Researchers at Fraunhofer HNFIZ have developed a transformation index, based on the results of 35 years of study and research. It allows companies to assess how future-proof they are.
To say that standstill is regression may be something of a platitude, but it is truer today than ever before. The world is changing more and more dynamically, and companies must constantly adapt to technological and societal developments. The new Fraunhofer Transformation Index shows how this can be achieved. It allows companies to create a profile of their strengths and weaknesses and assess their own ability to change.
The index was developed at the Research and Innovation Center Transformation & Governance of the Fraunhofer HNFIZ in Heilbronn. The team led by Moritz Maier analyzed more than 250,000 scientific publications from 35 years of relevant research and translated them into key performance indicators. The result is 31 factors that influence change processes. These include, for example, supporting diversity and different perspectives in management, or systematically promoting innovative ideas from the workforce.
The identified factors result in the FORTE model, which comprises the dimensions of leadership and governance, organizational culture and collaboration, resources and intellectual property, technology and data as well as ecosystems and market. Based on FORTE (Italian for “strong”), the researchers developed the Fraunhofer Transformation Index.
Subsequently, Maier and his colleagues subjected their results to a reality check. They surveyed 67 companies that have already undergone a successful transformation to find out about their experiences. Many of the participants confirmed in their interviews that a lot of things had to come together effectively for change processes to be successful. Based on the discussions, the researchers created a benchmark against which companies can compare their performance in the index.
In addition, the team interviewed 500 companies on the topic of transformation in collaboration with the market research institute Forsa. The interviews revealed that around two out of five companies have no vision for their own transformation. “This is certainly a problem,” says Moritz Maier. “After all, the vision is the starting point for a successful transformation, and that’s what makes it so important.” It is equally alarming that only one in two companies cooperate with universities, start-ups or other businesses. Maier states: “New ideas require an outside perspective, which can be obtained through partnerships, for example.”
In the publication “Transformation wirksam steuern: Daten und Instrumente für die Transformationsfähigkeit von Organisationen” (Managing transformation effectively: Data and instruments for the transformation capacity of organizations), companies can find detailed information on the transformation index. Companies wishing to test it are invited to contact the Fraunhofer team at the Research and Innovation Center Transformation & Governance. The consultation includes a preliminary discussion and a workshop during which data is collected and the results analyzed.
At the Fraunhofer Heilbronn Research and Innovation Centers HNFIZ, eight Fraunhofer Institutes pool their expertise in a total of nine research and innovation centers, with the aim of developing solutions to key challenges facing business and society. One of these centers is the Research and Innovation Center Transformation & Governance, operated by the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO and the Fraunhofer Information Center for Regional Planning and Building Construction IRB.
Since 2019, the research work in Heilbronn has been significantly supported by the Dieter Schwarz Foundation, which provides funding as well as office and laboratory space. Close cooperation with companies, universities and public stakeholders aims to accelerate the practical application and economic utilization of research results.
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