Organisational background   Based in Frankenthal, near Mannheim, KSB Corporation is a leading manufacturer of pumps and valves for private and industrial applications worldwide. The corporate group has numerous international locations and employs 12,467 people, 58% of whom are based in Europe. Currently, it has around 4,500 employees in Germany, of whom 1,700 are based in Frankenthal. The company’s present business situation is considered to be favourable.

  Organisational background   The Michelin factory in Trento is a local subsidiary of the leading French and multinational tyre manufacturer. It operates in the areas of steel threading, wire drawing and textile twisting, making semi-manufactured goods for producing tyres, on contract to the parent company. Since its foundation in 1927, Michelin Italy has always had a sizeable workforce, often more than 500 employees.

  Organisational background   The Austrian Post AG is a government-run mail service with a total of 25,000 employees. In 1999, in preparation for market liberalisation, it changed from being a public company to a joint stock company, open to private partnership. Telecommunications and passenger traffic became individual enterprises, and the rest of the Post AG was organised into five operational fields.

  Organisational background   London & Quadrant Housing Trust is a non-profit housing organisation, which has been in operation for the past 40 years. It provides housing and community services to the most vulnerable social groups, such as low-income families, homeless people, young adults learning to live independently for the first time, people with disabilities and older people. It is the largest housing association in London, employing around 900 staff, 68% of whom are women, ranging in age from 16 to 70 years.