Best of theses – From IMC studies to authorship

Lena Bodingbauer is a graduate of the Digital Business Innovation and Transformation master degree programme at IMC Krems. During her master thesis, “Navigating new horizons – exploring post-pandemic leadership competencies”, which was developed within the three-year research project “Kompetenzen” led by Prof. Michael Bartz, she realised that leadership competencies play a key role in the digital age. Often underestimated are soft skills such as personalised employee engagement, continuous feedback and support, and genuine leadership presence. “It is precisely these interpersonal skills that are crucial for successfully guiding teams through the digital transformation,” Bodingbauer believes.

A key lesson she took from her collaboration with Prof. Bartz was the importance of clear communication and a structured approach to work. “Professor Bartz showed me how to present complex content in a clear and comprehensible way while keeping all the relevant details in mind – this balance was particularly valuable for me,” said our graduate. The research project was designed to understand and analyse post-pandemic developments and changes.

Research Projects and Master Thesis

Bodingbauer’s research results ultimately led to co-authorship and a contribution to Bartz’s latest publication “New Work Competencies”, which was recently published on Amazon KDP. The book provides practical insights into the evolving requirements for leadership that have been amplified by the pandemic.

“It is important for me to integrate students with their dissertations into current new work research projects. In this case, it was a research project funded by public research grants from the Projektfonds Arbeit 4.0 of the AK NÖ. The book summarises the results of three years of research, and Lena Bodingbauer's dissertation added an important aspect. This makes this practical handbook on 'new competencies' even more valuable and worth reading,” emphasised Michael Bartz.

Business Know-How and Marketing Experience

Bodingbauer holds a bachelor degree in Business and Management from MCI Innsbruck and completed a semester abroad at the EDC Paris Business School before finishing her master in Digital Business Innovation and Transformation at IMC Krems in 2024. Professionally, she gained valuable experience at the EGGER Group, where she progressed from an online marketing internship to become a digital marketing project manager. She also held various positions in marketing and sales, including international customer relations and digital product presentation.

For IMC Krems students interested in working on practice-oriented research projects, she has this advice: “Even if it seems like extra work at first and you wonder how you’ll manage it alongside your job – it’s worth it. The experience is incredibly valuable, and in the end, you see the results of your own work, which is truly fulfilling.”

Digital Business Innovation and Transformation

More about the book „New Work Kompetenzen – welche Kompetenzen besonders wichtig sind“

About Michael Bartz

Prof. (FH) Michael Bartz is a lecturer and researcher at IMC Krems and an expert in the modern working world (New World of Work). Previously, he served as Business Group Manager at Microsoft Austria and worked as a management consultant at Capgemini Consulting. He has extensive experience in corporate and management consulting as well as strategy development. His academic background includes a degree in industrial engineering and ergonomics from Ruhr University Bochum. Prof. Bartz is actively engaged in research and blogging on the transformation of the working world, particularly the demands placed on leadership and employee competencies in modern work environments.