DCHI Academy on Knowledge Exchange with Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM)

Date: 1 June 14:30 – 17:00 (CEST)

Streamed from The Erasmus Innovation and Education Studio

Cross-learning between commercial and humanitarian organisations: Opportunities and risks

14:30 hr. Opening Address by Dr Harwin de Vries, Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University 

Business schools have developed expertise on many problems and functions that have a counterpart in the humanitarian sector. It would be arrogant to claim that this expertise is directly transferable and that business schools “have all the answers”. But perhaps we should also not throw the baby out with the bathwater and explore the opportunities and boundaries. Can insights from (operations) strategy on outsourcing and (de)centralization inform the debate on localization? Can innovation methods developed in the commercial sector be applied to the humanitarian sector? Can commercial supply chain optimization models be used to redesign humanitarian supply chains? This talk aims to explore the opportunities and risks.

Panel discussion

Field experiences on knowledge exchange

15:00 hr. Introduction by Prof Lucas Meijs, Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University.

Panelists: Astrid Coelman (Achmea Foundation), Michel Becks (The Netherlands Red Cross), Julio Garcia Martz (ZOA) and Prof Rob van Tulder (RSM)

Moderator: Dr Harwin de Vries (RSM)

One barrier for knowledge transfer is that there is insufficient awareness or understanding of the nature of the NGO/ NPO and its context, culture, purpose, objective, interest, role, responsibility, business model or ambition. For example, there could be limited understanding of the different roles NGOs/ NPOs play, including service delivery, campaigning, and mutual support. Successful innovation with and knowledge transfer to an NGO/ NPO requires thorough understanding of these and many other matters. This panel aims to discuss them based on concrete field experience.

Private Public Partnerships: How do knowlegde management and business model innovation drive humanitarian innovation?

15:40 hr. Keynote by Prof Rob van Tulder, Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University 

Humanitarian innovation often requires cross-sector partnerships. Such partnerships can be complex and demanding and require adequate management. Business schools have studied partnerships for decades and developed much knowledge about what makes a partnership successful, sustainable, and inclusive, what the risks are, how they need to be set up and managed, and how knowledge and tools such as the PPP canvas – which extends a commonly used canvas for business model innovation – can be of help. This talk draws upon over ten years of expertise on these matters gained by RSM’s Partnership Resource Centre, a research center aiming to enhance effective collaboration between business, civil society organizations and government.

Humanitarian Innovation Course Assignment

16:00 hr. During this DCHI Academy event we will tap into one of the assignments and case study from the DCHI Humanitarian Innovation Course presented by two DCHI Academy Innovation Course alumni Florian Stark and Raphael Dias e Silva  

In this assignment, we will work in breakout rooms to concretize and apply what has been conveyed in the keynotes and panel discussion. We do so by performing an assignment from the DCHI Humanitarian Innovation Course, presented by two of its alumni. The course aims to teach the basics of open innovation and design thinking and draws upon inputs from humanitarian professionals, innovation experts and qualified academics (a.o. from RSM). The assignment tasks participants to fill out a partnership canvas that could help humanitarian organizations set up sustainable and functioning energy markets for refugees and host community members, whilst guaranteeing that these markets are accessible to all client segments. Ultimately, the energy products available to the communities should be diversified, sustainable and affordable. Participants will also discuss the needs, risks and opportunities for cross-sectoral collaboration and knowledge transfer in this context.

This edition of the DCHI Academy on Thought Leadership is powered by RSM faculty and featuring highlights of the DCHI Humanitarian Innovation Course. Jointly we aim to open up the conversation from all sectors, and explore how we can start sharing insights and knowledge with each other. These keynote speakers, panellists and moderators will help you explore some of the fundamental differences between the NGO, NPO and commercial sectors, but more importantly how we can exchange knowledge and how do Academics and Universities enable us to learn from each other. 

Speakers Confirmed

These keynote speakers, panellists and moderators will help you explore some of the fundamental differences between the NGO, NPO and commercial sectors, but more importantly how we can exchange knowledge and how do Academics and Universities enable us to learn from each other.