Alexander Gruenwald
Public Governance, Strategic Management and Institutional Change.
I am a strategy advisor, project manager, researcher, evaluator and lecturer with more than 18 years of professional experience across the public and private sectors in Austria and Germany, as well as extensive experience in international contexts.
At the heart of my work is the question of how public institutions and other organisations can become more effective, adaptive and collaborative. I have a particular focus on complex initiatives at the intersections of public administration, politics, business, academia and civil society.
Public Governance as the Overarching Framework
My work connects strategy and organisational development with performance management, innovation, participation and cross-sector collaboration.
Many complex challenges can no longer be addressed within the boundaries of individual organisations or institutional responsibilities. Different stakeholders bring their own interests, resources, perspectives and institutional logics.
These interfaces are a particular focus of my work. I help structure complex issues, bring together different perspectives, and develop sound strategies, governance structures and effective forms of collaboration.
In doing so, I combine analytical and research-based approaches with practical experience in designing and implementing complex initiatives.
Experience Across Institutions and Sectors
Before becoming an independent advisor, I worked, among other roles, at the Austrian Federal Chancellery, most recently as Deputy Head of Department for Performance Management & Innovation.
There, I contributed to the further development of Austria’s performance management and regulatory impact assessment frameworks and worked on public-sector innovation, digitalisation, participation, Open Government and knowledge management.
A particularly formative part of my work was co-founding and leading GovLabAustria, Austria’s first innovation lab for the public sector. Acting as an interface between public administration, academia, business and civil society, GovLabAustria enabled new forms of cross-sector collaboration and the joint development of solutions across organisational boundaries.
My professional experience also has a strong international dimension. Working in Austria and Germany and collaborating with European institutions, international organisations and professional networks have exposed me to different approaches to governance and public administration and significantly shaped my perspective on institutional change.
My academic background has also strongly influenced my work: an Executive Master of Public Administration (MPA) , with a focus on Performance Management & Budgeting and Stakeholder & Political Communication, and a degree in Social and Economic Sciences from the Vienna University of Economics and Business , with a focus on Organisation & Innovation and Marketing & Market Research.
This background is complemented by further training in areas including project management, Design Thinking & Service Design, Art of Hosting, cross-cultural project management and leadership.
Advisory, Projects, Research and Teaching
Today, I support public institutions, public-value-oriented organisations and businesses in a variety of roles.
As a strategic advisor and sparring partner, I support executives and decision-makers in addressing complex strategic and institutional challenges.
As a project manager, I design and manage complex initiatives – from developing a strategic vision and appropriate governance structures through to implementation and further development.
In research and evaluation, I develop studies and research designs, apply qualitative and quantitative methods, and translate findings into practical recommendations. I also work as an evaluator of programmes, projects and innovation initiatives.
As a lecturer and speaker, I teach Public Governance, Public Management, performance management, innovation, digitalisation and participation. I combine conceptual foundations with practical applications, reflection and the experiences of participants.
Strong Partners for Complex Projects
For complex assignments, I work with selected experts and partners from my national and international network where appropriate.
I am cooperating with the WHAT’S NEXT INSTITUTE. The institute supports organisations in business, politics and society in engaging systematically with the future, identifying change at an early stage, and translating emerging developments into new opportunities for action and innovation.
This collaboration allows questions related to Public Governance, innovation and institutional change to be complemented, where appropriate, by perspectives from futures thinking and strategic foresight.
Let's Talk.
Are you working on a complex strategic or institutional challenge and looking for support in advisory, project design, research or evaluation?
I look forward to hearing from you and discussing your project.