Research at FOM University of Applied Sciences

Research at FOM University of
Applied Sciences
Well-established – practice-oriented – interdisciplinary
Institutes and
competence centres

Legal details
Published by:
The Board of FOM University of Applied Sciences
Responsible:
Prof. Dr. Thomas Heupel, Vice-President Research
Editorial office:
Joanna Waldmann B.A.
Last updated:
July 2019
Editorial office address:
FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie
& Management gemeinnützige GmbH
Leimkugelstraße 6, 45141 Essen
Phone: +49 201 81004-155
Fax: +49 201 81004-399
www.fom.de
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Application-based and
teaching-oriented research profile
Research plays a key role at FOM University of Applied Sciences and is consequently firmly anchored
in the university‘s mission statement. The benefits of research – apart from direct attainment of
knowledge – are the scientific development of teaching, the transfer of scientific findings to business
practice, and the qualification of students to conduct scholarly work.
With over 400 full-time teaching professors, FOM today has one of the biggest faculties for business
administration in Germany. This circle of recognised experts is a think tank with the potential to initiate
numerous interdisciplinary research projects. Researchers at FOM are actively involved in international
research networks and groups, they give lectures at international conferences and produce high-level
publications according to internationally recognized rankings.
Renowned research scientists at FOM‘s various study centres have given the University a distinct profile
thanks to their broad-ranging scientific endeavours. In order to provide the best possible working
conditions for this group of individuals, the University focuses on the following factors in its efforts to
promote research: teaching-oriented development and consolidation of scientific institutions (institutes
and competence centres), the expansion of publishing activities, development of event formats, and
quality assurance in the development and implementation of research activities.
The following pages provide you with an overview of the thematic breadth of the University‘s scientific
institutions and the spectrum of services offered by FOM‘s Department of Research Support. Based
upon our research brochure, you have the opportunity to enter directly into scholarly discourse with
our researchers. I look forward to many more constructive and interesting contacts in future!
Prof. Dr. Burghard Hermeier
President of FOM University of Applied Sciences
Research at FOM University of Applied Sciences
3

Overview
p. 06 Institutes at FOM University of Applied Sciences
p. 08 iaim Institute of Automation & Industrial Management
p. 09 iap Institut für Arbeit & Personal
p. 10 ifes Institut für Empirie & Statistik
p. 11 ifgs Institut für Gesundheit & Soziales
p. 12 ifid Institut für IT-Management & Digitalisierung
p. 13 ifpm Institut für Public Management
p. 14 ild Institut für Logistik- & Dienstleistungsmanagement
p. 15 ipo Institut für Personal- & Organisationsforschung
p. 16 isf Institute for Strategic Finance
p. 17 iwp Institut für Wirtschaftspsychologie
p. 18 mis Institute of Management & Information Systems
p. 21 Competence Centres of FOM University of Applied Sciences
p. 22 KCAT KompetenzCentrum für Accounting & Taxation
p. 23 KCBT German-Sino Competence Center of Business & Technology
p. 24 KCC KompetenzCentrum für Corporate Social Responsibility
p. 25 KCD KompetenzCentrum für Didaktik in der Hochschullehre für Berufstätige
p. 26 KCE KompetenzCentrum für Entrepreneurship & Mittelstand
p. 27 KCI KompetenzCentrum für interdisziplinäre Wirtschaftsforschung & Verhaltensoekonomie
p. 28 KCM KompetenzCentrum für Medizinoekonomie
p. 29 KCMS KompetenzCentrum für Marketing & Sales Management
p. 30 KCN KompetenzCentrum für nachhaltige Entwicklung
p. 31 KCT KompetenzCentrum für Technologie- & Innovationsmanagement
p. 32 KCU KompetenzCentrum für Unternehmensführung & Corporate Governance
p. 33 KCW KompetenzCentrum für Wirtschaftsrecht
p. 35 FOM’s Department of Research Support

Institutionalisation and
regionalisation of research at FOM
FOM takes its research assignment ery seriously. In addition to individual research, a largely
institutionalised and teaching-oriented research landscape has been established and developed at the
University through the foundation of institutes and competence centres. The research institutions pool
the competencies and the individual research and teaching focuses of the university teachers and operate
through internal networking and coordination processes in cooperation with the University’s Board of
Management. A competence centre can be developed into an institute if the research field in question
is consolidated and relevant external funding can be obtained. FOM‘s institutes have externally funded
scientific and non-scientific staff and carry out assignments in applied research and development,
knowledge transfer and the promotion of innovation.
Target-oriented research development is not only being carried out at FOM‘s headquarters in Essen.
University teachers at 29 university study centres in 29 cities of Germany and in Vienna are involved
in the research process, thus enhancing the research profile with regional diversity. Institutes and competence
centres and project offices have been established in various locations, some of which equipped
with an infrastructure designed exclusively for research purposes. Close ties to local businesses and
strong links with regional university partners and associations have enabled FOM to establish itself
in the educational landscape of the various regions with each centre being perceived as the respective
„local“ university.
The basis of quality management in research consists of the „Guidelines for the Safeguarding of Good
Scientific Conduct“ issued by the University‘s Board of Management, which are in accordance with
the German Research Foundation’s (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG) decrees. A Research
Advisory Board made up of renowned external experts also evaluates FOM‘s research activities and
supports the parties involved in an advisory capacity.
We are happy to help you play an active part in this process of scientific dialogue.
Prof. Dr. Thomas Heupel
Vice-President of Research
Research at FOM University of Applied Sciences

Prof. Dr. phil. Dr. h. c. Joachim Metzner
Former President of Cologne University of Applied Sciences
Vice-President of the German University Rectors‘ Conference (HRK)
”FOM realised very early on that a high standard of teaching
and future-proof scientific training for skilled employees
require advanced applied research. The University has carefully
devised its research strategy on the basis of this recognition.
Exceptional research output is the result of this visionary policy.
FOM therefore fully meets the expectations placed today in a
university of distinction, and this includes the area of research.“

Institutes at FOM
University of
Applied Sciences

iaim
Institute of Automation &
Industrial Management
FOM University of Applied Sciences
iaim Institute of Automation and Industrial Management
Research Director:
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Thomas Russack
Chairman of the Advisory Board:
Prof. Dr. Rudolf Jerrentrup
Institute for applied engineering
iaim brings together research activities in the
areas of technology, engineering and industrial
and production management. Together with its
partners, it develops academically sound and
application-based innovative solutions, including
for example:
organisationally methodical implementation of
industry 4.0 and Smart Factory solutions,
intelligent networking of machines, products,
infrastructures and people in value chains
and networks,
integration of additive manufacturing processes,
design of human-machine interactions during
the use of robot systems and
promoting specialist training tailored to specific
target groups in the field of future-oriented
engineering.
iaim combines application-based research,
practice-oriented university education and scientific
support for application partners during
implementation and includes all engineering
disciplines as well as other subject areas (e.g.
computer science and data science). Through
conference contributions, publications, research
projects and cooperative projects, iaim supports
the integration of technology-driven innovations
in business practice and the academic world. It
also supports the academic further education of
university members and cooperation partners.
In cooperation with zdi-Zentrum MINTNetzwerk
Essen, iaim is working on the goal of systematically
promoting young talent in mathematics,
information technology, natural sciences and
technology (MINT) - with particular regard to the
shortage of skilled workers, which is critical to the
success of business. FOM is a founding partner of
zdi-Zentrum, a joint project of schools, vocational
colleges, business associations and institutions,
companies, independent educational institutes and
universities as part of the joint initiative Zukunft
durch Innovation.NRW (zdi).
08
Institutes at FOM University of Applied Sciences

iap Institut für Arbeit & Personal
(Institute of Work and Human Resources)
Under the scientific supervision of Prof. Ulrike
Hellert, iap Institut für Arbeit & Personal collates
FOM‘s research and transfer activities in the
fields of modern work design, human resource
management, occupational and organisational
psychology as well as stress prevention and selfmanagement.
iap examines concepts on innovative and flexible
organisation of working time and on recommendations
for chronobiological organisation in
the context of the modern world of work. The
Zeitbüro FOM is an integral part of the institute
as an information centre for modern working
time arrangements.
Based on research in occupational and organisational
psychology, the aim is to develop new
concepts that significantly reduce work-related
psychological stress due to time and performance
pressure and thus increase work ability,
employability and skills acquisition. Practical tools
are developed in virtual cooperation structures
which promote the two resources of trust and
time competence. Authentic self-management is
becoming increasingly important in the modern
world of work. iap therefore examines concepts
for empathetic communication in leadership
which are conducive to a psychologically healthy
work environment.
In addition, iap develops solutions for human
resources management in light of demographic
change. The focus here is on recruitment and
the organisation of skill-enhancing working time
arrangements. A range of research activities focus
on answers to the question of how human
resources can be developed, retained and utilised
in the long term to drive necessary innovations.
iap‘s work is thus oriented towards the key
objective of developing scientifically sound concepts
for companies that enable them to master
challenges in a globalised world with exemplary
innovative work structures and suitably qualified
and competent employees.
Research Director:
Prof. Dr. Ulrike Hellert
Institutes at FOM University of Applied Sciences
09

ifes Institut für Empirie & Statistik
(Institute of Empiricism & Statistics)
Research Director:
Prof. Dr. Bianca Krol
The aim of ifes is to pool the FOM’s empirical
expertise and further advance applied research
in the university’s empirical field. Ifes has three
main areas of activity: Firstly, ifes’ members help
FOM teachers develop skills and competencies in
the field of empirical research, thereby guaranteeing
constant quality assurance and compliance
with the guidelines of good scientific practice
in research and development projects. The key
areas of ifes’ activity are questions that can be
answered using statistical methods of empirical
research. These include externally funded (collaborative)
projects with an empirical focus, such as
the NEO-Indikatorik project.
into the introductory lectures in order to increase
students’ understanding of these concepts. In
accordance with the recommendations of the
American Statistical Association, students learn
key skills such as responsible handling of data
and data-driven acquisition of knowledge and
decision-making processes. The objective is to
live up to the FOM’s mission, which states that
FOM students receive a sound education in data
literacy that benefits their businesses and society
as a whole.
Deputy Research Director:
Prof. Dr. Oliver Gansser
Secondly, ifes annually conducts two large nationwide
survey projects. Since 2008, for example,
consumers in Germany have been surveyed about
their shopping habits with regard to Christmas
presents, and since 2012 a summer survey has
been conducted on various current topics such
as voting behaviour, digitisation and artificial
intelligence. Ifes was thus able to develop a typology
of human behaviour based on an extensive
database. Furthermore, ifes plays an important
part in developing and supporting method training
in the teaching of the University’s degree
programmes. Teaching methods in the area of
statistics have developed considerably in recent
years: Concepts such as randomisation, simulation,
resampling and modelling are already integrated
10
Institutes at FOM University of Applied Sciences

ifgs Institut für Gesundheit & Soziales
(Institute of Health and Social Affairs)
ifgs is active in the fields of research and development
as well as knowledge transfer and the
promotion of innovation in the field of health
and social management at the interface between
science and practical application.
In international research and development projects,
ifgs deals with analyses of transferability of
model health regions and health tourism as well as
with the capture of circumstances in comparison
between countries and requirements of a digital
expert system for rural healthcare. In addition,
it examines the socio-cultural openness and the
institutional shift in medicine and healthcare
especially in relation to migrant professionals
and patients.
Further points of focus lie in the effects of digitisation
on health and social economy and corporate
health management.
Key areas of research include
health & social management
public health/health sciences
health economics
health policy
digital health
routine data in healthcare
evidence-based public health (EbPH)
care research
social economy
ethics of the digital healthcare industry &
medicine
Research Director:
Prof. Dr. habil. Manfred Cassens
Research Director:
Prof. Dr. David Matusiewicz
Institutes at FOM University of Applied Sciences
11

Institut für IT-Management &
Digitalisierung
der FOM University of Applied Sciences
ifid Institut für IT-Management & Digitalisierung
(Institute of IT Management and Digitisation)
Research Director:
Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Buchkremer
The ifid Institut für IT-Management & Digitalisierung,
founded in February 2017, pools competencies in
the research areas of artificial intelligence (AI), IT
management and digital transformation.
The institute is active in the fields of research
and development as well as knowledge transfer
and the promotion of innovation at the interface
between science and practical application. The
transfer of research findings into teaching also
plays a major role.
To carry out these tasks, the research group,
which now consists of nine professors and 13
research fellows, uses state-of-the-art Big Data
architectures and AI analysis systems. We collaborate
with major technology companies and
institutes from the sector.
Our researchers focus in particular on the
following topics:
artificial intelligence / machine learning / data
science / Big Data
Natural Language Processing (NLP)
enterprise architectures (especially Big Data)
use of blockchain technologies
digitisation of processes
integration of research results into teaching
12
Institutes at FOM University of Applied Sciences

ifpm
Institut für Public Management
der FOM Hochschule
für Oekonomie & Management
ifpm Institut für Public Management
(Institute of Public Management)
In times of digitisation and demographic change,
the public sector is facing major challenges. Legal
parameters and technical developments and the
dynamically changing needs of customers and
citizens as well as discussions regarding digitisation,
agility and ambidexterity require new approaches
in the management and culture of administration
to achieve agile public management in the true
meaning of the expression.
This is where ifpm comes in: Its goal is to initiate
processes of change in the public sector, support
planning processes for resources and for futureoriented
administrative structures on the basis of
applied research, and to further develop the exchange
of knowledge between the parties involved
in the sector and those in research and education.
Practice-oriented scientific impulses and ideas
are developed and introduced into the academic
debate. The focus is on the following questions:
How is digitisation changing the public sector?
What are the consequences for leadership and
decision-making processes in particular, bearing in
mind the relevant political and legal restrictions?
What contribution can the findings of classical
business administration make to the public sector
and how can they improve the effectiveness of
administrative management?
How can strategic HR management concepts be
successfully implemented in the public sector?
This focus is reflected in various practice-oriented
research projects that deal with the development of
approaches to strategic HR planning (see DAQ and
IntraKomp), with leadership in digital administration
(FührDiV) and the promotion and implementation
of agile work approaches (AgilKom). The
basis of each project is the research paradigm of
action research, which enables the application of
theoretical constructs in a way that is suitable for
practical application and their adaptation to the
respective environment.
Research Director:
Prof. Dr. Gottfried Richenhagen
Deputy Research Director:
Prof. Dr. Hans-Dieter Schat
Deputy Research Director:
Prof. Dr. Anja Seng
Institutes at FOM University of Applied Sciences
13

ild Institut für Logistik- & Dienstleistungsmanagement
(Institute of Logistics and Service Management)
Research Director:
Prof. Dr. Matthias Klumpp
The global and complex world of logistics and
supply chain management is evolving, bringing
with it new challenges. Technologies such as
RFID, peer-to-peer transportation, new drive
technologies and the use of artificial intelligence
(AI) in procurement, production and distribution
are significantly changing logistics processes in
businesses throughout the world. At the same
time, customer integration (e-commerce, returns
management, „digital impatience“) and the
trend towards other criteria such as sustainability,
flexibility and resilience are on the rise. Industry,
trade and logistics service providers are embarking
upon new strategic directions, for example,
in the areas of cyber physical systems (CPS), the
internet of things (IoT) or additive manufacturing
(„3D printing“). To this end, employees at all levels
must acquire new competencies and undergo
continuous further training.
The members of the ild research team examine
innovative and sustainable logistics and service
concepts in the areas of training and skills management,
digitisation, sustainability, internationalisation,
operations research, process management and
quality management. ild welcomes all interested
parties to inform themselves about our institute’s
work, to participate in projects and to contribute
their experiences to research topics.
Deputy Research Director:
Prof. Dr. Thomas Hanke
Logistics competence as well as the qualification,
experience and flexibility of those involved in
logistics are the locational advantage of Germany
and the common European market. Here, global
responsibility and complex process control go hand
in hand and enable future-oriented and sustainable
value creation. In this sense, the goal of ild Institut
für Logistik- & Dienstleistungsmanagement is the
exchange and transfer of information between
scientifically sound research and business practice.
14 Institutes at FOM University of Applied Sciences

ipo Institut für Personal- & Organisationsforschung
(Institute of Human Resources and Organisational Research)
ipo Institut für Personal- & Organisationsforschung
is an in-house institute of FOM and deals with
questions of human resources and organisational
research as well as education research. The primary
goals of the institute include application-oriented
research and the promotion of dialogue between
research and practice.
Under the scientific supervision of Prof. Marco
Zimmer and Prof. Christian Rüttgers, FOM pools its
expertise in personnel and organisational research
at the university study centres in Hamburg and
Duisburg. The institute’s objective is to use its
research results to provide impulses for innovative
ideas for corporate management and organisational
design. The institute involves students in
practical and research projects and transfers the
knowledge gained into current teaching.
The institute focuses on research questions regarding
personnel management and organisational
theory and their interdependencies, including:
the impact of digitisation on organisations
and their staff,
the design and optimisation of personnel
management processes (best practices),
education research and education management,
the interaction between corporate strategies,
personnel strategies and organisation.
As an institute of the FOM University, ipo can
draw on the experience of an extensive network
of scientists and experts from business practice.
Research Director:
Prof. Dr. Marco Zimmer
Deputy Research Director:
Prof. Dr. Christian Rüttgers
Institutes at FOM University of Applied Sciences
15

isf Institute for Strategic Finance
Research Director:
Prof. Dr. Dr. habil. Eric Frère
The international interconnection of capital
markets and increasing regulatory requirements
in the financial sector are presenting businesses
and banks with new challenges in the competition
for capital. Financial decisions are therefore becoming
strategically more important and therefore
require the development of integrated financial
and investment strategies, which in turn open up
a wide range of options in terms of applicationbased
research approaches.
As an institute of financial research at FOM University
of Applied Sciences in Essen, isf Institute
for Strategic Finance covers the following areas
of research:
We cordially invite interested parties to inform
themselves about the work of isf Institute for
Strategic Finance, to participate in projects and
to contribute research topics.
Deputy Research Director:
Prof. Dr. Joachim Rojahn CFA
Investor protection and investor behaviour
Corporate finance and asset management
Digital transformation and
digital entrepreneurship
Customer behaviour and information
management in financial consulting
Business evaluation and
company succession of SMEs
Management of default risks
Risk management and sustainability (FIRST)
Value-oriented capital market analysis
Scientific Coordinator:
Prof. Dr. Alexander Zureck MBA
16 Institutes at FOM University of Applied Sciences

iwp Institut für Wirtschaftspsychologie
(Institute of Business Psychology)
iwp Institut für Wirtschaftspsychologie conducts
research in the four major areas of application
of business psychology: work, organisation, personnel
and consumers. The research projects are
characterised by their pursuit of scientific relevance
and application orientation. The objective is to
develop diagnostic and intervention methods
that can be transferred into business practice.
In the field of organisation, iwp focuses on the
areas of organisational diagnosis and leadership
research. Robust and easy-to-use tests for HR
professionals are developed in the field of personnel.
The majority of the research in the field of
consumers deals with purchase decision-making
processes and financial decisions as well as the
development of new measurement methods.
iwp focuses, for example, on the demands and
effects of work in virtual teams in which temporal,
spatial and structural boundaries have largely been
eliminated. Job satisfaction and commitment are
further topics of research in the field of work.
Research Director:
Prof. Dr. habil. Sandra Sülzenbrück
Deputy Research Director:
Prof. Dr. habil. Sebastian Sauer
Institutes at FOM University of Applied Sciences
17

mis Institute of Management &
Information Systems
Research Director:
Prof. Dr. Oliver Koch
mis Institute of Management & Information
Systems brings together FOM’s research activities
in the areas of management and business
information systems.
A team led by Prof. Lischka is currently working
on the BMBF-funded WiViTe project, which
focuses on knowledge transfer and knowledge
generation in virtual teams. The research group
„Robotic Process Automation (RPA)“, led by Prof.
Koch, deals with the evaluation and prototypical
development of solutions for IT- and AI-supported
optimisation and automation of business processes.
The research group „SoftwareLAB“, headed by
the two institute directors, is setting up a laboratory
for the professional evaluation of modern
technological drivers of business development
and innovation.
In the past, mis has focused its research on IT support
for HR processes including the use of online
social networks, which led to highly interesting
research projects at the interface between computer
science / mathematics, business administration
and psychology. In the period 2012-2016, for
example, mis carried out the BMBF-funded project
„efficientRecruiting 2.0 - Effizientes Recruiting
von Fachkräften im Web 2.0“.
To promote scientific exchange, mis works in close
contact with research partners from other FOM
institutes and other universities in project-related
cooperation networks. The institute’s goal is to
produce research results that are not only scientifically
sound but also applicable in practice. To
this end, the institute cooperates with numerous
business partners of various sizes.
Research Director:
Prof. Dr. Andreas Lischka
18 Institutes at FOM University of Applied Sciences

”With numerous very well-organised study centres throughout
the country and thanks to the considerable efforts – also including
construction projects – undertaken at various locations such as
Düsseldorf, FOM has become an important provider of a broad
range of study programmes.
FOM‘s practice-based Bachelor and Master degree courses specifically
for working students are FOM‘s trademark, also in an international
context. With its unique educational programme, FOM
perfectly supplements the courses offered by publicly funded
universities. In view of the above, FOM can justifiably claim to be
an indispensable part of the university landscape.
Prof. Ulf Pallme König
Former Chancellor of
Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf

Competence centres
at FOM University
of Applied Sciences

KCAT KompetenzCentrum für Accounting & Taxation
(Competence Centre of Accounting & Taxation)
Head of Research:
Prof. Dr. Bernd Neitz
KCAT KompetenzCentrum für Accounting &
Taxation is a platform for all FOM’s researchers
and colleagues who are interested in research
and who have a connection to the topics of
accounting and taxation.
The research activities of all FOM’s scientists are
pooled here, thus making a significant contribution
to the development of the FOM research
landscape. KCAT serves as a platform for the
exchange of knowledge and information.
The main topics of research are worked on collaboratively
throughout Germany – currently at the
FOM university study centres in Berlin, Duisburg,
Hamburg, Leipzig and Mannheim.
The main topics are:
Tax planning and tax structures
International tax law - international accounting
Accounting in accordance with German
commercial code (HGB) and IFRS
Controlling with key figures from financial
reporting
Balance sheet analysis in accordance with
changing accounting standards
Comparative analyses of German and Chinese
financial reporting
These activities contribute to ensuring that the
latest state of research at FOM is directly incorporated
into teaching content.
Head of Research:
Prof. Dr. Claudia Rademacher-
Gottwald
22
Competence Centres of FOM University of Applied Sciences

German-Sino Competence Center
of Business & Technology
der FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie & Management
KCBT German-Sino Competence Center
of Business & Technology
KCBT pools the research activities of the FOM
German-Sino School of Business & Technology
and also integrates China-related research
activities from other FOM institutes and competence
centres. The objective is to present
the international causes, effects, interdependencies
and perspectives of general, global
developments.
Thematically, the research is based on the 13th
five-year plan of the People‘s Republic of China
(2016-2020):
transformation of the economy with structural
reforms (state enterprises, SMEs);
upgrading industrial production through
increased technological progress (digitisation,
made in China 2025);
increasing domestic demand and promoting
service sectors (finance, logistics, education,
cyber economy etc., One Belt One Road
initiative),
improvement of environmental protection
(climate protection, local emissions, recycling),
and
increasing the welfare of the population (health
care, demographic change, urbanisation).
The members of the KCBT focus on the
following areas:
energy and environment, small and mediumsized
enterprises, digitisation and structural
change
demographic change and urbanisation
globalisation and international banking, corporate
finance, capital market research and
behavioural finance
intercultural management, human resources
and business psychology
applied statistics and Big Data
IT security and IT governance
non-neoclassical economics, psychosocial
management theory, medical economics
law and taxation
The research activities themselves involve scientists
from both FOM and our Chinese partner
universities.
Head of Research:
Prof. Andreas Oberheitmann
Deputy Head of Research:
Prof. Dr. Axel Müller
Competence Centres of FOM University of Applied Sciences
23

KCC KompetenzCentrum
für Corporate Social Responsibility
der FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie & Management
KCC KompetenzCentrum für Corporate Social Responsibility
(Competence Centre of Corporate Social Responsibility)
Head of Research:
Prof. Dr. Linda O‘Riordan
KCC KompetenzCentrum für Corporate Social
Responsibility is an internationally oriented scientific
institution affiliated to FOM that focuses on CSR
and related areas of research. All activities are
based upon the sustainable and goal-oriented
scientific study of managerial challenges in the
area of intersection of economic, social and
ecological fields. As a think tank for scholars
and in dialogue with management experts and
managers from business practice, KCC focuses
on CSR management research and sustainable
management solutions.
Selected areas of research:
Sustainable business solutions and circular
economy
Shared value and new business models
Innovation and base of the pyramid strategies
Management frameworks and CSR reporting
Soft law and standards
Social banking and responsible sustainable
investment
Sustainable development goals (SDGs) –
role of companies
Deputy Head of Research:
Prof. Dr. Piotr Zmuda
The results of KCC’s research aim to both integrate
the further development of CSR theory in
terms of content and terminology, and to help
companies from various sectors to develop and
implement new function-related and crossfunctional
management concepts and business
models that positively promote the concept of
sustainable development. The starting point of
the analysis is always based on the assumption
that when organisations take responsibility for the
effects of their decisions and activities on society
and the environment, this can lead to innovative
solutions and to the creation of „common added
value“, and so to long-term success.
24
Competence Centres of FOM University of Applied Sciences

KCD KompetenzCentrum für Didaktik
in der Hochschullehre für Berufstätige
der FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie & Management
KCD KompetenzCentrum für
Didaktik in der Hochschullehre für Berufstätige
(Competence Centre of University Didactics for Professionals)
The highest standard of teaching and systematic
competence orientation are key factors for FOM’s
success. FOM’s didactic concept focuses not only
on the special requirements of professionals
studying part-time degree programmes, but also
on the benefits their work experience offer. KCD
KompetenzCentrum für Didaktik in der Hochschullehre
für Berufstätige provides a platform
for the development, testing and evaluation of
innovative teaching and learning methods for
academic teaching.
Quality-assured, application-oriented teaching
requires individualised didactic approaches, into
which new findings are continuously integrated.
FOM has therefore developed a transfer learning
method, which ensures that the specific
occupational relevance of teaching methods and
examinations for FOM students is systematically
integrated into the scientific teaching content. It
provides the primary didactic reference framework
for students and teachers that integrates both
the students’ professional experience and the
influences of businesses and society.
In FOM transfer learning, classic facets of competence
are also expanded to include transfer skills.
This enables FOM students to make multidimensional
decisions in their professional practice and
thus to solve complex practical challenges.
Due to its transfer-oriented didactics, both FOM’s
part-time and full-time study programmes can draw
on real potentials for application and expertise
from the academic and the business world and
thus offer correspondingly well-rounded teaching.
In order to promote individual learning processes,
our teaching methods are now increasingly implementing
digital media for teaching and learning.
As a mediator of transfer didactics, KCD is a service
platform for both teachers and students by
providing concepts, methods and instruments of
transfer-oriented teaching and specialised media
didactic training and support for teachers.
Head of Research:
Prof. Dr. Sabine Fichtner-Rosada
Deputy Head of Research:
Prof. Dr. Frank P. Schulte
Coordination:
Dr. Henrik Dindas
Competence Centres of FOM University of Applied Sciences
25

KCE KompetenzCentrum
für Entrepreneurship & Mittelstand
der FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie & Management
KCE KompetenzCentrum für
Entrepreneurship & Mittelstand
(Competence Centre of Entrepreneurship and Medium-Sized Businesses)
Head of Research:
Prof. Dr. Farid Vatanparast
The objective of KCE KompetenzCentrum für
Entrepreneurship & Mittelstand is to help safeguard
and further develop SMEs as a key location
factor. Together with medium-sized companies
and associations, we examine questions of business
management, for example from the areas
of entrepreneurship, founding new companies
and succession issues. It is vital that the research
projects are application-oriented – research findings
should ultimately lead to usable results that can
be implemented in medium-sized companies.
In addition to working together with trade associations
and companies, high priority is given to
cooperation with other research institutions. Students
and lecturers are also welcome to participate
in KCE projects. Every seminar paper, bachelor‘s
or master‘s thesis contributes to the amount of
knowledge we have about the interrelationships
of the two research fields of entrepreneurship
and small and medium-sized enterprises and the
effects they have on one another.
Head of Research:
Prof. Dr. Holger Wassermann
26
Competence Centres of FOM University of Applied Sciences

KCI KompetenzCentrum für interdisziplinäre
Wirtschaftsforschung & Verhaltensoekonomie
der FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie & Management
KCI KompetenzCentrum für interdisziplinäre
Wirtschaftsforschung & Verhaltensoekonomie
(Competence Centre of Interdisciplinary Economic Research and Behavioural Economics)
A large proportion of human decisions are made
unconsciously. Only a small number are a result
of reflection and careful consideration – and
even these largely cognitive decisions are also
influenced by unconscious processes and emotions.
KCI KompetenzCentrum für interdisziplinäre
Wirtschaftsforschung & Verhaltensoekonomie
explores the causes of these behavioural patterns
and decisions and their determinants.
KCI’s main focus is on networking and the active
exchange of knowledge between relevant parties
involved in various scientific disciplines and in
business.
This is realised in particular by means of:
planning and carrying out specialist events,
initiating and moderating the transfer of know-how
between associations, companies and institutions,
research and development in the fields of interdisciplinary
business research and behavioural
economics,
supporting the further development of teaching
methods and content,
creation of a knowledge database, indexing
interdisciplinary and non-business administrationrelated
articles and approaches,
supporting interested researchers and lecturers at
FOM with their KCI-related interdisciplinary work,
publication of studies and work results on interdisciplinary
topics in the university‘s own publication series
or specialist journals and external specialist publishers,
suggestions for and supervision of theses in the
Master degree programme that deal with the
integration of approaches from other disciplines.
Head of Research Interdisciplinary
Economic Research:
Prof. Dr. Lutz Hoffmann
Head of Research
in Behavioural Economics:
Prof. Dr. Winand Dittrich
Competence Centres of FOM University of Applied Sciences
27

KCM
KCM KompetenzCentrum
für Medizinoekonomie
der FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie & Management
KCM KompetenzCentrum für Medizinoekonomie
(Competence Centre of Medical Economics)
Applied research and development as well as
knowledge transfer in the field of medical economics
are the focus of KCM KompetenzCentrum
für Medizinoekonomie founded in 2010, initially
under the name KCG. The activities of KCM as
one of FOM’s scientific institutions aim to pool
the university‘s core competencies in the field of
medical economics and further expand them through
targeted application-related research activities.
Within the course of the accreditation process
of the degree programme by the FIBAA, several
criteria, including the „integration of theory and
practice“ and „professional qualification“, were
rated as being above average.
Head of Research:
Prof. Dr. med. Dr. rer. pol.
Christian Thielscher
Specifically, KCM has recently focused on the
questions of measuring quality, marketing and
the use of EDP systems in the health sector as
well as examining the state of health care across
the country. The research work carried out by
KCM as part of a scientific development project
with AOK Rheinland/Hamburg and the Contilia
Akademie also led to the conception of the FOM
Bachelor degree programme “Health and social
management”.
Coordination:
Gesine Hahn M.A.
28 Competence Centres of FOM University of Applied Sciences

KCMS KompetenzCentrum für
Marketing & Sales Management
der FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie & Management
KCMS KompetenzCentrum für
Marketing & Sales Management
(Competence Centre of Marketing & Sales Management)
KCMS is an internationally orientated scientific
institution affiliated to FOM that specialises in
the areas of marketing, sales and related research
subjects. As a think tank for scientists, KCMS, in
dialogue with marketing and sales experts and
business executives, focuses on the future of
market-oriented corporate management and on
sales and marketing strategies from an economic
perspective.
The point of departure for these activities can
be found in the interdisciplinary roots of both
areas of research, which, besides economics, can
also be identified as psychology and information
technology. As one of FOM’s scientific research
fields, KCMS does not, however, see itself as a
mediator of operational skills, but seeks rather
to examine the sector from a management perspective,
i.e. from an economic angle.
Our research focus can be outlined as follows:
Increasingly interchangeable products and services
as well as ever more demanding customers
present many companies with new challenges.
Nowadays it is no longer sufficient to convince
the customer with good product argumentation
and a supposedly competitive price. Today,
excellent analytical skills are required in order to
truly understand the customer and to be able
to offer customer-oriented benefit strategies.
The previously operative function of marketing
and sales has now been replaced by the role
of creating value, which is responsible for one
of the two components of the corporate profit
equation and thus to a significantly degree also
for the success of the company.
Our primary mission: KCMS conducts applied research
to develop innovative and efficient solutions
for modern and practice-relevant marketing and
sales questions. We strive to deliver „Scientific
Sales Management“ and „Scientific Customer
Insight“ by underpinning customer orientation
with a scientifically sound basis.
Head of Research:
Prof. Dr. Julia Naskrent
Head of Research:
Prof. Dr. Marcus Stumpf
Head of Research:
Prof. Dr. Jörg Westphal
Competence Centres of FOM University of Applied Sciences
29

KCN KompetenzCentrum
für nachhaltige Entwicklung
der FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie & Management
KCN KompetenzCentrum für nachhaltige Entwicklung
(Competence Centre of Sustainable Development)
Head of Research:
Prof. Dr. Estelle L. A. Herlyn
The objective of the KompetenzCentrum für
nachhaltige Entwicklung is to contribute towards
implementing Agenda 2030, achieving the 17
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the
2°C climate target. KCN stimulates debate and
discussion of the systemic character of Agenda
2030 and the challenges it poses. It contributes
to the development of solutions which, despite
all the challenges, offer cause for hope and
develops recommendations for practical action.
In order to deal with the systemic character of
the sustainability challenge, coordinated action
must be taken from the local to the global level.
To this effect, KCN would like to contribute its own
activities to the current debate on sustainability,
which focuses on four fields of action:
research projects
stimulating social dialogue (Third Mission)
promoting relevant cooperation and networks
supporting BNE – Bildung für nachhaltige
Entwicklung (Education for Sustainable
Development), especially in the field of
business education, not only within FOM.
Head of Research:
Prof. Dr. Magdalène Lévy-Tödter
30 Competence Centres of FOM University of Applied Sciences

KCT KompetenzCentrum
für Technologie- & Innovationsmanagement
der FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie & Management
KCT KompetenzCentrum
für Technologie- & Innovationsmanagement
(Competence Centre of Technology and Innovation Management)
KCT is an internationally oriented scientific competence
centre for technology and innovation
management and related areas of research. It acts
as a link between research, teaching and business.
KCT‘s objective is to pool expertise from all over
the country and develop application-oriented and
interdisciplinary research output in the areas of
technology and innovation. KCT therefore works in
close collaboration with a network of companies,
trade associations and scientific research institutions.
By enlisting the help of experts from
different disciplines and social groups, current
challenges are critically analysed and
assessed in order to find answers to key
questions. The competence centre therefore
transfers scientific findings from applied research
to the University‘s study programmes,
for example, to the MSc degree in Technology
and Innovation Management.
To promote intensive theory-practice dialogue, KCT
with Prof. Thomas Abele as its head of research is
supported by a nationwide team of experienced
scientists and practitioners.
Events that stimulate intensive dialogue between
scientists and experts from industrial practice also
take place at regular intervals.
KCT‘s activities are currently accompanied by a
large number of publications produced by the
KCT team. Apart from documenting the results of
academic conferences and expert forums, KCT‘s
series of publications aims to make KCT research
findings available to a wider audience.
Head of Research:
Prof. Dr. Thomas Abele
Competence Centres of FOM University of Applied Sciences
31

KCU KompetenzCentrum
für Unternehmensführung & Corporate Governance
der FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie & Management
KCU KompetenzCentrum für
Unternehmensführung & Corporate Governance
(Competence Centre of Business Management & Corporate Governance)
Head of Research:
Prof. Dr. Peter Ruhwedel
KCU KompetenzCentrum für Unternehmensführung
& Corporate Governance conducts applicationoriented
and interdisciplinary research. A key
objective is the initiation and implementation of
research projects that bring scientists and experts
from industrial practice together and offer added
value for companies. This approach covers both
internal and external corporate governance subjects:
Aspects of internal corporate governance:
Corporate monitoring by supervisory and
advisory boards
Risk management and internal monitoring
Management teams and leadership
Corporate management and incentive systems
Organisational design and development
Aspects of external corporate governance:
Requirements of investors (external investors /
rating agencies, equity investors / analysts)
Role and tasks of the annual auditor
Corporate co-determination
German and European CG rules and codes
Liability and liability defence of the management
board and supervisory board
Fraud and compliance management
KCU works in close cooperation with a network
of companies, trade associations and scientific
research institutions. By enlisting the help of
experts from different disciplines and social
groups, the current challenges of good corporate
governance and monitoring are critically
analysed in order to find answers to the central
questions of good governance. To this end, KCU
organises events as part of the FOM Forum Corporate
Governance and regularly publishes the
Supervisory Board score, in which members of
supervisory boards in DAX and MDAX companies
are benchmarked. This dialogue between scientists
and experts from industrial practice is supported
by an advisory board consisting of experienced
experts from business practice.
32
Competence Centres of FOM University of Applied Sciences

KCW KompetenzCentrum
für Wirtschaftsrecht
der FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie & Management
KCW KompetenzCentrum für Wirtschaftsrecht
(Competence Centre of Business Law)
KCW KompetenzCentrum für Wirtschaftsrecht
carries out research into areas of law relevant to
commercial enterprises, focusing on questions
arising in business practice from the perspective
of companies and hence leading to the practical
orientation of the questions raised in connection
with the research projects.
Alongside research work, KCW attaches great
importance to knowledge transfer. Further training
and courses are therefore regularly offered for
companies and organisations. The latest research
results are also integrated into course content at
FOM University.
Head of Research:
Prof. Dr. Tim Jesgarzewski
Competence Centres of FOM University of Applied Sciences
33

”Research at universities of applied science traditionally stands in
the shadows of universities and major research institutions as a
result of the distribution of responsibilities and allocation of funds
by the state.
The development of research at FOM is all the more remarkable.
Thanks to the idealism, creativity and expertise of everyone
involved, FOM has succeeded in securing an outstanding position
in several areas of applied research in the national competition
for research funding and awards. This significantly contributes
towards the high quality and exclusivity of teaching standards,
from which in particular Master‘s students benefit.“
Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Maier
Former Vice-President of Munich University of Applied Sciences

Department of
Research Support

Key contacts Research Support
Prof. Dr. Thomas Heupel,
Vice-President of Research
Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Christoph Hohoff,
Vice-Chancellor
Research Organisation
Dipl.-Päd. Irena Darga,
Deputy Head of Department;
Head of Project Department
Gesine Hahn M.A.,
Head of Institutes Department
Contact
Prof. Dr. Thomas Heupel
Phone 0201 81004-582
thomas.heupel@fom.de
Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Christoph Hohoff
Phone 0201 81004-449
christoph.hohoff@fom.de
Dipl.-Päd. Irena Darga
Phone 0201 81004-614
irena.darga@fom.de
Gesine Hahn M.A.
Phone 0201 81004-581
gesine.hahn@fom.de
The FOM research concept describes the self-image
of the university as a research institute and defines
processes for research management.
This concept and the research strategy derived from
it are constantly being further developed, parallel
to the continuing development of the university’s
mission statement by the Vice-President Research
and the Vice-Chancellor for Research Organisation.
The annual research report documents the current
status of concept implementation.
FOM‘s Department of Research Support was set up
to help members of university staff and research institutions
develop and undertake research projects.
This service takes on much of the formal and
organisational work, allowing researchers to concentrate
on their research subjects.
FOM’s Department of Research Support supports
research and development results being transferred
to science and business practice by publishing
work in its own publication series and those of
specialist partner publishing companies.
The Department of Research Support focuses on
supporting and coordinating the development
and realisation of research and transfer projects
at FOM.
Selected FOM University projects are supported by, inter alia:
36
Department of Research Support at FOM

Dipl.-jur. Kai Enno Stumpp,
Team Leader Publishing Services;
Editorship
Dipl.-Kfm. Gerrit Landherr,
EU Funding Advisor
Yasmin Lindner-Dehghan
Manchadi M.A.,
Research Communications
The Publishing Department supports the scientific
publication process of teaching staff and students
with the aim of documenting FOM research in
teaching, science and practice in a way that is appropriate
for the target group.
The research institutions’ members and employees
form the Institutes Department and contribute to
the institutions’ research and development work.
The head of the Institutes Department supports
the research institutions in complying with reporting
requirements as well as various administrative tasks.
University Partner Publishing Companies inter alia:
Services for university teaching staff
Identification of suitable external funding
programmes to fund projects
Assistance with formal project design
Handling of formal questions and issues relating
to funding law
Support with the preparation of applications for
third-party funding
Resource management and public procurement
Providing proof of the correct use of third-party funds
Budget controlling and quality assurance
Coordination of the development of transfer media
Individual publication consulting
Event management of publication workshops at
all university study centres in accordance with
their individual needs
Initiating, supporting and developing scientific
FOM publication series
Cooperation with partner publishers
Contact
Dipl.-jur. Kai Enno Stumpp
Phone 0201 81004-155
kai.stumpp@fom.de
Dipl.-Kfm. Gerrit Landherr
Phone 0201 81004-639
gerrit.landherr@fom.de
Yasmin Lindner-Dehghan
Manchadi M.A.
Phone 0201 81004-984
yasmin.lindner@fom.de
Department of Research Support at FOM
37

More information on the internet:
Homepage of the department:
https://www.fom.de/en
„Fom forscht“ - FOM‘s science blog (only in German):
www.fom-blog.de
38 More information on the internet

39

FOM Hochschule
FOM. The university for professionals.
Since 1993, FOM University of Business Administration has been offering study
programmes to working professionals tailored to the current requirements
of the world of work. Whether they work in the commercial field, in the care
sector or in engineering, whether they are IT experts or trainees: the diversity of
industries and professions is reflected in all our university departments.
FOM graduates have what HR managers particularly appreciate in specialists
and managers: academic know-how and practical experience.
Founded on the initiative of the non-profit Stiftung BildungsCentrum der
Wirtschaft, FOM is state-approved and Germany‘s largest private university
with over 50,000 students. More than 2,000 experienced lecturers from
the academic world and industry give on-site lectures at 30 study centres.
In contrast to distance learning, the close contact with university teachers
and student advisors at each study centre provides students with
optimal support.
You will find more information at fom.de.
Our research blog, entitled „FOM forscht“, contains articles and interviews on current research topics
and activities at FOM University.
Visit our blog at fom-blog.de.