Fields of research

Change in the world of work, esp. demographic change, blurring of boundaries, resilience and agility

• This research field deals with the core challenges of change in the world of work. We first of all examine the challenges organizations, especially SMEs, face and their strategies to manage demographic change which has proved to lead to a shortage of specialists and an ageing workforce. We are mainly interested in the success factors and barriers in the process of implementing demography management measures.
  
  Contact: Prof. Dr. Frank Schirmer;  Dipl.-Volksw. Michael Gühne, M.A.
• The second field of research addresses different forms and effects of the blurring of work boundaries. The removal of boundaries between the operational and market coordination of performance processes (e.g. co-configuration), between employees‘ working and living environment and an increasing blurring between the status as private individual and employee are examined in terms of their consequences at the individual (workload, health and well being) and organizational level (e.g. efficiency). This comprises, among other things, the study of agility and resilience at the individual, team and organizational level.
  
  Contact: Dr. Sebastian Rätze; Anna Walter, M.Sc., Prof. Dr. Frank Schirmer

Change Management & learning in and by  organizations

• Research into change management focuses on the corporate and micropolitical management of changes and the dealing with ambivalent behaviour in reorganization processes. Benefits and risks of the use of power are also taken into account.
  
  Contact: Prof. Dr. Frank Schirmer
• Moreover, we examine processes of individual and collective learning in the work process of SMEs. Our research is particularly based on the concept of expansive learning as part of the cultural-historical activity theory.
  
  Contact: Prof. Dr. Frank Schirmer 

Innovative capability and reflexivity

Innovative capability and reflexivityInnovative capability and reflexivity This field of research focuses on the conceptual and empirical analysis of learning and innovation barriers as well as resistances to change in organizations. We are interested in the question of how all organizational processes can incorporate a reflection skill that effects dynamic changes without irritating routines. Our research aims to develop and prove reflection tools and practices that help identify and overcome learning barriers and contribute to the innovative capability of organizations. In dealing with the conflict between stability and dynamics we discuss the concepts of dynamic capabilities and institutional reflexivity. In our research we consider the term “innovation” to include both, products as well as processes and management innovations.

Contact: Prof. Dr. Frank Schirmer; Dipl.-Volksw. Michael Gühne, M.A.