Work Organisation and Employment in Hard Discounters: The case of Lidl in Finland

Mika Skippari and Olli Rusanen

When?

Wednesday 26 October 2011, 13:30 to 14:30

Where?

32MS01

Open to:

Students, Staff

Speaker:

Dr Mika Skippari, Mr Olli Rusanen

Abstract

In this study we analyse the evolution of a multinational hard discounter’s labour relations when entering a new market. Empirically we focus on the work organization and employment policies of the German hard discounter Lidl that entered Finnish markets in 2002. We show how Lidl Finland – forced by strong institutional pressures – gradually adapted to the local environment of Finland despite the concentrated, global business model strategy of the parent company Lidl. The study is part of a larger research project that examines labour relations of European multinational grocery retailers in several European countries.  

Biographies

Mika Skippari, PhD, is currently working as a research associate in the Aalto University School of Economics, Helsinki department of marketing. He has earned his doctoral degree at Tampere University of Technology. He has published in international journals, such as Business & Society and International Studies of Management & Organization. His research interests include retail strategies, innovations, business-government relations.  

Olli Rusanen is a postgraduate student in the Aalto University School of Economics, Helsinki. He has recently finished his master’s thesis, in which he analysed the long-term growth strategies of Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Tesco and Sainsbury’s.