Publications

RESEARCH BIOGRAPHY 

My research journey has started in 2004 with the acceptance to the PhD program in International Business at Helsinki School of Economics (currently Aalto University School of Business). I was interested in studying learning in international JVs and how knowledge is transferred between partner firms.  I have earned my PhD from Aalto University School of Business in 2010 and my PhD thesis received the Honor Recognition. 

Currently, my research belong to the several areas of international business and international entrepreneurship, with the recent focus on the the role of business models in the process of internationalization of digital firms. In particular, I seek to understand how digital firms utilize their business models for scaling into international markets and how entrepreneurs navigate through the tensions of creativity, innovativeness and market response. Also, I am is interested in understanding how digital firms drive transformation of production and consumer patterns in cultural industries. I am also working on projects related to circular economy in bio-textile sector and sustainable MNE-led development in emerging markets.

In terms of methodological  approaches, I am passionated about in the qualitative research methods, longitudinal research designs and development of theorising in conceptual papers. 

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ARTICLES IN REFEREED SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS 

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Mihailova, I. (2025). A learning-based explanation of the time properties of the international scaling of digital entrepreneurial ventures. European Management Journal, In Print

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Mihailova, I., & Svystunova, L. (2025). A problematizing review of organizational responses to institutions in emerging markets: Towards development of an agency-based view. Journal of Business Research,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2024.114975

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Mihailova, I., Rantanen, S., Tahvanainen, V., & Pykälainen, J. (2025). MNE-led industry emergence in a developing economy: Uruguay’s forest-based pulp sector. Multinational Business Review, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi-org.ezproxy.uef.fi:2443/10.1108/MBR-01-2024-0006

Mihailova, I. (2023). Business model adaptation for realized international scaling of born-digitals. Journal of World Business, 58(2): 101418. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwb.2022.101418

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​Mihailova, I. (2023). Scaling fast, failing faster: Capabilities for achieving realized digital scaling. Emprendimiento y Negocios Internacionales, 8(1): 5-9. doi: https://doi.org/10.20420/eni.2023.639

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Outila, V., Piekkari, R., Mihailova, I., & Angori, J (2021). “Trust but verify”: How middle managers in a multinational corporation use proverbs to translate an imported management concept. Organization Studies, 42(10): 1581-1601. https://doi.org/10.1177/0170840620934065

Mihailova, I, Panibratov, A., and Latukha, M. (2020). Dismantling institutional complexity behind international competitiveness of emerging market firms. Thunderbird International Business Review, 62(1): 77-92. https://doi.org/10.1002/tie.22095

Outila, V., Mihailova, I., Reiche, S., & Piekkari, R. (2020). A communicative perspective on the trust-control link in Russia. Journal of World Business.55(6), 100971. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwb.2018.11.001

Outila, V., Piekkari, R., & Mihailova, I. (2019). A discursive void in a cross-language study on Russia: Strategies for negotiating shared meaning. Management and Organization Review. 15(2): 403-427. https://doi.org/10.1017/mor.2019.18

Mihailova, I. (2015). Outcomes of learning through JVs for local parent firms in transition economies: Evidence from Russia. Journal of World Business, 50(1): 220-233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwb.2014.04.004

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Mihailova, I., Shirokova, G., & Laine, I. (2015). New venture internationalization from an emergent market: Unexpected findings from Russia. Journal of East-West Business, 21(4): 257-291. https://doi.org/10.1080/10669868.2015.1067276

Suder, G, Liesch, P., Inomata, S. Mihailova, I, & Meng. B. (2015). The evolving geography of production hubs and regional value chains across East Asia: Trade in value-added. Journal of World Business, 50(3): 404-416. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwb.2014.05.003

Michailova, S., Piekkari, R., Plakoyinnaki, E., Ritvala, T., Mihailova, I., & Salmi, A.  (2014). Breaking the silence about exiting fieldwork: A Relational approach and its implications for theorizing. Academy of Management Review. 39(2): 138-161. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2011.0403

Mihailova, I., & Panibratov, A. (2013). Determinants of internationalization strategies of emerging market firms: A multi-level approach. Journal of East-West Business, 18(2): 157-184. https://doi.org/10.1080/10669868.2012.709922

Jormanainen, I., & Koveshnikov, A. (2012). International activities of emerging market firms: A critical assessment of research in top international management journals. Management International Review, 52 (5): 691-725. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11575-011-0115-y

Michailova, S., & Jormanainen, I. (2011). Knowledge transfer between Russian and western firms: Whose absorptive capacity is in question. Critical Perspectives in International Business, 7(3): 250-270. https://doi.org/10.1108/17422041111149525

Jormanainen, I., & Salmi, A. (2010). Yhteisyritysten haasteet Venäjällä, Idäntutkimus (The Finnish Review of East European Studies), 1/2010: 65-71.

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ARTICLES IN REFEREED SOCIENTIFIC EDITED VOLUMES

Piaskowska, D., & Mihailova, I. (2025). Scaling strategies and modes of scaling. 

In V. Collewaert & J. Jansen (Eds.). Handbook of research on scaling and high-growth firms. Edward Elgar. In Print.

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Mihailova, I., & Fraccastoro, S. (2023). Entrepreneurial reinforcement in newly emerged digital industry. Proceedings of the 56th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, Hawaii.

Mihailova, I. (2022). Managerial and Entrepreneurial Responses to Emerging Market Institutions: Problematizing Review. In M. Latukha (Ed). Diversity in Action, Emerald Publishing Limited, Bingley, pp. 71-85. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80117-226-420221005

Jormanainen, I (2012). Mini case study cargo business- cultural perspective. In G. Suder (Ed.). Doing Business in Europe, 2nd Edition, Sage, London.

Jormanainen, I. (2011). Case study Joint Venture ZF Kama in Russia (pp. 372-373), In M. Peng and K. Meyer (Eds.) International Business, Cengage Learning EMEA, UK.

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Narula, R., & Jormanainen, I. (2008). When a good science base is not enough to create competitive industries: Lock-in and inertia in Russian systems of innovation, #2008-059, UNU-Merit Working papers series, United Nations University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.

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TEACHING CASES

Santos, F., Mihailova I., & Lentonen M., (2020). Leading the growth of a game development studio: Scaling up Frogmind through the creative power of small and independent teams. ECCH. No. 820-0073-1. 21 p.

Lentonen M., Santos, F., & Mihailova I. (2015). Angry Birds: Lead your feathery team into the battle now! Rovio’s internationalization into Japan. ECCH, No. 315-118-1. 23 p. FEATURED in Connect Issue in November 2017.

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Jormanainen, I. (2009). Learning in International Joint Ventures in Central and Eastern European countries: System of Innovation approach, in K. Ibeh and S. Davies (eds.), Contemporary Challenges to International Business: 183-199. Palgrave Macmillan.