Implikationen der dynamischen Arbeitswelt auf die Organisationsentwicklung von produzierenden Schweizer Unternehmen. Eine theoretische Betrachtung und empirisch-qualitative Exploration

This dissertation examines the implications of today’s dynamic working environment for the organisational development of manufacturing companies in a country-specific context. It focuses on the mechanical engineering, chemical/pharmaceutical, food and construction supply sectors and examines the top 100 Swiss companies by market capitalisation.

The literature review reveals that companies are increasingly confronted with the problem of how to align their organisational behaviour with the specific challenges of the VUCA world of the future. This carries the risk that tackling a change strategy is deferred, which provokes performance slumps on the way to a more advanced stage of development. Further, the companies’ deductive approach to theory signals an inadequate perception of the challenges related to modern leadership behaviour, competence development and agile organisational forms. It can be assumed that this phenomenon is not only valid for Swiss companies, but rather assumes global proportions.

To ensure future viability, a phenomenon-specific core extension of synergetics is carried out, which is based on the theoretical considerations of generic principles and ambidextry theory. The goal of the inventory is to systematise the paradigm shift in the context of the VUCA world and to expand the companies' reservoir of methods. The empirical-qualitative exploration involves 14 interviews with industry experts. In addition, a focus group is launched for methodological triangulation, which not only increases the validity of the results inductively derived from the material corpus, but also the theoretical saturation of the study.

Finally, the bridge between theory and corporate practice, including the dimensions of leadership, competence and structure, provides a package of measures with six recommendations for action. This multidimensional navigation aid is accompanied by a plea for consideration of a change in values and is addressed to managers of socio-technical systems. Based on the findings, the ability to metamorphose and holistic-circular thinking appear as central competitive advantages of knowledge-intensive companies. The research project suggests that the greatest danger in times of change is not change itself, but rather acting with yesterday's logic.