• INTRODUCING EDEN
• A JOINT EIASM - KATAJA COLLABORATION
• PROGRAMME COORDINATOR & FACULTY
• PROGRAMME OBJECTIVE
• COURSE REQUIREMENTS
• APPLICATION PROCESS
• REGISTRATION FEES
• ADDRESS(ES)
• PRACTICALITIES

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The Finnish Doctoral Programme in Business Studies

Professor Rebecca Piekkari, Aalto University School of Business, FIN-00100 Helsinki, Finland (Programme Coordinator & Faculty)
E-mail: rebecca.piekkari@aalto.fi

Rebecca Piekkari is Professor of International Business at the Aalto University, School of Business (formerly Helsinki School of Economics) in Finland. She has published on qualitative research methods, particularly on the use of case studies in international business. Her most recent book entitled Rethinking the Case Study in International Business and Management Research was co-edited with Catherine Welch and published by Edward Elgar in May 2011. During the past few years, she has also developed a special interest in multilingual organisations and the methodological challenges associated with fieldwork that crosses language boundaries. Rebecca has worked as Visiting Professor at several well-known business schools and universities and taught the case study particularly to PhD students.

Associate Professor Catherine Welch, The University of Sydney Business School, Sydney, NSW 2006 Australia
E-mail: catherine.welch@sydney.edu.au

Catherine Welch is Associate Professor of International Business at the University of Sydney. She has a longstanding interest in qualitative research methods, and at the moment her research lies in applying process approaches to the study of firm internationalization. Together with Rebecca Piekkari, she has edited two volumes on qualitative research published by Edward Elgar: Handbook of Qualitative Research Methods for International Business (2004) and Rethinking the Case Study in International Business and Management Research (2011). She has published on numerous aspects of doing qualitative research, including interviewing, writing up and the case study. She, Rebecca Piekkari and their co-authors have published their work on the case study in Organizational Research Methods, Journal of International Business Studies, International Journal of Management Reviews and Industrial Marketing Management. She has taught PhD-level courses on the case study in six countries.

Course Coordinator

Eevi BENGS
Email: eevi.bengs@aalto.fi
Phone. +358 400484943

The purpose of this course is to introduce doctoral students from Europe and around the world to the diversity of ways of conducting case study research and to improve their own research practice. It aims to provide an overview of recent trends and debates on the case study in management and organization research. This course will focus on issues that are often left out of methodology courses and training, notably: What are the different views on the theoretical contribution that a case study can make, and what lies behind these differences? As researchers, how can we theorize from case studies? How do ontological and epistemological assumptions affect views about case study quality and design? What is the ‘disciplinary convention’ regarding the case study in your own field of research, and why does it matter? What are your options when writing up your case study for publication? What are the current trends in case research in top management journals? What can management researchers learn from case study trends in other fields, such as political science? As a case researcher, how can you best defend your methodological choices? Detailed lecture notes and handouts will be provided and examples from top journals will be collectively analyzed by course participants.

This course has a strong focus on the process and practice of conducting case studies which necessitates interaction with fellow students and faculty. It is intended for doctoral students who conduct or at least are considering whether to conduct case study research and who have already passed an introductory research methods course.

After this course, students will be able to evaluate case research with increased confidence, enhance their own case study design and justify their methodological choices.

We have taught PhD courses on the case study at the Aalto University, the University of Sydney as well as at institutions in five other countries since 2007. 

Evaluation system

Participation in and contribution to class discussion 
Article analysis in pairs                                                   
Individual written essay 

The course consists of the following elements:

1. Pre-assignment: please find and bring to the first seminar a case study-based article you admire from an academic journal in your field. Be prepared to discuss a) on what basis you decided this was a case study and b) why you think this is a quality piece of research.
2. Participation (20%)We will assess your participation and contribution to class discussion during the course. 
3. Article presentation (in pairs) in class: Article analysis (20%)You will be required to present in pairs of two students an analysis of a case-study based article published in a top-tier journal. The purpose of this assignment is to reflect upon the seminar’s theme and apply your understanding of key methodological issues to the case study article. Formation of teams and the schedule for presentations will be decided upon during the first seminar. Each team will be assigned an article to analyse
4. Individual written essay: Article analysis (60%)For this task, you will be required to submit a written report (8-10 pages double-spaced) that analyses the course themes in the context of the following case-based article: G. Symon and K. Pritchard (2015), 'Performing the Responsive and Committed Employee through the Sociomaterial Mangle of Connection’, Organization Studies, 36, 2, pp. 241-263.

Your written article analysis should address the following questions (not necessarily in this order):

•  Is this a case study? Why/why not? How would you characterize the methodological approach taken in the article?
• What are the authors’ underlying philosophical assumptions, in your view?
• What is the theoretical purpose of the study, in your view?
• What do you regard as the key methodological influences on the study, and what is your evidence for this assessment?
• How have the authors justified their research design (e.g. number of cases, data sources, data analysis)? Are these justifications convincing?
• How effective are the authors’ choices of reporting strategies?
• How would you judge the quality of this article?
• Any other issues that you regard as relevant and important for an evaluation of this article?
• Plus a final reflection: Has/how has your view on the case study changed as a result of this course?

6 ECTS will be assigned upon completion of the seminar

Interested doctoral students should register online (and add the required documents) no later than September 23, 2016. Besides doctoral students, other researchers may participate. The number of participants will be limited to create a stimulating environment. The selection among the applicants will be conducted by the Institute’s Faculty. They will review the following documents which should necessarily complement each application form:

• the applicant’s curriculum vitae demonstrating his/her capabilities of doing research ;
• a letter of recommendation of his/her local faculty supporting the application ;
• a two-page description of his/her doctoral research, indicating the general objectives, Students should outline the methodological approach of their proposed study.
  (Please indicate at the end of your document whether you need the credits for your degree or not)
   

In case there are more applicants than places, students will be selected on the basis of:

1) the quality of their application, including motivation for undertaking the course and a discussion of how they are using the case study (or a related qualitative method) in their own research

2) their stage in the PhD program: given that this is an advanced course, preference for students who are not in their first year of study

3) relevance: preference for students who are using the case study approach (or something related) in their own research

PARTICIPATION FEE

The normal participation fee for an EDEN seminar is 1.100€.

As part of the collaboration between KATAJA and EIASM, the participation fee is waived for students from Finnish member universities

Thanks to the generous support of the Kataja  in Finland, we are able to offer a considerable reduction for International students.
 

This fee covers participation to the seminar, the course materials, lunches as well as one group dinner.

It does not include travel, accommodation and any additional expenses.

TIME AND LOCATION
The seminar will be held at the AALTO UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, Helsinki, Finland.
The programme will start on November 21, 2016 and is scheduled to end November 25, 2016

HOTEL ACCOMMODATION
You are requested to make your own hotel arrangement.

A list of recommended hotesl will be posted.

CONTACT AT AALTO UNIVERSITY

Eevi BENGS
Email: eevi.bengs@aalto.fi
Phone. +358 400484943

 

ONLINE APPLICATION

TO APPLY CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW