2015 Cyber Security Report

To be successful, Industry 4.0 needs improved protection against cyber attacks: Almost 90 percent of political and economic decision-makers see IT security as the greatest challenge to achieving a complete transition to Industry 4.0, according to the latest Deutsche Telekom Cyber Security Report. In fact, a large majority of managers (84 percent) are convinced that the risk of attacks will rise with Industry 4.0, i.e. the intelligent networking of people, machines and production processes. According to managers, other Industry 4.0 related challenges include nationwide coverage with high-speed Internet (80 percent) and reaching agreement on unified global standards (81 percent). Deutsche Telekom’s Cyber Security Report, prepared by Allensbach Institute for Public Opinion Research and Centre for Strategy and Higher Leadership, is now being published for the fourth consecutive year.

Download Report (German only)

Lack of Momentum in Diversity

In BOARD magazine Prof. Klaus Schweinsberg reports about the results of the „Board Diversity Index (BoDI)“: The index, authored by Klaus Schweinsberg, analyses the results of supervisory board elections since 2013 with special regards to diversity and plurality of offices. While there was a certain ambition in 2014 to elect new personalities into bodies rather than reappointing holder of the positions, the annual general meeting season 2015 was characterised by „a little bit more of the same“. There was little progress and partly even regression.

to the article (German)

“This does not make sense”

Simone Bagel-Trah, Chairman of the board at Henkel, talks in an interview with manager magazine about this year’s massive decline of her company in the Board Diversity Index (BoDI). The index, authored by Klaus Schweinsberg, analyses the results of supervisory board elections since 2013 with special regards to diversity and plurality of offices. One of the findings of the Board Diversity Index is that Henkel, by comparison to the preceading year, has slipped down four points in the ranking. With only eight points in total Henkel shows a lack of diversity.

To the article (in german)

Succession arrangements and quarrels.
Game of Monopoly with family-owned businesses

They are the often-quoted backbone of the German economy: Family-owned businesses. Among their major strength are clear structures and short decision processes. But a lack of succession arrangements and quarrels could jeopardise the success of the businesses. “There is often a lack of professional distance. The parties involved should seek expert advice.” says Prof. Klaus Schweinsberg in the german newspaper Rheinische Post.

to the article (in german)

World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2017

“Responsive and Responsible Leadership” was the theme of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2017. Many topics covered in Davos were not new, such as the subject of migration, which Antonio Guterres, now United Nations Secretary-General, and Professor Klaus Schweinsberg discussed in great detail several years ago. What was new, however, is the dramatic and powerful impact this topic has on the courses of the world. In an interview with german news channel n-tv, Professor Schweinsberg described the sentiment in Davos: “Europa is silent, USA is ranting and the Chinese State President has shown very clearly that he wants to lead.”

to the n-tv Interview (in german)