Completed research projects on Asia

Academic research

2013      

CEMAT Economic Prospects of China (in Finnish) 

2010-2015

The impact of regional economic integration on the business environments in East and Southeast Asia

In this research theme, we analyzed the impact of regional integration on the business environment e.g. in the ASEAN region and China. The research was conducted in collaboration with the University of Gothenburg. We investigated the experiences of Finnish and Swedish companies operating in Southeast Asia, on trade barriers along with the development of regional integration. A specific study analyzed the case of the Swedish-Chinese Volvo-Geely and its regional organization in Asia.

Further information: Research manager, Erja Kettunen-Matilainen

Publications:

Kettunen, E. (2012)
Challenges and Opportunities of Firms in Integrating ASEAN
Proceedings of the International Symposium 2011, Economic Crisis in Europe: Perspectives from Japan, Kansai University Japan-EU Research Center Report, Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 25-47.

Kettunen, E., Kosonen, R. & Penttilä, A. (2011)
Business Prospects in Integrating Markets? Experiences of Finnish Companies on Regional Economic Integration in Asean and the Baltic Sea Region
CEMAT Papers 2/2011

2009-2011                                                                                       

Business Security in Russia and China

The project, funded by the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation (Tekes), analyzed the security risks that Finnish companies encounter in Russia and China, and ways of managing such risks.  In the case of China, specific attention was paid to the problems of intellectual property violations. Companies can apply the study results to the assessment of security risks in their operations in advance, and cope with problematic situations.
Further information: Director, Prof. Riitta Kosonen

Publication: Kosonen, R (2011)
Liiketoiminnan turvallisuus Venäjällä ja Kiinassa
Aalto University publication series KAUPPA+TALOUS 11/2011
 

2011-2012

Finnish companies' labor relations in the emerging markets of China

The study examined China's changing business environment, particularly related to the labor force. The aim was to find out what kinds of challenges and opportunities the rapidly changing Chinese labor markets offer to Finnish companies.

Further information: Director, Prof. Riitta Kosonen

Publications:

Kosonen, R., Kettunen, E. & Penttilä, A. (2012)
Challenges of Finnish and Japanese Companies in the Chinese Business Environment: Relations with the Local Labour Force 
CEMAT Papers 1/2012.

Kosonen, R., Kettunen, E. & Penttilä, A. (2011) 
Reflections on China’s changing labour market: Employee relations of Finnish companies in China. 
The 11th Aleksanteri Conference “The Dragon and the Bear: Strategic Choices of China and Russia”, November 9-11, University of Helsinki, Finland.

2009-2011

Chinese companies in Finland

This project focused on the challenges faced by Chinese businesses in Finland. We analyzed, in particular, how the institutional environment of the Finnish business environment affects the Chinese companies’ investment motives, stakeholder relations, and human resource management, and how companies solve the institutional challenges they face in Finland.

Further information: Director, Prof. Riitta Kosonen and Research manager,
Erja Kettunen-Matilainen

Publication:

Kettunen, E. & Kosonen, R. (2011) 
Internationalization of Chinese companies in a Nordic country: Institutional challenges of Chinese FDI in Finland. 
5^th China Goes Global Conference, October 2-4, Harvard University, USA.

2009-2012

Regional challenges of Finnish firms in the emerging market of India

The study analyzed the opportunities and challenges in different regions of India from the perspective of Finnish companies.  On the basis of company interviews, we examined the development of India's major business regions, as well as the institutional environments and the strategies of Finnish companies operating in the various areas of India.

Further information: Prof. Riitta Kosonen and Research manager, 
Erja Kettunen-Matilainen 

Publication:

Kettunen, R., Penttilä, A. & Kosonen, R. (2012)
Location factors of Finnish firms in India’s three business regions
CEMAT Papers 2/2012

2008-2010

Finnish-Chinese Business Communication

The three-year (2008-2010) collaborative research project, funded by the Academy of Finland and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), has focused on the intercultural business challenges that Finnish companies face in China, and Chinese companies face in Finland respectively.

The project included both doctoral and post-doc studies, with our partners at the Institute of Finance and Trade Economics of the CASS, and the University of Jyväskylä. We analyzed the cultural and institutional differences between the Chinese and Finnish business environments; how they affect the companies' stakeholder relations, human resources management and brands; as well as how companies solve intercultural communication challenges.

Further information: Director, Prof. Riitta Kosonen
Publications:

Kommonen, K. (2011)
Narratives on Chinese colour culture in business contexts: The Yin Yang Wu Xing of Chinese values
Cross Cultural Management An International Journal. 18(3): 366-383. (Special issue: Challenges in cross-cultural research)

Lu, W. (2009)
The Effects of Legal Institution on MNC Subsidiaries' HRM Practices in China
In Scroggins, W., Gomez, C., Benson, P. G., Oliver, R.L., & Turner, M.J. (eds.) Celebrate the tapestry: Diversity in the modern global organization. Proceedings of the 10th International Human Resource Conference, Santa Fe, NM, USA, June 21-24, 2009.

2007-2008

Managing Business in Turbulent Markets

Turbulent – research project explored the internationalization and strategic networks of Finnish firms in Russia, Eastern Europe, Asia and Latin America. This two-year project (1.1.2007-31.12.2008) was funded by TEKES (Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation) and implemented by HSE Center for Markets in Transition (CEMAT).

The project’s objective was to generate holistic understanding of the management of business in rapidly developing and changing market areas. The project also addressed the need arising from the business community to provide comparative knowledge on different market areas in the global economy. 

Further information: Director, Prof. Riitta Kosonen
Publications: 
Eklund, T., Järvikuona, P., Mäkelä, T. and Karhunen, P. (2009)
Kazakstan suomalaisyritysten toimintaympäristönä
HSE Publications B-105, HSE Print (Summary in Finnish)
Kettunen, E., Lintunen, J., Lu, W. and Kosonen, R. (2008)
Suomalaisyritysten strategiat Kiinan muuttuvassa toimintaympäristössä
HSE Publications B-98, HSE Print (Summary in Finnish)
Korhonen, K., Penttilä, A., Shimizu, M., Kerola, E. and Kosonen, R. (2008)
Intia Suomalaisyritysten toimintaympäristönä
HSE Publications B-86, HSE Print (Summary in Finnish) 
Karhunen, P., Kosonen, R., Logrén, J. and Ovaska, K. (2008) 
Suomalaisyritysten strategiat Venäjän muuttuvassa liiketoimintaympäristössä 
HSE Publications B-84, HSE Print (Summary in Finnish) 
Mattila, M., Kerola, E. and Kosonen, R. (2008)
Unkari suomalaisyritysten toimintaympäristönä
HSE Publications B-85, HSE Print (Summary in Finnish)
Heliste, P., Mattila, M. and Stachowiak, K. (2007)
Puola suomalaisyrityksen toimintaympäristönä
HSE Publications B-83, HSE Print. (Summary in Finnish)
Heliste, P., Kosonen, R. and Mattila, M. (2007)
Suomalaisyritykset Baltiassa tänään ja huomenna: liiketoimintanormien ja -käytäntöjen kehityksestä
HSE Publications B-81, HSE Print. (Summary in Finnish)
Karhunen, P., Lesyk, Olena and Ovaska, K. (2007)
Ukraina suomalaisyritysten toimintaympäristönä
HSE Publications B-79, HSE Print. (Summary in Finnish)

2005-2009

Nordic Investment in East Asia

2007

Northeast Asian electricity market

2004-2005

Development of Finno-Korean politico-economic relations

-2005

Foreign direct investment in a changing political environment : Finnish investment decisions in South Korea

-2004

Regionalism and the geography of trade policies in EU-ASEAN trade