PI Voices

First 100 Days Review with Stefan Schreiber, Global Head of Business Architecture

May 19, 2022
© PI

On January 1, 2022, Stefan Schreiber (in the middle of the photo) started as Global Head of Business Architecture in Florian Geistdörfer’s COO department.

Stefan, how did you experience your first 100 days at PI?

PI stands out because the company has managed to bring together absolute individual expertise to form teams. I talked a lot with employees from a wide range of disciplines, and what struck me was that, independently of each other, everyone said that they really liked working at PI.

Currently, I am trying to remain in an observer position for as long as possible; like a researcher trying to figure out how something works, in my case this is PI .

What are your findings?

PI has an irrepressible will to change. The energy necessary for this is sometimes undirected and needs to be channeled. Subsequently, this results in the same work being done in different areas, as well as similar projects being worked on. The next step in organizational learning will be to bundle this kind of issues to create the most value for us as PI employees.

The last few years, which I did not experience personally, were marked by massive changes. On a positive note, the basic setting  is now clear and final, meaning that we are all on the same path together, and everyone can settle into the new structures. Nuanced  changes are still visible, but they fit into the overall structure, or are already in the next optimization phase.

PI has some very strong characters in strategic positions, and everyone should have a sufficient sense of purpose, and be clear about their responsibility to the corporate will. 

What are your main areas of focus in the implementation?

My focus is clearly on aligning the system landscape with the organizational structure of PI. We must seize the opportunity to rediscover our ERP system as a driving force, and to rethink our core processes according to our professional ideas. I am sure that we will succeed, because 'rethinking' is also something that I have observed in my first 100 days; PI is very good at this!
Likewise, it is important for me to align my area with the PI of today and tomorrow, and to expand it as a frontrunner, and a reliable and supportive partner in the company.

What drives you as a person?

My motivation is to have good IT and good process landscapes that run optimally and without trouble. I love finding practical solutions and then translating them into a more formal world so that they become traceable, repeatable and predictable. I draw the strength to do this from a variety of motivational sources; including my love of classic 80's heavy metal music, good whiskey, my family and my dogs. The whole thing is spiced with a good sense of humor, a wink of the eye, and not taking myself too seriously.

Written by Laura Früh on May 19, 2022