Prevent dropouts, improve performance: How a mobile learning app supports students in the initial phase

Prevent dropouts, improve performance: How a mobile learning app supports students in the initial phase

admin

The number of students dropping out has long been high, and many students give up their studies prematurely, especially in the first few years. The reasons for these decisions are varied and cannot be generalized. On the one hand, they are based on experiences made: The individual realization that subject areas or methods do not meet one’s own preferences leads to changing subjects or pursuing completely different paths. Other reasons for dropping out of university, on the other hand, are avoidable: the transition from school to higher education poses challenges for many young people. In addition to the environment, the demands on organizational skills, independent learning behavior and, last but not least, the complexity of the content taught are also changing. This is where a mobile learning app could help.

Institutions such as universities are keen to minimize the number of avoidable student drop-outs. One possible answer is to target students in their everyday lives: The use of mobile devices has become an integral part of young adults’ lives. Smartphones are no longer used solely for communication, but increasingly for banking and many other things in addition to organization and navigation. In short, the devices are part of everyday life and use of them is as frequent as it is intensive. Based on these findings, it is certainly possible to foresee potential that suggests using these devices to support students. The question therefore arises as to whether and how a mobile learning application could be suitable for making the initial phase of studies and its challenges easier for those affected and thus prevent them from dropping out.

From the conception of a requirements profile…

Professor Florian Johannsen began developing a corresponding app for the field of economics with a team during his time at the University of Bremen. Even after taking up his professorship for Business Application Systems at the Faculty of Computer Science at HSM, he is still part of this project. In addition to Professor Jochen Zimmermann, Dr. Martin Kipp, Dr. Johannes Voshaar and M.Sc. Janik Ole Wecks from the Chair of General Business Administration, Management Accounting and Controlling (University of Bremen), the project team also includes colleagues Prof. Thomas Loy (now at the University of the Federal Armed Forces in Munich) and student assistant Patrick Heusmann.. In five publications to date, the researchers have presented different stages of development and consequently also different stages of implementation of the “WiWiNow” app.

The initial question was what are the reasons for students dropping out and what are the specific needs and challenges of students at the beginning of their academic career: What are the individual motives and situations that tip the scales in favor of dropping out? And how can an app support students, what functions and features must be offered? The involvement of those affected is important here, as it is precisely their experiences that are important and they are best suited to provide information on which features would not only be useful, but are actually used. This point is as trivial as it is relevant: When designing an app, it is not just functionality and usability that need to be considered, but also the likelihood of regular use. It’s about integrating the app as an active part of everyday life and thus increasing the useful effects. But first things first…

At the beginning there was empirical evidence that not only the educational background has an influence on the success or failure of higher education pathways, but also bad experiences in the studies themselves as well as psychological factors such as inefficient learning strategies or the lack of self-organization (Johannsen et al. 21, p. 1). These skills are assumed in higher education, which is a major difference to the school context. At the same time, they are new territory for many students. Drop-out rates are comparatively high during the first semesters of the study program, while studies have also identified a lack of social and academic integration in the German education system, which leads to increased drop-out rates (cf. Johannsen et al. 23, p. 636f.). These challenges of the transition-in phase[1] could be remedied by an app that not only serves to coordinate seminar and lecture dates, but also tracks and makes learning behavior transparent and deepens knowledge through exercises and playful elements.

… for the development of an app…

The first phase of the project dealt with the design of a prototype based on specific design specifications and the assessment of a technical framework: the definition of three meta-requirements was transformed into eight design requirements that the app should fulfill (cf. Johannsen et al. 23, Fig. 2, p. 639). The aim was therefore to clarify what the app should deliver and what the best technical solution would be. After an initial orientation on the design of the application and an overview of the alternatives available on the market, a group of students who were in their second or third year of study were interviewed: The idea was to learn from their experiences of the challenges, elicit any possible solutions and finally gather requirements for the app. A second survey targeted a group of teachers who are in close contact with the students and are familiar with their problems. At the same time, they have a wealth of experience of everyday academic life. Based on these two user groups, user journeys were described, i.e. how potential users interact with the app and how they are guided through it. The prototype was then used to carry out various test phases and improve both the front and back end.

Now was the time to test the app under real conditions. The app was made available to students in a compulsory introductory course on accounting in the 2020/21 winter semester. To avoid bias, there were no bonuses for participating in the study. It is also important to mention the pandemic and the fact that teaching has gone digital – which of course changes the testing conditions. Participants were asked to provide socio-demographic and structural data that would be included in the subsequent evaluation. In addition, data on app use (including duration of use and quiz performance), data on course participation (in addition to the course, also the accompanying tutorial) and academic performance (exam performance) were collected. Naturally, the data was anonymized and data protection was ensured. In the end, the data from 575 participants was included in the study (cf. Voshaar et al. 22, p. 7).

The results showed that more intensive use of the app had a significantly positive effect on exam results. Precisely because the increased use of the app also correlated positively with factors relating to attendance at the preliminary courses and tutorials – and it was therefore unclear what the decisive factor in the increase in performance was – further investigations were necessary. In other words, it remained unclear whether the use of the app itself had positive effects or whether higher-performing or more motivated students were more likely to use the app on their own initiative, which would reduce the influence of the app (cf. Voshaar et al. 22, p. 14). However, after correction with the help of a control variable that was adjusted to the influencing factors of self-selection, the initial results proved to be robust. After these thoroughly positive findings, the research on the app could be continued.

… on the determination of quality dimensions of use …

Another approach that has led to a publication dealing with the various quality dimensions of acceptance that an application can have and that are associated with its use. Four quality dimensions were identified which should be served by the app and which can themselves be broken down into subcategories: If system quality is about the way in which information is prepared by an app, service quality is aimed at the support offered. Information quality, on the other hand, includes the evaluation of the content provided, whereas the quality dimension of perceived enjoyment during use is just as self-explanatory as a category relevant for reuse (cf. Johannsen et al. 23, p. 641 – 644). With the intention of reuse and perceived user satisfaction, two aspects from the user perspective then follow, which in turn can be coupled with different quality dimensions and at the same time both have an influence on learning effectiveness as the last aspect.

One goal in the design of the app was to combine the functionality and convenience of commercial apps in structuring everyday life with university-related content, organizational functionalities and playful elements (cf. Johannsen et al. 23, p. 638f.). With the help of the different quality dimensions, strengths and weaknesses in user-friendliness can be identified, which in turn at least indirectly sheds light on the implementation in everyday life.

As a result, an end-of-semester user experience survey of 131 students was evaluated, although the actual sample consisted of 113 students for various reasons (e.g., incomplete data sets).. The noted quality dimensions, which were decomposed into various items, were included in this evaluation. The system and information quality as well as the quality dimension of perceived enjoyment promote user satisfaction, with the last quality dimension also increasing the intention to reuse. In turn, learning effectiveness is positively influenced by user satisfaction and intention. Based on this data, the design of the app and its fulfillment of the requirements could be checked and adjusted (cf. Johannsen et al. 23, p. 651ff.). Furthermore, four specific design principles could be formulated that an app should observe in relation to the transition-in phase: In addition to a participation management function, a control function of independent learning is required. There must also be cross-platform accessibility, and the content must be easy to organize (cf. Johannsen et al. 23, p. 655f.).

… about the improvement of learning behavior …

In another study presented at the 44th International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS) in Hyderabad, an attempt was made to measure the app in light of established approaches to learning effectiveness. Although an improvement in grades in final exams has already been demonstrated, this aspect is only a partial contribution to the goal of reducing drop-out rates. Lizzio (2011) developed the concept of five success factors for student success in relation to the transition-in phase: The success factors are connectedness, e.g. with academic life, capability of self-organization, etc., purpose, e.g. of academic practices, resourcefulness in coordinating different demands and culture in the sense of appreciation of higher education. The second approach distinguishes between different learning models, each with its own characteristics: In addition to surface learning, strategic learning and, lastly, deep learning can be cited (cf. Voshaar et al. 23, p. 3f.). While the first learning behavior remains unfocused and ephemeral, the second model is subject to the maxim of efficiency and does not attribute any intrinsic value to what is learned. Deep learning, on the other hand, can best be explained as an independent penetration of knowledge. The aim was to find out whether the app or certain elements help to master the challenges of the transition-in phase.

The evaluation of the study showed that using the app can positively influence the senses of capability and resourcefulness. It also reinforces strategic and reduces superficial learning behavior. Accordingly, the app helps with student self-organization, promotes independent learning and insight into institutional requirements in higher education. It should be possible to use this potential to reduce drop-out rates, as students are supported with the challenges identified in the initial phase of their studies via the app.

In combination with analogue support services on site, the various components of the app have different support potentials, ranging from self-organization and exam preparation to the development of a student identity. Precisely because deficits in efficient learning strategies and time management harbor enormous potential for frustration, the app can provide productive impetus here. Finally, the playful elements of the app serve to motivate students to use it again. In this way, the app can not only improve exam performance but also offer other forms of support that affect self-organization as well as learning behavior.

… to the differentiation of various app features

In the most recent study, the Bremen team, together with Florian Johannsen, is looking at the question of whether the individual components of the app can be differentiated based on their effectiveness. This study was presented at the 45th International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS) in Bangkok. First, it was confirmed that app users have a significantly better result in the tests. A breakdown into different types of use (exercises, quizzes and self-organization) revealed no significant differences in terms of improved exam performance.

Prof. Florian Johannsen and Dr. Johannes Voshaar at the conference (Image source: private)

The subsequent research question was whether the components of the app support the requirements and principles of the design to varying degrees. It can initially be stated that all three app features positively support performance, with one exception: answering complex questions was not significantly positively supported by the quiz feature. This is also quite plausible, as the quizzes are aimed at the retrieval of knowledge and not its application in difficult cases.

In relative terms, it can be said that the exercise function has the strongest supporting effect, which at the same time remains stable across the different question types. The quizzes were also helpful for the students with the simple question complexes that called up standard knowledge. The self-organization feature also contributed to the improvement of exam performance, but to a lesser extent. The students in the specific study therefore benefited most from the exercise function, whereby the quizzes were useful for building up knowledge. Although the self-organization functions have a relatively low added value for examination performance, their positive effects could arise in other ways and relate more to the students’ basic identity formation. By comparing the two design aspects, recommendations for app developers, students and teachers can be formulated (cf. Voshaar et al. 24, p.13f.).

Several questions are still open, so research into the usefulness of a mobile learning app will continue. In addition to the question of the usefulness of the organizational features and their descriptive representing, the components of the app can also be further decomposed and differentiated in terms of their positive effects. It is precisely because new technologies such as the smartphone or mobile devices have become an integral part of everyday life that the implementation of a mobile learning app makes sense and its exploration is necessary, also to meet the need for location- and time-independent offerings. The different forms of teaching and learning are not about competition, but about complementarity. Digitalization is also providing new impetus here, which can be productively integrated into technologies such as a learning app.

Literature (sorted chronologically)

  • Lizzio, A. (2011), The Student Lifecycle: An Integrative Framework for Guiding Practice. Griffith University.
  • Johannsen, F; Knipp, M; Loy, T; Voshaar, J; Zimmermann, J (2021): A mobile app to support students in the “transition-in” phase. Proceedings of the 29th European Conference on Information Systems (ECIS 2021), Research-in-Progress Paper.
  • Voshaar, J., Knipp, M., Loy, T., Zimmermann, J. and Johannsen, F. (2022), “The impact of using a mobile app on learning success in accounting education”, Accounting Education, Vol. No. pp. 1-26.
  • Johannsen, F., Knipp, M., Loy, T. et al. (2023): What impacts learning effectiveness of a mobile learning app focused on first-year students? Inf Syst E-Bus Manage (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10257-023-00644-0
  • Voshaar, J., Wecks, J.O., Johannsen, F., Knipp, M., Loy, T., Zimmermann, J. (2023): Supporting Students in the Transition to Higher Education: Evidence from a Mobile App in Accounting Education, Proceedings of the International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS 2023), Hyderabad, India.
  • Voshaar, J., Johannsen, F., Mkervalidze, S. and Zimmermann, J. (2024). Unbundling the App Advantage: Evaluating Exam Performance-enhancing Features of Mobile Learning Apps in Accounting. International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS 2024). Bangkok.

[1] The transition-in phase is a stage of the student cycle according to Lizzio (2011). He divides studies into various phases, some of which are upstream and some downstream, in which different student identities emerge depending on the genuine challenges, tasks and status.

The measurement of fatigue. How can we prevent accidents on the road and during other activities that require sustained attention?

The measurement of fatigue. How can we prevent accidents on the road and during other activities that require sustained attention?

admin

As the days get shorter in winter, it is almost impossible to avoid traveling in the dark. This is a particular problem for drivers: at night, especially on monotonous routes like highways, fatigue symptoms such as drowsiness and inattentiveness, sometimes even brief nodding off, occur. These phenomena obviously pose an immense risk, for the person driving the vehicle as well as for third parties in the vehicle or other uninvolved road users and pedestrians. The significant number of accidents which can be attributed to fatigue is a motivation for research and the search for solutions.

Professor Martin Golz from the Faculty of Computer Science at Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences addresses these questions from the research field of biomedical engineering: In order to measure a phenomenon, its definition has to be clear. The first question is therefore what vigilance is and, in turn, in what forms symptoms of fatigue occur.[1] It is important to differentiate between various aspects and at the same time to identify the decisive factors. The aim is therefore to find one or more reliable criteria that can be used to detect signs of fatigue. A central challenge for research is that there is no binding definition of fatigue or its signs and, as a result, there is a lack of reliable and decisive attributes.[2] So how do we measure the characteristics of fatigue?

What is fatigue and how does it manifest itself?

An opportunity to explore this question arose as part of an inquiry from industry, specifically the open-cast mining industry: in mining operations, there is a lot of logistics using huge trucks that work in shifts.[3] Several factors that usually cause fatigue come together here: Long journeys, monotonous routes, constant repetition. The strain is further increased by the harsh environmental conditions such as high temperatures, low humidity and dust. In short: a back-breaking job whose high physical and mental strain regularly leads to accidents due to fatigue. Political and economic players have a vested interest in preventing these accidents due to the physical and economic damage and consequential costs.

In recent decades, industry has undergone a rethink that has focused attention on employee fitness: fatigue risk management has introduced structures and ways of dealing with fatigue into the workplace that help to deal with symptoms of fatigue openly and consciously, recognize them at an early stage and thus prevent accidents. Furthermore, supervisors should draw attention to the phenomenon and the risk and raise awareness among the workforce. In order to further promote the safety of drivers, monitoring technologies that autonomously detect signs of fatigue and sleep events and, at best, reliably alert before accidents occur are useful and expedient. Two things come together here: Firstly, measuring the manifestations of fatigue, and secondly, a prognosis. Both points must be pursued in research using different approaches.

Monitoring systems

In order to be able to evaluate the use of the monitoring systems, first a selection had to be made from the systems available on the market. In addition to scientists, employees and company representatives were also consulted: The weighting of various factors resulted in a coordinate system that allowed three monitoring models to be identified as useful test cases. These three have a similar technical design: they are mounted on or in the dashboard and are equipped with an infrared camera.

They measure fatigue using the PERCLOS scale: this refers to the time while the eye is at least eighty percent covered by the eyelid. For this measurement, the camera records various aspects, which it only evaluates in combination with PERCLOS. In addition to the opening of the eyelids, the duration of eyelid closure and pupil width are included in the evaluation, as is head movement, among other things. In addition to the significance of the PERCLOS criterion itself, it is unclear whether one or more aspects alone provide valid information about fatigue. For the monitoring, it is important to use a high level of sensitivity on the one hand, but on the other to avoid false alarms as far as possible, as this in turn would reduce acceptance. For example, closing your eyes when oncoming traffic is dazzling must not lead to an alarm. In this consideration, a feasible method of application must be found.

Test drives in the lab

Due to the risk involved, tests in real-life situations are not possible. As a result, Professor Golz use a computer-aided driving simulation, which allows the measurement of fatigue symptoms under controlled conditions. The first task was to find the test subjects: Several suitable people were selected from a large number of applications from the student body at Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences to take part in the test. In order to make fatigue more likely – the aim was to measure it – the participants had to adhere to a certain day/night rhythm, keep a sleep log, refrain from napping during the day and avoid drinks that keep them awake, such as coffee, on the day of the measurement. Simulated test drives were modeled on the real work routines of the drivers in the opencast mine. From 23:30 to 08:30, the sixteen participants had to drive several forty-minute units. The test environment and test conditions were designed to promote fatigue: The route was monotonous, there was no road traffic and no distractions during the ride. In summary, the important criteria of the study were to make symptoms of fatigue more likely: Time since sleep, time on task, time of day and the perception of monotony.

Two established scales were used as a reference for determining tiredness, which function independently of the other values and could therefore serve as control variables: Firstly, the self-assessment of the degree of momentary fatigue, which was queried in the breaks between rides (Karolinska sleepiness scale). This nine-point scale has proven to be quite reliable in science for measuring subjectively perceived fatigue. Secondly, the position of the vehicle on the road: effects of fatigue cause vehicles to leave the center of the road more frequently. Crossing lane markings can be easily determined. Both criteria should form the basis for evaluating the monitoring systems. Professor Golz chose EOG and EEG signals, i.e. eye and brain activity, as a further source of measurement.

We are mostly familiar with EEG images from television: A network of cables is placed over a head and contact is made with the scalp at various locations. These contacts can be used to measure the slightest potentials of an electrical current field and thus to trace the activity in the brain to a certain extent. Depending on the number of contacts, recordings of a large number of waves are created that are meaningless to the layman. The evaluation of these signals is a highly complex matter and requires a great deal of experience. Only in this way can differentiated conclusions be drawn from the shifts in the waves, their frequencies and amplitudes and depending on the area of the brain. One question is whether signs of fatigue can be precisely determined using this method, or whether it is possible to predict the onset of fatigue.

Collection and evaluation of data

In a first step, the data from the two independent measurements were compared with the PERCLOS surveys of the three monitoring systems. The correlation of the PERCLOS values with the objective measurements was only superficial: as soon as the temporal resolution becomes finer or only the data of one individual is used, the high correlation values are lost. In summary, significant inter- and even intrasubjective differences were found across the scales.

In a second step, Professor Golz attempted to clarify whether the EEG measurements could serve as a reference for validating the video-based systems. In order to be able to carry out a data analysis, both measurements were collected simultaneously and the data sets were then divided into strong and weak manifestations of fatigue using the independent variables. A non-linear discriminant analysis of both the PERCLOS and the EEG/EOG time series showed a deficit of PERCLOS in distinguishing between weak and strong fatigue in high temporal resolution.

From these results, it can be concluded that although the monitoring systems work well under laboratory conditions, important conditions must be met for this: In addition to a low temporal resolution, the data must be averaged over as many people as possible before evaluation. It remains to be seen whether the measurement deficits are due to the alignment of the systems with the normal behavior of eye movement, as a result of which atypical characteristics would not be detected or would be detected incorrectly. In any case, the EEG/EOG signal proved to be a much more robust measure for determining fatigue.

In the end, it can be said that there is still a long way to go to achieve functioning monitoring systems for signs of fatigue. One problem is that there is still no clarity as to how fatigue manifests itself, i.e. what are generalizable criteria and measurement objectives. PERCLOS has only been able to convince to a very limited extent. And since this area is literally a matter of life and death, more research is needed to provide suitable benchmarks for monitoring approaches.

The prediction of microsleep events

Even if the EEG can reliably detect signs of fatigue, the practical problem remains that determining the data is time-consuming and requires expert knowledge. Other technological solutions must be found in order to achieve broad acceptance. The research field of neuroinformatics therefore still has plenty of work to do here. Predictive analytics in particular, i.e. the prediction of critical signs of fatigue, has social and economic relevance.

In another, more recent project, Professor Golz and his team focused on the predictability of microsleep events with the aid of EEG signals.[4] The challenges again are laying in the complexity of the signal characteristics and the high inter-individual variability, i.e. different EEG properties depending on the person. The idea was to analyze the amplitudes of the EEG using five methods of time series prediction. In addition to the predictive quality, it was also about the suitability of different EEG measurement points, i.e. which brain area is more or less suitable for the measurements.

The data came from various test drives in the Schmalkalden laboratory, which were carried out under the same conditions as the fatigue survey. By using the measured biosignals from 79 young, healthy people, it was possible to draw on a large amount of data. Even though one model of the time series prediction was characterized by a low number of errors, it became clear that each EEG channel required different parameter combinations for its optimal use.

This complexity makes predictions difficult, especially when the time horizon is set at five seconds. Even an adaptive classification analysis, which should be able to cope with the dynamic character of the signals, had high accuracies in the first step, but was unable to reproduce these results in the validation. In conclusion, the performance of the prediction is high for most individuals, but for some it is still quite low. To enable improvements here, optimized data sets could be used as well as modern methods that make use of artificial intelligence and correspond to the dynamic nature of the data. Ultimately, any improvement in predictability can help save lives. It is therefore important to continue research into how fatigue can be recognised. The driving simulation laboratory and the archive of data records obtained are an ideal starting point for this.

[1] Vigilance comes from the Latin vigilantia, which means “alertness” and “care”. Vigilance refers to a state of sustained attention with a monotonous stimulus frequency and is colloquially synonymous with alertness, an aspect of consciousness. Vigilance is measured by examining a person’s ability to pay sustained attention.

[2] The ambiguous use of the terms tiredness, fatigue and exhaustion is part of the problem. Researchers are now arguing in favor of defining the three terms as distinct phenomena on a continuum that can be placed in relation to each other. See Matti, N., Mauczok, C. & Specht, M.B. (2022): Müdigkeit, Fatigue und Erschöpfung: Alles das Gleiche oder Ausprägungen eines Kontinuums? – Ein Diskussionsanstoß. Somnologie – Schlafforschung und Schlafmedizin 26, 187-198.

[3] Golz, M., Sommer, D., Trutschel, U., Sirois, B., Edwards, D. (2010): Evaluation of fatigue monitoring technologies. Somnologie – Schlafforschung und Schlafmedizin 14, 187-­199.

Schneeweiß, L., Pauli, M. P., Golz, M. (2023): EEG-Vorhersage zur Prognose von Mikroschlaf, in: Stolzenburg, F., Reinboth, C., Lohr, T. & Vogel, K. (Hrsg.): NWK 2023 – Tagungsband der 23. Nachwuchswissenschaftler*innenkonferenz, Harzer Hochschultexte Nr. 14, Hochschule Harz, Wernigerode, 176-183.

How can staff be retained? On business psychological factors of employee retention

How can staff be retained? On business psychological factors of employee retention

admin

In times when there is a shortage of skilled workers, the challenge for companies to recruit or even just retain qualified staff is not getting any easier. In addition to the potential of innovative impulses, employee turnover also results in frictional losses that companies want to avoid. For example, new staff require a training period, and at the same time, companies always lose individually acquired specialist and practical knowledge along with the employees. Vacancy periods also need to be bridged, which increases the workload of colleagues. Katharina Sachse, holder of the Chair of Business Psychology at Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences, is investigating the psychological factors and mechanisms that are beneficial or detrimental to the retention of employees. During her inaugural lecture at Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences, she presented a study that empirically investigates these topics and on which she recently published an article in co-authorship with Ulrike Gaedke.

Bonding factors

In order to understand what keeps employees at their jobs, a corresponding perspective must be adopted: One factor of this bond can be described as “commitment”, which conceptually fluctuates between the meanings of obligation and involvement and dedication and obligation. Commitment consists of various components: Affective commitment, which was the focus of the study, is about a perceived attachment to the company and the job. In other words, this refers to a “self-commitment” and “the desire of employees to be and remain part of the company.” In contrast, the relationship shifts in normative commitment: it is no longer about appreciation of the company, but about a perceived obligation towards the company. For example, because my company has financed this costly training course for me, I have a debt to the company and am connected to it. The third aspect is a calculative commitment, which, however, is based on a comparatively superficial bond based on rational considerations. Employees remain here due to individual and situational advantages, but do not develop a deeper relationship.

The question of the study is now how and whether the bonding effect of affective commitment is related to embedding in the job and the psychological breach of contract or whether it has a positive or negative effect on employee loyalty. To clarify this, an online survey of over five hundred participants was conducted and analyzed.

Fit and psychological contracts

Not only does embedding itself consist of different aspects, it is also important to distinguish between the professional and private spheres, both of which have a distinct influence here. The connections are the first aspect: they relate to the social environment and activities, i.e. in addition to the circle of colleagues and managers, collective team-building measures on the one hand, and the family environment as well as the circles of friends and acquaintances and leisure activities on the other. The better the job fits in with these aspects of social quality, the higher the commitment should be. The second aspect, fit, focuses on the compatibility between the individual’s knowledge, talents and biography and the job requirements profile: does the person fit the job, or can they contribute better and more in line with their talents elsewhere? A lack of this fit could therefore lead to excessive or insufficient demands or to frustration in the job. On the other hand, there is the question of how the demands of the job can be reconciled with a successful social life – things like flexitime and much more come to mind here. The third component is the sacrifice and refers to the benefits that the employee would have to give up when changing jobs. In addition to remuneration, these include home office arrangements, job tickets, company pension schemes and childcare options.

The third factor is the the breach of the psychological contract and its consequences. It is important to avoid this breach, as it has negative effects on employee loyalty and their willingness to work. What is the psychological contract? Unlike the employment contract, it is not part of direct negotiations, nor is it written down or enforceable. The psychological contract is a mutual expectation that can be shaped by various situations and actors involved. On the part of the employees, this can already happen through the digital self-presentation of the future company on the Internet, through the image or the mission statement. Other influences can come from the job interview or the onboarding process. Of course, employee appraisals and the like are also relevant here. The result is an expectation of the employee towards the organization, be it monetary promises, the orientation of the job, further training or other things. If this expectation is not met, the psychological contract may be broken: The consequences are a breach of trust, disappointment and a drop in morale. Precisely because the psychological contract is not codified, it is the responsibility of managers to watch out for signs of non-compliance on the part of employees.

Survey and evaluation

Katharina Sachse and Ulrike Gaedke explored the questions of employee retention via an online survey at the beginning of 2024, which they disseminated via career networks and a university for part-time study. The sample comprised 512 individuals who had to complete a questionnaire that in turn covered the various facets and dimensions of the study.

As a result of the study, it can be summarized that a direct, strong statistical correlation was found between the variables mentioned and that the factors can therefore strengthen employee loyalty. One hypothesis of the study was that embedding strengthens affective commitment, which in turn leads to higher employee retention. Even though this assumption was confirmed, a relationship between embeddedness and employee retention was also found to be independent of commitment. Consequently, promotion would be worthwhile here.

Perceived the breach of the psychological contract reduce the binding effect of other aspects. Breaches of contract are not uncommon: around a quarter of those surveyed were able to name one or more examples, with most of the unkept promises relating to personnel development and salary.

Retain employees

As a result, companies that should be interested in employee retention for good reasons can now fall back on adjusting screws. In addition to traditional team-building measures, the fit of the job can be continuously optimized. With these measures, it is important to pay attention to the individual needs of employees and to consider the fit between the private and professional spheres. In addition, companies and especially managers and those responsible in the HR department should develop a sensitivity towards the psychological contract: In addition to the explicit statements, the implicit content is also important.

The article will be published in the journal Führung + Organisation (zfo) in April 2025. The two researchers were also able to present the study at the 28th symposium of the Society for Applied Business Psychology (GWPs) in Hamm at the beginning of the year.

Katharina Sachse has been Professor of Business Psychology at HSM since the winter semester 2024/25. She completed her doctorate at the TU Berlin on the topic of “Risk perception and behavior of private investors” and was involved in various research projects on the communication of health risks. She then worked as an occupational psychologist and organizational consultant. She also taught at various universities before taking up a professorship in business psychology at the FOM University of Applied Sciences in Berlin in 2016. Her research focuses on topics such as commitment, leadership and health in the modern working world.

About the material and computer simulations of veneer. Or why it is an art to compose furniture from thin sheets.

About the material and computer simulations of veneer. Or why it is an art to compose furniture from thin sheets.

admin

What could be more obvious for a university in southern Thuringia than research into wood as a material, as it forms a large part of the natural environment of the Thuringian Forest and is an important part of the regional industry? As a material, wood has hardly lost any of its relevance: it is a high-quality, renewable raw material that is robust and inexpensive on the one hand and versatile on the other. Even though wood products are highly ubiquitous, knowledge about the material and the complex challenges of processing it is still in short supply. Yet there is much to discover here.

A distinction must first be made between two ways of using the material: in addition to the use of solid wood, in which whole pieces of wood are sawn from the log and used as construction timber such as beams and boards, there is a variant in which components are manufactured using layers of thin sheets of wood, known as veneers. These veneer plywood products consist of individual sheets that are glued and tied together under high pressure. We will also be looking at veneer as a certain material and specifically at the aspect of dimensional stability under changing climatic conditions, which is the focus of the “FurForS” research project.

Manufacturing products such as chairs or veneer-based, elegant decorative surfaces in vehicle interiors requires some effort and knowledge of working with wood. Until now, many steps in production have been based on the experience of the employees: this is where science can help by deepening our understanding of veneer as a material. One open question in research, for example, is whether the behaviour of veneer plywood can be calculated and how its use and production can be optimized. But before we come to Professor Dietzel and his team from the Structural Mechanics research group at Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences, our journey begins in a very traditional way: With the tree.

The long journey of wood

Veneer means 0.1 to 7 mm thin sheets of wood that are separated from the trunk using various methods. The word itself comes from a borrowing from 16th century French: Fournir meant ‘to equip’ and ‘to supply’ and referred to the application of fine, thin wood leaves to less valuable wood, i.e. a superficial refinement. Nowadays, these are subsumed under the term face veneer, which are used as layers of molded parts. Veneer sheets are layered, glued and assembled under high pressure: Not only does this create robust components, but by exploiting the directional properties of the veneer sheets, parameters such as flexibility and strength can be used in the design. Knowledge of the properties of the veneer sheets and their composition is crucial here.

However, not all trees are the same: as only the highest quality wood can be used for the subsequent processing steps, the selection of suitable trees is the first important step. Knotholes and similar defects in the wood grain must be avoided. A classification into A, B and C woods has been established, whereby only woods in the first category are suitable for veneers. The selection of the woods is based on the many years of experience of the specialists who have to assess the logs from the outside. In order to be able to use the raw material wood after the initial selection, a longer path must be taken.

The logs are first debarked and usually soaked or boiled. Once the material has become workable in this way, the log can be sliced, peeled or sawn in the next step. The three processes have different advantages and disadvantages and are therefore suitable for different types of wood and different purposes. For example, the minimum possible thickness of the veneers, the physical stress on the wood during the manufacturing process and the loss of material during the cutting process differ.[1] What all three processes have in common is that the stress causes material changes in the wood itself: In addition to moisture-induced swelling, this means, among other things, small cracks on the cut side of the veneer, which occur as a result of a necessary strong bending of the veneer during the cutting process. There is therefore a closed and an open side of the veneer, which exhibit different characteristics, for example in their reaction to moisture such as swelling and shrinkage. The structural change in the material must be taken into account in all subsequent processing steps.

Structure & mechanics

This is where the Structural Mechanics research group comes in: What happens in the wood due to the influence of various factors such as changes in moisture content and temperature? It makes sense not to start from the layered components – i.e. components manufactured from several veneer layers – but to first understand the individual veneer sheet and the effects. The knowledge gained from this can then form the basis for a description of the complex characteristics of connected layers or even entire ply components. However, it is precisely the connection and mutual influence of the veneer layers with different properties that makes this comprehensive description a complex challenge. In short, the aim of the project is a software-supported evaluation of the dimensional stability of veneer plywood materials.

The two sides of the veneer react differently to moisture: the fissures, i.e. the small cracks on the surface of the wood sheets, change the moisture transport within the wood and thus the processes of swelling and shrinkage on both sides. One consequence is the warping of the veneer. Another structural-mechanical factor is the fiber direction of wood growth: Different arrangements of the sheets, transverse or parallel, allow properties such as flexibility or strength to be controlled in the combination of different layers of veneer sheets. Again, the starting point for understanding the relationship is to look at the individual veneer. This understanding of the structural-mechanical effects of various environmental factors can then in turn be incorporated into the design of the products and guide the compositional alignment of the layers.

To visualize the impact of environmental effects on the wood, it is worth taking a look at a classic plywood chair: depending on the temperature, humidity and veneer characteristics, the shape of the chair changes and so, for example, does the inclination of the backrest. As a result, the same chairs always look slightly different in detail and give way differently, which is noticeable in parallel rows of chairs, for example, and is therefore perceived as a visual defect. In addition to these fields of application, the structural-mechanical description is also useful for optimizing production and exploring the limits of wood as a material.

The focus of the research group

In veneer manufacturing, many processes are still based on pure experience with the material wood. Without detracting from this individual achievement, there is potential for optimization as a result of technical progress. Professor Dietzel’s team in Schmalkalden is striving to make the structural-mechanical behavior of the veneer predictable in order to pave the way for this progress. On the one hand, the existing numerical models are to be extended to include the specifics of veneers and, on the other hand, relevant parameters of dimensional stability are to be identified

When a changeover is made in production today, it still requires a lengthy adjustment process that follows a trial-and-error approach. The changeover is time-consuming and material-intensive, which contradicts the principle of efficiency. It would be beneficial to use models here that offer decision-making aids and estimations, thus shortening the adaptation process. Furthermore, structural-mechanical insights can also be used to optimize design processes such as bending or flexibility.

Even though wood as a material is widely used in its various forms, only a few projects are dedicated to it. At Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences, the Structural Mechanics research group has been researching the possibilities of mathematically describing the physical properties of veneer as a raw material for 18 years now. The research group combines aspects of basic research with application-oriented functional integration in the material wood.

The FurForS cooperation project

In the FurForS project, the research group cooperates with the TU Dresden, and thus the two few players in veneer research. At the Dresden Institute for Natural Materials Technology, the solid wood/veneer research group led by Prof. André Wagenführ is dedicated to topics relating to wood in its natural form, as well as wood composites. In cooperation with HSM, Dresden concentrates on the small-scale analysis of veneer sheets, i.e. the microscopic changes in the structures that result, for example, from treatment in the climate chamber.

However, the Schmalkader team is developing calculation approaches, carrying out modeling and assessing parameters and factors that have a significant influence on structural mechanics. The aim here is to develop calculation models that can be adapted to the individual properties of veneer plywood. The mediation between a generalization and an individual adaptation requires a high computational effort of the model, which increases with the addition of several layers. This approach combines structural mechanics with computer science, whereby the focus remains on material science.

In summary, the various project partners, HSM and TUD as well as Kreutzfeldt GmbH & Co. KG and GbR Lie-Design, have come together with the aim of predicting the changes in shape and residual stress of plywood products using model-based forecasts. The models are valid for both production and later use, and can achieve an optimization performance in both respects, for example in terms of efficiency in the manufacturing process. The common goal of the project partners is to further optimize the use of wood through a deeper understanding of the material and to further explore the limits of its application. The aim is to move from the experience used to date to calculation models that deepen our understanding of the material through simulations and numerical illustrations.

Location at the HSM

Professor Andreas Dietzel was appointed to the professorship of “Design, Production Metrology and CAD” at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in fall 2021 and has been involved in the Structural Mechanics research group ever since. This area is by no means new territory for him, as he completed his doctorate at Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences and Ilmenau University of Technology on the topic of “Model-based determination and evaluation of the shaping limits of copper beech veneer” under Professor Hendrike Raßbach.

Even though the bureaucratic effort involved in acquiring third-party funding for applied research projects is a major challenge for universities, Professor Dietzel and his two research assistants – Dr. Dennie Supriatna and M.Eng. Daniela Pachatz – a motivated team that is now involved in the FurForS project.

[1] The handout “Veneer in interior design” contains much more detailed information on this. (Cf. Initiative Furnier + Natur e.V., Furnier im Innenausbau. Definitionen – Eigenschaften – Verarbeitung – Anwendungsbeispiele“, Dresden 2011, S. 8 – 13)