Inspiration from science
The latest insights from Maastricht University right at your fingertips
CONTENT COLLECTION
Hand Washing Angels: a High-impact Social Initiative
Most children in developing countries haven’t been raised with hand washing as a priority. Determined to break a vicious circle, UMIO’s Edward Huizenga together with a global team builds hand hygiene into a daily routine for young children.
How to Succeed as an Entrepreneur?
Entrepreneurship is an adventure into the unknown. There may be high costs, but there are also high rewards. In this podcast, Jermain Kaminski delves deeper into the topics of Entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, Machine Learning, and much more.
Are we Really Never Going Back to the Old Ways of Working?
Employees value flexibility and wellbeing, and these great expectations create an opportunity for every organisation to reimagine work-life integration as a win-win. We revisit the assumptions that were made a year ago about the impact of COVID-19.
Sneakers… They Sneak into your Wardrobe
Nancy Bocken, Professor of Sustainable Business at Maastricht University, explains the impact of the fashion industry on the environment and shares tips on how both the government, sneaker brands and sneaker lovers can make more sustainable choices.
Why Customers Leave and How to Win Them Back
Just because your customers will or have churned for negative reasons, it doesn’t mean they’re gone forever, nor does it mean you’re powerless in winning them back. Gideon Lask explains how businesses can succeed when it comes to customer retention.
How can VR Shape the Future of Education?
In this podcast, Roberta di Palma discusses the immersive and interactive opportunities VR offers for students’ learning experiences and outlines how it is being used to improve students’ presentation skills as just one of its current applications.
Making Responsible Business Leadership Effective
The current state of the world is unsustainable. As business occupies a unique position, their leaders are in a position to advocate for responsible action towards a sustainable global future and to play a key role in bringing it about.
Nine Transformations Needed for Today’s Leadership
No matter what industry you are operating in, complexity and uncertainty are most probably increasing day by day. Frans Wilms presents nine transformations that can help shape a new leadership style to successfully navigate your challenges.
Why Perspective Matters and How to Shift Yours
Have you heard the example of different people all giving their description of an elephant? We see things from where we are, so leaders must ensure they are spending time and energy experiencing teams and operations from different vantage points.
Taking Design Thinking to the Skies
Necessity is often considered to be the mother of all innovation. For Eurocontrol’s Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre, innovation has always been at the heart of its operations. But, the pandemic focussed a drive to supercharge almost overnight.
10 Myths to Reconsider when Facing Setbacks
It’s not always the problem itself that is holding us back, but how we look at it. As the saying goes: ‘When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change’. Reconsider these 10 myths when you are faced with a setback at work.
Nieuw als leidinggevende
In this short online Masterclass with Frans Wilms, we discussed the nine transformations needed for today's leadership. Transformations that allow you to break old patterns and take up your role as (new) leader with confidence.
We Are All Financial Managers
Every manager is also a financial manager, whether we like it or not. In fact, financial management is a means to an end. If you want to expand your business, the purpose of financial management is to provide you with the funding to do so.
The Case for Stakeholder Capitalism
Capitalism needs to be a force for good and focus on providing prosperity for all its stakeholders, current and future generations. Richard Savage says we need a capitalism that keeps all the elements of the ‘Lived Experience’ in balance and harmony.
Lifelong Development Day 2022
On 9 September 2022, Maastricht University organised an experience day with inspiring panel discussions and interactive break-out sessions; an entertaining afternoon where one could learn more about what the university has to offer for professionals.
How Robots can Help Keep CARE at the Heart of Healthcare
Robots can free up workers from routine tasks, thus giving humans more time for customer interaction. For the healthcare industry in specific, this would offer a significant benefit and improvement for patients and healthcare employees.
Understanding the Society Starts with Economics
How can economics and economic research contribute to a better understanding of society? They help to make the right choices with limited information, says Clemens Kool, Professor of Macroeconomics and International Monetary Economics.
Just a Little of that Human Touch
Leaders who obsess around narrow financial goals and view people as disposable commodities will not survive. The old industrial shareholder model is rapidly decaying while the future belongs to the human-centred organisation, says Peter Thomson.
Employee Empowerment at its Best
Coaching leadership is about empowering employees in a sustainable way by helping them to develop their personal and professional potential. This is something worth investing effort in and the persistence will be worth it, says Irina Nikolova.
Using Regenerative Leadership as a Catalyst for Purpose
There is no doubt that purpose is the driving force for so much of the positive change we are seeing seep into the corporate world, but is purpose alone enough to turn around the organisations of the future? Mimi Nicklin finds out.
The Effects of Augmented and Virtual Reality on Consumers
There's a lot of excitement about augmented and virtual reality, but they impact us very differently. Research tells us that AR is better suited for driving purchases, whereas VR holds the advantage of improving brand image, says Tim Hilken.
How to Use Technology for a Fair Future?
In this podcast episode we welcome Sidi Amar, a researcher at the Brightlands Institute for Supply Chain Innovation and member of ‘Fair and Smart Data’; one of our School's initiatives to tackle the EU Sustainable Development Goals.
Three Pillars of Conscious Leadership
To practise conscious leadership, it is necessary to honour your potential in everything you do. There are three key pillars that underpin conscious leadership and Mariska Messager believes that adherence to these is essential to its achievement.
Saving Money by Making your House Sustainable
If you want a sustainable house, you have to make an investment. Think of insulating the floor and roof, and installing a heat pump and solar panels. How much does that yield exactly? Professor Piet Eichholtz offers a straightforward calculation.
Boomerang Employees: The Next Big Hiring Trend
The decades-old philosophy was that once an employee left the company, they shouldn’t be allowed to return. But employers are changing their tune and realising the benefits of ‘boomerang employees’, says Amanda Augustine.
Generating Energy together with Essent
Change happens fast in the energy market, which is why collaborations between companies and bright, innovative minds at universities can also be a winning combination. UMIO’s student hackathon with energy supplier showed exactly that.
Purposeful Leadership in Times of Climate Crisis
Individuals, businesses, and communities all want to realise a purpose, be the change we want to see in the world, and simply do and be more. But we’re so busy in our daily routines, that we rarely get around to doing something that we need to do.
Bridging the Skills Gap
Today we look differently at knowledge and competencies than we did in the past. How do we equip people with the right skills and what does this mean for the employer? In this podcast, Simon Beausaert takes us through the employability must-haves.
How Technology is Challenging Traditional Leadership
Leaders need to keep learning and build up know-how in the role of technology in organisations. They need to understand that technology can reinforce existing structures and amplify unconscious bias, and can therefore work against change.
How to Win in the Labour Market?
Predicting the future of the job market is a challenge but informing yourself about the changing labour market and job prospects is a good start, says Didier Fouarge, Director of the Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market.
How to Lead a Thriving Team
Studies and research have proven that exercise and getting out into the fresh air and nature are beneficial to health and happiness, so why is it that many companies do not make a priority of these activities for their employees?
Organisations: Walk your Talk!
Organisations are showing their true colours in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Why don't they do the same in countries that have neglected human rights for decades? Professor of Ethics Harry Hummels and his colleagues give their take on the matter.
Introducing Diversity and Inclusion in Traditional Industries
It’s time for organisations in traditional industries to put real intention and action behind creating a more diverse and inclusive workforce. Diverse candidates can bring impressive skills, new perspectives and innovative ideas to the table.
Using a Decoy to Improve Consumer Behaviour
Nutritional claims such as 'light', 'low in fat', and 'extra protein' have become more the norm than the exception on the products you come across in the supermarket. Is it a marketing ploy or is it a way to make people aware of healthy food?
Learning in order to Grow
Learning is the cornerstone of a good corporate culture. But organising it efficiently still appears to be a challenge. Mien Segers, Professor of Corporate Learning, explains how we can best approach learning in organisations.
Working Together for a Better World
In their recent publication, professor Harry Hummels and his co-authors explore the opportunities and challenges of collaboration between innovative companies and established organisations to create a better, more sustainable, and more just world.
No Animal was Harmed in the Making of this Burger
Mosa Meat successfully challenges the current approach to traditional farming methods for a sustainable production system. In a recent MBA class at UMIO, co-founder Mark Post shared his journey towards the world’s first slaughter free hamburger.
Leaders’ Fallacies and the Beliefs Behind Them
Which misleading beliefs do you have? What patterns are you perpetuating as a leader? And most importantly: how can you break them? Leadership expert Frans Wilms takes us through the five persistent thinking errors that most leaders make.
The Five Top Attributes for Leaders for 2022 and Beyond
The role of leaders in organisations, who want to thrive, needs to become more people-centred and leaders will need to connect people to each other, and the organisation, to create a sense of belonging, says Jill Pennington.
How to Recognise (In)effective Homeworkers
Since the pandemic, discussions started on the effectiveness of remote working, the main question being: are people productive when working from home? Assistant Professor Katlijn Haesebrouck shares the conclusions from her research in this podcast.
Vijf Denkfouten van Leidinggevenden
In this webinar, facilitated by leadership expert Frans Wilms, we discussed the five most common thinking mistakes made by leaders. We also shared some practical tips on how to do things differently in your own professional practice.
Working Women: a Path to Success
Women have begun to make progress in their struggle for equality in career progression. But there is still a long way to go. This article presents practical tools, ideas and suggestions that will contribute to the management of their career success.
Race ‘With’ instead of ‘Against’ Machines
How do you successfully implement a digital strategy? What are the pitfalls? And what is the danger of relying too much on algorithms? We get answers to these questions from data consulting expert Etienne Fouarge and assistant professor Roman Briker.
Realising Growth Despite the Pandemic
Large corporations have a strong desire to grow, yet if companies have any hope of surviving, they need to adapt to a new world, make changes to their companies in tune with current crises, and accept this as our new normal way of business.
Do Smart People make Smart Decisions?
When you’re putting together the ideal team, you choose a team with only the best people, right? Not necessarily, says Professor Wim Gijselaers. In this podcast, he argues that success too often is falsely linked to the cleverness of individuals.
Charities Cannot Rely on the Super-Rich
The rich often place the moral responsibility to donate on people with even more money. "If you ask someone with half a million why they don't give more, the answer is often that someone with 2 million should do that” says Professor Paul Smeets.
Holacracy Driving Sustainable Future Winners
How can businesses respond better to the challenges of our times? The ones who are successful will make sustainability productive for the world and their businesses. Holacracy, a form of self-organising, is a powerful way to facilitate this.
Improvisation for Resilience: Lessons from Jazz
Though organisations are addicted to reliability, routines, formal planning and control, our well-being will increasingly rest on disciplined spontaneity, fast learning from smart failures and agile execution through minimal structures.
5 Steps towards a Purpose-led Strategy
What is the purpose of your corporate strategy and how can it be used to change the company and grow the business? Edward Huizenga shares a 5-step framework to create and implement a purpose-led strategy which can be transformative for any company.
Five Ways to Drop your Ego and Get Stuff Done
The ego is important, as it contributes to our feelings of self-importance and self-awareness, but it can sometimes get in your way. Increased awareness and continual practice will sharpen your ego-taming skills over time, says Salman Raza.
Make Time for What You Love
Professor Paul Smeets, who researches the relationship between happiness and money, has become affectionately known as 'The happiness professor'. His advice for all of us: "Prosperity only becomes well-being if you have time for what you love."
Making your Workplace a Cultural Incubator
With the arrival of the hybrid workplace, the office needs to become the facilitator of collaboration, innovation, and connection. But how do you ensure your office serves its purpose as a ‘cultural incubator’ by effectively bringing people together?
The Changing Role of the Leader
'Command & control' is a leadership style that no longer fits within modern organisations and today’s society. In this podcast, Glenn van der Burg talks to Mariëlle Heijltjes about leadership and the need for more humanity in organisations.
New Management Thinking in a Digital Age
In the digital era, enterprises will transform into platform organisations and traditional management thinking and methods will be confronted with big challenges. So, how can we achieve success in the management of enterprises as platforms?
Improving Sustainable Behaviour in Cities through Digitalisation
Governments have put urban sustainability on top of their agendas. Data collection through ubiquitous devices and combined datasets will allow research to better grasp citizens’ behaviour and help cities become more sustainable, says Hannah Schmitt.
Inspiring Corporate Learning
Learning is a key factor of success for organisations in today’s dynamic business and societal environments. But how to ensure that your learning function is fully aligned with your organisation's strategy and business priorities?
Creating your own Cryptocurrency
As saving in the traditional way offers little return on capital and house prices continue to climb, more people are turning to cryptocurrency as a means of investment. Paulo Rodrigues explains how easy it is to set up your own cryptocurrency.
The Rise of Deep Tech
Deep tech is transforming the way we understand technology and is shaping our world in ways we have never seen before. Future successful leaders will be those who go beyond the technological dimension and embrace it as a multi-dimensional concept.
Why we Need More Women in Leadership
Although society is making strides in addressing gender inequality, systematic challenges and age-old biases continue to impact women’s careers. How can organisations, policymakers, and individuals join the effort to promote female leadership?
Cultural Leadership as Agent for Change
Even with a world in lockdown, you need to be ready to respond to challenges and have a positive impact on the world around you. Nathalie De Potter’s thesis project is a step in the right direction from both a professional and personal perspective.
Homes instead of Meadows
The incoming Dutch government aims to solve the housing crisis by speeding up construction, but in order to be able to build on a truly large scale, a fundamental change is needed in the public debate about land, say Nils Kok and Piet Eichholtz.
Authentic Leaders Set the Bar for a Cultural Shift
Establishing oneself as an authentic leader is the first step in encouraging a culture of authenticity within organisations, because systemic change does not come from policies but from practice, according to leadership expert Ash Beckham.
Does an Expensive Hobby make you Happy?
Playing the violin, football or collecting stamps: hobbies come in all shapes and sizes. We are prepared to spend a lot of money on them. But does an expensive hobby make you happy? Our ‘Happiness Professor’ Paul Smeets shares his insights.
What can Management Learn from Medicine?
How confident are we that today’s management practices would survive clinical testing? Management seems remarkably casual about testing the efficacy of its practices, but this needs to change, write Rob James MBE and Jules Goddard.
Dutch Companies to Consider Negative Externalities
Dutch listed companies must take responsibility for the negative effects that their business activities and supply chain have on people and the planet by aligning their business strategy more formally with planetary boundaries, says Rob Bauer.
Humanistic Management for an Entrepreneurial Society
The best monument to COVID-19 would be to follow Peter Drucker’s lead and create an ‘entrepreneurial society’ in which the capacity to self-renew is widely shared by individuals, institutions and society, says EFMD’s Richard Straub.
Predictably Irrational Behaviour
People do not always make rational decisions. However, it could be argued that human behaviour is ‘predictably irrational’, which brings with it great opportunities for those who want to improve their decision-making procedures, says Edward Huizenga.
Co-CEOs can Redefine our Expectations of Businesses
It’s often the case that out of difficult periods new models and ways of working emerge, and the COVID-19 pandemic has firmly established the concept of remote working. Less firmly established is the concept of Co-CEOs, says Guenther Eisinger.
The Effects and Ethics of Behavioural Interventions
Predicting people’s behaviour and designing policies in a way that ‘nudges’ behaviour in a certain direction can lead to better policy-making and improved management. Thomas Meissner and Jona Linde elaborate on the effects and ethics of nudging.
Carrots Make you Buy Grapes instead of Cookies
How do you get customers to choose healthy products in the supermarket? PhD candidate Gitta van den Enden demonstrates how consumers change their preference between two options when an attractive third option – a so-called ‘decoy’ – is presented.
Do you Pay a Premium for Responsible Investments?
A recent field lab experiment conducted by Paul Smeets and Marten Laudi shows that financial advisors charge a premium to clients of socially responsible investments. This is something that cannot be justified by higher effort, skill, or costs.
How to Overcome Negotiation Impasses
In the workplace, people are constantly involved in negotiations. Martin Schweinsberg discusses three different types of impasses; wanted, forced, and unwanted, the factors through which they can occur, and the solutions they require to be resolved.
Behavioural Insights & Change
On 4 November 2021, we hosted an online Tea & Talent session in partnership with UM-BIC and BIN-NL to address recent research on behaviour and behavioural change, focusing on practical applications for managers and policy makers.
Good Corporate Governance: A Lesson in how NOT to Make the Headlines
Organisations cannot always please everyone. You need to decide what matters most. This is subjective and makes corporate governance issues debatable, explains Rogier Deumes; assistant professor in corporate governance, control and auditing.
What you Need to Know before Becoming a B Corp
When compassionate leaders put the planet before their own need for wealth and status, we will have more successful businesses and may avert the climate crisis that is coming otherwise. Better business isn’t just better for the planet but profits too.
Facilitating and Improving Managerial Decisions
We cannot predict the future, but we at least try to deal with this uncertainty by using all kinds of measures and prediction methods that give us more confidence in an investment choice, says Alexander Brüggen; Professor of Management Accounting.
A Sustainable Solution to Energy Poverty
The high price of gas causes energy poverty. However, the proposed energy tax reduction is too limited. Spend on sustainability rather than on reducing the price of fossil fuels to help the energy transition, argue Linde Kattenberg and Nils Kok.
Harnessing the Potential of Power
Each of us has the choice to let our power go untapped, to give it away or to harness it, so we must learn to make the most of this unseen energy. Gail Rudolph provides three simple steps to choose our power positioning in any given situation.
How to be an Effective Leader
Although it’s no longer possible for leaders to know everything, we somehow still believe this is what’s needed. In this podcast, prof. Marielle Heijltjes, UMIO’s Executive Director, debunks this myth with an insightful and empowering perspective.
Sustainability equals Purpose, Prosperity and Innovation
Instead of innovating, we are hell-bent on pursuing old business models, turning to layoffs and cost savings to ensure the survival of the business. By doing so we have lost the perspective of the bigger picture, says Michael Jenkins.
Maastricht Reimagined
Maastricht wants to know how its citizens would like to see the city in 2040. “It should look beyond what it is and explore what it could be. Sometimes this means letting go of old values and exploring new ones,” says design thinker Damien Nunes.
Accelerated Change in Consumer Behaviours
As we continue to build our way out of the COVID-19 crisis, it’s clear that we won’t be returning to anything like business as usual. The world has changed, and if businesses are to succeed in this new landscape, they must learn how to change too.
Labour Market is Enduring the Corona Pandemic Reasonably
Despite the economic shock of the COVID-19 pandemic, job opportunities are generally good for graduates entering the job market over the next six years, concludes the Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market in one of their recent reports.
The Working World in 2030
By 2030, over 70% of the workforce will be comprised of generation X and millennials. COVID-19 will feel like a distant memory and work itself will be integrated into a broader holistic lifestyle as human respect and kindness take centre stage.
Mapping Out the Competencies Needed for the Coming Decade
None of us can be sure what the future holds, but the work context will continue to be fluid, disruptive and fast moving. If individuals can demonstrate essential competencies, they will be well positioned for successful performance across a range of jobs.
Data Science: Legal and Ethical Questions
“How good is the quality of your data and how good are the conclusions you draw from it?” In this podcast, Gijs van Dijck, Professor of Private Law at Maastricht University, dives into the legal and ethical issues surrounding data science.
Work Smarter, Not Harder
'Work smarter, not harder' is common advice for increasing effectiveness, but how can we achieve this? In this podcast, Professor Piet Eichholtz shares inspiring examples and practical wisdom derived from his successful career.
The Rise and Evolution of the Sharing Economy
The sharing economy is causing the biggest societal shift since the industrial revolution. And it is the biggest business trend ever. Benita Matofska believes the sharing economy could solve some of the most prominent challenges in the current era.
This is How You Make Decisions with Data
How do organisations work with data? And how do you do that in a scientifically correct way? Collaboration and creativity are two important concepts here. In this podcast with Lisa Brüggen, you will hear how you can use and apply these two concepts.
Teaming: Getting in on the Action
Creating the right environment and employing the right ‘software’ and ‘hardware’ to support professional teams can be challenging for leaders. Simon de Jong shares insights on the concept of ‘teaming’ in his session on the MaastrichtMBA programme.
Data Science is the Future, the Present and the Past
Technological developments nowadays go hand in hand with our daily existence. In this podcast, Professor Rudolf Müller answers questions such as: How far do we want data science to take us? What do we want to predict? How vulnerable is that really?
How Causal Machine Learning Can Improve Business Decisions
Contextual knowledge is integral to understanding why we behave the way we do. In this video, Jermain Kaminski talks about his recent research on experimentation and causal machine learning in entrepreneurship and innovation.
To Be Ahead, Through Innovative Thinking
How can organisations increase the likelihood of achieving their strategic goals? Professor Harold Hassink shares two models on performance management that can help companies execute their strategy to actually make the business model work.
The Science of Performance Management
On June 24, Prof. Harold Hassink provided a breakfast session at Brightlands Chemelot Campus to talk about recent academic insights on performance management and how to analyse and improve an organisation’s chances of reaching its strategic goals.
Attention for Employee Well-being also Beneficial for Companies
Research by Maastricht University and Utrecht University, led by Professor Harry Hummels, shows that attention to the well-being of employees in Dutch organisations has increased and… offers mutual benefits to the employee and the employer.
Guiding Companies to Better Understand Circular Strategies
To innovate for a circular economy, companies need to make changes on many different levels. Jan Konietzko from Circular X created a tool that helps professionals better understand the circular strategies and the levels at which they can be applied.
Keeping on Working Means Keeping on Learning
Due to the increase of Dutch state pension age since 2013, people now work longer and retire later. At the same time, it is also clear that in the past three years employers have invested less in their staff, concludes ROA’s Raymond Montizaan.
It’s Not Companies That Innovate, It’s The People In Them
When innovation has power and legitimacy, it is easier for innovation teams to build collaborative relationships with their colleagues in the core business, says Tendayi Viki; corporate innovation expert and Associate Partner at Strategyzer.
Full of Hot Air?
Large institutional investors believe that companies are making too little progress to achieve the climate goals. Research shows that large companies have lots of nice words about sustainability, but that they are not yet taking much concrete action.
Demystifying Common Myths About Migration
Melissa Siegel, Professor of Migration Studies at Maastricht University, dispels some commonly held myths about migration and argues that getting the message across to the broader public is part of any researcher's responsibility.
The Importance of Creating Leadership Momentum
It’s clear that we now live in a world full of confusion, ambiguity and disruption. The pace of change has outstripped our ability to keep up with it. Things don’t seem to work the same way anymore. It’s like the rules have changed on how to lead.
A Detailed Look at the Dutch Retirement System
The Dutch pension system is ranked number 1 in the world according to the Mercer Global Pension Index. In a recent interview with the Broadcast Retirement Network, Thomas Post explains what makes our pension system such an outstanding one.
How the Arts can Help Shape Business and Society
In this video, Rachel Pownall, Professor of Arts and Finance, explains how the Arts can help shape business and society, and how culture and its associated values can influence the leadership and management skills of leaders at global institutions.
Click, Clique, Radical Chic
Some videos on the internet are even naughtier than others. Thomas Frissen researches if the flood of information, ideas and visual stimuli digital technologies expose us to could help radicalise individuals and polarise societies.
Dutch Housing Market: Facts and Fads
It is true that the Dutch housing market is in a deep crisis. But there are also a number of myths going around. In this video, Piet Eichholtz, Professor of Real Estate Finance at Maastricht University, separates the facts from the fads.
HR and the New World of Work
With COVID-19, the challenge of developing organisation resilience and sustainability is top of the leadership agenda. One important question linked to this challenge is, what role will HR play in shaping the new world of business and work?
Creating a Self-perpetuating Marketing Machine
Launching a new service or product at the right time and in the right way is crucial for its success. Lean start-up of your business idea is essential, explains Dominik Mahr, Professor in Digital Innovation and Marketing at Maastricht University.
Schools are in a Hurry to Spend ‘Corona Billions’
How can schools limit the damage and eliminate the backlog that students have incurred as a result of the corona lockdowns? Inge de Wolf advises taking a dual approach that affects the quality of education both in the short term and the long term.
Moving from Unicorns to Zebras
In the current climate, entrepreneurs would be wise to follow the path of the zebra: concern yourself with usefulness, rather than innovation; be local rather than international; and follow your passion rather than investors’ whims.
Discovering Value for the Customer and the Organisation
Base your product or service on the wrong assumptions and you’ll soon be wasting time, energy and money. Prototyping is an essential step in the design thinking process and the best way to learn more about your customers and improve your ideas.
The Making of the Modern Elder Marketplace
Older workers who have decided to continue working are the new focus for HR policy and management. How do we engage the older worker? How do we take advantage of their wisdom? Three emerging trends on the horizon point to promising possibilities.
Why Can’t I Find a House?
We are currently in the biggest housing crisis since World War II. There are several reasons for this, but one factor stands out the most, according to Piet Eichholtz, Professor of Real Estate Finance at Maastricht University.
Ideation and Creativity Make Your Business Future Proof
For your business to stay relevant in future, you need to detect key trends and truly understand your customers’ needs. Carmen Vonken, project leader at UMIO’s Service Science Factory, shares some simple yet effective techniques to boost creativity.
Trust Does Not Need Sympathy
The legitimation of leadership no longer comes from disciplinary power but from exemplary influence on the development of the organisation. Matthias Moelleney presents his advice to those responsible for developing sustainable, agile organisations.
COVID-19: Using Common Sense is Not Enough!
The freedom in public policies on COVID-19 is asking more from the population than it initially seems. Results show that apart from using common sense, more and better information on the context is essential to help us make the right decision.
Technequality: a Look into the Future
We are in the middle of a technological revolution, that's not news. There is a lot of talk about the consequences for the labour market and perhaps for your work. Yet little is said about how we can prepare now for the post-revolution era.
Creating Impact: One YouTube Video at a Time
As we move forward to address societal challenges, facts and scientific research need to feed community knowledge and play an important role in public decision-making. For this, effective research communication is key! Melissa Siegel sets the tone.
Retaining a Global Mindset in the New Normal
Restrictions imposed on international travel, as a result of the ongoing global pandemic, have limited individual mobility across borders. However, a global mindset is also created by how people perceive themselves and others, despite their location.
5 Tips to Boost your Organisation’s Creativity
It is a myth that the best innovations just ‘happen’ from the ideas of a few creative geniuses. So, how do you get your ideas to have real impact? We provide five practical tips you can implement now to boost your organisation’s creativity.
Proud of Family-run Businesses
In collaboration with MKB Limburg, the organisation for small and medium-sized businesses in the province, Maastricht University has set up a special project for family-led companies, designed for organisations with up to 50 employees.
The Sustainable Design Opportunity is Now
Let’s look at the workplace through a new prism and recognise that each business, no matter how small, has a chance to not only make a significant reduction in their carbon footprint but also to create an improved workplace experience for all.
How to Make Sense of your Data?
In this short video, Stephan Smeekes, Associate Professor in Econometrics, shares his insights on how a combination of econometrics, statistics and machine learning can help organisations find data-driven answers to their questions.
A Human Approach to Leadership
It’s taken a virus to knock us out of our complacency and force us to rethink many assumptions that govern the world of work. COVID-19 has accelerated the rate of social and economic change and leaders cannot afford to be left behind.
Using Data to Boost your Organisation
A blueprint for digital transformation doesn’t exit. The impact, opportunities and threats are different for every company. However, focus on governance, leadership and organisational culture is crucial in the transformation of any organisation.
Rediscovering the Physical Workspace
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated digital transformation in all aspects of life. However, let us not forget to rediscover the physical workspace with intentionality on how best to use it in a transforming world of work.
The Sense and Nonsense of Early Supplier Involvement
Assistant professor Robert Suurmond shares insights from one of his recent publications, shedding new light on the sense and nonsense of (early) supplier involvement, open innovation and the nature of knowledge transfer more generally.
Gebruik data als vliegwiel voor je organisatie
In deze WebTalks sessie op 23 maart door UMIO en de Open Universiteit bespraken we de rol van data, governance, leiderschap, organisatiecultuur en andere factoren die bijdragen aan een succesvolle digitale transformatie van jouw organisatie.
Connecting Leadership: Needed Now more than Ever
During a recent, very well attended WebTalks session, Frans Wilms considered different aspects of connecting leadership to answer the pressing question “how can we lead in peace with enough space and without losing direction or results?”.
Should Banks Pay Dividends in 2021?
Well-performing European banks are allowed again to pay out dividends to their shareholders this year. However, according to Clemens Kool, Professor of Macroeconomics and International Monetary Economics, this requires a careful balancing act.
Leading through Today’s Confluence of Crises
COVID-19 started off as a health crisis but has since morphed into a confluence of crises. The challenge for leaders and organisations is how this confluence could disrupt their business and then chart their blueprint for renewal and transformation.
De vier R’s van verbindend leiderschap
In this online session with leadership expert Frans Wilms, we discussed the balancing act of letting go versus defining boundaries, and we showed how to lead by leaving more room for your employees without losing sight of strategy and results.
How Do Professionals Learn?
In this short video, Therese Grohnert shares some of the key findings from her research which demonstrates how organisations can create the perfect conditions for workplace learning for sustained performance and innovation.
Procurement with Purpose
Leading sustainable companies show an increasing interest in the integrity and ethical behaviour of their supply chains which often translates into a clear purpose for procurement. This seems to resonate well with the leaders of the next generation.
Redefining Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Saleema Vellani explores the entrepreneurial mindset and considers how the future landscape of personal exploration, employment and industry will require ubiquitous innovation skills of new graduates and business leaders alike.
Be Ambitious with those Service Robots!
Gaby Odekerken-Schröder, Professor of Customer-Centric Service Science, explains what added value service robots can bring to the workplace. It is not a question of whether we will start working with robots, but how we can get everybody prepared.
How to Activate and Nudge Pension Plan Participants
On a podcast episode hosted by Netspar, Thomas Post discusses techniques to activate participants in the new Dutch occupational pension system and emphasises that nudges have to be designed with great care to be effective and ethically sound.
Mind the Gap!
NEVI Professor Purchasing and Supply Management, Frank Rozemeijer, elaborates on some gender disparities to keep in mind when you recruit young graduates to become your future Procurement, Logistics or SCM leaders.
Which is More Creative, the Arts or the Sciences?
At UMIO Prime, we have shared research insights on the need for ‘higher’ cognitive skills as core competencies for the changing 21st century labour market. But, what is the nature of creativity, and does it differ across disciplines?
How do we Make Up for Learning Disadvantages?
Dutch schools have been closed for a long time due to COVID-19. It is clear that all primary school students have fallen behind in arithmetic, language and reading comprehension. Lex Borghans discusses how we can make up for learning disadvantages.
Increasing Employee Creativity
Research among adults shows that new and original ideas are often seen as difficult to implement. As a result, people tend to choose ideas that are more obvious when they think they also have to implement them.
How to Build the Next Electric Car?
In this podcast episode, Robert Suurmond, Assistant Professor in Purchasing and Supply Chain Management looks at the best way to build an electric car, drawing lessons from Tesla and comparing this to more traditional car manufacturers.
Nouvelle Année, Nouvelle Procurement
No matter what you buy, look beyond the price and dig deeper! Frank Rozemeijer, Professor of Procurement & Supply Chain Management, calls for a deep understanding of your organisation’s supply chain, as you can’t manage what you can’t see.
Please Don’t Revolutionise Education!
Education needs proper insight into the consequences of the COVID-19 crisis for students and better knowledge of what works if we are to eliminate adverse consequences, argues Inge de Wolf, Professor of Education Systems.
How Leadership is Learned and Developed
What is leadership? Who is a leader? Do you consider yourself a leader? Leadership lecturer and researcher Sonja Zaar shares some of the outcomes of a recent study exploring ideas around leadership and how they influence leadership identity.
The Human Factor in Digitalisation
The crisis is helpful in our move towards smart automation. But, digital has to go hand-in-hand with the human side. Dominik Mahr introduces the positive and negative sides of smart technology and how organisations can benefit from smart automation.
The Similarities between Playing Chess and Working from Home
The game of chess got a worldwide boost after Netflix broadcast their hit series The Queen’s Gambit in late 2020. But, what if lead character Beth Harmon would have had to face her competition via a computer screen? And what can we learn from it?
How will COVID-19 Change the Demand for Office Space?
Will the demand for office space decline after COVID-19? Piet Eichholtz and Nils Kok say office buildings that are no longer fit for purpose do not need to be written off. They deserve a second chance, and could be repurposed as residential housing.
Digital Transformation: Are you Ready to Automate?
On January 28, Dominik Mahr and Gordon Miesen hosted an online session to showcase how you as a professional can redesign your workplace with smart automation and what you can do to really reap the benefits from emerging technologies.
The Best Armoury for an Uncertain Future
Should you keep spending resources on a project even when its future success looks doubtful? The influence of emotions in decision-making is important but perhaps we are more rational than the previous research has given us credit for.
The Viability of Vaccination Certificates
There is sufficient support among the Dutch population for the introduction of a vaccination certificate to actively encourage people to be vaccinated. This has become apparent from representative research among 1,640 Dutch people.
Indispensable Competences of the Future
Due to automation and robotisation, a lot of jobs will disappear in the coming years. What capacities and learning characteristics will professionals need for the 21st century in order to remain successful and relevant?
The Key Challenges of Digitalisation
The challenges of digitalisation for businesses are real and immediate. In this short video, Dominik Mahr shares some key insights into how to embrace these challenges and make them work for you, rather than against you.
How Businesses can Help Build a more Sustainable World
Businesses can have a positive societal and environmental impact and create a viable business strategy. The role they play can help drive slower forms of consumption and break the consumerist style that leads to a wasteful society.
How to Market Products in 2021 and Beyond?
In this podcast, Tim Hilken talks about the current status of technologies like AR and VR. How can they be further developed to better address consumer needs? And how could these technologies be used in the classroom or workplace environment?
What do YOU do to Save the World?
Business models can roughly be divided into two categories: sustainable and non-sustainable ones. In this podcast, Nancy Bocken takes us through existing business models and how to deal with the dimension of sustainability.
We Think You Might Like This
Recommender systems enable us to tailor the content of websites and match individual predicted user preferences and needs. Mark Graus explains how these systems influence our actual behaviour and how customers, organisations and society can benefit.
Women Taking a Stand to Move Up Managerial Chain
Gender pay disparities have been a long-time concern, but as female empowerment inspires a generation, who are the people that are shaping the businesses of the future? We delve into three areas of society that women are transforming.
AI and the People: Co-creating for the Future of Work
AI and automation will have an important impact on work and the workplace. Meet the research group that combines expertise from business, policy and academia to help society face the opportunities and challenges that come with technological change.
Crisis Innovation Guide: Ready to Act?
What do we learn from COVID-19? This is an excellent moment to start thinking not only about how to make our organisations more responsive to change, but also how to make them regenerative by investing in a culture of innovation.
The Human Side of Business
In working relations, functionality and financial rewards often override the human perspective, leading to less productive teams and organisations. In this webinar on 10 December, Marco Buschman presented a new framework to overcome this challenge.
Can Money Buy Happiness?
“It’s not a big flat screen tv or a new phone that makes you happy but rather cleaning help or delivery service”, says economist and ‘happiness professor’ Paul Smeets. "If you have money to spend, buy yourself some spare time!”.
The Double-edged Sword of Smart Services
“You can buy a car in any colour you like so long as it’s black” is the famous quote by Henry Ford, made at a time when sellers dictated the market. Things couldn’t be more different today. It’s the customer who’s in the driver’s seat now.
Crisis Innovation Guide: Organisation and Ecosystem
Successful innovation in times of crisis doesn’t only require a good look at your products and processes. It’s also about being able to see the bigger picture. How does the organisation function and which ecosystem is it part of?
How Will Automation and AI Affect the Labour Market?
More and more machines can make decisions independently. So how will this affect the labour market? Mark Levels and Raymond Montizaan explore these questions through the work they are doing as part of the EU-funded research project TECHNEQUALITY.
Does your Employer Need to Offer you Training?
The Dutch government's portal for development advice and training was reopened on December 1st. In this podcast, Annemarie Künn explains why employers should indeed be encouraged to offer training opportunities for their employees.
Crisis Innovation Guide: Product and Process
Before you get to the innovation drawing board, it is essential that you gain a thorough understanding of the exact challenges and opportunities that your organisation is facing. We provide guidelines on how to innovate your product and process.
How can you be Prepared for what’s Next?
Sometimes the best way to understand the future is to build on good, old fashioned research and logic, sorting and sizing knowns and unknowns, and networking the one thing we bring with us everyday: human intelligence.
A Taste of Big Data Analysis: Sour Milk or Luxury Ice Cream?
Simply applying smart algorithms without thinking about the data can lead to misleading results, but with good data and sound knowledge of both business and analytics, any firm can improve their decision-making and hence performance.
Crisis Innovation Guide: Survival Mode
The shock of the coronavirus has triggered a survival mode in many companies, yet a crisis like this facilitates rather than inhibits innovation. It creates a climate of opportunity that true innovators have been waiting for.
Tipping Point for Digitalisation in Procurement and SCM?
The COVID-19 crisis has made it very clear that professional buyers and supply chain managers are important for our economy. Experts argue that the pandemic puts us at a ‘tipping point’ with regard to digitalisation of Procurement and SCM.
Using Data as a Driver in Transformation
‘Data is the new oil’ is a much-used phrase but having ‘oil’ is nowhere near as valuable as knowing what to do with it. Chris Underwood explores the role of data strategy in leadership and how data can help leaders to instigate organisational change.
Crisis Innovation Guide: The New Normal
While uncertain times like these can be unnerving, they also offer opportunities to those who dare to innovate. Successful companies will be the ones that take immediate action and adapt their business models to the 'new normal'.
Opportunities and Pitfalls of Smart Customer Interactions
During this Breakfast Booster on November 12, 2020, Lisa Brüggen presented several ways in which smart customer interactions can improve your customer relations, but she also discussed the pitfalls of digital customer interactions.
Do we put our trust in predictions?
In our day-to-day, it is increasingly possible to receive prediction advice that has been generated by some algorithmic system. Dr. Emir Efendić and colleagues found that trust in these systems depends on how quickly or slowly a prediction is made.
Nudging for Positive Change
Planning for retirement, eating healthier, donating your organs upon death – we often know what we should do, but why then do we not do it (enough)? It all has to do with behavioural design, and biases that are common to our species.
How Choosing for Others Impacts our own Choices
Researchers Kelly Geykens, Anika Schumacher and Caroline Goukens examined how choosing for others impacts our own choices. In this video, you learn how trying to help others will influence your own behaviour.
Service Robots: Rising or Falling Stars?
Robots are everywhere, but how do we humans respond to robots? The truth is, we don’t know much about what effect robots have on our behaviour. This is why Gaby Odekerken and her team at Maastricht University want to find out more.
Redefining the Purpose of Business in Society
We are experiencing one of the worst crises of leadership in our history. Our societies and organisations need and deserve transformational leaders who can bring communities together while promoting inclusion and a sense of belonging.
Learning at the workplace for auditors
Why do audit firms sometimes form insufficiently supported judgements on their clients’ financial statements? Therese Grohnert wanted to find out and she convinced the involved audit firms of an appropriate solution: learning at the workplace.
We Said ‘Let them Rot in Hell’
Piet Eichholtz was one of the co-signatories of an open letter criticising the Netherlands’ reluctance to help Southern Europe in its time of need. He reflects on how the coronavirus crisis is embedded in economic, political and ethical issues.
Learning to Lead with Authenticity
What makes a good leader? To really understand the essential qualities of leadership and how you can become a better leader, you need to do more than talk about it. You have to start at the very beginning, with yourself.
Transformation is about People rather than Technology
Digital transformation challenges traditional ways of organising work, of understanding competition, and of experiencing products and services. This article sheds a light on corporate learning as an accelerator of digital transformation.
Stay Ahead of the Game
If you can carry on being a valuable asset in the workplace, you and your employer will reap the benefits. In addition to subject-specific knowledge and skills, the importance of so-called “21st-century skills” is increasing.
How smart is your algorithm?
We have all heard success stories about the world of big data analytics. But is it really the solution to all problems? On October 8, Stephan Smeekes and Etienne Wijler take us through the myths and magic of smart algorithms.
How to make a success of digital transformation in your organisation
Understanding why some digital transformations succeed while at the same time so many fail can provide a critical piece of the digital transformation puzzle. Dominik Mahr shares his insight on how to pave the way for a smooth digital transformation.
Augmented Reality: Is this for Real?
Over the past three years, Tim Hilken has headed a research initiative about Augmented Reality to better understand what makes it so valuable. Find out how AR can empower you to make better decisions, reach your goals or even help others.
5 Skills You Need in the Digital Age
The Digital Age will fundamentally change how we work and how we live. Success in this new dawn requires ‘outsmarting’ evolving technology and remaining relevant through continuous learning and reinvention, or ‘Hyper-Learning’.
Creëer zonder stress de verandering die je beoogt
In deze WebTalks-sessie met leiderschapsexpert Frans Wilms verdiepen we twee inzichten, twee overtuigingen en twee vaardigheden, die samen zes onmisbare pijlers voor het leiderschap van nu vormen.
Bee Insights for Information Management
The world of bees and the world of information and management accountancy might not share the same end product, but parallels can be drawn between the two and some interesting learning insights can be gained from doing so.
Two Leadership Styles to Create Impact
Leadership styles come in all shapes and sizes. We outline a simple guide to keep focus amidst the diversity of appearances and definitions. We also show you the signals by which you can recognise each leadership style.
Finding opportunity in crisis
It has become clear that our current linear take-make-dispose economy is running out of time. The circular economy offers a redefinition of growth and a focus on societal benefits and sustainable solutions.
Why the Collective is so Important
We need to look after the planet much better than we have done over the past few decades, and that’s a collective responsibility that includes governments, businesses and individuals, says Simon Hill.
Working from home: how to create good management policies
Many companies struggle with their remote working or telecommuting policies. Katlijn Haesebrouck shares her research on how companies might want to adjust their policies when allowing their workforce to work remotely.
Stepping up to the Platform
The world looks quite different now from how it did 6 months ago. At a time when it is clear that one person or institution alone cannot solve the complex challenges of today, UMIO is very proud to introduce and welcome you to UMIO Prime.
“Invest in training your employees, especially now”
The corona crisis has affected many companies worldwide. One of the measures companies are considering taking to recover financially is to reduce training budgets for employees. However, that is not a wise move, argues Prof. dr. Andries De Grip.
Family Businesses in Times of Crisis
Do family businesses have greater resilience in times of crisis than non-family businesses? And why is that? Dr Anita Van Gils looked at existing research into these questions, which was primarily carried out after the previous crisis in 2008.
Preparing for the future of work and the workplace
The pandemic has led to the acceleration of digital transformation as organisations have been forced to adapt to remote working – but will this have an impact on the long-term future of work? Anino Emuwa finds out.
Female Entrepreneurship: The Way Forward
We delve into the paradigm shift caused by the rise in female leadership and female entrepreneurship. We show differences between male and female business leaders, and we illustrate how both can be combined to improve leadership practices.
Creativity, MBAs, and Competitive Advantage for Modern Businesses
When you think what might motivate you to do an MBA, ‘to become more creative’ is probably not top of the list. Yet, an MBA can increase your ability to have impact and open your eyes to the power of creativity within business, says Tom Gray.
Closing the Loop: The Power of Circular P&SM
We focus on the (business) opportunities that a switch in purchasing & supply management (P&SM) methodology can bring to your organisation and aim to boost your understanding of the opportunities, yet also the potential risks of circular P&SM.
Resolving Dilemmas: Privacy, Security & Public Health
How can businesses successfully manage their needs with data protection, privacy, and security requirements in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic where the sensitive personal data of employees, visitors and suppliers is systematically collected?
The Possibilities and Future of Online Education
UMIO | Maastricht University expanded its education portfolio with an online MBA study, called EuroMBA Online Track. We spoke with Dr. Boris Blumberg – MBA Captain – about the possibilities and future of online education.
Breaking Up the Status Quo
Exploring beyond our known borders is scary. As humans we have a strong tendency to stick to what we know. Unfortunately, this way of thinking may lead to inertia and may thus slow us down as professionals and as organisations.
Putting the Humanity back into Technology
In an age where algorithms answer our questions and robots do much of our ‘heavy lifting’, what we really need is a way of combining the best of technological capability with the best of human ability.
The Best of Both Worlds: Creating Sustainable Business Models
This webinar discusses the circular economy and its potential for small and large organisations. We will focus on positive examples of business model innovation for the circular economy, and we discuss approaches to inspire change.
Augmented Reality: A Means to Manage a 1.5-meters Economy?
Many organisations rely on physical means to deliver information to their customers. An obvious example is the information on product packages in supermarkets. But how to access information when physically touching products is not an option anymore?
Preparing for Extreme Scenarios
Due to the corona pandemic, organisations need to shift their strategy from a reactive to a pro-active approach. This webinar discuss the use of extreme scenarios to prepare for the upcoming challenges and make use of new opportunities?
Building Future-proof Business Models
In this short workshop you will get some practical tools how to engage in iterative experimentation and continuous improvement of your business model through a practical guideline to design future proof business models.
Digital Collaboration: Same, Same but Different
COVID-19 is maybe the largest test for digitalisation of work. This webinar addresses collaboration in a digital era: how to keep the higher goals in mind and bring in the various instruments at the right time and with the right tone.
Communications and the Importance of Framing
This webinar addresses the power of communications in relation to your actions, and how to effectively make use of a promise versus performance balance to get the results you were actually aiming for.
To Lead When Everything Seems Unpredictable
In a time of crisis when everything seems unpredictable, people easily turn to those that they trust to guide them to a better and more stable future. This webinar provides guidelines to prevent the creation of an illusion of control.
Boosting Intrapreneurship
What is the difference between Intrapreneurship and Entrepreneurship? In this WebTalk, Alexander Brüggen defines the two concepts and outlines the reasons why organisations wanting to be innovative are in need of intrapreneurship.
Preparing for Digitalisation
Alexander Brüggen outlines some of the key issues organisations are facing in light of the fast-moving digital developments and why the business model needs to change in order to respond to these innovations.
Co-creating Excellent Services
Artificial intelligence, blockchain, digitalisation: all these developments force companies to speed up their innovation process. In this WebTalk, Frank Rozemeijer discusses the challenges and trends he currently sees in the procurement ecosystem.
Futurise Your Business
Organisations need to innovate in order to survive. At a time with so many technological advances, technology-driven innovation is still just a means to an end. The question discussed in this WebTalk: Does it actually provide value or not?
The Power of Hackathons
Human behaviour needs to evolve with disruptive innovation, as does the business world. In this environment, it is vital to empathise with consumers to design services that work for them. This is where ‘hackathons’ come in.
What if it All Started with Me?
In February 2020, Star Lectures took place in 14 different cities in 5 countries. UMIO’s director Mariëlle Heijltjes was responsible for the Star Lecture in Düsseldorf titled ‘The human leader: what if it all started with me?’.
Erasmus Grant on Service Design Thinking
Implementing Service Design Thinking at the highest level of organisations; that is the goal of the study module that the Department of Marketing & Supply Chain Management (SBE) and the Service Science Factory (UMIO) will co-develop.
Innovate with Service Design
Services are all around us. Gaby Odekerken and Damien Nunes discuss the meaning of service design in this WebTalk and the question of time as another key consideration of the process using the adage, fail early, learn fast.
Digitalise the Decision Making
This WebTalk uncovers how data is being generated and extracted, and why so many companies are investing heavily in it, not only for marketing purposes, but also for business development and future strategic planning.
Strategy Meets Behaviour
Strategy is about aspiration. Aspiration is a fascinating design rule. It deals with specific objectives, defining the magnitude of these objectives and the distance to what is viewed as current beliefs. It is a balancing act between faith and facts.
Haal meer uit mensen, teams en organisaties
Bij de Masterclass Succesvol Samenwerken krijgen deelnemers meer inzicht over samenwerken binnen hun organisatie, hoe de ontwikkeling van mens en organisatie wordt gestimuleerd en hoe je deze meetbaar maakt.
The Benefits of Empathy in Business
Could empathy be the key for business to unlock competitive advantage, or does it compromise efficiency and performance? This was the central question during UMIO’s Breakfast Booster on Friday 13 December 2019.
Is marketing knowledge obsolete?
The digital era is changing how we communicate with and about each other, causing a major shift in marketing strategy. Professor Martin Wetzels is looking at the impact of ‘digital disruption’ on the academic and business world alike.
Cultivating Innovation
The world is becoming less predictable and more complex. The traditions and rules of the past can no longer be applied to today’s way of working. Organisations need to have a different approach to how they view themselves and the people in it.
Alumnus Hemmerle on his life and career 15 years’ on
Nils Hemmerle completed his Master’s in International Business at Maastricht University School of Business and Economics in 2004. According to him, digitalisation has influenced practices enormously since he first entered the business world.
Hoe blijf ik duurzaam inzetbaar?
Als je duurzaam inzetbaar bent, plukken jij en je werkgever daar de vruchten van. Een groeiend aantal werkgevers maakt dan ook serieus werk van duurzame inzetbaarheid. Maar het is op de eerste plaats je eigen verantwoordelijkheid.
The Art and Science of Waiting
Time is one of the most valuable resources, so customers expect to be serviced quickly, to have a positive waiting experience and/or expect a big reward for their waiting efforts. Learn how to positively influence the customer waiting experience.
