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Systemicum 2021

Systemicum 2021: Forging change

High-calibre experts such as sociologist Dirk Baecker or climatologist Helga Kromp-Kolb surveyed a society in transition and revealed paths forwards into the future, leading executives delivered best practices for responsible business and Federal Minister for Climate Action Leonore Gewessler sketched the role of politics in responding to the challenges of our time.

Vienna – March 5, 2021. We are living in times of change. In view of today’s global problems, the transformation of business and society has become a necessity. But how should this restructuring occur? What conditions does it require for success?

These were the questions addressed at the Systemicum 2021 conference, hosted on Thursday both in-person at the Bread Factory in Vienna as well as online, in accordance with COVID guidelines. The conference brought together the combined wisdom of experts from science, business and civil society for analysis and exchange.

Panel guests included the grand dame of climate research Helga Kromp-Kolb, social scientists Jörg Fleckler and Ruth Simsa and participation expert Martina Handler. Katharina Rogenhofer (Spokesperson for Klimavolksbegehren) and Alexandra Strickner (trade expert and Co-Founder of Attac Österreich) provided the viewpoint of social movements, while Bernd Spalt (CEO Erste Group) offered economic insights.

The equally lively and profound discussions resulting in exciting insights and outlooks from the perspective of various disciplines. Ultimately it was about how all of us – companies and scientists as well as civil society as the aggregate of politically and socially active citizens – can contribute to society’s progression towards a “good life for everyone”. It became clear that multi-perspective discourse, cooperation, creativity and innovation are indispensable when it comes to successfully shaping the future.

Systemicum was organised by trainconsulting, one of Austria’s top management consultancies. “Sustainable action requires new conceptual models and decision-making processes. New forms of communication and interdisciplinary exchange can help. Systemicum provides a space for precisely this”, says trainconsulting Founder Ruth Seliger, who moderated the panel discussion at the Bread Factory.

Politics in the “frustrated society”

Renowned sociologist Dirk Baecker opened the day with his keynote on the political discourse of the future. We are experiencing, Baecker remarks, a “frustrated society” where every format for social consensus known to us is seeking new ways of remaining able to fulfil its function. The same goes for politics. If politics hopes to meet the challenges of the future, it must part ways with rash certainties. Baecker pleads for a procedural progression for political discourse, one that recursively explores, tries news things and then corrects itself. As this process unfolds, clarification should always be sought afresh – even concerning the goals being pursued.

What is needed and what offers hope

The experts were largely unanimous in the consensus that things can’t keep going on as they currently are. As a result of the climate crisis, society, politics and business need to be restructured from the bottom up. “The Club of Rome was already predicting imminent catastrophe back in 1972. Now we keep saying it. If hope now rests on the youth, then this is a declaration of bankruptcy for our generation,” warns Helga Kromp-Kolb. Hope is the power of civil society. “It has always been an engine of change,” says Ruth Simsa. “Much of what we take for granted today is the result of this struggle.” Civil society initiatives can – even without large sums of money – raise topics in the public debate, unite people and lead to a reassessment of values, because discourse about the future is to a large extent value-based. “We should,” Bernd Spalt remarks, “actually be talking about what we want.” Jörg Flecker makes an important interjection on this issue: Values alone won’t keep society together. “You also have to think about power dynamics.”

The role of companies: Success through responsibility

The afternoon was the time for the pragmatists from the business world. In the “Business for Future Lab,” they shared their experiences and problem-solving approaches for enhancing responsible business practices in the context of social change – and then opened the floor for discussion. The conference’s roughly 200 registered participants were also able to take part with their own questions and contributions. “We firmly believe that the only companies that will be successful in the future will be those that take their social and ecological responsibility seriously. We are seeing that many companies are prepared to do this,” summarised trainconsulting CEO Lothar Wenzl.

Like magdas Social Business from Vienna, for example. CEO Gabriela Sonnleitner described how a company that relies on employees at a labour-market disadvantage can work successfully and in a market-oriented way. magdas is proof that it’s no utopian idea that anyone can do good work if you focus on their strengths. On the other hand, magdas ESSEN is an example of how it’s even possible for a commercial kitchen to operate sustainably through the use of organic food. The magdas ESSEN service portfolio covers the entire spectrum from communal catering for senior residences to custom-tailored catering solutions.

Failure is not an option

The successful event was rounded off by a conversation between Ruth Seliger and Federal Minister for Climate Action Leonore Gewessler (Green Party). “The climate crisis represents the greatest challenge of our time. And solving it will take all of us: politics, society and business. We can only make a good life on this planet a possibility for future generations if we work together. This is precisely our duty – because in our fight against the climate crisis, failure is not an option,” summarised Gewessler.

About trainconsulting

trainconsulting has numbered among the leading management consultancies from Austria for over 30 years and is considered part of the Heidelberg School, which has shaped the international consultancy scene for many years. Our consultants have broad organisational experience and systemic expertise. We work with companies from all industries and sectors as well as civil society organisations and government institutions. We shape transformation. We focus on strategy development, business processes, reorganisations and organisational design. Management is always an instrumental part of it.

Change is difficult. We identify patterns, bring in outside perspectives, speak in plain language and set development in motion. We are emboldeners. Starting from a place of confidence that change will succeed, we get to the core of the issues you are facing. Our work generates new perspectives, higher goals and options you can act on. This enables our clients to get to the root of problems, resulting in new solutions and decisions that last.

Society and the economy are changing radically. Only those companies that embrace their environmental and social responsibility will be financially successful in the future. For us, these are “beautiful” organisations in the broader sense. To shape them, you need strong partners like us.

Questions and comments to:

Denise Böhm
bettertogether GmbH
+43 699 107 334 95
d.boehm@bettertogether.com