IFPM Center for
Future Work & Leadership
The Center for Future Work & Leadership addresses new forms of work, New Work, and the question of what demands Work 4.0 places on leadership and employees.
The Center for Future Work and Leadership examines the following questions:
- What forms of leadership do companies need for high performance in Work 4.0?
- What other prerequisites for success does Work 4.0 require regarding culture and employee competencies?
- What do best practices look like in dealing with new forms of work?
We support practical application with our research and practical work at the Center for Future Work and Leadership:
- We shape future leadership for a new world of work
- We highlight where companies stand in the new world of work
- We guide companies into the future
- We offer guidance based on empirically founded insights
- Our partners are companies that actively shape the new world of work
More than 80% of companies in Switzerland are already in a phase of upheaval towards Work 4.0 (Weichbrodt et al., 2014). A shift is occurring from a traditionally hierarchically structured attendance culture to a network-like form of collaboration (SMEs: 26%; large companies: 41%: flexible work as an exception; SMEs: 40%; large companies: 41%: new forms of work introduced on a trial basis).
New worlds of work can be particularly well described by the characteristic of flexibility: Team and project affiliations are quickly adjusted as needed, and employees can and/or must act flexibly in terms of space and time. Technological progress and growing virtual communication possibilities favor this change, which abruptly transforms our existing world of work and places entirely new demands on human performance and competencies.
Initial empirical findings from the Institute for Leadership and Human Resource Management show that researching the effects and mechanisms of new forms of work is highly relevant if the introduction of new forms of work is to succeed: Home office, as an example of new forms of work, has significantly positive effects on performance, productivity, and innovation under the right cultural conditions (trust, family orientation, and cooperative networks) and appropriate leadership (inspiring leadership climate) (Bruch & Schuler 2016). However, if the cultural prerequisites for this are not met, the company must expect massive negative consequences, such as increased conflicts, higher sickness rates, and significantly reduced productivity.
Assessment: New Work & Culture Check
To gain a better understanding of their own company, the Institute for Leadership and Human Resource Management at the University of St.Gallen developed the New Work Check & Culture Check. For the conception of the checks, survey results from approximately 20,000 employees from nearly 100 companies were analyzed. The New Work & Culture Check enables companies to determine their current position and shows where they stand in their development towards the new world of work. For this purpose, the check records how extensively new forms of work are used in companies. A wide range of modern forms of work in the areas of fluid, virtual, digital, and individualized work is covered. The New Work & Culture Check also measures how well companies are prepared for the step into the new world of work. Accordingly, the test includes a positioning assessment related to the most important success factors of the new world of work: leadership and culture, granting freedom and the right employee competencies, as well as top management as a role model.
Porsche AG
Porsche is a leading automobile manufacturer with a long tradition in motorsport. In addition to its headquarters in Zuffenhausen, the company operates five other locations with areas covering development, sales, and production. In one of the most modern plants in the world, Porsche also welcomes more than 40,000 guests annually to its Leipzig Customer Center.
SWISS International Airlines
As a leading international pharmaceutical company, Novartis offers innovative medical solutions to address the changing needs of patients and societies.
Novartis
As a leading international pharmaceutical company, Novartis offers innovative medical solutions to address the changing needs of patients and societies.
Oberwaid Medical Center
Oberwaid offers services in upscale hospitality and gastronomy and in the healthcare sector.
