Internal complexities: Managerial challenges in a corporate holding

Abstract

Companies face different external environments, ranging from still stable situations to highly chaotic factors. While all this depends on the industry, country, and even company or product life-cycle, researchers agree on a century-old Supertrend: increasing dynamics and complexities. The article argues about this Supertrend requiring a high degree of organizational flexibility. Only more human-based organizations with strong decentral elements are able to achieve this. While in smaller organizations it is easier to live up this idea, also large companies increasingly aim to realize this. For example, holding concepts are a means to react to these demands. While from a theoretical perspective this is straightforward, corporate practice repeatedly shows flaws in the areas of organization, company culture, and leadership. Three main mistakes are identified and concepts as well as examples are presented. © 2010 Gabler Verlag | GWV Fachverlage GmbH, Wiesbaden.