ESMT Update Issue March 2011

ESMT Update
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Special Issue: Focus on Management of Technology
01/2011
Defining the “T”
by Lars-Hendrik Röller, ESMT President
The global success story of
German companies is based
to a very large degree on
technology. Germany’s economic accomplishments are
dependent upon technological innovation
and the production and marketing of innovative products. A business school based in
Germany has to integrate technology into
INTERVIEW With the start of the internaINTERVIEW
What will students experience by choosing a track?
its research and curriculum. At ESMT we fo-
tional MBA Class of 2011, ESMT has strength-
The “Management of Innovation and Tech-
cus on the management of technology. In
ened the emphasis placed on technology
nology” track includes Strategic Innovation
our research, teaching, and case studies, we
management and sustainable business.
and Creativity, Managing Technology Capabili-
follow the “T” path from its first innovative
Zoltán Antal-Mokos, Associate Dean of
ties, New Product Development, Bringing
steps to market maturity. This means,
Degree Programs, explains how and why the
Technology to Market, and Capturing Value
among other things, how to market techno-
curriculum was adapted.
from Innovation. The track “Global Sustain-
logical innovation and how to secure profit
able Business” offers courses on Sustainable
from technologies.
How have the management of technology
Supply Chain Management, Corporate Re-
ESMT is involved in the National Develop-
and sustainability been incorporated into
sponsibility,
Management,
ment Plan for Electric Mobility and leads the
the curriculum?
Fighting Poverty with Business, and Global
project Market Model Electric Mobility fund-
We have developed two curricular tracks that
Growth Engines. The International Field
ed by the Ministry for the Environment.
are dedicated to “Management of Innovation
Seminars are themed accordingly, with Sili-
ESMT does research in areas as broad as the
and Technology” and “Global Sustainable
con Valley and China being destinations for
regulatory environment of new technolo-
Business”. Students may choose up to five
MBA groups in 2011.
gies, fostering creative and successful inno-
electives in both areas, thereby adding a dis-
What motivated ESMT to make these curric-
vation, and solving patent problems to en-
tinct focus to the general management pro-
ulum changes?
able commercialization. Based in Germany,
gram. We have also restructured other parts
As an international business school based in
ESMT is well positioned to advance the
of the curriculum, for example starting the
Germany and founded 25 leading global com-
management of technology in international
year with an integrative module on business
panies, ESMT has recognized the importance
management and management education,
in society, global economy, ethics, and lead-
of responsible leadership, sustainability, and
something we successfully execute in our
ership. Our focus on responsible leadership, a
the management of technology since its
full-time MBA, in which 40% have an engi-
central notion in the curriculum since the
inception. The development of the MBA
neering background, and in executive pro-
start of the program, gains further traction
curriculum reflects the growing significance
grams such as Bringing Technology to Mar-
with these changes.
of these aspects in international business.
ket or Business and Economics for Engineers
[email protected]
and Scientists.
Environmental
***
ESMT’s founding dean Wulff Plinke retiring
On March 31, 2011, Wulff
determined commitment, ESMT became real-
cation, positive attitude, insights into man-
Plinke,
founding
ity. His ambition to provide business educa-
agement education, and fascinating tours
dean, will retire after over
tion that prepares students to become
through the ESMT Learning Center. We wish
40 years of working in and
responsible leaders is reflected in ESMT’s
him only the best for his future and look for-
ESMT’s
for higher education and
mission and core values. ESMT currently has
ward to his close and continued support of
research in Germany. Wulff Plinke had the
137 employees, not few of whom were
ESMT as chairman of the board of the Freunde
vision of establishing an international busi-
recruited by Wulff Plinke personally. We
und Förderer der ESMT e.V.
ness school in Germany, and through his
would like to thank him for his ideas, dedi-
More on page 7
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Special Issue: Focus on Management of Technology
The way to beat the cheap imitators
First published in the Wall Street Journal Europe Agenda column, February 25, 2011
by Olaf Plötner, ESMT Associate Dean of Executive Education
After the recession
meet the new low-cost competition head-on.
cal technology and IT, but also in such areas
came
boom.
Since 2006, KHS, a leading German supplier
as sales, and an understanding of the health-
European technology
of machines for filling drinks bottles, has
care industry as a whole. They call for indi-
companies’
order
operated a factory of its own in China’s
viduals who can think critically, act decisive-
books have filled up
Guangdong province specifically for this
ly, be creative, able to lead culturally diverse
again
the
recent
purpose. The machines it makes use simpler
teams, display integrity and inspire trust in
months, but their re-
in
technology and cost 60% less than those
lief is clouded by a
sold by the company in Germany. They have
their customers.
The competitive advantage lies in the fact
problem much more serious than the collapse
been successful, not just because of low
in sales that occurred in 2009 and 2010.
production costs in China, but because they
Many are suddenly having to compete with
are carefully tailored to their local custom-
newcomers hovering up market share at an
ers’ requirements.
alarming rate.
As everyone knows, many of these new arrivals are Chinese businesses that have grown
by making cheap copies of established suppliers’ products and parts. Their low costs
Established European suppliers need
to come up with their own “no-frills”
products to target the lower segments of the market.
mean they have been able to gain market
For this strategy to succeed however, “no-
share by charging less than half the prices
frills” technology has to be designed by
demanded for European premium products.
engineers in the field, not by a group head
This has won them new markets in develop-
office in the West, and foreign subsidiaries
ing countries with strong growth potential
should be given as much autonomy as pos-
but limited ability to pay for high-quality,
sible when it comes to making and mar-
bells-and-whistles products.
keting products.
However, low-cost suppliers in the Far East
Product management and sales should also
have been plowing their profits into new skills
be a local responsibility. While low-cost
and better products and now have Western
technology is a big investment for manu-
technology companies’ traditional customers
facturers, it can often start making money
in their cross hairs. The Shanghai-based crane
quickly, sometimes even in places far removed
manufacturer ZPMC, for example, is now the
from its target market. Siemens Healthcare,
international market leader—not just be-
for example, developed a range of simpler
cause its prices are low, but also because
and cheaper MRI scanners in China that also
Western customers like its technology.
sold well in the U.S.
In view of these trends, European companies
This division of Siemens also exemplifies the
whose global success was based on offering
second key strategic option facing estab-
premium technology products are having to
lished technology companies seeking to as-
rethink their competition strategies. Their
sert themselves in a changing competitive
dominance in many areas of technology is
environment: the provision of “complex ser-
threatened by dramatic growth at the lower
vice solutions.” Ten years ago, Siemens
end of the market, and by new rivals who are
Healthcare took this route and began devel-
increasingly able to offer attractive products
oping Soarian, a work-flow-based IT system
to more upscale customers.
designed to improve process management
There are, however, two strategies that
could help solve the problem.
First, established European suppliers need
to come up with their own “no-frills” products to target the lower segments of the
market.
Instead of simply exporting the previous generation of premium technology, companies
should be developing specialist products to
in health institutions.
Of course, low-cost competitors could copy
that industry newcomers from developing
countries find these “soft” skills very difficult to imitate.
This fact is even more apparent in the strategic consultancy market, where no new
company from any of the BRIC countries
poses a threat to the dominance of Western giants like McKinsey, and Boston Consulting Group, which can refer to expertise
derived from decades of operating in their
specialized markets.
However, the structures of these big consultancies also show the kinds of operational
changes technology manufacturers will
have to make to remain afloat in the complex services market. For example, they
have flat hierarchies in which partners are
jointly responsible for, and operationally involved in, all key processes. And unlike in
technology companies, the sales function is
paramount, and remains the guarded preserve of the most experienced managers.
As with the global decentralization of nofrills technology, most traditional tech companies will have to make radical changes if
they are to adapt this cross-departmental
approach to the provision of complex services. Previously successful strategies will
have to be torn up, employees taught new
skills, and traditional organizational structures left by the wayside.
The competitive advantage lies in
the fact that industry newcomers
from developing countries find these
“soft” skills very difficult to imitate.
the software, but software is only a tool.
Of course, this is not really a big deal in a
When implemented successfully it adds huge
market economy. The IT explosion a few
value by analyzing institutions’ processes,
decades ago, for instance, had dramatic
identifying potential improvements and con-
effects on existing tech companies’ prod-
figuring the IT system to be as user-friendly
ucts and internal structures, but if they
as possible. But these complex projects re-
moved with the times, they survived.
quire a wide range of skills, not just in medi-
[email protected]
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Special Issue: Focus on Management of Technology
The management of technology at ESMT
Research, teaching, and case studies in the
At the firm level, our focus is on the develop-
Finally, society is an important aspect of
field of management of technology at
ment or pre-market phase, such as research
ESMT’s management of technology pro-
ESMT explore how to market technology at
on R&D patent diffusion competition, on in-
file. We examine the effects of regulation
four levels: individual, firm, industry, and
forming the customer about Really New
and governance, i.e. the “Rahmen-
society. Together these four areas provide
Products such as tablet PCs, on technological
bedingungen” for the development and
the necessary matrix to lead successfully
alliances and co-development with suppliers,
adoption of new complex technologies.
in the management of technology.
and on the changing landscape of intellectual
“The field of technology management is
At the individual level, we focus on inven-
property rights.
extremely broad,” says ESMT Professor
tion and development, such as entrepre-
At the industry level, research is on first mov-
Mario Rese. “ESMT tackles areas of great
neurship, management of technology alli-
er advantages, on pricing incentives in tech
importance for companies which develop
ances, new product development, and
platforms, and on the use of technology in
new technologies and transfer them into
start-up financing.
poverty alleviation.
innovative products for long-term profit.”
Full Professor: [email protected]
ESMT broadens executive
education program portfolio
With the open enrollment program Business
and Economics for Engineers and Scientists
starting in May 2011, ESMT has broadened
its portfolio in the area of technology and innovation management. The new program offered in cooperation with Collège de Polytechnique in Paris provides junior R&D
managers and technology experts with an indepth set of managerial skills and frameworks. In 2010 ESMT successfully launched
the consortia program Managing Technology
for Innovation together with the Rotterdam
School of Management. This program supports companies in achieving a sustained
competitive advantage through innovation.
ESMT expands international faculty in management
of technology
ESMT has engaged
Stefan
Linus
Dahlander
joined ESMT from
and Stefan Wagner
Ludwig-Maximil-
as assistant profes-
ians-Universität
sors in the areas of
LMU
innovation, entre-
where he was an
preneurship,
assistant
and
strategy, strength-
Wagner
in
Munich
profes-
sor and completed
ening its expertise
his
Habilitation
in the management of technology. Linus
(Dr. habil.) in 2010. Stefan Wagner has in-
Dahlander completed post doc research at
ternational experience as a visiting scholar
Stanford University in 2010 and has a PhD
at Melbourne Business School and Boston
in technology management and economics.
University and as a Fulbright scholar at
He was previously assistant professor at
UCLA’s Graduate School of Economics. He
Imperial College Business School in London.
has researched and published extensively
His broad range of publications includes
on innovation and patents and teaches not
journal articles on innovation and commu-
only in these areas, but also entrepreneur-
nities. He has teaching experience in the
ship and statistics.
areas of entrepreneurship and innovation
[email protected]
management. [email protected]
***
In its tenth year, the three modules of Bring-
Expert workshop on electric mobility research
ing Technology to Market, are held together
ESMT is contributing to the development of
sion makers. Topics included the costs and
with Darden School of Business, Charlottes-
the future market for electric vehicles in Ger-
benefits of different infrastructure scenarios
ville, USA, and with Cheung Kong Graduate
many with the research project “Market Mod-
and subsidy schemes for electric vehicles. The
School of Management, Bejing, China, and in
el Electric Mobility: Cars and Infrastructure”
project team at ESMT brings together infor-
Berlin. This long-standing program is valued
(MMEM) started in 2010. In an industry work-
mation from vehicle and battery manufactur-
by senior sales and marketing managers in
shop on February 10, 2011, the MMEM team
ers, utilities, and electricity network operators
international companies in B2B-markets for
discussed its current research results with
for its calculations.
technical systems and services.
economic experts, politicians, and other deci-
Project Leader: [email protected]
[email protected]
Research with Impact
2010 ESMT R&D Annual Report shows impact in research
In its R&D Report
In addition, more than 46 research semi-
Luxembourg, and the Federal Ministry for
2010 ESMT has dem-
nars took place at ESMT last year. Speak-
the Environment, Nature Conservation,
onstrated that the
ers came from prestigious international
and Nuclear Safety.
business
school’s
institutions such as MIT, Stanford Univer-
The business school’s Center for Leadership
research had a sig-
sity, and London School of Economics,
Development Research (CLDR) continued
nificant
at
attesting to ESMT’s growing international
to grow, holding its second coaching collo-
both academic and
reputation. ESMT faculty was invited to
applied levels. ESMT
present its research results at 86 interna-
quium in December and co-organizing the
3rd International Coaching Research Forum
faculty members produced eight books
tional seminars and conferences. All of
together with the Institute of Coaching at
and 18 peer-reviewed articles in influen-
these presentations offered new academic
Harvard Medical School.
tial international academic journals, plac-
insight spanning subjects from the fields
Once again ESMT was active in the Berlin
ing special emphasis on the management
of decision-making, economics, finance,
Doctoral Program in Economics & Manage-
of technology, corporate responsibility,
and leadership.
ment Science (BDPEMS) and increased its
leadership, public policy, and financial eco-
ESMT has also further developed the area
participation by delivering several courses
nomics. ESMT also published several key
of research grants and received new and
in behavioral economics, management,
papers dealing with European competition
continued funding from the Peter Curtius
marketing, and statistics, which were held
policy, thereby working closely together
Foundation, DFG-Deutsche Forschungsge-
at ESMT. ESMT Director of Research:
with ESMT Competition Analysis.
meinschaft, Fonds National de la Recherche
[email protected]
impact
***
Pros and cons of net neutrality regulation
Growing demand for bandwidth and in-
W. Friederiszick, Jakub Kaluzny, Simone
os. The authors recommend that authorities
creasing commercial relevance have stimu-
Kohnz, and Lars-Hendrik Röller and commis-
apply an informed “wait and see” method:
lated a global debate on the viability of the
sioned by Deutsche Telekom, ESMT Compe-
closely monitoring market developments
Internet’s economic model and the role of
tition Analysis (CA) presents four Internet
and forcefully reacting to any emerging
net neutrality regulation, but the implica-
business models and deliberates on the po-
competitive threats rather than acting pre-
tions of such regulation in Europe on some
tential regulatory implications of each. Each
emptively and thereby preventing some
possible Internet business models had not
business model focuses on a different as-
beneficial business models from developing.
been analyzed. In the independent academ-
pect, like congestion management, new ser-
Managing
ic study “Assessment of a sustainable In-
vices or consumer choice, thus covering a
Analysis: [email protected]
ternet model for the near future” by Hans
broad universe of potential future scenari-
ESMT
Competition
When personal and professional
identities interfere
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Selected books and case studies in management of technology
Books
“Infoterra GmbH” by Olaf Plötner and
“Online communities and open innovation:
Bülent Gögdün
Governance and symbolic value creation”
by Linus Dahlander et al., Routledge
Director
“Options for growth: The Case of Haier”
by Franziska Frank
“Bringing Technology to Market: Trends,
Cases, Solutions” by Olaf Plötner and
“Sitting pretty: Customer-driven innova-
Robert E. Spekman, Wiley Verlag
tion at Faurecia car seating” by Francis
Bidault
Case studies
“A350 XWB: Airbus’ answer to Boeing’s
“Voith Paper: Transforming sales costs
Dreamliner” by Francis Bidault
into consulting revenue” by Olaf Plötner
It is well known that the corporate gender
gap is still large. ESMT professor Laura Guillén and Natalia Karelaia (INSEAD) have led a
research project on female leadership challenges, contributing to the growing research
in this area which ultimately seeks to promote gender equality in management. The
goal of this research was to understand the
challenges that women in managerial positions may experience. The study is based on
a survey conducted by ESMT faculty in collaboration with other academic institutions.
A special thanks to all female managers of
the ESMT Alumni Network who participated
in this project. The results will be shared
with the ESMT community very soon. Assistant Professor: [email protected]
Short-listed
Tapping new markets for ESMT
MBA programs
ESMT president participates in panel debate at international
forum Observatory on Europe
In 2011 ESMT will be present for the first
Lars-Hendrik Röller, President of ESMT, par-
ty and former European Commissioner for
time in Azerbaijan and Georgia and in sev-
ticipated in the debate on improving Euro-
Competition Policy, and Eniko Gyori, Minis-
eral African countries, including Ghana, Ke-
pean integration and competitiveness at
ter of State for EU affairs, Hungary. Lars-
nya, and South Africa, to introduce its MBA
the forum “Observatory on Europe,” held
Hendrik Röller reiterated the need for a Eu-
programs to interested candidates. The num-
by the European House-Ambrosetti on
ropean industrial policy directed towards
ber of GMAT takers, the test required for ad-
February 2, 2011, in Brussels. He provided
raising Europe’s performance as a whole.
mission to an MBA program, is growing in
insights into key issues and perspectives of
Naming further European economic inte-
these areas of the globe. In addition, ESMT is
EU industrial policy as part of a panel which
gration as the main long-term issue for Eu-
among a select number of schools providing
also included Antonio Tajani, Vice President
rozone countries, he urged for a growth-
merit-based scholarships, such as the Kofi
of the European Commission and Commis-
enhancing industrial policy that not only
Annan Fellowship, that target students from
sioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship,
harmonizes, but also raises productivity.
least-developed countries. Director of MBA
Mario Monti, President of Bocconi Universi-
ESMT President: [email protected]
Programs: [email protected]
***
Discussion about diversity
at ESMT
***
ESMT offers MBA students two-month German course
free of charge
In cooperation with the Goethe Institute Ber-
mented, “Thanks to the close relationship
On February 1, 2011, Farhad Dilmaghani,
lin, ESMT is offering its full-time MBA students
with our founding companies we know that
Head of Corporate and Marketing Communi-
the chance to participate in an intensive lan-
German language skills are still highly im-
cations at ESMT, hosted the rbb inforadio dis-
guage course at no cost before they start the
portant to find employment in Germany.”
cussion “Black-Red-Colorful: What is the ad-
demanding one-year program. The language
Sixty per cent of ESMT’s full-time MBA alum-
vantage of cultural diversity?” Together with
courses are part of the support ESMT offers
ni have chosen to work in Germany after
Ehrhart Körting, Senator of the Interior in Ber-
its students to find a job in Germany. Nick
graduation. Director of MBA programs:
lin, Brigitte Lammers, Human Resources Man-
Barniville, Director of MBA Programs, com-
[email protected]
ager at Egon Zehnder, and Christine Lüders,
Head of the Federal Anti-Discrimination
Agency, he debated how German companies
can become more diverse and what measures
are needed to open the German job market to
more cultural diversity.
Head of Corporate and Marketing Communications: [email protected]
“…world-class business
education not necessarily focused on the Anglo-Saxon
way of doing business but the German model of long-term
corporate sustainability.” February 18, 2011
***
ESMT alumni meet in Düsseldorf,
Berlin, Mumbai, and Istanbul
ESMT welcomes full-time MBA Class of 2011
The Rhein-Ruhr Chapter held its second
module dedicated to responsible leadership
meeting in January and the Berlin Chapter
within the framework of general manage-
gathered in March. ESMT Alumni also came
ment. For the first time there are two Kofi
together in India and Turkey with C. B. Bhat-
Annan Fellows: Berlinda Mkanganwi from
tacharya, ESMT Associate Dean of Interna-
Zimbabwe and Nodir Nurimbetov from Uz-
tional Relations and E.ON Chair in Corporate
bekistan. This fellowship program gives tal-
Responsibility. The meetings provided an op-
ented and motivated students from least
portunity for school updates, discussions,
developed countries the financial means to
good food and networking with old friends
study at ESMT in order to contribute to their
and new acquaintances. Special thanks go to
home country’s development upon their re-
the ESMT alumni Arzu Akoymak, Murat
turn. On the MBA blog, students write of
Bayrak, Clemens Brandstetter, Stefano Bre-
their personal experience in class, at ESMT,
da, Francisco Bustamante, Anke Dassler, Kris-
In January the MBA Class of 2011, made up
and in Berlin. To find our more about the
ten Herde, María Vasquez-Merchant and
of 28 men and 11 women and representing
students from their perspective, please go to
Marco Zagonel, who through their engage-
18 different nationalities, took up their
http://blog.esmt.org/. Associate Dean of De-
ment helped make these gatherings possible.
studies at ESMT. The program began with a
gree Programs: [email protected]
Head of Development: [email protected]
Short-listed
ESMT launches student loan program with Deutsche Bank
ESMT has launched a student loan program
time or executive MBA program at ESMT,
for participants in its full-time and execu-
they may apply for a student loan of up to
tive MBA programs. In cooperation with db
€30,000. Upon loan authorization, ESMT
StudentenKredit, students receive favorable
will pay all processing fees as well as the in-
conditions to finance the degree program.
terest due during the program and the first
Loan applicants must either be German citi-
six months after graduation.
zens or have lived for more than two years
Head of Admissions, MBA Programs:
in the country. After acceptance to the full-
[email protected]
ESMT continues successful Open
Lectures series
In 2011 ESMT has welcomed
Stephen
Kai
Wong, head of the
Hong Kong Economic
and Trade Office, and
Cobus
de
Swardt,
Managing Director of Transparency International, to speak as a part of the ESMT Open
Lectures series. The expert Stephen Kai
***
Wong elaborated on intellectual capital
Germany most popular
management and Intellectual Property pro-
Germany was once again found to be the
Deutsche Welle’s Economic Advisory Board,
tection in Hong Kong in the first lecture of
most popular country in the world, accord-
a group that also includes Georg Daschner,
the year, which was moderated by ESMT
ing to the recent BBC World Service poll of
member of the management board of
professor Zhike Lei. To an audience of ESMT
27 countries, underlining the country’s sta-
Münchener
Rückversicherungs-Gesell-
MBA students and the general public, Cobus
tus. Germany’s international broadcaster
schaft, Christof Ehrhart, Executive Vice
de Swardt discussed Transparency Interna-
Deutsche Welle provides news from and
President
Communications,
tional’s policy of de-escalation and its grass-
about Germany around the globe in Ger-
Deutsche Post DHL, and Arend Oetker, Vice
roots’ efforts to exert pressure and enact
man, English, Arabic, and Spanish on TV
President
der
change through social channels. The lecture
and in thirty different languages online.
Deutschen Industrie and managing part-
was moderated by Mathias Ohanian, Finan-
ESMT President Lars-Hendrik Röller sup-
ner, Dr. Arend Oetker Holding.
cial Times Deutschland.
ports this mandate as a part of the
ESMT President: [email protected]
Head of Corporate Citizenship:
Corporate
of
the
Bundesverband
***
Learning from art to create business
[email protected]
***
What lessons can managers draw from art-
example of how to create new markets and
ists like Picasso or Madonna? Martin Kupp,
use unusual marketing and distribution
ESMT president joins „WeltGipfel“
member of ESMT’s faculty and Head of Prac-
channels. Joseph Beuys is the one to learn
On January 12 and 13, 2011, ESMT president
tice Group Technology Based Industry (TBI),
from when it comes to the stimulation of
Lars-Hendrik Röller took part in the third
gives an answer to this question in the new
creativity. Beuys defined individual creativ-
economic summit of the German newspaper
book The Fine Art of Success. Martin Kupp’s
ity as a combination of inspiration, intuition,
Die Welt. Around sixty of Germany’s eco-
co-authors are Jamie Anderson of Antwerp
and imagination. Managers should also
nomic leaders met Chancellor Merkel and six
Management School and Jörg Reckhendrich,
study Nam June Paik if they want to discov-
federal ministers to discuss recent economic
a German artist. The authors provide in-
er how innovation can be developed through
developments and the opportunities and
sights into key concepts of management by
complexity rather than simplification.
challenges facing Germany. Topics included
innovatively discussing what managers can
[email protected]
the relationship between economy and policy, the problematic development of the euro,
learn from artists. Damien Hirst provides an
***
ESMT MasterClass with Tuomo Hatakka
and the support of women in top positions
via quotas. ESMT President: [email protected]
***
On March 1, Tuomo Hatakka, Head of Busi-
emphasized the importance of middle man-
ness Division - Production and CEO Europe
agement with respect to implementation of
of Vattenfall was the guest speaker of the
company strategy and the need to engage
first MasterClass in the 2011 series. MBA
and communicate with employees at all lev-
students Nishant Aurora and Nitin Malhotra
els. Finally, with his diverse international
introduced him and Vattenfall in this infor-
experience and ability to speak six languages
mal evening session. The lively discussion
fluently, the CEO deeply impressed mem-
which ensued provided members of the
bers of the class for whom diversity of back-
MBA class with a personal insight into the
ground and experience has great meaning.
management and political challenges facing
Head of Development:
the energy sector. Tuomo Hatakka further
[email protected]
Honoring Wulff Plinke, Founding Dean of ESMT, at Retirement
A career dedicated to the promotion of education and research
for ESMT. During the renovation phase Wulff
oversaw the reconstruction work by the architect H.G. Merz and the construction company
Hochtief and was especially committed to the
historical protection of the building beyond
preservation requirements.
As ESMT’s founding dean Wulff has put all of
his energy into building up the school’s portfolio and its international faculty and in developing partnerships with other business
schools and institutions worldwide.
Since last year, Wulff is a member of the Kofi
Annan Business School Foundation board as
well as the chairman of the board of the
Only eight years after its foundation and five
scape. In addition to his research and teach-
Freunde und Förderer der ESMT e.V. In these
years after the campus opening in Berlin,
ing at Freie Universität and Humboldt-Univer-
positions he will remain close to ESMT and
ESMT has become an international business
sität, he founded the Institute of Management
dedicated to the support of talented students
school with a growing reputation. Future tal-
and Technology (IMT) and was also academic
through management education. For those
ents and leaders come to Germany from all
director and chief executive at USW Univer-
students, Wulff will stay a role model because
over the world to study and to develop their
sitätsseminar der Wirtschaft. It was his fore-
of his untiring energy, his responsible leader-
business skills further. Recognized academics
sight and his outstanding commitment which
ship style, and his integrity.
and researchers from renowned institutions
helped in merging IMT and USW with ESMT.
such as Harvard, Stanford, or INSEAD move to
As a member of ESMT’s foundation committee,
Berlin to contribute to the progress of ESMT.
he contributed fundamentally to raising the
Wulff Plinke laid the foundation for and has
foundation’s endowment and set the econom-
played an essential role in this development.
ic basis for operating the school. At the same
Wulff’s entire career has been dedicated to
time, he was involved in the talks with Gerhard
Michael Diekmann
the visionary plan to establish an international
Schröder, then Chancellor, and Berlin’s mayor
Chairman of the Board of Management,
business school in Germany and to thereby
Klaus Wowereit to acquire the building of the
Allianz SE, and Chairman of the ESMT Foun-
close a gap in the country’s educational land-
former GDR State Council as the new campus
dation Board of Trustees
“To have a vision and to follow it through
to realization – these are the special
qualities that Professor Plinke embodies, as
evidenced by ESMT’s development during
the past years.”
Dr. Henning Schulte-Noelle, Chairman of the Supervisory Board and
former CEO, Allianz, and former member of the ESMT Supervisory Board
“I have known Wulff Plinke for many
years and especially value his dedication,
perseverance, and personal integrity.
Without him we would have no ESMT, a
business school that insists upon scientific
clarity and honest research.”
Dr. Manfred Gentz, former member of the board, DaimlerChrysler, and
former member of the ESMT Supervisory Board
“Ständige Vertretung” (Permanent Representation)
Writing about Wulff Plinke
ecutive assistant to the academic director
the most stressful situations, Marion Breloehr
also means writing about
Martin K. Welge and was program manager
is a treasured colleague who will be missed by
Marion Breloehr – his “right
for USW’s flagship program General Manage-
all of ESMT. We wish her all the very best for
hand” and executive assis-
ment Seminar. On April 1, 2001, she began
her future which holds a redecoration of her
tant for the past ten years.
working for Wulff Plinke and moved to Berlin
house as well as diverse sporting activities, es-
Born in the Taunus she
in 2004. This has been a challenge for her
pecially on the tennis court. Footnote: Marion
started working for USW Universitätsseminar
and her family, as she has commuted be-
really regrets that she has not yet won in the
der Wirtschaft in 1984. At USW she first sup-
tween her home-town Erftstadt and Berlin for
lottery to keep her very nice apartment in Ber-
ported Hermann Sabel in organizing USW
the last seven years. With her friendly nature
lin – but maybe “ein Koffer in Berlin” is also a
marketing seminars. In 1998 she became ex-
and always-ready-to-help attitude in even
good reason to always return…
In the Pipeline
Net neutrality – one focus of 4th ESMT Annual Forum
net may help ISPs to regain competitive
edge while shaking up the content providers. This, in turn, has sparked strong protests among user communities and political
decision makers concerned with violation of
net neutrality – the idea that everyone can
Two decades after the inception of the
have equal access to the net. Moderated by
World Wide Web, the Internet is an unques-
ESMT associate professor Michał Grajek ex-
tioned platform for innovation and growth.
perts including Johannes M. Bauer, Michigan
While large content providers have experi-
State
enced stellar performance, Internet Service
Deutsche Telekom; and Detlef Eckert, Euro-
Providers’ (ISP) performance has been less
pean Commission will discuss these dynamic
spectacular. At the same time, ideas to offer
developments and possible future scenarios
exclusive and differentiated services on the
for the internet.
University;
Thomas
A.
Curran,
Further panels will take place on “The Race for
Talent” and “New Technologies for Global
Markets” and include speakers from Harvard
Business School, Siemens, Stanford Graduate
School of Business, and Toyota. For the second time, the ESMT Responsible Leadership
Award will honor an outstanding business
figure who has demonstrated a deep commitment to the principles of sustainability and
responsibility. This year’s laudatory is Josef
Ackermann, Chairman of the Board of Management, Deutsche Bank, and Vice Chairman
of the ESMT Foundation Board of Trustees.
July 6-7, 2011 · [email protected]
***
Upcoming ESMT Open Lectures
ESMT will host an Open
Advisor for Cyber Security. In his new book
Lecture on March 29,
Cyber War he explains what kind of prob-
lishing house Hoffmann und Campe. Other
2011 with Richard A.
lems national security is facing from this
upcoming Open Lectures will be given by
Clarke on the threats of
angle. The American expert argues that the
Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty
a worldwide cyber war.
US is already at risk of losing the battle
International on April 15, 2011 and Jürgen
Richard A. Clarke is the
against cyber criminals. Elmar Theveßen,
Chrobog, chairman of BMW Stiftung Herbert
American Academy in Berlin and the pub-
Former National Coor-
Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the German public
Quandt on April 20, 2011.
dinator for Security and Counter-Terrorism
television channel ZDF, is moderating the
Head of Corporate Citizenship:
of the US and Former Special Presidential
lecture. It is being held together with the
[email protected]
***
ESMT consortium program on
sustainability
Together with Daimler, Deutsche Bank, and
E.ON, ESMT Customized Solutions has jointly
developed a senior executive consortium program on sustainability which ran for the first
time at the end of 2010 and will continue in
2011. ESMT faculty and the participants evaluated their companies’ sustainability initiatives. In addition, representatives of NGOs
and political organizations stated their positions, sparking lively discussions on how to
reconcile the conflicting interests of people,
ESMT launches Sustainable Business Roundtable
ESMT will kick off the Sustainable Business
investor relations, and marketing, in a com-
Roundtable (SBRT) on July 6, 2011, before
mon forum in order to understand the dif-
the start of the ESMT Annual Forum. The
ferent vantage points and thereby foster
SBRT at ESMT brings academic research and
greater collaboration within companies.
contemporary business practice together
Through SBRT, corporate members will have
and provides a forum for managers commit-
the advantage of learning from and con-
ted to making sustainability more main-
tributing to the latest applied research on
stream in companies. One of the main objec-
how sustainability can be used as a key
tives of the SBRT will be to bring together
competitive advantage in different areas of
members of sustainability departments
business today.
with their colleagues from HR, procurement,
Full Professor and E.ON Chair in Corporate
Responsibility: [email protected]
planet, and profit.
Head of Practice Group Financial Services:
[email protected]
Editorial team
Farhad Dilmaghani, Head of Corporate and Marketing Communications (V.i.S.d.P.)
Martha Ihlbrock, Media and Corporate Communications Officer
Christiane Herzog, Marketing Manager
Founders and benefactors of ESMT
ESMT. The business school founded by business.