From vision to reality or How do scientists actually sell X-ray lasers?
Our challenge
The 3.4-kilometre-long European XFEL generates extremely intense X-ray laser flashes that researchers from all over the world can use. The X-ray flashes are generated in underground tunnels and make it possible to recognise atomic details of viruses, film chemical reactions and investigate processes such as those inside planets.
In 2018, following the construction and commissioning of the XFEL, XFEL GmbH enters a new phase as a research facility and is thus subject to an organisational change in its objectives and its own structural orientation. Together with Klärwerk Berlin, inspiranten accompany the change management process for two years.
After this extensive mission/vision/values process, the mission statement is finalised. The operational business as a service provider for science and research can begin! It’s time to look back, pause and take a look at what has already happened, what has been successful and what the future holds. An online event for all 500 employees will signal the starting point for realising these visions and share specific challenges and goals.
Our solution
XFEL GmbH organises monthly staff meetings to bring the team up to date. We use this vehicle to launch one of these monthly ‘Staff Meetings’ as a ‘Special Edition’.
The employees experience a two-hour, varied online event with information, entertainment and a high proportion of dialogue. In the run-up to the event, we captured the results of the restructuring process using pre-produced films that alternate with live segments. However, it was not just about hard facts, but also about integrating employees and giving them a voice: Tom Friedländer fulfilled music requests in this context, targeted online voting repeatedly reflected the mood and opinion and all colleagues could actively contribute using the online meeting’s question and answer tool. The online event is entertaining and the moderator Susi Herzberger is a charming and experienced guide through the programme. The German ‘Team Poetry Slam’ champion, Dominique Macri, documents the entire online event and rounds off the event with her personalised XFEL poem.
Our success
All employees of the European XFEL perceive the “Special Edition” of their monthly employee event as the starting point of a new phase. They are now committed and prepared to support research institutes and scientists from all over the world with their facility in the best possible way. The poetic summary of this start to a new phase of the company becomes a motivational tool on the intranet.