Digital transformation, the Holy Grail, and the disruption of business models: An interview with Michael Nilles

In this Executive Focus, Andreas Hinterhuber interviews Michael Nillesdchief digital information officer of Henkel AG & Co.dand discusses the game-changing opportunities that digital transformation presents to companies that embed a digital core into their business models. Nilles sees digital transformation as the Holy Grail: a force that is not easy to find, not easy to capture, and has the potential to dramatically improve the customer experience

Time to tango!:Bringing civil society and gender together

Im Zuge der weltweiten Demokratisierungsbestrebungen spielen zivilgesellschaftliche AkteurInnen eine entscheidende Rolle, die nicht zuletzt durch die Proteste in den arabischen Staaten wie Tunesien oder Ägypten deutlich wurde. Auch Frauen haben sich zu wichtigen Akteurinnen innerhalb der Zivilgesellschaft qualifiziert. Sie haben sich zu aktiven Teilnehmerinnen entwickelt, die ihre geschlechterpolitischen Ziele formulieren und dazu beitragen diese zur Diskussion zu stellen. Nichtsdestotrotz sind gerade Frauen oftmals am stärksten von politischen Rückschlägen und Repression betroffen. Umso überraschender scheint es, dass eine systematische Verknüpfung von Zivilgesellschaftsforschung, politischen Transformationsprozessen und Gender bisher nur unzureichend vorgenommen wurde, obwohl es Überschneidungen und gewichtige inhaltliche Argumente für einen engeren Austausch zwischen politikwissenschaftlicher Geschlechter- und Zivilgesellschaftsforschung gibt. Bisher hat der Mainstream der Zivilgesellschaftsforschung Gender nur unzureichend als wissenschaftliche Analysekategorie inkludiert; auf der anderen Seite haben sich die Gender-Studies nur in einem begrenzten Maße mit Zivilgesellschaft als Forschungsobjekt beschäftigt. Der Literaturbericht greift dieses Desiderat auf und gibt einen Überblick über die theoretischen und empirischen Arbeiten, die die Themenfelder Zivilgesellschaft und Gender miteinander verknüpfen und macht so auf die unterschiedlichen Schwerpunkte in der Literatur aufmerksam

Pricing as a driver of profitable growth: An agenda for CEOs and senior executives

Most CEOs take a narrow, tactical view of pricing and delegate pricing to lower levels of the organization. This myopic approach is costly, as it prevents companies from realizing their potential. In the hands of the best-run companies, pricing is not a battlefield tactic to win a particular competitive skirmish but a transformative long-term strategy for sustained competitive advantage. We present an agenda of six specific action items that defines how to unlock the power of pricing. CEOs and senior executives, our research suggests, should not set prices, but instead, they should create the context, the capabilities, the behaviors, the infrastructure, and the aspirations that enable their organization to excel in pricing

Continuous learning at work: the power of gamification

PurposeThis literature review explores the potential of gamification in workplace learning beyond formal training. The study also highlights research gaps and opportunities for scholars to develop new theories and methodologies to enhance the understanding and application of gamification in workplace learning. It provides guidance for managers to use gamification to enhance learning and engagement. Ultimately, this review presents gamification as a promising field of study to increase individual and organizational performance.Design/methodology/approachLiterature review of 6625 papers in the timeframe 1990-2020, with an update to include papers published in 2023.FindingsThis article examines the impact of gamification beyond formal learning and its potential to enhance employee productivity and well-being in the workplace. While there has been extensive research on gamification in formal learning contexts, little is known about its impact on informal learning. The study argues that the context of gamification is crucial to extending its effects and discusses the role, antecedents and consequences of game design elements in the workplace. The article also explores how the learning context relates to employee learning during work. Further research is necessary to investigate the impact of individual characteristics on work experience and performance.Research limitations/implicationsIntended contribution of the present study is the development of a theoretical framework exploring the benefits of gamification in a work context.Practical implicationsFor practicing managers, this paper shows how to use gamification to increase workplace learning and employee engagement, not just in the context of formal learning-as some companies already do today-but also systematically, in the context of informal learning.Originality/valueThis study explores the impact of gamification on informal workplace learning and emphasizes the significance of the context of gamification in extending its effects to improve individual and organizational performance

Gender and Diversity Studies in European Perspectives : International conference, 8–10 January 2015, Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, Kleve

Vom 8. bis 10. Januar fand an der Hochschule Rhein-Waal in Kleve die internationale Konferenz „Gender and Diversity Studies in European Perspectives“ statt. Die hier diskutierten Themen reichten von Fragen nach der Umsetzung und dem Wandel von Gender- und-Diversity-Strategien in spezifischen Feldern, Institutionen und europäischen Regionen über stärker theoretisch ausgerichtete Untersuchungen von Diversitäts- und Intersektionalitätskonzepten bis zu Handlungsempfehlungen für zukünftige Schritte. Die Konferenz zeigte die Notwendigkeit auf, die Analyseinstrumente der Gender und Diversity Studies zu schärfen und politische Allianzen über Differenzlinien hinweg auszuhandeln, um Stillstand und Backlash zu überwinden.The Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences in Kleve hosted the international conference on “Gender and Diversity Studies in European Perspectives” from 8 to 10 January 2015. Topics discussed at the conference ranged from the implementation and vicissitudes of gender and diversity policies in specific fields, institutions and European regions, to more theoretical examinations of the concepts of diversity and intersectionality, and proposals for going forward. The conference highlighted the need to sharpen the analytical instruments of gender and diversity studies and to negotiate political alliances across lines of difference in order to overcome stagnation and backlash

Pricing and CEOs: why top executives need to get involved

Purpose: Despite its increased adoption by small, medium and large firms, pricing continues to be ignored in the C-suite. C-suite executives have minimal understanding of what pricing can do and how it impacts a firm’s performance. After two years in the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic crisis, consultants agree that the next wave of strategies and business models will require the development of strategic pricing capabilities, including analytics and software. Design/methodology/approach: The authors conducted 49 interviews with CXOs, VPs of pricing and CEOs of pricing software vendors to understand how the best-performing companies use pricing to drive profits and select pricing technologies. Then, supported by the Professional Pricing Society, the world’s largest organization dedicated to pricing, the authors conducted a 2020 survey of 540 pricing professionals to understand the perceptions of pricing in the C-suite and how top executives prioritize pricing investments. The authors complemented their own research with analysis of publicly available data, analyst presentations and public comments by CEOs on pricing. Findings: The authors propose a portfolio of 15 activities to include in the CEO’s strategic agenda and 10 actions to get started with in the short term. The next normal will not be based on business-as-usual. For the next three to five years, developing strategic pricing capabilities will give firms a competitive advantage over those who continue to neglect this hidden gem. Originality/value: In the context of the accelerating economic recovery, the authors address one of the most pressing priority for the C-suite. The authors focus on a series of actions and activities that the C-suite can take to accelerate recovery and focus on profitable growth

Gender and Diversity Studies in European Perspectives: International conference, 8-10 January 2015, Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, Kleve

Vom 8. bis 10. Januar fand an der Hochschule Rhein-Waal in Kleve die internationale Konferenz "Gender and Diversity Studies in European Perspectives" statt. Die hier diskutierten Themen reichten von Fragen nach der Umsetzung und dem Wandel von Gender- und-Diversity-Strategien in spezifischen Feldern, Institutionen und europäischen Regionen über stärker theoretisch ausgerichtete Untersuchungen von Diversitäts- und Intersektionalitätskonzepten bis zu Handlungsempfehlungen für zukünftige Schritte. Die Konferenz zeigte die Notwendigkeit auf, die Analyseinstrumente der Gender und Diversity Studies zu schärfen und politische Allianzen über Differenzlinien hinweg auszuhandeln, um Stillstand und Backlash zu überwinden.The Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences in Kleve hosted the international conference on "Gender and Diversity Studies in European Perspectives" from 8 to 10 January 2015. Topics discussed at the conference ranged from the implementation and vicissitudes of gender and diversity policies in specific fields, institutions and European regions, to more theoretical examinations of the concepts of diversity and intersectionality, and proposals for going forward. The conference highlighted the need to sharpen the analytical instruments of gender and diversity studies and to negotiate political alliances across lines of difference in order to overcome stagnation and backlash

Revenue management in sports, live entertainment and arts

The purpose of this special issue is to stimulate, advance and broaden the theoretical, empirical, and case study analysis of Revenue Management within sports, live entertainment and arts