Controllers are ready for a new era

In his address at the opening of the two-day event, ICV Chairman Prof. Dr. Heimo Losbichler addressed the current challenges facing controlling and introduced the theme centers of this year's congress, which were dedicated to these urgent areas. His appeal to all attendees: "We must meet the transformation in controlling with flexible and agile leadership." Afterwards, various keynote speakers provided insights into their day-to-day controlling work. For example, Hans-Jürgen Kalmbach, CEO of the Hansgrohe Group, shared insights from the global player in the bathroom and kitchen industry with the audience and addressed the role of controlling in business transformation. The topic "Better Growth - Growth in Volatile Times" was presented by Dr. Andreas von der Gathen, CEO of Simon-Kucher & Partners Strategy & Marketing Consultants GmbH. Jens Ropers, Partner ofCA controller akademie devoted himself to FICO transformation and showed, among other things, that not all companies have a real FICO vision. And finally, Dr. Kay-Uwe May, Head of Transformation, Performance Management and Organization, German Railways AG, was particularly pleased that the rail strike had been averted. He was thus able to give a motivated talk on the transport turnaround and convey his message to the participants: "Climate change needs a modal shift".

Presentation of the ICV Controlling Excellence Award

A highlight of the first day of the conference was the awarding of the ICV Controlling Excellence Awards. The award will go to Merck KGaA in 2023. "Enabling High-Impact Culture in Financial Steering" is the title of the project with which the team secured the prestigious award. The "radical way" of dealing with the experience that traditional planning processes reach their limits convinced the jury team headed by Prof. Dr. Utz Schäffer. From Switzerland nominated was TX Group AG with their "Predictive Forecasting" project. As in Merck's winning project, the starting point was the realization that the forecasting process in a dynamic environment reaches its limits and ties up enormous resources. The core of TX Group's solution is the introduction of predictive analytics to support forecast creation. However, the nomination did not honor the technical solution or the good algorithm, emphasizes Utz Schäffer in his laudation. Rather, it was the fast, inexpensive implementation without external support in a medium-sized company that convinced the jury. Especially since the controlling team of TX Group did not end with the improved generation of the forecast, but also used the change to further develop the corresponding controlling processes and to strengthen business partnering, and "thus does in an exemplary manner exactly what many of you are facing as a challenge," Schäffer classified the significance of the project as a blueprint for other companies.

Controllers between corporate control and self-management

Afterwards, discussions continued in three topic centers. The first topic center was about cost and price management in a stagflationary environment. In a second topic center, Alexander Bauer and Fabian Egger from the Emmi Group presented the connection between sustainability and controlling in their company. The third topic center revolved around "Planning - Farewell to Old Habits?" Here, too, the focus was strongly on forecasting and how software solutions can provide support here.

The second day of the 47th Congress started again with an address by Prof. Dr. Heimo Losbichler. He summarized the key messages of the first day and noted, "In the turn of the times, we don't have to throw everything overboard that has proven itself. Many things will accompany us, but adjustments are necessary, especially in planning and budgeting."

This was followed by further keynotes on topics such as sustainability, cost control, energy transition and operational controlling. At the end, controllers were also the focus of a presentation: Prof. Dr. René Riedl, Professor of Digital Business & Innovation at the Upper Austria University of Applied Sciences, Steyr Campus, Associate Professor of Business Informatics at the Johannes Kepler University Linz and Scientific Director of the Neuro-Information-Systems Society Vienna, reported on "Digital Stress: Research Findings and Practical Implications". Among other things, he addressed IT-based interruptions and e-mail stress and dealt with the phenomenon of videoconference fatigue.

The next Congress of Controllers will be held on April 29-30, 2024.

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