Acknowledgments

This book is meant as a small contribution for a turnaround. I would like to thank many who contributed to its development: Some friends and colleagues from companies and universities who have helped to develop cutting-edge insights are representatives should be named Prof. Dr. Stefan Bongard (University of Ludwigshafen), Jürgen Fuchs (CSC), Prof. Dr. Werner Krämer (University of Ludwigshafen), Thomas Kübler (Kübler Hallenheizungen), Christian Lenze (SAP), Uwe Rothermel (SCA), Matthias Sättele (SAP), Ralf Schade (Enoplan), Dr. Jörg Scherzer (UData), Prof. Dr. Ralf Simon (University of Bingen), Ralf Tesch (Nutreon Engineering), Prof. Dr. Frank Thomé (University of Ludwigshafen), Prof. Dr. Helmut Wannenwetsch (University of Cooperative Education Mannheim), Kathrin Würtenberger (KPMG)..

Over the last five years, more than 100 students who have been writing their thesis in the field and many in companies solving real problems have helped me to advance as an adviser as well. So I would like to mention exemplarily Magnus Bader (currently with Deloitte), Julius Bauer (TRW Automotive), Yong-Qiang Chau, Roman Gabauer, Simon Gossler (SAP), Mohamed-Amin Kaddour, Denis Krömer (Bilfinger), Tobias Meszaros, Kerstin Schröer (Orianda Consulting), Stefanie Woitynek (BASF), Patrick Werle (Roche Pharma).

On the publishing side, Gina Johnson, Prof. Dr. Chris Laszlo, Prof. Dr. Robert Sroufe, and Rob Zwettler supported me a lot. I’m really thankful for their help, especially, as English is a second language.

Furthermore, my wife Ute and our daughters Julia and Simona had to suffer from some restrictions in family life. Taking along the laptop in our last two holidays was an exception—promise!