Álvaro Lleó, professor of Personnel Management Service at Tecnun, is in Boston doing research on the implementation of purpose in organizations, thanks to a scholarship Fulbright. There he was surprised by the COVID-19 crisis.

How long will you be there and what is the reason for your stay?

I will be here until the end of August. I am currently working on a project on the implementation of purpose in organizations. We have developed a tool to measure the Degree implementation of purpose in an organization, its effects and the levers on which we can act to enhance it. We are evaluating different organizations and, with the data collected, we are generating an observatory to carry out quantitative research and better understand the purpose phenomenon.

During this stay I want to improve the model and see if we can incorporate new variables. In addition, we are evaluating American companies with what allows you to expand and diversify the data sample . I also want to write and submit 3 articles.

In what ways do you think this stay will make you grow?

In many ways. The first is that the environment itself is contagious. Just being with people from Harvard and MIT makes you learn a lot. There are very good people here.

To be more specific, I research and teach class on Personnel Management Service. As both lines go hand in hand, I am fortunate to be able to apply the results of my research in the classroom. Here I am having meetings with people at the forefront of research on purpose. I haven't figured out how yet, but I'm sure in next year's Master's classes I'll introduce many things I'm seeing here.

What would you highlight the most about your time there?

It was very impressive how quickly and forcefully Harvard (and then the other universities joined in) sent all the students home and decided that classes were going to be online for the rest of the course. They also cancelled graduation ceremony, which is very relevant here.  

What has Tecnun been able to give you to better face this experience?

Undoubtedly, the closeness and affection of many people from Tecnun. Very soon, many people wrote or called me asking me how I was doing, if I needed anything... You realize that people care about you and appreciate you and that gives you a lot of strength to cope with status.

Have your plans changed much with the current status ?

Yes and no.

Yes, because relationships suffer. I think that, in a stay, one of the most important things are the relationships and the experiences you have. If people are at home you can't have so many relationships, and the fact that the university is physically closed means that you can't have very interesting experiences (going to an on-site class , attending research seminars, attend to events that are organized or having a coffee with a professor...).

And no, because I've been here three times before and I already know people. You talk to some and they introduce you to new people. Skype and zoom have allowed me to continue having virtual meetings (not the same as a face-to-face meeting , but not bad).

On the other hand, my research does not require laboratories, so I already knew that I was going to spend a lot of time working alone in front of the computer. In this, the only thing that has changed is that I used to do it in my office or in the university library and now I do it from home.

How are you experiencing this status and what is the climate there?

One of the good things about Boston is that there is no lockdown. The universities are closed, people are encouraged to stay home, and only essential businesses are open, but we can go outside! Now that spring is starting, it is a gift to be able to walk around and take the air in the street. I recognize that in this I am privileged.