The aim of the research project "Success factors of virtual companies" (EVU) was to make a scientific contribution to the evaluation of virtual companies and to the scientific support of a humane and efficient design of this form of work and company organisation.

The actual national and international implementation status of virtual cooperation between companies was examined and a catalogue of criteria was developed. This was intended to show companies, business development institutions, social partners, but also individuals willing to enter into a business, the success factors and risks of a work and business organisation in the form of a virtual company and thus contribute to the appropriate and humane design of this form of company.

The following questions were at the centre of the research project:

To what extent are these success factors utilised in the virtual companies that have already been realised and how can they be developed?

  • How can their use be promoted without overburdening those involved psychologically and in their social ties?
  • What are the obstacles and barriers to virtual corporate cooperation?
  • How should the framework conditions for the humane and sustainable development of virtual companies as a form of business and organisation be designed?
  • To what extent do virtual companies contribute to making the tension between flexibility and security compatible for people and their environment, taking into account their living conditions?

A key result of the project was a practical guideline for work design and company organisation in virtual companies, which shows a holistic solution for virtual company cooperations in order to enable a balance between human-centred work design, company success and employment development.

The project was carried out jointly with the Secretariat for Futures Studies (SFZ) and TWG - The Webworker Group mbH.