UEBERBACHER Florian

I have joined MBS as an Associate Professor of Management in 2021. At MBS, I am also coordinating the 'MOST' (Management and Organization of Sustainable Transformation) research group and, together with Prof. Roy Thurik, the 'MBS Paper Clinic'. Previously, I was a senior researcher and lecturer at the University of Zurich, where I have an ongoing affiliation. My Ph.D. in Management is from the University of St. Gallen (Switzerland).

Research:

My research is in the areas of business and society, organization theory, and strategic management.

It focuses on organizational behavior and strategic action in institutional environments - with a particular emphasis on the political and regulatory environments of organizations, and on important socio-political issues and transformation processes in business and society.

My research has received several awards. It has been supported with large and highly competitve research grants and published in premier international journals, such as Administrative Science Quarterly, Journal of Management Studies, Organization Studies, and other outlets.

Teaching:

I am a passionate and versatile educator with extensive experience in teaching courses in the domains of management and organization, strategy, and ‘business and society’ (e.g. sustainability, CSR, business and politics, etc.) across levels and countries.

At MBS, I teach "Corporate Social Responsibility", "Corporate Diplomacy and Nonmarket Strategy", and "Globalization and Geopolitics". Previously, in Zurich and St. Gallen, I also taught classes in Organization and Management, Sustainbility, and Strategy. Overall, my courses aim to combine important theoretical insights with real world cases and applications. They have consistently received very good student evaluations.

Selected publications:

Reuter, E., Überbacher, F., & Scherer, A. G. 2025. Regulatory Territory and General Deterrence Across Borders: Swiss Banks’ Territorial Self-Categorizations and Responses To U.S. Extraterritorial Law Enforcement. Administrative Science Quarterly. Forthcoming. (FT50 / ABS 4* / VHB A+) 

Reuter, E., & Überbacher, F. 2024. Coping with Desired Futures in Environmental Policy: Procedural Uncertainty and Firms’ Prospective Framing in the Context of Switzerland’s Renewable Energy Policy. Business Strategy and the Environment. Forthcoming. (ABS 3 / VHB B)

Überbacher, F., & Scherer, A. G. 2020. Indirect Compellence and Institutional Change: U.S. Extraterritorial Law Enforcement and the Erosion of Swiss Banking Secrecy. Administrative Science Quarterly, 65(3): 565-605. (FT50 / ABS 4* / VHB A+) 

Überbacher, F., Jacobs, C. D., & Cornelissen, J.P. 2015. How Entrepreneurs become Skilled Cultural Operators. Organization Studies, 36(7): 925-951.  (FT50 / ABS 4 / VHB A) 

Überbacher, F. 2014. Legitimation of New Ventures: A Review and Research Programme. Journal of Management Studies, 51(4): 667-698. (FT50 / ABS 4 / VHB A) 

UEBERBACHER, F., E. REUTER, "Coping With Procedural Uncertainty: Firms' Procedural Framings and Political Strategies in the Context of Switzerland's Mission-Driven Energy Policy", Business Strategy and the Environment, February 2025, vol. 34, no. 2, pp. 2511-2528