Proceedings of 8th European Assembly on telework (Telework2001)

198Development and management <strong>of</strong> the r & d-programmes - orhow to make a programme learnThe programme ´Innovative Workplace Development´ has been launched by the Federal Ministry<strong>of</strong> Education and Research in close cooperation with the Ministries <strong>of</strong> Labour and Social Affairsand Economic Affairs.The Federal Ministry <strong>of</strong> Education and Research is responsible for the development andmanagement <strong>of</strong> the programme and is supported by the project management organisation DLR PT(German Aerospace Center - Deutsches Zentrum für Raumfahrt).The success <strong>of</strong> a programme on workplace development, which is based on the former ´Programmeson Humanization <strong>of</strong> Work in Germany´, depends to a large extent on the participation <strong>of</strong> thesocial partners (trade unions and employer’s associations). The concept was therefore developedin discussions that included researchers, social partners, intermediaries and government. Thediscussion showed that the main actors, especially the social partners, shared the view thatworkplace development is a vital part <strong>of</strong> innovation policy and therefore an area <strong>of</strong> (again) growingimportance in public policy. The approaches and expectations <strong>of</strong> the main actors however varyremarkably. 7The programme management is supported by an advisory body with representatives from tradeunions, employer’s associations - including experts from companies - and researchers .In order to ensure that the programme and projects contribute the solutions and processes vital tothe future <strong>of</strong> work, a continuing discourse with the main actors in business, the social partners,the scientific community, government etc, seems essential. The advisory body will, at least in part,serve that role. Since the unions and the employer’s association mainly represent the traditionalindustrial sectors, there is a risk, that particularly the newly emerging structures and problemsrelated to the knowledge-based economy may not be adequately represented. This is particularlythe case where the role <strong>of</strong> the social partners and the function <strong>of</strong> industrial relations are seriouslyquestioned by the transformation process.The programme will be continuously monitored and evaluated in order to overcome this problem.The monitoring should also ensure reflection and consideration <strong>of</strong> the development processes andchanges necessary as the work progresses. Using these tools, we hope to enable the programme tolearn as it goes.7 Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund, Bundesvorstand (1999) Zukunft der Arbeit-Unternehmen Zukunft, Initiative des DGB für einInnovations- und Aktionsprogramm der Bundesregierung. BDI, Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie (1999) Innovationspolitikfür Deutschland Maßnahmen in zukunftsträchtigen Feldern