Public Sector

Anja, please briefly summarize your main tasks at msg!

I advise and coach managers on all aspects of New Work. The focus is on developing a vision for new forms of work and organization with a special focus on the perspectives of employees. This includes topics such as new leadership, cooperation, collaboration, skills development, user-oriented processes, self-organized work and flexible work locations and times.

My aim is to develop and establish individually tailored New Work concepts for the authorities together with the managers and to build up multipliers for long-term anchoring.

What was your first day at msg like?

My first day was msg's start day for all new colleagues of the month at the headquarters in Ismaning. The start day gave me a very good overview of msg as a whole and I felt very welcome. I also met another new colleague there who I already knew, as we had both been able to take part in the twice-yearly divisional workshop for the entire business unit beforehand.

After the start day, my manager made a special trip and we sat together on my second working day so that he could give me all the information about my tasks.

What makes your team unique for you?

My team is (still) relatively small with seven people. I think it's great that we all have different professional and academic backgrounds (just like at msg). This means that everyone brings their own methods, approaches and experience to the table. We discuss and exchange ideas a lot and everyone is happy to help each other. We are spread all over Germany, which is a bit more difficult than seeing each other every day, but with the appropriate virtual formats this also works without any problems.

Matthias, what is your background and the focus of your work at msg?

I successfully completed my studies in administrative sciences with a focus on public management in October 2006 with a degree in administrative sciences. For more than 13 years, I have been working as an IT consultant for clients in the German-speaking public administration - primarily in the federal administration. The focus of my many years of work has been on various organizational, IT conception and implementation projects. In recent years, I have been able to acquire comprehensive knowledge in the areas of e-government, organizational and process consulting, requirements management, project planning, project controlling and tender support through various projects in ministries and public companies.

What was your first day at msg like?

My first day at msg was on 01.07.2015 in Ismaning - a very summery day with almost 40 degrees Celsius. The first day was a start day, during which I was given a very good overview of the company, as in a workshop, and also got to know my new colleagues directly. The insight I gained into the group of companies was overwhelming. When I applied for the Public Sector division, I didn't realize that the msg group consists of so many divisions and subsidiaries. Their portfolio is very comprehensive for an IT consulting company. That day was my entry into a company that I still really enjoy working for.

Why have you been with msg since 2015?

After my time as a management consultant in American and French-managed companies, I was offered the opportunity to help build up a business area at msg in spring 2015.I immediately had the feeling that this task was also tailor-made for my personal development.At that time, the division had six employees.Today - more than five years later - it has more than 80 colleagues.Looking back, the time has flown by and the momentum continues.Compared to my previous employers, the appreciation of my work and the associated feeling of making a positive contribution to the company's development is always present. I am looking forward to many more future-oriented years at msg.

What are your main tasks?

As an e-government consultant, I advise and support public administration in the implementation of modernization and digitization projects. Public institutions commission me to provide a wide range of consulting services in the field of e-government. From the creation of technical concepts and analyses to classic requirements engineering and project management through to the complete preparation, implementation and support of public tenders for the procurement of IT solutions.

Why did you choose IT consulting?

I studied political science with a focus on law and political science. I focused in particular on administrative modernization and e-government and also wrote my master's thesis on these topics. With my theoretical knowledge, I now wanted to drive forward the modernization and digitalization of public administration in practice. That's why msg systems ag, and therefore IT consulting, was the right step for me to put my plans into practice.

How often do you have to travel in your position and how often are you on site with the customer?

Many of my activities can be carried out from home or the office. In my position, traveling is still part of the job, depending on where I live. Unlike some of my colleagues, I don't spend several days a week on site at the customer's premises, but instead travel to workshops and jour fixes at the customer's premises. This varies depending on the customer and project assignment.

What is your main task as an AI consultant?

I advise on the content and technical aspects of AI projects in the public sector. On the one hand, this includes identifying the requirements that arise for AI projects. On the other hand, I develop ways and solutions to make AI applications transparent and feasible.

What do you think are the most important future topics for IT companies like msg?

AI projects show that existing topic silos such as work processes, digitalization, data management, technical infrastructure, etc. need to be increasingly synchronized with one another. In addition, the ever-increasing pressure to innovate requires interdisciplinary solutions that are difficult to map using organizational models designed ten years ago. Agile organizational models are needed. I therefore see the following future topics in addition to other important topics such as agility, DevOps and big data:

• Change management and digitalization
• Interdisciplinary and cross-sectional team building
• Human-centered approaches to solutions
• New development approaches for new technologies with cognitive elements
• Data management and data ethics
• Innovation spaces for research and development

What personal items can be found on your desk 

​​​​​​​Always a pair of sticky notes and highlighters. The window can also be used for quick ideas.

When I'm in my home office, my Launchpad from novation and the M32 Komplete Kontrol from Native Instruments, which I'll soon be using again to realize music ideas via Ableton, are always smiling at me.