The struggle for a new understanding of leadership in times of digital transformation exemplified by startups

funded by the IPU seed funding and the Erich Fromm Study Center

Principal Investigator IPU

Prof. Thomas Kühn
Dr. Amira Barrech

 

Project Description

The project is an exploratory study on how leadership processes are designed in modern working environments and how the struggle for a new understanding of leadership is reflected in practice. In particular, the associated paradoxes and tensions will be explored.

The basis for this is the reflection of leadership practice as well as the associated examples of successes and failures in qualitative interviews with managers.

 

Startups are a central point of reference for dealing with a changing understanding of leadership. This applies both to the dynamics of leadership development in the context of startups and to the examination of startups and the associated images in companies that are not startups.

 

To this end, approximately 25 qualitative, problem-centered interviews will be conducted and evaluated with stakeholders from startups and executives from non-startup companies in Berlin.

 

Original language: German

 

Project Participants

Dr. Katrin Voigt (IPU Berlin)
Niclas O’Donnokoé (IPU Berlin)

 

Duration

Project Start: 05/2021

Porject End: 07/2025

 

Publications

  • Kühn, Thomas (2019): Leadership in a Digitally Transforming Social World Based on Fromm’s Humanistic Approach. In: Fromm Forum 23/2019, English Edition, S. 95-107.
  • Kühn, Thomas / Schmidt, Christian (2021): Qualitative Mitarbeiterbefragungen. Wiesbaden: Springer Gabler Essentials.