One question that comes up during every period of economic and social transformation is which skills do people and enterprises need so they are well placed to actively shape the changes rather than simply being caught up in them?
There’s nothing new about the idea that a dynamic “synergy of poles” is needed in order to create the necessary “tension” for change. Even Ferdinand von Steinbeis, who gives his name to the Steinbeis Foundation, faced the challenge of having to “fuel” the industrial revolution at the end of the 19th century with both practical skills and theoretical knowledge.
Which skills do people and enterprises need to drive solutions themselves rather than just being driven by circumstances? A useful guide can be provided by “transferring” a quote about the “spirit of the times” in Goethe’s “Faust” to today’s context: “Change will succeed and bear fruit if we design it with values and a sense of purpose!”.
It is up to us to develop the resources and approaches needed to do this. In the articles in this edition of TRANSFER, authors from Steinbeis Network enterprises describe various ways of helping people and companies to effectively develop and apply knowledge and technologies with the aid of dual, project-based approaches which allow people to develop their skills in concrete projects that address real challenges.
This benefits companies by enabling them to offer their employees targeted, project-based support while at the same time developing innovative solutions for their business processes, giving rise to a dynamic cycle where knowledge is created, applied and continuously updated.
You will also find articles here that ask you to stop and think. Reflecting on different ideas and getting to grips with the technological trends that will influence the future of “competence-building” are just as much a part of the process as taking advantage of specific opportunities for collaboration.
With competence-building greetings and best wishes for a high level of reading-implementation.
Yours, Uwe Haug