Posted on 9 May 2017

The Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg
The 2017 annual symposium of the Alumni Association’s German Branch will take place from the 20th – 21st of May at the Historical Hotel Reichshof in Hamburg. An important event, it is a great opportunity for members to come together, offering networking opportunities and a substantial academic resource for both German University of Wales Alumni and German-speaking graduates who hold University of Wales’ awards.
The agenda for the weekend will be as follows:
Saturday 20th May 2017
09:15 Get together
09:45 Welcome and introduction by Dr. Martina Nieswandt, President of the German Branch
10:00 Die Energiestrategie der METRO GROUP zur Umsetzung der gesellschaftlichen und rechtlichen Anforderungen an ein international tätiges Handelsunternehmen - Paper by Olaf Schulze, Director of Energy Management Metro Group.
11:00 BREXIT, sorry for all the fuss! - Paper by Professor Dr Simon Jones.
12:00 Lunch
13:30 Annual Meeting of Alumni Members (with separate agenda)
15:00 Coffee break
15:30 Brexit real: Umsetzung, Auswirkungen und Chance - Paper by Dr Jörg Klaus Baumgart
19:30 Drinks Reception
20:00 Festive Dinner.
Sunday 21st May 2017
Following the annual symposium, the Branch have arranged for a tour of the newly build Elbphilharmonie, one of the largest and most acoustically advanced concert halls in the world. Opened in January, this impressive building, situated in the in the HafenCity quarter of the city comprises two concert halls, a hotel, and Plaza, which offers visitors a spectacular 360° view of the city and harbour.
As every year, it promises to be a very informative and memorable event, and all University of Wales Alumni are welcome to join. Further information and contact details can be found on their website - www.alumni-wales.de
With a membership of over 220 individuals, the branch offers a substantial academic resource with members coming from a rich and varied background of business and academia.
Amongst the members is Dr. Martina Nieswandt, President of the Branch, who has recently co-authored a new publication entitled Laterales Management.
Identifying that over the coming years digitalisation will change the economy and society as dramatically as electricity did one hundred years ago, Dr Nieswandt and co-author Roland Geschwill propose that hierachical organisation will be superseded by lateral organisation. Analysing what this will mean for future working conditions, they highlight the opportunities that the process of digitisation offers to companies, people and managers - the chance for more freedom, more individuality, more creativity and innovation.
Co-founders of Denkwerkstatt für Manager, a management consultancy business, more information about the publication, and their work, can be found on their website - http://www.denkwerkstatt-manager.de/en/publications/index