Publications and reflections
Themes and insights
Welcome to my top publications with regards to foresight, strategy, leadership and organizational development. Food for thought and reflection. Enjoy reading and I shall look forward to receiving your feedback and comments. Please join the conversation.
Most impactful publications (English and German)
This online platform is to present my most impactful publications that were published most recently. What is more, the full spectrum of articles, presentations and reports can also be found under xLAB section.
VALUE-BASED LEADERSHIP BY LEADING FROM BEHIND: "Ubuntu: I am, because we are". (Monaco Voice) (Deutsch)
What exactly is Ubuntu, and can its philosophy develop new leadership that is able to impact postmodern management models? Ubuntu means: I am, because we are. The late South Africa President Nelson R. Mandela once said: “A leader is like a shepherd. He stays behind the flock, letting most nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realizing that all along they are being directed from behind”. The article outlines a value-based leadership paradigm that is based on purpose, values and a new leadership approach. A new leadership framework is conceptualized and presented.
Value-based leadership and purpose: It is argued that a new leadership paradigm for politics and business should be based upon distinctive purpose and values, in order to navigate and thrive in an uncertain, volatile environment and times. The leadership model has four cornerstones as its basis. They are: i) Entrance to life ii) Social justice iii) Co-creation and iv) Conflict resolution
Core value pillars: Core values define what is important to uphold in an environment and in an interaction with others, and more broadly, how to collaborate amongst each other in politics, business, and society. Collaborate with different perspectives ii) See the good in others iii) Demonstrate humanity and kindness iv) Be ready to forgive
New leadership approach: From an Ubuntu perspective, I purport four core values that must be integrated in a purposeful leadership approach. leading from behind is based upon the four imperatives: i) Self-management, i.e. it starts with oneself to change and transform ii) Team management and development iii) Network / relationship management iv) Ethical management and trust.
Change Management: Das Veränderungsverhalten der Mitarbeiter steuern (KMU Magazin)
Das sich ändernde Geschäftsumfeld zu antizipieren und die Strategie und Organisation so anzupassen, dass es passt, ist mehr Kunst als Wissenschaft, aber entscheidend für Erfolg und Wachstum. Die Bewältigung von Veränderungen ist der Schlüssel zum Erfolg oder Misserfolg eines Unternehmens, einer Organisation und eines Teams. Sonst kann eine Organisation oder Unternehmung zum Dinosaurier werden.
Change-Management-Prozess: In diesem Sinne sollten sich Führungskräfte der Fallstricke und Hürden bewusst sein, die es beim Change Management zu überwinden gilt. Es ist wichtig, persönliche Risiken und die Wahrnehmung der Notwendigkeit für Mitarbeiter und Team zu erkennen und verstehen. Es ist darum wichtig, eine gemeinsame Vision auszuarbeiten und neue mentale Modelle zwischen Team und Stakeholdern abzustimmen.
Akzeptanzmatrix und Charaktere: Die Akzeptanzmatrix visualisiert und konzeptualisiert, wer Veränderungen befürworten oder ablehnen könnte. Dabei werden vier Charaktere vorgestellt: Botschafter, Bremser, Skeptiker und Gegner. Während Botschafter Veränderungsprojekte fördern, können Gegner diese toxisch unterminieren. Sogenannte Bremser und Skeptiker können einen Veränderungsprozess ebenfalls erheblich verlangsamen.
Leader: Hero oder Zero? (KMU Magazin)
Have you ever had a bad boss? How did this experience make you feel? What happened to you? How did you get over it? These are some of the relevant questions, that I elaborate on in the KMU-Magazin. What is more, I outline what it means to have a good boss, and how one can flourish and grow. Having a good boss is a true gift.
In the article, I share my experiences as a co-worker, team player, manager, leader and boss of having bosses of all walks of life. I use the term “boss”, as ultimately someone has to be the boss, being a Manager, Director, Vice-President, President, Owner or Chairman of an institution. Finally, there are concrete suggestions what could be done. English version link.
360º Vehicle Life Cycle Management with Blockchain Technology (IfM Impulse, Wissensmagazin)
Blockchain technology will disrupt, transform and innovate the current way we conduct business. Smart contracts will drive process automatisation and absolute digitalisation will take over. Blockchain technology constitutes the bridge for a new Economy of Things (EoT) based on digital tokens.
In the article, I identified four concrete scenarios for the future of mobility: Optimized mobility, mixed mobility, individual mobility and, last but not least, Mobility as a Service (MaaS) by click & drive. Moreover, it is outlined how the vehicle life cycle can be managed with blockchain technology in an efficient and effective way.
Ready for Mobility as a Service: New business models in the automotive industry will emerge and create a “Mobility as a Service” (MaaS) standard. Time to get ready for blockchain mobility by just click & drive.
Autonomous driving and services: What is more, It is argued that the blockchain technology will also support autonomous driving with many convenient services, whether in the form of entertainment in the car, for planning the cheapest purchases in the vicinity of the vehicle or simply for finding a pleasant accommodation or lovely restaurant in a beautiful setting. In other words, the car will act as concierge. Instead of Alexa or Siri, this could be James.
Tokenisation to transfer value: Through data or asset tokenisation and smart contracts at the touch of a button, i.e. click & drive, your blockchain DApp not only creates MaaS, but also increases the security of its transactions. The Blockchain Breakthrough: Innovative Vehicle Life Cycle Management Video presents a use case and illustrates how the new mobility ecosystem looks like in order to create a smart mobility future for the entire vehicle life cycle.
Infectious Futures: Reflections, Visions, and Worlds through and beyond COVID-19 (JFS Digital)
COVID-19 has brought about a rupture in the trajectory of our societies, presenting the world with an unprecedented crisis, but also providing a point of reflection and an opening to imagine and articulate alternative futures.
“Infectious Futures: Reflections, visions, and worlds through and beyond COVID-19” brings together 28 essays, articles and conversations from leading scholars and thinkers from around the world, who explore the existential questions that COVID-19 confronts us with, and who analyse and imagine how we may navigate this crisis to create preferred futures.
The book is edited by: Dr. Jose Ramos, Professor Sohail Inayatullah, Dr. Peter Black, Dr. John Sweeney, with production editing by Abril Chimal. Published as an ebook and in print. Humbled to be a co-Author. Moreover, it also includes: A strategic conversation with John A. Sweeney, Jose Ramos, Peter Black, Rafeeq Bosch, Abril Chimal, Otto C. Frommelt, Fazidah Ithnin & Joe Ravetz with regards to foresight and visioning experiences and what to pay attention to.
Video: On my YouTube Channel, there is a short summary of my article. Enjoy watching. Moreover, the book can be ordered on Journal of Futures Study Digital or from Amazon ISBN-13: 978-0645428339 / ISBN-10: 0645428337.
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease caused a pandemic that has changed our lives and future to come beyond recognition. It is still altering society, governmental policies, and economy as well as disrupting the way we work and live together.
Two key drivers identified are: The evolution of business conduct in the ecosystem and the developments of health technology. Digitalization will further drive a Shut-In Economy.
Four scenarios: I advocate that we need to have a Circular Economy that makes sustainability inclusive. Not one’s passport, but ones new Global Health-ID will provide access. In order to protect oneself from contagion, artificial intelligence (AI) will become the health police through an authoritarian Digital Leninism approach. I envisage that further digitalization and blockchain technology could act as an enabler to drive these changes.
This article presents an outlook of possible futures with regards to the impact on society, government and our business community. It includes practical and possible new business models focusing on a circular economy business environment.
Mentoring: Der Schlüssel zum Erfolg (KMU Magazin)
Um die Zukunft, privat wie auch beruflich, möglichst nach seinen eigenen Vorstellungen zu gestalten, müssen bereits frühzeitig und gezielt die entsprechenden Weichen gestellt werden.
Ein wirksames, wenn auch wenig genutztes Tool hierzu is das Mentoring. Der Beitrag zeigt, welche Art der persönlichen Entwicklung notwendig ist, um erfolgreich zu sein. Kurz und bündig: Mentoring kann als wichtiger Hebel und Werkzeug für die persönliche und berufliche Entwicklung eingesetzt werden.
Wie virtuelle Räume achtsame Führung unterstützen können (KMU Magazin)
Mindful Leadership oder achtsame Führung ist in aller Munde. Wie aber ist eine gesunde Organisation, die fit und agil ist, in einem zunehmend unsicheren Geschäftsfeld zu führen? Der Beitrag zeigt eine Möglichkeit, anhand eines Fallbeispiels, wie dies mithilfe virtueller Räume (blau, rot, gelb und grün), die als positive Lernschleife zu nutzen sind, unterstützt werden kann. In welchem Raum bist Du, das Team oder die Organisation? Wo solltet ihr sein?
Erfolgsrezept für eine konfliktfreie Kommunikation (KMU Magazin)
Konfliktbeladene Kommunikation im Kundengespräch ist eine grosse Herausforderung. Das aufgezeigte Kommunikationskonzept beinhaltet: Ein Kommunikations-Leitbild, -Leitlinien und -Barometer (ein Innovations-Framework um Eskalation zu managen wird vorgestellt) und zeigt ein Praxisbeispiel für konfliktfreie Kommunikation.
Additional information
More articles, creative concepts and innovative ideas that I published can also be accessed at my xLAB. Enjoy reading. Your constructive and critical feedback is greatly appreciated.