Change Management als Befähiger bei der Implementierung von Innovationsprozessmodellen in Produktionsbetrieben

Abstract

In a dynamic global economy, manufacturing companies are required to continually adapt their strategies and processes to remain competitive and provide innovative offerings to their customers. Systematic innovation processes play a crucial role in promoting sustainable growth and significantly enhance overall business performance. However, implementing these processes requires profound organizational changes, which are hardly feasible without effective change management. This thesis explores to which extent change management can act as a catalyst for the introduction of innovation process models in manufacturing companies, particularly through the implementation of the Stage-Gate model and Kotter's Eight-Step model. The investigation begins with a detailed introduction to the problem statement and continues with a comprehensive theoretical framework that covers both innovation process models and change management concepts. It concludes with an extensive case study at AGRU, followed by a thorough summary and the resulting conclusions. A qualitative research methodology, consisting of deep literature review and practical field studies, enabled the integration of theoretical concepts with practical insights and the critical evaluation of the applicability of the used models. The implementation of the Stage-Gate model in combination with Kotter's Eight-Step model at AGRU revealed that minor, yet targeted, adjustments of the theoretical models to the specific company conditions are crucial for the implementation success. While the StageGate model served as the basis for the innovation process at AGRU, Kotter's model supported the implementation through a step-by-step following of the defined phases and significantly contributed to increasing employee acceptance. The study identified both synergies and potential conflicts between the models, offering deep insights into the practical implementation of change management and innovation processes. In conclusion, this thesis provides precise recommendations for companies planning similar implementation projects and suggests further research into the interplay of innovation process and change management models to enhance both the competitiveness and the attractiveness of offerings to customers sustainably.

Date of Award	2024
Original language	German (Austria)
Supervisor	Hans-Peter Feichtenschlager (Supervisor)