Practical Wisdom for Sustainable Management Project of a Christian

Transcription

Practical Wisdom for Sustainable Management Project of a Christian
Practical Wisdom for Sustainable Management
Project of a Christian-Islamic Dialogue
Annual Report 2014
Edited by Prof. Dr. André Habisch and Claudius Bachmann
Funded by the German Academic Exchange Service
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Practical Wisdom for Sustainable Management
Project of a Christian-Islamic Dialogue
Over the last three decades, a spate of far-reaching scandals in the business world climaxing in the
financial crises 07/08 have triggered a self-critical discussion within the management community about
their basic way of arguing, the normative orientation, and the guiding principles, which influence and
determine – implicit or explicit, open or hidden – today’s business decisions. Accordingly, a fair number
of management scholars are diagnosing a striking lack of normative orientation and professional ethos
within the global business world. While shifting the guiding questions from the rather moral concerns
about ‘better’ versus ‘worse’ into the mere technical calculus of ‘more’ over ‘less’, today’s management
theories often seem to have no higher order ideals but a simple pay-off matrix that is assessed in
quantitative and financial terms.
In order to fill the this normative gap within economic theory and practice, several concepts like
Business Ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility, Good Corporate Governance, Corporate Citizenship
and, more recently, Personal Social Responsibility etc. have emerged on the surface of business practice
and recently conquered their territory in academia. However, in many cases these attempts still remain
rather intellectual endeavors and artificial constructs that are focusing, in the main, on extrinsic
motivation and external surveillance while leaving aside cultural roots, spiritual beliefs, and intrinsic
motivation. Due to this mere rationalist normative perspective these concepts are more easily
accessible to the economic way of thinking; on the other side, however, it seems to be doubtable that
mere rationalist normative perspectives with no deep roots in the cultural traditions of most parts of
the world will develop any profound impact neither on the guiding principles of economic theory nor on
the behavior of decision makers of business practice.
Therefore, we refer to the fund of beliefs, examples, and commitments that are transmitted from
generation to generation through a religious tradition. Thus, the multiple spiritual traditions of mankind
are perceived as its ‘cultural capital’, which may contribute to the humanization of business practices
worldwide.
A Project of a Christian-Islamic Dialogue
Beginning in March 2013, the Faculty for Business and Economics at the Catholic University EichstättIngolstadt launches an Islamic-Christian culture dialogue about a spiritual and ethical renewal of
management development, funded by the German Academic Exchange Service DAAD. Within the global
academic network of the Academy of Business in Society (ABIS), the Al-Akhawayn Business School at
Ifrane / Morocco could be won as the first anchor partner in the Arab World. Furthermore, the Global
Ethic Institute at Tübingen University and the Bund Katholischer Unternehmer (association of catholic
entrepreneurs) served as our founding partners. Moreover, today we are proud to count among our
academic partners the Business and Information Technology School (BiTS) Iserlohn, and the Cologne
Business School (CBS). The Arabic world is so far additionally represented by the American University
Beirut, the Al-Azhar University Cairo, the Mediterranean School of Business Tunis, and most recently by
the Yarmouk University, Jordan.
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What do we want to achieve?
The main goal of our project is to enrich management development in the Arab World as well as in
Gemany by complementing the prevailing theoretical and methodical knowledge creation with
student’s character formation based on practical wisdom. For that purpose, we not only cross cultural
borders between the Western and Arab world, but also between academic theory and business
practice. As a way of achieving this aim we have come up with several initiatives in 2014: we have
expanded our international project network consisting of professors, young academics, and students on
the one side and of supporters from companies and the public sector on the other. Based on this
network we were able to organize a variety of activities, for example the joint seminar “Diversity
Management: A German and Arab perspective”, the spring school in Morocco designed to bring
together the research results and to offer a platform for exchanging the experiences we have each
made within the context of the project, and last but not least the intercultural excursions to Germany
and the Arab world.
What is the role being played by Practical Wisdom, inspired by religious and spiritual traditions, within
the framework of the training of a new generation of managers in economics? - This is a question of
highest importance, not only for the Business Schools themselves, but also for the society as a whole.
The encouragement and overwhelming positive feedback we have received over the last two years
encourages us to continue proceeding on that promising path in one way or another.
Yours sincerely
Prof. Dr. André Habisch
Claudius Bachmann (Project Manager)
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Project Report: Spring School 2014
Written and edited by: Mouna Izelmaden & Claudius Bachmann
Date:
23rd to 28th March, 2014
Overview
The Practical Wisdom project has organized its first "Spring School" at Al Akhawayn University
campuses in Ifrane and Casablanca in Morocco, from 23rd to 28th of March 2014.
The objective of the Spring School was to create a
dialogue on the topic of spirituality and wisdom in
business practices between academics, students
and business practitioners. The program of the
Spring School was divided into two parts; an
academic content with lectures and workshops
involving high caliber professors and Master as
well as PhD students, and a public part with the
participation of top managers of companies
operating in Morocco.
The spring school was a great opportunity for the participants to increase their knowledge about their
mutual cultural backgrounds and get more insights about the Arab and the Western cultures by
discussing topics linked to business management related to spiritual values, from both the theoretical
and practical sides.
The major outcome of the Spring School is to increase the research and academic cooperation between
the Arab and Western countries through a joined research, in order to emphasize the intercultural
dialogue about Practical Wisdom and value-based management.
Participants
The Practical Wisdom project was pleased to welcome
a very diverse and dynamic group composed of
professors and students from partner universities
representing different western and Arab countries. The
participating countries are Egypt, Tunesia, Germany,
and of course the hosting country Morocco. (See
below the participants list – alphabetical order.)
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International Participants:
Name
Al Agry, Dina
Bachmann, Claudius (Projektmanager)
Prof. Dr. Ben Letaifa, Soumaya
Egel, Eleftheria
Prof. Dr. Habisch, André
Hegazy, Ahmad
Hofer, Susanne
Imholt, Judith
Izelmaden, Mouna
Maniezki, Alice
Ravens, Friederike
Prof. Dr. Reiser, Dirk
Sasse, Laura
Prof. Dr. Scherle Nicolai
Prof. Dr. Stangel-Meseke, Martina
Organization
Al Azhar University – Egypt
Katholische Universität Eichstätt-Ingolstadt
Mediterranean School of Business – Tunis
International University of Monaco
Katholische Universität Eichstätt-Ingolstadt
Al Azhar University – Egypt
Katholische Universität Eichstätt-Ingolstadt
Cologne Business School (CBS) / Germany
Katholische Universität Eichstätt-Ingolstadt
Business and Information Technology School (BiTS) /
Germany
Business and Information Technology School (BiTS) /
Germany
Cologne Business School (CBS) / Germany
Katholische Universität Eichstätt-Ingolstadt
Business and Information Technology School (BiTS) /
Germany
Business and Information Technology School (BiTS) /
Germany
Moroccan Participants:
Name
Prof. Dr. Bachleda, Catherine
Prof. Dr. Benjelloun Hicham
Berriane, Sophia
Prof. Dr. EL Garah, Wafa (Dean)
El Yaagoubi, Hind
Prof. Hassi, Abdelrahmane
Loutfi, Youssef
Moustaouda, Sara
Organization
Al Akhawayn University Ifrane (AUI) / Morocco
Al Akhawayn University Ifrane (AUI) / Morocco
Al Akhawayn University Ifrane (AUI) / Morocco
Al Akhawayn University Ifrane (AUI) / Morocco
Al Akhawayn University Ifrane (AUI) / Morocco
Al Akhawayn University Ifrane (AUI) / Morocco
Al Akhawayn University Ifrane (AUI) / Morocco
Al Akhawayn University Ifrane (AUI) / Morocco
Spring School Program
The Academic program of the Spring School took place at
Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane and started by an
introductory session about the project in order to inform
the participants about the background, the objectives and
activities of the "Practical Wisdom for Sustainable
Management" Project. The program was resumed by the
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organization of an inspiring and very fruitful World Café activity. This has allowed all the participants to
interact with each other and most importantly, to exchange insights and discuss ideas for academic
cooperation on different topic areas from the "Practical Wisdom" perspective such as Leadership and
Human Resource Management, Sustainable Tourism, Gender Equity, Diversity Management, and
Islamic Finance.
The World Café allowed the gathering of topics of joined research and of
co-authored articles that will contribute to the enrichment of the
Practical Wisdom for Sustainable Management literature (see Appendix
1: Detailed Program).
The Spring School activities continued with a valuable contribution
about case studies development and analysis, which left the floor
afterwards to the Master and PhD students to present the work in
progress of their theses. The participant students had the great
opportunity to share their research with high caliber professors and had
also the unique occasion to gather their feedbacks and
recommendations for the improvement of their work or for further
research (see Appendix 2: Students’ contributions and Research Topics).
After these intense and highly inspiring days in Infrane, the following day brought the group to the
capital and one of the imperial cities of Morocco "Rabat". A cultural exchange and dialogue program
was organized around the most important monuments of the city with a free time in the old Medina.
In the evening, a Dinner Talk was arranged in order to promote the creation of a Center for Practical
Wisdom and Management at Al-Akhawayn University. When His Excellency Ahmed Taoufiq, Moroccan
Minister of Religious Endowments and Islamic Affairs, opened the conference on “Practical Wisdom for
Management from the Islamic Tradition” at Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane from November 17-18,
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2011, he announced plans to install a Center for Practical Wisdom for Management from the Spiritual
Traditions there. Following this promising idea, the Practical Wisdom project seeks to initiate such a
foundation in order to achieve:
a) A substantial enrichment of the educational schemes of business students bringing Wisdom
traditions from Islam and other religions into the formation of a new generations of business
executives in Morocco;
b) An institutional link with Moroccan companies of all seize in order to gain witness of Practical
Wisdom in action enriching the ethical orientation of students;
c) The creation of networks of international exchange in Practical Wisdom teaching and research,
which integrates scholars and universities from other Arab as well as European countries;
d) The gaining of empirical evidence about wise practices of Enterprises of all seize in their day-today business practice. This includes Human Resource policies, Corporate governance, Islamic
Finance, Corporate Community Involvement (Business and Society) etc.
The Al-Akhawayn University seems to be an especially suited place for the implementation of such a
Center. AUI is an internationally renowned and certified University, which has been founded precisely
for a better exchange with International partners in research and education. For that purpose, AUI
already established different academic Centers with international outreach and character. Moreover,
AUI is one of the very few places in the Arab World, in which Islamic Theology is taught in English and
therefore an interdisciplinary scientific dialogue on Spiritual Wisdom thinking is promising.
The public part of the program of the Spring School took place at Al Akhawayn Executive Center in
Casablanca, in which a one-day workshop was held in cooperation with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung
which invited key note speakers representing businesses and German companies operating in Morocco.
The public day was a great occasion to discuss Practical Wisdom from the Business practitioners'
perspective though panel discussions about Value-Based management in practice, Corporate Social
Responsibility and Practical Wisdom. Moreover, it is important to mention that the public day has
attracted an important number of students coming from different Moroccan schools and public
universities, allowing a diverse and rich inter-cultural debate on value-based management education
and business practices between German and Arab participants.
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Conclusion
The Practical Wisdom Project is proud and delighted of the great participation of all professors and
students (MA and PhD) that fully contributed to the success of the Spring School 2014 that was
organized in Morocco.
The event created a new and dynamic academic cooperation and highly intense cultural exchange that
will enrich the future activities of the project. Thanks to the active contribution of all participants, the
project has strengthen its network by attracting more partners and members, and also has enriched its
agenda for future publication and research ideas, about value-based management education and
business practices with a cross-cultural perspective.
Appendix 1: Detailed Program Spring School in Morocco
Arrival Day
…
8:30 pm
Sunday March 23, 2014
Arrival to Ifrane from Casablanca Airport and check in at Al Akhawayn
University Residences
Dinner
First Day: Academic
Monday March 24, 2014
09:00 am
Departure to Al Akhawayn University campus (via shuttle or walking)
Morning
Breakfast
Planning Breakfast (internal): The Public Day in Casa
10:00 am
Welcome Address
Prof. Dr. Wafa El Garah, Dean of the School of Business Administration at
Al Akhawayn University
“Who is who?” Presentation of the Participants and the Involved
Universities
Introduction and Discussion: The Practical Wisdom Project
Moderation: Prof. Dr. André Habisch and Claudius Bachmann
-Background of the project and goals
-Project Activities of the year 2013
-Future activities (2014/ 2015)
The World Café Method
Moderation: Mouna Izelmaden
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12:30 – 02:00 pm
Lunch
02:30 pm
The World Café “Practical Wisdom and Sustainable Business”: with the
contribution of Guest Professors of the Spring School for hosting
conversations/ brainstorming related to their field of expertise:
Topics / Tables: CSR – HR Management – Finance – Marketing
04:30 pm
Coffee Brake
05:00 pm
Project Planning
-
Summarizing the World Café Tables
Common publication ideas (books, articles, special issues)
Objectives and future activities of the project
Second Day: Academic
08:00
Tuesday March 25, 2014
Departure to Al Akhawayn University campus (via shuttle or walking)
Morning
Breakfast
9:00 – 10:15
Workshop: HOW TO DEVELOP AND ANALYZE BUSINESS CASE STUDIES
Prof. Abderrahman Hassi
10:30 – 12:00
Students’ Presentations of their theses: (1st Part)
-
MA students
Phd students
Discussion with Professors (invited: Prof El Garah, Prof Jamali, Prof
Hassi, Prof Benjelloun, Prof Scherle, Prof Habisch, Prof Stangel-Meseke,
Prof Reiser, Prof Said, Prof Ben Letaifa, Prof Dr Soula and others) and
Students
12:30 – 02:00 pm
Lunch
2:30 – 05:00 pm
Students’ Presentations of their theses: (2nd Part)
- MA students
- Phd students
Discussion with Professors (invited: Prof El Garah, Prof Jamali, Prof
Hassi, Prof Benjelloun, Prof Scherle, Prof Habisch, Prof Stangel-Meseke,
Prof Reiser, Prof Said, Prof Ben Letaifa, Prof Dr Soula and others) and
Students
06:30 – 08:00 pm
Panel Talk: Practical Wisdom in Management Education
Introduction: Dean Prof. Dr. Wafa El Garah
Statement: THE TOPIC ‘PRACTICAL WISDOM’ AND ITS PLURALITY
Prof. Dr. André Habisch
Statement: PRACTICAL WISDOM AND GENDER STUDIES
Prof. Dr. Martina Stangel-Meseke
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Statement: PRACTICAL WISDOM AND DIVERSITY
Prof. Dr. Nicolai Scherle
Statement: PRACTICAL WISDOM AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
Prof. Dr. Dirk Reiser
Third Day
Wednesday March 26, 2014
06:00
Departure to Rabat
07:00 am
Breakfast at Féz
Approx. 11:00 am
Arrival at Rabat
11:30 am – 02:00 pm
Cultural Exchange and Dialogue: Hassan Mosque and Oudaya
02:30 – 04:00 pm
Free Lunch in the area of the Oudaya and the old Médina
7:00 pm
Dinner Talk: PERSPECTIVES FOR THE CREATION OF A CENTER FOR PRACTICAL
WISDOM AND MANAGEMENT AT AL-AKHAWAYN UNIVERSITY
Rabat,
Welcome and Introduction:
Hotel La Tour Hassan
Prof. Dr. Wafa El Garah (AUI)
Prof. Dr. André Habisch (KU)
Dr. Helmut Reifeld (KAS)
Participants:
08:00 pm
Ahmed Taoufiq, Moroccan Minister of Religious Endowments and Islamic
Affairs
Dr. Michael Witter, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany
Nizar Baraka, President of the Conseil Economique, Social et
Environnemental (CESE)
Dr. Günther Beckstein, Former Prime Minister of the Free State of
Bavaria
Rainer Hermann, Editorial journalist, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
Marco Wiedemann, Head of the German Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (AHK), Casablanca
Frank Gotthardt, Merck KGaA, Head of Public Affairs
Abdelkerim Guergachi, President AGEF; Director of Human Resources,
BMCI Groupe BNP Paribas
Hartmut Goeritz, APM Terminals Tangier S.A., Managing Director
German investors in Morocco CGEM
Departure to Casablanca / Check-in: IBIS Hotel
Forth Day: Public
9:00 am
Thursday March 27, 2014
Welcome Address:
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Prof. Dr. Wafa El Garah, Dean of the School of Business Administration at
Al Akhawayn University
9:30 am
Dr. Helmut Reifeld, Representative of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation
Morocco
Key Note Speeches:
BUSINESS VALUES IN THE CONTEXT OF SOCIAL MARKET ECONOMY
Dr. Günther Beckstein, Former Prime Minister of the Free State of
Bavaria
THE SOCIAL ROLE OF ENTERPRISES IN GERMANY AND THE ARAB WORLD
Dr. Rainer Hermann, Editorial Journalist, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
10:30 am
Coffee Break
11:00 am
Panel: Value-based Management in Education and Practice
Statement: BUSINESS VALUES AS THE KEY TO SUCCESS
Abdelkerim Guergachi, President AGEF; Director of Human Resources,
BMCI Groupe BNP Paribas
Discussion: Prof. Dr. Wafa El Garah (AUI), Prof. Dr. André Habisch (KU),
Prof. Dr. Soumaya Ben Letaifa (MSB), Abdelkerim Guergachi, President
AGEF; Director of Human Resources, BMCI Groupe BNP Paribas
Moderation: Claudius Bachmann (KU)
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Lunch
3:00 pm
Panel: The Chamber of Commerce as a Mediator of Practical Wisdom in
Business and Society
Statement: SOCIAL MARKET ECONOMY AND CORPORATE SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT
Frank Gotthardt, Merck KGaA, Head of Public Affairs
Statement: CHALLENGES AND CHANCES OF MOROCCAN-GERMAN COOPERATION IN
BUSINESS
Marco Wiedemann, Head of the AHK Casablanca
Moderation: Prof. Dr. André Habisch (KU)
4:30 pm
Coffee Break
5:00 pm
Workshop on Practical Wisdom with Industry Professionals
Moderation: Prof. Dr. Wafa El Garah (AUI)
7:00 pm
End of the Official Program
Fifth Day: Departure
Friday March 28, 2014
Breakfast
Morning
Departure to the airport - Casablanca
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Appendix 2: Students’ Contributions & Research Topics
MA Thesis: Miss Sophia Berriane – AUI/ Morocco
Title:
Consumers Perceptions of Compliance to Islamic Marketing Practices Among Businesses: A
Conceptual Model
Research Objective:
The objective of this study is to see how consumers define the compliance to Islamic Marketing
Practices in a business. This study aims to develop a model that would reflect the consumer
perceptions that would be tested quantitatively in future studies.
MA Thesis: Mr Youssef Loutfi – AUI/ Morocco
Title:
Determinants of Critical Success Factors of Quality Management in Moroccan Higher Education
Institutions Using DELPHI method
Research objective:
The objective of this study is to propose a conceptual framework that will determine the different
critical success factors of quality management in higher education institutions in Morocco.
Summary:
The aim of this exploratory research is to propose a conceptual framework of the determinants of
critical success factors of quality management in higher education institutions in Morocco by using
Delphi method. Data would be collected using written interviews that would be distributed to
experts. The outcomes of this study would serve to propose a conceptual framework that will
determine the different critical success factors of quality management in higher education
institutions as it might serve as a starting point for further quantitative researches of total quality
management in higher education institutions.
MA Thesis: Miss Hind El Yaagoubi – AUI/ Morocco
Title:
Factors Influencing Muslims to Adopt the Institution of Zakat in Morocco
Research objective:
The purpose of the establishment of the Zakat institution is to coordinate, collect, and distribute
Zakat to the needy people. However, this option requires a preliminary study of the acceptance of
Moroccans to contribute to such institution. The objective of this research paper is to investigate the
different factors that can motivate Muslims to adopt the institution of Zakat in Morocco.
MA Thesis: Miss Judith Imholt – CBS/ Germany
Title:
Practical Wisdom in Management: The German Investment Potential in the Moroccan Energy Sector.
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Research Objective:
The objective of the paper is to determine whether the German investment potential in Morocco
includes factors of practical wisdom. Namely, the virtues of nobleness and reason will be regarded.
Summary:
The Moroccan Energy Sector faces increasing challenges. Most of the country’s energy needs are
imported (96%). Geographically, solar energy delivers strong potential to increase domestic energy
supply through renewable energies. Attracting Foreign Investment is necessary for the
implementation of the Plan Solaire du Maroc and the Morocco 2020 Vision. For this investment to
take place, a liberalized market and investment incentives are the prerequisites. These are analyzed
in the paper. The main challenge for German investment is the cultural difference between Germany
and Morocco. The analysis is based on the GLOBE Study. The results of this analysis also indicated
that the achievement of the Plan Solaire proves difficult within the Moroccan culture. Potential for
German investment lies in the expertise German companies have in engineering and the brand:
‘Made in Germany’. Through a broad definition of practical wisdom, nobleness and reason the
presence of these virtues in the potentials and challenges was observed.
BA Thesis: Miss Alice Maniezki – BITS / Germany
Title:
Women in Leadership: Prospects, Chances and Barriers. A cross-cultural analysis.
MA Thesis: Miss Friederike Ravens – BITS/ Germany
Title:
The Trend towards Sustainable Entrepreneurship – An Analysis of key actors within a company
featuring ideal character traits and behavior in terms of sustainability exemplified by Best Practice
Companies being awarded.
Summary:
•
•
•
Business Driven Concept of Sustainability which focuses on increasing both Social as well as
Business Value
Identification: Business Model of the future?
Strategic Management Approach
This Master Thesis aims at identifying which character traits as well as behavioral preferences the
ideal Manager should feature. According to research, a manager is required to act as if he was
dealing with his own company, therefore as an entrepreneur. In terms of sustainable
entrepreneurship, this paper also focuses on necessary ethic variables. The result is meant to be a
combination of both entrepreneurial as well as ethical character traits that make a manager ideal. If
key functions are occupied by managers who represent these characteristics, this contributes to the
long-term success of a company and therefore to overall sustainability.
Initially, the status quo of top performing companies in terms of sustainability is analyzed. There are
several awards honoring the efforts of the mentioned companies. Thus, key factors are identified by
using qualitative interviews in order to determine a recommendation concept. Based on these
findings, an overall concept of sustainable actors within the company is developed, in detail
sustainably acting managers. Psychological as well as economic evidence is taken into consideration.
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PhD Thesis/ Book chapter: Mr Claudius Bachmann – WFI/ Germany
Title:
Can Practical Wisdom be Taught in Business Schools? An Inquiry-Based Learning Approach for
Management Education.
Summary:
Criticizing management education is not a new idea and has, to some extent, already been put into
practice. Over the last decades, a wide branch of papers, articles, and books have pointed out the
failures of business schools to educate well-prepared managers and have contributed to a self-aware
discussion about what is being taught to students of economy and what relationship is being
established between the assignment to impart knowledge and the need to make sure the students’
personality development keeps in step with it.
This state of affairs has directed resurgent attention to the ancient topos of practical wisdom and its
implications within economic discourse. Inspired by recent research in psychology and philosophy, a
remarkable number of books and articles have been published in the last months and years which
aim at adopting the concept of practical wisdom into the field of management and management
education. Nevertheless, these attempts have remained on a rather explorative-descriptive level
using a broad and more general conception of practical wisdom. Therefore, little guidance is given on
how universities might implement this concept into their curricula or educational offerings. The idea
of the presented chapter is based on the experiences and results of the author’s own international
research project which ventured the step onto the operational level of the manager training
program. Beginning in March 2013, different innovative ideas of teaching and learning were
developed together with three German and four Arab partner universities and put into practice in
order to combine both, the concept of practical wisdom and the methods of inquiry-based learning.
First, the chapter will present an education-orientated conceptualization of practical wisdom
suggesting how this could answer to the criticism directed at business schools revealed above.
Second, based on the experiences of the author’s own international research project it will
exemplarily highlight the means by which inquiry-based learning and practical wisdom could be
introduced into management education. Third, an evaluation employing data from qualitative
interviews with student and professor participants along with written statements by the participants
will reflect the strengths, advantages, and possibilities for improvement of the educational concept
presented here.
In this way, the chapter seeks both to contribute to the current debate a theoretical approach of how
to integrate inquiry-based learning into the management education as well as to provide a successful
example based on a number of promising experiences made within the context of an intercultural
research project.
PhD Thesis: Miss Laura Sasse – WFI/ Germany
Title:
Practical wisdom in management: How can businesses measure practical wisdom and hence enhance
it in organizations?
Summary:
The aim of this cumulative thesis is to merge theory and practice by finding KPIs that will allow
companies to quantify and measure practical wisdom in their organizations. The cumulative thesis
will take on the following format: firstly, a literature review will paint an overview of the existing
academic literature on practical wisdom. This review will reveal that the bulk of practical wisdom
scholars as of yet have focused on qualitative studies, and hence pinpoint the need for quantitative
research. In order to address this, a positivist research approach will be taken to develop a
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framework to measure practical wisdom based on KPIs. In the final step, this model will be applied
and tested in a chosen business. Thus, a link between business theory and business practice will be
created.
PhD Thesis: Mrs Eleftheria Egel – Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis/ France
Title:
Organizational Spiritual Leadership: A Model for Islamic Leadership.
Summary:
The purpose of this PhD dissertation is to explore how the Spiritual Leadership Model (SLM)
developed by Fry (2003, 2005, 2008) is a model for Islamic leadership development. The goal is
attained through the theoretical transposition of each and every quality of SLM into a model of
Islamic leadership, the Islamic Leadership Model (ILM). Spiritual Leadership is an emerging paradigm
developed within the framework of workplace spirituality that has the potential to guide
transformation and development of organizations. The Islamic Leadership Model (ILM) is based on
the absolute dogma of monotheism (Tawhid) as prescribed in the Qur’an and the holy Islamic books.
It is sourced in religious principles as Islam constitutes an integral code of life expected to be adopted
in its entirety. Within this framework, the Muslim leaders should be guided by their faith and
implement the moral principles of Islam in their business transactions.
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Project Report: Excursion in Morocco September 2014
Written by:
Edited by:
Date:
Friederike Ravens, Xiaolu Zhang, Iulia-Adela Mircea, Luisa Schlange, Sonja Hüffel
Claudius Bachmann and Friederike Ravens
22nd to 27th September, 2014
MONDAY 22/09/2014 Marrakech
Friederike Ravens
First insights: Moroccan culture and traditions at Jemaa EL Fna
Practical Wisdom for Sustainable Management – according to this focus a project group of eleven
people visits Morocco for one week. Succeeding the spring school in March, the current excursion aims
at deepening the understanding of Moroccan culture. Therefore a delegation of three professors and
eight MA and PhD students coming from Ingolstadt School of Management, Business and Information
Technology School Iserlohn and Cologne Business School participates in this very project.
German Participants:
Name
Organization
Bachmann, Claudius (Projektmanager)
Katholische Universität Eichstätt-Ingolstadt
Groos, Kathrin
Business and Information Technology School
Prof. Dr. Habisch, André
Katholische Universität Eichstätt-Ingolstadt
Hüffel, Sonja
Cologne Business School
Mircea, Iulia-Adela
Katholische Universität Eichstätt-Ingolstadt
Ravens, Friederike
Business and Information Technology School
Sasse, Laura
Katholische Universität Eichstätt-Ingolstadt
Prof. Dr. Scherle, Nicolai
Business and Information Technology School
Schlange, Luisa
Business and Information Technology School
Prof. Dr. Stangel-Meseke, Martina
Business and Information Technology School
Zhang, Xiaolu
Cologne Business School
Moroccan Participants:
Name
Organization
Azelmad, Rachida
Al Akhawayn University Ifrane (AUI) / Morocco
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Prof. Dr. Benjelloun Hicham
Al Akhawayn University Ifrane (AUI) / Morocco
El Boukari, Inssaf
Al Akhawayn University Ifrane (AUI) / Morocco
Prof. Dr. EL Garah, Wafa (Dean)
Al Akhawayn University Ifrane (AUI) / Morocco
Prof. Hassi, Abdelrahmane
Al Akhawayn University Ifrane (AUI) / Morocco
Kabbaj, Meriem
Al Akhawayn University Ifrane (AUI) / Morocco
Mouzouni, Houyam
Al Akhawayn University Ifrane (AUI) / Morocco
Having departed from Germany, the various travel groups arrive in Marrakech in the course of the
afternoon. After check-in and some recovery, the first item on the agenda is already planned. At 30
degrees Marrakech still experiences very warm weather conditions in September. By feet, the project
group gets a first glimpse at the culture of Marrakech. Professor Scherle as well as the tour guide who is
accompanying the group for the entire week provide information about the history, various buildings
and life in Marrakech nowadays. Marrakech is the third largest city in the country after Casablanca and
Rabat and is located to the north of the foothills of the Atlas Mountains.
As the most important city of Morocco's four former
imperial cities, Marrakech was built by Moroccan Berber
empires. Particularly noticeable are several buildings
constructed in red sandstone. Consequently the city is also
known as the "Red City". In addition the separation between
the old city called Medina and the new parts (Ville nouvelle)
is visible. Entering the medina of Marrakech which belongs
to the UNESCO world heritage, the traditional character of
the district can be sensed.
After a short walk, the group arrives the popular square
Jemaa el-Fnaa. It is one of the best-known squares in Africa
and the centre of city activity and trade. The first impression
is overwhelming: the atmosphere is vibrant, thousands of
people, tourists as well as inhabitants, occupy the square.
Men are dancing and singing, a great variety of traditional
food is being offered, monkey trainers are present in order
to entertain the crowd. The square also attracts snake
charmers, musicians playing traditional instruments like
pipes, tambourines and African drums, acrobats, magicians, traders, even dentists. The Berber
influence is obvious; the first connotation is a scene of Tales of the Thousand and One Nights. Still,
modern traits are visible, regarding the touristic approach in terms of offered souvenirs. Jemaa el-Fnaa
therefore serves as a bridge between the past and the present, the place where Moroccan tradition
encounters modernity.
After strolling through the largest traditional market, also called souk, where items like carpets, leather
bags, and lanterns are being sold, the group takes dinner in Jemaa el-Fnaa. Enjoying the atmosphere on
the square, a great variety of food is being served. The dishes include loads of fish, meat, vegetables,
couscous and bread. Simultaneously, the poverty is likewise apparent: beggars collect the remaining
food.
Having gained a first impression of Marrakech, the first day ends quickly.
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TUESDAY 23/09/2014 Marrakech
Xiaolu Zhang
Morocco between Tradition and Modernization – intercultural perspectives on urban transformation
processes, gentrification, and touristification
The day started by professor Scherle’s presentation of Marrakech,
which included the phenomenon of gentrification, and the conflict
between locals and tourists in the city.
The visit mainly took place in the Medina of the city. We have seen
the old center where people do the traditional handicraft work such
as leather, iron, carpet and so on. We also saw the structure of an
old neighborhood in Morocco, including key elements of fountain,
mosque, bakery, hammam, and market. Nabil explained us some
customs which link to Islamic culture and philosophy in detail.
Examples of his explanations are the function of having two wood
doors at the entrance, the custom of hammam, the education
problems in Morocco and so on.
In the afternoon, we have visited “La Maison Arabe” which is a
luxurious hotel just outside the Medina. The building used to be a
riad of a local family, but it was sold to an Italian investor who has
transformed it into a hotel. The hotel is beautifully reconstructed
on the basis of its old structure, and it succeeded in maintaining
the original style of the riad. Visiting the hotel remained the
morning discussion about gentrification. Today, it is a more and
more debated issue in Marrakech. Since 1960s, the house in
Medina started to attract foreign investment due to its affordable
price and the exotic image of Morocco. In 2003, there are more
than 900 foreign real estates in the Medina of Marrakech. Because
of its high cost of maintenance, water and electricity price, the
owners of the houses prefer to transform the houses into hotels or
guesthouses, so that they can earn money from tourism. “La Maison Arabe” is just an example of this
phenomenon.
Finally, the day was concluded by a visit in bus of the outskirts of the city. We saw that there are many
golf playgrounds in luxurious hotels. Obviously, the conflict of water resource is another issue of
tourism in a country close to desert as Morocco. We also saw many new buildings and neighborhoods
on the outskirts of the city. People who live there are normally who lived in Medina before, and now
with the rise of the living cost in Medina they are forced to move to the outskirt of the city.
WEDNESDAY 24/09/2014 Ait Ben Haddou
Iulia-Adela Mircea
Practical wisdom, sustainability and responsibility: (Un)sustainable tourism and agriculture in Morocco
On Wednesday, the third day of our excursion was scheduled to leave from Marrakech along with the
whole group to arrive in Quarazazate. Along the trip we have made several stops. The first one was in
the High Atlas Mountains.
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The High Atlas are the most interesting mountains I have ever seen. The Atlas ranges separate
the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines
from
the Sahara Desert. The highest peak in the High
Atlas Mountains is Jbel Toubkal with an elevation of
4,167 meters and in the higher elevations in the
range snow falls regularly, winter sports are
allowed. The population of the Atlas Mountains is
mainly Berbers. Therefore, during our ride we were
on the Atlantic side to the height of 2260 meters
and then we ride on the Sahara side until we
arrived to our next stop Ait Benhaddou.
Ait Benhaddou is a fortified city along the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech.
Aït Benhaddou has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987 and several films have been shot
there, including: Gladiator (2000), Kingdom of Heaven
(2005), Babel (2006), Prince of Persia (2010), etc. Most of the
town's inhabitants now live in a more modern village;
however, eight families still live within the ksar, including a
nineteen young girl, who invited us to her home. The
architecture of the building was very interesting, the roof
looks like a big terrace and also remarkable was the room
were the animals live and the rope where the clothes where
put to dry together with the meat. After visiting the small
house, the girl invited us in a big room, where we had to take
off our shoes as a sign of respect. We all sat on the floor and
she served us with the traditional mint tea. The room where
she invited us I suppose it was the bedroom, but I didn’t
noticed to see a bad only rugs. The young girl told us that she
is not married yet and she is very happy living there. It was
very interesting to see how the people are living there, and also to meet a young girl who didn’t have
any accesss to information and who is very happy with the living conditions.
Finally, after visiting Ait Benhaddou, we headed to the Karam Palace Hotel in Quarzazate, where we
stayed overnight. It was a full and beautiful day with the group and also with our local tour guide who
explained the hole trip from Marrakech to Quarazazate and we were also impressed of the beautiful
location of Morocco. We are very excited of our next day in Morocco.
THURSDAY 25/09/2014 Agadir
Luisa Schlange
Practical wisdom in local businesses: Private social initiatives and social entrepreneurship in Morocco (1)
After one night in Ouarzazate the group continued the journey to Agadir. The topic of the day was
“Practical wisdom in local businesses: Private social initiatives and social entrepreneurship in Morocco“.
On our way to Agadir we stopped at the in the city of Taroudant at the Palais Salam Hotel. The Palais
Salam is an ancient Pasha’s palace and surrounded by 16th century ramparts.
In the garden of the Palais we met Mr. Maurice Rivière, the CEO of Le Groupe Kabbage group for a
Moroccan lunch.
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Following lunch Mr. Rivière showed us the groups’ packaging citrus factory that is close to Agadir. The
citrus farm produces all kind of citrus fruits from clementines to oranges. Unfortunately it was
offseason that’s why the factory in which the cleaning and packaging of the fruits takes place was
empty.
Nevertheless we had a tour through the factory and were able to gain valuable insights to the citrus
production, sustainable water consumption etc.
At the end of the tour Miss Saloua
Kabbage joined the group. Miss
Kabbage is the head of the Abbes
Kabbage Foundation (AKF). We went
to the elementary school that was
founded by the Abbes Kabbage
foundation and part of an
educational initiative of the
foundation. The school is close to
the citrus factory and surrounded by
small houses for the seasonal
workers. Miss Kabbage told us that
the women who work in the factory
during the harvest of citrus fruits
could take their children along with
them. The school is open for
children of any age. It has rooms for
babies with nurses as well as classrooms for older children with teachers. Also the children from the
neighborhood can visit the school. Miss Kabbage believes that education is crucial for an independent
life and for a positive development of Morocco.
At the end, the group visited the citrus plantation and the water reservoir of the company. The
engineer explained the irrigation system and how the company tries to find sustainable solutions for
the artificial irrigation of the plants.
At the end of the day the group continued the journey to Agadir.
FRIDAY 26/09/2014 Marrakech
Sonja Hüffel
Practical wisdom in local businesses: Private social initiatives and social entrepreneurship in Morocco (2)
During the morning some time was reserved for intercultural discussions and exchange. It has been a
pleasure to get introduced to them for all of us. Even though the time with the other students has been
limited, we still had the chance to talk about topics like politics, traditions, religion, lifestyle or cultural
differences. Through those discussions we had the chance to gain several information of the life in
Morocco.
Afterwards, we had the chance to visit a Coca Cola plant in Agadir. Firstly we got introduced into the
franchise company of Coca Cola called “North Africa Bottling Company” (NABC). NABC is a family
business with more than 17 warehouses. The company sets a main focus on intercultural competence.
They adopt tastes of the Moroccan population to their tastes and invent new products in regard to their
taste. Furthermore, the company adapts the Muslim religion of the employees into their business life.
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The traditional Muslims pray five times a day and in regard to this tradition the company implemented
four mosques into their company and provides the employees with the possibility of praying during
their working time. After gaining a rough introduction of the company we had the possibility to see the
production and manufacturing part itself. We had a look at the production of the drinks, the cleaning of
already used bottles, the
production process of new
bottles, the fill-in process and
the logistics. During the visit
of NABC we had the chance
to gain a lot of impressive
insights.
Subsequently, we got invited
into the Berber museum in
Agadir (Musée Municipal du
patrimoine Amazigh). The
museum has been created in
remembrance of the Berber
in Morocco. The museum offers alternating exhibitions and more than 200 pieces of original Berber
productions and a lot of information on how the Berber culture influences local businesses. Due to this
fact, we had the chance to see jewelries, carpets, potteries or doors. In addition, our guide provided us
with information of the differences of the Berber trials and the interpretation of the shown samples.
After getting a great impression of the Berber culture we had the chance to see a cultural center in
Agadir. Within this center, the community has the possibility to assemble. The center offers
opportunities for praying, learning, doing sports, doing arts and many more. Furthermore, the
community had the chance to discuss important topics or to perform acts on a stage. It has been a
great experience to get insights into the local life.
Even though we already had the chance to gain several insights on that day, we also had the fortune to
have a discussion with Mr Chikh El Khorchi, head of the Waste Management Department of Agadir. He
provided us with information in regard to sustainable tourism and explained the current situation of
tourism in Agadir. Moreover, he demonstrated the future vision of Morocco’s tourism and its
implementation. For the demonstration he used Morocco’s vision 2020 to explain the possible
development in tourism.
After the interesting discussion we drove back to Marrakech and back in the hotel we presented our
research topics and gained recommendations of the other students for our further studies. This
exchange offered a lot of opportunities and possibilities in regard to the research. Overall, it has been a
very exciting, interesting and informative day.
SATURDAY 27/09/2014 Marrakech
Friederike Ravens
Closing the excursion
Satiated with impressions having been collected during the week, the group has some time left in
Marrakech until the departure. Whereas one group already departs to the airport in the morning, the
other has the opportunity of visiting the Souk again. The popular and noble Hotel La Mamounia also
attracts the attention of some.
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A week full of discoveries, experience and impressions comes to an end. The upcoming days and weeks
offer enough space for reflection and intellectual exchange. In conversations the project group
members discuss their new impressions and draw consequences, for their personal life as well as in
terms of societal development and the pending compositions of Master and PhD thesis assignments.
Appendix: Detailed Program of the Excursion in Morocco
Arrival Day
Lunch time
Afternoon
Second Day
Morning (9.00 am)
Monday, September 22, 2014
Arrival at Marrakech Airport
First insights: Moroccan culture and traditions at Jemaa EL Fna
Dinner in Jemaa El Fna
Overnight stay: Marrakech, IBIS Center Gare
Tuesday September 23, 2014
TOPIC OF THE DAY:
Morocco between Tradition and Modernization – intercultural perspectives
on urban transformation processes, gentrification, and touristification
Departure from the hotel
“Marrakech Day”
- Tour through the Medina of Marrakech
- Visit of a traditional Riad
- Insights into the handicraft business structures
Overnight stay: Marrakech, IBIS Center Gare
Third Day
Morning (7.00 am)
Wednesday September 24, 2014
TOPIC OF THE DAY:
Practical wisdom, sustainability and responsibility: (Un)sustainable tourism
and agriculture in Morocco
Departure to Ait Benhaddou
Lunch
Afternoon
Fourth Day
Morning (8.00 am)
Lunch (12.00)
2.00 pm
Departure to Wadi Draa
Overnight stay in: Ouarzazate (Hotel Karam Palace)
Thursday September 25, 2014
TOPIC OF THE DAY:
Practical wisdom in local businesses: Private social initiatives and social
entrepreneurship in Morocco (1)
Departure to Agadir
Palais Salam, Taroudant
Meeting with Mr. Rivière, General Secretay Groupe Kabbage
Meeting with Mme Belghiti-Kabbage, head of the Abbes Kabbage
Foundation (AKF) (Guerdane School)
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Visit of the Packing Cirtus Factory of the Groupe Kabbage
Presentation: Sustainable Water Consumption Systems
Evening
Fifths Day
Moring
10.00 am
Arrival and free time in Agadir
Overnight stay: Agadir(Hotel IBIS)
Friday September 26, 2014
TOPIC OF THE DAY:
Practical wisdom in local businesses: Private social initiatives and social
entrepreneurship in Morocco (2)
Group Meeting: German-Moroccan Talk
Visit Coca-Cola-Plant
Mme. Laila Amserouy, Purchase Manager
Lunch
Afternoon
Afternoon
Evening
Departure Day
Morning
Departure time:
Visit of Agadir orientated to cultural development projects
Amazighe Heritage Museum
Meeting with Mr Chikh El Khorchi, head of the Waste Management
Department of Agadir
Departure to Marrakech
Overnight stay: Marrakech (Hotel IBIS Center Gare)
Saturday September 27, 2014
Time in Marrakesh
9:45 a.m. (to Munich)
2:20 p.m. (to Berlin and Düsseldorf)
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Project Report: Excursion in Germany October 2014
Written by:
Edited by:
Date:
Participants of the excursion in Germany
Claudius Bachmann
19th to 25th October, 2014
Germany Excursion Report – Moroccan Perspectives
Saad Bekkouri, Salma Benbouia, Inssaf El Boukari, Houyam Mouzouni, Meriem Kabbaj
Acknowledgments
First of all, as participating students from Al Akhawayn University, we would express our deepest thanks to
Dr. Andre Habisch, Dr. Claudius Bachmann, and Dr. Nickolai Scherle for the organization of the successful
seminar, and for their accommodation in Germany.
Also, we would thank the Dean Dr. Ouafaa El Garah for offering this opportunity, and Dr. Abdelhamid Hamidi
Alaoui for accompanying us in the excursion.
And, we address special thanks to Ms. Rachida Azelmad for her efforts and support.
Excursion Report
The participation of 5 Moroccan MBA students from AUI along with AUI faculty member, in the German
seminar organized by professors from Katholische Universität Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, was indeed an enriching
experience that a student could benefit from at
the MBA level. This seminar primarily focused on
the practical side of business partnerships and
perspectives and pulled the students away from
the theoretical, not so fun, side of their MBA
program.
Our post-experience discussions about the
excursion lead us to categorize the latter into
two main phases; first of which was the
academic phase and the second of which
manifested itself in the field visits and meetings
with the different stakeholders. As a matter of
fact, we have had the chance and pleasure to
meet with important folks in their respective
business fields and also got to meet with
different people coming from Egypt and Jordan
on the very same program we participated in.
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As just mentioned, we have agreed that the trip was categorized into two main phases. The first phase was
characterized by academic lectures and presentations. The first participative day, for example, was
characterized by the students gathering in a classroom all day long getting to know one another and being
exposed to long talks about the essence of the practical wisdom project. That does not necessarily mean
that it was not a fruitful meeting though! We are merely suggesting here that it would have been even more
beneficial to have, in the next editions probably, the morning session dedicated to lectures and to the
discussions of the events on the upcoming days and having students elaborate further on their thesis topics
rather than having the professor monopolize the discussion; then dedicate the afternoon session to having a
sort of team building activities to tighten up the ties between students and faculty members coming from
different countries/cultures. On the second day, two differences marked us as a group. Students again
gathered in the same room to attend a presentation of the CEO of automotive company in Germany while a
host institution professor did his best to translate the content of the presentation. We did not really feel that
chemistry going through in the classroom since we could not get what the CEO was talking about regardless
of professor’s translation. In addition, we could not get appropriate answers to our questions. So we felt like
we could have done a more interesting activity during that second participation day. So all in all, this very
phase was mainly about the lectures side of the program, we think that the essence of the students’
participation in such a program should be more shaped towards the field visits and exposures as well as the
exchange of thoughts between students from various horizons in order to get more enlightened about how
business is dealt with in “different” societies. We think that it would’ve been more productive rather than
having information from scholars that could be sent on soft copies for students to read on their spare times.
The second phase of this excursion was agreed to be very, or shall we say, extremely helpful for the
Moroccan students at least. We have had the chance to exchange ideas with the Chamber of Commerce
president and the managing director of international economic affairs, Mr. Frank Dollendorf. In fact, all of us
were impressed by the dual education system that is applied in Bavaria since it shapes qualified students at
their early ages to integrate the business world. We also talked about the green figures exhibiting the
welfare of the Bavarian economy while the rest of the developed world was experiencing one of the worst
financial crises of modern times. In fact, unemployment rates in Bavaria was as low as 3% by 2012 while it hit
about 26% in other European countries such as Spain and Greece in particular. That is just impressive
especially after knowing that the Bavarian state primarily encouraged domestic consumption and avoided
layoffs of employees but rather started to optimize the production lines in Bavarian factories so as to be able
to regain market share after the economy boosted again.
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The meeting with Knorr-Bremse senior manager Mr Kurt Becker was also of a great importance and impact
on the Moroccan group. In fact, Mr. Becker took the time to explain how the family owned company had its
ups and downs throughout the years (especially after the Second World War) and how they have struggled
to gain their market shares across Europe, Asia and America and later to become the biggest break systems
manufacturer for railways and commercial trucks at the global level. We have also been exposed to part of
that history following our visit to the company museum (Forum locally named). We were also very pleased
to hear about the socially responsible side of the company as they dedicate 1.5 million Euros annually (very
slim amount indeed knowing that company head made it to the top 10 in Forbes list last year) to fund social
activities around the world.
We also had the chance to visit one of the biggest chocolate companies in the world which is funnily located
in one of the smallest villages that few Germans know about. Ritter Sport was definitely a plus in our field
visits as we got to check out the production line of the different chocolate bars the company has to offer to
their customers. It’s very important to mention that this company is also family owned and shapes its
success through the string involvement in the decision making of all key stakeholders. We particularly
appreciated the fact that the company not only offered good finished products with multiple flavors, but
they also did not neglect the fact of having an environmental friendly packaging of those final goods. We’ve
been exposed to all of that through a movie that was displayed on a local small movie theatre showing all of
the key steps from beans collecting and harvesting to the distribution of the final goods to customers. The
final meeting that we’ve had was that of global ethics institute at the University of Tubingen. We’ve been
introduced to the so called students Hub which is pretty similar to the student activities office that we have
in AUI. The idea behind that is to have a maximum number of students gathering to form clubs (hubs) and
here again, Moroccan students (especially Salma) and German students had a lot to exchange and
benchmark on during the meeting that lasted for a couple of hours only due to the fatigue students were
experiencing after traveling for about 6 hours from Munich. But that was compensated for by a second visit
to the university to attend an exhibition.
So all in all, we truly appreciated the participation in such a program and the efforts AUI is putting there to
boost the experiences of its MBA students. But if we could convey our recommendations to enhance the
future participation, we would: 1- Encourage having all presentations done in a language that all participants
could understand. 2- Shed more light on the field studies and meetings with senior management of leading
companies so as to get a maximum knowledge and incentives. 3- Work on getting the students more to talk
about their research topics and work on getting dual supervisions by local and host universities.
Germany Excursion Report – Jordanian Perspectives
Bilal Alamoush (1) and Heba Al-shamaileh (2)
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank both of Al Yarmouk University and the Catholic University of Eischtaett- Ingolstadt
for making the opportunity for me to participate in such an excursion which gave me a good chance to
team up with not only with German colleagues, also with Arab ones, not to change only the ideas with
both our part of the world and the western part of the world on how business should be ran , But also
sharing the Ideas about our culture and answering the western part of world questions about us.
And I would like to thank Mr. Claudius for his efforts and kind welcoming in Germany to make our stay
as comfortable as possible.
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Excursion Report
One of the ideas we were introduced to during the excursion, is the dual educational system of the
German schools, which gives the companies a chance to team up with the school to enhance both the
background of the students and their learning curriculum to meet the market needs. This considered a
new learning approach which mixes between the experienced personnel's and the young generations
whom armed with practical sciences, theories, and knowledge but with no experience, which they will
be gained through dealing and changing ideas with the experienced gentlemen.
During the seminars which conducted in both in Ingolstadt and Tubingen, we got the chance to
recognize a new way of managing the employees whether in a multinational companies or in family
owned business as will, the new approach of "Diversity management", which I found it somehow
applied in my country but not in a very wide perspective.
And from my point of view managing your enterprise is like managing your household, which valid for
the elder ones in the family doesn't valid with the younger ones. So, the term of diversity management
can start from the household when discussing they daily matters on a family dinner or on the evening
tea cup, from my point of view the successful manager can run his enterprise as running his household,
by gaining the loyalty and the trust of his employees which will lead to sustain the business and keeping
it active. Not forgetting the experience share, cross department training and the cross department
meetings are the keystones for business management.
The visit to Munich Chamber of Commerce and witnessing the way it works as a neutral medium
between politicians, businessmen, companies. And the voluntary program which circled by it, which,
gives the opportunity to the young generations to team up with market entrepreneurs. Just made our
visit to Munich richer, because, it's not too easy and smooth to separate business from politics unless
the business ethics are will empowered and applied. This considered a new way of interaction between
the market and its stockholders not to my country but also to other industrial societies as will.
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Finally, I would like to thank you again, for this opportunity which gave me a window to widen my
perspective toward, management and its relationship to sustainability, and how the loyalty of the
employees, and their good relationship to the managerial level of company can save and sustain the
business.
Acknowledgments
Firstly I would like to thank all of you for the opportunity to experience new culture and new education
system, it was a great experience to interact and communicate with other countries students and share the
information and knowledge about the practical wisdom for sustainable management and diversity
management, and also learning about their cultures and sharing ours.
Excursion Report
Most of the lectures which we took at the
Catholic University of Eichstaett-Ingolstadt
were about very interesting topics. I liked
the interactive way they explained them. I
learned a lot from them. In addition the
movie that we watched "the economics of
happiness" about globalization and
localization. It showed us the importance
of localization and the negative and
positive impacts of globalization.
Our visit to the Chamber of Commerce in
Munich was very fruitful as we learned a
lot from the lecture about practical
wisdom and entrepreneurial responsibility
and practical wisdom and management, they told us about the voluntary programs they run and how these
programs help the people who volunteer to know and learn from businessmen.
It was a great visit to the Global Ethic Institute as we experienced new things as the students there are trying
to be self-directed and to think outside the box. In the next day we attended the exhibition that students
prepared, it was an inspiring and creative one because it includes new innovative ideas about
telecommunication, recycling, and geography.
The last two companies we visited were BMW and Knorr Bremse companies. In BMW we enjoyed seeing
new cars including most recent technologies. In Knorr Bremse an engineer gave us a lecture about the
company, its products, its nature, and its targeted markets. I got the chance to learn how the management
of family business companies could apply Diversity Management concept.
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Appendix 1: Detailed Program of the Excursion in Morocco
Arrival Day
Sunday, October 19,2014
Arrival at Munich Airport
Transfer to Ingolstadt
Overnight Stay: Ingolstadt
Hotel zum Anker │ info: http://hotel-restaurant-anker.de/
Second Day
Morning
9.00 a.m.
Monday, October 20, 2014
TOPIC OF THE DAY:
Interculturality and Diversity in Business: a German and Arab Perspective
Breakfast at the hotel
Welcome address of the International Office, WFI
Mr. Philip Hockerts
Presentation of the partner universities by the students
Seminar Meeting at the WFI “Diversity Management: a German and Arab
Perspective” (1)
Prof. Dr. Martina Stangel-Meseke; Prof. Dr. Nicolai Scherle; Arab guest
professors
12.00
1.30 p.m. – 5.00 p.m.
6.30 p.m.
Lunch (catering at the WFI)
Seminar Meeting at the WFI “Diversity Management: a German and Arab
Perspective” (2)
Prof. Dr. Martina Stangel-Meseke; Prof. Dr. Nicolai Scherle; Arab guest
professors
Professors’ Dinner: Schanzer Rutschn
Come-together with the student
info: www.schanzer-rutschn.de
initiative ThinkSustainable
Prof. Dr. Gabriele Gien (President of info: www.denknachhaltig.de
Movie night and discussion: “The
the Catholic University EichstättEconomics of Happiness”
Ingolstadt) (tbc)
Prof. Dr. André Habisch (head of the
project “Practical Wisdom for
Sustainable Management”)
Dr. Michael Groos (Head of the
International Office KU)
Prof. Dr. Nicolai Scherle (Business
Information and Technology School)
Prof. Dr. Ezzeldeen Abotalb
(Professor Head of Accounting
Department, Al Azhar University)
Prof. Dr. Amr Mohamed (Professor
of Business Administration, Al Azhar
University)
Prof. Dr. Abdelhamid Hamidi Alaoui
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(Professor of Finance, Al Akhawayn
University)
Prof. Dr. Sa’ad Al-Sa’ad (Professor of
Travel and Tourism, Yarmouk
University)
Overnight Stay: Ingolstadt
Hotel zum Anker │ info: http://hotel-restaurant-anker.de/
Third Day
Morning
8.00 a.m.
12.00
2.00 p.m.
Afternoon / evening
Tuesday October 21, 2014
TOPIC OF THE DAY:
Interculturality and Diversity in Business Practice
Breakfast at the hotel
Seminar Meeting at the WFI: Best Case Example “Seissenschmidt Company” –
a First-Mover of Diversity Management
Thomas Winkler (consultant diversity management, Seissenschmidt);
Prof. Dr. Nicolai Scherle(Business Information and Technology School)
Lunch (catering at the WFI)
Departure to Munich (from the hotel in Ingolstadt)
 Guided tour: Old city Munich
 Free Time in Munich
Overnight stay: Munich
Hotel Herzog München │ info: www.hotel-herzog.de
Fourth Day
Morning
9.15 a.m.
10.00 a.m.
12.00
2.00 p.m.
Afternoon
6.00 p.m.
Wednesday October 22, 2014
TOPIC OF THE DAY:
Practical Wisdom and Entrepreneurial Responsibility: the German Chamber of
Commerce-System (part 1)
Practical Wisdom and Management Education: Student Initiatives and Selfdriven Learning (part 2)
Breakfast at the hotel
Departure from the hotel
Visit: German Chamber of Commerce, Munich
Dr. Eberhard Sasse, president of the IHK Munich
Dipl-Kfm. Frank Dollendorf, Managing Director International
Economic Affairs, IHK Munich
Mag. Gabriele Vetter, Head of Unit SOE, North America, Latin America, Middle
East, Africa Exportfinance, IHK Munich
Lunch (canteen of the IHK)
Departure to Tübingen
Arrival at Tübingen and check-in at the hotel
Meeting at the Global Ethic Institut: the “Student HUB” – a network for selfdirected and self-driven learning to make the world more social, more
sustainable, and more worth living
Prof. Dr. Claus Dierksmeier, director of the Global Ethic Institute (tbc)
Michael Wihlenda, Coordinator of the Student HUB
info: www.weltethos-institut.org/studenthub/
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Overnight stay: Tübingen
Hotel am Bad │ info: www.hotel-am-bad.de
Fifths Day
Morning
Afternoon
6.30 p.m.
Thursday October 23, 2014
TOPIC OF THE DAY:
Practical Wisdom, Sustainability and Responsibility – an Alternative
Perspective
Breakfast at the hotel
 Visit of the family-owned company Rittersport
Lunch
 Student guided tour: Tübingen
Exhibition opening “querhandeln” (German wordplay that combines thinking
and acting outside the box): How to make business more ethical? Experiencing
a cognitive, sensual and emotional approach
info: http://querhandeln.weltwanderausstellung.com/
Overnight stay: Tübingen
Hotel am Bad │ info: www.hotel-am-bad.de
Friday October 24, 2014
Sixth Day
Moring
8.45 a.m.
2.00 p.m.
5.00 p.m.
Evening
Departure Day
Morning
TOPIC OF THE DAY:
Practical Wisdom and Corporate Responsibility in Society
Breakfast at the hotel
Transfer to Munich
Visit of the company Knorr Bremse
Mr. Roland Becker, Chief Officer Logistics und Supply Chain Management
Sylvia Bytow-Weissheimer, Head of Knorr-Bremse Global Care e.V
Departure to Ingolstadt
Good-bye Dinner
Overnight stay: Ingolstadt
Hotel zum Anker │ info: http://hotel-restaurant-anker.de/
Saturday October 25, 2014
Breakfast at the hotel
Free time in Ingolstadt
Departure to the airport
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Appendix 2: Participants of the Excursion in Morocco
Name
Organization
Bekkouri, Saad
Al Akhawayn University Ifrane (AUI) / Morocco
Benbouia, Salma
Al Akhawayn University Ifrane (AUI) / Morocco
El Boukari, Inssaf
Al Akhawayn University Ifrane (AUI) / Morocco
Prof. Dr. Hamidi Alaoui, Abdelhamid
Al Akhawayn University Ifrane (AUI) / Morocco
Kabbaj, Meriem
Al Akhawayn University Ifrane (AUI) / Morocco
Mouzouni, Houyam
Al Akhawayn University Ifrane (AUI) / Morocco
Prof. Dr. Abotalb, Ezzeldeen Fikry Tohamy
Al Azhar University / Egypt
Abousatout, Ahmed Fawzy Fammy Hassan
Al Azhar University / Egypt
Alawady, Mohammad Hamdy Ibrahem Hassan
Al Azhar University / Egypt
Prof. Dr. Mohamed, Amr Abouelyamin Abdelghany
Al Azhar University / Egypt
Al Amoush, Bilal Mohammad Tafesh
Yarmouk University / Jordan
Prof. Dr. Al-Sa’ad, Sa’ad Ahmed Breithe’
Yarmouk University / Jordan
Al-Shamaileh, Heba Mazen Raji
Yarmouk University / Jordan
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Project Report: Seminar in Ingolstadt WS 2014/15
Diversity Management: a German and Arab Perspective
Edited by:
Date:
Claudius Bachmann
1st session: 13-10-2014 │ 2nd session: 20 & 21-10-2014 │3rd session: 03-11-2014 │4th
session: 01 & 02-12-2014
Content and Learning Targets of the Seminar
The seminar held within the framework of our international research project Practical Wisdom for
Sustainable Management (www.ku.de/wwf/segp/projekte)
is entitled “Diversity management: a German and Arab
perspective”. We have chosen this integrative and rather
broad title in order to establish a multi-faceted perspective
including insights into challenges and opportunities of an
intercultural and diverse work environment. Moreover, we
intend to provide a better understanding of the concept of
diversity management from both the theoretical and
practical point of view. On the one hand, it will offer a
theoretical approach to different concepts and models of diversity management and practical wisdom
including their strategic relevance for organizations. On the other hand, it will give a practical approach
of workplace diversity through case studies and real life examples with special German-Arab focus. This
way, the students will gain a better understanding of their own cultural perspective and identity in
order to be prepared to tackle diversity issues in their future career.
Structure of the Seminar
The scope of the seminar embraces theoretical approaches as well as practical examples and provides a
German as well as an Arab perspective on the issue of diversity
and diversity management. Therefore, we have successfully won
over some of our top-class project partners to be part of the
seminar and to support us as guest lecturers. Moreover, we were
able to establish a joint seminar session with students from Egypt,
Morocco, and Jordan in order to not only to discuss but also to
experience diversity personally.
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The whole seminar is structured into the following four sessions:
1st session: 13-10-2014 │ 13.00-17.00
TOPIC OF THE SESSION: Practical Wisdom and Diversity in Business – Introducing the Topic
Lectures: Prof. Dr. André Habisch | Claudius Bachmann
2nd session: 20 & 21-10-2014
Note: This session will be joined by students from Morocco, Egypt, and Jordan and their supervisors.
20-10-2014 │ 9.00-17.00
TOPIC OF THE SESSION: Experiencing the multifaceted dimensions of workplace diversity
Guests: Prof. Dr. Martina Stangel-Meseke (member of the expert commission of the Federal
Government for the report on equality; Business Information and Technology School) | Prof. Dr. Nicolai
Scherle (Business Information and Technology School)
21-10-2014 │ 8.00-12.00
TOPIC OF THE SESSION: Best Case Example the “Seissenschmidt Company” – a First-Mover of Diversity
Management in Germany
Guests: Thomas Winkler (consultant diversity management, Seissenschmidt) | Prof. Dr. Nicolai Scherle
(Business Information and Technology School)
3rd session: 03-11-2014 │ 13.00-17.00
TOPIC OF THE SESSION: Empirical Evidence: Diversity and the case of the “Lufthansa” company
Guests: Philipp Rosenbaum | Prof. Dr. Nicolai Scherle (Business Information and Technology School)
4th “Arab“ session: 01-12-2014 | 13.00-17.00 & 02-12-2014 | 9.00-17.00
Note: This session will be held by guest professors from our Arab partner universities
TOPIC OF THE SESSION: Understanding and experiencing workplace diversity from an Arab perspective –
lectures, cases, and exercises
Guests: Prof. Dr. Soumaya Ben Letaifa (Mediterranean Business School, Tunisia) | Prof. Dr.
Abderrahman Hassi (Al Akhawayn University, Morocco)
Appendix 1: Arab Guest Lecturers
Name
Organization
Prof. Dr. Ben Letaifa, Soumaya
Mediterranean School of Business – Tunis
Prof. Hassi, Abdelrahmane
Al Akhawayn University Ifrane (AUI) / Morocco
Appendix 2: Arab Guest Lecturers
Name
Organization
Prof. Dr. Scherle, Nicolai
Business and Information Technology School
Prof. Dr. Stangel-Meseke, Martina
Business and Information Technology School
Winkler, Thomas
Consultant Diversity Management, Seissenschmidt
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Appendix 3: Student Participants WFI
Name
Manuela Witty
Claudia Koch
Max Scheuermann
Ramona Ruß
Julia Hagel
Christina Werner
Belinda Bauer
Julia-Adela Mircea
Anamaria Memetea
Wendy Trabold
Lara Lauffer
Lisa Brücher
Christa Hillenbrand
Lisa Freitag
Xinshi Chen
Ren Peng
Ustym Tomashek
Appendix 4: Detailed Program of the Arab session and the project meeting
Sunday, November 30,2014
Arrival Day
Arrival at Munich Airport
Transfer to Ingolstadt
Overnight Stay: Ingolstadt
Altstadthotel Ingolstadt │ info: http://www.altstadthotel-ingolstadt.de/EN/
Monday, December 1, 2014
First Day
Morning
Breakfast at the hotel
9.30 a.m.
Project Meeting
Review of the project year 2014
Ideas, planning, dates etc. for the project year 2015
 Presentation: The planned research cluster at the WFI “Performing
Practical Wisdom”
Soumaya Ben Letaifa (Mediterranean Business School); Abderrahman Hassi
(Akhawayn University); Saad Al-Saad (tbc) (Yarmouk University) André
Habisch (Catholic University Eichstätt-Ingolstadt); Martina Stangel-Meseke
(tbc) (Business Information and Technology School); Nicolai Scherle (Business
Information and Technology School); Claudius Bachmann (Catholic University
Eichstätt-Ingolstadt)


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12.00
Lunch
1.00 p.m. – 5.00 p.m.
Seminar Meeting at the WFI “Diversity Management: a German and Arab
Perspective” (1)
TOPIC: EXPERIENCING THE MULTIFACETED DIMENSIONS OF WORKPLACE DIVERSITY
Main lecturer: Martina Stangel-Meseke and Nicolai Scherle (Business
Information and Technology School) (tbc)
TOPIC: DIVERSITY AND TOURISM – A JORDANIAN PERSPECTIVE
Main lecturer: Saad Al-Saad (tbc) (Yarmouk University)
6.30 p.m.
8.00 p.m.
Dinner
Cultural Exchange Program
Overnight Stay: Ingolstadt
Altstadthotel Ingolstadt │ info: http://www.altstadthotel-ingolstadt.de/EN/
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Second Day
Morning
Breakfast at the hotel
9.00 a.m. – 12.00 a.m.
Seminar Meeting at the WFI: “Diversity Management: a German and Arab
Perspective” (2)
TOPIC: DIVERSITY FROM A MIDDLE EASTERN AND MOROCCAN PERSPECTIVE – AN CASESTUDY APPROACH
Main lecturer: Abderrahman Hassi (Akhawayn University)
12.00
Lunch
2.00 p.m. – 5.00 p.m.
Seminar Meeting at the WFI: “Diversity Management: a German and Arab
Perspective” (3)
Main lecturer: Soumaya Ben Letaifa (Mediterranean Business School)
6.30 p.m.
TOPIC: FINAL DISCUSSION
Main lecturer: André Habisch (Catholic University Eichstätt-Ingolstadt)
Dinner
Overnight Stay: Ingolstadt
Altstadthotel Ingolstadt │ info: http://www.altstadthotel-ingolstadt.de/EN/
Departure Day
Morning
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Breakfast at the hotel
Departure to the airport
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Thanks
We would like to express our most sincere thanks to all our cooperation partners, supporters,
participants, and friends without whom this wonderful project year 2014 would not have been possible.
We are very much looking forward to future activities, projects, and most enriching personal
encounters!
http://www.ku.de/wwf/segp/projekte