How can sustainability and digitalisation lead to corporate success? This is the focus of the "Strategic Management of Dual Transformation" (DualStrat) project of our "Behavioural Economic Engineering and Responsible Management" workgroup. Whether materials, working conditions or recycling: value chains have great potential for companies to become more sustainable. Due to the complexity of value chains, management is required.
The project team is working out the best way to structure and organise this management. In individual projects, the companies Böllhoff, Hanning, Schmitz Cargobull and Weidmüller are being supported in the dual transformation of their companies by our institute, the Fraunhofer IEM, InnoZent OWL, Paderborn University and the Wuppertal Institute.
The project, which is sponsored by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (MWIKE), is focussing on the 'dual transformation'. This specifically and strategically integrates digitalisation and sustainability efforts and goes beyond the mere use of digitalisation in the context of 'digital sustainability'. It describes the process by which companies strategically drive their business activities forward using digital technologies and sustainable principles in order to optimise long-term social and environmental impact, minimise costs and risks and strengthen their reputation.
The Heinz Nixdorf Institute is working together with Weidemüller in one of the four pilot projects. The aim is to holistically integrate sustainability and digitalisation into the corporate strategy. In addition, a data-based key performance indicator system is being developed to make the actual sustainability performance measurable.
The project is currently in its final stages and will run until mid-April 2026. The project was sponsored with a total of €3.28 million.
