OPEN SCIENCE reflects the idea that knowledge of any kind should be openly accessible, transparent, well-founded, reproducible, verifiable, cumulative and inclusive. (Pennington, 2023: A Student’s Guide to Open Science, McGraw Hill).

Open Science is on the rise. Open Science is not an ‘either/or’ proposition. Open Science is a strategic issue of quality and competence that will bring about lasting change in business administration in terms of research practice, teaching and social responsibility. Open Science can improve many things, but not in every form for everyone and not in every case.

We aim to strengthen the field of business administration by creating a research culture that promotes transparency, traceability and shared responsibility. When it comes to implementing Open Science, the hurdles lie less in the scientific community’s willingness and more in structural conditions: a lack of incentives, inadequate infrastructure, a shortage of skills, unclear procedures, legal restrictions and high costs. The VHB Executive Board has therefore decided to establish an Open Science Working Group.

Objectives:

• To systematically strengthen the focus on this topic within the VHB.
• To identify the potential of Open Science for business administration.
• To identify obstacles to implementation.
• To develop recommendations for action by the end of 2026.