Research at MBS means more than just counting publications. Our aim is to develop practical solutions to economic and social challenges. To this end, we focus on selected fields of research that address current megatrends and key issues in business practice.
The Munich Business School's research model reflects the complexity of our interconnected world. It is guided by global megatrends, focuses on defined research fields, and always takes into account the perspectives of the stakeholders involved.
With the areas of sustainability, digital transformation, and globalization, we address global developments, while innovation, responsible leadership, and family business & entrepreneurship are directly linked to the mission of MBS. In addition, we consider the research dimensions of people, organization, and society in order to analyze the dynamic interactions between individuals, companies, and society.
Research focuses on these three global megatrends:
Transforming how businesses operate and interact with the environment and society by embracing sustainable practices and responsible leadership.
A list of contributions and publications on this topic is being compiled.
Reshaping industries and business models through technological advancements and data-driven decision-making.
A list of contributions and publications on this topic is being compiled.
Analysing different macroeconomic, political, and cultural contexts. Managing trade-offs between global and local value creation and establishing a global presence while respecting local values.
A list of contributions and publications on this topic is being compiled.
These three research areas are at the center of research at MBS:
To foster sustainable commercial growth and competitive advantage, we research and promote innovative practices. This includes studying social and sustainable innovation, which integrates social and environmental considerations into new product development and business strategies. Additionally, we investigate how organizations can leverage digital technologies to drive efficiency and adapt to changing market demands.
A list of contributions and publications on this topic is being compiled.
Our research explores the role of leaders in promoting ethical decision-making. By understanding the attributes and behaviors of ethical leaders, we aim to cultivate a new generation of responsible leaders who integrate social impact and sustainability on a local and global scale into their leadership practices. We also examine the drivers and outcomes of conscious business initiatives, fostering a more responsible business culture.
A list of contributions and publications on this topic is being compiled.
We recognize the unique challenges and contributions of family owned enterprises and entrepreneurs in the business landscape. Our research explores effective succession planning, governance mechanisms, and innovation practices in family businesses. We also investigate entrepreneurial ecosystems and global trends, enabling aspiring entrepreneurs to thrive in a dynamic market.
A list of contributions and publications on this topic is being compiled.
The research subject dimension of the Research Framework explores dynamic interactions between individuals, organizational structures, and broader societal impacts. This aligns with contemporary business challenges and opportunities, emphasizing the importance of human-centered approaches in business practices
This aspect examines the behavior, motivations, and development of individuals within organizational contexts. It involves studying leadership styles, employee engagement, motivation techniques, and personal development, with an emphasis on how these factors influence organizational effectiveness and personal fulfillment.
A list of contributions and publications on this topic is being compiled.
This component focuses on organizational behavior, structures, and processes. It explores the design, management, and transformation of organizations to achieve strategic objectives. Topics such as organizational culture, change management, and innovation are central to understanding how organizations can adapt to and influence changing market conditions and technological advancements.
A list of contributions and publications on this topic is being compiled.
This area investigates the role of organizations in society and their impact on social, economic, and environmental issues. It encompasses corporate social responsibility, ethics, sustainability, and the role of businesses in promoting social welfare and environmental stewardship. This facet also explores how societal trends and issues influence organizational strategies and operations.
A list of contributions and publications on this topic is being compiled.
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The European Center for Social Finance (ECSF) at Munich Buisness School was founded in autumn 2018. The aim of the institution is to bundle MBS' expert knowledge in the fields of social entrepreneurship and social finance and to provide a platform for applied research in these areas. The European Center for Social Finance is headed by Dr. Barbara Scheck, Professor of Entrepreneurship at MBS and proven expert in Social Entrepreneurship. The Center is dedicated to academic research, business intelligence and technical support in the field of social finance and has a wide range of proven tools and experience in working with relevant stakeholders in the social finance sector. The European Center for Social Finance maintains close relationships within the European Community and works with experts across the continent.
EASE - "Empowering Adult Survivors of domestic violence through Entrepreneurship" is an Erasmsus+ research project, that aims to support women affected by domestic violence in their regeneration and professional reintegration, through training and mentoring programs in the start-up/ entrepreneurship field. It also creates an opportunity for institutions of higher education, to expand their curricula, and offer new educational pathways for adults who have already left higher education or the education sector.
The project is being carried out under the leadership and coordination of MBS professors Dr. Patricia Kraft and Dr. Barbara Scheck. Further partners are Institute de Preparation a l'Administration et a la Gestion (France) and the University of New York in Prague, s.r.o. (Czech Republic), the think tank ThinkYoung (Belgium) and the NGOs led by HER (France) and Fondatsiya Bulgarski Tsentar za Gender Izvedvaniya (Bulgaria).
Pilot projects are being carried out in France, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria, with the goal to enable replication across Europe. The project will run for three years to 2024 and is funded by the EU Commission with approx. 380.000 Euros within the framework of the Erasmus+ program.
More information can be found here EASE website.
Conscious Business Education (CBE) is an Erasmus+ funded research project coordinated by Munich Business School. It aims to develop a syllabus on the topic of conscious business for bachelor’s and master’s programs as well as for the field of executive education.
MBS’ partners on this project are the Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg (Germany), UPF Barcelona School of Management (Spain), Palacký University Olomouc (Poland), Nova School of Business and Economics (Portugal), Impact Centre Erasmus (Netherlands), and PIMEC, Catalonia’s Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (Spain). Konstantin Mudrack and Prof. Dr. Christian Schmidkonz (both MBS) are responsible for project management and academic input respectively.
Together, the partners are designing courses on all aspects of Conscious Business Education, including conscious leadership, conscious marketing, impact entrepreneurship, an ethical approach to risk management and governance, and many other relevant topics. The project will run for three years until fall 2024 and has been granted around €300,000 of funding by the European Commission as part of the Erasmus+ program.
The course materials will be tested by the participating universities as part of their curricula, presented to lecturers in Business Studies at public and private universities at conferences across Europe (known as “multiplier events”) and further refined in an ongoing process of exchange.
The research project’s stated aim is to train, inspire and motivate lecturers in Business and Economics throughout Europe to adopt elements of the CBE course material in order to change the way the subjects are taught. After all, more conscious business means acting in a more ethical, people-centered, regenerative, inclusive, stakeholder-oriented, and purpose-driven manner.
More information on the launch of the research project can be found on the MBS blog Insights and on Conscious Business Education's website.
Social-X-Change is an Erasmus+ research project, that aims to promote the internationalization of teaching and learning on the topic of social entrepreneurship at universities by establishing a network of centers for social innovation and social entrepreneurship.
The project is an international cooperation of MBS with three universities (ESSEC Business School in France, TED University in Turkey, University Ramon Llull Fundacio in Spain) and the Impact Hub in Austria.
The research focuses mainly on social impact measurement, impact investing and the legal framework for social enterprises as well as impact-oriented enterprises.
The project will run for three years to 2025 and is funded by the EU Commission with 400,000 Euros within the framework of the Erasmus+ program.
STAY OK is an Erasmus+ research project focusing on well-being at work, an issue that has gained significant importance due to the Covid-19 pandemic and its effects. STAY OK aims to develop a toolkit, particularly for small companies in the professional and consulting services sector, to increase their attractiveness in the labor market in an innovative way.
The project is an international collaboration involving the Munich Business School, EXEO Lab (Italy), MICC Maltese-Italian Chamber of Commerce (Malta), GEINNOVA (Spain), brainplus (Austria), and WAE We Are Entrepreneurs (Denmark).
Together, the partners of STAY OK are creating a comprehensive training and development course for both small business leaders and trainers, tutors, and mentors. Additionally, STAY OK supports the VET community and delivers an innovative Digital Tool for self-assessment of staff well-being and identifying corrective actions.
The project will run for two years until autumn 2025 and is funded by the EU commission with 250,000 Euros within the framework of the Erasmus+ program.
More information can be found on the STAY OK website.
StayOn is a project focusing on empowering young people in rural areas, particularly NEETs, by providing them with digital and environmental skills, as well as personal development coaching, to help them access local job markets and reduce the risk of social exclusion.
Partners: European Center for Social Finance (impact management and research partner, DE), REZOS Brands S.A. (GR), Cresaçor (PT), BB Consulting (SI), The Polish Farm Advisory (PL), ATIS (IT), Regione Siciliana (IT), Meath Partnership (IE)
Time: 10/2021 – 12/2023
Funding: EEA and Norway Grants Fund for Youth Employment, TEUR 1.299
ECSF Researchers: Prof. Dr. Barbara Scheck, Dr. Giulia Parola
For further information, see the project’s website StayOn.
Beyond Capital is an Erasmus+ project that equips early-stage social enterprises with essential financial planning tools to enhance their sustainability. It focuses on training in areas like internal and external financing, income diversification, and innovative financial instruments such as Social Impact Bonds and Crowdfunding.
Partner: Maltese Italian Chamber of Commerce (MT), SYNTHESIS Center for Research and Education (CY), Malta Stock Exchange Institute (MT), Gestión Estratégica e Innovación (ES), Exeo Lab (IT), European Center for Social Finance (DE), Coopération Bancaire pour l’Europe (BE)
Time: 01/2022 – 01/2024
Funding: European Commission, Erasmus+ Program, TEUR 1.299
ECSF Researchers: Prof. Dr. Barbara Scheck, Dr. Giulia Parola.
For further Information, see Beyond Capital.
The research project Women Entrepreneurs in the Maghreb (WEMAG) is a cooperation of MBS lead by Prof. Dr. Patricia Kraft and Prof. Dr. Barbara Scheck with the European universities IPAG Business School (France, lead partner) and VIVES University College (Belgium) as well as the Tunisian universities of Sousse and Gafsa and the Moroccan universities Hassan 1 and Abdellah (duration November 2020 to November 2023).
The aim of this project, funded by the EU Commission, is to increase start-up activities by female students and graduates in African universities from a teaching and research perspective by jointly building knowledge and finding solutions to (gender-specific) challenges.
More information on the launch of the research project can be found on the MBS blog Insights and and on WEMAG's website.
In many regions of Europe, young people still face great difficulties when trying to start and successfully run a business. So far, however, there has been great uncertainty about the best ways to provide support.
The research project "Young Entrepreneurs Succeed" (YES!) is addressing this issue. It aims to explore the most effective initiatives to support young entrepreneurs and the young unemployed as they enter the labour market. The target group is young people in Greece, Poland, Italy and Spain. Its long-term project objective is to develop a transnational, sustainable, replicable and scalable set of support methods.
The project is funded with € 2.3 million by the EEA and Norway Grants Fund for Youth Employment. Represented by MBS Professor Dr. Barbara Scheck and MBS Research Associate Giulia Parola, Munich Business School is the official expertise project partner of „Trust-based Partnership – Yes!“.
More information can be found on the website of Young Entrepreneur Succeed.
Commissioned by the European Commission, the European Center for Social Finance at Munich Business School analyses the innovation potential of social enterprises and their positive impact on the economy and society, and provides support for capacity building.
Cooperation partners are Munich Business School (Prof. Dr Barbara Scheck, ECSF), Dr Yiorgios Alexopoulos (Greece), NGEN Impact GmbH (Dr Wolfgang Spiess-Knafl, Austria). The project has a total volume of 2.4 million euros.
The publications of Munich Business School demonstrate the diversity and relevance of our research. From annual research reports and working papers to award-winning theses and new publications by our authors—here you will find the entire spectrum of academic contributions from MBS.
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The MBS Research Award recognizes outstanding research performance among the faculty of the Munich Business School since 2018. The award criteria include the remarkable quantity and quality of research output publications, excellency in impact and engagement, remarkable contribution to research, but also considers remarkable personal development.
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