RESEARCH ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND

LEARNING NETWORKS DEVELOPMENT IN THE

CONTEXT OF DIGITALIZATION AND SUSTAINABLE

BUSINESS

ABSTRACT

This doctoral thesis examines management practices and cross-company learning

networks in connection with current issues of digitalization and sustainable business

management. The first part highlights the development of the concept of sustainable business

management and describes the current status as well as associated concepts and management

practices. This part also describes the development of digitalization and shows its influence

on today's world of work, as well as an initial overview of the opportunities and risks it

presents for business activities. The research contributions are described in the second part

and investigate questions regarding digitalization and its effects on organizations as well as

the resulting requirements. It also explores multiple issues related to management practices

that have an impact on aspects of corporate sustainability. A major focus of the research work

is the investigation of several cross-company learning networks and their concepts.

Depending on the research objective, different research methods are used within the

framework of the research work. On the one hand, the current status of high-quality literature

was analyzed, data was collected and analyzed at various points, and empirical observations

and application simulations were carried out. On the other hand, guided online surveys and

expert interviews were used, which were then analyzed and evaluated using quantitative,

descriptive and qualitative techniques. The results of the various research fields are combined

in the development of a new model for cross-company learning networks.

The main research contribution of this Ph.D. thesis lies in the investigation of various

business-relevant questions concerning sustainability and digitalization as well as cross-

company learning networks with a focus on the topics of energy efficiency and energy

management systems. The results of these research parts merge into a further developed

concept for cross-company learning networks, which makes a promising contribution to the

implementation of sustainable business approaches and a starting point for future research.

KEYWORDS: Sustainable business, digitalization, sustainable management concepts,

sustainable management practices, cross-company learning networks, management systems.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Curriculum Vitae

Personal Data

Surname, Firstname: Hell, Christian Richard

Street: Rosestrasse 22

Postcode/ Residence: 95448 Bayreuth

Mobile: +49176-613 89 207

E-Mail: ch.hell@t-online.de

Day/ Place of birth: 13.04.1966 / Anaheim

Nationality: German, USA

Study and education

October 2016 - The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Bucharest

today Doctorate in Economics/ Business Administration

2011 - 2015 HAW University of Applied Sciences, Hamburg, Germany

Course: Renewable Energies

Extra-occupational studies, Graduation: Master of Science (Grade of thesis 1.0)

2011 - 2015 University of Applied Sciences, Rosenheim, Germany

Course: Business Administration and Engineering

Graduation: Diploma in Business Administration and Engineering (Grade of thesis 1.0)

1984 – 1988 Dual Education, F. Gottinger KG, Munich, Germany

Course: Prosthetics and Orthotics

Graduation: Certified Prosthetist and Orthotist (Grade of final exams: 1.0)

Further education

IRCA, CQI Quality Management Systems Auditor/Lead Auditor (AFNOR, GUTcert)

Auditor for Energy Management Systems (GUTcert)

Responsible Person for Energy (GUTcert)

EMAS easy (TM) / Ecomapping (WUQM)

Occupational Safety Engineer (CQ Education and Management)

Project Management (Nürnberger Akademie für Absatzwirtschaft)

Leadership Development Program (Center for Creative Leadership)

Working experience

February 2018 - BAD GmbH, Bonn

today Head of Region Lower Bavaria

Overseeing regional business in the fields of Occupational Medicine and Occupational

Health and Safety

Strategic business development

Leading staff

Profit and loss responsibility

2010 - 2018 HellConsult, Bayreuth

Self-employed: founder and owner

Services in the fields of interim management, strategic business management, business

development, product management, process design, research, and development

Energy and energy efficiency consulting and training

Occupational health and safety consulting and training

2008 - 2009 medi GmbH & Co. Kg, Bayreuth

Global head of business unit

Developing and overseeing business strategically and leading staff in the fields of sales,

marketing, key account management, product management, business development,

customer service

Profit and loss responsibility

Negotiating and signing contracts with major cooperation partners of the supply chain

2000 - 2007 Otto Bock HealthCare GmbH & Co. KG, Duderstadt

Head of international product management

Strategic business development

Leading staff and interdisciplinary teams.

Coordination of national and international marketing

Market and customer specific portfolio management

Business responsibility for 4 product areas

2001 - 2008 Georg-August-University, Göttingen

Lecturer in the Department of Human Medicine (extra-occupational) Medical Informatics: Digitalized medical devices

1997 - 1999 Otto Bock HealthCare GmbH & Co. KG, Duderstadt

New media manager

Conceptual design and structuring of company webpage, online shop, CD catalog

Leading staff

Management of external implementation partners

1995 - 2000 Otto Bock HealthCare GmbH & Co. KG, Duderstadt

Product manager international

Portfolio– and product management of 3 product lines

Marketing management

Controlling for product lines

1988 - 1989 Prinz-Heinrich-Kaserne, Lenggries

Military service