Joseph Roevens PhD

Joseph Roevens PhD is an entrepreneurial academic, who researches and lectures about participative forms of management and Change. He’s a tenured professor at NHTV Breda University in the Netherlands and a research associate of its Center for Cross-cultural Understanding and Change. Roevens received his B.A. from Cornell University, advanced degrees from IEP, Ecole Centrale and HEC in Paris, and from the School of Advanced International Relations (SAIS) of Johns Hopkins University. In 2008 he obtained a PhD from Tilburg University. As a polyglot bridge builder dr. Roevens combines the subjects of economics, government, diplomacy, psychology, organizational development and ecological philosophy. His expertise covers all areas of management and sustainable change, with a focus on entrepreneurial participation, corporate democracy, open book management and chaos theory.

Roevens started professional life as a European Union lobbyist, promoting organizations which are dedicated to people, planet, profit and panache (Roevens, 2009). His work led him to an international PR position at Ecover, a pioneering ecological detergent manufacturer, where he co-orchestrated the ‘Opening of Europe’s First Ecological Factory’.

In 1996 Roevens wrote ‘Organize with Chaos: a Simple Robust Business tool’ with Robin Rowley. This self-published book opened up speaking invitations together with leading chaos theorists and management intellectuals, such as L’Expansion/ICAD’s Brussels Conference ‘The Strategies of Chaos’, IABC’s Conferences in Brussels and NYC, and a private seminar with Nobel Laureate dr. Ilya Prigogine organized by The Tijd Academie in Antwerp, Belgium.

‘Living’ the principles of ‘Organize with Chaos’, Roevens worked for 12 years as an entrepreneurial pedagogue with the following organizations and business schools: Century 21, Nutrexpa, Vitamine W, Westerlund (now part of Babcock & Brown), Radisson Edwardian Hotels , Randstad Interim (via Belgian Bankers Academy), Antwerp University (UFSIA), Emerson College, Hochschule Bremerhaven, Real Software Academy, Regardz Conference Hotels (Golden Tulip), Hilton Hotels, Real Software Academy, Rotterdam Business School, Tilburg University, Universitàt de Vic.

As a tenured professor at the NHTV Breda University of Applied Sciences, in its Academy of Hotel Management and its Academy of International Facility Management, Joseph Roevens PhD has set up a successful educational project called the ‘Organize with Chaos Change Unit’, where graduating students learn about Change & Chaos in a professional, self-organizing way.

About ‘Organize with Chaos’ (1997, 1999) the Leadership & Organization Development Journal wrote “I liked Organize with Chaos and intuitively felt at ease with the ideas.... It could be read in a couple of hours as the authors suggest, but I would recommend several sittings”. Professor Gillian Stamp, Director of the Brunel Institute of Organization and Social Studies at Brunel University wrote "Rowley and Roevens are so good at taking complex ideas and communicating in ways that touch the immediate - it is a real gift and means so many people can gain from their thinking and work".

About the 2007 edition, Art Kleiner, editor of strategy+business, and author of ‘The Age of Heretics’ wrote “I think your enhance – perturb – attract – excite model of ways to instigate change in an organization is very interesting. I note it goes back to 1999. Have you written about it since then? I think that you have done a fair job of diagnosing one serious set of problems with conventional management”.

About Joseph Roevens PhD dissertation ‘Systemic Constellations Work in Organizations’, John Rijsman, Emeritus Professor of Economic and Social Psychology at the University of Tilburg wrote, "this well-written work introduces academics and professionals to a fascinating new organizational approach", and added “Joseph has always been at the forefront of where his subject is heading” and Hilda Martens, Professor of HRM at the University of Hasselt said "I find it very original, personal and complete!”