Research on the future of work: Is everything better without hierarchies?
22/10/2024
How can communication both within and between organizations be shaped in the future to ensure greater cohesion? An exciting research project is being carried out by the HTW Berlin at the Zukunftsort Berlin Schöneweide: It examines how companies can operate when traditional hierarchies are replaced by so-called post-bureaucratic practices.
Research focus: New paths in corporate management
More and more companies are responding to the increasing demands of VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity) by adopting innovative forms of organization. Instead of strict hierarchies, they encourage more employee participation and personal responsibility. But how do such changes really affect the day-to-day work? This is the central research topic of Jasmin Leutelt’s dissertation project under the project management of Prof. Dr. Stefanie Rathje at HTW Berlin’s Business Communication program (in cooperation with Friedrich Schiller University Jena as part of the Cohesion Lab). Interviews and observations are used to analyze companies in a variety of industries and sizes. The aim of the research project is to establish how such post-bureaucratic approaches are implemented in practice.
Photo: Prof. Dr. Stefanie Rathje
Challenges and first insights
Initial findings show that practice is often more complex than the theories suggest. Although the new approaches offer a great deal of potential, the research also highlights the challenges. Promises such as complete self-organization or so-called “employee entrepreneurship” are not always realistically achievable.
Photo: Jasmin Leutelt
Significance for the future of work
The research project offers valuable insights for companies looking for new organizational approaches. At the Zukunftsort Berlin Schöneweide, an important contribution is being made to shaping the future of work in a way that considers the needs of the workforce.
Research Assistant: Jasmin Leutelt
Project Leader: Prof. Dr. Stefanie Rathje
Funded by: HTW Berlin
More about the research project:
