VHB WK ORG 2025: Organization and Democracy – Contributions from Kapteina & Burkatzki

The 49th Annual Conference of the Scientific Commission for Organization (WK ORG) in the German Association for Business Research (VHB) took place this year from March 12 to 14, 2025, at Witten/Herdecke University, offering an outstanding forum for interdisciplinary exchange between academia, practice, and politics. The central theme, "Organization and Democracy," was explored from various perspectives and generated great interest.

Key contributions came from Dr. Benedikt Kapteina and PD Dr. Eckhard Burkatzki from the Chair of Business Administration, particularly Responsible Management, at IHI. In their contributions to the democratic responsibility of organizations, they provided valuable insights and emphasized the central importance of Corporate Citizenship. They highlighted how companies, through ethical practices and active promotion of democratic values, can have a positive impact on society. Their discussions on the intersections of responsibility, organization, and democracy encouraged deeper engagement with the role of organizations in the societal context.

The panel discussion "Organization and Democracy: Science, Politics, and Practice in Dialogue" also brought new perspectives. Prof. Dr. Ali Aslan Gümüşay, Jan Matzoll MdL, Prof. Manuela Rousseau, Dr. Simone Schiller-Merkens, and Prof. Dr. Peter Walgenbach intensively discussed the responsibility of organizations for democracy. They explored how organizations can actively contribute to the democratic shaping of society and the role they play in promoting democratic values.

Another highlight of the conference was the young researcher workshop, organized by Maximilian Heimstädt, which provided doctoral candidates and postdocs with a valuable platform to exchange ideas on current research topics.

The 49th WK ORG Conference was a resounding success, enriching not only the scientific level but also offering new perspectives and ideas for research on organization and democracy. In addition to the intensive discussions and presentations, the event marked a significant step towards a stronger connection between organizational research and social responsibility.

A heartfelt thank you goes to Witten/Herdecke University and the entire team around Prof. Dr. Guido Möllering for making this outstanding event possible. We are already looking forward to the next WK ORG Workshop in 2026!