Language strategies in Finnish small and medium-sized enterprises

dc.contributorAalto Universityen
dc.contributorAalto-yliopistofi
dc.contributor.authorTalja, Katriina
dc.contributor.departmentDepartment of Management and International Businessen
dc.contributor.departmentJohtamisen ja kansainvälisen liiketoiminnan laitosfi
dc.contributor.schoolKauppakorkeakoulufi
dc.contributor.schoolSchool of Economicsen
dc.date.accessioned2011-11-14T11:23:56Z
dc.date.available2011-11-14T11:23:56Z
dc.date.dateaccepted2011-04-14
dc.date.issued2011
dc.description.abstractObjectives of the Study Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have scarcely been researched from the point of view of language strategy. The objective of the study is to identify language strategies of Finnish SMEs doing business abroad and to analyze these strategies. The objectives were met through a survey directed at Finnish SMEs and face-to-face interviews with five case companies. Summary Languages are increasing important in the globalizing world, yet few companies have language strategies. The EU-wide PIMLICO Promotional Project investigated in summer 2010 top- performing international SMEs, which have adopted language strategies and use them for business purposes. The thesis writers collected data for the project in Finland. This thesis was undertaken with the consent of PIMLICO to further investigate this interesting topic. This thesis is based on continuous iteration between data, prior literature and the emerging theory. The empirical findings and academic literature suggest that language strategies in SMEs can include one or more of the following components: 1) common company language; 2) language audits; 3) language training; 4) recruitment; 5) translators and interpreters; 6) agents; and 7) company websites. Findings and Conclusion The researched SMEs do not have written language strategies, but they do have bottom-up language strategies. These language strategies emerge through recurrent language-related practices, such as using partners for translation, having an informal common company language and the use of native speakers as valuable resource.en
dc.ethesisid12530
dc.format.extent117
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.urihttps://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/handle/123456789/662
dc.identifier.urnURN:NBN:fi:aalto-201111181574
dc.language.isoenen
dc.locationP1 I
dc.programme.majorInternational Businessen
dc.programme.majorKansainvälinen liiketoimintafi
dc.subject.heleconkansainväliset yhtiöt
dc.subject.heleconinternational companies
dc.subject.heleconyritysviestintä
dc.subject.heleconbusiness communication
dc.subject.heleconstrategia
dc.subject.heleconstrategy
dc.subject.heleconkielet
dc.subject.heleconlanguages
dc.subject.heleconpk-yritykset
dc.subject.heleconsmes
dc.subject.heleconSuomi
dc.subject.heleconFinland
dc.subject.keywordinternational business
dc.subject.keywordforeign language strategy
dc.subject.keywordsmall and medium-sized enterprises
dc.subject.keywordSME
dc.subject.keywordexport
dc.subject.keywordstrategy as practice
dc.subject.keywordbottom-up
dc.subject.keywordtranslators
dc.titleLanguage strategies in Finnish small and medium-sized enterprisesen
dc.typeG2 Pro gradu, diplomityöfi
dc.type.dcmitypetexten
dc.type.ontasotMaster's thesisen
dc.type.ontasotPro gradu tutkielmafi
local.aalto.idthes12530
local.aalto.openaccessyes
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
hse_ethesis_12530.pdf
Size:
4.17 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format