Practical Projects in Cooperation with the University of Applied Sciences Osnabrueck
How can learned theory be applied in practice? Students of the HS Osnabrueck are currently trying this out in three practical projects in cooperation with our company.
Studying does not only mean sitting in a lecture hall, leafing through thick books or writing exams. Gaining practical experience is also part of the course. Three groups of students at the HS Osnabrueck under the direction of Prof. Dr. Michael Schüller are currently experiencing what this can look like apart from an internship during the semester break: In cooperation with NOSTA, the students are dealing with specific questions and problems of our company within the framework of scientific practical projects.
Rethinking working time models
“Working flexibly and agilely” - this is the main theme of the first of the three groups. With their project, the students from the Business Administration and Management faculty are pursuing the goal of developing flexible working time models for the commercial area of the NOSTA Group and thus increasing the motivation and performance of the employees. In the end, the team would like to provide our company with a concept with concrete recommendations for action, which can be used to implement company-wide standards to make work more flexible. Their concept takes into account both the respective requirements of the individual specialist areas and the need for the lowest possible level of control and organizational effort. From the formulation of the project goals to the creation of a work breakdown structure and a Gantt chart to a broad-based literature search - the team has already carried out many steps in the past months. In addition, the group discussed the progress of the project with its lecturer and the contact person in charge of our company, Ms. Julia Butke, Team Leader HR Management, on a weekly basis and reported on progress. However, like many other areas in the study and work environment, project implementation is also influenced by the current situation of the Corona pandemic. For example, a planned company tour of the students could unfortunately not take place due to the special circumstances. Many appointments had to be held via video telephony. The students were therefore all the more pleased about the cooperative collaboration with the NOSTA Group. They perceived our company as extremely innovative, helpful and committed.
Controlling projects smart
The second project group is dedicated to the area of digital project management. In cooperation with our Project Management Office, headed by Mr. Thore Arendt, the six-strong group of students will work out an aid to increase both the clarity and productivity as well as the quality of projects at the NOSTA Group. The aim of the project is to create a basis for identifying, analyzing and evaluating the large number of projects by introducing a digital project management system and ultimately to organize and manage them optimally on an ongoing basis. In order to get an overview of the project management situation and current processes, the students conducted an anonymous online survey among our staff. The findings on familiarity with digital project management and satisfaction with previous project processes will be incorporated into the scientific investigation. In the next step, the team analyzes various digital possibilities for optimizing project management and evaluates the potential for our company. In doing so, they ensure in particular that a digitized project enquiry is possible and that project work is sensibly supported by the system. Ideally, the digital tool should simplify the time and resource planning of a project, offer collaborative communication possibilities and facilitate an overview of project statuses through status displays.
Healthy at the wheel
What measures can be taken to promote the health of professional drivers in a preventive manner and how can the stress factors of this occupational group be reduced? The third project group of the University of Applied Sciences Osnabrueck is dealing with these questions. Within the framework of health care management, it is developing a special catalogue of measures for professional drivers, as they are exposed to particular stresses and strains during their work. Long periods of sitting behind the wheel, time pressure, heavy traffic, irregular sleeping and eating times and monotony are just a few examples of work-related stress factors that students from the Business Administration and Management course of study have collected. The consequences range from fatigue to overwork with increased risk of accidents, complaints of the musculoskeletal system and increased risks of cardiovascular disease. With regard to their feasibility in the company. The development of measures with regard to the accessibility of professional drivers is particularly challenging. The mobile workplace requires innovative instruments and measures, so that the creativity of students is particularly required. During the project, the group will be advised and supported by Ms. Anne de Vries, Health Care Manager of the NOSTA Group. Among other things, she provided the team with the anonymized recordings of the interviews she had conducted with the NOSTA Group drivers as part of her master's thesis.
Presentation of the research results
From the idea to the concept: At the end of the project phase in June, all groups will present their research results to the management of the NOSTA Group as well as to the contact persons involved. In addition, a detailed written elaboration of the results is provided in the form of a project report. We are already looking forward to the results and would like to take this opportunity to thank Prof. Dr. Michael Schüller and the HS Osnabrueck for the productive, valuable cooperation and the mutual exchange of information and ideas.
How can learned theory be applied in practice? Students of the HS Osnabrueck are currently trying this out in three practical projects in cooperation with our company.
Studying does not only mean sitting in a lecture hall, leafing through thick books or writing exams. Gaining practical experience is also part of the course. Three groups of students at the HS Osnabrueck under the direction of Prof. Dr. Michael Schüller are currently experiencing what this can look like apart from an internship during the semester break: In cooperation with NOSTA, the students are dealing with specific questions and problems of our company within the framework of scientific practical projects.
Rethinking working time models
“Working flexibly and agilely” - this is the main theme of the first of the three groups. With their project, the students from the Business Administration and Management faculty are pursuing the goal of developing flexible working time models for the commercial area of the NOSTA Group and thus increasing the motivation and performance of the employees. In the end, the team would like to provide our company with a concept with concrete recommendations for action, which can be used to implement company-wide standards to make work more flexible. Their concept takes into account both the respective requirements of the individual specialist areas and the need for the lowest possible level of control and organizational effort. From the formulation of the project goals to the creation of a work breakdown structure and a Gantt chart to a broad-based literature search - the team has already carried out many steps in the past months. In addition, the group discussed the progress of the project with its lecturer and the contact person in charge of our company, Ms. Julia Butke, Team Leader HR Management, on a weekly basis and reported on progress. However, like many other areas in the study and work environment, project implementation is also influenced by the current situation of the Corona pandemic. For example, a planned company tour of the students could unfortunately not take place due to the special circumstances. Many appointments had to be held via video telephony. The students were therefore all the more pleased about the cooperative collaboration with the NOSTA Group. They perceived our company as extremely innovative, helpful and committed.
Controlling projects smart
The second project group is dedicated to the area of digital project management. In cooperation with our Project Management Office, headed by Mr. Thore Arendt, the six-strong group of students will work out an aid to increase both the clarity and productivity as well as the quality of projects at the NOSTA Group. The aim of the project is to create a basis for identifying, analyzing and evaluating the large number of projects by introducing a digital project management system and ultimately to organize and manage them optimally on an ongoing basis. In order to get an overview of the project management situation and current processes, the students conducted an anonymous online survey among our staff. The findings on familiarity with digital project management and satisfaction with previous project processes will be incorporated into the scientific investigation. In the next step, the team analyzes various digital possibilities for optimizing project management and evaluates the potential for our company. In doing so, they ensure in particular that a digitized project enquiry is possible and that project work is sensibly supported by the system. Ideally, the digital tool should simplify the time and resource planning of a project, offer collaborative communication possibilities and facilitate an overview of project statuses through status displays.
Healthy at the wheel
What measures can be taken to promote the health of professional drivers in a preventive manner and how can the stress factors of this occupational group be reduced? The third project group of the University of Applied Sciences Osnabrueck is dealing with these questions. Within the framework of health care management, it is developing a special catalogue of measures for professional drivers, as they are exposed to particular stresses and strains during their work. Long periods of sitting behind the wheel, time pressure, heavy traffic, irregular sleeping and eating times and monotony are just a few examples of work-related stress factors that students from the Business Administration and Management course of study have collected. The consequences range from fatigue to overwork with increased risk of accidents, complaints of the musculoskeletal system and increased risks of cardiovascular disease. With regard to their feasibility in the company. The development of measures with regard to the accessibility of professional drivers is particularly challenging. The mobile workplace requires innovative instruments and measures, so that the creativity of students is particularly required. During the project, the group will be advised and supported by Ms. Anne de Vries, Health Care Manager of the NOSTA Group. Among other things, she provided the team with the anonymized recordings of the interviews she had conducted with the NOSTA Group drivers as part of her master's thesis.
Presentation of the research results
From the idea to the concept: At the end of the project phase in June, all groups will present their research results to the management of the NOSTA Group as well as to the contact persons involved. In addition, a detailed written elaboration of the results is provided in the form of a project report. We are already looking forward to the results and would like to take this opportunity to thank Prof. Dr. Michael Schüller and the HS Osnabrueck for the productive, valuable cooperation and the mutual exchange of information and ideas.
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