Fraunhofer-Institut für Produktionsanlagen und Konstruktionstechnik IPK

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  • Publication
    Germany towards a knowledge-based economy
    ( 2011)
    Mertins, Kai
    ;
    Will, Markus
    ;
    Wuscher, Sven
    Due to changes in the value creation processes the management of Intellectual Capital (IC) is of increasing importance for the industrialised nations. Previous research has indicated that material resources are less important than intangible assets. We confirm that this is true and that it applies in particular to small and medium-sized enterprises (SME). SMEs are the backbone of the German economy and therefore the target group for IC management. Unlike large scale enterprises, SMEs are incapable of facing the increasing cost pressure by volume growth or relocation due to their specific characteristics. Against this background, the purpose of this paper is to assess and describe Germany as a knowledge site. The paper shows the stage of development of German enterprises on the way to a knowledge-based economy from a practitioner's perspective. The results of the analysis are used to derive recommendations for the management of Intellectual Capital. For this purpose, the research group "Arbeitskreis Wissensbilanz" has undertaken an empirical study. The data for the survey was collected in the time period of July 2009 and August 2010 under the supervision of the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Systems and Design Technology (IPK) within the initiative "Wissensbilanz-Made in Germany". The initiative is funded by The Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology of germany (BMWi). In the course of the empirical study more than 2300 managers and decision makers of German enterprises of various sizes in various branches were questioned. They were asked to which degree different factors of the Intellectual Capital influence their business success and how well these different factors are developed in their enterprise from their point of view. The most important factors of the IC of German enterprises were identified for different sub-groups of the sample, e.g. enterprises of different size, from different sectors etc. The sub-groups were compared and significant differences were analysed.
  • Publication
    Analysing and enhancing IC in business networks: Results from a recent study
    ( 2010)
    Mertins, K.
    ;
    Will, M.
    ;
    Meyer, C.
    Since the acknowledgement of intellectual capital (IC) as the major driver of a company's competitive and innovative performance numerous scientific models and practical approaches were developed to capture and display the IC elements of businesses in order to make them visible and accessible for management. But since the economy has gone global and businesses are acting within a global business landscape the view on IC needs to be expanded to these new structures. Especially for small and medium sized enterprises (SME) commitment in networks and clusters is crucial for sustainable competitiveness on international markets. Alike single companies, also business networks highly depend on IC in order to perform successfully and effectively. The way businesses cooperate, exchange and acq uire knowledge, find suitable partners, solve problems, develop and profit from the network has an impact on the company itself as well as on the network. Aiming at an IC-based assessment and support of SME networks, the methodology presented in this paper follows a bottom-up approach starting with the assessment of IC in the single company. Within the research projects InCaS: Intellectual Capital Statements Made in Europe and Wissensbilanz Made in Germany a methodology has been developed which has proved to be capable of collecting comparable qualitative IC data. Based on these results, a consolidated approach has been designed recently, collecting IC data from more than 600 companies in Germany. The results are comparable and individual at the same time, allowing to display IC se ttings of single companies as well as to aggregate IC information within an IC portfolio for a whole group of companies. The paper will present the methodology as well as some first results from the study taking a look at the German IC landscape based on more than 600 individual IC assessments. The paper will also discuss the possibilities of using the results for IC enhancement in networks and clusters from the view of the single company.
  • Publication
    Analysing and enhancing IC in business networks: Results from a recent study
    ( 2010)
    Mertins, K.
    ;
    Will, M.
    ;
    Meyer, C.
    Since the acknowledgement of intellectual capital (IC) as the major driver of a company's competitive and innovative performance numerous scientific models and practical approaches were developed to capture and display the IC elements of businesses in order to make them visible and accessible for management. But since the economy has gone global and businesses are acting within a global business landscape the view on IC needs to be expanded to these new structures. Especially for small and medium sized enterprises (SME) commitment in networks and clusters is crucial for sustainable competitiveness on international markets. Alike single companies, also business networks highly depend on IC in order to perform successfully and effectively. The way businesses cooperate, exchange and acquire knowledge, find suitable partners, solve problems, develop and profit from the network has an impact on the company itself as well as on the network. Aiming at an IC-based assessment and support of SME networks, the methodology presented in this paper follows a bottom-up approach starting with the assessment of IC in the single company. Within the research projects ""InCaS: Intellectual Capital Statements -Made in Europe"" and ""Wissensbilanz -Made in Germany"" a methodology has been developed which has proved to be capable of collecting comparable qualitative IC data. Based on these results, a consolidated approach has been designed recently, collecting IC data from more than 600companies in Germany. The results are comparable and individual at the same time, allowing to display IC settings of single companies as well as to aggregate IC information within an IC portfolio for a whole group of companies. The paper will present the methodology as well as some first results from the study taking a look at the German IC landscape based on more than 600 individual IC assessments. The paper will also discuss the possibilities of using the results for IC enhancement in networks and clusters from the view of the single company.
  • Publication
    Success through intellectual capital statements
    ( 2010)
    Meyer, C.
    ;
    Mertins, K.
    Innovation is essential for a companys survival. Particularly in times marked by the rigors of an international economic crisis, the idea of the knowledge-based economy has come increasingly to the forefront. In a globalized market place, a companys ability to keep ahead through innovation is vital for ensuring the long-term maintenance and consolidation of its competitive edge. And its here that the intangible assets of European firms prove to be their greatest strength. But how can companies make better use of their intangible resources to their capacity for innovation over the long term? An intellectual capital statement (ICS) can help companies to evaluate their intellectual capital the intangible assets that are so vital for the companys success to give it strategic focus and embed it within the corporate strategy.
  • Publication
    Knowledge Management. Concepts and Best Practices
    (Springer, 2003)
    Larry Prusak (Executive Director IBM Institute for Knowledge-Based Organizations ): Knowledge Management, both as a practice and as a discipline, is entering i t's second decade, happily, without all the false expectations of any beginning movement, but with a growing and solid base of practice and theory on which to b uild. The volume that follows is a particularly fine example of how solid resear ch , good thinking, and a narrative approach can produce a very substantial argu ment for the continuing saga of KM. This second edition presents recent sur vey results from the EFQM and OECD as well as an overview of the results form th e First Global Delphi Study on The Future of Knowledge Management by the Fraun hofer Competence Center Knowledge Management and the Humboldt University Berlin. The book shows how the integration of knowledge management activities into th e daily business tasks is carried out, and how pro-active change management work s, which are the latest advancements in measuring intellectual capital and how t o assess the current state of knowledge management. The Best and Good Practice examples in Knowledge Management are completed with a recent study by the Benchm arking Center TECTEM at the University St. Gallen (Switzerland). Best practice s in knowledge management from leading companies like Aventis, Arthur D. Little, British Aerospace plc., Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Phonak, Roche and Siemens are des cribed for practitioners in different industries. More than 100 KM-Tools are lis ted and classified according to the main application area. The book concludes wi th an overview on research funded by the European Commission in order to make K M Made in Europe a reality.
  • Publication
    Knowledge Management. Best Practices in Europe
    (Springer, 2001)
    One out of two companies have increased their productivity or aved costs with knowledge management. This is a result from a comprehensive cross-industry survey in Europe about knowledge management run by the Competence Center Knowledge Management at Fraunhofer IPK, Germany. Best practices in knowledge management from leading companies like Arthur D. Little, Booz Allen & Hamilton, Celemi, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Phonak, Roche, Skandia and Thomas Miller are described for practitioners in different industries. The book shows how to integrate knowledge management activities into the daily business tasks and processes, how to motivate people and which capabilities and skills are required for knowledge management. An overview of approaches on intellectual capital and more than 50 km tools are listed and classified. The book concludes with an overview of the leading knowledge management projects in serveral European countries.