Management

Energy management systems (EMS) experience an increase in popularity since their introduction. Especially as their introduction allows for tax capping. However, an integrated approach on energy-orintation requires more than the realisation of an EMS. The article illustrates spheres of activity that can be taken to enhance the approach of energy management systems towards a holistic energy-orientation.

Is demographic change a nightmare being completely at mercy as a business owner? Or is it rather offering opportunities? Demographic changes are only one factor for a successful business development. Along with other challenges to the company’s development, it can be used as an opportunity: Planning and taking measures in the medium and long term on individual, collective and organizational levels will result in a change of leadership.

Suggestions, techniques, strategies and ideas for optimizing time management are dime a dozen. But not all of these general methods can really change the long-term and structured way of utilizing time. One fails mostly because the method is not implemented consistently or the technique cannot be transferred to the daily routine. In order to change in the long run, prior knowledge and customization to the individual requirements are essential. This is shown by new findings of scientific research. The bottom line is that there are some really helpful techniques when it comes to time management but that the problem mostly is not starting new strategies but maintaining them.

Industry and export are the engine of the German economy. Not least the financial crisis and the impact on the real economy showed that the general conditions of the industrial enterprises change increasingly faster and radically. Changes which have been observed for longer times are enforced by the aftermath of the financial crisis. Two category groups can be identified as main challenges for the German industry: encrusted structures and socio-technical change. In companies the classical management methods are widely spread whose effectivity relies on the entire knowledge of causal connections and influence factors. But against the background of the actual challenges this not the status quo. This article explains how the comparison with nature offers explanations and approaches for the described problem.

The research project “Open Innovation in Life Sciences” (project duration May 2008-April 2011) aims at the development and implementation of new innovation strategies and concepts for SMEs in the life sciences segment. In particular inside-out and outside-in processes in joint innovation projects beyond firm boundaries are analyzed. The life sciences segment is known as being highly research intense and interdisciplinary. As a result of the growing complexity of innovation processes, the development of cooperative, i.e. open innovation strategies for SMEs has become more important. SMEs can gain the capability to tap crucial innovation potentials by bundling distributed complementary knowledge. The article describes the development of a method which might help to evaluate opportunities and risks of different innovation concepts. This may serve as basis for decision-making regarding the implementation of a predefined innovation process. Project outcomes are expected to be an ...

Complexity will be characteristic for future economic and technological development. Highly integrated and customer-specific products, that are manufactured in short times and call for life-long services, pose demanding challenges for companies of all sizes. Life cycle orientation and product variety thus mean a new dimension of complexity for production management, knowledge engineering and general management. Consequently, in future it will not necessarily be the fastest, cheapest or technologically most advanced company, that will be most successful, but possibly the one that is able to cope with this growing complexity in the best way.

Communities of Practice are an important instrument of knowledge management, as they allow transferring expertise to remote business problems. Focussing on community facilitation and IT, this article assembles necessary requirements for community software and proposes a better support of social processes of knowledge work.