Prof. Dr. Johannes Kern

There are many things that can be criticised in the proposal of the Bundesnetzagentur regarding the 2025 mobile spectrum allocation, not only the fact that no auction is foreseen and, as the Bundeskartellamt pointed out, a fourth MNO may not be forthcoming under these conditions, but also the quite general conceptional point that without access obligation, there is simply no reason for MNOs to provide access to service providers. That this is detrimental to customers of mobile services and also reduces investments in the mobile network should be obvious. Why the Bundesnetzagentur is going down that road is less clear. Check out the paper of my co-authors and myself on these points. #spectrum #auction #Bundesnetzagentur #Verhandlungsgebot #Diensteanbieterverpflichtung #competition

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We’re thrilled to hear Isabel Hartung's insights on the Ecosystemizer and the evolving role of supervisory boards in shaping future business models. 🚀🌐 In Isabel's interview, she emphasizes that boards must balance strategic vision with operational know-how, as strategy alone isn’t enough without actionable execution.She highlights how the frameworks and concepts described in our book “Ecosystemize your Business” can be an invaluable tool, especially for midsize companies navigating platform economies and potential disruptions. By exploring different models, boards can ask targeted questions: Where will future revenue come from? What’s the vision for profitability? How should transitions to new business models be structured? 🔍💡 We’re especially glad to hear this perspective for several reasons: 1️⃣ It underscores the importance of adaptable frameworks, a cornerstone of what we provide. 2️⃣ It highlights the growing demand for tools like Ecosystemizer to bridge strategy and real-world execution.  3️⃣ It validates the essential role of informed advisory boards in guiding organizations toward growth and resilience. Thank you, Isabel! 🔗 Read the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/eQFSHn2c #BusinessEcosystems #Ecosystemizer #Innovation #StrategyAndExecution #SupervisoryBoards #FutureOfBusiness

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New publication in the International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management! Till Uhlich, external PhD student at the Chair of Production and Logistics Management, FernUniversität in Hagen, and Prof. Karsten Kieckhäfer published an article on the CO₂ management decision problem in tactical sales planning of light commercial vehicle manufacturers in Europe.   In this paper, the question of how trade-offs between contribution margins and CO₂ fleet emissions could be managed within tactical sales planning of light commercial vehicle manufacturers in the EU is addressed. A planning framework is developed to derive optimal sales plans from both an ecological and environmental perspective, considering important constraints. Based on the framework, we analyze how alternative sales plans on the level of models, variants, and equipment options with similar contribution margins can lead to very different outcomes with respect to CO₂ fleet emissions and vice versa. The results of this study indicate that sales planning with a detailed view on CO₂ emissions is essential to ensure profitability of light commercial vehicle manufacturers until zero emission vehicles achieve competitive contribution margins and substantial market shares.   Check out this link to read the whole article: https://lnkd.in/dViM44Mq #Publication #Automotive #SalesPlanning #CO₂#fleetmissions

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Happy to announce! that after 3 years one result of my PhD-Thesis has led to this patent "Patent in Deutschland Nr. 10 2020 213 823.0"! Super happy!!! :) Curious what it is about? In the language of General Management: It brings transparency to one of your biggest assets in the company: "Information". You (or your AI) can see how digital and analogue you are, if you should further digitalize in a specific section or are better of running analogue for the time being (e.g. too complex IT; too bad data quality; too complex organizational environment). In the language of Enterprise Architects and IT: Modelling the "Information" (not talking about contextualized data) in your Information Layer (not talking about ERM, UML, BPM, BPMN, EPC, Value Stream Mapping etc.) and showing how digital and analogue the information currently is. On this basis you can of course develop target pictures, improve and secure the information flows (e.g. with AI). In the language of Production and Logistics: Mapping your information with all dependencies, hubs and spokes in a flow, so you (or your AI) can identify weaknesses, risks and measure its digitality as well as derive strategies. Further details also available here in my thesis:

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With the global #automotive industry crucial to many economies and their investment strategies, German and Japanese #politicians must tread especially carefully in their relationship with China. Three Western brands each sold more than a million #vehicles in the Chinese domestic market in which Volkswagen has an 11% market share, Toyota 8% and Honda 5.5%. Alongside market leader and major Chinese exporter, BYD (12%), these four automotive industry behemoths dominate more than a third of the Chinese market. With sales of 5.2 million pure #BEVs accounting for 24% of total market sales of 22 million, another Western brand, Tesla, ranks second only to BYD with sales of 603,664 BEVs. Overall, Volkswagen and Toyota are the world’s two largest #carmakers with combined sales totalling around 21 million vehicles. This is comparable to Chinese domestic sales more than twice the size of the EU market of 10 million cars. Your Tesla might have been built in Berlin, but it’s just as likely to come from China, where #manufacturing costs are substantially lower. #futuremobility #industrialstrategy #privateequity #venturecapital #netzero #decarbonisation https://on.ft.com/3z2HVLX

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No More Excuses: A Unified Software Ecosystem for Germany’s Automotive Industry 🚀 The challenges facing Germany’s automotive industry are undeniable. Recent developments at Ford Deutschland, Volkswagen, and now Bosch highlight the urgency of transformation. However, these are not the end of the story—they are wake-up calls, as I outline in my Op-Ed for German Magazine Focus. https://lnkd.in/dccAgZSn 🚀 The path forward lies in collaboration. 🚀 If the industry continues to act as isolated players, Germany risks falling further behind global competitors who are excelling in software, AI, and digital innovation. We need a unified approach, and the key is a shared software stack—a common foundation for innovation that bridges manufacturers, suppliers, and tech partners. Initiatives like our ZEKI | Zentrum für erlebbare KI und Digitalisierung (ZEKI) show us what is possible when collaboration meets ambition. ZEKI not only conducts cutting-edge research but also develops practical solutions: a versatile AI software stack and a 20-kilometer real-world test environment in the heart of the capital. These efforts must expand beyond isolated projects to form the backbone of a national ecosystem for automotive software. Germany has the talent, the infrastructure, and the tradition of excellence to lead this transformation. But success will depend on everyone - industry, startups, research institutions, and policymakers - working together. A Question for you: 🚀 How can we scale projects like ZEKI to create a truly national software ecosystem for the automotive sector? 🚀 The time for excuses has passed. Let’s work together to turn challenges into opportunities and ensure Germany remains a driving force in the global automotive industry. I’d love to hear your ideas - how do we make collaboration the engine of our success? Let’s discuss! Technische Universität Berlin BeIntelli SemperTech GT-ARC Volker Wissing Wolfgang Schmidt IAV Verband der Automobilindustrie (VDA) e.V.

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Excited to share that anp Management Consulting's in-depth analysis of China's #automotiveproduction landscape was published today in #Automobilwoche Online! 🇨🇳🚗 Some key findings from the study: China has built up massive automotive production capacity, with 169 passenger car factories able to produce nearly 30 million vehicles annually. In 2023, around 26.1 million passenger cars were produced in China, of which about 5 million were exported. The top 15 #OEMs in #China operate 102 of the 169 auto plants and dominate the production landscape. Geely has the largest production capacity with 13 factories able to make up to 2.7 million cars per year, followed by Great Wall Motors (2M) and #BYD (1.8M). 32.5% of China's auto plants are concentrated in just 3 eastern coastal provinces: #Guangdong, #Jiangsu and #Zhejiang. China's overcapacity and regional concentration pose major challenges for the industry going forward. China's auto industry has grown tremendously, but also faces challenges ahead as it seeks to utilize #overcapacity and expand globally. With a dedicated team of 40 specialists in #marketintelligence and #competitiveintelligence, ANP is uniquely positioned to provide #OEMs and Automotive #Suppliers with in-depth and investigative insights needed to navigate the complexities of the #Chinese #market. Read the full article for more insights: https://lnkd.in/ey3ndR62 #ChinaAutoIndustry #AutoIndustryAnalysis #AutoProduction #AutoCapacity #anpManagementConsulting #China #NEV #eMobility https://lnkd.in/ey3ndR62

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Very interesting article…. At least in my Chinese brown eyes, it tells the most needed skills to be successful on China as a German company. My words as summaries: proper selling points in harsh Chinese market, get yourselves successful.

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A key element in the argumentation chain for this article's thesis is China's alleged fixation on investments in infrastructure, manufacturing capacity and ‘professional human capital’. By usual standards and with the usual short-term focus, China's core macroeconomic KPIs should lead to this conclusion. The question is: How much sense does it make to judge or project a dynamics based on an observation period of two, three or even five years for a country that is known to think and plan in (several) decades? We all certainly still remember the dedicated and above all patient build-up of technology and capacity for solar cells, electric cars and the batteries required for them and the result of these efforts today and in the foreseeable near future. https://lnkd.in/e_-5b6nR Similar build-up is currently happening with wind turbines and silicon chips, and there is actually no doubt about the expected result on the global markets, is there? Yes, in the (really) long term, both temporary overcapacity and delayed market adjustment/cleanup are simply part of the rocky road to the absolute top. However, if one focus too much on short-term observation, this connection is not apparent, as this article excellently shows.

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🌟 We are excited to introduce Dr. Michel Siemon as the CEO of Primobius GmbH 🌍   🔋 With a background spanning over a decade across the automotive, industrial goods, and metal industries, Michel has been instrumental in driving operational excellence and strategic projects at Kearney. His educational foundation from RWTH Aachen University equips him with a deep understanding of industrial engineering and operations management, making him the right leader for Primobius during our transformative journey towards sustainable battery recycling. Michel shares his enthusiasm for this sector, stating, "The challenge of battery recycling fascinates me both technologically and environmentally. I am drawn to the significant impact our work can have on making the world a better place, combining my engineering expertise with a passion for sustainable solutions." His commitment to innovation is driven by the sector's rapid growth and the opportunities it presents for advancing recycling technologies.   🌿 He is particularly captivated by the dynamic environment at Primobius, where he says, "The phase of building and rapidly growing the company energizes me. It's thrilling to shape the future of our organization and influence the industry directly." He values the diversity and expertise of the Primobius team, which fosters a fertile ground for collaboration and innovation. Michel is deeply committed to leading the industry towards more sustainable practices.   He emphasizes, "We are not just recycling; we are leading a movement towards a sustainable and circular economy, enhancing the efficiency with which we return valuable materials to the production cycle." 🔄   🚀 Join us as Michel leads Primobius into a new era of battery recycling, where our commitment to innovation and sustainability is shaping a greener, more technologically advanced future. 🌱 Primobius - Battery recycling without limits Neometals Ltd SMS group #Primobius #Neometals #SMSGroup #LiB #10tpdSpoke #Lithium #Battery #Recycling #Technology #EnergyTransition #CircularEconomy

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The German automotive industry is currently facing major challenges. VW has proposed significant cost-cutting measures, including a 10% reduction in wages, which could have far-reaching effects throughout VW’s supply chain. Suppliers such as Bosch, Continental and ZF are under similar pressure and have recently announced major job cuts due to reduced demand. The industry’ focus on internal combustion engines, when we all know that the climate crisis will not allow further fuel to be burned, and when Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers have been innovating rapidly, has created an “accident waiting to happen” (Holling) that now threatens to affect many jobs across the EU’s automotive supply chains. Herbert Diess, the former CEO of VW, noted back in 2020: “Nokia is probably a good example of how such a change can happen—if you’re not fast enough, you’re not going to survive. I’m always telling our people this example.” They probably should have taken it seriously. More (in German): https://lnkd.in/dfugt2jJ #automotive #supplychain #volkswagen #resilience

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OverCapacity in #Automotiveindustry #China? #Facts or #StoryTelling ?? ++ Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer, CAR Bochum, said that the Chinese #electricvehicles #market is far from saturated and will continue to maintain a faster and stronger growth momentum compared to the European and American markets. ++ #Manufacturers are achieving cost reductions and efficiency improvements through economies of scale. #EU investigation into Chinese electric vehicles' "subsidies" and "dumping" is untenable, Dudenhoeffer said.

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🎖 Wiwo-Ranking 2024: TU Dresden in the Top Three for Business Information Systems 🥉 Every year, the magazine WirtschaftsWoche ranks the top universities from the perspective of HR managers and recruiters. This year's ranking shows that Technische Universität Dresden is gaining popularity as a "rare beacon of German higher education in the east of the republic" (Wiwo, 2022). The TU Dresden is now the third most popular university for business information systems, thanks to its return to the diploma degree, three cutting-edge specializations (Advanced Data Analytics, Business Processes & Systems, Digital Business Engineering), and strong industry ties through guest lectures, case studies, and digitally-inclusive research and teaching. Improving from 4th in 2022 to 3rd in 2023 and 2024, TU Dresden continues to shine! ✨ #HigherEducation #BusinessInformationSystems #TUDresden #Wirtschaftswoche #UniversityRanking #DigitalEducation #IndustryConnections #TopUniversity

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The fuel research group at Hochschule Coburg just finalized a research project in cooperation with the AGQM Arbeitsgemeinschaft Qualitätsmanagement Biodiesel e.V. and Volkswagen Group regarding the potentials of B10 diesel fuels (BENTE). This project includes results from the chemical laboratory and from several tests with different series production passenger cars. Furthermore, the project results also invlude a Diesel R51 fuel mixture that combines 10 vol% of #FAME with 41 vol% of #HVO without negative impacts on emissions, efficicncy or operational stability. The project partners want to share these results with the public due to its potential for #transport #defossilization within the existing vehicle fleet. Therefore, please find a shortend version of the final report at the AGQM Homepage (link below). Link to the BENTE short report (in german): https://lnkd.in/eB2fQhP6 https://lnkd.in/e67jUzKa

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In the manufacturing sector, personnel costs typically account for 25-40% of total expenses. In 2024, revenues for German Industrial Goods companies declined by 5%, while personnel costs increased by 8% (sample survey Porsche Consulting). According to the latest IG Metall collective agreement, wages and salaries in the German metal and electrical industry are set to rise by 2.0% in 2025 and an additional 3.1% in 2026. Given the current economic climate, substantial revenue growth rates are not anticipated. Simultaneously, special measures such as short-time work have reached a record high since 2010 (excluding the COVID years 2020/21), with the Mechanical Engineering sector leading the list, surpassing even the Automotive industry. However many short time agreements will end Q1/2025. Without further intervention, the cost gap for companies will continue to widen. Our latest white paper provides concrete examples and methodologies for achieving sustainable personnel cost reductions (direct and indirect) as well as library of 400+ levers and addresses key questions such as: ✅ How to systematically identify levers to reduce personnel costs ✅ Typical levers for reducing both indirect and direct personnel costs ✅ How to benchmark your company against peers #performanceimprovement #restructuring #transformation #industrialgoods #mechanicalandplanteengineering

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It’s incredible to see such a strong collaboration forming through the 'Sustainability Logistics Dialogue.' I'm particularly excited about the potential synergies that can be identified in this partnership to drive the future of sustainable logistics.🌍🚛💡 #SustainableLogistics #GreenLogistics #LogisticsInnovation #Collaboration #FutureOfLogistics #SustainabilityGoals"

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🚗 A Decisive Moment for the German Automotive Industry 🇩🇪 The EU is on the brink of imposing tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, citing unfair subsidies from China. This could have significant consequences for German automakers like VW, BMW, and Mercedes, who produce in China for the European market. Ironically, these tariffs could hurt German manufacturers more than their Chinese counterparts, especially considering the recent US tariffs that have basically "restricted" Chinese cars imports to America with a 100% tax. Key questions arise: Will Germany continue to follow the US in escalating the trade war with China, even if it damages their own economic interests? Or will they recognize China's inevitability as a dominant player in global EVs, given China’s persistent efforts and capabilities? Chinese manufacturers currently only hold 1% of the German EV market, but companies like BYD, who have been waiting for a breakthrough since 2006, are ready to expand. With Chinese manufacturers gaining momentum in electric mobility and making strides into Africa, is now the right time for Europe to try and delay their progress—or should they prepare for more integration? If Chancellor Scholz decides against supporting these tariffs, it might not only prevent economic backlash but also open up new investment opportunities. From my perspective, BYD is particularly worth watching if German policy takes a more accommodating stance on Chinese exports. The future of EU-China trade and investment hangs in the balance. Let’s see what Brussels decides today—this could be a turning point. 🛠️💡

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eMobility #Updates Ed Conway from #SkyNews explains the causes and sources of skyrocketing growth of the Chinese Car manufacturers and parallel decline of the European Auto Industry. It shows the strength (and unfairness) of a visionary powerful Chinese industrial policy - so much still to learn for European policy makers. One has to applaud this masterpiece of long-term planning and execution to the detail involving all sources of their nation. Standing still, complaining and protecting (with Tariffs) will not change the underlying Issue. Europe needs to learn to, Act as one', leverage our leading Research competence, agree on Industrial priorities and form a long-term industrial policy to succeed. It's hard to believe that an impactful solution can be found on national levels - think regional, think European! Thanks for forwarding the Video Christian Claussen , from Volkswagen VMA! Christoph Seyerlein #Electriccars #industrytrend #emobility #china #europe #EVindustry #electric #vehicle

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🗞️ OÖNachrichten report on great research performance at JKU Business School The OÖNachrichten, the leading daily newspaper in #UpperAustria, reported on the research performance of the JKU Business School and in particular on the good positions of Markus Sinnl and myself in the recent WirtschaftsWoche ranking in last Saturday's edition. Many thanks to Elisabeth Prechtl and Dietmar Mascher for the nice article. While the article talks about Markus' and my research, research at the JKU Business School in general has been very successful lately, with publications in several of the most prominent journals in business and management research, including an article co-authored by Waldemar Kremser in Academy of Management Review (https://lnkd.in/dmBVY-D3), an article co-authored by Claudio Biscaro in Organization Science (https://lnkd.in/dJxSykp7) and an article co-authored by Matthias Fink in Journal of Business Venturing (https://lnkd.in/dWygHnwG), to name just a few highlights of recent months. It is great to see that the JKU Business School continues to establish itself as a leading management research institution in #Austria and #Europe. We look forward to the road ahead and further pioneering business and management research made at Johannes Kepler Universität Linz. JKU - Institut für Controlling und Consulting #research #performance #productivity #JKU #ranking

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