A month has passed since the EBEN Conference Research 2024, and the ideas exchanged during the event continue to resonate. Held on 10 and 11 October in Lugano, Switzerland, the conference brought together scholars, practicioners, and thought leaders to explore and expand the concept of organisation in the current context of polycrisis.
After the institutional greetings and opening by EBEN President Jacob Dahl Rendtorff, SUPSI DEASS Director Luca Crivelli, and SBEN President Ivan Ureta, the conference was launched with Prof. Edward R. Freeman keynote speech on how to solve the Polycrisis in Business, Business Theory, and Business Schools. Prof. Freeman conveyed a very powerful message: “The best way of criticising something is by creating something better”. The concept of creativity, meant as ability to find new solutions to deal with uncertainty, complexity and multifaceted issues, appears to be vital for organisations today and in the future.
In the parallel sessions, the conference topic was discussed and analysed from many angles, with many valuable contributions: from CSR to accountability, from social impact to specific workplaces’ characteristics, not forgetting poverty alleviation, technology progress, and leadership.
During the rountable, panelists from both business and university exchanged their view on the topic of who should be responsible to promote business ethics in times of polycrisis, and with which implications. Thanks to Edward R. Freeman, professor at Darden School of Business, Luca Previtali, Head of Technology, Data and Innovation at Banca dello Stato del Canton Ticino and Jacob D. Rendtorff, EBEN President, for their valuable contribution to the discussion.
Finally, the conference workshop, coordinated by EBEN President, actively dived into the concept of polycrisis and moral blindness.
The informal moments also played an important role. Conversations over coffee breaks, shared meals, and evening networking provided opportunities to engage on a more personal level. We hope that these interactions have fostered connections beyond professional collaboration, enriching the community dedicated to advancing ethical business practices.
