Is Your Company Fit For The Future?

The challenges facing companies are more significant than ever before. A shortage of skilled workers, rising commodity prices, accelerating inflation, delivery bottlenecks, logistics problems, and an uncertain energy supply: only those who can adapt quickly and flexibly to changing conditions can survive in uncertain times like these. 

The scientifically based study shows a direct connection between a company’s flexibility and its success. There are eight factors that companies can use to determine whether they are positioned flexibly enough for the future. 

They are based on the findings of the flexibility monitor, which Aurum Interim Management has already carried out several times in cooperation with the CBS International Business School and the market research institute Innofact.

What About The Digital Competence Of The Company?

Corona has given digitization an enormous boost. Just three years ago, hardly anyone could have imagined that parts of the business could be managed purely online. Or even prominent aspects of the business can be transferred to the digital world. Does digitization used by the company provide the potential? 

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How Developed Is The Digital Competence Of The Employees?

The results prove that there is a direct, even significant connection between employees’ digital competence and a company’s flexibility. And that has an impact on success in the medium and long term. Companies should therefore ask themselves whether they are doing enough to promote the digital skills of their workforce.

Are Creativity Techniques Used?

Anyone who has not yet used creativity techniques such as Design Thinking, Innovation Lab, or Scrum should take a closer look at them. Because in such practices, which can be learned or trained, there is great potential to bring the innovative power of a company forward. It has been proven that creativity techniques contribute significantly to flexibility. A bonus that the company can draw on in the future.

How Flat Are The Hierarchies And Organizational Structures?

Even flat hierarchies promote the flexibility of a company. Because they significantly contribute to reducing barrier thinking, they also encourage the courage to develop new ideas and take different paths. And they are a guarantee for an exchange that is as direct as possible. Anyone who wants to prepare their company for the future should look closely at the established hierarchical levels.

How Flexible Is The Arrangement Of Working Hours And Location?

Mobile working has received a significant boost from the corona pandemic. Important to know: Working from home and flexible working hours are suitable for the employees and the company! Because a statistically significant connection between a flexible workplace and working time regulation for the employees and the general flexibility of a company and thus its success potential has been proven.

How Developed Is The Error Culture And Tolerance In The Company?

Without mistakes, there is no innovation. Companies that see mistakes not as a setback but as an opportunity for the future are on the right track. Because a positive error culture and the willingness to accept mistakes are guarantors for experimentation, and this is necessary to react flexibly to new challenges.

How High Is The Willingness To Invest In Processes And Agile Skills?

Agile teams that take on personal responsibility work largely autonomously and continuously analyze, improve and streamline processes in the process are more motivated and bring the company significantly forward in terms of flexibility. Companies should, therefore, not hesitate to push the transformation towards agile teams. 

What About The Leadership And Management Skills Of The Company?

The introduction of agile work processes also changes the management demands, and a new way of thinking becomes necessary. Companies should therefore take a close look at the agile competence of their management team and make targeted investments in them if essential because the flexibility monitor shows a direct connection between the agile competence of management and the success of companies. 

Working with an interim manager is often recommended for analyzing the status quo and initiating suitable measures. As an objective and impartial third party, he can show deficits more directly and promote necessary changes, exclusively committed to the cause.