Projects and Co-operation

The Faculty supports the development of its own surrounding area by organising extension studies, by co-operating with companies, by Open University education and by co-operation with the secondary schools. The personnel are also actively involved in different expert consultation roles in the field of economic science.

The faculty members in Oulu Business School believe in active collaboration with a multitude of partners. This goal is best achieved through different projects and versatile co-operation. The ongoing research and co-operation projects are introduced in the following.

ModSeC - Modularity Enabling the Development of New Service Offerings

ModSeC is a two-year project on modularity at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, University of Oulu, Finland. The project, funded by TEKES Serve Innovative Services, explores how modular design principles can facilitate the development of innovative solutions in business-to-business services. In ModSeC project the focus of research is on
• Understanding and clarifying the customer´s needs and role in b2b logistics and professional services co-creation
• Clarifying the service provider´s role in outsourcing relationships
• Clarifying modular service design and architectures
• Examining the nature and efficiency of the market structures and organizational solutions for modular service implementation
• Describing applicable future business models in modular service business.

The ModSeC project is conducted by researchers from the University of Oulu and the Helsinki School of Economics, with collaboration from a number of international researchers at Copenhagen Business School, Denmark, Georgia State University, U.S.A., and the University of Hull, U.K., as well as Lancaster University Management School. The project involves following Finnish industrial collaborators in sectors including logistics, engineering contracting and telecommunications: Pöyry Civil Ltd, Herman Andersson Ltd, Nokia Plc and Itella Corporation. Contact person: Project Leader Saara Pekkarinen (saara.pekkarinen(at)oulu.fi)

Partners: Helsinki School of Economics
Tekes Serve Programme
Pöyry Civil Ltd
Herman Andersson Ltd
Nokia Plc
Itella Corporation
Copenhagen Business School
Georgia State University
The Hull University, Logistics Institute
Lancaster University Management School
University of West Georgia

DECCMAC - Developing Customer Centric Marketing Communications

 DECCMAC is a two-year research project (May 2008 – May 2010) involving University of Jyväskylä, University of Oulu, Helsinki University of Technology and six Finnish industrial firms. The central objective of the project is to develop marketing and sales know-how of Finnish companies, especially by developing marketing communications processes. The research is divided into two main themes, of which the first is gaining information about the roles, responsibilities, functioning and effectiveness of companies´ marketing and sales functions in relation to the other operations of the firm. The second section of the project is based on this information which is put to use in developing current marketing resources and creating novel ways to improve co-operation between marketing, sales and R&D in order to develop customer communications. The research also investigates the possibilities of utilizing existing customer relationships in new customer acquisition and in service quality development, as well as how new technological communication tools can be utilized in customer relationships and new customer acquisition. More information: jari.salo(at)oulu.fi, www.deccmac.fi

UbiValue - Value creation in UBI services

The objectives of this TEKES funded research are twofold; firstly to identify and model the development processes and emergence of the UBI service business networks and secondly, to model consumer behavior and lead user driven innovation in UBI service environments. To reach the first objective, the study focuses on potential and developing UBI services network business models, through a qualitative follow-up study and real life data on processes, the actors, and the business models. To reach the second objective, the study gains knowledge about consumer behavior and user driven innovation in UBI service environments and further develops the theory of lead users by using both quantitative and qualitative methods. UbiValue is part of multidisciplinary UbiLife research project. More information from prof. Timo Koivumäki and prof. Jaana Tähtinen.

ValueNet Oulu

The ValueNet Project is a four-year research project (2006-2009) carried out by a consortium of researchers from the Helsinki School of Economics, Turku School of Economics, University of Oulu, and Åbo Akademi University. The ValueNet consortium focuses on the dynamics and management of value-creating networks. Currently, the consortium incorporates a total of more than 40 individuals, consisting of senior faculty members and post doc researchers, as well as doctoral students that share mutual research interests. The consortium forms a strong research community by both Finnish and international standards. ValueNet Oulu focuses to conceptualisation of the new business networks and its prime research focus is in the ICT-branch and information technology. Project duration: 1.1.2006 - 31.12.2009. For additional information contact to Jaana Tähtinen.

MOTTI - Interdisciplinary researcher network

In order to better prepare the students for the complex challenges presented by today's world, higher education has to pay increasing attention to developing students' skills in interdisciplinary work and research already at the undergraduate level. MOTTI project advances and develops interdisciplinary and collaborative practices of teaching and research training across the different disciplines represented in the project. The participants, which include members from both students and faculty, work in multidisciplinary research teams. For additional information contact to Jaana Tähtinen.

FUMMAS - Future Mobile Marketing Solutions

Future Mobile Marketing Solutions (FUMMAS) is a follow-on to the PEAR (Personalized Mobile Advertising Services) project. The FUMMAS project aims at increasing our knowledge on how mobile channels can be effectively used as part of a firm's marketing mix. The main objective of the project is to examine the suitability of various mobile technologies into marketing communications and to develop new mobile marketing solutions for companies that will improve their business processes especially in customer and supplier interfaces.