The Professionalization of Humanitarian Organizations ― The Art of Balancing Multiple Stakeholder Interests at the Icrc

This book offers deep insights into the functioning of humanitarian organizations (HOs) from a managerial perspective. Presenting an in-depth case study on the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), it demonstrates how HOs can professionalize the management of their operations by adapting the institutional logic of private corporations and applying their tools and frameworks in the context of a non-profit-organization. The authors discuss the advantages of effective stakeholder and change management for HOs, as well as the tensions caused by conflicting institutional logics and ethical conflicts that arise as a result of a violation of the principles of an HO. The book appeals to anyone interested in managing non-governmental organizations more effectively.

Gunter Muller-Stewens is a Professor Emeritus at the University of St. Gallen (HSG) Institute of Management. His main research interest is the field of strategic management. He has authored multiple books and articles in prestigious academic and practitioner-oriented journals. He has acted as the Dean of the Business School at the University of St. Gallen and served as the Academic Director of several Master Programs. He is a member of several editorial boards and the advisory boards of several firms, and is a consultant to and trainer at a number of international companies. He has also been an invited speaker at numerous conferences and meetings.

Tami Dinh is a Professor at the University of St.Gallen (HSG) Institute of Accounting, Control and Auditing. Before that, she worked as a lecturer (Assistant Professor) at the School of Accounting at UNSW Sydney, Australia, for several years. Both her research activities and teaching approach benefit from her strong ties with academics around the world. In her research she focuses on international accounting and financial accounting. She regularly presents her work at international conferences as well as invited research seminars, and she has published in leading international academic and practitioner-oriented journals.

 

Bettina Hartmann is a PhD candidate at the University of St. Gallen with a focus on Stakeholder Management, Strategy and Distributive Justice. She has an M.A. in Strategy and International Management (M.A. HSG) and a B.A in Business Administration from the University of St. Gallen. While pursuing her doctoral degree, Bettina has also been working at the Executive School of Management, Technology and Law at the University of St.Gallen (ES-HSG) since 2011. In her role as Head of the Dean's Office, she manages various operations including Finance, Marketing, HR and IT at the ES-HSG.

Martin Eppler is a Professor of Communications Management at the institute for Media and Communications Management at the University of St. Gallen. Previously he has been a guest professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta (USA), at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver (Canada), at the Central University of Finance and Economics in Beijing (China), at Aalto University in Helsinki (Finland), and at Cambridge University (UK). He has authored 17 books and more than 200 academic articles. He is the academic director of St.Gallen’s ISP MBA program. In his research, he explores the connections among knowledge-intensive processes, communication and information technology.

 

Fabienne Bunzli is a PhD candidate at the University of St. Gallen. Her focus lies in the field of strategic communication, campaigning, and stakeholder management. She holds a master’s degree in Media Studies and Communication Science at the University of Zurich. Her professional background encompasses several years experience, among others, as a project manager in a communication agency. In this function, Fabienne Bunzli was responsible for political campaigning, public relations and event management.