BGA | BUSINESS IMPACT
SUSTAINABLE WATER TRAVEL
WIDENS ACCESSIBILITY COUNTRY: Germany SCHOOL: Gisma Business School
The use of environmentally friendly ferries would widen accessibility and diversify commuters’ options in Berlin and Potsdam, according to the results of a new student project led by Gisma Business School. However, journey-time savings for water travel remain a challenge. The project has been looking specifically at linking Berlin’s southwestern suburb of Wannsee with Jungfernsee in Potsdam by solar-powered ferry. As well as being home to Gisma’s Potsdam campus, Jungfernsee is also the location of a global innovation centre belonging to German software multinational SAP. As such, a key element of the project is how public transport can better serve an increased volume of people requiring access to the Jungfernsee area. “The first study [in the project] has shown that the accessibility of the Jungfernsee campus could be improved and diversified through the establishment of new passenger ferry connections,” said Peter Konhäusner, who is heading up the project for Gisma and is professor for digital entrepreneurship at the school. A prototype of the ferry has already been developed. This allows up to 35 passengers to travel across the route in just 10 minutes – faster than existing public transportation routes. Yet, competing with car travel on journey time remains a challenge. “The study also comes to the conclusion that many of the conceivable low-speed ferry connections will, in all probability, not be associated with significant travel time savings,” added Konhäusner. The recommendation is that the project’s first study is extended. The project, launched in October 2022, is a collaboration between Gisma, SRH Berlin University of Applied Sciences and real estate company Engel & Völkers. It has therefore allowed students from both Gisma and SRH Berlin to come together and work in groups on the project’s goals, as well as to network. TBD
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADVANCING EQUALITY COUNTRY: Finland SCHOOL: Hanken School of Economics Better recruitment processes are one of a number of recommendations for boosting the number of women on boards made in new research from Hanken School of Economics assistant professor Emilia Vähämaa, together with professor Kim Ittonen and assistant professor Jesper Haga. The research argues for the implementation of new systematic recruitment processes that define the kind of skills that are needed by the candidate and the way these skills are evaluated. The metals and forest industries, Vähämaa explained, are examples of “male-dominated industries where the majority of those in management are men. It has proven difficult to create more equality with only self-regulation and own choices.” Self-regulation is set to end by 2026 when a new EU directive of having women represent at least one third of all listed board members comes into effect. While quotas can often be a divisive subject, the researchers believe Finland should implement this quota sooner. “No one thinks that quotas are optimal, but many see it as necessary to achieve change,” Vähämaa said. Barriers to equality identified in the report include women being more risk averse and more critical of their skills, as well as having greater responsibility at home. It also suggested that women may lack motivation to go into careers that are known to pay men more than women for the same job. As is frequently the case, mentoring is put forward by the report as a good way to support career planning. In addition, it underlines the value of female professionals actively promoting their knowledge. While there is still a long way to go, Vähämaa remains optimistic about the progress made towards gender equality: “Attitudes and values in society mean that companies have increasingly begun to pay attention to the role of women in management. Companies are more aware of all the benefits that diversity creates.” EB
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