Digitalisation

The dynamics of digital developments influence almost all areas of the world of work; organisations are increasingly using technologies to support their core tasks. It is noticeable that digital systems and tools are often implemented from a technological perspective only. The many diverse interdependencies, for example, with the tasks of the employees, with processes and structures or with the requirements for leadership and cooperation are sometimes underestimated.

These diverse relationships and interdependencies are what we particularly focus on as consultants. We support organisations, for example, in dealing with the following topics and issues:

Relationships between people and technology

• How do we deal with changing job specifications?
• How do competence requirements change, how can we develop our employees in a meaningful way and direction?
• How do we support a careful balance between work and private life?
• How do we deal with increasing acceleration?

Relationships between processes/organisation and technology

• What is the impact of the digitally driven increase in process automation?
• What interdependencies between features of digitalisation and the flexibilisation of the world of work need to be actively shaped?

Relationships between leadership and technology

• What needs to be considered when distance leadership increases?
• Which forms of leadership will become more important as digitalisation increases?
• How do management practices and processes change with the support of digital tools?

Relationships between information- and knowledge management and technology

• How do cooperation requirements change when digitalisation increases?
• How can the transfer of knowledge and information be sensibly designed?

Andreas Kurt

onion: process & innovation

I originally studied behavioural biology and spent several years observing the hierarchical behaviour of wild chimpanzees in the West African rain forest, which in one way or another proved to be an excellent basis for my later career, for daily management tasks and present-day consultancy activities. Apart from a broad range of insights, I have brought with me an inner peacefulness and the ability to continually see things afresh and to delight in my surroundings.

For about 20 years I have been accompanying companies, organisations, leaders, and teams on their way to a sustainable future. This includes developing and implementing strategies, reviewing and digitalising processes and adjusting structures. For the latter, I particularly focus on guidance on new organisational forms (holacracy, circle models).

I offer a wealth of experience in the development of solutions around process and innovation management. I help companies, organisations, executives, and teams to find solutions in the field of process and innovation management. For me it is important that the solutions that are chosen are in line with the client’s strategy and can be firmly embedded in corporate culture, so that the processes are adopted in full, and the innovations develop in a sustainable way.

Professional background

• Independent consultant since 2004, director of Tarana GmbH, Fislisbach
• Joined onion: Consultancy Network in 2008
• Member of the senior executive and Head of Patents and Design at the Federal Institute for Intellectual Property, pioneer of new public management and successful advocate of good governance in the federal administration (1999–2004)
• Head of Marketing at the Federal Institute for Intellectual Property (1996–1999)
• Involvement in and manager of various development cooperation projects and in national park management in African countries

Educational background

• CAS for board members, Rochester-Bern
• Courses in industrial economics, political economics and intellectual property rights
• M.Sc. in biology, University of Zurich and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, specialisations: behavioural biology and ecology

Clientèle

• Public sector and closely linked organisations
• Innovative companies, in particular in the technical field
• Associations and societies, in particular in the fields of environment and healthcare
• Universities, academies and research institutions

Miscellaneous information

• Board memberships since 2004
• Publications: Agile Methoden in der Verwaltung. Ja, das geht! November 2020: www.agile-verwaltung.org
• Projects published in Public Management by Norbert Thom (2008) and Fallbeispiele zur Betriebswirtschaft (Case Studies in Industrial Economics) by Jean-Paul Thommen (2008)
• For further information, see also www.tarana.ch