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RSM hosts productive EURAM 2012 Social Innovation Conference

RSM hosts productive EURAM 2012 Social Innovation Conference

More than 1,100 scholars from all over the world turned Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM) into Europe’s academic hotspot during three days in June for the annual European Academy of Management’s EURAM 2012 conference.

International delegates belonging to the highly prestigious society of management scholars, and representing 56 nationalities, came to Rotterdam to share their knowledge and expand the theme of Social Innovation for Competitiveness, Organisational Performance and Human Excellence.

This year’s conference paid particular attention to discussing and debating the various ways in which social innovation and its leverage of technological innovation can be enhanced. EURAM participants, both scholars and practitioners, were encouraged to expand their own and reach new understandings of social innovation, to gain new insights into the tensions felt to allow social innovation at the levels of teams, organisations, partnerships, institutions, and countries, and to establish fruitful relationships for future research projects and collaborations.

Increase Productivity
The subject of social innovation is a hot topic. Henk Volberda, Professor of Strategic Management & Business Policy at RSM and EURAM 2012 Conference Chair, said: “In comparison to technological innovations, social innovations in terms of outstanding managerial capabilities, management practices and organising principles of innovation are more difficult to assess and quantify. However, fundamental understanding of social innovation and its influence on technological innovation will increase productivity, competitiveness of firms, and the quality of work for future generations.”

Prominent keynote speakers from academia and practice reinforced Professor Volberda’s statement and predictions on role of social innovation by providing concrete and real-life examples in their own engaging and inspiring presentations.

Ruth Cairnie, Vice President, Group Strategy and Competitive Intelligence at Shell, completely agreed that social innovation plays an increasingly important role in today’s firms, including Royal Dutch Shell.

The first plenary session was dedicated to the future of management research. According to the keynote speakers, the future of management research will reside with engaged management scholars studying and influencing organisations, which require new boundary specifications and are marked by novel boundary conditions. These, in turn, necessitate collective and co-ordinated European strategies to redesign and reshape management education and research to cater for the steadily and significantly altering organising dynamics and newly emerging organisational forms.

The first day of the conference included an official welcome reception on board a boat on the Maas River through Rotterdam Harbour, where discussions continued after the official conference closed for the evening.

The scientific programme of the conference started early on Day 2 when scholars reconvened at RSM’s Woudestein Campus. The delegates’ individual track sessions – more than 260 of which took place during the three days of the conference – were interspersed with two plenary sessions featuring presentations from four keynote speakers covering the topics of ‘Innovation & Good Governance’ and ‘Social Innovation: Theory & Practice’.

According to Professor Volberda, ‘innovation is considered to be the primary driving force of progress and prosperity’. Consequently, much effort is put into developing new technological knowledge, new process technologies and products, he said. However, evidence from large firms and SMEs shows that successful innovation is not just the result of technological inventions, but is also heavily dependent on what has been called ‘social innovation’.

Social innovation leverages performance
Social innovation consists of changing a firm’s organisational form, its management principles, practices, processes and the organisation of work in a way that is new to the firm or the industry, and results in leveraging the firm’s technological knowledge base and its performance in terms of innovation, productivity and competitiveness, said prof. Volberda.

 In similar fashion, Fariborz Damanpour defined social innovation as “innovation associated with the social system of an entity or institution”. Evidence of the significance and urgency of social innovation was mentioned in all keynote presentations, regardless their affiliation and nationality.

Hans Smits, CEO Port of Rotterdam made a striking claim: “Social innovation is a crucial factor for the future of Mainport Rotterdam!” Ruth Cairnie gave her view on the topic by claiming that companies like Shell must become socially innovative and inclusive, or, as she put it: “In order to reach and maintain the goal of being the world’s most competitive and innovative energy company, Royal Dutch Shell has to harness human energy!”

The day’s academic programme concluded with an official gala dinner in the breath-taking Laurens Church in the heart of Rotterdam, with live music and a Dutch-inspired three-course menu.

The final day of the conference again started early with inspiring presentations. During the last plenary session Professor Arie Lewin discussed the increasing shift in strategy from global sourcing towards “reinventing the organisation of the global firm”. The three-day conference concluded with a General Assembly.  

Earlier this year Professor Volberda had predicted that the conference would significantly add to the research field and the common understanding, ‘thanks to its outstanding programme with over 1,300 submissions, 1,500 proactive and highly motivated reviewers, close to 260 track sessions; and of course renowned key note speakers such as Hans Smits (CEO, Port of Rotterdam) and Ruth Cairnie (Vice President, Group Strategy and Competitive Intelligence, Shell).’

Highly Successful
In hindsight, Prof. Volberda did not promise too much; a poll amongst academic delegates revealed that a great majority rated the conference as highly successful, beneficial and furthering.

Asked if there were any weaker points during the conference, Professor Volberda joked: “The only defeat that I have to admit regarding EURAM2012 is that we did not manage to convince the international delegates of the Dutch lunch culture!”

But the professor said the main purpose of the conference had been successfully fulfilled. “I am fully and utterly satisfied with the conference outcome and would like to thank all the people involved, from the Dean and other important university staff to the conference hosts; all of whom have done their best to facilitate a smooth running of this conference. As a top business school, RSM is proud to have had the opportunity to host this conference. Thank you!”

About EURAM: The European Academy of Management (EURAM) is a professional community of engaged management scholars and reflective practitioners - open, inclusive, international and cross-cultural. EURAM places a strong emphasis on multidisciplinary theoretical perspectives and methodological pluralism, and promotes critical examinations of the historical and philosophical roots of management theory and praxis. EURAM aims to enhance the quality of research, improve its relevance for responsible and effective practice and contribute to the social and political discourse on management.

About RSM: Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University is consistently ranked amongst the top 10 business schools in Europe. It is located in the international port city of Rotterdam where core Dutch values of openness, flexibility and acceptance of diversity have attracted businesses on a global scale. Our emphasis is on ground breaking research and practices relevant to business; our primary focus is on developing business leaders who carry their innovative ideas into a sustainable future. Our portfolio includes a broad array of bachelor, master, doctoral, MBA and executive education programmes.

For more information on this release, please contact Marianne Schouten, Media & Public Relations Manager for RSM, on +31 10 408 2877 or by email at mschouten@remove-this.rsm.nl.