Autor: Hendrik Lager

In the digital transformation, managers are facing changed requirements. They are important actors in the design process of the digital transformation, for which they must change their leadership behavior and acquire the corresponding competencies. In corporate practice, it is necessary to address these issues systematically in leadership training. However, such a qualification is a major challenge for companies. The article shows demands on leadership in the digital transformation and presents an innovative procedure for the competence development of managers at a provider of professional training.

Companies, especially SMEs, face the challenge of introducing digital technologies efficiently and as smoothly as possible. Using the introduction of a digital assistance system in technical service as an example, this article shows which challenges and problem areas arise, how they can be overcome and which factors promote a successful introduction process. In the process it is worked out how SMEs with few resources can generate a high degree of participation and acceptance. The basis is a socio-technical understanding that takes a holistic view of the overall system of people, technology and organization in the introduction process of digital technologies.

In a previous approach of Lager et al. [1], the development of knowledge, competence and role profiles of employee groups in the course of industry 4.0 was studied. Based on that, the role of the overlapping focus IT is to be examined more closely and the analysis is extended to the tactical level using the example of production planning. In addition, the effects of the need for increased IT competence in all areas of the manufacturing industry on the erosion of current role profile boundaries are presented.