LEADERSHIP UNLOCKING EXECUTIVE SUMMIT: THE POWER INTERVIEW: REINVENTING OF THE AHOLD CEO THE FUTURE CROWD SPEAKS SUMMER 2013 RSMThe Alumni and Corporate Relations MagazineOutlook of Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University
Making business social
The business school that thinks and lives in the future Page 1; B&T13229 Outlook Leadership Summit
It’s been said that the best way to predict the future is to invent it.
But in today’s unpredictable business climate, we The RSM Leadership Summit is the flagship annual have to go a step further: we have to reinvent the event at which you have the opportunity to meet the future. Find out how the leaders of multinational world’s most influential senior executives, and to business are re-invigorating, re-innovating, and network with the entire RSM community – alumni, literally reinventing their (and our) future: VIPs, corporate relations, faculty and staff. Don’t Join us at the 5th annual RSM Leadership Summit: miss it! RSM.NL/SUMMIT Reinventing the Future.
To reinvent your future, save the date! Friday, 4 October 2013 - 13.00 to 18.00 Beurs - World Trade Center Rotterdam
ROTTERDAM SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT ERASMUS UNIVERSITY RSM OUTLOOK / SUMMER 2013 Contents
26 28
The potential scope for RSM’s new Energy Affinity Group to be a valuable platform for sharing information is a big incentive to take part. - p30
30 32
MAIN FEATURE MAKING BUSINESS SOCIAL
Page 26 Page 28 Page 30 Page 32 Improving the impact The business Helping communities Social change through of social business of social media through crowdfunding a circular economy
Business is a powerful tool From blogs to crowdsourcing, Social ventures can improve Is today’s linear economy for solving social problems. there is no escaping the the lives of communities outdated, and if so, would a However, more businesses power of social media, and all over the world, and with radical shift towards a circular need to focus on social businesses that ignore its the power of the crowd at economy bring greater issues if a greater impact is to potential do so at their your disposal, the potential benefits to both business be achieved. own peril. is unlimited. and society?
RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013 03 Page 1; B&T13128-RSM Career Services tbv Outlook 10mei13
RSM OUTLOOK / SUMMER 2013 LOOKING FOR TALENT? PROFILE YOUR ORGANISATION AT RSM! RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013
RSM OUTLOOK is published by 18 | The reshaping of retail Rotterdam School of Management, CEO of Ahold, Dick Boer, and Klaas Erasmus University Miedema, Senior VP of HR and DEAN Steef van de Velde Management Development, talk to RSM’s
MARKETING DIRECTOR Dean, Prof Steef van de Velde about the Willem Koolhaas management challenges faced by the MANAGING EDITOR retailing sector. Russell Gilbert
EDITORS Justine Whittern Dorine Schreiner
EDITORIAL BOARD 24 | Inspiring alumni Theo Backx Hetty Brand-Boswijk In 2012, Layla El Zein took part in RSM’s Dianne Bevelander Kilimanjaro Leadership Project. It was an Irene Broekmans-Versluijs Chantal Dammann experience that gave Layla the self-belief to Wilfred Mijnhardt Jennifer Ritfeld make a life-changing decision about her future. Marianne Schouten Marno Verbeek Eric Waarts
DESIGNERS UNIT20.
DISTRIBUTION 40 | The virtuous circle Madelon Fontein When science and business are
CONTRIBUTORS united in a neutral environment Brian Bollen, Joe Figueriedo, Christine Hayes, Rebecca Morris, Tim Skelton, Kevin Titman, where common goals can be Miriam Young explored, the outcomes yield © 2013 Rotterdam School of Management, benefits for everyone. Erasmus University. All rights reserved.
At RSM you will find a vast resource of world-class talent for your organisation AND MORE... and opportunities to engage the Netherlands top management institution.
06 | Letter from the Dean 34 | Reinventing the future 42 | Refining tomorrow’s Participants in the Bachelor, Masters and MBA programmes range from motivated Steef van de Velde, Dean of RSM, provides With so much uncertainty in the world managers young business professionals to experienced senior executives. Representing over an update on the school’s recent Strategic today, how can executives plan for the A new management programme set up by 40 nationalities, they have a wealth of global business and intercultural expertise. Review and looks forward to RSM 3.0. future? The answers can be found at this RSM for Kuwait Petroleum International year’s RSM Leadership Summit, which is proving to be a great success. Engagement opportunities for organisations include; 08 | News from RSM takes place in October. A summary of news and activities from 45 | Events round-up • On-site company visits the world of RSM. 36 | Campus under A preview of forthcoming events you’ll • On campus company presentations construction want to make a note of in your diary. • Consulting projects 16 | International accolades The first phase of the redevelopment of • Internships Recent high-profile awards for senior the Woudestein campus will be completed • Online CV platform and job boards faculty members at RSM reinforces the to coincide with the 100th anniversary of school’s mantra that science should Erasmus University Rotterdam. As well as customised services to promote your organisation at Rotterdam School serve the business world. of Management, Erasmus University. 38 | Making a name in 22 | Enterprising alumni Amsterdam Stef van Dongen, CEO and Founder Since opening, the response to RSM’s Contact: +31 (0)10 408 2010 | [email protected] | www.rsm.nl/careerservices of Enviu, talks about social Amsterdam office from businesses in entrepreneurship, and the influence RSM the Zuidas area and beyond has been had in shaping his views of the world. welcoming and enthusiastic. ROTTERDAM SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT
04 RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013 ERASMUS UNIVERSITY Page 1; B&T13128-RSM Career Services tbv Outlook 10mei13
LOOKING FOR TALENT? PROFILE YOUR ORGANISATION AT RSM!
At RSM you will find a vast resource of world-class talent for your organisation and opportunities to engage the Netherlands top management institution.
Participants in the Bachelor, Masters and MBA programmes range from motivated young business professionals to experienced senior executives. Representing over 40 nationalities, they have a wealth of global business and intercultural expertise.
Engagement opportunities for organisations include;
• On-site company visits • On campus company presentations • Consulting projects • Internships • Online CV platform and job boards
As well as customised services to promote your organisation at Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University.
Contact: +31 (0)10 408 2010 | [email protected] | www.rsm.nl/careerservices
ROTTERDAM SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT ERASMUS UNIVERSITY LETTER / FROM THE DEAN
LETTER FROM THE DEAN
I had the honour and pleasure of congratulating more than 200 of our newly graduated alumni at the MFM, MBA and EMBA graduation ceremony in Rotterdam recently. It gave me the opportunity to speak about the outcome of RSM’s recent Strategic Review, which is important for new graduates as Netherlands are capped by law, so it will remain well as all of our alumni and stakeholders. Staff, faculty and a challenge to attract and retain them. A second trend is the gradual decline of state even buildings come and go, but alumni are a permanent part funding and an increasingly tighter government of the school. rein on universities that not only prescribes what needs to be done but also how things need to be done. We must resist the pressure to n the past, state funding provided us with gravitate to the average, which is the enemy of a stable financial basis that enabled us excellence. RSM 3.0 needs autonomy to meet I to grow from a teaching-based business those challenges. school – ‘RSM 1.0’ – into a research-based So what will RSM 3.0 look like? Its foundation business school or ‘RSM 2.0’, which is what we is the research-based business school RSM are now. But as the Strategic Review highlights, 2.0, but we need to develop new sources of there are currently restrictions in our operating private funding, and we will continue to enhance model. To continue our rise in recognition and the reputation of the school through the quality rankings as a top-tier international business of the students we deliver to the job market. school, we need to become RSM 3.0. These two elements can produce a synergy to reinforce each other. We will rely more on national and European funding for individual research and collaborative The social capital invested in our projects; we are developing new programmes, alumni holds huge potential, so we put particularly for the MSc market and for Executive Education, and we will expand to other locations, great effort into making RSM a place as we did when we opened the new RSM office in Amsterdam last year [see pages 38-39]. with which you want to stay connected.” We must reject the simplistic paradigm, which defines the reputation of the school only by its scientific output and academic papers from There are two trends. First is the faculty. Instead, I believe the reputation of the increasingly global market for management school is defined by its social capital: the value and business education, which gives students that the school generates for society through its more choices about where they study. Our high networks of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and FT rankings for MSc help us to capitalise on corporate relations. The social capital invested this, but the number of high quality business in our alumni holds huge potential, so we put schools elsewhere in the world is growing and great effort into making RSM a place with which attracting top faculty. Salaries for faculty in the you want to stay connected.
06 RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013 LETTER / FROM THE DEAN
The forthcoming annual RSM Leadership Summit, which takes place on Friday 4 October, is a perfect example of the mutual value of the alumni network. It is previewed on pages 34-35 and I recommend that you attend if you can. You’ll find other examples of alumni networking activities in the pages of this issue – class reunions, the Alumni Reunion day, social clubs and the RSM Marathon event as well as contacts for local chapters around the world and our industry-specific Alumni Affinity Groups. For the 40 per cent of you who say that lifelong learning is the reason you stay connected to RSM, we have included a round-up of our new Executive Education programmes in this issue. Further developments will focus on supporting alumni and students in their entrepreneurial projects, such as recent “boot camp” programmes. We also hope to add mid-career services such as mentoring, skill comments, suggestions and questions as we development, career counselling, coaching and continue to develop your alumni network. a job database. RSM 3.0 will take shape at the re-developed In return, a strong alumni network offers us Woudestein campus, which will be completed in opportunities in mentoring, attracting students time for the start of the EUR’s 100th anniversary and speakers, a source of job placements and year in September [see pages36-37]. I wish input into our research and curricula. Together, you all an enjoyable summer, and look forward we will be able to realise the tremendous to welcoming you back to one of the RSM potential of our social capital. networking activities soon. Many of you have already embraced the social capital perspective of RSM since you Kind regards, graduated. I hope this issue of RSM Outlook illustrates the benefits of our efforts to build Prof. Steef van de Velde RSM 3.0 because above all, it needs you. You Dean can see the complete list of alumni services and Rotterdam School of Management contact details on page 50. Please send us your Erasmus University
RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013 07 NEWS / IN BRIEF
NEWS FROM RSM
AWARDS
Mark Blok won the Shell Excellence Award in Corporate Communication for the best thesis, in which he examined corporate silence.
The Andreas Innovation Award in Corporate Communication for the most innovative thesis went to Petra Sommer for her research on crowdsourcing’s effect on cor- MBA GRADUATES BEGIN porate reputation. BUSINESS ADVENTURE Ninety EMBA’12 gradu- and Rotterdam’s Mayor (MBA’13). Marc Chahin, The Dutch Ministry of Finance’s ates, 17 MFM’12 graduates Ahmed Aboutaleb. Among Chantal van Litsenburg, Financial Thesis Award 2012 and 102 MBA’13 graduates the graduates were seven Alex Henney and Elsa (Grote Financiën Scriptieprijs) received diplomas during students who reached the Tavares Da Rocha also went to David Stolker, a cum a graduation ceremony in Dean’s Honours list: Marc received Honours with laude alumnus of RSM’s MSc Rotterdam’s Beurs-World Chahin and Chantal van Academic Distinction. Accounting & Control programme Trade Center on 22 March Litsenburg (EMBA’12), The Beurs-WTC Lead- in 2011. Stolker won the prize plus 2013. Speakers included and Alex Henney, Peter ership Award went to €5,000 for his thesis about how Judge Hisashi Owada of Laaber, Bhawna Mengh- Annette Silva (EMBA’12) external auditors’ inspections of the International Court nani, Elizabeth Rogers and and Markus Lodensträter financial information provided by of Justice in The Hague, Elsa Tavares Da Rocha (MBA’13). companies can be improved.
Jelle de Vries won the first Dutch Logistics Society (VLM) master thesis award for his thesis on ware- house safety for RSM’s Master of Philosophy in Business Research, AWARD FOR INNOVATIVE IT which he completed in 2012. De RSM’s Associate Professor Wolfgang Ketter and his re- Vries argues that warehouse safe- search team have received the prestigious INFORMS ty doesn’t just happen, but needs ISS Design Science Award 2012 in Orlando, Florida. to be created and doesn’t neces- They have developed methods for software agents sarily cause a productivity de- to characterise the economic environment in which they operate crease. He won a four-day logistics and predict its future conditions. The annual award promotes and trip to Paris. De Vries is currently recognises research efforts focusing on the design and realisation a PhD candidate at ERIM. of innovative information technology artefacts.
08 RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013 Success for RSM alumni day
RSM STORE On April 12, more than 200 RSM alumni, LAUNCHES some from as far away as Denmark, Hungary, and Italy, returned to take part A strong demand from in RSM Alumni Day. Themed ‘Engaging overseas alumni and for Change: Making Business Social’, this current students led to the yearly event, which is a happy combination opening of the first RSM of lifelong learning, applicable research, Store earlier this spring. Students, staff, alumni and visitors can and enjoyable networking, kicked off purchase a wide range of RSM apparel, such as mugs, hoodies, in the main hallway of J-building with a and bags. Enthusiastic RSM student ambassadors run the store, welcome speech from Prof. Jaap Spronk, which is located in the T-building (3rd floor) on Woudestein campus Academic Dean MBA programmes. and is open on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 11:00-14:00. Online purchases can be made at www.store.rsm.nl The audience then took part in their choice of 90-minute sessions that addressed some of the many meanings of “social business”. Each session, led by one RSM alumnus and one faculty member, offered a balance of experiential and theoretical learning. Faculty members PRIZE FOR CAFÉ Justin Jansen, Jan van den Ende, Rob van IN DE SMITSE Tulder and Karen Maas were paired with RSM alumni John Apesos, Valér Merényi, RSM’s renowned Café In de Smitse was voted as Stef van Dongen and Robert-Jan van ‘Hertog Jan Pub of the Year 2013’ by the public for Ogtrop, respectively. being the most attractive and popular café among the 48 par- ticipating establishments. Prof. Jacob de Smit founded Café In The plenary, led by debate expert de Smitse in Delft before it relocated to the Woudestein campus. Lars Duursma, Founder and Director of Debatrix, wrapped up the day’s presentations with energy, and kept the alumni buzzing on their way to the post- CREATIVITY FOR plenary dinner. One alumnus summed up the power of RSM alumni events – and INNOVATION Alumni Day – succinctly: ‘It’s like I’ve got IBA bachelor student groups a lifetime guarantee on my education,’ from RSM earned praise from he said. Other comments spoke of the entrepreneurs after taking specific theme of the event: ‘I’m from the part in the Creativity for Inno- class of ’85,’ said one, ‘I have become vation project, a joint initiative by cynical – I see that “profit, profit, profit” RSM and Syntens Innovation Centre, drives people, but I see today that there is which stimulates innovation in SMEs. Each hope for a different type of business. I’ve student group analysed the business op- gotten a lot of inspiration from the day.’ erations of, and the obstacles faced by, an organisation. Each group then prepared a See main feature (pages 26-33) for more consultancy report to help boost the com- about the speakers and their perspectives pany’s innovative strength by promoting and on how business can become more social. making better use of employees’ creativity.
RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013 09 NEWS / IN BRIEF
NEW BUSINESS MODEL FOR ECOSYSTEMS A new publication by that nature forms ‘natural RSM’s Executive Fellow capital’ and acts as the RSM IN FT Willem Ferwerda high- basis of all wealth crea- TOP 10 AGAIN lights the importance of tion, was published on restoring damaged eco- the websites of RSM and RSM ranks ninth in the systems. He argues it the International Union for Financial Times Meta should be the new model Conservation of Nature Ranking 2012 of European for business. Ferwerda’s and can be downloaded at Business Schools. The research, which concludes www.iucn.org/cem. survey used all criteria from separate Financial Times rankings conducted in 2012. The overall European business schools ranking is MBA CLASS OF 2014 KICKS OFF based on indexed scores A cohort of 140 enthusiastic International Full-time MBA students com- behind these rankings. menced their studies at RSM with a lively orientation week in January. International students account for 94 per cent of the MBA’14 class, representing 40 nationalities. The class will complete their MBA in December 2013.
DOING BUSINESS IN AFRICA MBA RANKS DUKE’S AWARD Launched in January 2013, Doing business in IN TOP 5 FOR ECSP Africa – a strategic guide RSM’s MBA ranks fifth world- The Erasmus Centre for Strategic Phi- for entrepreneurs is the first wide for sustainability in the lanthropy (ECSP) was recently acknowl- book about the systematic Bloomberg Businessweek 2012 edged as a Gold Friend of The Duke management of Dutch entre- ranking, which places it as Eu- of Edinburgh’s International Award preneurship in Africa. It offers rope’s number one. Additionally, Foundation. This recognition is based managers practical tools to RSM ranked seventh in the area on the generous support of research assess risks and overcome of diversity, which is defined into the Award’s impact through the barriers when doing business as a combination of nationali- programme’s volunteering. The ECSP in Africa. Co-written by RSM ties, gender and career back- will continue to work closely with the Professor Rob van Tulder, the grounds. Overall, RSM entered foundation to gain knowledge and un- book is a joint production by the the top 20 of international busi- derstanding of the programme’s impact Partnerships Resource Centre ness schools in the ranking, and management of change and help at RSM, consultancy firm Ber- which based its results on in- them and the non-profit field to make enschot, and the Netherlands tellectual capital measure, and the most of their efforts. African Business Council. student and employer surveys.
10 RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2012 Page 1; B&T13128 Outlook Alumni Reunion
Happy graduation anniversary!
Reconnect and become inspired at the RSM MBA ALUMNI2 RE0UNI1ON3
It’s been 5, 10, 15 or 20 years since graduation for the MBA classes of FT1988, FT1993, FT1998, FT2003, MBA2008, PT1998, PT2003, EMBA2008, EMBA / EMBI1993, EMBI1998, HRL2003, MFM2003, MFM2008 and OneMBA2008.
Were you in one of these classes? Catch up with your classmates in Rotterdam at the RSM Leadership Summit and the annual alumni reunion on 4 & 5 October 2013.
The reunion, called ‘Inspiration in Mind and Soul’, includes sessions in which you explore how to become an ‘aware leader’. Bringing two apparently distinct concepts together, the sessions reflect on the importance of combining logical thought processes and strategies with emotional awareness.
We’re looking forward to seeing you on 4 & 5 October 2013 in Rotterdam!
Register now! www.rsm.nl/mbareunion
ROTTERDAM SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT ERASMUS UNIVERSITY NEWS / IN BRIEF
HIGH ACCOLADES FOR BOOK
President World Business Council for Sustainable Development Alumni Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University Peter THE PLANET NEEDS I WILL START THE REVOLUTION RSM’s Professor Rob van Tulder’s book Duurzaam ondernemen waar- Bakker, Dutch maken (Sustainable Entrepreneur- ship in Actual Practice) tied for second place in the prestigious Management Book of the Year 2013 award. Written by a team of two researchers and two consultants, it’s NEW RECTOR the first book that analyses and de- MAGNIFICUS scribes from a business administration APPOINTED and managerial perspective which in- terventions turn sustainable entrepre- The Supervisory Board of neurship into reality. Erasmus University Rotter- dam has appointed Profes- sor Huibert Pols as rector magnificus. He will succeed Professor Henk Schmidt, AACSB ACCREDITATION RENEWED who will retire on 8 Novem- The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business ber 2013. Pols is currently (AACSB International) has reaccredited RSM. RSM was among Dean of the Faculty of Medi- the first European business schools to earn its initial AACSB ac- cine and Health Sciences creditation in 1998. AACSB accreditation is the hallmark of excel- and Vice-President of the lence in business education, and has been earned by less than Executive Board of Erasmus five per cent of business programmes worldwide. MC. As rector magnificus he will focus primarily on teach- ing, research, students and science information.
INTEGRITY NWO TOP GRANT PHD ON An academic team, which includes IN THE DUTCH RSM’s Professors Jan van den MORAL PUBLIC ARENA Ende and Henk Volberda, has re- BEHAVIOUR RSM Professor Muel Kaptein has ceived a NWO TOP grant for their PhD graduate Suzanne van Gils published a free downloadable Dutch- project about business model in- analysed the interplay between language book, called Dienaren van novation in the creative industry employees and their organisational het Volk (Servants of the People). In sector. It’s the first NWO TOP grant environment and offers practical the 350-page book, Kaptein provides acquired by the Erasmus University. insights into the effects of moral insight into how integrity as a powerful The grant amounts to €730,973 behaviour in the workplace. She factor plays out and how politicians, and project partners added an- argued that context and personality officials and company executives other €220,000. The Netherlands influences the ways ethical failures should handle this. The book can be Organisation for Scientific in organisations are discussed and downloaded here: Research (NWO) currently financ- reported. Van Gils defended her dis- www.rsm.nl/dienarenvanhetvolk es the projects of more than sertation on 6 December 2012. 5000 scientists.
12 RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013 TOP RANKINGS RSM’s Dutch-language BSc in Business Administration took a top ranking in the an- nual Keuzegids Universiteiten 2013 – a Dutch university guide. The Best Studies guide from Elsevier magazine ranked the programme GET IN THE RING as number one in 2012. The English-taught Organised by the Erasmus Centre for BSc in International Business Administration at RSM also Entrepreneurship, Get in the Ring received got a high ranking from Keuzegids Universiteiten, which the Compass Award for most innovative compares Dutch university’s bachelor courses based on and creative branding at the Global student and expert assessments. Entrepreneurship Congress 2013 in Rio de Janeiro. Get in the Ring is an investment battle that puts promising entrepreneurs in contact with international investors and inspires visitors to start their own entrepreneurial journey. NEW DUAL STUDENTS Through an international competition entrepreneurs try to secure an investment DEGREE CONQUER up to €1,000,000. The grand finale of PROGRAMME RESEARCH Get in the Ring takes place during the Students can now combine the CHALLENGE Global Entrepreneurship Week 2013, International Full-time MBA and An analysis and investment case about which takes place in the Netherlands from the MSc in Financial a major food wholesaler by an RSM 18-24 November. Management in RSM’s new Dual student team won the Dutch/Belgian Degree programme. From the Local Finals as part of the CFA Institute MBA’14 class, 21 dual degree Research Challenge in Amsterdam on EXEC MBAS IN students are following extra fi- 28 February. Eleven Dutch and Belgian nancial management courses in universities participated in the compe- HONG KONG addition to the MBA’s core tition. The RSM team was awarded Around 90 participants of RSM’s Executive courses. A fifth term is devoted €1,000 in ING Investment Management MBA Class of 2013 travelled to Hong Kong to their master thesis through scholarships. It’s the second time that from 11-15 March to learn about doing desk research or an internship. RSM has won the challenge. business in Asia. The executives visited various organisations and attended presentations at The Asia-Pacific Institute of Business at The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
MBA SUSTAINABILITY SCHOLARSHIP ONEMBA GLOBAL RSM’s first Sustainability Scholarship went RESIDENCY to MBA’14 student Maeve Quigley. She’s Amsterdam and Istanbul were the host cities expected to pay special attention to sus- for the Global European Residency for 120 tainable business models through her MBA participants of the OneMBA Class of 2014 in studies, and to work towards becoming a March. The European chapter of the OneMBA business leader who can turn these models residencies focused on the opportunities, into win-win realities for business, society, challenges and contrasts between operating and the environment. The MBA Sustainability Scholarship of €5,000 will in developed European economies and the be offered again to an MBA candidate joining RSM in January 2014. emerging economy of Turkey.
RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013 13 NEWS / IN BRIEF
RSM TEAM KEEPS THE PACE With special running shirts, 169 RSM students, staff and alumni hit the streets of Rotterdam to participate in the city’s annual marathon on 13 and 14 April 2013. The fastest RSM runner to ERIM complete the 42.2km race was Peter van den Berg, an MScBA RESEARCHERS in Strategic Management alumnus (time: 3:36:09). RSM bach- elor student Daniel Schlee was the quickest RSM runner in the TAKE A PLEDGE 10-kilometre run, which he completed in 38m 27s. The fastest About 45 students took a pledge five-kilometre RSM runner was faculty member Henk de Vries, to commit themselves to the who reached the finish line in 22m 49s. Pictured is the 5km team. Netherlands Code of Conduct for Scientific Practice. The cer- emony took place on 30 January and concluded the new scientific WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM INDEX integrity course that has become In the World Economic Forum’s 12th Global Information Technology Report, mandatory for all new PhD and the Netherlands reached fourth place in the ‘Network Readiness Index’. research master students at ERIM’s research centre INSCOPE had partly gathered the data for this ERIM. The pledge-taking cer- report, under the supervision of RSM’s Professor Henk Volberda. The index emony was a pilot for the whole compares the capacity of 144 economies worldwide to use ICT for the benefit of Erasmus University Rotterdam of international competitive strength and social well-being. and was attended by rector mag- nificus Henk Schmidt.
UNICEF AND NEW MSC EXECUTIVES PARTNERS CURRICULUM GRADUATE A new curriculum for most one-year MSc EXPLAIN STRATEGIC On March 22, fifteen executives programmes will be influencing the study completed the Erasmus Executive PHILANTHROPY path of students who begin their master in Programme in Strategic Manage- UNICEF showed student members September 2013. The restructuring is neces- ment. Participants had attended of RSM’s Charity Club how corpo- sary because students can take a long time 10 plenary sessions examining rate partnerships can be used as to finish their master, particularly their thesis. strategic management themes and a way to achieve its aims in global Students will benefit from the new curriculum sessions with a motivational coach. development for children. Speakers by having: an accelerated master thesis They were required to distil the pro- highlighted the company benefits of trajectory; streamlined and improved coach- gramme’s most relevant knowledge strategic philanthropy, UNICEF’s low- ing on content and process; a more stimulat- for their company and apply it when cost infrastructure, its effectiveness ing programme that enables graduation developing a strategic decision plan. in working with governments, and within one year; an improved balance be- The programme will commence corporate social responsibility. tween programme electives and free elec- again on 3 October 2013. tives, and increased possibilities to tailor the programme to individual requirements.
14 RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013 NEWS / IN BRIEF
RSM AND UNICEF REPUTATION AWARDS EMPOWER WOMEN FOR PHILIPS AND Around 40 female business leaders FRIESLANDCAMPINA were brought together at the RSM/ For the sixth consecutive year, Philips had the best UNICEF – Women Empowering overall reputation of the 30 largest companies in the Women Networking Event. In a mas- Netherlands, according to the Reputation Institute. The terclass by RSM’s Dianne Bevelander, first-ever award for best Corporate Social Responsibil- Neferu, Romanian participants reflected on self-man- ity reputation went to FrieslandCampina. The awards
agement, relationship management were handed out by Cees van Riel, Professor of Cor- NEVER STOP I WILL CHALLENGING AND MYSELF AROUND ME THE PEOPLE Laura Student, MSc Finance & Investments and network management. Proceeds porate Communication at RSM (pictured left) and co- raised through registration fees were founder of the Reputation Institute, which carries out donated to UNICEF. global reputation research in more than 40 countries. Page 1; B&T13128 Outlook MentorMe
RSM-Me ntorMe - Connecting RSM alumni and students Volunteering as a mentor enhances your leadership and coaching skills, and is an opportunity to exchange new ideas with current RSM students.
The RSM-MentorMe programme is designed to connect you – as an alumnus – with current Bachelor and Master students. Being a helping hand to students facing challenges in their study and career choices is a real way to give back to the RSM community. Can you help by volunteering some of your time for just five months?
Find out more and register for the October 2013 - February 2014 session: http://rsm.mentorme.nl
ROTTERDAM SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT ERASMUS UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOCUS / AWARDS
International accolades for inspiring research
Further accolades for the research output of RSM have come in the form of recently confirmed awards for the work of two of its leading faculty members, Jan Dul (Professor of Technology and Human Factors, and Chair of the Department of Management of Technology and Innovation) and Marno Verbeek (Professor of Finance, Dean of Research at RSM, and Scientific Director, ERIM). Text Kevin Titman
he papers explore specific issues and operational plan to businesses and teamwork involved and the challenge within the fields of Human managers. The plan seeks to improve of combining so many views into one T Factors/Ergonomics and Fund communication within businesses on the paper. He also considers the award as Management respectively and were importance of the working environment confirmation of the main raison d’être of adjudged winners by esteemed panels to achieving good productivity. working in the field: ‘Our activity is not of academics and business practitioners. According to the adjudicating panel just research for academia’s sake but is Professor Dul’s paper, titled A from the Ergonomics journal, the also applied science conducted to serve strategy for human factors/ergonomics: paper ‘was selected as an important the business world. This is the key reason developing the discipline and profession, international collaborative endeavour, why academic output from institutions has been adjudged the recipient of making a major contribution in the field, such as RSM should be made prominent. the 2013 Liberty Mutual Award, which representing a paradigm shift in thinking To know that our paper was selected as the recognises the paper published in the about the future strategy and direction of best contribution to the advancement of journal Ergonomics that best contributes human factors and ergonomics.’ practice backs this up, as well as providing to the advancement of the science For Professor Dul, the announcement an extra source of satisfaction for the of ergonomics. This ‘vision paper’, in of the award offers recognition of the whole team.’ Prof. Dul’s words, explores the links between productivity and well-being in the workplace in relation to the many different internal stakeholders within Our activity is not just companies; from lower-rung employees research for academia’s sake but and service workers through to technical experts and strategic decision-makers. is also applied science conducted The fruits of the labour of an international eight-man team led by to serve the business world.” Professor Dul, the paper revives the Prof. Jan Dul, recipient of the 2013 Liberty Mutual Award. field of Human Factors/Ergonomics (HFE) by proposing a clear strategic
16 RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013 RESEARCH FOCUS / AWARDS inspiring research
the academic world and the business world, as well as the many activities that bridge those two worlds.’ The SPIVA Awards recognise excellence in research on index-related applications, and acknowledge researchers who explore innovative techniques that enhance the use of indices in financial markets. David M. Blitzer, Managing Director and Chairman of the Index Committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices, commented on the SPIVA award initiative and this year’s deserved winner: ‘The on-going popularity, success, and growth of investing with indices depends on investments in intellectual capital and research. We Congratulations to Prof. Marno Verbeek (centre) and co-authors support these efforts through the SPIVA Assistant Professor Hao Jiang and alumnus Yu Wang. Awards as well as with our own internal research. The winning paper shows that some managers who have the courage SPIVA Award are investing and what they are investing, of their convictions can outperform by Further good news came with the as well as the extent to which advance holding portfolios very different from their attribution of the S&P Dow Jones second information on stocks is assisting them.’ index benchmarks.’ annual SPIVA Award to Professor Marno Professor Verbeek expressed his pride In the view of Prof. Steef van de Verbeek for his co-authorship of the paper at receiving such acclaim for the paper: Velde, Dean of RSM, this dual award Information Content when Mutual Funds ‘this award recognises the relevance of our announcement provides added evidence Deviate from Benchmarks, in tandem with research for the mutual fund industry – it of the success with which the school is Assistant Professor Hao Jiang of RSM and not only has academic value but is also of realising its strategy of research excellence Ph.D. alumnus Yu Wang. great interest to practitioners. Our work with real-world, business relevance: Part of a large-scale project at RSM confirms the existence of managerial skill ‘RSM is extremely proud of these two top investigating the role of institutional but, at the same time, also explains why the academics and faculty members. Their investors in financial markets, the paper average performance of these funds, after work has been justifiably recognised by the provides fresh insight into the mutual fund fees and expenses, is disappointing.’ attribution of exceptional and prestigious industry and stock market efficiency by He shares the view of his counterpart practitioner awards with global radiance. examining the degree of stock information Professor Dul about the greater value As a school, we strive for managerial impact required by active fund managers in order of research and its importance to an through rigorous academic research. This to outperform passive benchmarking. In institution such as RSM: ‘research is not recognition is proof of our strategy. On Professor Verbeeks words, ‘this paper digs about rigour or relevance, it is about both. behalf of RSM, I congratulate Jan Dul and more deeply into where fund managers We want to provide insight of relevance to Marno Verbeek!’
RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013 17 Executive Interview / MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVES
The reshaping of retail
In an exclusive Executive Interview, Dick Boer, CEO of global Bol.com in 2012 made us understand that we can offer our customers more corporation Ahold, and Klaas Miedema, Senior Vice President opportunities online. Human Resources & Management Development, answer questions put to them by RSM’s Dean, Prof. Steef van de Velde, about the What’s the future of online retailing in the Netherlands? changing nature of retailing and the management challenges that Dick Boer: Online retailing is amazing. the sector faces. Text Justine Whittern I think online food shopping will grow because it will help customers. The msterdam-based Ahold is a global combination of convenient pick-up points organisation responsible for 13 and home delivery together with stores A brands of supermarket, retail will continue to inspire customers. pharmacy, beverage store and online retailing. It operates more than 3,000 Will you ever have full delivery coverage in stores and employs almost a quarter of the Netherlands? a million people in Europe and the USA. Dick Boer: Oh yes. Bol.com is already Correspondingly, its operations and supply available everywhere, but there are limits chains are global – and massive. Chief for online food shopping; the last mile of Executive Office Dick Boer is leading the the delivery is the most difficult. Our first organisation into a new age of retailing. stores with pick-up points are already In a face-to-face meeting at Ahold’s operating; they give the convenience of Amsterdam office, Steef van de Velde, online shopping and mean we can cover Dean of RSM and Professor of Operations the whole country with pick-up points at Management and Technology, asks the our stores or other locations. questions. Dirk Boer and Klaas Miedema give frank answers about reshaping a What high-level Key Performance multinational retail organisation on a Indicators (KPIs) do you use to steer a Dick Boer global scale. company as large as Ahold? Dick Boer: We use our Six Strategic Pillars Dick Boer has been CEO of Ahold Prof. Steef van de Velde: It has been (see panel) to describe the quality of USA and Koninklijke Ahold NV for mentioned that Ahold will be broadening leadership in the organisation, as well as the past two years. Before that, its offering. What does that mean? the measureable KPIs. he was CEO of Ahold Europe Dick Boer: It could mean more products, for five years, and President and different products, new home brands or Does your background and experience in CEO of the Albert Heijn chain more organic products. But we can also retail play in your favour? of Dutch supermarkets for six broaden our offering by being available Dick Boer: Yes. I can talk about what years. He originally joined Ahold via the internet, or from pick-up points or happens in the stores and the issues in 1998 as CEO of Ahold Czech home delivery. “Broadening the offering” affecting our managers, or about difficult Republic after spending more is about expanding our formats. decisions in our retail operations with than 17 years in various retail our vice president. But I don’t think that positions in the Netherlands and So it’s not about moving into non-food? retail experience – which is good for other countries. Dick Boer: No. Ahold is about supermarkets communication skills – says anything and food. But our acquisition of www. about leadership skills.
18 RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013 Executive Interview / MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVES
The reshaping of retail Leadership and training
What leadership skills do you expect from top management? Dick Boer: Supermarkets need managers who say what they think, deliver the message to staff, and are clear about roles and responsibilities. I expect openness, transparency and humility, and a willingness to give feedback and maintain an open dialogue. You have to have the right balance of people in a retail company – especially one with such a huge number of people.
Can those skills be acquired through training, or do you hire people with those skills? Dick Boer: Our Leadership Skills training programme works with the “Incomplete Leadership Model” which creates the right combination of people around you that have the skills you lack. We test everybody to identify their skills. This makes it possible to have a complete leadership team even if the leader doesn’t have all the skills.
I can’t imagine that anyone would be a complete leader. Dick Boer: It can be difficult to accept that this might be the case. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad leader, but only that some of your skills are less strong. It helps other leaders to hear me saying that about myself, I think.
Executive education I ask everyone in the organisation to be open to new skills and ideas Where do business schools come into the picture? from new people, and not to sit still Dick Boer: We use them to provide training in leadership skills and business skills to doing their own thing.” Dick Boer, CEO of Ahold. our top 200 executives every year.
RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013 19 Executive Interview / AHOLD
The introduction of collection points add to the convenience of online shopping for customers.
Do you think business schools do a good Dick Boer: We always need innovative to create the common leadership to be job of educating leaders? thinking, new technology and new able to roll these things out. It opens the Dick Boer: I think they do, but they focus intelligence, for instance in logistics – so minds of executives and managers to new on deliverables and economics, and while we can be sure of delivering consistent experiences, as well giving us an overview students might learn about leadership, quality to all 850 of our stores in the of other practices out there.’ they only learn leadership skills when Netherlands – or in algorithms, thought they start working. Teaching those skills processes or the local climate. Current challenges is difficult. We spend time on what you do after you graduate and start working. How do you stay on top of innovation? Has sustainability always been one of your Do you have a dedicated innovation unit key values? Where is the first step of the career ladder within the head office? Dick Boer: It’s part of the heritage of Albert at Ahold? Is it in a supermarket? Dick Boer: No, we don’t. I think we gain Heijn and it’s embedded in our culture Dick Boer: Graduate recruits follow our more if everyone understands the idea of and values, plus it’s important from a PR trainee programme; a year of practical doing “better every day” and has their own point of view. training in a supermarket, then they ideas. I ask everyone in the organisation to I believe it’s good strategy to quickly become managers, or assistant be open to new skills and ideas from new differentiate ourselves by showing that managers. They can be running a team of people, and not to sit still doing their own we do more for society, more for nature, up to 50 people at just 25 or 26 years old. I thing. We also have a strategy office and a and more for the environment. We don’t think retail experience really helps you to HR department that looks for new talent. do that as an organic store, but as a find out if you like being a manager or not! responsible retailer that pays particular If Albert Heijn does something new, how is attention to CO² emissions, products and Klaas Miedema: We need really bright it shared with your other brands? sources, providing healthy products, and graduates with leadership capabilities who Dick Boer: Open communications and taking part in community engagement. can work up through the organisation, but global executive team meetings two or We don’t want a department of corporate we also need people who can cope with three times a year mean you can share responsibility. We want responsible being in a real job with real responsibilities best practices and build on them. For retailing incorporated into our business. within a year as assistant store managers example, managers see other stores I introduced it as “Reshaping Retail at who take over when the manager is on reducing shrinkage or improving Ahold” when I became CEO two years vacation. availability and ask how it’s done. ago, but there is no separate department “Learning from the base” is always or officer of corporate engagement. Innovating for success better than sending out an evangelist or Our regional directors decide how stores teaching them how to do it. can support communities with food banks Most companies are interested in or employment opportunities to people who what you’re doing because they want Klaas Miedema: I’ve looked at the wouldn’t otherwise have them, for example, a competitive edge over you, however development of online shopping from which is part of our promise to “be a better small. So is new knowledge core to your a different viewpoint to Dick’s. In fact, neighbour”. I think that really hits home operations? executive education has really helped us with our employees.
20 RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013 Executive Interview / MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVES
Are you in favour of subsidies for organic trading relationship. We usually have one foods? or two major suppliers for each product. Ahold’s six strategic Dick Boer: I think organic food is a niche And of course we expect that our strong pillars to reshape retail product. In my view the biggest win relationship means fewer issues. You can’t • Increasing customer loyalty would not to become completely organic, say you’ll never get them, but when they • Broadening our offering but to achieve greater sustainability do come up we quickly know if we have • Expanding our geographic reach in the whole food supply chain via been affected because our supply chains • Simplicity mass production – with the least use of are so short. We get to the root of the • Responsible retailing pesticides – to give better quality and problem quickly and then we can react. • People performance bigger volume. That’s where we believe our focus should be, but it doesn’t mean Integrity compliance we don’t sell organic food. I don’t think subsidy is generally a good thing and With regard to restoring integrity, I I don’t think subsidies for traditional remember that Dick Boer once said about agriculture in Europe help efficient Ahold “You have to go back to your core production, but you can still subsidise values.” That’s still at the back of my mind. specific needs or new initiatives. Does this still hold true? Klaas Miedema: Ahold started with Your main concern is responsible retailing integrity compliance programmes and sustainably sourced products, but formulated for us by management you’re mainly a buyer. Does that mean you consultants, but what really did the trick don’t control any type of supply chain? was promoting our values and what we Dick Boer: No, I wouldn’t say that. We stand for as a company. They really unite don’t own them but we still need to people; make them aware of their integrity have full oversight of our supply chains. and their values, and how they behave. For example, our avocados come from Africa, where the growers know they will Dick Boer: I hope that respect for each produce them for us year after year, not other, and wanting a better place to work just quarter by quarter. We have many produces integrity. We struggled to get long relationships with fruit, vegetable our integrity back after incidents in 2003. and meat suppliers. I think we did it very well; it’s all about pleasing the customer, which you can only Does a long relationship make it difficult to do in a transparent, honest and humble steer around crises and food scares? manner. The idea of leadership and “being Dick Boer: Here, you rely on the controls incomplete” is also good because it’s about you put in place from the start of your needing each other.
Klaas Miedema Executive education… opens the Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Management De- minds of executives and managers to velopment at Ahold believes that new experiences…” Klaas Miedema, Senior Vice President, executive education has really helped the organisation to create Human Resources and Management Development, Ahold. a common structure of leadership.
RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013 21 Enterprising alumni / IN ACTION
Born ENTREPRENEUR AND inspirer of crowds
Stef van Dongen graduated from RSM in 2007. Today he runs Enviu, a company that helps sustainable start-ups get off the ground. He also sits on several advisory boards, promoting sustainability and social entrepreneurship. Text Tim Skelton
o date Enviu has started five with a common goal. ‘I’m fascinated by businesses, ranging from the power of our collective intelligence T providing support to Indian auto and creativity,’ Stef explains. ‘What if you rickshaw drivers, to producing dance had 1,000 people, and could focus their floors that generate energy. It involves a creativity and energy? You could solve a global community of 10,000 people, and lot of problems.’ was rated among the “Top 10 innovative With so many people involved, Stef companies in the world” by Fast Company he says. ‘I wanted to explore new ways admits there have been ups and downs. magazine. But how did it come about? of doing business.’ His first attempts But he says getting the crowd to move ‘I come from a family of entrepreneurs,’ with existing NGOs and large financial in one direction was not as difficult as Stef says. ‘My parents ran financial services conglomerates didn’t go as planned, he thought. ‘We found a method to co- companies, so entrepreneurship was in so he decided to go it his own way, and operate actively,’ he says. ‘It was all one my DNA.’ To prove it, he started his first founded Enviu. big experiment at first. We didn’t have company at 17 – an “online” (fax in those And RSM’s role in this? ‘RSM opened anything like Facebook. It was all email, days) shopping service. my eyes to a lot of things,’ Stef says. ‘While MSN and ICQ. But it’s amazing to see how Stef soon followed his parents into studying I had time to reflect, and to many people are willing to contribute to financial services, working as a new take the “helicopter view”. The teaching solve complex challenges.’ business developer, and in business staff helped me discover a new world of As one example, the company worked recovery. ‘We were working with companies sustainability, and to explore how our with one of Google’s founders on the Toxic on the verge of bankruptcy, with a view to economic system works – or doesn’t! They Metal Challenge, developing a heavy metal turning them around,’ he says. Then in helped me create my own vision.’ self-testing kit for city-dwellers. Enviu 2002 he started developing Enviu. Moreover, Enviu’s vision and mission made a business case and challenged What was it that drew Stef towards – ‘How can we maintain our quality of toxicologists in 16 countries. ‘They sustainability? ‘It was a no-brainer,’ he life, end poverty and restore our planet’s developed 10 products,’ Stef explains, ‘and says. ‘Around the age of 19, I went through ecosystems at the same time?’ – also stems our partner is about to invest in three.’ a series of life-changing moments. It made from Stef’s days treading the Woudestein Another Enviu company – Three Wheels me think about who I am, and about my campus. ‘I wrote that while at RSM,’ he United – works on an even more ambitious place in the world. I asked myself: What says, ‘and we still use it today.’ scale. Five million auto rickshaw drivers in has meaning to me?’ India live on around US$3 per day. With no At that time, he was still working in Crowdsourcing access to banks, they are left in the hands finance. ‘I saw there were major flaws Enviu’s concept of “crowdsourcing” means of money-lenders, condemning them in the way we structure our economy,’ getting people around the world working to lives of debt. Their vehicles are also
22 RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013 Enterprising alumni / IN ACTION
Stef was a guest speaker at the recent RSM Alumni Day event (see page 30), at which he shared his vision for creating sustainable businesses. ‘When the networks of RSM alumni meet together with the networks of academia and science, great things can happen,’ he says. As for the future, even bigger plans are afoot. The idea is to offer the crowdsourcing model to companies, NGOs and governments, in a new concept called Enviu in the World. ‘We provide them with over 10,000 brains to co-create solutions for their specific Stef van Dongen engages with the audience at the recent RSM Alumni Day. challenges, and open up new networks. We let the crowd help them to come up
When the networks of RSM alumni meet together with the networks of academia and science, great things can happen.” Stef van Dongen, Founder and CEO, Enviu. apparently responsible for 10 per cent of reducing emissions, and making the with inspiration and innovation. That way all the CO² emissions in India. Stef found technology affordable for drivers. we can leverage our impact and scale-up this challenge inspiring. ‘We developed a ‘The drivers grasped the concept rapidly. By aligning with large partners, three-pillar solution called MyAuto,’ he immediately,’ he adds. ‘They saw they and tapping into and mobilising their says, and explains that these provide the could become small-scale entrepreneurs.’ crowds and expertise, we can make a rickshaw drivers with financial services, Some 225 are currently signed up, and really big impact.’ additional income streams, and clean there could potentially be as many as technology. He got 150 students from 1,000 rickshaw drivers involved by the WEB www.enviu.org India and the Netherlands working on end of 2013. WEB www.stefvandongen.com
RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013 23 INSPIRING ALUMNI / IN ACTION
A journey of self-discovery
When RSM MBA2013 student Layla El Zein decided to participate in RSM’s Kilimanjaro Leadership Project, she had no idea how significantly it would transform her outlook and, potentially, her life and the lives of others. Text Miriam Young
aving come from an engineering female exercise, one of the Kilimanjaro background, Layla is now Leadership Project’s goals is to break down H preparing to embark on an these barriers and help women establish entirely different life, swapping this and benefit from mutual trust. relatively conventional career path for With the presence of an exceptional one in the non-profit sector. group of women who supported each Layla’s motivation for joining RSM’s other throughout the expedition, this Kilimanjaro Leadership Project stemmed goal was readily achieved. Layla became a from her passion for the African outdoors. part of what she described as, ‘an amazing But as the expedition to climb the 5,895 and rare dynamic, which not only enabled metres of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania me to become more open around other got underway, its unique challenges women, but also to maintain that soon turned this scenic adventure into a openness since. I feel I have now found journey of self-discovery. a balance that gives me the confidence Preparation for the trip included to share my feelings without the risk sessions in which the anticipated of vulnerability’. physical and psychological pressures were described and explained in the context of Inner qualities practicing leadership skills. ‘Participants Developing a healthier attitude to were advised to set goals for themselves female relationships was just the start. Layla discovered she had developed and I decided to focus on counteracting As discomfort, pain, tiredness and even an important ability to support the team a defensive mechanism I had developed boredom started to intensify, the journey around her without sharing her own when dealing with other women in into the physical and psychological difficulties. ‘I also learned the discipline professional relationships following bad unknown began to reveal inner qualities of self-control for conserving valuable experiences in the past,’ she says. that Layla never knew she had. These are energy, while becoming acutely aware of The nature of our working society qualities that are extremely beneficial the impact that positivity, even in small has, some believe, caused many women to every leader, but are of even greater doses, can have on others,’ she says. to develop defensive barriers against significance to those working in the non- These realisations were confirmed their female colleagues. As an all- profit sector. during the hardest part of the climb, the
24 RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013 INSPIRING ALUMNI / IN ACTION
A journey of self-discovery
final 200 metres to the summit. Layla patience and positivity, even in the most continues: ‘We had been advised to focus challenging of circumstances,’ she says. on a mental distraction to get us through Armed with this new self-belief, she this most gruelling mental and physical found herself with the mental energy part of the challenge. Introspective and to take a decision she had been putting exhausted, we progressed in silence. Yet off for a very long time: to make the the guides were singing and smiling. This dramatic life-changing step of switching small effort on their part was immensely her promising career in engineering for powerful for lifting the team’s spirits.’ one in the non-profit sector. Having concluded the climb, most ‘While many people believe they participants entered a reflective state. would gain increased moral satisfaction Layla, however, found herself pre- from a career in the non-profit sector, occupied with observing the changes the lower rates of pay, and even the in group dynamics caused by small ability to get a job in a new field, present individual actions. ‘I gained a higher considerable barriers to pursuing the sense of awareness of how the decisions idea,’ Layla observes. This was certainly of individuals impact an entire team and her situation prior to embarking on the how cultural aspects and personal life- Kilimanjaro Leadership Project. experience influence those decisions,’ The catalyst that caused these barriers she explains. to dissolve was the purifying experience of spending seven days completely Boosting confidence removed from modern urban society and Layla’s experience on Kilimanjaro its commercially influenced behaviours. resulted in a huge boost to her confidence ‘This separation completely revised my and self-awareness of her abilities to do perspective on what is important in so much more. ‘I discovered how to find life, reducing the relevance of material trappings and giving me the confidence to trust in my spiritual self,’ she believes. While it is not realistic to simply cast I gained a higher sense of awareness aside every connection to the society we live in, Layla has concluded that of how the decisions of individuals impact repositioning your life and restating your life goals is a feasible solution. ‘Yes, an entire team and how cultural aspects there are trade-offs,’ she concludes. ’But and personal life-experience influence if that’s all it takes to realise happiness through what you believe is your inner those decisions.” Layla El Zein, MBA student (Class of 2013) calling, they are easy to accept.’
RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013 25 SPECIAL FEATURE / MAKING BUSINESS SOCIAL
Improving the impact of social business
Social impact is best achieved when you focus on the financial not just socially responsible but proactively apply goals of your business plan, Prof. Justin Jansen told aspiring themselves to solving social issues. More than 200 alumni from countries social entrepreneurs at this year’s annual RSM Alumni Day. including the Netherlands, the UK, Denmark, Text Rebecca Morris Italy, Hungary and Belgium listened as some of RSM’s leading academics presented their research findings, and alumni whose careers usiness is the best tool we have for have centred around social business shared solving social problems – but we need to their experiences, painting a vivid picture of the Bbring more business into social business current status of the sector, how it can achieve if we are to achieve greater impact, Justin Jansen, more, and who it can benefit. Professor of Corporate Entrepreneurship at RSM and Scientific Director of the Erasmus Centre Social entrepreneurship for Entrepreneurship told alumni at this year’s Opening the event with the topic of social annual RSM Alumni Day. entrepreneurship, Prof. Jansen said it was a fast ‘Research shows that social companies that emerging field both in academia and in terms emphasise their financial goals achieve far greater of the number of entrepreneurs opting to start impact than companies that do not,’ he said. ‘If social ventures. But many social enterprises you leave here today with one key message I hope were slow to grow – a fact that severely limited it is this: if you want to have social impact, aim for their ability to reach their social goals, he said. financial growth and success. For corporations ‘A social business must start with a viable wanting to increase their profitability for the business model that can attract financing and long-term – look at integrating social goals into that is capable of generating revenue, jobs your strategic visions.’ and value for shareholders,’ he said. Social goals must be integrated into this model, co- existing alongside financial goals. ‘As social Research shows that social compa- entrepreneurs you need a business proposition that is compelling enough to attract investors nies that emphasise their financial goals who are not just looking for the “feel-good” factor but who will see you as a potentially achieve far greater impact than compa- profitable business.’ Importantly, social businesses can and Justin Jansen, Professor of Corporate nies that do not.” should leverage their status as “social” to gain Entrepreneurship and Scientific Director, Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship. access to resources and achieve faster growth, for example, as a way of attracting new business Professor Jansen was one of four faculty partners. ‘Many multinationals have social members and four alumni leading sessions at this objectives and are thus looking for alliances year’s annual RSM Alumni Day, which had the with companies that can help them achieve this; theme of Engaging for Change: Making Business find ways to partner with these companies,’ he Social. Social businesses are businesses that are says. ‘A trend you see with consumers is that
26 RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013 Prof. Justin Jansen (seated) listens to John Apesos at the RSM Alumni Day. SPECIAL FEATURE / ALUMNI DAY
they are much more aware of social impact and footprint at the same time may seem paradoxical sustainability. Use this information to influence – but the two goals are intimately linked,’ consumers to buy your products and grow he explained. your business.’ Research shows that companies that bridge RSM alumnus John Apesos co-led the financial and social goals achieve financial session. Apesos is a “serial” eco-entrepreneur success faster than those that don’t – and and the Managing Director/founder of vertical attain long-term competitive advantages, farming company Symbicity. Symbicity is he said. ‘Finding the right balance between currently developing technologies that will social and financial goals is not easy and enable a commercialised vertical agriculture requires you to make trade-offs. But for system in dense urban environments: cities corporations considering integrating social will thus be able to feed their inhabitants using goals into their visions – it will positively a fraction of the space currently used. (For more influence your organisation’s growth and long- information about John Apesos and Symbicity, term profitability.’ see RSM Outlook Winter 2012, pg34-35) An ongoing challenge for large organisations, Apesos shared his experiences as a social he said, was “selling” their social agenda to entrepreneur: ‘I do this for two reasons: shareholders and investors from the broader because I want to make a positive contribution financial community who are still sceptical as to and because there are many more business its short-term payback. ‘Having a social impact is OTHERS DO WHAT I WILL I CAN SO TOMORROW WON’T, OTHERS CAN’T DO WHAT Dwi Rahmi Labbaika, Indonesian Student, BSc International Economics and Business opportunities in this sector than in others,’ he important to fulfil long-term financial goals and said. ‘When you have a good product that sells we are currently conducting the research that and you continue to improve that product – and is confirming this,’ he said. ‘If your company’s it is something you believe in – you have the best shareholders and the wider financial industry of both worlds.’ know that a social agenda is important for profitability, they will make different choices.’ Social goals and strategic vision Bringing social objectives into your business Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship model is not just good for the planet – its good WEB www.erim.eur.nl/entrepreneurship for business, said Professor Jansen. ‘Increasing Symbicity your company’s revenues and reducing its global WEB www.symbicity.com
RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013 27 SPECIAL FEATURE / MAKING BUSINESS SOCIAL The business of social media As part of their contribution to the recent and well-received RSM Alumni Day, the theme of which was ‘Engaging for Change: Making Business Social’, Jan van den Ende, RSM Professor of Management of Technology and Innovation, and Valér Merényi, Managing Director of WSI Media Consulting, and RSM alumnus, shared their insights into the value and practicalities of social media in business. Text Joe Figueiredo
make is to ignore social media,’ warns Valér Merényi, a seasoned banker and digital strategy consultant. But why should business be interested in social media? ‘With the coming of the internet, we have seen the common man gain much wider access to information and people,’ says Merényi. ‘This is power. Social media has enhanced this power even further by giving internet users the ability to find and mobilise support and influence public opinion, quickly and easily. There is no escaping. I have advised many CEOs to recognise and accept social media as part of their business model, even if they choose a reactive approach,’ says Merényi. Valér Merényi (left) and Prof. Jan van den Ende (right) discuss the According to Merényi, even if they do business value of social media at the RSM Alumni Day. not want to be proactive with social media, businesses need, at minimum, to monitor (and react accordingly to) what is being said about ccording to Prof. Van den Ende, author their brand and products on important social of several publications on social networks, specialist blogs and forums; but also A networks and innovation, ‘social e-commerce sites like Amazon.com, where media - especially blogs and social networks - consumers review products and customer- promotes a sense of community, belonging and service issues such as delivery and product identity by sharing information and experiences. support. When their reputation is tarnished, Crucially, it allows people to bond with family companies need to go into damage-control and friends, and build personal relationships mode, making use of the agility of internet with like-minded peers.’ technologies to contain and repair the damage What makes this newish kid on the block swiftly and effectively, sometimes using their so compelling and appealing is its interactivity loyal following of ‘social ambassadors’. and immediacy, thanks to the internet and the software technology that allows us to create, Crowdsourcing modify and publish content on a website ‘Social media is more than just blogs and instantaneously and with ease. social networks,’ explains Prof. Van den Ende. And more businesses are taking notice, ‘Companies can co-develop products online finally. ‘The biggest mistake a company can using crowdsourcing, a common practice where
28 RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013 SPECIAL FEATURE / MAKING BUSINESS SOCIAL The business of social media a large online community is invited to contribute However compelling, social media cannot be ideas or solve posted business problems.’ implemented without due thought. Initiatives Even though companies have the ability to should be well designed (what are my goals?), well- develop and market remarkable products, they planned (do I have the required infrastructure in cannot keep doing this indefinitely. Collaboration place?) and especially well-resourced (do I have could be the answer, especially with help of the qualified people, and enough of them?). internet. ‘Under its online Connect and Develop ‘When Dell Computers launched in 2007 its strategy, Procter & Gamble was able to collaborate initiative IdeaStorm – a website that invited the intensively with Japanese firm Unicharm to public to suggest ways of improvement in order successfully bring the now-popular Swiffer Duster to help Dell determine what the public wanted – to market,’ says Prof. Van den Ende. ‘In fact, P&G it initially backfired because Dell could not cope has brought hundreds of new products to market with the overwhelming response,’ reports Prof. with help from external inventors, academics Van den Ende. ‘Contributors complained about and companies.’ the lack of response and the initiative started to
There is no escaping. I have advised many CEOs to recognise and accept social media as part of their business model…”
Valér Merényi, Managing Director of WSI Media Consulting and RSM alumnus.
Crowdsourcing is also used in the service hurt the image of Dell, instead of advancing it.’ industry. ‘The Royal Bank of Scotland introduced Companies intending to use social Ideas Bank, an online portal where customers media should identify key stakeholders and can post their ideas about how the bank can beneficiaries and make sure they understand improve its services,’ says Merényi. Another and accommodate stakeholder wishes and area is in resolving various problems and issues. requirements. It’s also important to make sure ‘InnoCentive is a company that crowdsources that company employees are engaged and key innovation problems. The smartest people people are educated: ‘You’d be surprised at the compete – for a financial reward – to provide number of marketing executives who are totally ideas and solutions to important business, social, unfamiliar with social media, thanks to their policy, scientific, and technical challenges,’ says fear of new technologies and privacy concerns,’ Prof. Van den Ende. ‘The InnoCentive community Merényi explains. now counts more than 270,000 solvers, and And finally, an interesting parting thought from thousands of problems have already been posted Merényi: ‘When sceptical clients ask about the on the site, half of which have been solved.’ return-on-investment for social media, I remind Social media is unique in its interactivity and them of another fundamental communication followers are fiercely loyal, so it should not be channel: the call centre. Nobody needs to justify misused. ‘A common mistake companies make it financially any more; it is a given. The question is to use, or abuse, social media as an additional is more about its proper planning and execution. marketing channel to promote their products and The same goes for social media.’
services,’ warns Merényi. ‘Remember, it’s about EMBARK ON LIFE’S I WILL THE AND SAIL ADVENTURE SEAS OF BUSINESS Niek de Neijs, Dutch Administration (IBA) Student, BSc International Business dialogue, and engagement.’ WEB www.wsimediaconsulting.nl
RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013 29 SPECIAL FEATURE / MAKING BUSINESS SOCIAL
Helping communities through crowdfunding The concept of encouraging sustainable life-enhancing investments in poor countries is something no one could find fault with. Building low-cost but good quality homes This is not aid, or any other form of government or non-government subsidy that for under-privileged people in countries like Ghana, can be lost at a moment’s notice and on an Nigeria and Nicaragua, for instance, is self-evidently official’s or politician’s whim, he adds. The worthy and just one of the social ventures being driven very people who will live in the houses will be participants in the project. Prof. van Tulder goes by RSM alumnus, Stef van Dongen. Text Brian Bollen on to explain that money is just a small part of the overall project. ‘It will trigger the energy of the local people, generating ideas, initiatives and other sustainable social programmes,’ he predicts. The project will be funded by combining he concept of building low-cost the power of two of the major driving forces housing has inherent challenges. The in the developed world: the internet and T first is financial: the lack of finance crowdfunding. The internet has fast become a to enable construction to take place. The utility almost as essential as water and power. second is architectural: building homes that Crowdfunding is proving to be an increasingly are inexpensive enough for the target market popular way of accessing finance for projects while offering what the western world might still that might otherwise never make it off the quaintly call modern conveniences, but what drawing board. Bringing the two together others call modern necessities. could help Stef van Dongen to raise funds from Social entrepreneur Stef van Dongen anyone anywhere in the world, Prof. van Tulder outlined this scenario at the RSM Alumni Day suggests, taking international solidarity and in April. After studying Global Business and creative co-production to hitherto undreamt Stakeholder Management at RSM, Stef was of levels. inspired by his learning experience under Stef van Dongen is enthusiasm personified Professor Rob van Tulder to set up his own social on the subject. Born into what he describes as ventures, of which one has the aim to improve a family of entrepreneurs, he started his first housing for poor people in countries like Ghana, company at the age of 17 and has been doing Nigeria and Nicaragua. it ever since. Previously he focused on starting A central objective is not just to ensure that up new companies or rescuing ailing companies houses are built to a good standard, but that from bankruptcy. Today he is working on they also generate a financial surplus that can be something quite different. His flagship company put to good use. ‘The aim is not to make money is called: Enviu. from building houses in order to make money, The company’s own words tell the but to build more houses, and to ensure that story quickly and excitedly, to the point of all are maintained to a satisfactory sustainable breathlessness. ‘Enviu starts world changing standard,’ says Professor van Tulder, ramming companies and communities,’ it says. ‘These the point home. companies and communities are [designed] to
30 RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013 SPECIAL FEATURE / MAKING BUSINESS SOCIAL
solve social and ecological issues. Their products and services serve to increase the quality of life for as many people as possible and benefit our planet. ‘Our community of over 10,000 people from all age groups and backgrounds in 30 countries around the world helps us to generate ideas. To actually realise our start-ups, we work together with entrepreneurs, companies, investors, and governmental and non- governmental organisations.’ INURBA is the company that has pledged to build low-cost housing. The way that Stef van Dongen tells the story, the procedure was simple and quick. ‘INURBA is the result of a crowd source challenge,’ he recounts. ‘A Dutch architect living in Ghana identified a problem and came to us with Stef van Dongen (left) and Prof. Rob van Tulder (right) it. Around 300,000 people a year are migrating at the RSM Alumni Day. from slums to lower middle class housing, but
The challenge process starts with inspiration. After the inspiration comes the sanity check. Then, once you have a business concept you can do a feasibility study.”
RSM alumnus Stef van Dongen, CEO and Founder of Enviu. the required homes don’t exist. Mass mortgages In three months Enviu had 3,000 architects in are not available in Ghana, and landlords are more than 40 countries working to design a house abusing people. within the parameters on cost and materials ‘We found a United Nations study that showed which had been established throughout the he was right, and we challenged our community process. No fewer than 250 teams each produced to come up with a solution. The challenge a design. These were whittled down to 10, of process starts with inspiration. We asked: “what which two have been built. is happening in your country around sustainable An entrepreneur validation phase then housing?” After a month or so, you have a clear followed, to identify the right entrepreneur picture of what is happening and what networks to lead the business and prepare to build the might be available to take the process further first 500 homes: 250 in Nicaragua and 250 in forward towards a solution. Nigeria. Despite being the original source of ‘After the inspiration comes the sanity check: inspiration, Ghana is lagging behind, explains then we asked our community to come up with Stef van Dongen. ‘We need to do more work there creative ideas. People in Shanghai, Rome, London establishing relationships with banks and pension and many more places organised brainstorming funds,’ he says. In the meantime, crowdsourcing sessions, people in other countries reacted to the and funding is continuing to grow, to evolve and results, and this lead to a business concept. Then, to mature. once you have a business concept you can do a feasibility study.’ WEB www.enviu.org
RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013 31 SPECIAL FEATURE / MAKING BUSINESS SOCIAL
Social change through a circular economy support the shift to the circle economy. ‘Business is driven by a focus on output, reinforced by the quarterly financial reporting pressure,’ she says. Additionally, performance is measured according to lagging indicators, making it impossible to redirect non-sustainable activities. ‘The result is a gap between stated sustainability missions, and reported strategic activities to realise those missions,’ says Maas. ‘We need integration of strategy and actual impact measurement, rather than focusing on output alone.’ Steering on impact means understanding the societal effect of companies’ output, and translating the impact back into a return on investment, based on business opportunities arising from sustainable activities. Distinguished RSM alumnus Robert-Jan van Ogtrop (pic- Nature rules tured above) proposed a radical shift away from today’s linear Robert-Jan van Ogtrop’s commitment and economic model towards a circular economy during his key- passion for creative solutions to today’s crisis note presentation at the recent RSM Alumni Day. Co-speaker, is based on his own broad experience, and the – quite literally – down-to-earth insight Assistant Professor Karen Maas says that research supports that now guides his activities. ‘Insistence on this perspective. Text Christine Hayes growth, growth, and more growth has resulted in a total disconnection from the earth we live risis is an indicator of the need for on,’ he says. change. Instead of today’s linear ‘The short-term shareholder value model C economic model, Robert-Jan van just doesn’t work,’ he believes. ‘Instead of Ogtrop, who received RSM’s Distinguished depleting the earth’s finite resources through Alumni Award in 2012, proposes a radical shift a linear “take, make, and waste” approach, towards a circular economy. ‘It isn’t enough we need to reconnect and learn from nature. to try to adapt existing processes,’ he says. Nothing is wasted in nature. The relatively ‘The problems we’re experiencing now are recent focus on sustainability by business embedded in the system.’ The action-driven and society is a step towards longer-term Circle Economy platform, which he founded, environmental realignment. Now we must offers a springboard to achieve that change. go further: from conceptualised missions to Research results support Van Ogtrop’s strategic integration by means of innovation perspective, says Karen Maas, Assistant and real value creation.’ Professor in the Department of Business The urgency of an accelerated shift to Economics at Erasmus School of Economics, a circular economy is emphasised by the who joined Van Ogtrop on RSM Alumni Day to complexity of the ongoing crises, which discuss modern measurement tools that could include finance, the environment, ethics, and
32 RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013 a circular economy circular a So c i a l ch ange throu ange g h
do “greenwashing”.’ within their organisations,’ he explains. ‘We don’t applicants are required acircular tostart project scope andreach ofCircle Economy activities. All Ogtrop. ‘We needmore members, tobroaden the we expectthatsoontobecomehundreds,’ says Van dozens incompanies, and ofprojects underway – becauseallare implicated. ‘We already have sciences,the material educationandlegislation equally to small and medium-sized companies, the multinational corporate world, it applies members oftheplatform. areas, breakthroughs enablingfurther fornew accumulate tocreateplatform breakthrough models.’ The circular projectsby supported the creativeleads tovery ideasandnewbusiness organisations aboutrecyclingcharity issues. It from localmunicipalities, from whoalsolearn fromlearn fashion designers, retail outlets learn forexample,the textileindustry manufacturers on eachotherforthefirsttime,’ heexplains. ‘In met before becomeaware oftheimpacttheyhave diverse players together. very bringing uses ascantooltoanalyseanentire value chain, circular system,’ says Van Ogtrop. The platform companies how totransform from alinearto such as TNO intheNetherlands. ‘We show in educationalandscientific research centres, usinginputfrom existingthinktanksoriented, Van Ogtrop. ‘And benefits.’ everybody together. ‘We this way,’ can go much further says inclusive, where all the stakeholders work that isnon-threatening, objective, openand Economy co-operative provides anenvironment edge iscounter-productive. The non-profit Circle toourselves toachieveinformation acompetitive organisation orgovernment canhandleitalone. society. Because of this complexity, no single The Circle Economy approach is not just about As Van Ogtrop comments, keepingimportant ‘People withinavalue chainwhohave never The Circle isaction- Economy platform
YOUTUBE pressures. We needtoenlarge ourfocus.’ want to do, instead of having to react to short-term says. ‘Companies need more space to do what they These are the questions that need to be asked,’ she do we have tomake? What are choices? theright creating value forsociety, whatkindofchoices how canwe bestdothat?If we wanttoinvest in measurement. ‘If we wanttogetsustainability, allow themtoinfluenceoutcomes. Companies mustfocusonleadingindicatorsthat changes in employee and corporate behaviour. is only helpful when the training is related to Reporting on wide-scale training programmes tosociety,’wishes tocontribute saysKaren Maas. financial providingreports nounderpinningfor well asfinancial results.‘We have togetawayfrom reflect the societal impactof businessactivities, as “greenwashing”. Performance indicatorsmust activities tothecorporate mission can eliminate As research shows, strategic linkingserious Wider perspective WEB towards impactmeasurement. Karen Maas-wantstoseeashift
We needashiftfrom outputtoimpact www.circleeconomy.com
http://youtu.be/8DCvRavWSeo SPECIAL FEA TURE /MAKINGBUSINESS SOCIAL RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER2013
I will deliver upon my promises
33 Janis Berdigans, Latvian Student, BSc International Business Administration RSM / LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
Reinventing the future at RSM’s Leadership Summit What will the business landscape look like in the coming years, and how can executives make sense of the shifting dynamics that are affecting the global balance of economic power and altering forever the nature of international business? The answers can be found at the fifth annual RSM Leadership Summit, which takes place in October. Text Dorine Schreiner
ith business confidence low we see the resurgence or repatriation of and unemployment high, how manufacturing in countries that, over the W can the Netherlands stimulate last few decades, dedicated themselves growth and prepare for the future by to developing service-based industries building the next generation of business? as a replacement for their declining The key to survival is reinvention: because manufacturing sectors? It’s a very big exactly as products have life cycles, so do question; the answers to which could companies – and countries. have major consequences for nations Highlighting the challenges ahead and industries. and the need for nations to rethink their With such concerns developing like country’s branding, British Prime Minister storm clouds on the business horizon, David Cameron commented earlier this what can executives do to prepare? At year that: ‘A new global race of nations is the RSM Leadership Summit, which will underway in a race for the jobs and wealth take place on Friday 4 October 2013 at of the future…’ He also said that: ‘Europe the Beurs-World Trade Center Rotterdam, is being out-competed, out-invested, out- managers with instincts that go beyond innovated, and it’s time we made the EU mere business survival can learn much an engine for growth.’ from multinational corporations whose approach to uncertainty is to Look to the future make planning for and investing in One development of great interest for the future a fundamental part of their leaders – of companies and countries corporate strategies. – is the trend for forward-looking multi- Theo Backx, Executive in Residence at national organisations to reassess their RSM and initiator of the RSM Leadership outsourcing and offshoring strategies. Summit states that: ‘We need to ask An article published in The Economist in ourselves: what does business bring to January of this year stated that by 2015 it the Netherlands? What are our strengths? will cost as much to manufacture goods When we know the answers, we must in China as it would in the USA. This is figure out how to develop our reputation influenced by factors such as the dramatic as a country and in doing so ensure a rise in Chinese labour costs, logistics better future for future generations.’ overheads and distance from markets. He also says that each country should If the trend continues, and there is focus on its responsibilities, and define every reason to think it could, then might its unique selling points, such as the
34 RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013 Reinventing the future at RSM’s Leadership Summit Each keynote presentation will be followed by a debate with a member of RSM’s world-class faculty who has unrivalled expertise in an area such as strategy or logistics.
New business models By being flexible in their business strategies, multinational organisations can respond to global changes. ‘Companies should find new focus points and remember that they have competition. They need to figure out the exclusiveness of what they have to offer,’ says Backx. He also stresses that character, entrepreneurial spirit, and the companies should concentrate on the will to succeed, are essential traits. Using relevance of their business models: ‘Is the these qualities effectively will not only focus right, or should you adapt and move lead to the reinvention of business, but to a more diverse approach?’ will also ensure its sustainability. The repatriation of manufacturing To conclude, Backx says: ‘The RSM mentioned earlier offers immense Leadership Summit presents a rare potential for sorely needed innovation in opportunity for those who attend to gain manufacturing expertise of Germany areas such as labour markets. It is through insights into the corporate perspectives and Japan. ‘It’s about exploring, building innovation that companies succeed, and the mindsets of senior executives upon and improving the position of your markets grow, employment rises and from some of the largest companies country in the world.’ economies bloom. For the dream of a in the world. Attendees will be able to blossoming economy to work in reality, identify with the challenges faced by Influential decision makers employers and government agencies these companies as they relate to their Highly influential senior decision makers, need to harness the unique skills and own businesses, and learn from our high- responsible for leading multinational knowledge of local labour forces and profile speakers to think critically about organisations into the future, will share turn them into a compelling competitive how they should be addressed given their unique and inspiring perspectives advantage at both company and an understanding of the bigger global at the RSM Leadership Summit on how country levels. picture. By providing managers with a companies can best prepare for the clear vision of the future, they can look dramatic business, societal and political Expert insights to make their businesses stronger, and in shifts that are expected in the decades Like many other nations, the Netherlands doing so, make our country stronger.’ ahead. One speaker is Lodewijk Hijmans has no shortage of the knowledge, van den Bergh, Executive Vice President experience and networks it needs to The RSM Leadership Summit takes and Chief Corporate Governance Counsel reinvent its own future. As old business place Friday 4 October 2013 at the at Ahold. He, like the other top tier speakers and management models lose their Beurs-World Trade Center Rotterdam. at this year’s event, has experience of relevancy, the pioneers of the new world Speakers are being confirmed as RSM helping a corporate business prepare for will need innovative strategies and next Outlook went to press. For the latest the future while tackling multiple issues generation business models. However, updates and to register, please visit: across an organisation. passion, energy, ambition, strength of WEB www.rsm.nl/leadership-summit
RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013 35 CAMPUS / UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Illustration: Powerhouse Company & DeZwarteHond
New campus looks to the future In September this year, the first phase of the redevelopment of Day-to-day needs of all students are Erasmus University’s Woudestein campus will be completed. being met with the building of new retail facilities, a fitness centre and the Erasmus Coinciding with the university’s 100-year anniversary, this will Pavilion, which will be the recreational represent the first milestone in a master plan to modernise the heart of the campus. Incorporating a café entire campus infrastructure in a way that looks ahead to the next and theatre, the Erasmus Pavilion will host events, parties and other festivities 100 years. Text Miriam Young that provide opportunities for people to get together. Binding everything in a harmonious he Campus under Construction Consultation with many of the fashion, the Erasmus Plaza will be a 30 project was conceived to bring university’s international students metre-wide avenue adorned with trees T about a more attractive and revealed a strong preference to live on and flanked on one side by a large pool vibrant environment that’s conducive to campus rather than in the city. This is of water. This outdoor area is designed changing educational practices and meets being addressed with the construction of to become both an effervescent meeting modern residential and recreational 270 accommodations, which will become point and a pleasant place to relax, needs. Situated between the axes of two available in September 2013, in time for functioning as both thoroughfare and main roads, the rejuvenated campus will the new educational year. A two-level destination. have a clearer infrastructure and better parking garage is also being built to house While this first phase has focused on defined entrances. Internally, a new layout the vehicles of employees, students and the major redesign of the campus layout, has been designed with practical, social guests and, of course, there will be plenty phase two will concentrate on interior and well-being considerations in mind. of space for additional bikes. renovations. Changing educational
36 RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013 CAMPUS / UNDER CONSTRUCTION
…the Campus under Construction project represents a perfect balance between modernisation and preservation.”
practices have seen class sizes become Construction project represents a perfect strangers to get to know one another. smaller while an increased number of balance between modernisation and Naturally, environmental sustainability different classes have become available. preservation. The fundamental challenge was also a major aspect. The restructured This shift in lecture structure is faced when planning it was how to outdoor space has exactly the same expected to continue and calls for having a accommodate an increasing number proportions of water, trees and grass as larger number of smaller classrooms of students and faculty within the same it did before, while green roofs on the available. Existing buildings will ground area, without changing the ratio buildings increase the overall presence therefore be restructured internally to of built-on land to green outdoor spaces. of air-improving plant life. accommodate this. Recreational facilities are essential for All buildings are designed for Meanwhile, office space used for well-being, which, in turn, is conducive maximum energy efficiency, making use research will be modernised to have a more to more successful studying. So any move of proven solutions such as solar panels open feel while making more efficient use to house and educate a larger number of and sensor-operated lighting. This of the available room. The library building, students had to consider both aspects efficient energy use combined with the with space for 800 students, will be closed equally. The international nature of the green roofs satisfies the municipality’s for a year while it undergoes restoration. campus was also a major influence in requirement for a 20 per cent reduction In its entirety, the Campus under the design of spaces that will encourage in CO² output.
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ROTTERDAM SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT ERASMUS UNIVERSITY MBRSMA /L AMSTERDAMEADERSHIP PROJECT / KILIMANJARO
Making a name in Amsterdam
In October 2012, RSM opened an Amsterdam office, following a well-attended official opening located in the thriving Zuidas business centre. The move event, a webinar on the topic of Integrated Reporting, and the first in a series of top testifies to the school’s commitment to respond to the need executive education, open enrolment of companies, business professionals, and partners in the programmes to be held in Amsterdam, capital, all of whom want easy access to RSM’s services. this one on The Essentials of Leadership. Theo Backx, interim head of RSM’s Text Christine Hayes Executive Education and Organisational Department (EEOD) is highly satisfied with the success of the Amsterdam office ince its opening, the office has to date, as indeed is the Dean of RSM, Prof. grown to five people, who use Steef van de Velde, who sees it already S the location to serve executive exceeding expectations. education needs in the area, interview potential candidates for the MBA Smart resources programmes, help students with queries One of the main thrusts of the Amsterdam on the master or bachelor programmes, office is related to executive education. and to organise local events and seminars. The office offers an excellent central The overall response has been welcoming location for RSM faculty members and and enthusiastic. EEOD to meet with interested partners ‘One main focus is to get close to, from the Amsterdam area. ‘We have understand, and help these groups in the resources and locations to provide this area,’ says Amsterdam Office Head, local and international companies in Bradley Lang. ‘We also find it important the Netherlands with effective business to listen to companies, understand development programmes,’ says Lang. their strategies, and discuss how people ‘Our faculty members have considerable development can help them. From that expertise in the fields of leadership, position we can tailor programmes, strategy, finance, accounting, and seminars and webinars more precisely to marketing, for example, and can deliver their needs.’ cutting-edge seminars or run tailor-made, Achievement of the primary objectives in-house development programmes for of the office are already well on track, executives and business professionals.’
We have the resources and locations to provide local and international companies in the Netherlands with effective business development programmes.” Bradley Lang, Head of RSM Amsterdam Office (with Maja Cerim, Events Project Manager).
38 RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013 RSM / AMSTERDAM
Making a name in Amsterdam
The Zuidas business centre is an ideal ‘mini-MBA’ covering Leadership, Finance, location, where many current and Marketing & Strategy in June; Strategy potential clients have their premises. Consultants Approach to Problem Solving, in September; and Effective Negotiating Interested partners Skills and The Art of Project Management Events have indeed exceeded expectations in November. so far. Some 86 per cent of the participants ‘We will also offer tailor-made in the webinar on Integrated Reporting programmes,’ says Lang, who points out returned a rating of good to very good. The that clients have the option of training Essentials in Leadership open enrolment at RSM’s premises in Rotterdam, in their programme received a 4.7 rating (on a own facilities, or at a third party venue scale of 1-5). such RSM’s partner, the Elicium RAI, A brand new executive education in Amsterdam. programme for accountants has been RSM Amsterdam has creative ideas developed in response to the needs of about more new events aimed at bringing the market. A number of potential MBA companies, business professionals and MOVE BORDERS I WILL Dutch / Moroccan Tawfik, Aouatif 2013 Executive MBA Amsterdam Program Manager City of candidates have already been interviewed the large alumni base in Amsterdam in the office, and a plethora of questions, together with RSM’s faculty members, requests, and comments has been in face-to-face seminars or webinars, received and processed with regards to for breakfast or lunch sessions or the master and bachelor programmes. evening classes. The media has also welcomed news of ‘We want to have places where we can RSM’s arrival in Amsterdam: Steef van de share the latest business thinking and Velde and Theo Backx gave a 45 minute ideas, listen to people, and potentially talk on local business radio station BNR, create new products that make sense for and Hello Zuidas magazine has published the market,’ says Lang. As he points out, articles about the school. the business world is changing radically. ‘RSM has a very good reputation,’ says It’s important to meet with clients locally Lang. ‘Business people are interested in and find out exactly what this means in meeting with us.’ And they’re interested terms of their needs. in what RSM can offer: thought-provoking and challenging business programmes, top quality academia, exposure to other For more information about experienced professionals, ground the activities of the RSM breaking research, and all of the other Amsterdam office: aspects needed for survival in a tough WEB www.rsm.nl/amsterdam business environment. You can reach the RSM New programmes Amsterdam office direct A number of executive education by contacting Bradley Lang programmes are planned in Amsterdam EMAIL [email protected] this year: the RSM Diploma, a 2-week TEL +31 (0)20 820 1832 RESEARCH FOCUS / CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE
The
virtuous at the theoretical level. When our results are applied, the data feeds back into our research giving us the opportunity to circle further improve.’ This virtuous circle – whereby business learns from science and science from When science and business are united in a neutral environment business – is one towards which RSM is where common goals can be explored, each party learns much increasingly aspiring. Over a 10-year period the school has inaugurated 35 “Centres from the other and the end results yield benefits for everyone. of Excellence”. The raison d’etre of each This is the motivation behind RSM’s Centres of Excellence. centre is to create that knowledge freeway between RSM’s scientific research – ranked Text Rebecca Morris amongst the world’s best – and the worlds of business, society and policy-making. ‘These centres provide a powerful everal years ago FloraHolland, platform for reciprocal learning,’ says the world’s largest flower auction, Dean of RSM, Prof. Steef van de Velde. S agreed to provide researchers at ‘They represent an entirely new RSM’s Learning Agents Research Group organisational structure.’ (LARGE) with data on the trading activities between buyers and sellers on their auction Bridging the divide floor. After a period of analysis, RSM Unlike an academic department, Centres of submitted a proposal: the introduction Excellence are oriented around an industry of a “learning agent” that could improve or sector. Stakeholders from academia, human decision-making and thus the business, government and non-profit fit between buyers and sellers – in turn organisations are invited to contribute yielding system-wide economic gains for to the agenda, where the objective is to the company. create forums for knowledge sharing (via FloraHolland reciprocated with seminars, conferences and other events) two large grants – enough to fund the between international decision-makers development of the software – and opened and cross-disciplinary experts. their doors to a partnership that has since Like all well-designed collaborations, seen the software tested, approved, and put these centres aim to yield benefits for into action on the auction floor. everyone. Interaction with industry ‘This is the sort of research we are helps to keep RSM’s researchers attuned aiming for: the realisation of research in to the needs of the external world. This practice,’ says Wolfgang Ketter, Associate helps ensure the relevance of the school’s Professor of Information Systems at RSM research agenda and that the curricula of and Director of LARGE. ‘For me, it’s not its programmes deliver the know-how most enough if groundbreaking research stays sought by organisations.
40 RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013 RESEARCH FOCUS / CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE
to capitalise on low prices and energy availability. Eventually the software will be incorporated within Power TAC, a simulation platform developed by the Learning Agents Research Group at Erasmus (LARGE) together with other researchers that provides a test bed for developing the capabilities of “learning agents”, which will become increasingly important in many areas of business in the future. These two projects – Cassandra and Power TAC – offer very real benefits for business, as Ketter, Co-Director of the project, explains: ‘As the energy landscape shifts to include more volatile, renewable energy sources, the harder it will be to manage,’ he says. ‘We are working to give companies and policy-makers a tool that
These centres provide a powerful platform for reciprocal learning. They represent an entirely new organisational structure.” Prof. Steef van de Velde, Dean of RSM.
For executives participating in these Business, scientists with backgrounds will allow them to test the potential effects events, the centres provide a rare, neutral as diverse as computer science, artificial of different policies before committing environment in which they can interact intelligence, economics, and psychology to costly infrastructure. At the Erasmus with peers and competitors. ‘RSM is not are collaborating with industrialists Behavioural Lab we have the resources to a consulting firm or a competitor but a and entrepreneurs across seven develop the highly intelligent algorithms trusted third party,’ says Prof. van de Velde. countries to create a platform that will needed to help governments and ‘We know that managers are very eager to enable them to model the interactions organisations manage this.’ share concerns and insights with their of consumers in the “Smart Grid” of It is a scenario that captures the Dean’s peers and this is a unique opportunity for the future. vision for the school: ‘Our goal is that these them to do so.’ A key part of the Cassandra Energy Centres of Excellence will both increase the Some Centres of Excellence are Project – a pan-European project impact of RSM’s academic output and give small, virtual communities comprising awarded funding of €3.64m from the organisations the possibility to prosper in a handful of scientists and executives. European Union – is the development of ways they might not without access to this But an increasing number are becoming a “human agent”, software that is capable level of scholarly research.’ powerhouses of expertise, generating of learning a consumer’s preferences and innovative research and genuinely thus literally acting on their behalf – for More information on RSM’s Centres of revolutionary tools for businesses. At instance, in choosing when and how Excellence can be found at: the Erasmus Centre for Future Energy much to charge their electricity system WEB www.erim.eur.nl/research
RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013 41 EXECUTIVE EDUCATION / MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES
Refining tomorrow’s managers As the inaugural RSM management programme for Kuwait Petroleum International (KPI), set up by the school’s Executive Education and Organisational Development department (EEOD), moved into its second and final stage, early evaluations of its success were already beginning to form. All were distinctly positive. Text Brian Bollen
ans Horstink, RSM programme with the management of the sponsoring by a multinational management team, director, and learning consultant company, and the personal chemistry including Kuwaiti nationals, in middle Hspecialising in organisational between the key players. and senior managerial positions. development, reports that: ‘We are very The programme boasts a number of ‘We are committed to helping talented pleasantly surprised by the skill, knowledge differentiating features. One, it is one of young Kuwaiti graduates develop an and attitudes of the participants in the the biggest projects that RSM’s EEOD international career by exposing them to first Q8 Business School.’ Further, he department has undertaken for clients. the latest business thinking and ideas in says that ‘everyone proved to be very Two, it is compressed into a single Europe,’ she said. ‘We are partnering with enthusiastic, and energetic. Even though 10-week programme rather than delivered one of Europe’s leading business schools. this is a competitive programme, there in discrete modules. Three, while RSM RSM has built a strong reputation. It is was a very good team spirit from day normally works with client companies amongst the one per cent of business one. People worked together, studied to train employees with varying degrees schools worldwide that is accredited together, worked as teams and supported of experience, none of the participants by all three international, independent one another.’ in this inaugural programme was yet accreditation bodies; AMBA, EQUIS and The programme was very much a KPI employed by KPI. AACSB. The Triple Crown denotes the initiative. The company, the downstream Joke van Wieringen (pictured), KPI’s quality of RSM’s training.’ international subsidiary of the Kuwait corporate learning and development ‘Most participants have a background national petroleum company, whose core manager, devised the notion of setting in engineering, business or finance,’ says business is refining oil, blending it and up a dedicated business school, populated Hans Horstink. ‘The idea is to give them distributing the results in Europe and Asia, by 50 young graduates with a degree in a good start in management, and the list initially invited several business schools to a range of subjects from a recognised of topics covered in the programme is tender for the project. university. The Q8 Business School will be broadly equivalent to those you might The reasons identified by Hans used as a Corporate Social Responsibility expect to find included in an MBA.’ Horstink for RSM’s success in clinching activity to develop the fresh Kuwaiti More than 300 of Kuwait’s graduates the mandate included the quality of graduates, as well as a recruitment and applied for a place on the programme. the design and content of the proposed development tool. These approaches An initial group of 180 candidates was course, a willingness to work closely are in line with KPI’s vision to be steered selected for testing by RSM. A total of 83
42 RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013 EXECUTIVE EDUCATION / MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES
We are committed to helping talented young Kuwaiti graduates develop an international career by exposing them to the latest business thinking and ideas in Europe.” Joke van Wieringen, Corporate Learning and Development Manager, KPI.
passed those tests, and the final 50 were further practical training in one of KPI’s RSM’s existing infrastructure, which selected based on scores in the selection businesses in Europe or the Far East.’ has proved itself capable of adapting process, their grade point average and the The RSM team, headed by Hans well to different nationalities, creeds result of an interview with a panel of KPI Horstink and Academic Directors and sensitivities, played a part in the executives. Most participants are aged Prof. Pursey Heugens and Prof. Frank selection process. All the participants in 20-25 (the latter being the maximum age); Hartmann, consists of a large team of the programme are, almost by definition, the youngest is just 19. RSM faculty members and external Muslims. As it has long been normal for ‘From the large number of applicants, trainers. Working together with a core Muslims to feature prominently on the it is clear that they appreciate the value team of KPI managers and staff the RSM RSM campus, it has the facilities in place of this opportunity and we are delighted team designed a varied and challenging to meet everyday special needs, including with the very high calibre of those we 10-week management programme, prayer facilities and the preparation of have selected,’ Joke added. ‘The graduates which includes sessions from world-class halal food. will benefit from top quality business RSM lecturers, management simulation The initial contract is for a period of training. Up to 20 of the graduates who exercises, case studies, real-life business three years. EEOD is optimistic that it demonstrate the greatest potential – based projects, presentations, interactive will provide a solid foundation upon on a final examination and assessment sessions with guest speakers and a real- which to build a long-term relationship – will be recruited by KPI and go on to life KPI business challenge. with KPI.
RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013 43 Page 1; B&T13088 Outlook Ambitie
AMBITIE? BOOST JE CARRIÈRE MET DE PARTTIME MASTER BEDRIJFSKUNDE IN ROTTERDAM
Wordt 2013 het jaar waarin u uw ambities en VOORLICHTINGSAVONDEN toekomstdromen werkelijkheid laat worden? Laat u EN OPEN DAGEN, ZIE WEBSITE informeren en inspireren door het Parttime Master Bedrijfskunde programma, start 5 september 2013. WWW.RSM.NL/PARTTIME-BEDRIJFSKUNDE
ROTTERDAM SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT ERASMUS UNIVERSITY Page 1; B&T13088 Outlook Ambitie
News / EVENTS ROUND-UP
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Rotterdam to share the latest Mary S. Runté, both from the on challenges to safeguard- University of Lethbridge in ing energy provision. This Alberta, Canada, examine is the second annual event the issues from the lesser- from the Erasmus Centre understood perspective of the for Future Energy Business. not-for-profit organisations. Presentations will explore For more information, contact E-mobility and smart homes. Lonneke Roza. WEB www.rsm.nl/energyforum MAIL [email protected] 8 June annual summer BBQ. The fun Celebrating begins at 16:00 – don’t miss 100 years it! Contact Irene Broekmans- Spend an afternoon with jour- Versluijs for more information nalist, editor and presenter and to reserve a place. MAIL Matthijs van Nieuwkerk, a [email protected] host of special guests, and an 9 July expected audience of around The not- 9 July 1,000 alumni as part of the for-profit Summer celebrations marking the cen- perspective career boost tenary of Erasmus University A Business-Society Manage- Use your summer Tuesday eve- Rotterdam. ment lunchtime seminar on nings to boost your career with For information about the 9 July at RSM, organised by our free webinars. On 9 July, event, and to register, visit ERIM, examines the forma- build your career resilience WEB http://alumnievent8juni.nl tion of cause-related market- and use it to get ahead in the 21 June ing partnerships, a means by toughest of times; find out how 8 June 2nd Annual which companies can satisfy to lay down career plans for the Summer BBQ Energy Forum consumer demand for corpo- long term on 30 July, and on 13 Taking place on the outside Important opinion-makers rate social responsibility and August, how to learn leadership AMBITIE? terrace at Maria’s Café (J from science, politics and not-for-profit organisations skills effectively. All webinars Building), come and join staff, the corporate world come to- gain funds. Professor Debra Z. start at 20:00 CET. BOOST JE CARRIÈRE MET DE PARTTIME MASTER BEDRIJFSKUNDE IN ROTTERDAM alumni and students at the gether on Friday 21 June in Basil and Associate Professor WEB www.rsm.nl/events
RSM global community Wordt 2013 het jaar waarin u uw ambities en VOORLICHTINGSAVONDEN With another 216 new graduates earlier this spring, RSM’s FIND OUT toekomstdromen werkelijkheid laat worden? Laat u EN OPEN DAGEN, ZIE WEBSITE alumni network now numbers around 28,000. Are you making MORE ABOUT informeren en inspireren door het Parttime Master the most of your growing network? Find out if there’s a local RSM’S EVENTS chapter near you at www.rsm.nl/alumni or join one of our five Bedrijfskunde programma, start 5 september 2013. WWW.RSM.NL/PARTTIME-BEDRIJFSKUNDE industry-specific Alumni Affinity Groups, which bring together AT WWW.RSM. alumni and RSM faculty members who share the same profes- NL/EVENTS sional sphere. WEB www.rsm.nl/affinitygroups
ROTTERDAM SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT ERASMUS UNIVERSITY RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013 45 News / EVENTS ROUND-UP
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
career with help from RSM’s Executive Education de- partment. The two-week Advanced Management and Leadership programme, for those who already have management basics, from 5 September 26 August – 6 September at New campus Castle Oegstgeest conference opens centre near Leiden, can help After two years of radical re- you to develop greater self- July & September alumni will sail, swim and construction work, the new awareness and confidence explore the western part of heart of EUR’s Woudestein Set sail for in your own leadership style. Greece. Participants come campus – with its plaza, pavil- regattas WEB www.rsm.nl/amp galore from RSM, London Business ion, parkland and lake – opens School, Manchester Business on Thursday 5 September with Give a cheer for the RSM August, October, November School, Chicago Booth, a picnic and performances. MBA Sailing Club crews who INSEAD and Kellogg School Amsterdam or Want an excuse to see for your- compete against other top of Management. Rtto erdam? self? Come to the Leadership European business schools WEB www.rsmsailing.com You choose! Summit, the Alumni reunion, or in the Cranfield MBA Regatta MAIL [email protected] The highly interactive three- join one of our executive edu- 5-7 July at Port Solent, UK. day Art of Project Management cation programmes on cam- The MBA sailing tournament programme is designed for pus! WEB www.rsm.nl/events comes to RSM home surf with those who want to develop the annual RSM Regatta from their people and technical 30 August to 1 September at skills to become effective pro- Batavia Haven, Lelystad. Find ject managers. You’ll use well- out more about how sailing tested management models can strengthen your network at and competencies every day WEB www.rsmsailing.com. as you learn how to organise August-September September and support projects. It runs in Clmbi up Rotterdam from 28 - 30 August Mentoring the ladder and 20 - 22 November and in RSM will be running its next Get ready for the next Amsterdam from 7 - 9 October round of recruitment from step in your management WEB www.rsm.nl/pm September for the mentoring
3-11 August Iion an Armada How about joining a “Greek Armada” of business school yachts sailing around islands in the Ionian Sea between 3-11 August? Students and
46 RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013 News / EVENTS ROUND-UP
All year Take new learning straight to work There are open enrolment and executive programmes from RSM all year round. They give you practical tools based on cutting edge research, and you can put what you learn straight to work. Use the ‘Find a Programme’ feature to choose whether to take your extra education in a short intensive burst or a longer programme – in Rotterdam, Amsterdam and other locations. WEB www.rsm.nl/execed or MAIL [email protected]
session that runs from October in the Laurenskerk, Rotterdam preparations for the business, 2013 to February 2014. You at 15:30. The highpoint of the societal and political shifts ex- could enhance your own lead- centenary year celebrations pected in decades to come. ership and coaching skills as is on Friday 8 November at Expect expert content and well as discover new ideas the 100th Dies Natalis event scintillating debate. from RSM students. The RSM- which celebrates the founding WEB www.rsm.nl/summit MentorMe programme is a real of the Netherlands School of way to give back to the RSM Commerce in November 1913. community. Can you volunteer WEB www.eur.nl/english/100 28-31 October some of your time over a five month period? Improving WEB http://rsm.mentorme.nl leadership Performance Leadership is a four-day intensive programme held in Rotterdam for man- agers with several years of leadership experience who 5 October are looking for powerful ways MBA Reunion to broaden and deepen their impact. Expect 360° feedback If you graduated in 2008, from peers and inputs from the 2003, 1998, 1993 or 1988 this 4 October latest academic theory as you is the reunion for you! The an- develop your new approaches. RSM Leadership nual MBA Alumni Reunion is WEB www.rsm.nl/pl Summit on Saturday 5 October, the September and November Knowing your business day after our RSM Leadership Happy birthday strengths can be a funda- Summit. Update your manage- FIND OUT to EUR mental part of corporate strat- ment thinking with our ses- MORE ABOUT The Erasmus University egy and planning. This year’s sions to inspire mind and soul, RSM’S EVENTS Rotterdam opens its 100th RSM Leadership Summit in meet the Dean and spend time academic year on Monday Rotterdam on Friday 4 October reconnecting with fellow alum- AT WWW.RSM. 2 September with a formal features decision-makers ni during dinner at Rotterdam’s NL/EVENTS procession from Erasmus from multinational organisa- Grand Café Prachtig. University College to a meeting tions who will share views on WEB www.rsm.nl/mbareunion
RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013 47 News / EVENTS ROUND-UP
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
October-December November Re-examine Hire MBA talent strategy Is your firm offering roles based For 10 consecutive Thursday in Asia, or roles in Europe evenings from 3 October that focus on Asian markets? to 19 December at RSM in Come and meet top MBA tal- Rotterdam, executives with a ent at an event in London, minimum of three years’ expe- UK on 2 November, organ- rience can master the delicate ised by RSM’s MBA Career balance of applying strategic Development Centre. It’s FIND OUT skills and concepts to pre- open to MBA students from pare for general management the top five European business MORE ABOUT opportunities. The Erasmus four individual sessions with schools; HEC, IESE, IMD, LBS RSM’S EVENTS Executive Programme in your project coach, and a final and RSM. For more informa- AT WWW.RSM. 10/29/12;Strategic Page 1; B&T12689 Management CCC Outlook in -202x133,5.pdfexam session. tion, contact Joep Elemans. NL/EVENTS cludes 10 plenary sessions, WEB www.rsm.nl/esm MAIL [email protected]
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ROTTERDAM SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT ERASMUS UNIVERSITY EXECUTIVE EDUCATION / OPEN PROGRAMMES 2013
EXECUTIVE EDUCATION OPEN PROGRAMMES 2013
RSM offers a wide variety of executive education programmes in Amsterdam and Rotterdam; several of them run in both locations at different times. We invite you to have a look through our programmes, which are offered from June to December 2013. EUR and RSM Alumni are entitled to a 10 per cent discount. Detailed descriptions of each programme can be found at www.rsm.nl/open
JUNEJUNE 28 – 29 OCTOBEROCTOBER 9 – 10 11 – 13 Essentials of Essentials of Strategic Account 13 – 14 Leadership 3 Marketing Management Investment Decisions Rotterdam Erasmus Executive Rotterdam Rotterdam for Non-Financials Programme in Rotterdam 28 – 30 Strategic Management 14 – 15 11 – 15 The Art of Project (first of 10 evenings) Executive Mastering Sustainable 19 – 20 Management Rotterdam Management Business Essentials of Rotterdam Programme voor non- Noordwijk Marketing 3 profit en charitatieve Amsterdam 29 – 30 New Business organisaties, 19 – 21 Finance for Non- Development part 1 of 2 (in Dutch) Effective Negotiating 20 – 21 Financial Managers Rotterdam Rotterdam Skills RSM Diploma Rotterdam Rotterdam in Business 2 – 11 28 – 30 Management for 30 – 31 RSM Diploma Business Model 21 – 22 Accountants Warehousing Programme Innovation Finance for Non- Amsterdam Operations in Business Rotterdam Financial Managers Management Management and Rotterdam JULYJULY Rotterdam Leadership 28 – 31 Rotterdam 9 & 30 Performance 20 – 22 Free webinars on SEPTEMBERSEPTEMBER Leadership The Art of Project 2 – 3 career building Rotterdam Management 4 – 6 Essentials of Strategy 20:00 CET (see Rotterdam Masterclass Rotterdam NOVEMBERNOVEMBER www.rsm.nl/events) Duurzaam Cultureel 27 – 29 Ondernemerschap (in 6 – 8 4 – 5 Brand Strategy AUGUSTAUGUST Dutch) Executive Essentials of Rotterdam 13 Rotterdam Leadership Management Free webinar on Rotterdam Programme voor non- DECEMBERDECEMBER career building 4 – 6 profit en charitatieve 20:00 CET (see Effective Negotiating 7 – 8 organisaties, 9 – 10 www.rsm.nl/events) Skills Finance for Non- part 2 of 2 (in Dutch) Essentials of Amsterdam Financial Managers Rotterdam Leadership 22 – 23 19 – 21 Rotterdam Rotterdam International Business Valuation 11 Standardisation start (in Dutch) 7 – 9 The Strategy Dates can be subject to Rotterdam Rotterdam The Art of Project Consultants’ change. Please check Management Approach to Problem www.rsm.nl/open 26 Aug - 6 Sept 23 – 24 Amsterdam Solving Advanced Women in Leadership Rotterdam Management and Rotterdam Leadership Oegstgeest
RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013 49 RSM / ALUMNI SERVICES
RSM ALUMNI SERVICES
Many of you already take part in alumni events and are active in global network- ing. For others, here’s a list of services, activities, programmes and events so you can benefit from being a member of the 28,000-strong RSM alumni network.
AAlumnilumni EEventsvents GGivingiving BBackack Regular activities and events organised by RSM keep There are numerous ways that you can contribute to the alumni up to date with the latest in RSM research and development of current students and the success of recent thinking, with expert speakers from a wide range of graduates. business activities. • Mentoring programmes for BSc, MSc and MBA • RSM Alumni Day (Rotterdam) (worldwide, via the web) • Class reunions (Rotterdam) • Coaching for student projects (Rotterdam) • Local Chapter meetings (worldwide) • Giving career advice and guidance for career boards • Dean’s Dinners (worldwide) (Rotterdam) • RSM Leadership Summit (Rotterdam) • Conducting career workshops and presentations (Rotterdam) LLifelongifelong L Learningearning • Recruiting from RSM (worldwide) There are regular opportunities to extend your business • Offering internships (worldwide) knowledge, and learn from RSM faculty and seasoned • Giving guest lectures (Rotterdam) alumni. It can be a great chance to meet up with old • Representing RSM at recruitment fairs & information friends and make new ones. sessions (worldwide) • Industry-specific Alumni Affinity groups (worldwide) • Interviewing prospective students (worldwide) • Alumni career webinars (worldwide & on the web) • Open programmes, from 2 - 10 days (Rotterdam, Amsterdam) • Executive and specialised Master programmes (Rotterdam, Amsterdam) • Alumni library membership
For all enquiries about alumni services, and to send your comments, suggestions and questions, please email: [email protected]
There are more details about all our alumni services in the alumni section of the RSM website at: www.rsm.nl/alumni
50 RSM OUTLOOK SUMMER 2013 RSM - 12 Adv MBA Outlook 202x267fc (12589)_202x267mm - RSM Outlook 'Join us' (12589) 11/1/12 9:44 AM Pagina 1
SHARE THE RSM SPIRIT! Join us around the world!
Build the MBA Brand in Your World! Wherever you are in the world, you can build your RSM MBA brand. We would like to invite you to join our global recruitment efforts. This gives you the chance to be part of attracting the highest level international participants to the MBA programmes.
You can continue building the value of your MBA WE WILL BE IN THESE COUNTRIES AND degree and connect with your fellow alumni at one REGIONS IN 2013 AND WE LOOK FORWARD of our events: TO SEEING YOU THERE!
THE AMERICAS ASIA EUROPE Meet & Greet dinners MBA Fairs Brazil China Belgium One-to-one sessions Applicant interviews Colombia India France Canada Indonesia Germany Alumni panels Online discussions Mexico Japan Greece via social media Peru Korea Italy United States Taiwan Netherlands Thailand Portugal MIDDLE EAST Vietnam Russia Spain & AFRICA Sweden Lebanon Switzerland Sign-up via www.rsm.nl/AlumniAmbassador or Nigeria United Kingdom e-mail Denise van Dijk-Chasney at the MBA admissions South Africa office ([email protected]) for more information.
ROTTERDAM SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT ERASMUS UNIVERSITY Fuel your future Choose your Open Programme
In today’s complex world, Create tomorrow managers must learn not to by solving today’s manage, but to lead problems Boost your effectiveness The greatest contribution you in finding solutions to can make to the resilience and complex strategic business renewal of your company is problems. Apply methods through agile and actionable and techniques of best critical thinking. Consider the practices to your work Advanced Management and situation. Choose for Leadership Programme. The Strategy Consultants’s Approach to Problem Professor Pursey Heugens Solving. Dr Marc Baaij Today, innovation is not just about your products and services
Branding is being Innovation no longer comes from within a company. Drawing on powerful RSM The three day programme research the Business Model Brand Strategy articulates Innovation Programme provides a strategic vision of you with new perspectives on branding. Learn how to doing business. manage your brand for competitive advantage. Professor Jan van den Ende
Dr Stefano Puntoni Business was usual
Wherever you are at in your career, RSM Executive Education can help you understand and master the complex business challenges which come your way. Our portfolio of short open programmes will provide you with fresh insights and knowledge which you can immediately put to use to develop your leadership skills and business acumen. Programmes run in Rotterdam and Amsterdam, and can also be delivered in-company. For more details on how to boost your career visit www.rsm.nl/open 10% discount for EUR and RSM alumni on all of RSM’s Open Programmes.
ROTTERDAM SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT ERASMUS UNIVERSITY
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