Aalen Institute of Management (AAUF) Research

The aim of the Aalener Institut für Strategic Management (AAUF) is to combine Corporate Fraternities and sororities/clubs and corporate success in a Corporate Governance system and to design a practical model.

Strategic Management (Corporate Governance) plays a major role not only for capital market-oriented companies, but also for medium-sized companies and family businesses. However, the success factors of corporate governance, which combines value-oriented and value-driven management, are still largely unclear in both theory and practice; theory and practice.
The demands on Corporate Governance are increasing significantly due to the growing density of regulation. In addition, companies are showing an increased desire for preventive measures to prevent misconduct, accounting scandals and white-collar crime. While previous methods and instruments were more of a curative nature and combated the symptoms, good corporate Governance should also enable prevention and proactively increase the company's success.
In addition to empirical findings, there is also a lack of recommendations in the field (of) corporate governance that can be implemented in practice. The interest of corporate practice can be seen in the response rate of 86 usable questionnaires. The first study in the "Success Factors in Strategic Management" series explores this area of conflict.

The study focuses on the following aspects:
Framework conditions of Corporate Governance
Strategic perspective
Assessment, rating critical to success
Recommendations for action

Project manager: Prof. Dr. habil. Patrick Ulrich
Participants: Prof. Dr. Ingo Scheuermann, Prof. Dr. habil. Patrick Ulrich, Alexandra Fibitz, Julia Barth, Sonja Lehmann
Keywords: Corporate Governance, Strategic Management, Success Factors
Term, period of validity, duration:
01.06.2017 - 01.12.2017
Supporter: Aalen University of Applied Sciences, Carl Zeiss Foundation
Contact: Ulrich, Patrick:
07361 9149022
patrick.ulrich@hs-aalen.de

Publications:
Ulrich, PatrickUlrich, Patrick; Scheuermann, Ingo; Fibitz, Alexandra: Corporate Governance - gute Strategic Management in der Praxis in: Success Factors in Strategic Management, Volume 1
Ulrich, Patrick; Fibitz, Alexandra: Current topics of Corporate Governance in Germany - Trends from the perspective of an empirical study, Journal, periodical, magazine for Corporate Governance (VHB JQ 3: D)

German SMEs are currently increasingly facing the challenge of completing the digital transformation of their business models. For SMEs in particular, which tend to have traditional business models, the associated implementation of digitalization strategies is leading to far-reaching changes in the world of work. This will not only change organizational structures, but also the cooperation, cooperative venture, partnership, collaboration between man and machine. In addition, working methods and activities are also facing significant changes. The changing work organization and work design therefore require management that is adapted accordingly to the new organizational conditions. This also raises questions in SMEs about the special features, framework conditions, opportunities and risks of "Working World 4.0". Despite existing empirical investigations/analyses, there is still a lack of best practices, benchmarks and, in particular, 1. academic (allg.) figures. The study addresses these research gaps and aims to derive recommendations for action accordingly.

The investigations/analyses focus on the following aspects:
Working environment 4.0 framework conditions
Change in cooperation, cooperative venture, partnership, collaboration through Working World 4.0
Change in the organizational structure
New spatial concepts/refugees/communication
Change management

Project manager, project coordinator, head of the project:
Professors / Professor Dr. Dr. habil. Wolfgang Becker, Prof. Dr. habil. Patrick Ulrich

Participants:
Prof. Dr. habil. Patrick Ulrich, Alexandra Fibitz

Keywords:
Working world 4.0, digitalization, change management

Term, period of validity, duration:
01.08.2017 - 01.02.2018

Supporter:
University of Bamberg, Aalen University of Applied Sciences

Contact: Ulrich, Patrick:
07361 9149022
patrick.ulrich@hs-aalen.de

Publications:
tbd.

The term risk describes the possibility of a negative deviation from the expected result. Risks can lead to commercial, economical, profitable, financial, cost-effective dangers for companies. However, positive deviations can also occur. But how is risk management practiced in German companies? What differences can be identified? What are the current trends and challenges? The aim and purpose of the empirical study is to map risk management practice in Germany in order to gain in-depth insights for practice; practical experience and 1. academic (allgem.).

The study focuses on the following aspects:
Framework conditions of risk management
Risk management system
Types of risk
Risk culture
Assessment of the success of risk management

Project manager, project coordinator, head of the project:
Prof. Dr. habil. Patrick Ulrich

Participants:
Prof. Dr. habil. Patrick Ulrich; Prof. Dr. Ingo Scheuermann, Julia Barth, Sonja Lehmann, Alexandra Fibitz

Keywords:
Risk management, benchmark, risk management system

Term, period of validity, duration:
01.01.2018 - 01.06.2018

Supporter:
Aalen University of Applied Sciences, Carl Zeiss Foundation

Contact:
Ulrich, Patrick:
07361 91490 22
patrick.ulrich@hs-aalen.de

Publications:
in process

Like none other topic, digitalization and related concepts are currently preoccupying politics, society and the economy, business. In this context, Industry 4.0, the fourth industrial revolution, is being discussed in German-speaking countries in particular. Industry 4.0 refers to the networking of self-controlling, sensor-supported production resources and the associated merging of the physical and virtual world into so-called cyber-physical systems. This results in significant potential benefits for companies, such as increasing production flexibility, improving response times, optimizing monitoring and Decision-Making Processes and developing innovative products. At the same time, Industry 4.0 is generally associated with not inconsiderable investment and financing costs.

As a driving force in the German economy, the question of how to deal with the topic of Industry 4.0 also arises for SMEs. In 2015, the former European Competence Center for Applied SME Research (EKAM) (now: European Field of Applied SME Research (EFAM)) at the University of Bamberg conducted a personal and written survey of managers from SMEs in order to get to the bottom of this and other questions in order to gain relevant insights for practice; science and scholarshop (allgem.). It emerged that the topic was not yet classified as urgent by those surveyed at the time and that a rather passive-reactive approach was generally adopted. Although Industry 4.0 was considered to be of great strategic importance, the companies had not yet developed an independent Industry 4.0 strategy or any key figures, indicators or concrete measures. In addition, functions such as data analytics were only used in a few companies and in many cases it was unclear how the additional data obtained should be used. Overall, it was found that a large number of SMEs were not fully exploiting the potential of Industry 4.0.

In the course of technological progress and the rapid development in the field (of) digital, Industry 4.0 has also evolved in the meantime. Accordingly, EFAM and the Aalen Department, Applied Sciences (AAUF) at Aalen University of Applied Sciences are taking up the topic again and conducting a repeat study to investigate the extent to which changes have occurred in companies and how their attitude towards Industry 4.0 has changed. The aim is to show the current valid from in company practice, to investigate changes and developments and, based on this, to derive 1. academic (allg.) recommendations for action. In particular, the following fields (of) will be examined on the basis of an extensive online survey of SMEs:

Framework conditions for Industry 4.0 in SMEs
Industry 4.0 and top management
Decision-making skills for Industry 4.0
Strategy and business model for Industry 4.0
Industry 4.0 and the value chain
Industry 4.0 and corporate success.


Project manager, project coordinator, head of the project:
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Dr. habil. Wolfgang Becker, Prof. Dr. habil. Patrick Ulrich

Participants:
Prof. Dr. habil. Patrick Ulrich, Sonja Lehmann, Oliver Schmid, Christoph Feichtinger

Keywords:
Industry 4.0, digitalization, SMEs

Term, period of validity, duration:
01.05.2018 - tbd.

Supporter:
University of Bamberg, Aalen University of Applied Sciences

Contact:
Ulrich, Patrick:
07361 91490 22
patrick.ulrich@hs-aalen.de

Publications:
in process

The term compliance, which was almost unknown in the German-speaking world a good 10 years ago, comes from the Anglo-American legal sphere and roughly means adherence to, compliance with and conformity with certain commandments. However, the term is not only aimed at compliance with the law, but should also be seen in the context of value and value-oriented Strategic Management. As the misconduct of companies is increasingly coming to the attention of the public due to various scandals, there is a growing demand for them to be aware of the applicable commandments and prohibitions and to act accordingly.

"Classic" types of white-collar crime, such as property crime or money laundering, are no longer the only offenses that affect companies. Currently, topics surrounding the term "cybercrime" are also becoming the focus of discussions. Digitalization and Industry 4.0 in particular are creating potential areas of risk that should not be underestimated. Many companies are facing major challenges due to the increasing number of regulations and laws, but also due to the risks associated with digitalization.

The consequences of non-compliance or non-adherence to certain requirements are considerable and are divided into direct and indirect costs, which can manifest themselves in the form of fines, imprisonment, claims for compensation, order suspensions or loss of reputation and trust. These risks can be countered by introducing suitable compliance measures. Open communication, the creation of transparency and a corporate culture that promotes integrity should be part of the corporate mission statement.

The purpose of this project by the Aalener Institut für Strategic Management (AAUF) is to gain an overview of the organization, functions, instruments, standards and laws in compliance practice; practical experience. To this end, an empirical survey of companies is planned. In addition, interviews with experts on the topic will be conducted in parallel.

The survey will focus on the following aspects:

General questions on compliance,
Organization of compliance,
compliance function and functions,
Relevant laws and standards,
Liability risks and D&O insurance,
Impact on success,
Current challenges.

Project manager, project coordinator, head of the project:
Prof. Dr. habil. Patrick Ulrich

Participants:
Julia Barth, Alexandra Fibitz, Sonja Lehmann

Compliance management, compliance organization, liability
Term, period of validity, duration
01.03.2018 - tbd.

Supporter, sponsor:
Aalen University of Applied Sciences

Contact:
Ulrich, Patrick:
07361 91490 22
patrick.ulrich@hs-aalen.de