New Hope for Cancer Patients
Around one hundred scientists, entrepreneurs, doctors, and consultants in southwestern Germany want to revolutionize the treatment of cancer with cutting-edge technology. They are using the world’s most modern x‑ray robotics for high-resolution imagery as well as robot assistants that can position biopsy needles in just a few minutes—as opposed to the half an hour needed by experienced physicians. “Instead of being a terminal disease, cancer could become a chronic illness,” says Professor Stefan Schönberg, Director of the Institute of Clinical Radiology and Nuclear Medicine at University Medical Center Mannheim, in summarizing the aim of the project.
The project with Porsche Consulting
Porsche Consulting has collaborated on more than 150 projects with hospitals. At Mannheim’s M²OLIE research campus, digital technology is expected to reduce treatment turnover time from days to a few hours. The Porsche consultants are identifying use cases, namely,
specific opportunities to employ software-based solutions. One example is a digital planning tool that can illustrate and interlink all patient-based processes. Artificial intelligence will optimize procedures and shorten waiting times.
How Bosch Shows That Diversity and Commitment Pay Off
Bosch is diverse. More than 410,000 men and women from 150 countries work at the corporation’s 460 locations around the world. Because it was one of the first to sign Germany’s diversity charter in 2007, the company is considered a leader in bringing people with different origins, interests, and experiences together on an equal basis. Despite this, says Bosch’s Head of Diversity Heidi Stock, it doesn’t happen on its own. “Diversity is hard work,” she says. But “every day we learn a little more.”
I’m convinced that appreciation and openness can make a substantial contribution to the success of every company.
Heidi Stock is convinced that her company can profit from diversity. An excellent example is the top-selling IXO cordless electric screwdriver, the idea for which arose during a conversation between a female marketing director and a male engineer. In a company with hierarchical structures, the two would have had hardly any points of contact. But Bosch is promoting targeted new models—for its leadership personnel as well. Before 2011 its managers viewed home-office options with skepticism. But then they tested these themselves. At the end of the project, 80 percent decided to continue working on a flexible basis.
The project with Porsche Consulting
To make hiring procedures as objective as possible, Heidi Stock worked together with Porsche Consulting to introduce what are known as nudges. These subtle cues promote better decisions on the part of HR experts and managers. For example, job interviews are preferably held in the morning—
because earlier in the day, people tend to be less susceptible to emotional predilections. A maximum of two interviewers are present, to minimize mutual influence. Algorithms can also help—for instance, to check whether job ads have a more feminine or masculine orientation.