- 03 Jan, 2022
- Resources
- By Roberto Ki
Engpasskonzentrierte Strategie PDF Collection
Engpasskonzentrierte Strategie
Engpasskonzentrierte Strategie (EKS®), developed by Wolfgang Mewes, is a method for strategic focus. This article compiles freely accessible PDFs and academic papers on the EKS®.
What Does EKS Stand For?
EKS® stands for “Engpasskonzentrierte Strategie” (Bottleneck-Focused Strategy) — a strategy method based on the principle that maximum success comes from concentrating on the most effective bottleneck of the target group. The method comprises 4 core principles and 7 phases that systematically lead to strategic focus.
EKS Strategy According to Mewes and Cybernetic Management Theory
Wolfgang Mewes developed the EKS® in the 1970s. Today it is being further developed by EKS-Management GmbH (Richard Seeger) as the “Cybernetic Management Theory according to Mewes.” Learn more about the people behind the EKS® in our articles on Wolfgang Mewes and Kerstin Friedrich.
Overview of Available PDFs
| Title | Author | Focus | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Die EKS-Methode: Universalprinzipien des Erfolges? | Prof. Dr. Bernd Venohr | Academic analysis | PDF download |
| EKS für Franchise Systeme | Mag.a Waltraud Martius | Practical application | DocPlayer |
| Das große 1x1 der Erfolgsstrategie | Friedrich, Malik, Seiwert | Foundational work | Bookstores |
| Strategie: Navigieren in der Komplexität | Fredmund Malik | Cybernetics & EKS | PDF download |
EKS Strategy PDFs by Wolfgang Mewes
Die EKS-Methode: Universalprinzipien des Erfolges? — Prof. Dr. Bernd Venohr
This is the most comprehensive academic examination of the EKS®. Venohr — Professor of Strategic Management at HTW Berlin — places the method in the context of international strategy research and evaluates its empirical foundation.
tl;dr
- Scientific analysis of the EKS method
- Examines the theoretical foundations of the Engpasskonzentrierte Strategie
- Compares the EKS with other strategy models (Porter, Mintzberg, Hamel/Prahalad)
- Evaluates the empirical evidence for EKS principles
- Analyzes success factors and limitations of the method
“The EKS method by Wolfgang Mewes is one of the most influential strategy methods in the German-speaking world, although it has received little attention in academic strategy research to date.”
Especially worth reading: Venohr’s comparison of the EKS with Porter’s competitive strategies shows that both approaches emphasize the value of focus — but the EKS® is more consistently oriented toward the target group rather than the competition.
Download PDF (Prof. Dr. Bernd Venohr)
EKS (Engpass-Konzentrierte-Strategie) für Franchise Systeme — Mag.a Waltraud Martius
This contribution demonstrates a concrete industry application of the EKS®. Martius — an experienced franchise consultant herself — demonstrates how the method can be applied to franchise networks.
tl;dr
- Application of EKS principles to franchise systems
- Shows how franchisors can identify the bottleneck of their franchisees
- Practical examples from the franchise industry
- Connection between EKS and franchise-specific challenges
“The Engpasskonzentrierte Strategie offers particular value for franchise systems because it enables the focusing on the common bottleneck of all franchise partners.”
Core idea: In the franchise context, it is not only about the bottleneck of end customers, but about the common bottleneck of all franchisees. Whoever solves this increases the performance of the entire network.
Das große 1x1 der Erfolgsstrategie: EKS — Friedrich, Malik & Seiwert
The standard reference work on the EKS®, written by Kerstin Friedrich, Fredmund Malik, and Lothar Seiwert. While this book is not a free PDF, it is referenced as a foundational work in almost every EKS publication.
tl;dr
- Comprehensive foundational work on the EKS
- Three of the most distinguished strategy experts as authors
- Combination of theory and practice
- Numerous case studies and application guides
For more information on this and other EKS books, see our article: The best Engpasskonzentrierte Strategie books
Strategie. Navigieren in der Komplexität der Neuen Welt — Fredmund Malik
Fredmund Malik describes the EKS® in this contribution within the context of his Cybernetic Management Theory. Malik integrates the EKS principles into a comprehensive management system based on self-regulation and systems thinking.
tl;dr
- EKS® as part of a comprehensive management system
- Connection between cybernetics and strategy
- Dynamic specialization as a response to complexity
Core idea: Malik argues that static specialization is insufficient in a dynamic world. Instead, companies need “dynamic specialization” — the ability to continuously adapt their focus to changing bottlenecks.
Next Steps
Richard Seeger and the Cybernetic Management Theory
Richard Seeger continues the work of Wolfgang Mewes through EKS-Management GmbH. Under the name “Cybernetic Management Theory according to Mewes,” the EKS® is being continuously developed further and adapted to current challenges.
Do you know of additional EKS PDFs or academic papers? Write to us — we are happy to expand this collection.
Further Links
- Engpasskonzentrierte Strategie — Definition & Application
- The best EKS books at a glance
- Strategy development — 7 Phases
- Engpasskonzentrierte Strategie — Wikipedia
- EKS Akademie — Mewes Portal
- Mewes-Strategie GmbH
- EKS-Management GmbH
