International Business and Sales Management (IBS)

Who we are

The group of International Business and Sales Management focuses on development of business knowledge and capabilities in the areas of international business, entrepreneurship, and strategy; sales management and digital communication that are essential for succeeding an increasingly dynamic, complex and culturally diverse global environment.

Our group has pioneered a M.Sc. in International Business and Sales Management programme taught in English. The programme’s teaching is built on the research expertises of our faculty and inflused with real-life insigths from international business and sales management professionals.

IBS group is ambitios and strives to continously develop expertise to adjust to the changing business and academic realities of global environment. IBS members have multicultural and multidisciplinary background, which enables us to to educate professionals with a broad scope of competences and skills needed to anticipate and respond to global challenges innovatively and responsiblly. We are closely cooperating within the IBS group, building on each other knowledge and experience which creates the spirit of support and empowrment for the faculty and the students.

IBS group has a broad international network of international partners which allows us to integrate well in the global academic and business environment, learn about international practices and share own expertise with international business professionals.

We are also closely cooperating with local business community by helping to address its current challenges and supporting its successful development within home and global markets.

IBS group is locally responsive and globally integrated!

Our research

Our unit conducts a top level academic research focusing on various topics within International Business and Sales Management areas. Our research provides theoretical, managerial and governmental implications, thus, contributing to the development of academic and business expertise and knowledge as well to the socity at large.

Our current key research areas include:

• Digital internationalization and Scaling
• Business models in international business and sales management
• Sustainability and circular transformation
• Networking of born globals and digital firms
• Social media strategies
• Digital communication
• Sales relationships and communication
• Platforms and eco-systems management
• Digital transformation in sales management
• AI and sales management
• Innovation and sales management
• Retailing
• Digital cultural industries
• International branding

Our research is published in highly ranked peer-reviewed journals and led by our faculty who is well known for cutting-edge contributions to:

· Digital internationalization, Business models, and Scaling in International Business, led by Irina Mihailova

· Sales management; Customer-seller relationships, Sales processes, Business models in sales, Supply chain management, and Retailing led by Saara Julkunen

· Sales management; Customer-seller relationships, E-leadership and Digital communication; Managerial competence and AI in sales led by Jonna Koponen

Our unit regularly organizes international research seminars and is actively engaged in research collaboration with leading international scholars and universities.

Group leader: Professor Irina Mihailova