Abstract
In Germany, a change in the economic structure happened similar to nearly all western economically highly developed industrial nations: A growth of the service sector and a decrease in the production sector. Due to the increasing number of business and administrative occupations in Germany, Austria and Switzerland as well as to demographic developments, a discussion has emerged about how many different occupations and training regulations are needed in this field.
The paper is based on findings of a research project at the German Federal Institute of Vocational Education and Training (BIBB).To find similarities and differences of these occupations, we used a broad methodological approach during a four-year project. This approach included a detailed qualitative analysis of all the training regulations and curricula for the training part in schools, an employee survey, a historical and sociological study, and a comparative study of German-speaking countries.
Our project revealed that the similarities between these occupations clearly outweigh the differences, with nearly all of them having in common controlling, accounting and commercial management, as well as processing information and communication with clients. On the other hand, though, a detailed analysis also showed a number of differences, such as the particular mentalities and competences in the various vocational branches. Based on the similarities between qualifications and on the findings of the comparative study, we suggest developing key curricula for all business and administration occupations. They would give qualified skilled workers more opportunities in the labour market and help to recognize the outcome of VET-based training for university degrees. Finally, a more critical look at the bundle of qualifications in those occupations opens a lack of ethical reflections concerning the way things happen in the economic business.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
By way of an example, attention is drawn to the early years of the Association of Commercial Employees of Switzerland, the history of which has been recently impressively documented (Catrina 2011).
- 2.
The sampling procedure for the main survey followed a Gabler-Häder approach where random telephone numbers were generated on stumps and after a Kish-selection called. Then a screening took place to establish whether the called person was part of the desired sample (core-employment, International Labour Organization (ILO)-definition). The gross sample for the follow-up was structured in ten strata of occupational groups where each strata had to be filled with 250 respondents. Design and structural weighting were applied where appropriate.
References
Annen, S., & Tiemann, M. (2015). Qualifikation und Selbstverständnis von kaufmännisch Tätigen – Ergebnisse einer quantitativen Befragung. In R. Brötz & F. Kaiser (Eds.), Kaufmännische Berufe – Charakteristik Vielfalt und Perspektiven (pp. 149–169). Bonn: W. Bertelsmann Verlag.
Bloom, B. S., Engelhart, M. D., Furst, E. J., Hill, W. H., & Krathwohl, D. R. (1956). Taxonomy of educational objectives: The classification of educational goals. Handbook I, cognitive domain. New York: David McKay Company.
Brötz, R., & Kaiser, F. (2014). Innenansichten und Perspektiven der kaufmännischen Berufsfamilie. WSI-Mitteilungen, 1, 34–42.
Brötz, R., & Kaiser, F. (2015). Berufsbildungstheoretische Konzeption der Tätigkeiten und Qualifikationen kaufmännischer Angestellter. In R. Brötz & F. Kaiser (Eds.), Kaufmännische Berufe–Charakteristik Vielfalt und Perspektiven (pp. 49–90). Bonn: W. Bertelsmann Verlag.
Catrina, W. (2011). Kämpfen, Lernen, Feiern. 150 Jahre Kaufmännischer Verband Zürich. Zürich: Orell Füssli Verlag.
Dahrendorf, R. (1959). Class and class conflict in industrial society. Stanford: Stanford University Press.
Dreyfus, H., & Dreyfus, S. (1987). Künstliche Intelligenz. Von den Grenzen der Denkmaschine und dem Wert der Intuition. Reinbek b. Hamburg: Rowohlt.
Glaser, B. G., & Strauss, A. L. (1967). The discovery of grounded theory: Strategies for qualitative research. Chicago: Aldine de Gruyter.
Haipeter, T. (2011). Kaufleute zwischen Angestelltenstatus und Dienstleistungsarbeit–eine soziologische Spurensuche. Industriesoziologische Expertise kaufmännisch-betriebswirtschaftlicher Berufe. http://www.bibb.de/veroeffentlichungen/de/publication/show/id/6721. Accessed 19 Jun 2015.
Hall, A., Siefer, A., & Tiemann, M. (2014). BIBB/BAuA employment survey of the working population on qualification and working conditions in Germany 2012. Research Data Center at BIBB (ed.) GESIS Cologne (data access). Bonn: BIBB.
Jordanski, G., Kaiser, F., & Schwarz, H. (2014). Fortbildungsberufe für kaufmännische Führungskräfte auf operative Ebene. Ein Werkstattbericht zu berufsübergreifenden Qualifikationen und Verordnungsstrukturen. Berufsbildung in Wissenschaft und Praxis, 4, 48–51.
Kaiser, F. (2014). A basis for core qualifications in business and administrative occupations in Europe? Findings regarding similarities and differences in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Presentation at the ECER-Conference, 4 Sep 2014, Porto.
Kaiser, F., & Kock, A. (2015). Kaufmännische Fortbildungsberufe: ihre Ziele, ihre Charakteristik und konzeptionelle Reformbestrebungen auf der Basis ihrer Gemeinsamkeiten. In R. Brötz & F. Kaiser (Eds.), Kaufmännische Berufe–Charakteristik, Vielfalt und Perspektiven (pp. 129–150). Bonn: W. Bertelsmann Verlag.
Kock, A. (2013). Gemeinsamkeiten und Unterschiede kaufmännisch-betriebswirtschaftlicher Aus- und Fortbildungsberufe (GUK) – Kontrastierung schweizerischer Berufe. Wirtschaft und Erziehung, 65(4), 134–144.
Kotthoff, H. (1997). Führungskräfte im Wandel der Führungskultur. Quasi-Unternehmer oder Arbeitnehmer. Berlin: Edition Sigma.
Lederer, E. (1912). Die Privatangestellten in der modernen Wirtschaftsentwicklung. Tübingen: Mohr.
Mayring, P. (2000). Qualitative content analysis. Forum Qualitativ Social Research 1(2). http://www.qualitative-research.net/index.php/fqs/article/view/1089/2385#g1. Accessed 19 Jun 2015.
Rauner, F. (2007). Practical knowledge and occupational competence. European Journal of Vocational Training, 40(1), 52–66.
Reinisch, H. (2011). Geschichte der kaufmännischen Berufe. Wissenschaftliches Diskussionspapier des BIBB 125. Bonn: BIBB.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Kaiser, F., Annen, S., Tiemann, M. (2017). Business and Administration Occupations – Findings About Differences and Similarities in Their Requirements and Mentalities. In: Pilz, M. (eds) Vocational Education and Training in Times of Economic Crisis. Technical and Vocational Education and Training: Issues, Concerns and Prospects, vol 24. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47856-2_21
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47856-2_21
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-47854-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-47856-2
eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)