Institut für sozialwissenschaftliche Beratung GmbH (ISOB), Germany
ISOB is a private research and development organisation, founded in 1990; In 2003 it was registered as a limited liability company (ISOB GmbH). ISOB has an expertise in internal evaluation and quality assurance of development projects in various fields like cooperation between SME and training providers, entrepreneurship, LifeLongLearning, CSR and Learning Region approaches. As a German company ISOB is well aware of the challenges facing family businesses, as family owned SME are the backbone of the economy in Germany. ISOB is member of the Strategic Partnership of the Sensors Industry in Bavaria, a Cluster organisation which comprises more than 120 companies of all sizes.
ISOB has worked with more than 80 SME in the context of development projects in various fields as well as with Chambers of the Crafts. ISOB has successfully guided more than 30 projects on national and international level. ISOB is member of the German Society for Evaluation (DGEVAL) and works according to the internationally accepted evaluation standards. Numerous long-term projects for the German Federal Government and for the German Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), e.g. innovative ways of cooperation between SMEs and training institutions; implementing the integration of learning and working in the enterprise, E-Learning; flexible learning methods in SME. 16 projects in the LLL program implemented and evaluated. ISOB is owned by 2 partners and works with a wide network of associated experts. ISOB makes a point of having a international team with researchers from Portugal, the UK and Romania.
The problem of managing generational change in SME was part of the issues covered by the project “Demography Management in the Cluster of the Sensor Industry in Bavaria (DEMOCLUST)” in which ISOB CEO Alexander Krauß was involved as expert for the Regensburg NGO SoWiBeFo e.V.
Alexander Krauss: Managing director, researcher, project manager. Main fields: enterprise development, Dual System of Training (Apprenticeships), Corporate Social Responsibility, Business Social Responsibility in SME, organisational development: leadership development, personnel development; Small business development; Life Long Learning: Application of Life Long Learning in different fields (Associations/Interest Groups, Business/Industry, Government/State bodies; Vocational Education; Arranging LLL opportunities; Tools and techniques for LLL: Learning needs assessment tools, Personal learning plan tools); Social community development: Action research.
Training as Business Coach and Supervisor AGS; Competency Portfolio Career Guidance Coach. Numerous publications in the fields mentioned. Numerous Publications: cf: http://www.isob-regensburg.net/joomla3/index.php/en/the-institute/library
Alexander Krauss
M.A. studied History, Political Science and Sociology at the University of Regensburg. He is the Managing Director of the Institute for socio-scientific consultancy and Vice President of the non-profit Association for Social Research and Consultancy. His main fields of interest include implementation and improvement of the “dual system” of initial training, enterprise development, Corporate Social Responsibility, Business Social Responsibility in SME, organisational development, leadership development, personnel development; small business development; application of lifelong learning methodologies in various fields (Associations/Interest Groups, Business/Industry, Government/State bodies). In recent years, one of his focal interests has been Cluster policy approaches, regional and Cluster policies to cope with the challenges of Demographic change and migration as well as promotion of entrepreneurship within Clusters. Alexander Krauss has worked for various research organisations including the department of statistics and quantitative evaluation of the market leading training provider in Germany. He has implemented more than 20 research and development projects in the fields mentioned. Private interests include outdoor sports like kayaking, long-distance cycling and mountaineering; training as Business Coach and Supervisor AGS (“Gestalt”-approach of coaching); Competency Portfolio Career Guidance Coach. Numerous publications in these fields are mentioned at cf. http://www.isob-regensburg.net
Gerhard Stark
Dipl.Päd.: Studies of Pedagogics, Psychology, Sociology and Political Science. He has many years of experience as a consultant for SMEs. He is the Managing Director of ISOB since 2003. Main fields of interest: Evaluation and scientific guidance in the fields of vocational and continuing training, Human Resource Development and Organisational Development in enterprises, regional networks (Learning Regions, EQUAL networks) and transnational projects; studies on training needs and regional qualification needs. He is the President of the non-profit Association for Social Research and Consultancy. Numerous publications in the fields are mentioned at cf. http://www.isob-regensburg.net
Cristina Novac
M.A. studied German and Comparative Literature at the Babes Bolyai University in Cluj, Romania, and Comparative Cultural Studies and South East European History at the University of Regensburg. In addition to her scientific degrees, she is a freelance translator and intercultural communication consultant with focus on Eastern Europe and Germany. Cristina Novac is a researcher in ISOB´s international projects and is responsible for transnational research, communication, reporting and evaluation.
