Navigating Responsibility and Digital Transformation - Scientific symposium

Meet us. Meet Excellence. Meet Future: Navigating Responsibility and Digital Transformation

On November 28, 2024, the Faculty of Business Administration at LMU Munich celebrated its 50th anniversary with a special symposium titled “Meet us. Meet Excellence. Meet Future: Navigating Responsibility and Digital Transformation.” Held in the magnificent Great Aula of the main building, the event brought together renowned scholars, alumni, and guests to honor the past and shape the future of the faculty.

The symposium began with a ceremonial welcome address by LMU Vice President Prof. Dr. Hans van Ess, who skillfully connected personal milestones from his past with the history of the faculty. His vivid storytelling honored the faculty's achievements while emphasizing LMU’s role as a pioneer in addressing future challenges alongside the LMU Munich School of Management.

Dean Prof. Dr. Christian Hofmann provided a deeper look into the faculty’s history, reflecting on its evolution over time. He received particular applause for honoring the “Golden Doctorates” of alumni who earned their doctorates 50 years ago, highlighting their enduring impact on the faculty's legacy. He then introduced the afternoon program, which showcased the breadth and depth of the faculty’s academic excellence through its five clusters. Leading scholars shared their insights on groundbreaking topics, with each presentation introduced by professors from the respective clusters who shared highlights from their current research.

The academic sessions featured a distinguished lineup of speakers:

• Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Alfred Wagenhofer (University of Graz) opened with his lecture, “Accounting for Sustainability,” exploring how sustainability can be integrated into corporate reporting—an indispensable topic in an era of global responsibility.
• Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Josef Zechner (Vienna University of Economics and Business) analyzed the impact of political preferences on financial markets in his talk, “Political Preferences and Financial Markets.”
• Prof. Dr. Karin Hoisl (University of Mannheim) addressed “Women in Artificial Intelligence,” highlighting the critical role of women in AI research and their significance for innovation.
• Prof. Dr. Sascha Raithel (Free University of Berlin) tackled the timely topic of corporate crisis management in his presentation, “Balancing Act? Navigating Effective Product Recall Management Amid Customer Safety Concerns.”
• The symposium concluded with Prof. Dr. Christine Legner (University of Lausanne), who explored the transformation of data management in organizations in her lecture, “The Changing Role of Data in Organizations.”

The symposium was a resounding success, providing a platform to connect tradition, innovation, and the challenges of digital transformation. The LMU Munich School of Management reaffirmed its commitment to forward-looking scholarship and societal responsibility. Additionally, the event fostered meaningful interactions during the coffee break and the closing reception featuring drinks and finger food. Participants formed new connections, engaged in lively discussions, and exchanged ideas. The festive atmosphere offered the perfect setting to reflect on the day’s themes, celebrate the anniversary, and strengthen professional networks.

Special Thanks

This symposium would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of many individuals. Special thanks go to the Management Alumni team, whose dedication and professionalism ensured flawless organization, and to the numerous internal contributors, including the Dean’s Office, the Communications Team, the Dean’s Assistants, the FIT team, and those who supported the preparations, setup, and operations on the day. Their commitment made this event a truly unforgettable experience.

With this symposium, the LMU Munich School of Management marked a significant milestone in its history—a day that not only celebrated the past 50 years but also looked ahead to the future: focusing on responsibility, innovation, and the advancement of science.

Further Information

The anniversary brochure offers a comprehensive overview of the faculty's offerings and a glimpse into its history. Available as download (PDF, 7,713 KB) or in print from the Dean’s Office.

Our program

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Accounting for Sustainability

"The new mandatory sustainability reporting in the EU entails a huge amount of ESG data. And it creates challenges and opportunities for firms.

I will discuss its effectiveness from a regulatory and accounting perspective."

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Political Preferences and Financial Markets

"Financial markets are becoming increasingly political: companies are taking a stand on political and social issues, while households and the asset management industry are incorporating their political beliefs into their investment decisions.

To what extent are these trends leading to polarization within the corporate sector, and what impact are they having on ownership and portfolio structures and on the prices of securities?"

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Women in Artificial Intelligence

"The presentation addresses the critical gender gap in artificial intelligence, where women make up only 22% of global AI talent and only 14% at senior levels. This gap not only limits innovation, but also leads to biased algorithms that disproportionately affect women.

The presentation will explore key supply-side factors contributing to this gap, including trust in and acceptance of AI, while offering actionable recommendations to foster greater gender diversity in the field."

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Balancing Act? Navigating Effective Product Recall Management Amid Customer Safety Concerns

"Due to thousands of product recall announcements, billions of products are recalled annually, but only a small percentage of consumers participate in these recalls. This low recall effectiveness rate creates various challenges for companies, including legal risks and pressure from regulators and the public.

The research presentation aims to explore how companies can improve recall effectiveness and how it impacts business performance."

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The Changing Role of Data in Organizations

“Data has developed from a 'by-product' to a strategic corporate resource. However, there is still a lot of catching up to do in science and in practice when it comes to developing professional and systematic methods for effective data management.
No artificial intelligence without data! Although this realization is now widespread, many companies underestimate the need for professional data management or are still at the very beginning.”