Taija Turunen’s research explores the core questions of leadership and organizing in times that demand fundamental transformation. In addition to examining the systemic and structural changes required when organizations seek to redirect their development, her work delves into the human and moral dimensions of organizational change.

Her recent studies highlight curiosity as a pathway to creativity and a catalyst for strategic renewal, showing how curiosity enables leaders to open spaces for exploration and shape new directions for transformation. At the same time, she investigates how managers discursively navigate moral complexity as they lead and set direction for change.

Turunen conceptualizes curiosity as a generative capability—a quality that fosters openness, experimentation, and reflective learning, thereby supporting innovation and renewal. In parallel, her research on managerial morality examines how ethical reflection, identity work, dialogue, and moral discourse influence responsible decision-making under conditions of uncertainty.

Integrating perspectives from management studies, ethics, and organizational theory, her work illuminates how curiosity and moral awareness can coexist as powerful drivers of sustainable organizational transformation. Through this interdisciplinary lens, she contributes to a growing conversation on how organizations can renew themselves while remaining ethically grounded, creative, responsible, and responsive to societal challenges.