{"id":15742,"date":"2026-08-25T02:09:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T06:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.servsig.org\/wordpress\/?p=15742"},"modified":"2026-08-25T02:29:04","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T06:29:04","slug":"doctoral-course-on-service-and-relationship-management-2026-2027-at-hanken","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.servsig.org\/wordpress\/2026\/08\/doctoral-course-on-service-and-relationship-management-2026-2027-at-hanken\/","title":{"rendered":"Doctoral Course on Service and Relationship Management (2026-2027) at Hanken"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Centre for Relationship Marketing and Service Management, Department of Marketing, Hanken School of Economics, Helsinki (Finland)<\/strong>
9-12 March 2027 <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Application Deadline: 16 October 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Course aim and content<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students gain an understanding of service management, relationship-oriented marketing management, and the research implications of these in both consumer and industrial markets. The course covers key concepts and models related to service management and service logic, customer relationships, business-to-business relationships, and research methods for studying services and relationships. Emphasis is placed on familiarizing students with research publications and articles addressing service and relationship management from diverse perspectives, as well as analyzing and discussing their evolution and underlying assumptions. Students read, analyze, and discuss publications that have had\u2014or are considered to have had\u2014a significant impact, while developing skills in critically engaging with academic research. These competencies strengthen students\u2019 research capabilities and support the design and writing of a doctoral thesis. Methodological issues are also addressed, as they are closely linked to the students\u2019 doctoral work. Overall, the course provides a strong foundation for formulating research problems and advancing doctoral students\u2019 own research. An additional important aim of the course is to bring together doctoral students working on service-and relationship-related topics, providing opportunities for networking and scholarly exchange.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learning outcomes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After completing this course, students will be able to
\u2022 analyse and synthesise core literature\/concepts in service and relationship management research
\u2022 discuss and critically evaluate academic work
\u2022 apply service and relationship management research to your own research and doctoral thesis<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In-class time and venue<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Online pre-meetings and course preparations start in November 2026. The course includes 32 hours of obligatory class (seminar) time, divided into four consecutive full-day class meetings, Tuesday<\/strong> to Friday, March 9-12, 2027, <\/strong>from 8\/9 am-4\/5 pm, at Hanken School of Economics, Helsinki, auditorium XX, Hanken main building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our marketing faculty, plus potentially international guest professors, are course<\/strong> instructors e.g.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Larissa Becker Braz. Assistant Professor of Marketing (tenure-track), Hanken.
Robert Ciuchita. Associate Professor of Marketing (tenure-track), Hanken.
Johanna Gummerus. Professor of Marketing, Hanken.
Kristina Heinonen. Professor of Service and Relationship Marketing, Hanken.
Maria Holmlund<\/a>. Professor of Marketing, Hanken, corresponding instructor and course responsible.
Mekhail Mustak. Associate Professor of Marketing (tenure-track), Hanken.
Kaj Storbacka. Professor, Hanken.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indicative topics<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Topical service research topics
\u2022 Qualitative methods
\u2022 Customer relationships
\u2022 B2B service and relationships
\u2022 Beyond dyads
\u2022 Digital service marketing
\u2022 Customer experience management
\u2022 Publishing in scientific journals<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Examination<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evaluation is based on continual assessment, a written term paper, and a learning diary.
1) Presence and informed participation in all four days of class meetings are compulsory. 20%<\/strong>
2) Key learning analysis. Individual written analyses of the material. 20%<\/strong>
3) Term paper, including presentation and discussion of the papers in class. 50%<\/strong>
4) Learning diary. 10%<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Signing up for the course<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The course is compulsory for all doctoral students admitted to Hanken\u2019s doctoral program in marketing in Helsinki after 2024 and recommended to students of Supply Chain Management and Social Responsibility, and Management and Organisation. The course cannot be taken by those who have passed Relationship Management (code 62339). Doctoral students from other universities in Finland and abroad are warmly welcome. Please see below for instructions on how to submit an electronic application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctoral students from other universities wishing to participate are encouraged to send<\/strong> an email before Friday, October 16, <\/strong>to maria.holmlund-rytkonen@hanken.fi, including:
– contact information (name, university, address, e-mail),
– information on the current phase of the studies (incl. number of earned study credits)
– a short summary of the PhD research
– need and motive for taking part in the course
– preparedness to take part in all four in-class days<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Notification of acceptance: before Thursday, Oct 22<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more information regarding the course content, contact Maria Holmlund. Priority when assessing applications will be given to the relevance of the course to the doctoral thesis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More info:<\/p>\n\n\n\n