With my thesis “Strategic change generating ‘in time´: on strategy making and temporality in small firm development´, I examine strategic change as a temporal process. By following a real-time strategic change during over two years in a small Finnish software company, I show that surprising and unpredictable events have a significant role in the process. I also identify a temporality paradox that emerges when the business practices organized to continue over time conflict with the ‘in time´ emergence of surprising events. This creates paradoxical tension between organizing processes efficiently and reacting to surprises when needed. 

The research findings give reason to reconsider the prevailing view of strategic change as a pre-planned, temporary activity that is fully controllable through rational managerial planning. Instead, my research increases understanding of strategic change as uncertain, surprising and continuous process. Consequently, the research results also relevant for the practical understanding of strategic change by turning the focus from strategy-making as a careful future planning and subsequent implementation into strategy-making as everyday practical coping with constant surprises. With the thesis I thus highlight that as the future is impossible to predict and control, the ability to react and take advantage of surprises becomes an everyday activity for the agile strategists 

Research interests:

Strategy process and practices, change and temporality in organizational processes, software intensive business

Previous degrees:

M.Sc. (Econ.), major in Marketing, University of Oulu, Oulu Business School, 2007

Publications and book chapters:

Ahokangas, P. & Myllykoski, J. (2014) The Practice of Creating and Transforming a Business Model. - Journal of Business Models 2 (1), 6-18 . http://journals.aau.dk/index.php/JOBM/article/view/719

Ahokangas, P., Juntunen, M. & Myllykoski, J. (2014) Cloud Computing and Transformation of International E-Business Models. A Focused Issue on Building New Competences in Dynamic Environments. Sanchez, Ron; Heene, AimÉ. - Research in Competence-Based Management 7. Bingley. 3-28

Myllykoski, J. & Ahokangas, P. (2013) Transformation towards a cloud business model. Communications of the Cloud Software, 2(1), 1-11.

Lehto, I., Hermes, J., Ahokangas, P. & Myllykoski, J. (2013). Collaboration in Cloud Businesses – Value networks and ecosystems. Communications of the Cloud Software. Discussion paper.

Ahokangas, P., Matinmikko, M. & Myllykoski, J., Okkonen, H. (2012) Future scenarios, ecosystems and business models for cognitive radio systems. VTT Technology 55

Conference and seminar presentations:

Myllykoski, J. & Rantakari, A. (Forthcoming). Strategy making “in time´. Academy of Management Annual Meeting 2016, Anaheim, USA. Conference proceedings.

Myllykoski, J. & Rantakari, A. (Forthcoming). Building a blind and deaf agent: strategy as a performative practice in software business. EGOS (European Group of Organization Studies) Conference 2016, Naples, Italy. 

Myllykoski, J. & Rantakari, A. (Forthcoming). Eternal today - Temporal agency in strategy making. 8th International Process Symposium (2016), Corfu, Greece. 

Suomalainen, T. & Myllykoski, J. (2015). Towards continuous strategy in the context of software intensive business. NFF (Nordic Academy of Management) Conference 2015, Copenhagen. 12-14.8.2015. Conference paper. Awarded as “Revitalizing Nordic Strategy Research, best paper´.

Myllykoski, J. & Rantakari, A. (2015). Eternal today – The temporal nature of strategy-making. EGOS (European Group of Organization Studies) Conference 2015, Athens 1.-4.7.2015. 

Ahokangas, P., Juntunen, M. & Myllykoski, J. (2013) Cloud Computing and Transformation of International e-Business Models. Paper presented at the 8th SKM Symposium & 2nd Conference on competence-based strategic management (CBSM) : Competence-based management in cross-border settings : organizational learning, strategy and governance. September 18th-20th 2013, Magdeburg, Germany. 

Ahokangas, P. & Myllykoski, J. (2013). Creating and transforming business models as a practice. Paper presented at the Nordic Academy of Management Conference, Reykjavik.

Ahokangas, P. & Myllykoski, J. (2011). Toward enternationalization? A business model perspective on internationalization and the Web. A paper presented at the EIBA annual conference, Romania.

Research visits:

02-06/ 2010 University of Western Sydney, Australia

Research projects:

2014-2015 Need for Speed, Oulu Business School

2011-2012 Cloud Software, Oulu Business School