Fit for Logistics and Leadership 4.0

Our working world is undergoing dynamic change: digitization, globalization, and political and social conditions are changing entire industries from the ground up. Established business models and value chains are being questioned or redesigned. This is changing our working environment, corporate culture and the way we manage employees and companies.

In such an environment, entrepreneurial success is based on promoting global, value-creating thinking and acting, and on exploiting the potential of employees and managers within the company. Alongside professional qualifications, ongoing training is a key element in being able to survive in rapid change processes. Often, this important task is neglected in day-to-day business. According to a Bitkom study (2019), around three quarters of respondents believe that digital skills are becoming increasingly important for employees - but only around a quarter provide targeted training for the majority of their employees. Yet training increases the performance and motivation of employees and binds them to their employers. The acquisition of specialist and management skills opens up new career prospects for employees within the company. 

Thus, further training and digital competence are becoming increasingly important, especially in the logistics industry. "The recent pandemic has shown how critical supply chains are to our economy. The Corona crisis also exposed problematic gaps - both in our technical infrastructure and in the skills needed to manage supply chains in a turbulent world," emphasizes Prof. Dr. J. Rod Franklin, Professor of Logistics. Franklin, an experienced engineer, is Academic Director of Executive Education at Kühne Logistics University, which offers customized continuing education for top managers.

The professional education programs in English and German focus on closing the gap in supply chain management through continuing education in the areas of digital transformation, leadership and application. For example, a recent study of the German market by the Boston Consulting Group and Faethm AI shows that this type of retraining and reskilling of supply chain professionals is critical to our country's continued economic well-being. 

Embedded in an international network of companies and partner universities, first-class lecturers teach practical methods and skills in the areas of general management and leadership, digitalization and data science, logistics and supply chain management, all of which are complex, interdisciplinary topics with great potential for innovation and value creation and high topicality. In addition, they offer participants the opportunity to exchange experiences and establish international networks. Compact formats are available for this purpose, such as a summer school or part-time programs like the Master of Business Administration (MBA). 

Based on the well-developed digital infrastructure and the generally increased acceptance of digital continuing education offerings, KLU and KLU Executive Education have both added e-learning components to existing face-to-face events and developed purely online formats. The excellent work of Executive Education was confirmed in 2020 by the ranking of the German magazine "Stern": "Our continuing education program was awarded 5 stars in the category "Best Business Schools"" explains Prof. Franklin.

The digitization of the formats enables an international group of participants to access the offerings quickly and easily, saving time and travel costs. This also and especially applies to company-specific programs, which Executive Education - tailored to the needs of its customers - also offers online or as combined online and classroom events. The private Kühne Logistics University (KLU), located in Hamburg's modern HafenCity, has been focusing on first-class research in the field of logistics, supply chain management and leadership for ten years now, in addition to teaching and continuing education. 

Further information:

• Original article from Kirstin Schwieger, European Media Partner