Introducing the FUS Faculty: Mario Schultz

Assistant Professor, International Management

Ph.D. Communication Sciences, Specialization in Corporate Social Responsibility, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Switzerland
M.Sc. Business Administration, Specialization in International Management, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands
B.Sc. International Business Administration, University of Vienna, Austria

Office: Kaletsch Campus, Office 5
Phone: +41 91 985 22 77
Email: mschultz@fus.edu

Mario D. Schultz is an Assistant Professor of International Management. Prior to joining Franklin University Switzerland, Dr. Schultz worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Ethics and Communication Law Center (ECLC), Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI). He holds an M.Sc. degree in Business Administration specializing in International Management from the University of Amsterdam and a bachelor's degree from the University of Vienna, Austria, where he pursued International Business Administration (BSc.).

2024-2025 Courses

BUS 135	Introduction to Business Systems	FALL 2024
The course introduces the global business system in the context of the economic, political, social and technological environments, relating business to society as a whole. Topics covered include the international scope, function, and organization of firms, and other fundamental concepts of multinational business. The course also addresses functional areas such as the value chain, production, marketing, human resources, and accounting.
BUS 199	Sustainability and Digital Transformation	FALL 2024
Sustainability and the digital transformation are two of the most pressing challenges in today's business world. Both trends are increasingly intertwined, radically transforming how businesses create value and engage with the broader society and the environment. This seminar will introduce students to major sustainability challenges (e.g., climate change, waste reduction, human rights) and digital challenges (e.g., related to artificial intelligence, blockchain, and digital platforms) that modern businesses face and will explore how these challenges can be addressed, drawing up creative solutions for sustainable value creation. By building on examples from diverse sectors, students will learn about the crucial role of business as a key driver for progress and well-being that needs to carefully manage its environmental, social, and digital responsibilities. Like all First Year Seminars, this course will cultivate the fundamental critical and analytical skills necessary to succeed at university.
BUS 235T	Corporate Social Responsibility (Mediterranean Region)	SPRING 2025
The course provides students with a state-of-the-art understanding of corporate sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR). The practical relevance of CSR is highlighted through various examples that show how corporations have to deal with emerging ecological and social sustainability issues and stakeholder demands. Given the challenges' underlying complexity and uncertainty as well as multi-stakeholder involvement, corporations require awareness and strategic thinking to engage with their evolving responsibilities. Drawing on examples from various sectors, students will learn about different managerial approaches to address CSR issues and meet diverging stakeholder demands when designing and implementing long-term CSR strategies. To enrich the learning experience, the course includes a travel component where students can opt for a Mediterranean cruise visiting Italy, France, and Spain.
BUS 251	Sustainable Luxury Management	SPRING 2025
This course aims to bring clarity to the paradoxical nature of the luxury industry, where excess and indulgence stand in sharp contrast to the concept of sustainability. Students will be introduced to the peculiarities that make the luxury sector distinct from conventional management environments. Thus, the course will teach students about the importance of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the luxury industry. Students will learn about the peculiar social and environmental challenges faced by luxury corporations due to their focus on experiential and hedonic products and services. Furthermore, the course teaches students how luxury corporations can effectively handle diverging stakeholder demands and create a long-term sustainability strategy. The course outlook spotlights cutting edge topics related to emerging industry trends. Luxury corporations are under pressure to meet expectations from younger consumer generations who prioritize social and environmental practices throughout supply chains and have different ideas about what luxury means in the digital age. To address this, the course outlook offers insights into the role of new technologies.
BUS 353	International Management Theory and Concepts	SPRING 2025
Strategic management is the study of firms and the political, economic, social and technological environments that affect their organization and strategic decisions. This course considers the external market environment in which firms operate, and provides theoretical foundations, focusing on economic and strategic theories of the firm and introducing key concepts of organizational theory. Practically, the course looks at the creation of competitive advantage of a firm in the global arena. The readings and class discussions include both theoretical concepts and practical case studies. (Junior status recommended)

Areas of Research:

His primary research interest is Corporate Social Responsibility, Business Ethics, Corporate Sustainability Management, and Information and Communication Technology. More specific research topics include: the ethical use of AI and algorithmic pricing, greenwashing and machine-washing, sustainable luxury management, and new conceptualizations of corporate social/political responsibility in the digital age. His works have appeared in the leading academic journals of the field, including the "Journal of Business Ethics," "Business Ethics: a European Review," "AI and Ethics," and the "Journal of Information, Communication, and Ethics in Society."

Publications:

Journal articles:

Scorici, G., Schultz M. D., and Seele P. (forthcoming). “Anthropomorphization and beyond: Conceptualizing Humanwashing of AI-Enabled Machines.” AI & SOCIETY (June 20, 2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-022-01492-1.

Schultz, M. D., and Seele P. (forthcoming). “Towards AI Ethics’ Institutionalization: Knowledge Bridges from Business Ethics to Advance Organizational AI Ethics.” AI and Ethics (March 21, 2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43681-022-00150-y.

Schultz, M. D., and Seele P. (forthcoming). “" Some of My Customers […] Take off Their Rolex Prior to a Client Meeting " Luxury Display at Work and the Social (Re)Construction of the Organizational Image.” Luxury 0, (March 25, 2022): 1–30. https://doi.org/10.1080/20511817.2022.2045544.

Seele, P., Schultz, M. D. (2022). From Greenwashing to Machinewashing: A Model and Future Directions Derived from Reasoning by Analogy. J Bus Ethics 178, 1063–1089 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-022-05054-9.

Knebel, S., Schultz M. D., and Seele P. (2022) “Cyberattacks as ‘State of Exception’ Reconceptualizing Cybersecurity from Prevention to Surviving and Accommodating.” Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society 20, no. 1: 91–109. https://doi.org/10.1108/JICES-01-2021-0015.

Seele P., Dierksmeier C., Hofstetter R., Schultz M. D. (2021). “Mapping the Ethicality of Algorithmic Pricing: A Review of Dynamic and Personalized Pricing.” Journal of Business Ethics 170, no. 4: 697–719. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-019-04371-w.

Schultz, M. D., and Seele P. (2020) “Conceptualizing Data‐deliberation: The Starry Sky Beetle, Environmental System Risk, and Habermasian CSR in the Digital Age.” Business Ethics: A European Review 29, no. 2: 303–13. https://doi.org/10.1111/beer.12256.

Book chapters:

Schultz M. D. (2022) Corporate Citizenship (Dirk Matten, Andrew Crane und Jeremy Moon). In Aßländer, M.S. (eds) Handbuch Wirtschaftsethik. J.B. Metzler, Stuttgart, 447-455. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-476-05806-5_43.

Schultz, M.D., Seele, P. (2022). Ethics and Sharing Economy Platforms: A Pathway to Data-Driven and Peer-to-Peer Platform CSR. In: Langergaard, L.L. (eds) New Economies for Sustainability. Ethical Economy, vol 59. Springer, Cham: 139-152. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-81743-5_9.

Schultz, M.D., Seele, P. (2021). Digitalisierung. In: Heidbrink, L., Lorch, A., Rauen, V. (eds) Handbuch Wirtschaftsphilosophie III. Handbuch Wirtschaftsphilosophie. Springer VS, Wiesbaden: 365-380. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-22107-2_26.

Schultz M.D., Seele P. (2019) Business Legitimacy and Communication Ethics: Discussing Greenwashing and Credibility Beyond Habermasian Idealism. In: Rendtorff J. (eds) Handbook of Business Legitimacy. Springer, Cham: 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68845-9_8-1.

Schultz, M.D., and Seele P. (2022). "The Internet of Trees and Networked Surveillance." In The Role of Business in Global Sustainability Transformations, by Dalia D’Amato, Anne Toppinen, and Robert Kozak, 165–82, 1st ed. London: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003003588-13.

Conference proceedings:

Schultz, Mario, Melanie Clegg, Reto Hofstetter, and Peter Seele. “Managing Dehumanization? A Technology and Ethics Account on the Future of Work and Consumption.” Academy of Management Proceedings 2022, no. 1 (August 2022): 11392. https://doi.org/10.5465/AMBPP.2022.11392abstract.

Schultz M. D., Seele P. (2020) Networked Surveillance for Good? A Perception Study on Blockchain-Based Supply Chain Transparency. Academy of Management Proceedings. 80th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, Vancouver, Canada: 16436. https://doi.org/10.5465/ambpp.2020.16436abstract.

Schultz M. D., Seele P. (2018) How the Sharing Economy Contributes to the Erosion of Implicit CSR: Future Pathways of the Welfare State. Academy of Management Global Proceedings. Big Data and Managing in a Digital Economy, Surrey, UK. Proceedings Surrey, no. 2018 (2018): 178. https://doi.org/10.5465/amgblproc.surrey.2018.0178.abs.

Seele P., Schultz M. D. (2017). “How the Asian Longhorn Beetle Updates Our Understanding of Political CSR Theory in the Digital Age.” Academy of Management Proceedings 2017, no. 1 (January 1, 2017): 13898. https://doi.org/10.5465/ambpp.2017.13898abstract.