytė, Aušrinė , 2023, Gupta, Ashish; Gupta, Suraksha; Kumar, Jitender , Managing and Strategising Global Business in Crisis : Resolution, Resilience and Reformation, 209-225, Chapter 15, HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.4324/9781003295068-18, A3 Book chapter (peer-reviewed)
- Clarifying the scaling concept: A review, definition, and measure of scaling performance and an elaborate agenda for future research
Palmié, Maximilian; Parida, Vinit; Mader, Anna; Wincent, Joakim, 2023, Journal of business research, 158, 113630, HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.113630, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)
- Tästäkin selvitään yhdessä – retoriikka merkityksellistämisen välineenä pandemian johtamisessa
Einola, Suvi; Kohtamäki, Marko; Kinnunen, Marina; Berg, Päivi, 2023, Hallinnon tutkimus, 42, 2, 131-148, HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.37450/ht.122449, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)
- Business models for digital sustainability : Framework, microfoundations of value capture, and empirical evidence from 130 smart city services
Bencsik, Barbara; Palmie, Maximilian; Parida, Vinit; Wincent, Joakim; Gassmann, Oliver, 2023, Journal of business research, 160, 113757, HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1016/j.jbusres.2023.113757, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)
- Digital platforms as tools for the digitalization of business relationships in small and medium-sized enterprises
Hautala-Kankaanpää, Tuire; Rajala, Anni, 2023, Rajala, Anni; Kohtamäki, Marko; Tidström, Annika, From transactions to partnerships: Essays in honor of Jukka Vesalainen, Acta wasaensia, 502, 33-43, Luku 4, D2 Article in a professional book
- All eyes on me: Predicting consumer intentions on social commerce platforms using eye-tracking data and ensemble learning
Mikalef, Patrick; Sharma, Kshitij; Chatterjee, Sheshadri; Chaudhuri, Ranjan; Parida, Vinit; Gupta, Shivam, 2023, Decision support systems, 175, 12, 114039, HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1016/j.dss.2023.114039, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)
- Managing networks through relationships: the role of the partnership monitor
Rajala, Anni; Kohtamäki, Marko; Tidström, Annika, 2023, Rajala, Anni; Kohtamäki, Marko; Tidström, Annika, From Transactions to partnerships: Essays in honor of Jukka Vesalainen, Acta wasaensia, 502, 1-9, D2 Article in a professional book
- Examining the Effects of Supply Chain Digitalization on Firm Performance: A Meta-analysis
Rajala, Anni; Hautala-Kankaanpää, Tuire, 2023, Academy of Management annual meeting proceedings, 2023, 1, 16854, HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.5465/AMPROC.2023.16854abstract, A4 Article in conference proceedings (peer-reviewed)
- Technological Innovation Adoption Among Swedish Healthcare Professionals: A Contingency Technology Adoption Framework
Madanaguli, Arun; Parida, Vinit; Oghazi, Pejvak; Tran, Phan Kiet, 2023, IEEE transactions on engineering management, Date of Publication: 09 November 2023, HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1109/TEM.2023.3327597, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)
- Insights into Socio-technical Interactions and Implications - A Discussion
Narayan, Rumy; Macher, Georg, 2023, Yilmaz, Murat; Clarke, Paul; Riel, Andreas; Messnarz, Richard, Systems, Software and Services Process Improvement: 30th European Conference, EuroSPI 2023, Grenoble, France, August 30 – September 1, 2023, Proceedings, Part II, Communications in computer and information science, 1891, 248-259, HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1007/978-3-031-42310-9_18, A4 Article in conference proceedings (peer-reviewed)
- The 2023 World Manufacturing Report: New business models for the manufacturing of the future
Romero, David; Taisch, Marco; Acerbi, Federica; Khan, Muztoba Ahmad; Andersen, Ann-Louise; Arioli, Veronica; Bressanelli, Gianmarco; Chari, Arpita; Frank, Alejandro German; Ebel, Martin; Gonzales, Clarissa; Hankammer, Stephan; Lenz, Jürgen; May, Gókan; Medini, Khaled; Mendez, Glauco; Müller, Juliane; Naeem, Rimsha; Rakić, Slavko; SalaRoberto; Stoll, Oliver; Wang, Hao; Wuest, Thorsten, 2023, 102, D4 Published development or research report or study
- The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Product-Service Innovation (PSI) – A Computational Literature Review
Naeem, Rimsha; Kohtamäki, Marko, 2023, Book of Abstracts. 10th International Conference on Business Servitization (ICBS 2023), 23-26, HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.3926/serv2023, Abstract
- Managing the emergence of AI-enabled Product-Service Innovations in Autonomous solutions: Socio-technical and managerial practices
Kohtamäki, Marko; Brekke, Thomas; Naeem, Rimsha; Sjödin, David; Parida, Vinit, 2023, Book of Abstracts. 10th International Conference on Business Servitization (ICBS 2023), 228-232, Abstract