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J. (Hans) van Oosterhout (MSc Leiden University 1993, PhD, Erasmus University 2002) is a professor of Corporate Governance at the Department of Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship, Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM).



His expertise is on the ownership and governance strategies of different types of firms, such as firms with different types of owners at different stages of the firm life cycle, for example. Some of his current research streams include:

 

  • Making shareholder democracy work: The control strategies of minority shareholders in publicly listed firms around the world.
  • The ownership and governance strategies of family firms: Why, how, and on what terms do family owners exit their firms?
  • The early life-cycle ownership and governance strategies of new ventures and founder led firms.
  • The evolution of ownership and governance in professional partnerships.
  • Rethinking ownership for the twenty-first century: Developing novel conceptions of corporate ownership for a complex and rapidly changing world.

 

Hans has published extensively in journals including the Academy of Management Review, Academy of Management Journal, Organization Science, Journal of Management, Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of Management Studies, Human Relations, as well as various other academic and professional outlets. He has been a visiting professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and is a non-executive board member at RSM BV, the university-owned private company through which the Rotterdam School of Management offers its (Executive) MBA and Executive Education programs. Driven by his intellectual curiosity, Hans engages with managers, owners, as well as other stakeholders on strategic questions regarding the ownership and governance strategies of private enterprise organizations. He is especially interested in transitions in the ownership and governance of firms.

Publications

Academic (32)
  • Andrei, A. G., van Oosterhout, J. H., & Sauerwald, S. (2023). Symbolic Shareholder Democracy: Toward a Behavioral Understanding of the Role of Shareholder Voting in CEO Dismissals. Organization Science, 34(5), 1736-1758. https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2022.1641

  • Criaco, G., van Oosterhout, J., & Nordqvist, M. (2021). Is blood always thicker than water? Family firm parents, kinship ties, and the survival of spawns. Journal of Business Venturing, 36(6), Article 106161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2021.106161, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2021.106161, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2021.106161

  • El Nayal, O., van Oosterhout, J., & van Essen, M. (2021). Ties That Bind and Grind? Investor Reactions to Politician Appointments to Corporate Boards. Journal of Management, 47(2), 456-487. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206319869440

  • El Nayal, O., Slangen, A., van Oosterhout, J., & van Essen, M. (2020). Towards a Democratic New Normal? Investor Reactions to Interim-Regime Dominance during Violent Events. Journal of Management Studies, 57(3), 505-536. https://doi.org/10.1111/joms.12553

  • Vishwanathan, P., Oosterhout, H., Heugens, P., Duran Solis, PA., & Essen, M. (2019). Strategic CSR: a concept building meta-analysis. Journal of Management Studies, 57(2), 314-350. https://doi.org/10.1111/joms.12514

  • Essen, M., Heugens, P., Duran, P., Saleh, SF., Sauerwald, S., Oosterhout, H., & Xie, E. (2019). How concentrated owners improve the performance of Asian firms: Filling voids or imposing effective governance? The Multinational Business Review, 28(1), 39-63. https://doi.org/10.1108/MBR-07-2019-0078

  • Lander, M., Oosterhout, H., Heugens, P., & Pruijssers, J. (2018). Career stage dependent effects of law firm governance: A multilevel study of professional-client misconduct. Human Relations, 72(9), 1497-1529. https://doi.org/10.1177/0018726718796157

  • Pruijssers, J., Heugens, P., & Oosterhout, H. (2018). Winning at a losing game? Side-effects of perceived tournament promotion incentives in audit firms. Journal of Business Ethics, 162, 149-167. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-018-3991-2

  • Lander, M., Heugens, P., & van Oosterhout, H. (2017). Towards an integrated framework of professional partnership performance: The role of formal governance and strategic planning. Human Relations, 70(4), 1-27. https://doi.org/10.1177/0018726717700697

  • Lander, M., Heugens, P., & van Oosterhout, H. (2017). Drift or alignment? A configurational analysis of law firms’ ability to combine profitability with professionalism. Journal of Professions and Organization, 4(2), 123-148. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpo/jow011

  • Sauerwald, S., Oosterhout, H., & Essen, M. (2016). Proxy advisors and shareholder dissent. A cross-country comparative study. Journal of Management, 44(8), 3364-3394. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206316675928

  • Sauerwald, S., van Oosterhout, H., & van Essen, M. (2016). Expressive Shareholder Democracy: A Multilevel Study of Shareholder Dissent in 15 Western European Countries. Journal of Management Studies, 53(4), 520-551. https://doi.org/10.1111/joms.12171

  • van Essen, M., van Oosterhout, H., & Heugens, P. (2013). Competition and cooperation in corporate governance: The effects of labor institutions on blockholder effectivess in 23 European countries. Organization Science, 24(2), 530-551. https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.1120.0742

  • van Essen, M., Heugens, P., van Oosterhout, H., & Otten, J. (2012). An institution-based view of executive compensation: A multilevel meta-analytic test. Journal of International Business Studies, 43(4), 396-423. https://doi.org/10.1057/jibs.2012.6

  • van Oosterhout, H., van Essen, M., & Carney, M. (2011). Corporate boards and the performance of Asian firms: A meta-analysis. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 29(4), 873-905. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10490-011-9269-1

  • Carney, M., Gedajlovic, ER., Heugens, P., van Essen, M., & van Oosterhout, H. (2011). Business group affiliation, performance, context, and strategy: A meta-analysis. Academy of Management Journal, 54(3), 437-460. https://doi.org/10.5465/AMJ.2011.61967812

  • van Oosterhout, H. (2010). The Role of Corporations in Shaping the Global Rules of the Game: In Search of New Foundations. Business Ethics Quarterly, 20(2), 253-264. https://doi.org/10.5840/beq201020218

  • Heugens, P., van Essen, M., & van Oosterhout, H. (2009). Meta-analyzing ownership concentration and firm performance in Asia: Towards a more fine-grained understanding. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 26(3), 481-512. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10490-008-9109-0

  • van Oosterhout, H., & Heugens, P. (2009). Extant social contracts in global business regulation: Outline of a research agenda. Journal of Business Ethics, 88(4), 729-740. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-009-0329-0

  • Heugens, P., Kaptein, M., & van Oosterhout, H. (2008). Contracts to communities: A processual model of organizational virtue. Journal of Management Studies, 45(1), 100-121. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6486.2007.00738.x

  • van Oosterhout, H. (2008). Transcending the confines of political and Economic organization; The misguided metaphor of corporate citizenship. Business Ethics Quarterly, 18(1), 35-42. https://doi.org/10.5840/beq20081813

  • van Oosterhout, H. (2007). Authority and Democracy in Corporate Governance? Journal of Business Ethics, 71(4), 359-370. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-006-9146-x

  • van Oosterhout, H., Heugens, P., & Kaptein, M. (2007). Contractualism vindicated; A response to Boatright. Academy of Management Review, 32(1), 295-297. https://doi.org/10.5465/AMR.2007.23467343

  • de Jong, A., Mertens, G., van Oosterhout, H., & Vletter - van Dort, H. (2007). How useful is shareholder intervention? Management Control en Accounting, 11(2), 8-15.

  • van Oosterhout, H., Heugens, P., & Kaptein, M. (2006). The internal morality of contracting: Advancing the contractualist endeavor in business ethics. Academy of Management Review, 31(3), 521-539. https://doi.org/10.5465/AMR.2006.21318915

  • Heugens, P., Kaptein, M., & van Oosterhout, H. (2006). The ethics of the node versus the ethics of the dyad? Reconciling virtue ethics and contractualism. Organization Studies, 27(3), 391-411. https://doi.org/10.1177/0170840606062428

  • Heugens, P., van Oosterhout, H., & Kaptein, M. (2006). Foundations and applications for contractualist business ethics. Journal of Business Ethics, 68(3), 211-228. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-006-9011-y

  • van Oosterhout, H. (2005). Corporate Citizenship; An idea whose time has not come. Academy of Management Review, 30(4), 677-681. https://doi.org/10.5465/AMR.2005.18378871

  • Heugens, P., Kaptein, M., & van Oosterhout, H. (2004). Ties that grind? Corroborating a typology of social contracting problems. Journal of Business Ethics, 49(3), 235-252. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:BUSI.0000017960.17747.56

  • van Oosterhout, H., Wempe, B., & van Willigenburg, T. (2004). Rethinking Organizational ethics: a plea for pluralism. Journal of Business Ethics, 55(4), 387-395. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-004-1347-6

  • Heugens, P., & van Oosterhout, H. (2002). The Confines of Stakeholder Management: Evidence from the Dutch Manufacturing Sector. Journal of Business Ethics, 40(4), 387-404. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020807101387

  • Heugens, P., & van Oosterhout, H. (2001). To boldly go where no man has gone before: integrating cognitive and physical features in scenario studies. Futures, 33(10), 861-872. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0016-3287(01)00023-4

Professional (3)
  • van Oosterhout, H. (2016). Does shareholder voting matter in Europe? RSM Discovery - Management Knowledge, 28(4), 8-10. http://hdl.handle.net/1765/94704

  • van Oosterhout, H., Heugens, P., & van Essen, M. (2013). The effect of blockholders in corporate governance. RSM Insight, 13(1), 18-19. http://hdl.handle.net/1765/40134

  • Otten, J., & van Oosterhout, H. (2008). Bestuurdersbeloning: Ideologie, Symboliek of Instrument van Corporate Governance? Ondernemingsrecht, (8), 290-296.

Academic (1)
  • Heugens, P., van Oosterhout, H., & Vromen, J. (2004). The Social Institutions of Capitalism: Evolution and Design of Social Contracts. Edward Elgar Publishing.

Academic (8)
  • van Oosterhout, J. (2010). Comment – Can the Firm be Seen to Emerge out of a Pincer Movement of Efficiency Pressures? In The Law and Economics of Corporate Governance: Changing Perspectives (pp. 290-297). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781849807081.00017

  • Heugens, P., & van Oosterhout, H. (2008). Much ado about nothing: A conceptual critique of corporate social responsibility. In D. S. Siegel, D. Matten, A. McWilliams, & A. Crane (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Corporate Social Responsibility (pp. 197-223). Oxford University Press.

  • Heugens, P., van Oosterhout, H., & Vromen, J. (2004). Social Contract Theories: E Pluribus Unum? In P. P. M. A. R. Heugens, & J. Van Oosterhout (Eds.), The Social Institutions of capitalism: Evolution and Design of Social Contracts (pp. 1-19). Edward Elgar Publishing.

  • van Rutte, KL., & van Oosterhout, H. (2002). Standard Argumentative Strategies in Conceptualizing Business Ethics. In D. Windsor, & S. Welcomer (Eds.), 2002 Proceedings Thirteenth Anual Conference Victoria (B.C.) June 27-30 2002 of the International Association for Business and Society (pp. 61-65)

  • van Oosterhout, H., Wempe, B., & van Willigenburg, T. (2002). A Critique of Monistic Organizational Ethics. In Proceedings Ninth Annual International Conference Promoting Business Ethics

  • Heugens, P., Kaptein, M., van Oosterhout, H., & Wempe, JFDB. (2002). Ethical Criteria for Corporations. In S. P. Kaptein, & J. Wempe (Eds.), The Balanced Company: a Theory of Corporate Integrity (pp. 227-262). Oxford University Press.

  • Essers, J., & van Oosterhout, H. (2000). Het analyseren en schrijven van een betoog. In P. van Engeldorp Gastelaars (Ed.), Elementen van bedrijfskundig onderzoek (pp. 175-209). ServicePost.

  • van Oosterhout, H., Heugens, P., & Kaptein, M. (2000). Normative documents, the contract model, and stakeholder management. In K. A. Getz, & D. Windsor (Eds.), Proceedings Eleventh Annual Conference Essex Junction, March 16-19, 2000 of the International Association for Business and Society (pp. 276-281). International Association for Business /Society.

Academic (1)
  • Pruijssers, J. L., Heugens, P. P. M. A. R., & van Oosterhout, J. (2020). Correction to: Winning at a Losing Game? Side-Effects of Perceived Tournament Promotion Incentives in Audit Firms (Journal of Business Ethics, (2020), 162, 1, (149-167), 10.1007/s10551-018-3991-2). Journal of Business Ethics, 162(1), 169. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-018-4016-x

Academic (2)
  • van Oosterhout, H., Wempe, B., & van Willigenburg, T. (2004). ISCT and the Call for Practical Guidance. IABS Annual Conference, Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

  • van Oosterhout, H., Wempe, B., & van Willigenburg, T. (2004). Contractualism and the Project for an Integrative Organizational Ethics. IABS Fifteenth Annual Conference, Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Academic (1)
  • van Oosterhout, H. (2010). Can the Firm Be Seen to Emerge out of a Pincer Movement of Efficiency Pressures? In A. M. Pacces (Ed.), The Law and Economics of Corporate Governance (pp. 290-296). Edward Elgar Publishing.

Internal (1)
  • van Oosterhout, H. (2002). The Quest for Legitimacy; On Authority and Responsibility in Governance. [Doctoral Thesis, Erasmus University Rotterdam]. Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam (EUR).

Popular (1)
  • van Oosterhout, H. (2008). Het disciplineringsmodel voorbij; over autoriteit en legitimiteit in Corporate Governance. Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM). http://hdl.handle.net/1765/13229

Academic (1)
  • Sauerwald, S., Van Essen, M., & Van Oosterhout, H. (2013). Shareholder activism in Europe: Evidence from shareholder dissent in France, Germany, and the U.K.. 552-557. Paper presented at 73rd Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, AOM 2013, Orlando, United States. https://doi.org/10.5465/AMBPP.2013.153

Academic (1)
  • de Jong, A., Mertens, G., van Oosterhout, H., & Vletter - van Dort, H. (2007). Corporate governance practices of institutional investors: substance or symbolism? Eumedion and Nederlandse Corporate Governance Stichting.

Courses

Organisation Theory

  • Study year: 2023/2024, 2022/2023, 2021/2022, 2019/2020
  • Code: BERMASC046
  • Level: PhD

Corporate Governance

  • Study year: 2023/2024, 2022/2023, 2021/2022, 2020/2021, 2019/2020
  • Code: BM29MIM
  • ECTS: 4 Level: Master

Corporate Governance PT

  • Study year: 2023/2024, 2022/2023, 2021/2022, 2020/2021
  • Code: BM29MIM-P
  • ECTS: 4 Level: Master

Research Clinic

  • Study year: 2023/2024
  • Code: BMRCSE-SM
  • Level: Master

OLD STYLE - Corporate Strategy and Growth

  • Study year: 2023/2024, 2022/2023, 2021/2022, 2020/2021
  • Code: BMSM03
  • Level: ERIM, Exchange, IM/CEMS, Master

OLD STYLE - Corporate Ownership and Governance

  • Study year: 2023/2024, 2022/2023, 2021/2022, 2020/2021, 2019/2020
  • Code: BMSM04
  • Level: ERIM, Exchange, IM/CEMS, Master

OLD STYLE - Managing Business Strategically

  • Study year: 2023/2024, 2022/2023, 2021/2022, 2020/2021
  • Code: BMSM08
  • Level: ERIM, Exchange, IM/CEMS, Master

OLD - Changing Business Strategically

  • Study year: 2023/2024, 2022/2023, 2021/2022, 2020/2021
  • Code: BMSM09
  • Level: ERIM, Exchange, IM/CEMS, Master

Past courses

Business Strategy Skills

  • Study year: 2020/2021, 2019/2020
  • Code: BMSM07
  • ECTS: 3 Level: Master

Corporate governance

  • Study year: 2018/2019, 2017/2018, 2016/2017, 2015/2016
  • Code: BM02MIM
  • ECTS: 2 Level: Master

Philosophy of Science

  • Study year: 2018/2019, 2017/2018, 2016/2017, 2015/2016
  • Code: BAB28
  • ECTS: 3 Level: Bachelor 2, Bachelor 2, Pre-master

Philosophy of science

  • Study year: 2018/2019, 2017/2018, 2016/2017, 2015/2016
  • Code: BKB2016
  • ECTS: 3 Level: Bachelor 2, Pre-master

Philosophy of Science

  • Study year: 2017/2018, 2016/2017, 2015/2016, 2014/2015
  • Code: BKB1016
  • ECTS: 3

Topics in FinTech

  • Study year: 2017/2018
  • Code: BERMSS020
  • ECTS: 3 Level: Master

Philosophy of Science

  • Study year: 2016/2017, 2015/2016, 2014/2015
  • Code: BAB26
  • ECTS: 3

Corporate governance

  • Study year: 2014/2015
  • Code: BKM02GM
  • ECTS: 2 Level: Master

Governance and strategic challenges of family enterprises

  • Study year: 2014/2015
  • Code: RSMME013
  • ECTS: 6 Level: Master, Master

Featured in the media

  • Unilever in de knoop met eigenzinnige ijsmakers van Ben & Jerry's

    Hans van Oosterhout, Professor of Corporate Governance at RSM shares his knowledge in this article about Unilever’s subsidiary Ben and Jerry’s which no longer wants to sell ice cream in Palestinian territories occupied by Israel,…

  • Familiebedrijven zijn de ruggengraat van de Nederlandse economie

    Family companies are the backbone of the Dutch economy. These companies have certain issues on the family, business and ownership divide that are specific to this type of company. To increase knowledge and understanding of family…

  • Wat aandeelhouders eigenlijk willen zeggen met hun tegenstem

    Shareholders sometimes behave like angry and anxious voters, according to new research by Hans van Oosterhout, Professor of Corporate Governance. Their dissenting vote at shareholders' meetings often does not focus on the…

  • Hoogleraar: voorstellen topmanagement vrijwel altijd kritiekloos aangenomen

    Shareholders sometimes behave like angry and anxious voters, according to new research by Hans van Oosterhout, Professor of Corporate Governance. Their dissenting vote at shareholders' meetings often does not focus on the…

  • ‘Boze aandeelhouder lijkt op boze kiezer’

    Shareholders sometimes behave like angry and anxious voters, according to new research by Hans van Oosterhout, Professor of Corporate Governance. Their dissenting vote at shareholders' meetings often does not focus on the…

  • Nieuwe code, geen nieuwe macht

    British Prime Minister Theresa May has her eye on at least one of the perpetrators of the unrest in the West: large companies. They must cooperate with the government to restore confidence in the market economy. "In general, you…