Vlerick Knowledge
  • Exercising control over supplier performance

    Exercising control over supplier performance

    The belief that firms can be more efficient and effective when they concentrate on core activities and let specialist service providers take care of the rest has made outsourcing the provision of services a rapidly rising trend: from 2001 to 2009, the worldwide services outsourcing market grew from $65 billion to $110 billion, and it is forecasted to reach $130 billion by 2013. With this increasing reliance on third-party services, what can companies do to ensure that they receive high quality?

    By
    Kristof Stouthuysen,
    Filip Roodhooft

    Posted on Monday, May 14, 2012

  • Stimulating learning in the organisation

    Stimulating learning in the organisation

    This article is based on findings from research conducted by Vlerick within the context of an ESF (European Social Funds) project. Authors Fauve Delcour, Kim Bellens, Tina Davidson and Prof Katleen De Stobbeleir explain why ‘servant leadership’ and challenging goals are important for creating a positive learning climate.

    By
    Fauve Delcour,
    Tina Davidson,
    Katleen De Stobbeleir

    Posted on Monday, May 07, 2012

  • The Big Picture: Piecing together the puzzle of customer information can uncover a goldmine

    The Big Picture: Piecing together the puzzle of customer information can uncover a goldmine

    Companies prepared to gather multiple fragments of information about those who use their products and services in a bid to identify hidden patterns can add value for customers – and build an unrivalled market position.

    By
    Marion Debruyne,
    Livia Pijakova,
    Niraj Dawar

    Posted on Monday, April 23, 2012

  • Investments in personalised medicine reduce healthcare costs dramatically

    Investments in personalised medicine reduce healthcare costs dramatically

    Investments in better ICT and diagnostic technologies that make highly personalised healthcare possible really do pay off. Not only do patients benefit, but there are economic gains too. Particularly for breast cancer and cardiovascular disease – two of the most common health conditions today – the long-term costs can be dramatically reduced by better screening of patients and easier access to treatment and medication. This opens the door for new and innovative initiatives from the business world. These are the findings of recent research by Professor Walter Van Dyck at Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School in conjunction with Science|Business.

    By
    Walter Van Dyck

    Posted on Tuesday, April 17, 2012

  • B2B Brand Architecture: Building and sustaining customer trust

    B2B Brand Architecture: Building and sustaining customer trust

    The importance of branding and brand architecture is well established in business-to-consumer (B2C) settings. But in business-to-business (B2B) settings, managers tend to believe that personal selling is the key, and brand building tends to be overlooked. However, authors Steve Muylle, Niraj Dawar and Deva Rangarajan argue that B2B branding and personal selling should be seen as complements, rather than as an either/or choice.

    By
    Steve Muylle,
    Deva Rangarajan,
    Niraj Dawar

    Posted on Monday, April 16, 2012

  • Innovation in the Elderly Care Sector - At the Edge of Chaos

    Innovation in the Elderly Care Sector - At the Edge of Chaos

    Ageing populations are increasingly confronting the elderly care provision systems in Western countries with a number of challenges, including increasing and changing needs, personnel shortages and financial challenges. This calls for new policy strategies and rethought and restructured organisations and institutions.

    By
    Katrien Verleye,
    Paul Gemmel

    Posted on Tuesday, April 10, 2012

  • Transforming finance in an ICT organisation

    Transforming finance in an ICT organisation

    To prepare to meet greater competition resulting from the liberalisation and privatisation of Europe’s railway system, ICTRA’s Finance Department of the Belgian Railways Group undertook a process of transformation in collaboration with Deloitte Consulting Belgium. The case study that has now been published in collaboration with Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School outlines the transformation project and can inspire other ICT organisations seeking similar results.

    By
    Stijn Viaene,
    Luc Lutin

    Posted on Thursday, April 05, 2012

  • Developing employee competencies: A study of the employee’s perspective

    Developing employee competencies: A study of the employee’s perspective

    Competency development is a crucial driving force for increasing employee effectiveness and employability. Therefore, organisations are taking a number of initiatives to stimulate competency development. But are these initiatives penetrating all the way down to the work floor?

    By
    Ine Willemse,
    Sara De Hauw

    Posted on Monday, April 02, 2012

  • Innovation keeps Flanders’ Logistics on Track

    Innovation keeps Flanders’ Logistics on Track

    Innovation leads to growth. That is what 5 success stories in the logistics sector clearly demonstrate. Flanders will still be an attractive focal-point for logistics activities tomorrow. Certainly if we convert weaknesses into opportunities.

    By
    Robert Boute,
    Rein Robberecht,
    Ann Vereecke

    Posted on Tuesday, March 27, 2012

  • Positive learning climate - an essential condition for creativity

    Positive learning climate - an essential condition for creativity

    Creativity converted into innovation can give an enormous boost to an organisation’s competitiveness and durability. But before launching the variety of tools available today for generating new ideas in the workplace, a solid foundation needs to be laid for nurturing creativity. Research conducted by Vlerick’s Fauve Delcour, Kim Bellens, Tina Davidson and Prof. Dr. Katleen De Stobbeleir shows that the creation of a positive learning climate provides this vital foundation.

    By
    Katleen De Stobbeleir,
    Fauve Delcour,
    Tina Davidson

    Posted on Friday, March 16, 2012

Introduction

Vlerick Knowledge

As an academic business school, we want to support the business community. And what better way is there than sharing our research expertise in multiple management domains with you? On this platform we offer you publications, articles, opinions and books of our very own faculty & researchers! You can read, watch videos and listen to podcasts. More importantly you can reply, ask questions and comment. Let’s start the discussion!