Prof. Dr. Patrick Ulrich, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Management and Business Sciences at Aalen University of Applied Sciences, has been awarded this year's sustainability prize in the research category of the University of Bamberg. The award recognizes his outstanding contribution to research into family businesses and their sustainable strategies.
Staying in the market in the future
We've been around for five generations - that's sustainability." Prof. Dr. Patrick Ulrich often hears statements like this or similar ones when he is in conversation with representatives, standing in for someone else, of medium-sized - and in particular family-run - companies. But longevity alone is no guarantee of remaining in the market in the future. The further development of technologies, changing customer expectations, legal requirements and resource management pose major challenges for SMEs. Prof. Dr. Patrick Ulrich has been employing SMEs and family businesses and how these companies can make their business models sustainable for more than 15 years.
More sustainable than commonly assumed
"Family values and traditions play a major role in transformation processes and sustainability strategies," says Ulrich, adding: "Many things are very good, but they are not raised in a structured way, so companies are often not even aware of what they are already doing in the field (of) sustainability." The economist cites the topic of water reduction as an example. "Many companies save water in order to reduce their costs and not as an end in itself so that they have a nice brochure afterwards." Many family businesses also have a higher proportion of women and more family-friendly conditions, but do not emphasize this. "They often tend to be more noticeable and celebrate their successes less publicly," says Ulrich. Better documentation of their implicit corporate knowledge would be very good, be it in the recruitment of junior staff, the onboarding of new staff or marketing measures. "The saying 'Do good and speak about it' has lost none of its validity," says Ulrich and laughs. His research has shown that medium-sized and family-run companies are much more sustainable than is generally assumed. The 42-year-old is delighted that he has now been awarded this year's Sustainability Prize by the University of Bamberg, where he also teaches as an associate professor in the Chair of Business Administration, especially Controlling: "The award is not only a recognition of my work, but also a sign of the importance of sustainability in Strategic Management."
Aalen Department, Institute for Strategic Management (AAUF) co-founded
Since 2016, the economist has been conducting research and teaching at Aalen University of Applied Sciences on topics including organization and leadership, corporate management, Corporate Strategy and Sustainability. He also established the Aalen Department, Institute for Strategic Management (AAUF) together with Professor Dr. Ingo Scheuermann. Ulrich studied in Hagen, Bamberg and Seville, then did a doctorate on management systems in SMEs and family businesses and completed his habilitation on management accounting in family businesses. "I have always found the diversity and scope of decisions in companies exciting. My research takes me to the interface of business administration, law, jurisprudence, ethics and psychology," explains the father of two. In 2021, he was also awarded the Aalen University of Applied Sciences Research Prize for his outstanding commitment.
Advancing business processes
In addition to his research work, Ulrich has also helped to establish the masters/master's programme Business Sustainability and Leadership. This degree programme aims to equip future managers with the necessary skills to successfully implement sustainable Corporate Strategies and master the challenges of modern economy, business. "I am delighted to be able to incorporate my research findings into the vocational training of our students - and thereby help to advance both our society and processes in companies."
