Questioning processes, involving people. At the "Innovative Management" congress in Bonn, decision-makers from administration, science, Business Studies and politics discussed how trust in administrations can be strengthened and the digital transformation driven forward. Fachhochschule Dortmund was represented on the panel by Margit Reiberg, Head of Finance and Purchasing.
The state seems overwhelmed. According to the Citizens' Survey 2024 conducted by the dbb Beamtenbund und Tarifunion, 70 percent of people in Germany share this view. The Innovative Management Congress (IMA) looked for solutions in Bonn on May 13, 2025. How can public institutions regain lost trust in the state and democracy?
In her welcoming address to around 100 participants in the plenary session of the former Bundestag, Bonn's mayor Gabi Mayer said: "The city's society, administration, Business Studies and citizens must work closely together to restore trust." In his keynote speech, philosopher Markus Gabriel, professor at the University of Bonn, took a philosophical look at digitalization and argued for a value-based, empathetic approach to innovation. He emphasized the responsibility of public administration as a moral laboratory and called for the common good and technological progress to be considered together.
Panel discussion: Trust, efficiency and digital participation
At the center of the congress was a panel discussion with representatives from administration, science, Business Studies and civil society. Margit Reiberg was on the panel for Fachhochschule Dortmund. She emphasized that transparency and efficiency are inextricably linked: "Only if we disclose and explain our processes can we gain the trust of our students and employees and strengthen it in the long term." Digital solutions are a key lever for optimizing administrative processes - however, the aim is not to simply digitize existing paper processes, but to fundamentally rethink them and adapt them to the needs of users.
The participation of all relevant groups in change processes is essential for Margit Reiberg and Fachhochschule Dortmund: "We involve employees, lecturers and students at an early stage in order to bring in different perspectives and develop sustainable solutions together." This ensures that digital innovations are not only anchored technically, but also culturally.