MCI Professorship awarded to Teresa Spieß

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

Her path to an academic career became apparent shortly after she completed her studies in "Management & IT" with a focus on User Experience at 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 scientific projects as well as teaching at MCI (in particular Management, Communication & IT courses) and her dissertation on 'Innovative Work Behavior' at the Institute for Strategic Management at the University of Innsbruck.

The research interests of the new MCI professor focuses on innovative work behavior and organizational behavior, with a holistic view of the interaction between people and technology.

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

In her inaugural lecture in English, Teresa Spieß took the audience on an exciting journey into the future of the world of work. The focus of her acclaimed lecture "The Next Normal of Work. How to Manage People and Technology in Times of Change" was the particular importance of a holistic approach to technology and people in operational contexts, requiring a deeper understanding of the potential of technology and a high level of awareness of the implications of the associated changes on human behavior. Ultimately, one goal of modern organizations 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 UAS Professor together with the Chairman of the University Board, Univ. Prof. Dr. Franz Pegger, and Department Head, UAS Prof. Dr. Peter J. Mirski.