Selected Thesis Topics for BScBA students Bachelors Thesis 2012-2013

Please use this list of the fields of International Business for thesis work and potential thesis topics when choosing and informing us the field of your thesis + the thesis topic in the form Indication of Interest Area for Thesis 2012-2013.

General Business Area Management

Subfield of General Area Global Management

Selected Thesis Topics in the Subfield Intercultural Management: Issues and Practices Gender and Management Language Skills and their relevance in international management Trust in supplier-byer relationships Issues related to Change Management Cross-Cultural Knowledge Management Developing a Business Plan for a small company Planning and Implementing Strategic Planning in Companies The use of future information for strategic management : a case study of a company xxx Analyzing the Competitive Environment of a specific company in a potential market Assessing Value Chain activities of globally renowned companies What Entry Method Could and Should be Used Entering a Foreign Market? Selection/development/improvement of international operation modes in use in company X Starting to internationalize/Development of internationalization strategy for company X Improvement of internationalization strategy for company X Challenges of internationalization process of company X Success stories of internationalization process of company X Business Models for the Commercialization of the Research Results Industry Analysis of Firms (by type etc.) Global Outsourcing In theory or the experience of Company XXX Importance of Vision and Mission Statement to Global Firms Knowledge Management and Transfer in Multinational Corporations Knowledge Transfer between Finnish Companies and their overseas subsidiaries Knowledge intensive project services in international development Internationalization and financial management Business finance & venture capital: How does venture capital work

Business Strategy

Knowledge Management

Financial Management

Management Education

Corporate Social Responsibility

Operations Management and Logistics

The Corporate Nature of Business Schools Developing the Creative Potential of Business Schools How do national / regional level vocational education and training systems differ between two contrasting countries / regions and what are the consequences for employment and unemployment? Internationalization process of higher education institutions (mobility, learning process, rd foreign degree students, R&D, 3 task) Higher education institution management of internationalization Strategic (information and planning systems, management and leadership) Operative (changes in environment, planning and budgeting, management and leadership, constructive evaluation) Measuring the Effectiveness of the Global Compact The Global Compact in Europe (or Asia, North America, etc.) Corporate Social Responsibility in the Food Supply Chain Business Models for Corporate Social Responsibility Human Rights and Corporate Social Responsibility How can return flow in the supply chain be organized efficiently and effectively? Global Outsourcing In Theory or the experience of a specific firm. Inter-country comparison of government support for the development of small and mediumsized manufacturing businesses What is real cost-benefit balance between manufacturing in Central Europe and China (for European companies)? Case study of practice in a chosen company (of some size) How will logistics in Russia (China, India or any other country) develop in the next 10 years?

General Business Area Marketing

Subfield of General Area General International Marketing

Selected Thesis Topics in the Subfield New product development process Foreign customers in Finland Multicultural marketing in Finland International marketing planning instruments in subsidiary management Regional differences in combating gray marketing (e.g., EU vs. Asia vs. US) Using competitor analysis tools in assessing the competitiveness of specific industries in specific markets What can we learn from developing country success stories: Transferability of rapid development to other countries Developing e-business model of company X How company X adopts entrepreneurial marketing How to develop e-marketing/ digital advertising in company X Customer relationship marketing in company X Developing selling process of company X Key account management in company X Developing service quality of company X Marketing communication plan for company X Developing a comprehensive Marketing plan International Sales Force Strategies Comparing online versus traditional marketing of hi-tech products Strategic thinking in marketing Marketing of SMEs Marketing to the unmarried consumer demographic The role of consultation services in internationalization process Developing Integrated Marketing Communication Strategies Marketing innovative new high tech products; sustainable innovation International Market and Entry Selection Process Developing channel strategies for new products Identifying and Analyzing brand development strategies Influence on luxury goods on public and private self-expression Role of luxury goods in creating consumer envy Comparing Finnish consumers reaction to Asian and European luxury brands Positioning of brands

Marketing Strategy

New Market Development and Innovation Branding

Environmental/ethical marketing

Consumer behavior and satisfaction

Key success factors in the branding of business-to-business companies/products Branding Organic food: comparison of strategies in different countries Creating brand awareness for Russian customers Social media and brand perception in marketing Developing Brand Equity in cross-cultural contexts Consumer behavior for renewable energy Specialized marketing strategies for green products in different countries Key challenges in the organic food supply chain (case, area or general) Sustainable production and consumption Marketing of emerging technologies and labeling (i.e. nanotechnologies, GMO) Alternative business concepts of local food supply (case or general) Issues related to International Consumer Behavior Developing trust and commitment with customer and supplier relationships Assessing consumption patterns of consumer products Consumers attitudes towards service/ product X User value of the virtual consumer community X Consumer research of a new webstore Customer loyalty and satisfaction as a basis for product/ service development Hierarchies of customers: tiers of account management in Company X. Survey of Customer Satisfaction of companies

General Business Area Human Resources

Subfield of General Area Human Resource Management

Selected Thesis Topics in the Subfield Gender and Culture Gender and Work Recruiting salespeople: Theoretical best practice vs. actual managerial practice The integration of highly skilled migrant workers in Finnish society Finns working abroad Foreigners at work in Finland International HRM processes regarding foreigners Integration of international students and faculty Diversity and inclusiveness in international business Leadership International impact of different styles what, when, why and the results Leadership challenges of managing foreign personnel How does leadership style make a difference in an organization X? How should change be effectively managed in an organization X? Do different cultures have different preferences for management and leadership styles? What reward and benefits systems do organizations in X sector use for which employees and why? What is the best approach to graduate selection: a critical review of organizational selection procedures? What forms of training and development are most effective for what purposes in an organization X? How does performance management contribute to an organization achieving its strategic goals? What really motivates staff to work effectively in an organization X? How do managers / entrepreneurs learn to be successful managers / entrepreneurs? What skills, capabilities, qualities or competences are leading international graduate employers seeking from recruits and why (survey of web-based recruitment materials)? Leadership in Chinese Management Leadership in Japanese Management International recruitment in theory and practice International staff development in theory and practice Relevance of internationalization for employers regarding natives and foreigners Compensation models in theory and practice

Human Resource Policies & Practices

General Business Area Business Culture and Communication

Subfield of General Area Business Culture

Selected Thesis Topics in the Subfield The Impact of Culture and Communication Patterns on Intercultural Management Corporate Culture, Executive Values, and Success of firms Conflict and culture in multinational enterprises East meets West in Chinese business Cross-Cultural Communication Trainings and their Effectiveness Cross-border negotiations Communication of change in strategy Monitoring the corporate image of an international company Communication of environmental issues Selected Thesis Topics in the Subfield Application of foreign market entry strategy to a specific firm What considerations must a firm contemplate when entering a foreign market? Challenges of SME in Russia and in Finland possibilities for cooperation The development of vision and mission statements for SMEs Market orientation in SMEs Management of internationalization process of SMEs in the field of X Internationalization process of service SMEs in the field of X Market area analysis for SMEs International opportunities and markets fostering growth, innovation and competitiveness of SMEs Entrepreneurship in Russia: Challenges for SME development Roadmap in developing the value chain of local food business Entrepreneurial attitudes and motivations: The impact of attitudes on small firm performance Small firm growth and innovation: The impact of innovation on small firm growth Small firm growth and resources: Resource mobilization in innovative small firms Small firm growth strategies: Exploration and exploitation strategies in small firm environment Innovation policy interventions: New and small firms as a target for innovation policy interventions. The impact of networks on small firm success Business incubation: State-of-art business incubators Entrepreneurial identities Company Law (establishment & liquidation), Market Access Rules, Competition

Business Communication

General Business Area Entrepreneurship and SMEs

Subfield of General Area Internationalization of SMEs

Entrepreneurship and growth of SMEs

General Business Area Global Business Environment

Subfield of General Area Globalization

Selected Thesis Topics in the Subfield EU integration and the new member states - economic and business impact (focus if possible on the Baltics) Growth and innovation policies (open innovation, EU) Macro environment analysis of Polish markets from the Finnish forest machine industrys perspective The utilization of locality as a competitive advantage in global food business (case or area) Globalization and the social responsibility movement The Effects of Government Decisions on Foreign Direct Investment What will happen with the Trade Blocks (EU, NAFTA, APEC, ASEAN etc.)? What is the future of BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China)? How Company XXX utilized Regional Economic Integration to its advantage? How do non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) affect international business? Marketing green products/services Commercialization of the real-time environmental monitoring systems Impact on climate change on water resources/local economies Sustainable development (environmental) in business Sustainable design: theory and practical applications, use cases from Finland Use of life cycle analysis in design and product development Sustainable production and its role in transition to green economy Consumer choices and sustainable consumption Green products and development of green markets: competitive advantages, risks and opportunities Transition to green economy in Finland, a case study from industry, product development, a local initiative. How to make sustainable business. Challenges of doing business in transition countries/emerging economies Working under climate change companies responses Water a Fundamental Right or a Product in the Market? Green and environmental issues regarding to managing logistics and operations Topics in International and EU Business Law (contracts, competition, corporate structures, international taxation) Market Access Rules

Political Environment

Environmental Policy

Legal Environment

Economic environment

The impact on financial crisis on Estonia/Latvia/Lithuania/the Baltics The interaction between fiscal transport policy, the development of transport infrastructure, and the economic development of a country Global financial crisis and the challenges/implications for sector/company XXX Selected Thesis Topics in the Subfield Future role of US in global economy Business issues in France Internationalization of Business Operations Russian environment for international business Foreign direct investment in Russia--challenges and prospects Challenges for foreign managers working in Russia The political context for business in Russia Challenges in Doing Business in Russia (corruption, weak rule of law, undeveloped institutional environment) Comparing paths to a market economy in China and Russia Gender in Russian business Japanese business practices Business issues in Asia Chinese business issues Chinese Management Practices Korean Management Practices Business issues in Vietnam Business issues in India Business issues in Latin America The Baltic economies two decades since perestroika: is the Soviet legacy still important? Sources of future competitiveness for the Baltic Tigers Finland's economic and business interests in the Baltics Politics and Baltic trade with Russia Environmental issues in the Baltic business environment

General Business Area Area Studies

Subfield of General Area North America Europe Russia

Asia

Latin America Baltic Region

Specific Topics in International Business

Supply chain strategy for SMEs (small and medium-sized businesses) SMEs are often in the middle of a supply chain sandwich, buying from large suppliers and sending product to large customers, and being dictated to by both. What are the main elements of supply chain strategy? How does a company normally develop its supply chain strategy? What are the key features of an SME? How should an SME go about developing a supply chain strategy? This could be desk-based research only or the findings could be applied to a local SME for a sanity check with consequent observations and discussion. How can an SME increase its purchasing power? SMEs are often obliged to buy from larger suppliers and frequently do not have enough purchasing power to get what they want when they want it. What elements influence power in the seller-purchaser relationship and how? How can SMEs increase their purchasing power with the supplier? (For example, relationship development, joint R&D, information exchange, but what else?) Sourcing from Central and Eastern Europe It is expected that the rising cost of fuel is really going to bite in the next 10 years and the transport and pipeline inventory costs associated with imports from Asia to Europe will be increasingly questioned. Some countries emerging as serious players are Serbia, Slovakia, and Bulgaria. What are the key elements which determine the suitability of a country for supplying raw materials and finished products to Western Europe? How does each of these countries rank? (or choose any others) How can Western European companies or the EU help to develop these sources? Spare parts inventory management Managing spare parts inventory is far more challenging than managing inventory of standard products but creating a good supply network of spare parts can lead to massive competitive advantage, as Volkswagen demonstrated in Canada in the 1960s and then again in China in the 1980s. Spare parts inventory is characterized by very high variety (tens of hundreds of thousands of parts) and low usage rates. Very many industries face this problem e.g. maintenance of cars, aircraft, trains, engines for ships, submarines, power stations, industrial equipment, photocopying machines etc. What different strategies exist? How are they changing? The point of view of the supplier or the user could be taken.