Browsing by Author "Koljonen, Markus"

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Creating product portfolio strategy in multinational companies
(2024-09-30) Koljonen, Markus
School of Science | Master's thesis
Multinational companies face the complex challenge of managing diverse product portfolios across various markets. Effective Product Portfolio Strategy (PPS) is essential for aligning products with corporate objectives, optimising resources, and maintaining competitiveness. However, there is limited research on how these companies create PPS and the organisational factors that influence it. This thesis explores how multinational companies develop their product portfolio strategies and identifies key organisational factors affecting them. Guided by two research questions – (1) How do companies create product portfolio strategy? and (2) What organisational factors affect product portfolio strategy? – the study adopts an inductive qualitative approach. Semi-structured inter-views were conducted with 18 professionals from nine multinational companies. Data was analysed using the Gioia methodology. Findings reveal that companies employ a structured, top-down approach to create PPS, beginning with comprehensive evaluations of external and internal environments. Small, cross-functional teams facilitate efficient decision-making and ensure alignment. The resulting strategies include detailed roadmaps and clear business objectives. Key organisational factors influencing PPS include organisational structure, interdependencies, alignment within the portfolio, and existing portfolio management practices. Aligning organisational structures with the portfolio and effectively managing interdependencies are crucial for successful strategy development. Utilising global products over local variants enhances efficiency and optimises resource allocation. This study fills a gap in the literature on PPS in multinational firms and offers practical insights for managers. By adopting structured approaches and aligning organisational factors, companies can enhance their strategic capabilities and achieve competitive advantage in the global market.
Preskriptiivinen analytiikka päätöksenteon tukena
(2022-12-16) Koljonen, Markus
Perustieteiden korkeakoulu | Bachelor's thesis
Redesigning Futurice - Introducing Service Design into an Agile Software Contractor
(2012) Koljonen, Markus
School of Arts, Design and Architecture | Master's thesis
Agile software development provides efficient means for the creation of software at low levels of design, but fails to include high-level design into the development process. Service design works at these high levels, but there is unclarity as to how to combine the two. In this thesis I explore ways to introduce service design into an agile software contractor, taking Futurice Ltd. as an empirical environment. I use co-creative methods to map Futurice’s culture and as a solution present three actionable steps: A design team strategy; a novel role of the User Experience Product Owner; and a Service Design Method Toolkit, an artifact-based design heuristic.