Research group
Leadership Development
We develop organisational leadership. We seek innovative solutions to promote strategic development, the introduction of new business models, work management and the skills needed to lead work communities.
Our research and development focuses on strategic management, technology in management, human resource management, management in multidisciplinary and multicultural environments, interpersonal and teamwork skills, and chaperone work.
We are working on these themes:
1
Strategic management
• Business growth, development and renewal
• Technology as part of management development
2
Responsible human resources management
• Diversity, equality, accountability and inclusion in management
• Managing skills and learning
3
Frontline work and leadership
• Interaction in international and hybrid environments
• Developing as a leader
We develop future-oriented, innovative and solution-oriented management with our stakeholders. The research group’s goal is to be as useful a development partner as possible, especially for companies in the region.
Tero Vuorinen, Principal Lecturer, Research Group Leader
Our experts
Tero Vuorinen is responsible for the activities, with Mervi Varhelahti as the Deputy for the Research Leader.
Main publications
Hakala, H., Vuorinen, T. (2020). Tools for strategy: a starter kit for academics and practitioners. Cambridge University Press.
Huikkola, T., & Vuorinen, T. (2023). Strategiakirja: 25 työkalua. Helsinki: Alma Talent.
Laiho, M. & Varhelahti, M. (2024, 16. heinäkuuta). Johtamiskoulutuksen uudet tuulet: luonto, hevoset ja hyvinvointiteknologia itsensä johtamisen tukena. Turun Sanomat. Rinnakkaistallenne: https://www.theseus.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/866817/Laiho_Varhelahti_Johtamiskoulutuksen_2024.pdf?sequence=1
Laiho, M., Tevameri, T., Vähätalo, M., Kallio, T. J., & Suomi, K. (2023). Healthcare professionals’ intention to leave. International Journal of Management and Enterprise Development, 22(3), 245-269.
Laiho, M. & Vähämäki, M. (2021) Miksi en opi riittävän nopeasti? Myönteiset ja kielteiset oppimisspiraalit ja työpaikan oppimisen tilat digitalisoituvassa toimistotyössä. Ammattikasvatuksen aikakauskirja, 23 (3), 28–51.
Laiho, M., Saru, E. & Seeck, H. (2021) “It’s the work climate that keeps me here”: the interplay between the HRM process and emergent factors in the construction of employee experiences. Personnel Review, 51(2), 444–463.
Matalamäki, M, Vuorinen T., Varamäki, E. & K. Sorama (2017). Business growth in established companies; Roles of effectuation and causation. Journal of Enterprising Culture, 25 (02), 123–148.
Varhelahti, M. & Lindell, M. (2025). Projektipäälliköiden tranversaaleilla osaamisilla lisäarvoa monimuotoisuuden johtamiseen. Työn tuuli, (1/2025). https://www.henry.fi/ajankohtaista/tyon-tuuli/2025/tyon-tuuli-12025.html
Varhelahti, M. & Laiho, M. (2024). Sustainable leadership and innovative learning environments. Education and New Developments. https://end-educationconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/202402OP008.pdf [end-educat…erence.org]
Varhelahti, M. & Turnquist, T. (2021). Diversity and communication in virtual project teams. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication, 64(2), 201–214. https://doi.org/10.1109/TPC.2021.3064404
Viitala, R., Laiho, M., Pajuoja, M. & Henttonen, K. (2023) Managerial coaching and employees’ innovative work behavior: The mediating effect of work environment. The International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, 1-14.
Vuorinen, T., Hakala, H., Kohtamäki, M., & Uusitalo, K. (2018). Mapping the landscape of strategy tools: A review on strategy tools published in leading journals within the past 25 years. Long Range Planning, 51(4), 586–605
Vuorinen, T. (2013). Strategiakirja: 20 työkalua. Helsinki: Talentum.
Education
Related to our operations:
• Management of activities
• Renewing local management
• Responsible management
• Shimmering – towards sustainable leadership
• Strategic thinking and leadership
• Your own leadership identity
A versatile partner
Our partners are:
• University of Turku
• University of Vaasa
• University of Tampere
• Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences
• HENRY – Finnish Association for Human Resource Management
Strong project skills
Turku University of Applied Sciences’ Project Office offers support and guidance throughout the life cycle of an RDI project. Our project experts have years of experience and strong expertise in national and international funding programmes. We have more than 200 projects running every year, and our RDI activities have received more than €10 million in external funding.