Expert Consulting: Corporate Management

Many SMEs should internationalize in order to remain competitive in the market. But how can this be achieved if the necessary market knowledge and capacities are lacking?

Company mergers promise synergy effects and more growth. However, studies show that up to four out of five post-merger integrations fail to achieve these goals. In view of this, our expert recommends placing significantly more emphasis on merging the different corporate cultures.

There are many good reasons for expanding into the USA. But choosing a location can be a difficult process with many unknowns. Our USA specialist knows how companies can find the right location.

If plant construction projects come to a standstill, there is a risk of considerable financial damage. Often there is only one way out.

It is a long way to the conclusion of a planning and approval procedure. It is not only the administrative and political dimension that poses a particular challenge.

Entering the US market promises access to a huge sales market. But naivety can turn an attempt into a disaster.

Improvements in customer service create greater proximity to the customer and sharpen the company's profile. However, change processes often lead to uncertainty among the employees affected. A package of measures is therefore needed to win them over to the process, explains our customer experience expert.

If a company is in crisis, quick countermeasures are necessary. But every crisis is different. So what should companies do first? Appoint a Chief Restructuring Officer (CRO), says our expert, and then implement the following seven measures.

More than half of all projects slip into a crisis at some point; most of them fail. But that doesn't have to be the case: project restructuring is feasible.

The market opportunities in China are huge, if only because of its 1.4 billion inhabitants. However, the zero Covid strategy, the Taiwan crisis and Chinese domestic politics have put a noticeable damper on the euphoria of the last 20 years: doing business in China has become more complicated and riskier. What does this mean for German SMEs? Questions for our China expert on site.

Companies need the creativity of their employees to come up with new ideas to beat their competitors. However, in order to function, organizations also need fixed structures and work processes that hinder rather than promote innovation. Our innovation management expert explains how companies can reconcile the two.

Technological innovations have enormous business potential. But the road to the finished product is rocky - and sometimes very long. Our expert explains how to master it before the money runs out.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is not an empty promise, says our expert for data-based innovations, but a bundle of technologies that companies should use to their advantage. A conversation about the smart use of data, value chains and building ecosystems.

Tapping into foreign markets promises growth, positive economies of scale and greater diversification of risks. At the same time, it triggers a comprehensive transformation of the company. An internationalization strategy must take this into account.

Companies must file for insolvency immediately in the event of insolvency. This makes it all the more important to recognize an impending insolvency in advance. Our restructuring expert explains what approaches there are and when it is advisable to turn to experienced specialists.

Companies are increasingly managing market access and sales success via the customer journey: companies design content, data and touchpoints along the purchase decision phases in such a way that they specifically influence demand and conversion. It is precisely this mechanism that is coming under pressure.

I start a new mandate and usually know within the first few days how big the problem really is. Not because I'm clairvoyant, but because the signals are visible everywhere. So far, they have just been successfully ignored, supposedly not seen or simply explained away. After more than 20 years in C-level mandates in transformation, restructuring and cultural change, I have learned that organizations do not fail due to a lack of concepts. They fail because they don't want to admit the truth about themselves and ultimately deal with it too late.

I encounter the same patterns of turning a blind eye time and time again. I'll tell you what really helps against it.

The key industry in the German economy is undergoing radical change: electromobility and the ever-increasing digitalization of vehicles are transforming the sector. If you want to maintain your market position, you need to reposition yourself. Our expert explains how to do this.

Change projects almost inevitably lead to a drop in performance. If you want to avoid this, you need effective project management. But not only that.

The market for medical technology opens up many opportunities for ambitious companies, but finding access to the market is by no means trivial - not least because of the special features of medical devices, which should not be underestimated. Do you still want to take advantage of the strong margins and growth? Our expert explains what is important.

There are many measures to counter earnings crises. But which ones are actually sustainable?

The German Corporate Stabilization and Restructuring Act (StaRUG) has changed many things: Among other things, new obligations have applied in insolvency law since the beginning of 2021, including with regard to early crisis detection. This naturally has an impact on concrete crisis management on site. But what adjustments to processes and responsibilities in crisis management does the StaRUG require? Our expert names nine measures.

Digitalization is a process that encompasses the entire organization and drives and steers its development. Our organizational development expert is convinced of this. This makes it all the more important to design digitalization processes in an integrative and organization-wide way.

More and more companies want to operate more sustainably. But transforming a business model ecologically and socially during ongoing operations is sometimes akin to open-heart surgery. Our sustainability management expert knows how to achieve this without risks and side effects.

Bei einem Unternehmenskauf bzw. Unternehmensverkauf liegt der Teufel im Detail. Aber mit Umsicht und Methode lassen sich Gefahren erkennen - und erfolgreich umschiffen. Wie, erklärt unsere Expertin hier.

Overcoming resistance is part of the core business of change managers. This can sometimes result in broken china - sometimes with serious consequences. Our expert explains how change managers can achieve their goals without causing irreparable damage.

When differences in family businesses escalate, sooner or later the business also suffers. However, resolving such conflicts is often difficult, partly because family relationships are usually very complex. Business mediation offers a remedy. But this requires more than just the willingness of everyone to actually resolve the conflict, as our crisis and change management expert knows.