Based on socio-technical system approaches, empirical research and practical experience, Workplace Innovation is a tradition-rich work design concept on european level. Scientists from sfs contribute in many cooperation projects own conceptual approaches and empirical results to this perspective. Against the background leading european scholars and promoters of the WPI concept highlight in this book aspects of leadership in context of digitalisation.
Essentially this book is about using new technological devices and organisational models to implement post-heroic management approaches in the sense of Charles Handy: “Whereas the heroic manager of the past knew all, could do all, and could solve every problem, the post-heroic manager asks how every problem can be solved in a way that develops other people’s capacity to handle it.”
The rapidly increasing pressure of digitalisation is confronting organizations with complex challenges and poses considerable risks of mismanagement. Technological or economic reductions in the potential of digital transformation not only quickly lead to a loss of acceptance and motivation on the part of employees, but also undermine their legitimate expectations of participation and co-determination as well as their ability to self-organise and innovate, which ultimately forms the basis for economic success.
WPI shows how digitalisation can help to make organizations more competitive, sustainable and resilient by consequently focusing on the empowerment of employees. This is the central issue for management and leadership in the socio-digital transformation.