Short presentation given to Wageningen University & Research (WUR) BAC evaluation committee for promotion to associate professor (UHD2) position. The WUR BAC evaluation committee asks tenure-trackers to present a short "vision" (accompanied by a 5-page paper) that illustrates how research, education and societal impact of the candidates fit together. This was my presentation, which led to promotion formalised in September 2016.

1. Managing wicked problems in agribusiness
through partnerships
Vision of Dr. Domenico Dentoni
Management Studies Group, Wageningen University
Severe BAC evaluation for promotion to UHD2 position
Wageningen, July 12th, 2016

2. Overview
Field of study:
 Strategic Change Management
Empirical phenomenon:
 Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships
Theoretical contribution:
 Wicked Problems theory
Societal impact mechanism:
 Global Center for Food Systems Innovation
Vision to
2022 and
to 2050

3. Overview /1
Field of study:
 Strategic Change Management
Empirical phenomenon:
 Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships
Theoretical contribution:
 Wicked Problems theory
Societal impact mechanism:
 Global Center for Food Systems Innovation
Vision to
2022 and
to 2050

4. Strategic Change Management
Changes in the
environment
Organizational
change
Human process
interventions
Human resource
interventions
Techno-structural
interventions
Strategic
interventions

5. Strategic Change Management
Changes in the
environment
Organizational
change
Human process
interventions
(Organizational Learning)
Human resource
interventions
Techno-structural
interventions
(Institutional Economics)
Strategic
interventions
(Strategic Management)
Wicked
problems

6. Overview /2
Field of study:
 Strategic Change Management
Empirical phenomenon:
 Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships
Theoretical contribution:
 Wicked Problems theory
Societal impact mechanism:
 Global Center for Food Systems Innovation
Vision to
2022 and
to 2050

7. Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships
Changes in the
environment
Partnerships
Companies Civil society
Government
agencies
Non
Governmental
Organizations
Learning (L) Economics (E)
Strategy (S)
S
L E
Wicked problems (WP)
WPs

8. Overview /3
Field of study:
 Strategic Change Management
Empirical phenomenon:
 Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships
Theoretical contribution:
 Wicked Problems theory
Societal impact mechanism:
 Global Center for Food Systems Innovation
Vision to
2022 and
to 2050

9. Wicked Problems Theory in Management
Strategy
Institutional
economics
Organization
Learning
Wicked Problems
Theory
Wicked problems
Three key dimensions:
- Scientific uncertainty
- Change over time
- Conflict of values

10. Wicked Problems Theory in Management
Strategy
Institutional
economics
Organization
Learning
Wicked
Problems
RESEARCH STRAND 1:
Link wicked problems 
change management (in
general):
- 1 Postdoc (Malawi)
- Scholars outside WUR and
PAP groups

11. Wicked Problems Theory in Management
Strategy
Institutional
economics
Organization
Learning
Wicked
Problems
RESEARCH STRAND 1:
Link wicked problems 
change management
RESEARCH STRAND 2:
Link strategic  human
process interventions (in
context of wicked problems):
- 3 PhD students (Uganda,
Malawi & Philippines)
- Scholars in MST and ECS
groups

12. Wicked Problems Theory in Management
Strategy
Institutional
economics
Organization
Learning
Wicked
Problems
RESEARCH STRAND 1:
Link wicked problems 
change management
RESEARCH STRAND 2:
Link strategic  human
process interventions
RESEARCH STRAND 3:
Link human process 
structural interventions (in
context of wicked problems)
- 2 PhD students
(Ecuador & Kenya)
- Scholars in MST, KTI
and SDC groups

13. Wicked Problems Theory in Management
Strategy
Institutional
economics
Organization
Learning
Wicked
Problems
RESEARCH STRAND 1:
Link wicked problems 
change management
RESEARCH STRAND 2:
Link strategic  human
process interventions
RESEARCH STRAND 3:
Link human process 
structural interventions
RESEARCH STRAND 4:
Link strategic  structural
interventions (in context of
wicked problems)
- 3 PhD students (Ethiopia,
Brazil & Malaysia)
- Scholars in MST, AEC and
MCB groups

14. Wicked Problems Theory in Management
Strategy
Institutional
economics
Organization
Learning
Wicked
Problems
RESEARCH STRAND 1:
Link wicked problems 
change management
RESEARCH STRAND 2:
Link strategic  human
process interventions
RESEARCH STRAND 3:
Link human process 
structural interventions
RESEARCH STRAND 4:
Link strategic  structural
interventions (in context of
wicked problems)

15. Overview /4
Field of study:
 Strategic Change Management
Empirical phenomenon:
 Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships
Theoretical contribution:
 Wicked Problems theory
Societal impact mechanism:
 Global Center for Food Systems Innovation
Vision to
2022 and
to 2050

16. Global Center for Food Systems Innovation
A network that builds synergies between:
- Funding PhDs/postdocs
- Student engagement
- Societal impact

17. $$$, Cases Proposals, Advocacy
Theories,
Tools,
Students
Partnerships
PartnershipsPartnerships
Partnerships
Global Center for Food Systems Innovation
- Inductive approach
- Dialectical skills
- Systems thinking
Dentoni and Bitzer (2015). The Roles of
universities in dealing with wicked problems
through multi-stakeholder partnerships. Journal of
Cleaner Production 106, 68-78.

18. Conclusion on the Vision
Field of study:
 Strategic Change Management
Empirical phenomenon:
 Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships
Theoretical contribution:
 Wicked Problems theory
Societal impact mechanism:
 Global Center for Food Systems Innovation
Vision to
2022 and
to 2050

19. Conclusion on the Vision
Vision to
2022 and
to 2050
For 2022:
• Introduce wicked problems theory into
mainstream management studies and
interdisciplinary audiences
• Lead at least 8 students to PhD graduation
• Bring a wicked problems perspective into
agri-food partnership practice
For 2050:
• Contribute to understanding the nature of
problems and systems in management theory
and practice

20. Thank you and questions
Vision of Dr. Domenico Dentoni
Management Studies Group, Wageningen University
Severe BAC evaluation for promotion to UHD2 position
Wageningen, July 12th, 2016