MCI Professorship to Teresa Spieß

In recognition of her achievements in research and teaching, the exemplary translation of research performance into practice and her contributions to the further development of the MCI and the higher education sector, the Entrepreneurial University® recently awarded Dr. Spieß the title of Professor.

Her path to an academic career became apparent shortly after completing her studies in "Management & IT" with a focus on User Experience at the MCI, where she subsequently worked for four years as a project manager for IT Services and Learning Solutions.

A research stay in the USA in 2012 at the University of Nebraska in Omaha was decisive for her move into an academic career. This was followed by relevant academic projects as well as teaching at the MCI (in particular Management, Communication & IT courses) and her dissertation on 'Innovative Work Behaviour' at the Institute for Strategic Management at the University of Innsbruck.

The new MCI professor's research focuses on innovative work behaviour and organisational behaviour, whereby a holistic view of the interaction between people and technology is central.

MCI Professor Teresa Spieß was awarded the coveted MCI Teaching Award 2019 for particularly high-quality university teaching and also impresses with her forward-looking work at the Digital Transformation Lab, where she investigates developments of a 'Next World of Work', as well as at the MCI's Centre for Family Business.

In her inaugural lecture, Teresa Spieß took the audience on an exciting journey into the future of the world of work. The focus of her rousing lecture "The Next Normal of Work. How to Manage People and Technology in Times of Change" was the special importance of a holistic approach to technology and people in operational contexts, whereby a deeper understanding of the potential of technology and a high level of awareness of the implications of the accompanying changes on human behaviour are necessary. Ultimately, one goal of modern organisations must be to create an environment, in terms of their future viability, in which the strengths of people and technology can develop together and interact with each other positively and as free of fear as possible.

MCI Rector Andreas Altmann presented the certificate of appointment as FH Professor together with the Chairman of the University Board Univ.-Prof. Dr. Franz Pegger and Department Head FH Prof. Dr. Peter J. Mirski.