@inproceedings{RuppKuperjansSchulze2016, author = {Rupp, Matthias and Kuperjans, Isabel and Schulze, Sven}, title = {Energetische und {\"o}kologische Bewertung hybrider Antriebe im st{\"a}dtischen Busverkehr}, series = {Commercial vehicle technology 2016 : proceedings of the 4th Commercial Vehicle Technology Symposium (CVT 2016), March 8-10, 2016, University of Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany}, booktitle = {Commercial vehicle technology 2016 : proceedings of the 4th Commercial Vehicle Technology Symposium (CVT 2016), March 8-10, 2016, University of Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany}, editor = {Berns, Karsten}, publisher = {Shaker}, address = {Aachen}, organization = {Internationales Commercial Vehicle Technology Symposium <4, 2016, Kaiserslautern>}, pages = {227 -- 237}, year = {2016}, abstract = {In Anbetracht weltweit zunehmend strengerer klimapolitischer Ziele steigt auch der Druck f{\"u}r Nutzfahrzeughersteller, effizientere und umweltfreundlichere Technologien zu entwickeln. Den Blick bei der Bewertung dieser ausschließlich auf die Fahrzeugnutzung zu richten, ist l{\"a}ngst nicht mehr zufriedenstellend. Im Rahmen dieser Analyse wird ein gegenw{\"a}rtig auf dem Markt erwerblicher und in deutschen St{\"a}dten bereits seit Jahren betriebener Hybridbus energetisch und {\"o}kologisch mit einem konventionell angetriebenen, nahezu baugleichen Modell entlang des Lebensweges bewertet. Nach Definition von Ziel und Untersuchungsrahmen wird ein {\"U}berblick auf bereits durchgef{\"u}hrte Lebenszyklusanalysen zu Hybridbussen im Stadtverkehr gegeben und Schlussfolgerungen f{\"u}r die anschließende Analyse abgeleitet. Diese wird im Rahmen einer energetischen und {\"o}kologischen Bewertung beider Produktsysteme anhand der Parameter "Prim{\"a}renergieeinsatz" und "CO2{\"a}q Emissionen" praktiziert. Der Fahrzeugrumpf beider Fahrzeuge des gleichen Modells wird dabei als einheitlich angenommen, sodass bei dem Vergleich der Herstellung vereinfacht nur die sich unterscheidenden Komponenten des Antriebstranges ber{\"u}cksichtigt werden. Die Resultate der Wirkungsabsch{\"a}tzung werden als Differenz des Hybridbusses gegen{\"u}ber dem Referenzfahrzeug {\"u}ber die einzelnen Lebenszyklusphasen dargestellt. Schließlich werden Prognosen getroffen, ab welcher Strecke die bei der Herstellung erzeugten h{\"o}heren CO2{\"a}q Emissionen des Hybridantriebstranges gegen{\"u}ber dem Referenzmodell ausgeglichen werden.}, language = {de} } @inproceedings{BirklDiendorferKernetal.2018, author = {Birkl, Josef and Diendorfer, Gerhard and Kern, Alexander and Thern, Stephan}, title = {Extremely high lightning peak currents}, series = {34th International Conference on Ligntning Protection, 02-07 September 2018}, booktitle = {34th International Conference on Ligntning Protection, 02-07 September 2018}, isbn = {978-1-5386-6635-7}, pages = {7 Seiten}, year = {2018}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{SildatkeKarwanniKraftetal.2020, author = {Sildatke, Michael and Karwanni, Hendrik and Kraft, Bodo and Schmidts, Oliver and Z{\"u}ndorf, Albert}, title = {Automated Software Quality Monitoring in Research Collaboration Projects}, series = {ICSEW'20: Proceedings of the IEEE/ACM 42nd International Conference on Software Engineering Workshops}, booktitle = {ICSEW'20: Proceedings of the IEEE/ACM 42nd International Conference on Software Engineering Workshops}, publisher = {IEEE}, address = {New York, NY}, doi = {10.1145/3387940.3391478}, pages = {603 -- 610}, year = {2020}, abstract = {In collaborative research projects, both researchers and practitioners work together solving business-critical challenges. These projects often deal with ETL processes, in which humans extract information from non-machine-readable documents by hand. AI-based machine learning models can help to solve this problem. Since machine learning approaches are not deterministic, their quality of output may decrease over time. This fact leads to an overall quality loss of the application which embeds machine learning models. Hence, the software qualities in development and production may differ. Machine learning models are black boxes. That makes practitioners skeptical and increases the inhibition threshold for early productive use of research prototypes. Continuous monitoring of software quality in production offers an early response capability on quality loss and encourages the use of machine learning approaches. Furthermore, experts have to ensure that they integrate possible new inputs into the model training as quickly as possible. In this paper, we introduce an architecture pattern with a reference implementation that extends the concept of Metrics Driven Research Collaboration with an automated software quality monitoring in productive use and a possibility to auto-generate new test data coming from processed documents in production. Through automated monitoring of the software quality and auto-generated test data, this approach ensures that the software quality meets and keeps requested thresholds in productive use, even during further continuous deployment and changing input data.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{MarinkovicButenweg2020, author = {Marinkovic, Marko and Butenweg, Christoph}, title = {Seismic behaviour of RC frames with uncoupled masonry infills having two storeys or two bays}, series = {Brick and Block Masonry - From Historical to Sustainable Masonry. Proceedings of the 17th International Brick/Block Masonry Conference}, booktitle = {Brick and Block Masonry - From Historical to Sustainable Masonry. Proceedings of the 17th International Brick/Block Masonry Conference}, publisher = {CRC Press}, address = {London}, doi = {10.1201/9781003098508-72}, pages = {1 -- 7}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Reinforced concrete (RC) structures with masonry infills are widely used for several types of buildings all over the world. However, it is well known that traditional masonry infills constructed with rigid contact to the surrounding RC frame performed rather poor in past earthquakes. Masonry infills showed severe in-plane damages and failed in many cases under out-of-plane seismic loading. As the undesired interactions between frames and infills changes the load transfer on building level, complete collapses of buildings were observed. A possible solution is uncoupling of masonry infills to the frame to reduce the infill contribution activated by the frame deformation under horizontal loading. The paper presents numerical simulations on RC frames equipped with the innovative decoupling system INODIS. The system was developed within the European project INSYSME and allows an effective uncoupling of frame and infill. The simulations are carried out with a micro-modelling approach, which is able to predict the complex nonlinear behaviour resulting from the different materials and their interaction. Each brick is modelled individually and connected taking into account nonlinearity of a brick mortar interface. The calibration of the model is based on small specimen tests and experimental results for one bay one storey frame are used for the validation. The validated model is further used for parametric studies on two storey and two bay infilled frames. The response and change of the structural stiffness are analysed and compared to the traditionally infilled frame. The results confirm the effectiveness of the INODIS system with less damage and relatively low contribution of the infill at high drift levels. In contrast to the uncoupled system configurations, traditionally infilled frames experienced brittle failure at rather low drift levels.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{MarkinkovicButenwegPaveseetal.2020, author = {Markinkovic, Marko and Butenweg, Christoph and Pavese, A. and Lanese, I. and Hoffmeister, B. and Pinkawa, M. and Vulcu, C. and Bursi, O. and Nardin, C. and Paolacci, F. and Quinci, G. and Fragiadakis, M. and Weber, F. and Huber, P. and Renault, P. and G{\"u}ndel, M. and Dyke, S. and Ciucci, M. and Marino, A.}, title = {Investigation of the seismic behaviour of structural and nonstructural components in industrial facilities by means of shaking table tests}, series = {Seismic design of industrial facilities 2020}, booktitle = {Seismic design of industrial facilities 2020}, publisher = {Apprimus Verlag}, address = {Aachen}, isbn = {978-3-86359-729-0}, pages = {159 -- 172}, year = {2020}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{CacciatoreButenweg2020, author = {Cacciatore, Pamela and Butenweg, Christoph}, title = {Seismic safety of cylindrical granular material steel silos under seismic loading}, series = {Seismic design of industrial facilities 2020}, booktitle = {Seismic design of industrial facilities 2020}, publisher = {Apprimus Verlag}, address = {Aachen}, isbn = {978-3-86359-729-0}, pages = {231 -- 244}, year = {2020}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{MichelRosinButenwegetal.2020, author = {Michel, Philipp and Rosin, Julia and Butenweg, Christoph and Klinkel, Sven}, title = {Soil-dependent earthquake spectra in the analysis of liquid-storage-tanks on compliant soil}, series = {Seismic design of industrial facilities 2020}, booktitle = {Seismic design of industrial facilities 2020}, publisher = {Apprimus Verlag}, address = {Aachen}, isbn = {978-3-86359-729-0}, pages = {245 -- 254}, year = {2020}, abstract = {A further development of the Added-Mass-Method allows the combined representation of the effects of both soil-structure-interaction and fluid-structure interaction on a liquid-filled-tank in one model. This results in a practical method for describing the dynamic fluid pressure on the tank shell during joint movement. The fluid pressure is calculated on the basis of the tank's eigenform and the earthquake acceleration and represented by additional masses on the shell. The bearing on compliant ground is represented by replacement springs, which are calculated dependent on the local soil composition. The influence of the shear modulus of the compliant soil is clearly visible in the pressure curves and the stress distribution in the shell. The acceleration spectra are also dependent on soil stiffness. According to Eurocode-8 the acceleration spectra are determined for fixed soil-classes, instead of calculating the accelerations for each site in direct dependence on the soil composition. This leads to unrealistic sudden changes in the system's response. Therefore, earthquake spectra are calculated for different soil models in direct dependence of the shear modulus. Thus, both the acceleration spectra and the replacement springs match the soil composition. This enables a reasonable and consistent calculation of the system response for the actual conditions at each site.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{KubalskiMarinkovićButenweg2016, author = {Kubalski, T. and Marinković, Marko and Butenweg, Christoph}, title = {Numerical investigation of masonry infilled R.C. frames}, series = {Brick and Block Masonry. Proceedings of the 16th International Brick and Block Masonry Conference, Padova, Italy, 26-30 June 2016}, booktitle = {Brick and Block Masonry. Proceedings of the 16th International Brick and Block Masonry Conference, Padova, Italy, 26-30 June 2016}, editor = {Modena, Claudio}, publisher = {CRC Press}, address = {Leiden}, isbn = {9781315374963}, pages = {1219 -- 1226}, year = {2016}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{ButenwegMarinkovic2018, author = {Butenweg, Christoph and Marinkovic, Marko}, title = {Damage reduction system for masonry infill walls under seismic loading}, series = {ce/papers}, volume = {2}, booktitle = {ce/papers}, number = {4}, publisher = {Ernst \& Sohn Verlag}, address = {Berlin}, doi = {10.1002/cepa.863}, pages = {267 -- 273}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Reinforced concrete (RC) frames with masonry infills are frequently used in seismic regions all over the world. Generally masonry infills are considered as nonstructural elements and thus are typically neglected in the design process. However, the observations made after strong earthquakes have shown that masonry infills can modify the dynamic behavior of the structure significantly. The consequences were total collapses of buildings and loss of human lives. This paper presents the new system INODIS (Innovative Decoupled Infill System) developed within the European research project INSYSME (Innovative Systems for Earthquake Resistant Masonry Enclosures in RC Buildings). INODIS decouples the frame and the masonry infill by means of special U-shaped rubbers placed in between frame and infill. The effectiveness of the system was investigated by means of full scale tests on RC frames with masonry infills subjected to in-plane and out-of-plane loading. Furthermore small specimen tests were conducted to determine material characteristics of the components and the resistances of the connections. Finally, a micromodel was developed to simulate the in-plane behavior of RC frames infilled with AAC blocks with and without installation of the INODIS system.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{BreitbachAlexopoulosMayetal.2019, author = {Breitbach, Gerd and Alexopoulos, Spiros and May, Martin and Teixeira Boura, Cristiano Jos{\´e} and Herrmann, Ulf}, title = {Analysis of volumetric solar radiation absorbers made of wire meshes}, series = {AIP Conference Proceedings}, volume = {2126}, booktitle = {AIP Conference Proceedings}, issn = {0094243X}, doi = {10.1063/1.5117521}, pages = {030009-1 -- 030009-6}, year = {2019}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{MahdiRendonSchwageretal.2019, author = {Mahdi, Zahra and Rend{\´o}n, Carlos and Schwager, Christian and Teixeira Boura, Cristiano Jos{\´e} and Herrmann, Ulf}, title = {Novel concept for indirect solar-heated methane reforming}, series = {AIP Conference Proceedings}, volume = {2126}, booktitle = {AIP Conference Proceedings}, publisher = {AIP Publishing}, address = {Melville, NY}, issn = {0094-243X}, doi = {10.1063/1.5117694}, pages = {180014-1 -- 180014-7}, year = {2019}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{MayBreitbachAlexopoulosetal.2019, author = {May, Martin and Breitbach, Gerd and Alexopoulos, Spiros and Latzke, Markus and B{\"a}umer, Klaus and Uhlig, Ralf and S{\"o}hn, Matthias and Teixeira Boura, Cristiano Jos{\´e} and Herrmann, Ulf}, title = {Experimental facility for investigations of wire mesh absorbers for pressurized gases}, series = {AIP Conference Proceedings}, volume = {2126}, booktitle = {AIP Conference Proceedings}, issn = {0094243X}, doi = {10.1063/1.5117547}, pages = {030035-1 -- 030035-9}, year = {2019}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{SattlerAlexopoulosCaminosetal.2019, author = {Sattler, Johannes, Christoph and Alexopoulos, Spiros and Caminos, Ricardo Alexander Chico and Mitchell, John C. and Ruiz, Victor C. and Kalogirou, Soteris and Ktistis, Panayiotis K. and Teixeira Boura, Cristiano Jos{\´e} and Herrmann, Ulf}, title = {Dynamic simulation model of a parabolic trough collector system with concrete thermal energy storage for process steam generation}, series = {AIP Conference Proceedings}, volume = {2126}, booktitle = {AIP Conference Proceedings}, issn = {0094243X}, doi = {10.1063/1.5117663}, pages = {150007-1 -- 150007-8}, year = {2019}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{PaulsenHoffstadtKrafftetal.2020, author = {Paulsen, Svea and Hoffstadt, Kevin and Krafft, Simone and Leite, A. and Zang, J. and Fonseca-Zang, W. and Kuperjans, Isabel}, title = {Continuous biogas production from sugarcane as sole substrate}, series = {Energy Reports}, volume = {6}, booktitle = {Energy Reports}, number = {Supplement 1}, publisher = {Elsevier}, doi = {10.1016/j.egyr.2019.08.035}, pages = {153 -- 158}, year = {2020}, abstract = {A German-Brazilian research project investigates sugarcane as an energy plant in anaerobic digestion for biogas production. The aim of the project is a continuous, efficient, and stable biogas process with sugarcane as the substrate. Tests are carried out in a fermenter with a volume of 10 l. In order to optimize the space-time load to achieve a stable process, a continuous process in laboratory scale has been devised. The daily feed in quantity and the harvest time of the substrate sugarcane has been varied. Analyses of the digester content were conducted twice per week to monitor the process: The ratio of inorganic carbon content to volatile organic acid content (VFA/TAC), the concentration of short-chain fatty acids, the organic dry matter, the pH value, and the total nitrogen, phosphate, and ammonium concentrations were monitored. In addition, the gas quality (the percentages of CO₂, CH₄, and H₂) and the quantity of the produced gas were analyzed. The investigations have exhibited feasible and economical production of biogas in a continuous process with energy cane as substrate. With a daily feeding rate of 1.68gᵥₛ/l*d the average specific gas formation rate was 0.5 m3/kgᵥₛ. The long-term study demonstrates a surprisingly fast metabolism of short-chain fatty acids. This indicates a stable and less susceptible process compared to other substrates.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{KernImaniVashianiTimmermanns2021, author = {Kern, Alexander and Imani Vashiani, Anahita and Timmermanns, Tobias}, title = {Threat for human beings due to touch voltages and body currents caused by direct lightning strikes in case of non-isolated lightning protection systems using natural components}, series = {35th International Conference on Lightning Protection (ICLP) and XVI International Symposium on Lightning Protection (SIPDA)}, booktitle = {35th International Conference on Lightning Protection (ICLP) and XVI International Symposium on Lightning Protection (SIPDA)}, publisher = {IEEE}, address = {New York, NY}, isbn = {978-1-6654-2346-5}, doi = {10.1109/ICLPandSIPDA54065.2021.9627465}, pages = {8 Seiten}, year = {2021}, abstract = {For typical cases of non-isolated lightning protection systems (LPS) the impulse currents are investigated which may flow through a human body directly touching a structural part of the LPS. Based on a basic LPS model with conventional down-conductors especially the cases of external and internal steel columns and metal fa{\c{c}}ades are considered and compared. Numerical simulations of the line quantities voltages and currents in the time domain are performed with an equivalent circuit of the entire LPS. As a result it can be stated that by increasing the number of conventional down-conductors and external steel columns the threat for a human being can indeed be reduced, but not down to an acceptable limit. In case of internal steel columns used as natural down-conductors the threat can be reduced sufficiently, depending on the low-resistive connection of the steel columns to the lightning equipotential bonding or the earth termination system, resp. If a metal fa{\c{c}}ade is used the threat for human beings touching is usually very low, if the fa{\c{c}}ade is sufficiently interconnected and multiply connected to the lightning equipotential bonding or the earth termination system, resp.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{SteuerDankertBergLeichtScholten2015, author = {Steuer-Dankert, Linda and Berg, Tobias and Leicht-Scholten, Carmen}, title = {Breaking the habit - new approaches in engineering education}, series = {Proceedings of the 43rd Annual Conference of the European Society for Engineering Education}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the 43rd Annual Conference of the European Society for Engineering Education}, isbn = {978-2-87352-012-0}, pages = {11}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Within the framework of the project a genderand diversity-oriented teaching evaluation and modern, media-supported blended learning approaches were used in order to achieve the intended goals. First research results of the literature and status quo analysis were already implemented and tested in newly designed teaching approaches, for example in a multidisciplinary introductory lecture of civil engineering at RWTH Aachen University.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{LeichtScholtenSteuerDankertBouffier2016, author = {Leicht-Scholten, Carmen and Steuer-Dankert, Linda and Bouffier, Anna}, title = {Facing Future Challenges: Building Engineers for Tomorrow}, series = {Conference proceedings : new perspectives in science education : 5th Conference edition, Florence, Italy, 17-18 March 2016}, booktitle = {Conference proceedings : new perspectives in science education : 5th Conference edition, Florence, Italy, 17-18 March 2016}, isbn = {978-886292-705-5}, pages = {32 -- 37}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Future engineers are increasingly confronted with the so-called Megatrends which are the big social challenges society has to cope with. These Megatrends, such as "Silver Society", "Globalization", "Mobility" and "Female Shift" require an application-oriented perspective on Diversity especially in the engineering field. Therefore, it is necessary to enable future engineers not only to look at the technical perspectives of a problem, but also to be able to see the related questions within societies they are developing their artefacts for. The aim of teaching engineering should be to prepare engineers for these requirements and to draw attention to the diverse needs in a globalized world. Bringing together technical knowledge and social competences which go beyond a mere training of the so-called "soft skills", is a new approach followed at RWTH Aachen University, one of the leading technical universities in Germany. RWTH Aachen University has established the bridging professorship "Gender and Diversity in Engineering" (GDI) which educates engineers with an interdisciplinary approach to expand engineering limits. In the frame of a sustainable teaching concept the research group under the leadership of Prof. Carmen Leicht-Scholten has developed an approach which imparts a supplication-specific Gender and Diversity expertise to engineers. In workshops students gain theoretical knowledge about Gender and Diversity and learn how to transfer their knowledge in their special field of study and later work. To substantiate this, the course participants have to solve case studies from real life. The cases which are developed in collaboration with non-profit organizations and enterprises from economy rise the students to challenges which are inspired by professional life. Evaluation shows the success of this approach as well as an increasing demand for such teaching formats.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{SteuerDankertLeichtScholten2016, author = {Steuer-Dankert, Linda and Leicht-Scholten, Carmen}, title = {Social responsibility and innovation - Key competencies for engineers}, series = {ICERI 2016: 9th International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation: Conference Proceedings : Seville (Spain), 14-16 November}, booktitle = {ICERI 2016: 9th International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation: Conference Proceedings : Seville (Spain), 14-16 November}, isbn = {978-84-617-5895-1}, issn = {2340-1095}, doi = {10.21125/iceri.2016.0353}, pages = {5967 -- 5976}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Engineers are of particular importance for the societies of tomorrow. The big social challenges society has to cope with in future, can only be mastered, if engineers link the development and innovation process closely with the requirements of people. As a result, in the frame of the innovation process engineers have to design and develop products for diverse users. Therefore, the consideration of diversity in this process is a core competence engineers should have. Implementing the consideration of diverse requirements into product design is also linked to the development of sustainable products and thus leads to social responsible research and development, the core concept formulated by the EU. For this reason, future engineers should be educated to look at the technical perspectives of a problem embedded in the related questions within societies they are developing their artefacts for. As a result, the aim of teaching engineering should be to prepare engineers for these requirements and to draw attention to the diverse needs in a globalized world. To match the competence profiles of future engineers to the global challenges and the resulting social responsibility, RWTH Aachen University, one of the leading technical universities in Germany, has established the bridging professorship "Gender and Diversity in Engineering" (GDI) which educates engineers with an interdisciplinary approach to expand engineering limits. The interdisciplinary teaching concept of the research group pursues an approach which imparts an application oriented Gender and Diversity expertise to future engineers. In the frame of an established teaching concept, which is a result of experiences and expertise of the research group, students gain theoretical knowledge about Gender and Diversity and learn how to transfer their knowledge into their later field of action. In the frame of the conference the institutional approach will be presented as well as the teaching concept which will be introduced by concrete course examples.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{SteuerDankertLeichtScholten2017, author = {Steuer-Dankert, Linda and Leicht-Scholten, Carmen}, title = {Innovation and Diversity : Integrating new perspectives into research associations}, series = {12th European Conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ECIE 2017) : Paris, France, 21-22 September 2017}, booktitle = {12th European Conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ECIE 2017) : Paris, France, 21-22 September 2017}, isbn = {978-1-911218-54-8}, pages = {767 -- 776}, year = {2017}, abstract = {The link between diversity and innovation is broadly discussed in the context of research and innovation processes. Many institutions and enterprises, specifically in commerce, have already tried to establish sustainable diversity management concepts, in order to increase the diversity of their workforce in addition to establishing a corporate culture of openness. Alongside the creation of a working place where different experiences and skills are valued equally, the entrepreneurial intention is to transfer diversity into economically relevant advantages. Taking into account the potential of diversity in research and innovation processes, the project "Diversity- and Innovation Management" was incorporated within a large interdisciplinary research Cluster. The project's purpose was to study the context between diversity and innovation in research associations and to later develop a customised management concept into an interdisciplinary research Cluster on integrative production technology with full integration. The challenge of such research associations lays in an organisational structure which is often described as being decentralised. Researchers coming from different academic disciplines, while having diverse habits, conduct research on large scientific issues and challenges. In addition, these researchers are socialised in different institutions and university chairs. Theses differences in leadership styles, business cultures and organisational strategies, follow into their research team work. Taking a closer look into the management of human resources suggests that decentral organised recruitment processes, as well as allocation of human resources, lead to a lacking overview in regard to missing competencies, perspectives and backgrounds in research networks. These circumstances are comparable to big corporate groups. While developing a management concept for research associations, these characteristics must be considered. To ensure this, the project follows a human-centred approach, which considers top-down, as well as bottom-up perspectives. This paper presents the applied mixed-method approach in the scientific issue described above. In the frame of the Cluster of Excellence "Integrative Production Technology for High-Wage Countries" research results based on quantitative, as well as qualitative studies, were presented as an application example. This paper provides a new perspective on the innovation and diversity context. Against the background of complex research organisations, the development approach of a management concept is particularly interesting.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{SteuerDankertSharmaBlecketal.2017, author = {Steuer-Dankert, Linda and Sharma, Mamta Rameshwarlal and Bleck, Wolfgang and Leicht-Scholten, Carmen}, title = {Innovation through Diversity - Development of a Diversity and Innovation management concept}, series = {International Conference on Innovation and Management : IAM23017S : Date: July 4-7, 2017, Osaka, Japan}, booktitle = {International Conference on Innovation and Management : IAM23017S : Date: July 4-7, 2017, Osaka, Japan}, editor = {Farn, C. K.}, publisher = {Kuang Hui Chiu}, address = {Osaka}, issn = {2218-6387}, pages = {Panel C}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Acknowledging that a diverse workforce could be a potential source of innovation, the current research deals with the fine details of why diversity management is central to achieving innovation in heterogeneous research groups and how this could be effectively realized in an organization. The types of heterogeneities addressed mainly include gender, qualification, academic discipline and intercultural perspectives. The type of organization being dealt with in this work is a complex association of research institutes at a technical university in Germany (RWTH Aachen University), namely a 'Cluster of Excellence', whereby several institutes of the university work collaboratively in different sub-projects. The 'Cluster of Excellence' is a part of the 'Excellence Initiative' of the German federal and state governments German Research Foundation (DFG) and German Council of Science and Humanities, with the ultimate aim of promoting cutting-edge research. To support interdisciplinary collaboration and thus the performance of the cluster, the development of a diversity and innovation management concept is presently in the conceptual phase and will be described in the frame of this paper. The 3-S-Diversity Model, composed of the three elements: skills, structure and strategy, serves as a basis for the development of the concept. The proposed concept consists of six phases; the first two phases lay the ground work by developing an understanding of the status quo on the forms of diversity in the Cluster of Excellence, the type of organizational structure of the member institutes and the varieties of specialist work cultures of the same. The third and the fourth phases build up on this foundation by means of qualitative and quantitative studies. While the third phase deals with the sensitization of the management level to the close connection between diversity and innovation; the need to manage them thereafter and find tailor-made methods of doing so, the fourth phase shall mainly focus on the mindset of the employees in this regard. The fifth phase shall consolidate the learnings and the ideas developed in the course of the first four phases into an implementable strategy. The ultimate phase shall be the implementation of this concept in the Cluster. The first three phases have been accomplished successfully and the preliminary results are already available.}, language = {en} }