Führung und KI: „So einen Abbau hat es in der deutschen Wirtschaft noch nie gegeben“: Das Ende des Managers als Massenberuf
Überall im Land bauen Unternehmen historisch gewachsene Strukturen ab. Das trifft zunehmend gut bezahlte Führungskräfte. Experten warnen: „Das eigentliche Erdbeben kommt erst.“
In German businesses, the role of managers is undergoing significant restructuring, leading to a decrease in the number of management positions. Notably, Volkswagen, Deutsche Bahn, BMW, and Bayer are cutting thousands of management roles to streamline hierarchies and reduce costs. This shift is being accelerated by Artificial Intelligence (AI), which is expected to increase pressure on middle managers.
AI will mainly be needed to manage and implement AI systems within companies. Middle management is likely to play a central role in handling job losses and professional setbacks. In an exclusive interview, psychologist Christine Altstötter-Gleich discusses coping strategies for managers facing layoff and career setbacks, as well as the psychological impact of job terminations.
The management restructuring began long before the advent of AI, but AI is now heightening the urgency and pace of these changes. Upcoming events and internal conferences have been organized to inform managers about the impending changes, such as Volkswagen's plan to eliminate over 5,000 management positions by the end of the decade.
This trend is not limited to Volkswagen; other major German corporations, including Deutsche Bahn and BMW, are also reducing their management workforce. The primary driver behind this transformation is the impending technological revolution brought about by AI, which will fundamentally change the structure of businesses. Some experts predict that AI could replace ten management layers with just four, fundamentally altering the organizational architecture of German companies.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
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