About KLU

The ongoing progress in information and communication technologies has changed and will continue to change the way in which individuals, societies, organizations and businesses communicate, collaborate, operate, and make decisions. Rarely has any technological development ever had a comparable impact. Successful management becomes increasingly dependent on the capability of exploiting the potentials of this digital transformation.

Big data and remote monitoring enables companies to analyze internal processes and external markets in order to obtain a thorough understanding of the business environment and their own activities. Processes can be automated and managed in a decentralized way, where smart objects communicate with their environment and independently and collaboratively make decisions. Products and sales channels can be digitalized, providing faster services and extended choices for the customers. Automated production facilities can fundamentally change the flow of goods in supply chains, replacing transportation of parts and components by raw material flows required for 3D-printing. Decisions, which traditionally had to be made by a human decision maker, can be supported and, in many cases even replaced, by algorithmic approaches exploring the vast amount of data and evaluating myriads of alternative options.

With its study programs and research, the KLU's mission in the field of digital transformation is to prepare future business leaders who understand and master the digital revolution. Our students are capable of managing information as a key factor in and across organizations and of using information systems for effective and efficient decision making.

Through top-quality research and teaching in the fields of logistics and management, we expand the boundaries of knowledge and generate insights that not only advance theory but also help companies taking the lead in the digital revolution for competitive advantage.

Increased competition in mature markets and growing pressure through new entrants from emerging economies has led to an ever stronger relevance of shareholder value. To address this issue, a first wave of managerial concepts focused on bottom-line measures, i.e. programs aiming at higher efficiency, reducing failure rates, or cutting costs.

However, currently a new approach to foster shareholder value gains traction - the focus on value creation. The key idea is to leverage hidden potentials and stimulate creative solutions to develop new sources of value for a firm and, thus, shifting the focus from the bottom line to the top line. Sources for such hidden potentials can be found within all elements of the corporate framework: Employees, who can be qualified to better serve stakeholder requirements; customers, who can be motivated to spread word-of-mouth and to act as co-innovators; managers, who learn to create sustained team motivation beyond mere financial incentives. Customer-centric processes in logistics and SCM increase the value of provided services, while the better utilization of intangibles such as brands enables higher margins.

With its study programs and research, the KLU's mission in the field of value creation is to prepare future business leaders to evolve beyond a defensive mindset of maintaining market shares and saving costs. Through new methods, our students are encouraged to develop their creative thinking and learn how to devise innovative products and processes that break new ground and provide future growth potentials. They are capable to take their global teams along when venturing into new markets or segments.

Through top-quality research and teaching in the fields of logistics and management, we not only establish new approaches to value creation, but also develop new methods to measure and manage such values and, thus, provide crucial help for companies in need to answer the calls for value creation from internal decision-makers as well as outside investors.

Sustainability has emerged as a central issue in today's business world. Environmental issues such as global warming, increasing waste and pollution, depleting natural resources combined with societal issues such as health, safety, equality, fairness and development put an unprecedented pressure on companies to realign their businesses while remaining profitable and competitive.

Governments around the globe take measures to shift from the traditional linear economic model based on a 'take-make-consume-throw away' pattern, to a more circular and sustainable economic model based on sharing, leasing, reuse, repair, refurbishment, and recycling, in a closed loop, where products and materials they contain are highly valued. Similarly, global warming is changing the way governments and businesses need to think about carbon emissions regarding transportation, logistics and supply chain operations. Fostering a "green image" opens new markets for many businesses while optimizing reverse logistics yields significant cost reductions. On the societal level, increased awareness about socially responsible development pushes companies and governments to design operations and supply chains by taking into consideration more direct social impacts, such as on employment, on development of local communities as well as through humanitarian and disaster relief operations. As such, a solid understanding of the sustainability discourse along the tripe bottom line (financial, social, ecological) is a fundamental prerequisite for dealing with the modern issues surrounding businesses and the stakeholders' call for a better sustainability measurement and reporting.

With its study programs and research, the KLU's mission in the field of sustainability is to prepare future business leaders who understand the impact of business on environment and society, and propel sustainable change. Our students comprehend sustainability by its three integral components of profit, environment, and society, and with an emphasis on supply chain management and logistics.

Through top-quality research and teaching in the fields of logistics and management, we expand the boundaries of knowledge and generate insights that not only advance theory but also help companies understand and adopt value-creating sustainable practices.