Denkleister

Denkleister is a student consultancy with currently about 50 students, and was started to help the university overcome a financial emergency. 

Interview with Benjamin Wüstenhagen and Wolfgang Machur

What makes Denkleister different from other business consultancies?

Wolfgang Machur: Organizations hire external consultants because they have internal problems they are either unable or unwilling to solve themselves. Denkleister as a student business consultancy offers future-oriented and original solutions which epitomize the Witten spirit. We plan to offer consultant services in the university’s core areas, i.e. economic and social topics – where sustainability and non-profit commitment are relevant - and also health care. Students are challenged to integrate theory and practice, and to apply experience and knowledge acquired at the university in a real-life professional context. We offer the entire Witten portfolio: i.e. economics/management, medicine, nursing, and humanities and arts. This interdisciplinary perspective is our greatest asset. For an automotive supplier we explored the effects of general social developments – ageing population, migration, education, in short, all major social issues – on the company and their products. The client was highly satisfied with our very successful approach. 

Benjamin Wüstenhagen: Another difference is our history. We are a child of the UW/H crisis late in 2008. Lack of money had always plagued UW/H. But lack of so much money was something new. So we students felt that as “partners” of UW/H we should assume responsibility and make our own contribution.  As an economics student I believed business consultancy would be just the thing. 

Which support exactly do you give to the university?

Wolfgang Machur: 50 cents in each Euro gained are for UW/H. A total of over 100.000 Euro have gone to the university up to now.
This is a tremendous success for such a young business. A great asset, apart from interdisciplinary and generalist competences, is our age. We were e.g. consulted by a publisher group faced with competition for their print products from free internet offers. iPads and other tablet PCs provide internet access everywhere. Many publishing houses are still searching for appropriate responses and concepts. And this is where our age is relevant. We are the target group, we grew up with a media use that is becoming problematic for the sector in question. This makes us interesting for our clients. 

Benjamin Wüstenhagen: A similar example is a major corporation from the telecommunications industry: they searched for young talents but had no idea how to go about it. Everybody talks about Web 2.0 but the details involved are complicated. You may of course find new staff this way, but you must know what to do. The list of our clients is impressive, with non-profit organizations and firms with a staff of five or 50.000. Or, speaking of turnover: from one million Euro to several billions.      

And your learning experience?

Benjamin Wüstenhagen: Acquisition is the hardest part. In general you learn from each new project, you have to acquaint yourself with the subject, perhaps even learn new methods. But attracting business is harder than we expected.

Your greatest success?

Wolfgang Machur: One of us is now management assistant with one of our clients, another changed over to a major corporation. This shows how successful our consultancy services are. 

The university is in the black again. Is your support still required? What are your plans for the project?

Wolfgang Machur: UW/H has always had more imagination than money. The university is back on solid ground now, but we shall continue with Denkleister, and why not? We never cease to learn, and the university profits from our commitment, too. For example, we suggest a special coat of paint for all seminar rooms which would turn every wall into a chalkboard. This corresponds to our mental image of UW/H.

Benjamin Wüstenhagen: We also want to ensure that what we do has a sustained effect. We have established contacts and a reputation; all this need and should not end with our graduation. The university should keep, and profit from, the acquired knowhow. Details will have to be figured out. 

More:
www.denkleister.de