12.04.2016 SIM Newsletter Featuring an Interview with Lea Stadtler and Presenting the iF Public Value Awards
The Social Issues in Management (SIM) division of the Academy of Management has now released its March-2016 newsletter with an interview by Lea Stadtler about the cross-sector social interactions community and her research. Further, the newsletter presents the winners of the iF Public Value Award and the iF Public Value Student Awards. The University of St. Gallen's Center for Leadership and Values in Society (Prof. Gilbert Probst being member of the foundation board) co-organized these awards with the objective to showcase how an academic concept from the business and society field (public value) spreads in practice.
22.03.2016 New Case Study on Cross-Sector Partnerships and Women Empowerment
The case study "Driving Change: One Factory at a Time?" is now available at The Case Centre, England, Case Study (Ref. 716-0013-1) and Teaching Note (Ref. 716-0013-8).
30.01.2016 New Article in Organization Studies on Managing Coopetition in Multi-Company Cross-Sector Partnerships
Collaboration between competitors to address a social cause - is that a paradox? Our new article which analyzes this question is now available at Organization Studies. DOI: 10.1177/0170840615622066
Abstract: Coopetition is paradoxical in that the simultaneous cooperation and competition can give rise to important synergies as well as tensions. To circumvent these tensions, scholars primarily suggest structural, separation-centred strategies. Such strategies are helpful, but incomplete, as total separation would not allow exploitation of the synergies that coopetition may offer. Based on an in-depth case study of a pioneering multi-company, cross-sector partnership, we explore how employees cope with the remaining tensions. Illustrating employees’ sense-making processes, we show how they build on the organisational and the boundary-spanning task contexts and develop paradoxical frames. Juxtaposing the competitive and collaborative logics, these frames shape the employees’ understanding of who they are (i.e. a nested identity) and what they should do (i.e. contextual segmentation). This juxtaposition allows the employees to navigate emerging tensions by adopting both logics (i.e. integrating behaviour) and by contextually prioritising one logic without ignoring the other (i.e. demarcating behaviour). These insights complement structural strategies with integrative, employee-centred ones and highlight contextual factors that promote such an integrative approach.
21.12.2015 Blog Commentary on Managing Coopetition in PPPs
Our recent commentary "4 Things to Know before Teaming up with your Competitor," published at the World Economic Forum platform, presents trends and best practices in managing coopetition in multi-company public-private partnerships. Please see here.
07.12.2015 Master Students Invited to Present Their PPP Case Studies in India
Two student groups of our course "Change Management: Across Boundaries" have been invited by the IILM to present their case studies "Grow Africa: Managing Change Across Boundaries" and "Driving Change: One Factory at a Time?" at the IILM Third International Conference on “Responsible Management Education, Training and Practice” in India (Jan 07-09, 2016).
27.11.2015 Leadership Tool for Better Decision Making
Prof. Gilbert Probst published a toolkit for better decision making (with a specific focus on identifying the real problem) in the Nano Tools for Leaders series of Wharton, University of Pennsylvania. You are welcome to read the article online.
Reference: Probst, G. (2015). Better Decision-Making: Identify the Real Problem. http://executiveeducation.wharton.upenn.edu/~/media/wee/wharton%20at%20work/nano%20tools%20pdfs/1506%20identify%20the%20real%20problem.pdf, Wharton, Philadelphia.
20.10.2015 Prof. Probst featured at the International Forum on PPPs for Sustainable Development
Prof. Probst will be on the panel of the Public-Private Partnerships, an alliance against global warming session at International Forum on Public-Private Partnerships for sustainable development organised by UNITAR on Thursday, 29 October at Annemasse. For more information please visit the web site.
22.09.2015 Annual Review of Social Partnerships No. 10 Online
We are delighted to announce the 10th celebratory issue of the Annual Review of Social Partnerships (ARSP) that provides annually the one-stop shop of high quality curated content in cross-sector collaboration research and practice from around the world. In over 100 pages this issue covers:
* State of the art review of 100+ new publications on cross-sector partnerships
* New tools for designing highly interactive cross-sector collaboration teaching
* Academic and practitioner insights through interviews and original contributions
* News from the cross-sector collaboration community
* Celebratory section on ARSP volunteering, readership and cross-sector inspiration
The ARSP is an open access journal and now available through Greenleaf Publishing here. The publication is circulated every year to over 50,000 direct recipients, distributed by Ingenta Connect to 1.4 million individual users around the world and by leading universities and institutions for the benefit of all of their stakeholders. The aim of the ARSP is to bring together research and practice in the field of cross-sector collaboration, to communicate high quality collaboration research findings to large audiences around the world, to share best partnership practices, while nurturing the new generation of practice oriented scholars and research informed practitioners in this field.
Call for Contributions (deadline 15 March 2016): For submissions of your latest and forthcoming publications (books, book chapters, reports and thesis), teaching innovations, research projects and practice breakthroughs and your collaboration news please contact the relevant ARSP Section Editor.
12.09.2015 Our Coursera MOOC: List with 115 Examples of PPPs for Development
In our 2013, 2014, and 2015 Coursera course “Managing International Organizations,” we asked the participants to briefly describe a PPP of their choice and send us a one-pager. We were delighted to receive many very insightful examples and would like to thank all those who committed to this purely voluntary exercise.
While the one pagers will remain confidential, we have created a list with the most cited PPP examples that correspond to our criteria (e.g., also involving actors from the business sector).
The list includes more than 100 examples in the areas of health, education, water, and disaster relief and indicates the PPPs’ names, objectives, participating partners, focal region, and links for further information.
We invite you to have a look at the very inspiring examples and thank the Coursera participants again for their great work.
Please note that the list of PPP examples is neither complete nor representative, and we cannot guarantee the accuracy of data.
03.09.2015 The First Geneva Partnership Forum
The first Geneva Partnership Forum brought together about 50 partnership practitioners and experts from a diverse set of companies, international organizations, NGOs, and academia, who all contributed to a vibrant discussions in the various plenary and workshop sessions. Here you find more information.
30.07.2015 New Case Study on Grow Africa Published
The case study "Grow Africa: Managing Change across Boundaries" and the respective Teaching Note have been published at The Case Centre.
Please check our research pages for more information.
27.06.2015 New Article on Evaluating PPPs Published
Lea Stadtler's article "Scrutinizing Public–Private Partnerships for Development: Towards a Broad Evaluation Conception" has just been published by the Journal of Business Ethics and is available as 'Online First' on SpringerLink: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10551-015-2730-1
Abstract: The proliferation of public–private partnerships (PPPs) for development as an answer to many public challenges calls for careful evaluation. To this end, tailored frameworks are fundamental for helping understand the PPPs’ impact and for guiding corrective adjustment. Scholars have developed frameworks focusing on the partners’ relationships, the order of effects, and the distinction between outputs and outcomes. To capture a PPP’s complexity and multiple linkages with its environment, we argue that a thorough evaluation should adopt a stakeholder-oriented approach and consider the costs and benefits that a PPP implies for them—especially as taxpayers’ money is (at least partly) involved. For this purpose, we build on a stakeholder-oriented evaluation framework from the nonprofit business partnership literature. In line with our broad evaluation conception, we extend it with the manifold ripple effects that PPPs for development have and include the time dimension for the links between different PPP stages and related outcomes to become clearer. Applying this framework to an illustrative case, we highlight important direct and especially indirect stakeholder outcomes, which a narrow evaluation would omit, point to the challenges involved in the evaluation endeavor, and identify interesting future research areas.
10.06.2015 Interview of Lea Stadtler Posted on The Intersector Project Blog
In the interview guided by The Intersector Project, you'll learn more about Lea's thoughts on the ARSP International Thought & Practice Leaders Awards, ways to overcome the theory-practice divide, and the 10th ARSP celebratory issue.
19.05.2015 Celebrate & Nominate for the ARSP International Thought & Practice Leader Awards
You are invited to celebrate with the Annual Review of Social Partnerships (ARSP) by nominating your top thought and/or practice leaders who have provided inspiration for your cross-sector research and/or practice. We wish to acknowledge the work of pioneers who developed collaborations between the public, private, and nonprofit sectors in order to provide innovative solutions to pressing social problems and/or influenced the collaboration practice with landmark frameworks and insights. The nominations will be presented in the 10th anniversary issue of the ARSP.
We look forward to your nominations - completing the survey (link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GSBQVQC) will only take about 4 minutes.
17.04.2015 Keynote Speech on PPPs
On Monday the 20th, Prof. Gilbert Probst will give a keynote speech on the relevance, challenges, and trends of PPPs in front of the Toronto Group - a meeting of high-level representatives of ministries of foreign affairs representing more than 20 countries.
23.02.2015 Paper Presentation at the Chaire ePPP of the IAE Panthéon-Sorbonne
Dr. Lee Mizell, non-resident Senior Research Fellow of the Geneva PPP Research Center, will present the paper "Effective public investment across levels of government, the case of sub-national PPPs: analytic framework and preliminary evidence from OECD countries" (co-authored with Dorothée Alain-Dupre, OECD) at the Chaire ePPP of the IAE Panthéon-Sorbonne on Wednesday, March 25, 10:30 - 12:00.
For more information about the event please click here.
Abstract: Worldwide, demand for infrastructure investment has risen and is expected to grow. A 2013 report by the McKinsey Global Institute estimates that the world needs to spend approximately USD 57 trillion between 2013 and 2030 on transport, power, water, and telecommunications infrastructure just to keep up with global growth. Governments’ resources – both in terms of money and know-how - can fall short of what is needed to meet these and other infrastructure needs. Partnership with the private sector can help narrow the gap.
This paper is concerned with one form of partnership: public-private partnerships (PPPs) to design, build, finance, and operate infrastructure assets and the capacity of sub-national governments (cities, towns, and regions) to engage in them. The paper begins with a definition of PPPs and examines their place on the continuum of options for involving the private sector in infrastructure. Discussion then turns to the prevalence of PPPs and the opportunities they present to tackle infrastructure needs, with specific attention to the case of sub-national governments. It then draws on existing literature and examples from OECD countries to examine the challenges and risks that public and private actors face when planning and implementing sub-national PPPs in a multi-level governance context. The paper offers a look at different mechanisms that can be used to assist sub-national governments in addressing the challenges raised by PPPs, before concluding with a set of recommendations for policy makers.
10.12.2014 Coursera Participants Provide a Multitude of PPP Examples
In our 2013 and 2014 Coursera course “Managing International Organizations,” we asked the participants to briefly describe a PPP of their choice and send us a one-pager. We were delighted to receive many very insightful examples and would like to thank all those who committed to this purely voluntary exercise.
While the one pagers will remain confidential, we have created a list with the most cited PPP examples that correspond to our criteria (e.g., also involving actors from the business sector).
The list includes more than 100 examples in the areas of health, education, water, and disaster relief and indicates the PPPs’ names, objectives, participating partners, focal region, and links for further information.
We invite you to have a look at the very inspiring examples and thank the Coursera participants again for their great work.
Please note that the list of PPP examples is neither complete nor representative, and we cannot guarantee the accuracy of data.
14.11.2014 Article "Designing Public-Private Partnerships for Development" in Business & Society
The Business & Society journal publishes a summary of Lea Stadtler's dissertation which addressed important knowledge gaps related to interest alignment, developing an appropriate PPP design, boundary management, and the role of broker organizations in PPPs for development. The summary closes with a personal reflection on the research and dissertation journey.
To read the online version of the article, please click here.
01.11.2014 The Course "International Organizations Management" Part of Top 10 MOOCs Starting in November
The Coursera course "International Organizations Management," led by Prof. Probst is ranked among the most popular MOOCs starting in November 2014. The course modules include topics such as an Introduction to International Organizations and NGOs (Julian Fleet), The Shifting Context for International Organizations (Stefan Mergenthaler and Sebastian Buckup), Public-Private Partnerships (Gilbert Probst and Lea Stadtler), Leadership in the UN System (Bruce Jenks), and Marketing & Fundraising (Claudia Gonzalez and Cassandra Quintanilla). The MOOC starts on November 10th and you are more than welcome to register and participate.
15.09.2014 9th Edition of the ARSP (Incl. A Review of Our MOOC Experience)
The 9th edition of the Annual Review of Social Partnerships (ARSP) is now online. Highlights include:
- Thought-provoking invited pieces and interviews of leading professors, including Henry Mintzberg, Ans Kolk and Miguel Rivera-Santos, and practitioners Jonas Haertle (PRME) and Steve Waddell (NetworkingAction).
- A state of the art review of 100+ recent publications on cross-sector partnerships
- Lessons from implementing newest teaching tools such as simulations and MOOCs.
- Case examples of a diverse set of cross-sector partnerships across the world and reviews of most recent research programs and tools.
- News about past and future events and new members of the community.
L. Stadtler contributed with an article on MOOCs and the event note on the UNECE PPP meeting.
To see the article and full ARSP please click here.
08.08.2014 Paper Presentation at the Academy of Management Annual Meeting
Lea Stadtler and Haiying Lin (University of Waterloo) presented their paper on partnerships as change agents at the 74th annual meeting of the Academy of Management (AOM). The AOM meeting is the biggest management conference worldwide with about 11.000 participants this year. For more information please click here.
23.07.2014 Prof. Probst's Interview on Tackling Complexity
Student reporter includes an interview with Prof. Gilbert Probst based on his recent book "Tackling Complexity" co-authored with Prof. Andrea Bassi.
20.07.2014 Paper Presentations at the MOPAN Conference
Ozgu Karakulak has presented a paper on Cross-Sector Social Partnerships and the National Context at the MOPAN Conference in Oxford.
03.06.2014 Paper Presentations at the CSSI Symposium
Jessica Shannon (former Master student), Ozgu Karakulak, and Lea Stadtler have presented insights from their recent research projects at the Cross-Sector Social Interactions (CSSI) Symposium in Boston.
22.05.2014 Interview Based on the MIT Sloan Article
The recent issue of the Journal of UNIGE includes an interview with Sebastian Raisch based on the MIT Sloan article "Creating Societal Benefits and Corporate Profits" (co-authored with Alexander Zimmermann, Peter Gomez, and Gilbert Probst).
14.05.2014 New Blog on Partnerships
Lea Stadtler and Gilbert Probst post a new blog on partnerships on the World Economic Forum website. The blog discusses how theory may help improve "the real world" of partnering. Specifically, the authors suggest that theory helps understand when partnerships are appropriate and what different partnership intentions imply.
Please click here to go to the blog.
16.04.2014 New Blog on Tackling Complexity Gilbert Probst posts a new blog on "Tackling Complexity" on the World Economic Forum website. The blog gives tips for taking complex decisions at work.Please click here to go to the blog.
15.04.2014 Part Four of the CSRwire Series on Tackling Complexity
Gilbert Probst and Andrea Bassi publish part four of the CSRwire Series on "To Tackle Complexity: Avoid Simplistic Thinking" based on the recent book "Tackling Complexity."
15.04.2014 Part Three of the CSRwire Series on Tackling Complexity
Gilbert Probst and Andrea Bassi publish part three of the CSRwire Series on "The Evolution of Change: Three Essential Guidelines to Mapping Complexity" based on the recent book "Tackling Complexity."
31.03.2014 Part Two of the CSRwire Series on Tackling Complexity
Gilbert Probst and Andrea Bassi publish part two of the CSRwire Series on "A little Help From Your Friends: A how-to on Successful Partnerships" based on the recent book "Tackling Complexity."
24.03.2014 New Article in MIT-Sloan Management Review
Alexander Zimmermann, Peter Gomez, Gilbert Probst and Sebastian Raisch published a new article: "Creating Societal Benefits and Corporate Profits" in MIT-Sloan Management Review.
13.03.2014 Part One of the CSRwire Series on Tackling Complexity
Gilbert Probst and Andrea Bassi publish part one of the CSRwire Series on "Why Systemic Decision Making Matters," based on the recent book "Tackling Complexity."
23.01.2014 Fellows Program and Prof. Probst Featured in Leadership Article
The article "Global Leadership for Greater Good" published in "Developing Leaders" discusses the World Economic Forum's Fellows Program in view of the urgent need for global tri-sector collaboration. In this context, Prof. Probst describes the skills and capacities that help transform a leader into a global leader. For more information, please check Millar, R. (2014): Global Leadership for Greater Good. Developing Leaders, 14, 28-34 or click here for the online version.
01.12.2013 New Book on Managing Complexity
Gilbert Probst and Andrea Bassi wrote a new book entitled "Tackling Complexity - A Systemic Approach for Decision Makers" which will be available at Greenleaf Publishing Ltd. in January 2014. Read the introduction or get more information here.
Abstract: "Tackling Complexity" provides a step-by-step approach using systems thinking in order to solve complex problems in socio-political as well as business environments. It proposes a technique with which to better understand the problems and the context in which they arise, and tools to directly inform each step of the decision-making process. As presented in this book, the main innovation that systemic thinking introduces is the emphasis on defining the problem-creating system, which is made up of interacting parts, rather than prioritising events that need immediate fixing.
--->Paul Polman (CEO, Unilever) discusses the highlights of this book in his recent article "It's Time for Business to Earn a License to Lead."
01.11.2013 Coursera Participants Provide a Multitude of PPP examples - See An Overview Here
In our Coursera course “Managing International Organizations,” we asked the participants to briefly describe a PPP of their choice and send us a one-pager. We were delighted to receive many very insightful examples and would like to thank all those who committed to this purely voluntary exercise.
While the one pagers will remain confidential, we have created a list with the most cited PPP examples that correspond to our criteria (e.g., also involving actors from the business sector).
The list includes about 60 examples in the areas of health, education, water, and disaster relief and indicates the PPPs’ names, objectives, participating partners, focal region, and links for further information.
We will update the list again on Monday 4th at the end of the course. However, please note that the list of PPP examples is neither complete nor representative, and we cannot guarantee the accuracy of data.
However, we invite you to have a look at the very inspiring examples and thank the Coursera participants again for their great work.
23.10.2013 New Article in the Global Focus
The Global Focus (EFMD) published the article "Planting the Seeds of Change" of L. Stadtler and G. Probst in volume 7, issue 3. This article describes how the Ethiopia Commodity Exchange came into being and the lessons it holds.
04.10.2013 Online Course on Public-Private Partnerships
Have a look at our Coursera Online Course on International Organizations and Public-Private Partnerships (Free course on https://www.coursera.org/course/interorg - starting now)!
29.09.2013 Seminar on Changing Oceans Expedition
On October 2nd, 17:00-19:00 (Unimail), Fabian Munz will elaborate on his research results regarding "The Changing Oceans Expedition, Mission to Senegal." These results served as the basis for a related Master Thesis, developed in collaboration with the Geneva PPP Research Center.
20.08. 2013 Best Dissertation Award 2013
Lea Stadtler's dissertation has been selected out of 26 submissions for the "SIM Best Dissertation Award 2013" of the Social Issue Management Division, Academy of Management. During the Academy of Management Meeting in Orlando, she presented the main results of her work and received the award on Monday August, 12th. For more information please click here.
10.07. 2013 Article in Entreprise Romande
In a special issue on public-private partnerships, the journal "Entreprise Romande" has published an interview with Dr. Lea Stadtler about the rationale of collaborative PPPs and the Geneva PPP Research Center. Please see Entreprise Romande, Issue 05.07.2013, page 7.
17.06.2013 SNIS Award 2013
Dr. Lea Stadtler has won the "SNIS Award 2013 for the Best PhD Thesis in International Studies." For more information please click here.
20.05.2013 ECCH Features Case Study
The ECCH recommends the case study "Planting the Seeds of Change: The Ethiopia Commodity Exchange" of L. Stadtler and G. Probst on its website and provides background information on how to use the case in educational programs. For more information please click here.
01.05.2013 New Price-Winning Case Study
The case study "Planting the Seeds of Change: The Ethiopia Commodity Exchange" of Lea Stadtler and Gilbert Probst has won the EFMD Case Writing Competition Award 2012 (Category "Best of the Best" and Category "Inclusive Business Models").
The case study and respective teaching note are available at ECCH.
Abstract: This case illustrates the challenging and inspiring journey of Dr. Eleni Gabre-Madhin and her team to realize her dream of establishing a transparent and efficient commodity exchange in Ethiopia. To address the country’s market failures that had contributed to devastating famine and the miserable position of smallholder farmers, they developed an integrative approach based on a public-private partnership. Their tasks included overcoming initial mistrust and providing market institutions to grade quality and set standard, to warehouse and issue warehouse receipts, relay market information to all the relevant actors, coordinate trading, as well as to ensure reliable payment, delivery, and contract enforcement.
18.04.2013 Research and Teaching Assistant / Geneva PPP Center
We are looking for a candidate who coordinates and monitors research activities in the PPP field (university-wide related research activities and cooperation with external organizations). He/She enthusiastically helps with Master and MBA courses in the area of organization and management in general and organizational change management and partnerships in particular. This includes assisting with the course preparation and execution, coaching students, and helping with the administrative work. Moreover, the candidate will write a PhD thesis and work on his/her own focused research projects that link the topics of collaborative PPPs and organizational theory.
For more information please click here.
19.12.2012 Lea Stadtler successfully defended her thesis "Designing Public-Private Partnerships for Development"
06.11.2012 New Case Study
The case study "The Logistics Emergency Teams: Pioneering a New Partnership Model" and the accompanying teaching note, written by L. van Wassenhove and L. Stadtler, have been published by ECCH.
Abstract: The case illustrates the challenging but successful journey of a cross-sector partnership that deploys pro bono resources from Agility, AP Moller Maersk, TNT Express and UPS to support the disaster response operations of the UN Logistics Cluster. To transform an initially abstract idea into an operating partnership, the partners invested in developing and maintaining sound relationships backed by core principles, standard operating procedures and a sophisticated training programme. Additionally, the partnership required active management at the corporate level. Building on a track record of successful deployments by the end of 2011, the partners have to decide how to scale up their impact. The case lays a foundation for the discussion of the formation and management of multi-company, cross-sector partnerships. Teaching topics include the drivers of such a partnership, key success factors and specific problems, managing engagement in such a partnership at an organizational level, and the challenge of scaling up its impact.
11.10.2012 New video on the Global Leadership Fellows Program
14.08.2012 Article on Interest Alignment in Cross-Sector Partnerships
The Article "Aligning a Company's Economic and Social Interests in Cross-Sector Partnerships" of L. Stadtler has been published by the Journal of Corporate Citizenship, Vol. 44, pp. 85-106.
To access the journal please click here.
Abstract: The lack of a conclusive business case for corporate social responsibility (CSR) is at the heart of the ongoing debate on the role of companies in solving social problems. Acknowledging that companies increasingly execute their CSR activities through partnerships to address a social problem together with public and civil-society partners, this paper discusses how companies balance their economic interests with the partnership's social interests. Building on an extensive literature review, the paper develops a conceptual framework for sustainable interest alignment. It highlights that companies' different types of economic interest materialize at different points in time during the partnership's life-cycle and discusses the managerial implications at the company and partnership levels for aligning and achieving both social and economic interests. Practical insights into two partnerships in the area of education are presented to illustrate the framework.
O7.08.2012 Oikos Case Quarterly presents Case Study
The Oikos Case Quarterly journal published an article about the case study "Corporate Social Engagement: How Aramex Crosses Boundaries" of L. Van Wassenhove and L. Stadtler.
To access the journal, please click here.
04.07.2012 Case Study on Disaster Relief Operations and CSR
The case study "Building on Lessons Learnt: Disaster Relief Operations at Agility" and the respective teaching note of L. Van Wassenhove and L. Stadtler have been published at ECCH (Reference no. 712-021-1).
Abstract: Agility has deployed its logistics expertise and capacities in over 20 disaster relief operations. During the last four years, the corporate CSR team has set up and constantly adapted Agility's disaster relief program. It is based on three main pillars: (1) improving Agility's capacities for the Humanitarian & Emergency Logistics Program and creating internal support structures, (2) fostering bilateral partnerships with humanitarian organizations, and (3) reinforcing collaboration with the Logistics Emergency Teams. Catching up with the latest relief operation, Frank Clary, Senior Manager for Corporate Social Responsibility, reflects on the company's learning journey. This case lays the foundation for a discussion of corporate disaster relief operations and their embeddedness in a broader corporate social responsibility strategy. Teaching topics can include: structuring CSR activities and integrating a disaster relief program into a broader CSR strategy, the role of a corporate CSR team in supporting a disaster relief program, managing bilateral cross-sector partnerships and multi-company, integrative partnerships, as well as analyzing CSR-related learning processes.
04.05.2012 Research Note on Public-Private Partnerships for Development
The research note "Designing public-private partnerships for development" of L. Stadtler has been published by M@n@gement, Vol. 15, No. 1, pp. 77-100 and can be downloaded here.
Abstract: Public-private partnerships (PPPs) for development are increasingly used to address public problems that exceed the capacities of a single sector. Nevertheless, these partnerships are challenging and many of them come up against collaborative inertia. A commonly suggested remedy is to develop more effective and bespoke modes of structuring and coordinating the partnership. However, the literature on PPPs often simplifies diversity and does not differentiate between various structural forms. A typology from the network literature serves as a starting point for gaining a deeper understanding of effective PPP structures and the management of the various design challenges which correspond to them. This article argues that additional challenges stem from the specific context of PPPs for development and thereby extends existing insights into the typology. Building on the structural contingency literature, the article develops a conceptual framework for the management of PPP-specific design challenges and elucidates cautious implications for the effective use of different PPP structures. The resulting framework is illustrated with three short field examples of PPPs for development.
15.01.2012 New article about the Global Leadership Fellows Program, please click here
08.12.2011 New Book Chapter
The chapter "Private-Humanitarian Supply Chain Partnerships on the Silk Road" of O. Stapleton, L. Stadtler and L. Van Wassenhove is part of the book "Managing Supply Chains on the Silk Road: Strategy, Performance, and Risk" (Haksoz, C.; Seshadri, S.; Iyer, A.V (Eds.)) that has recently been published by the Taylor & Francis Group (www.taylorandfrancis.com/books/details/9781439867204/).
09.11.2011 New Article on Broker Organizations
The article "How broker organizations can facilitate public-private partnerships for development" of L. Stadtler and G. Probst will soon be published in the European Management Journal (see http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.emj.2011.10.002).
Abstract: Broker organizations increasingly facilitate the partnering process of public-private partnerships (PPPs) for development. In this paper, we argue that their function goes beyond simply match-making between partners and develop a theoretical framework for the broker organizations' roles throughout the PPP life cycle. Research on 19 broker organizations shows that these organizations act in the roles of convener, mediator, and learning catalyst. We analyze how and why they can facilitate the partnering process through these roles and discuss the research findings in the light of the social capital, collaboration, and inter-organizational learning literatures. The discussion highlights the benefits of broker organizations in the partnering process of PPPs and how those organizations' roles can best be performed.
03.08.2011 New Publication - Case Study
The ECCH has now published the case "Corporate Social Engagement: How Aramex Crosses Boundaries" and the accompanying teaching note, written by Lea Stadtler under the supervision of Prof. Luk van Wassenhove. The case study is selected as one of the five best cases at the oikos Case Writing Competition 2011 (http://www.ecch.com/educators/casemethod/competitions/results/oikos2011).
Abstract: In response to the Gaza crisis in 2008/9, the global logistics company Aramex decided to use its core competencies for a humanitarian relief campaign and deliver donated items to people in need. Consequently, Aramex had to quickly develop a suitable communication strategy to call for donations, select collection points, clear the goods, pack them in Aramex's warehouses, and, finally, for how to send them to Gaza. To ensure that the donations reached their destination, Aramex partnered with the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization (JHCO) in Jordan and the Red Crescent in the United Arab Emirates. The case discusses lessons learnt with regard to coordinating business and social activities, managing volunteer work, working with corporate and charity partners, and using social media to leverage the campaign.
21.09.2010 New Publication - Book on Organizational Perspectives
As a tribute to Prof. Probst, a book "More than Bricks in the Wall: Organizational Perspectives for Sustainable Success" has been published by Gabler (Editors: L. Stadtler/A. Schmitt/P. Klarner/Th. Straub). This book illustrates different organizational perspectives for achieving sustainable corporate success. Composed of 20 academic and practical articles, it analyzes current research questions and highlights corresponding managerial challenges.
A comprehensive view is provided on the topics of corporate growth, change management, crisis management, knowledge management, and managing across corporate boundaries. Thus, the contributions cover a range of research areas that have been developed at Prof. Gilbert Probst's Chair of Organisation and Management at the University of Geneva over the past twenty years. The book was handed over to Prof. Probst on Friday the 17.09. during a festive evening.
For an overview please click here.
16.06.2010 New Publication - Case Study
The ECCH has now published the case "Creating shared responsibility in a multi-stakeholder partnership" and the accompanying teaching note, written by Lea Stadtler and Prof. Talah Arabiyat under the supervision of Prof. Gilbert Probst. The case study project was initiated together with the Young Global Leaders from the World Economic Forum.
Abstract: Throughout the world civil societies have called on businesses to become involved in corporate social responsibility and engage in multi-stakeholder partnerships with identified community institutions in need of their help. In keeping with this objective, Madrasati, a Jordanian Initiative founded by Her Majesty, Queen Rania Al Abdullah, leverages the public, civil society and particularly the private sectors' resources to develop a shared responsibility for education. In one of their partnerships, Madrasati collaborated with the Central Trade & Auto Co. Toyota as private sponsor and other major stakeholders to improve the Husban Secondary School for Boys. In line with Madrasati's strategy, the school's basic infrastructure would be fixed first, after which the learning environment would be improved. For example, more interactive and technology-based teaching mechanisms were fostered together with the Jordan Education Initiative - another partner organization. Finally, to sustain the partnership efforts, the partners would engender a sense of responsibility in the school's stakeholders. Due to a general strong commitment and involvement, the partnership at the Husban School slowly approached its ultimate goals. After a visit by the World Economic Forum's Young Global Leaders, Nadim Haddad, the Toyota business partner, was inspired to reflect on the partnership's progress and to deduce lessons learned.