Zur Rolle der BWL in Zeiten großer gesellschaftlicher und ökologischer Herausforderungen

The field of business administration and management studies has to face up to the major societal and ecological challenges and make contributions to overcoming them. So far, it has not done so to a sufficient degree. Starting from the question of the desirability of economic growth―a question that undoubtedly touches directly on many "Grand Challenges" and is particularly topical in the current Corona crisis―in this essay, we first discuss the possible contributions of empirical research and shows that this research needs to be based on suitable normative foundations. The development of such a foundation must, of course, in turn, respond to findings derived from empirical research. The reciprocal relationship between empirical research and a theory based on a sound and widely acceptable normative basis leads, suggests to view business and management studies as a critical academic discipline aligned with sustainability considerations.