GemeinwohlAtlas
The GemeinwohlAtlas is a large-scale, representative empirical study measuring how citizens perceive the public value contribution of major organizations. Unlike ESG ratings or corporate sustainability reports that rely on expert assessment or self-disclosure, the GemeinwohlAtlas captures the perspective of ordinary citizens — those whose lives organizations actually affect. Based on surveys of over 50,000 participants across Switzerland and Germany, the Atlas provides unique longitudinal data on organizational reputation, trust, and societal contribution.
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Mission-Based Ecosystem Lab
The Mission-Based Ecosystem Lab investigates the dynamics of cross-sector collaboration around ambitious societal goals. Drawing on ecosystem theory, organizational sociology, and innovation studies, the Lab examines how organizations with different cultures, incentive structures, and operating logics can work together effectively toward shared missions.
Core research questions include: How do mission-based ecosystems form, develop, and evolve over time? What governance mechanisms enable effective collaboration across sector boundaries? How do intermediary organizations facilitate ecosystem development, and what capabilities do they need? What factors determine success or failure in mission-oriented innovation partnerships?
Hier gehts zum Mission-based Ecosystem Lab.
St. Gallen Transformation Lab
The St. Gallen Transformation Lab is an applied research initiative working closely with partner organizations to generate insights into how organizations can integrate sustainability into strategy, operations, and culture. Emerging from the Robust Action Research (ROAR) model developed through Dr. Tobias Fehr-Bosshard’s doctoral research at the University of St. Gallen, the Lab combines longitudinal engagement with rigorous analytical frameworks to address the practical challenges of sustainability transformation while contributing to academic knowledge.
Research themes include leadership and change management in sustainability transformation journeys, embedding sustainability in organizational culture and decision-making, sustainability reporting and stakeholder communication, and governance structures for long-term sustainability commitment.
Organizations join the Transformation Lab as research partners. They contribute real-world cases, data, and executive time; in return they receive access to the latest research insights, benchmarking data, and direct engagement with CLIS-HSG researchers.
Find out more about the St.Gallen Transformation Lab.
HSG Impact Scholar Community
The HSG Impact Scholar Community is a collaborative network of doctoral students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty members across disciplines who share a commitment to generating knowledge that addresses societal challenges. The community creates a structured space for interdisciplinary dialogue, joint research, and co-creation with practitioners.
Activities include monthly research seminars featuring internal and external speakers, an annual Impact Research Conference bringing together academics and practitioners, collaborative research projects crossing disciplinary boundaries, and practitioner workshops co-creating research with organizations.
Open to doctoral students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty at the University of St. Gallen with an interest in research that addresses societal challenges.
Impact Scholar Community - Website
HSG Ecosystem Navigator
The HSG Ecosystem Navigator is an initiative with the objective to make visible the people, organizations, and the broad range of initiatives and events at the University of St. Gallen (HSG) related to sustainability, social innovation, and creating a positive impact and to thereby reveal potential for collaboration across disciplines and domains, and for learning from and with each other. The HSG Ecosystem Navigator was developed during the doctoral research of Dr. Tobias Fehr-Bosshard.