eThesis - School of Business electronic theses

Objectives of the Study:

The purpose of this study is to deepen understanding of how transnational multi-stakeholder network can be mobilized. Case study of the initiation of a multi-stakeholder network between Finland and Russia around a common issue, improving the health of the Baltic Sea, aims to provide new insights on what capabilities cross-sectoral and cross-border collaboration require. When analyzing the findings, a special focus has been placed on the NGO perspective.

Methodology:

This thesis is part of a larger research project taking place at the Aalto University School of Business. The thesis is based on a qualitative single case study of the Baltic Sea Action Summit, a Finnish initiative, established as a platform for crossboundary collaboration. The data has been collected by semi-structured interviews with the key mobilizers, who were initiating the multi-stakeholder issue network and facilitating the summit process. In addition, a Russian specialist in the research field was interviewed. The study follows an abductive research where a continuous movement between literature and practice has modified the initial patterns throughout the research process enhancing understanding of the research field.

Findings and Contributions:

The main findings indicate that multi-stakeholder networking is increasingly important in answering today's rising challenges. When mobilizing a multi-stakeholder network in Russia a skilled network mobilizer is required. Moreover, NGO-mobilizer needs a mobilizer group to facilitate the mobilization. In Russia, mobilization goes through a top-down process, where the mobilizer group has a critical role in establishing links with the governmental sector. Shared leadership, open communication and trust building between the stakeholders are the mobilizer's key tasks. There is principally a political trigger and possibility to get economic benefits behind mobilization in Russia. The thesis is particularly interesting to researchers in the field of international business, as the Baltic Sea region is a unique field of collaboration extending across national and sectoral boundaries.