Project description
The digital transformation of organisations goes beyond simply introducing new technologies; it fundamentally alters established processes, structures, and routines, thereby changing how people collaborate. Such a profound change cannot be managed solely through hierarchical planning processes. Instead, its success depends on actively involving employees, who are not just passive recipients of the transformation but key contributors to shaping it.
Despite recognising participation as a crucial factor for success in digital transformation, there remains uncertainty about how to effectively achieve it. Agile, project-based work and organisational models are increasingly integrating participation into daily work processes. While these approaches promise greater opportunities for employee involvement, they can also introduce new pressures and conflicting expectations. Additionally, they raise concerns about the regulation of working conditions and skills development, yet these issues have largely been outside the direct influence of works councils.
This research project merges perspectives from the sociology of work and industry with those of organisational sociology. It examines how direct participation and workplace co-determination are evolving due to digital transformation and how they interact. The focus is on traditional engineering firms, as their established organisational structures and distinct engineering culture are particularly challenged by digital transformation.
The central question is how employees, management and employee representative bodies are responding to new forms of work and participation, as well as the areas of tension that arise in this process. The project also analyses how roles, responsibilities, and decision-making authority are shifting in this context and what expectations various stakeholder groups have of one another. A special emphasis is placed on the skills needed to collaboratively and sustainably navigate digital transformation processes in the future.
To answer these questions, the project combines qualitative case studies in traditional engineering companies with a standardised survey of works council members and managers. The goal is to gain a deeper understanding of the governance of digital transformation while generating evidence-based insights for its participatory design.
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