Abstract
European market conditions undergo a radical change which is pressing for a complete organisational restructuring. Today, a higher degree of flexibility is required in all functional areas. Keeping in touch with one's customers and the rapid fulfilment of their demands become major corporate targets. Transparent, flexible and powerful corporate units with short information lines and decision paths, and lean management structures must refocus on the employee and its creativity. To survive among an intensified competition, the employees' implicit know-how must be tapped and exploited.