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International employee structure
The process of restructuring was completed faster
than anticipated. During the second half of the year,
the number of employees was slightly increased. The
personnel structure was reinforced in particular in
customer-oriented areas. As of December 31, 2004,
Software AG had 2,438 employees within the group
(translated into full-time positions), 139 fewer
than on the same day of the previous year. Reflecting
our international line-up, two thirds of our employees
are working outside of Germany.
In 2004, the International Conference of the Software
AG personnel department focused on the global coordination
of human resources. Personnel managers from all regions
worked out new methods of cooperation. The first projects,
including a group-wide guideline for the deployment
of employees to foreign countries, were already
implemented in 2004.
To Software AG, employees are an important asset.
Accordingly, great emphasis is placed on additional
training. We do not link training investments to
employee numbers. Thus, despite a decrease in the
number of employees, advanced training expenses in
Germany rose by 4 percent.
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As a partner of the Technical University of Darmstadt,
Germany, Software AG is involved with the pilot project
„ProIT Professionals“. The key issue is the development
of real life, hands-on curricula and generally applicable
grading systems in IT training. Above all, the quality
of bachelor and master study programs is to be guaranteed.
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Commitment to education and advanced training |
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Changes in the company culture
Our operating and structural progress is accompanied by
changes in our company culture. Customer orientation,
exchange of Best Practices, and teamwork are becoming
increasingly important. Strategic reorientation
intentions and measures are openly communicated.
This allows employees to develop, evaluate and
understand planed changes, therefore reinforcing
motivation and commitment. Open dialog was further
promoted through an employee survey, designed to
identify potential for improvement.
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Through the internal changes, the role played by our
headquarters was expanded. For example, the newly
initiated Customer Briefing Center (CBC) now supports
countries in the qualified development of essential
customer relations. It compiles strategic customer
data and distributes it throughout the group, and
encourages visits by international key customers to
the company headquarters.
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Headquarter opened to customers worldwide |
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