Generation change

In the next few years, most companies and public institutions will be confronted with the challenge of a substantial loss of knowledge and management experience, triggered by the retirement of many baby boomers.

At a first glance, the challenge lies in recruiting to fill the vacancies and in maintaining valuable knowledge and experience within the organisation. Often, however, there is more at stake.

The younger generations have different approaches to leadership, creative leeway, hierarchy and they often also value their professional careers differently. Attention to diversity and how to deal with it is increasing. Technological changes in the world of work are also profound.

How does an organisation prepare for this fundamental change? How do these issues affect strategy, processes, structures, and culture?

We support companies in coping with the challenges triggered by generational change so that they can use them as an opportunity for holistic further development, for example in the following topics:

• HR strategy
• Culture, dealing with diversity
• Structures and processes
• Knowledge management
• Leadership and cooperation

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