Forschungsprojekte der Karlshochschule

Completed research projects

I imagine management is thought of differently here.

I see a faculty that views management from the cultural studies perspective of performance and therefore takes a multidisciplinary and science-integrated approach. Performance is understood here as a management concept and examined from a wide variety of perspectives – e.g. sociological, aesthetic or ethical. I imagine that the concepts of “space” and “staging” are understood here as manifestations of performance and become the starting point for scientific investigations.

And what does a modern Faculty of Business Administration & Management look like to me? Of course, it takes into account the contents and methods of “classical” business administration, such as the principles of rationality or market economy concepts. At its core, however, it critically scrutinizes the given concepts and adopts a culturalist and social-theoretical perspective on business and management. I imagine that entrepreneurial action is understood differently at this faculty – embedded in a socio-cultural context and integrated into ethically sound, discursive thinking and action. This attitude is also reflected in the faculty’s research topics.

PLAY WITH! Social participation and intercultural experiences

Living together in Thuringia

SPIEL MIT is a third-party funded project funded by the Federal Ministry of the Interior as part of the “Cohesion through Participation” program and implemented by the Federal Agency for Civic Education. The project originally ran for two years (Nov. 2016 – Oct. 2018), but was extended until October 2019.

The aim of the project is to support the intercultural opening of sports clubs that are organized in the Thuringia State Sports Association and to promote their long-term establishment as a strategic activity of the clubs. This goal is achieved through four interlocking packages of measures, which are implemented in close cooperation between the Karlshochschule International University, the Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences for Technology and Economics, the AWO Jena-Weimar District Association (coordinator) and the Thuringia State Sports Association.

Following a status quo analysis of the intercultural opening of Thuringian sports clubs (current situation, existing measures and competencies, effects and needs), further qualitative in-depth studies are to be carried out in cooperation with four Thuringian priority clubs and an advisory infrastructure for increasing intercultural competence and opening in sports clubs is to be established. The priority clubs are supported in the implementation of integrative measures in order to promote intercultural learning and intercultural understanding in the club landscape and to break down barriers to access to existing sports activities for people with a migration background. These measures are designed in line with requirements as a result of the status quo and in-depth analysis. After one and a half years of monitoring the four focus associations, a third study will examine success factors and identify necessary structures, which will be incorporated into a good practice guide on the transferability of the project results.

The sustainability of the project results will not only be reflected in the emergence of an increased awareness of the social participation of people with a migration background, but also in the permanence of the aforementioned advisory infrastructure and the development of networks with migrant organizations and similar organizations in the social space of the associations.

Partner:

Framework program:

Contact:

  • Helena Faust M.A., Research Assistant hfaust(at)karlshochschule.de

Publications

DIVERSE (Diversity Improvement as a Viable Enrichment Resource for Society and Economy)

Framework conditions: EU-funded project (Integration Fund), 18-month term (start: Dec. 2013), 10 participating countries, coordination by the Catholic University of Milan (WWELL Research Center), estimated total volume around 900t euros.

Partners: Catholic University of Milan (Italy), University of Huelva (Spain), New University of Lisbon (Portugal), Karlshochschule International University (Germany), Radboud University Nijmegen (Netherlands), University of Waasa (Finland), University of Umea (Sweden), University of Lodz (Poland), University of Tartu (Estonia), Menedek Society for Migration (Hungary), Foundation for Research on Multiethnicity ISMU (Italy), three other non-profit organizations

General objective: The main objective of the project is to develop an innovative and effective integration model for migrants from third countries (non-EU citizens). Development is achieved by adapting and improving the practices of multi-stakeholders involved in assessing and evaluating the potential of these migrants for the host society, both socially and economically. Special attention is paid to the non-formal knowledge and skills of third-country migrants, the relational connection between them and the institutions in the context of migration and integration and, in particular, the current measures in this regard in organizations (diversity management). The intended project results include proposals for the public and politicians to strengthen civic participation.

Planned work program:

  • Closing knowledge gaps. Initially, extensive parallel data collection will take place in ten EU countries. Empirical research is conducted on the basis of qualitative studies, a) which diversity management practices are used in profit and non-profit organizations, b) which instruments are needed for the assessment and recognition of formal, informal and non-formal competences and skills of third-country migrants, c) what voluntary activities these migrants are involved in. All data is included in a comparative analysis.
  • Improve recognition practice. This component develops a new approach to recognizing the knowledge and skills of third-country migrants, based on a synergetic dialogue between representatives of different stakeholder groups. In particular, the informal skills acquired in the cultures of origin are also taken into account. The result is a prototypical and transnational model for the assessment and recognition of their knowledge, skills and competencies. The countries involved are Italy, Germany, Portugal, Sweden and the Netherlands.
  • Applications and integration. The newly developed format is being tested in cooperation with migrant self-organizations (MSOs) and individual institutions active in recognition practice in the federal states. Parallel to this, the analysis in the advanced phase focuses on the participation of third-country migrants in voluntary and honorary associations and, in this respect, on the possibilities of improving their civic participation (focus on Italy and the Netherlands).

Results and dissemination: Based on participatory approaches, the project develops an innovative, contemporary and applied approach to issues of integration and recognition practices in European countries. The model and the concept are presented and discussed in seminars and briefings. Cooperation with partners in profit and non-profit environments, in practice as well as in the public and in politics ensures a sustainable effect.

Karlshochschule International University, Karlsruhe, March 2014
Contact: Roman Lietz M.A., rlietz(at)karlshochschule.de

Emerald Forest

This project is not a research project in the narrower sense. However, the results are very interesting for university work. A team from seven different European countries – including, for example, our partner university in Valmiera, Latvia – is working on a management simulation game that will be tested at the universities and then continuously improved. The aim is to offer students practical conditions for acquiring management know-how and practical knowledge. The system used is sufficiently complex to simulate multifactorial and realistic business contexts. Among other things, the instrument can be used to build and operate an amusement park.

The project is financially supported by the EU Commission. The consortium is managed by the university in Breda, the Netherlands. The team at Karlshochschule includes Prof. Dr. Clemens Werkmeister, Prof. Dr. Antti Vihinen and Professor Dr. Kai Holschuh.

Completed projects in 2013

Touring Consumption 2013

In a world that is increasingly diverse and complex, the need for an innovative understanding of the resulting dynamics is pressing. The communities are growing together with remarkable new dimensions of multi-ethnicity, demographies are changing, new challenges are arising for leaders in organizations, political institutions, and for societal groups of any kind.

The consensus narrative of the society changes and we need, probably, to learn new languages to describe and to explain it. The present conference deals with diversity, a poly-functional notion for the description and analysis of these complex dynamics. Among the multiple usages of the notion, as well as on the edges of it, the conference will pronounce three major goals: First, it aims at sounding and differentiating the theoretical state-of-the-art in relation to diversity. Secondly, we want to establish a methodological grounding of diversity as a social reality, which is constituted by and within communicative action. Third, there is a strong need for empirical analyses that show the qualitative dynamics of diversity in different societal domains, i.e. organizations, urban environments, companies, etc..

The layout of the conference is designed both for researchers and for practitioners. We want you to meet in arenas of discussion, to create the interactive encounters that are needed for development. Our task is to find synergies and an innovative treatment of the notion. Diversity is not a set of criteria for nailing social differences; it is an integrating momentum of life.

Grundtvig Learning Partnership: “Age-related Leadership – workshop for Managers who lead elder employees”

Demographic change presents us with a challenge. The proportion of the working population is decreasing in many European countries due to an ageing workforce. Karlshochschule invited several partners to take part in a joint “Learning Partnership” and develop tools to increase the employability of an ageing workforce.

On 11. and On April 12, 2013, ten managers from Germany, Italy, Finland and Switzerland visited the Karlshochschule Management Institute to take part in an intensive training program in which they dealt extensively with the topic of age-appropriate leadership. The “Age-related Leadership Workshop for Managers who lead elder Employees” was developed and implemented by the Management Institute and its three partners. It was an effective conclusion to the two-year research project – part of the European Commission’s Grundtvig program.

The aim of the project was to develop a training concept that brings managers closer to age-appropriate leadership and gives them a new sensitivity towards ageing workforces. Ultimately, this knowledge is intended to enable them to deal with ageing employees in a way that is characterized by a reflective understanding of leadership. The importance of such competencies is illustrated in the project description of the “Research activities” page of the Fondazione Istud (translated here by Karlshochschule Management Institut): “Ensuring employees have a healthy and educated professional life is a basic requirement that managers must take care of. It is therefore imperative that companies and managers understand how they should deal with an ageing workforce. Studies show that leadership is the only significant factor that improves the work ability of older employees.

Accordingly, it is of great importance to train managers to lead older employees; we need concepts of “age-appropriate leadership”.” Building on extensive previous research, which included a large-scale survey in which 755 managers from the partner countries took part, the four institutes compiled a comprehensive analysis of age-appropriate leadership. This also dealt extensively with the significance of age perceptions and how to deal with them. The research project combined sociological, psychological, business management, leadership and occupational health perspectives, enabling the partners to look at the various aspects of the topic from different angles. The workshop in April also enabled the participants to analyze age-appropriate leadership from different cultural perspectives and to develop new concepts for their own companies.

The trainers from the four partner institutions combined theoretical knowledge with practical application, for example by introducing a “Learner’s Portfolio”. This folder contained a series of questions and tasks on what had been learned and offered the opportunity to note down impressions and ideas as well as to critically answer the nine key questions on one’s own opinion and company. After two years of intensive work, the research cooperation bore fruit on many different levels and was an enriching learning experience for all involved.

The project is headed by Prof. Dr. Cordula Braedel-Kühner at Karlshochschule.

Current publication:

  • Braedel-Kühner, C. and van Elst, H. (2012): Age constructions and age images of leaders within the concept of individualized, age-related leadership. In: Sociologia del lavoro, 125(1), 118-137.
  • Braedel-Kühner, C./Eberhardt, D./Meyer, M. (2011): Individualized, age-appropriate leadership: a concept in the field of tension between individualization and equal treatment. In: Diversitas, Journal for Managing Diversity and Diversity Studies 1, 63-71.

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Completed projects in 2012

Re-Thinking Diversity

In a world that is increasingly diverse and complex, the need for an innovative understanding of the resulting dynamics is pressing. The communities are growing together with remarkable new dimensions of multi-ethnicity, demographies are changing, new challenges are arising for leaders in organizations, political institutions, and for societal groups of any kind. The consensus narrative of the society changes and we need, probably, to learn new languages to describe and to explain it.

The present conference deals with diversity, a poly-functional notion for the description and analysis of these complex dynamics. Among the multiple usages of the notion, as well as on the edges of it, the conference will pronounce three major goals: First, it aims at sounding and differentiating the theoretical state-of-the-art in relation to diversity. Secondly, we want to establish a methodological grounding of diversity as a social reality, which is constituted by and within communicative action. Third, there is a strong need for empirical analyses that show the qualitative dynamics of diversity in different societal domains, i.e. organizations, urban environments, companies, etc. The layout of the conference is designed both for researchers and for practitioners.

We want you to meet in arenas of discussion, to create the interactive encounters that are needed for development. Our task is to find synergies and an innovative treatment of the notion. Diversity is not a set of criteria for nailing social differences; it is an integrating momentum of life. The project is headed by Prof. Dr. Cordula Braedel-Kühner and Prof. Dr. Andreas P. Müller at Karlshochschule.

This project has been funded with support from the Volkswagen Stiftung.

Completed projects 2011

Branded Spaces

The brand phenomenon has become an important topic in society and business, both in science and in practice. However, it can be observed that brands are undergoing extreme change and are constantly occupying new fields. Space in particular is becoming increasingly important. Whereas brands used to be experienced primarily in two dimensions, they are now increasingly entering the three-dimensional realm.

Even in the newly emerging virtual spaces (social media, clouds, etc.), brands have become indispensable. Important questions arise in this context: How are brands staged in space? How are different forms of branded spaces designed? How does real and virtual space change brand perception among stakeholders? How are branded spaces planned, organized and marketed? Where are the opportunities and risks for brands in the space?

The project is headed by Prof. Dr. Louise Bielzer and Prof. Dr. Stephan Sonnenburg at Karlshochschule. In September 2011, an international conference on the topic of “Branded Spaces” was held at Karlshochschule.

Operation of sports and event properties. Management challenges and options for action

Following the understanding of space as infrastructure and framework for the staging of sports and other events, the project focused on specific management challenges in the operation of different types of sports and event properties.

The aim was to analyze and classify requirements for the management of sports and event properties such as multifunctional halls, ice rinks, swimming pools, etc., to present options for action and to evaluate these against the background of the demands of the various stakeholders of these properties.

Current publication: Bielzer, L./Wadsack, R. (eds.) (2011): Operation of sports and event properties. Management challenges and options for action. Frankfurt/Bern: Peter Lang.

The project was coordinated by Prof. Dr. Ronald Wadsack (Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences, Salzgitter Campus, Institute for Sports Management) and Prof. Dr. Louise Bielzer, Head of the Trade Fair, Congress and Event Management course at Karlshochschule International University.