Department Management & Leadership
The Department of Management & Leadership at HWZ qualifies leaders for the challenges of tomorrow and strengthens the resilience of companies and organizations. Through application-oriented research, customized services and strategic partnerships, we support our partners in positioning themselves sustainably and with a focus on the future. Our practical and innovation-driven continuing education portfolio is specifically aimed at decision-makers in business and management.
At the heart of our approach: creative, forward-thinking, responsible
In times of complex social challenges such as digital transformation or climate change, we see management and leadership as a holistic responsibility: for people, organizations and society. We promote value-based leadership that combines technology with humanity, innovation with sustainability and actively shapes change. Our approach is characterized by openness, reflection and the conviction that genuine leadership has an impact beyond hierarchies – with competence, integrity and a clear view of the big picture.
Four pillars of our philosophy:
🌐 Actively shaping the digital transformation
Change as a strategic opportunity
Using technology wisely
🤝 Living Value-Based Leadership
Integrity and Trust
Impact beyond hierarchies
💡Connecting innovation & sustainability
Thinking about the future
Take responsibility
🔍 Promote holistic thinking
People, Organizations & Society
Reflection & systemic perspectives
Continuing education
Participants develop their leadership and management skills to effectively manage organizations and respond flexibly to dynamic market conditions. Our training courses in this area cover topics such as:
Business Administration Fundamentals
Strategic Management
leadership
AI & Technology Management
Marketing & Communication
Operations Management
This field of further education enables specialists and managers as well as organizations to master the complexity of business transformation. Our further education courses in this area cover topics such as:
Strategic Transformation
Leadership & Self-Leadership
Innovation management
Change Management
Sustainable Transformation
Systemic Organizational Development
This continuing education field provides practical skills to develop evidence-based HR strategies, implement innovative concepts, and actively shape the digital transformation in human resources. Our continuing education courses in this area cover topics such as:
Personnel strategy
Sustainability in and through HRM
Performance Management
Agile Organizational Forms
Innovation & HR Marketing
This field of further education conveys practical leadership and management skills to effectively master complex challenges in a dynamic working world and to responsibly develop organizations further. Our further education courses in this area cover topics such as:
Holistic Corporate Governance
Change Management
Organization & Processes
Cooperation & Communication
Networking & Positioning
Personality development
Philosophy of our further training courses
Our further education courses are designed to inspire people and companies and to provide them with targeted support in developing a mindset that reconciles technology, market needs and humanistic perspectives. Each CAS is more than a building block – it is part of a journey that consistently brings together access to knowledge, networks, markets, skills and management tools to shape sustainable organizations.
Research
We are actively involved in applied research – also for companies and organizations. If previously unused data is to be made usable, a software prototype is needed in the field of data engineering and analytics, survey and text data need to be collected and evaluated, or a scientific study is required in general, we are the ideal partner to turn to.
The research area of the Department of Management & Leadership offers customized solutions for both internal and external requirements in the areas of data engineering, data analytics, and surveys in the management and corporate sectors:
Data engineering involves the procurement, processing, and structuring of large or targeted data sets.
Data analytics involves analyzing, evaluating, and visualizing data, as well as interpreting and communicating results.
Management and business surveys (qualitative and quantitative).
In addition to practical, applied projects that we plan and implement on behalf of companies and organizations, we also conduct third-party-funded research projects in cooperation with partners from the business world, such as Innosuisse projects.
More information about our profile and competencies
Discover our research fields
Our particular strength lies in the combination of qualitative and quantitative methods as well as in the application of machine learning (ML) and natural language processing (NLP). Our thematic focus is on management (including strategic management including business ecosystems, management and sustainability (financial, social, ecological), political risks, stakeholder engagement) and leadership studies (including performance management, employee motivation, people analytics, dealing with conflict and mistrust, cooperation and trust).
Collaborations & network
With our services, we support companies and organizations in the science-based handling of individual questions and challenges in the areas of leadership, organizational development, stakeholder engagement, and corporate sustainability.
Would you like to become a partner of our research institute or use our scientific services? We look forward to hearing from you and would be happy to develop a customized format with you – whether in the form of surveys, interview studies or participatory workshops with your stakeholders.
Existing partnerships
Wilob
Great Place To Work Switzerland (GPTW)
At the Great Place To Work Lab @ HWZ, we want to explore new ways of understanding and designing organizational cultures. We offer a platform for people and companies to approach and discuss the topic of collaboration in organizations from various perspectives.
SGO
SAQ Qualicon
Project portfolio
Future Working Models (2025), Client: SWISS.
In cooperation with the Research Institute for Work and Working Environments at the University of St. Gallen (FAA-HSG) and Impact290Degrees GmbH, we are supporting the airline SWISS in the development and implementation of new, innovative work design models as part of the “Future Working Models” project.
Gender equality in Swiss SMEs (2025), Client: Advance: Gender Equality in Business
On behalf of Advance, we are conducting a science-based analysis of equality in Swiss SMEs. Using qualitative interviews, we are surveying the situation and challenges of equality in Swiss SMEs and identifying the needs of women interested in careers.
