German Institut for Social Economy

German Institute for Social Economy (DISW) was founded by seven experts from key policy fields in social management and social economy (practice, science, business consulting, financial consulting, IT development, training and marketing) in 2005. 

The main focus of the Institute is on research and development for social service providers. We cooperate with municipial and local government departments, public and non-profit organisations, commercial free-carrier as well as professional associations. The Institute serves as a highly recommended partner for professionals and executives of social institutions as well as other actors for solution of social problems. 

The team of DISW works closely with a network of consultants, trainers and scientists and provides its advisory services to all businesses and companies in the social economy.

The DISW was established in the legal form of a registered nonprofit association. The first chairman is George Horcher. The Institute is headed by Prof. Dr. Andreas Langer.  DISW operates with a minimum of organizational effort. It is organized internally and externally strictly project-related.

Goals of DISW

The key aim of the Institute is Research and development with federal and pan-European transfer of results, which is becoming increasingly important in the social economy. The rapidly changing environment of entrepeneurs and social economy enterprises requires a fundamental and innovative strategy and concept, for development with appropriate innovations in practice.

The key factors the institute focus are customer and market orientation, competition, increase effectiveness and efficiency, quality management, financing mix, strategic alliances, composite systems, marketing projects and operations, introduction of controlling concepts (eg Balanced Scorecard) – with the target of quality improvement and better control maintainance.