Ruth Alas

Ruth Alas

Ph.D., Professor, Chair of Management and Pro-Rector for Scientific Affairs, Estonian Business School, Estonia

Spheres of scientific interests: organizational changes, organizational learning, organizational culture, leadership, corporate social responsibility, ethics, corporate governance.

Education:

  • 1978-1983 - Undergraduate study, Department of Economy, Tallin Technical University;
  • June 1983 - Diploma in economical engeneering, Tallin Technical University;
  • 1983-1987 - Undergraduate study, Department of Psychology, University of Tartu;
  • June 1987 - Diploma in psychology, University of Tartu;
  • 1995-1997 - Graduate study (master's level), Estonian Business School;
  • Summer 1997 - Graduate study, Management department, Bentley Colledge, USA;
  • December 1997 - Diploma: Master of Business Administration (MBA), Estonian Business School;
  • 1998-2002 - Graduate study (doctoral level), Estonian Business School;
  • Autumn 1999 - Graduate study, International Faculty Development Program, IESE, Spain;
  • September 2003 - Diploma: Ph.D. in Business Administration, Estonian Business School;
  • December 2005 - Diploma: Ph.D. in Economics, University of Tartu.

Professional employment:

  • 1981-1991 - Economist, Computer Center of Estonian Ministry of Agriculture;
  • 1991-1993 - Consultant, Mainor-Konsultant;
  • 1993-1995 - Consultant, Ariko Reserv;
  • 1995-2003 - Lecturer, Estonian Business School;
  • 2003-2006 - Professor, Chair of Management, Estonian Business School;
  • Since 2006 - Professor, Chair of Management, Vice-Rector for Scientific Affairs, Estonian Business School.

Awards:

  • Best researchers award 2005/2006 Estonian Business School;
  • Best researchers award 2002/2003 Estonian Business School;
  • Best researchers award 2003/2004 Estonian Business School;
  • Best paper award for paper 'Organizational change from learning perspective' on 2nd International Strategic Management Conference ‘Strategies for Navigating through national, regional and global challenges & crises', June 08-10, Istanbul, Turkey.

Ruth Alas is a member of Editorial Boards of the following journals: Problems & Perspectives in Management, Journal of Business Economics and Management, Journal of Business Economics and Management, Journal for East European Management Studies, EBS Review; National Scientific Editor of Baltic Journal of Management; Associate Editor of: International Business: Research, Teaching and Practice, The Academy of International Business (AIB) journal in USA. She is a Chair of the 1st Scientific Human Resource Management Conference "People friendly management", November 6, 2003, Tallinn; Chair of EIASM Workshop "Responding to Radical Change in Developing and Transitional Economies: Current Challenges to Organizational Change Theory and Practice", November 8-10, 2006, Tallinn; member of Program Committee of ECMLG 2007: The 3rd European Conference on Management, Leadership and Governance, 19-20 April 2007, University of Winchester, UK. Member of organizing committee of ISMOT'07: The 5th International Symposium on Management of Technology, 1-3 June, 2007, Zhejiang, China; Chair of the 9th International Human Resource Management Conference "Changes in Society, Changes in Organizations, and the Changing Role of HRM: Managing International Human Resources in a Complex World", June 12-15, 2007, Tallinn, Estonia.

Research projects:

  • Organisational changes in Estonian (1998-2006) and Chinese companies (2005-2006). Includes survey and interviews in both countries;
  • International comparative study about electronic workers' minds was conducted together with Denki Ringo research group (coordinator: Prof. Akihiro Ishikawa, Chuo University, Japan). Members from 18 countries throughout the world participated, 2001;
  • ILO Project Employers' Organisations and the Challenges facing Business Today, 2003. 18 countries participated;
  • Globe study (2003) and Cross Cultural CEO study (2001), coordinated from Wharton School of Pensylvania University in USA by prof. Robert House;
  • Corporate Governance in Estonia, 26 interviews with owners and managing directors, with Institute of Future Studies, 2005;
  • Report for UNESCO about private higher education in Estonia, with Professor Madis Habakuk.

Membership in professional organizations:

  • Member of Academic Council of the European Institute for Advanced Studies in Management;
  • Member of Academy of Management;
  • Member of International Association of Cross-Cultural Competence and Management (IACCM);
  • Member of Cranet-E network - European Strategic Human Resource Management Studies;
  • Member of GLOBE society;
  • Member of Denki Ringo research group;
  • Member of IMSS network (International Manufacturing Strategy Survey).
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