PRESS RELEASE

World market leader study: Good management culture increases returns / In two out of three top German companies, bosses have long remained team players instead of alphas

64 percent of German world market leaders have a corporate culture in which executives act as partners and mentors instead of relying on "command & control." And that pays off economically: Among the top performers, only around one in four companies is still managed in a traditional sense, while the majority of companies with below-average returns maintain a classic position. These are the results of the study "Best Strategy 2018: What German world market leaders do better." Management consultancy Staufen surveyed a total of 210 German companies, which are among the world market leaders either in their industry or their segment.

"Anyone who wants to stay among the best in the future depends on the knowledge and innovative strength of all employees. In order to leverage this potential, the corporate culture must be right," says Wilhelm Goschy, Member of the Management Board at Staufen AG. "As our study shows, most of the world market leaders are already on the right track. More than 80 percent of companies encourage their employees to contribute their ideas, work continuously on improving structures and see themselves as learning organizations in general."

Especially when it comes to leadership, however, it is always important to make a precise distinction between good intentions and genuine sustainable implementation. The Staufen study provides clear indications that there is still room for improvement among world market leaders. For example, only three out of four companies have an open door culture. And constructive criticism of superiors is part of the day-to-day for only 68 percent of world market leaders.

"Particularly in the case of high-yielding companies, we are talking about complaints at a high level, and without the appropriate corporate and management culture, most of the other companies we surveyed would certainly not have made it to the top," says Staufen Board Member Goschy. "And yet the clear differences within this group, which at first glance appears homogeneous, show how the top management's understanding of leadership has a decisive influence on a company's ability to change and thus its future viability."

Mechanical Engineering Congress on November 6th at SEW-EURODRIVE in Bruchsal
The field of mechanical engineering is undergoing a serious transformation. Digitization is increasingly determining company-owned processes, while also opening up new business opportunities. Many companies, however, are still highly uncertain about the benefits of digitization and the success of new business models. The Mechanical Engineering Congress organized by Staufen AG in cooperation with SEW-EURODRIVE therefore focuses on the following questions: How does mechanical and plant engineering approach this transformation process? How do companies develop smart products and new business models? And how do they implement them - also in an international context?

On November 6, 2018 in Bruchsal, decision-makers from the mechanical and plant engineering industry will present benchmark examples from their organizations with reports on their experiences, lessons learned and success stories. All Information about the event: https://www.maschinenbaukongress.de/

More Information:
STAUFEN.AG 
Beratung.Akademie.Beteiligung 
Kathrin Negele
Blumenstr. 5 – D-73257 Köngen
Tel: +49 7024 8056 155
Fax: +49 7024 8056 111
k.negele@staufen.ag
www.staufen.ag 	Press:
Thöring & Stuhr
Partnership for communication consulting
Arne Stuhr
Mittelweg 142 – D-20148 Hamburg
Tel: +49 40 207 6969 83 
mobil: +49 177 3055 194
arne.stuhr@corpnewsmedia.de

About Staufen AG - www.staufen.ag
Inside every company there is an even better one. With this conviction, Staufen AG has been advising and qualifying companies and employees for more than 20 years. Markets are on the move - the competitive pressure is enormous. Staufen helps to quickly bring about the right changes, increase productivity, improve quality and increase innovative strength. With the appropriate strategies and methods, the international lean management consultancy ensures rapid and measurable success - in order to leverage the potential available in every company, Staufen consultants establish a lively and sustainable culture of change together with executives and employees. Staufen subsidiary Staufen Digital Neonex supports medium-sized industrial companies on their path to digital transformation. The Academy of Staufen AG also offer certified, practice-oriented training courses. Of the 13 international locations, more than 280 employees serve customers all over the world. In 2018, Staufen AG was awarded "Best Consultant" by "brand eins Wissen" for the fifth time in a row. According to the renowned industry study "Hidden Champions 2018", the consulting firm is Germany's best lean management consultancy and was honored several times with the "Best of Consulting" award by "Wirtschaftswoche" journal.