
Luk Van Wassenhove
Emeritus Professor of Technology and Operations Management
Biography
Professor Van Wassenhove currently focuses on aligning business models and new technologies with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, e.g. closed-loop supply chains, circular economy, and disaster and health logistics. He recently co-edited special issues on humanitarian operations for the Journal of Operations Management, the Production and Operations Management Journal and the European Journal of Operational Research.
Professor Van Wassenhove is Fellow of the Production and Operations Management Society (POMS 2005). In 2006, he received EURO’s Gold Medal. He is Distinguished Fellow of the Manufacturing and Services Operations Management Society (MSOM 2009), and Honorary Fellow of the European Operations Management Association (EUROMA 2013). In 2018 he was elected Fellow of INFORMS and received an honorary doctorate from the University of Thessaloniki.
At INSEAD Emeritus Professor Van Wassenhove holds the Henry Ford Chair in Manufacturing, as emeritus. He created the INSEAD Social Innovation Center and acted as academic director until 2010. He currently leads INSEAD’s Humanitarian Research Group and its Sustainable Operations Initiative.
Professor Van Wassenhove is Fellow of the Production and Operations Management Society (POMS 2005). In 2006, he received EURO’s Gold Medal. He is Distinguished Fellow of the Manufacturing and Services Operations Management Society (MSOM 2009), and Honorary Fellow of the European Operations Management Association (EUROMA 2013). In 2018 he was elected Fellow of INFORMS and received an honorary doctorate from the University of Thessaloniki.
At INSEAD Emeritus Professor Van Wassenhove holds the Henry Ford Chair in Manufacturing, as emeritus. He created the INSEAD Social Innovation Center and acted as academic director until 2010. He currently leads INSEAD’s Humanitarian Research Group and its Sustainable Operations Initiative.
Latest posts
Making Stress Work for Organisations
F. J. Nitsch, L. V. Wassenhove
Moderate stress boosts performance. But can companies determine “optimal" stress levels for their employees?
Disaster Response: Finding Order in Turmoil
A. Kayyal, I. Parsa, B. Urlu and L. Van Wassenhove
When disaster strikes, governments are faced with difficult, urgent decisions – but preparedness can make a difference.
Why Has the Humanitarian Sector Been Slow to Localise?
L. Frennesson, L. Van Wassenhove
Despite a collective strategic intent to localise, progress has been slower than expected.
What Businesses Can Learn From Humanitarian Operations
Luk Van Wassenhove
Navigating uncertain and dynamic environments and overcoming resource and information scarcity are nothing new to humanitarian organisations.
Business Not as Usual: Companies Stepping Up in Crisis
B. Urlu, E. G. Gülserliler, L. Van Wassenhove
In times of humanitarian disasters, the private sector must step up. Businesses can hardly be functional when society comes to a halt.
Planning Matters: Coordination in Humanitarian Relief
I. Parsa, L. Van Wassenhove
In disaster response, humanitarian operations take place under high levels of stress and time pressure. There is no room for bureaucracy and ambiguity.