Publikationen
Organizing Complexity: Matrix Collaboration in the AID:A Longitudinal Multi-Actor Study
Bernhardt, Janine/Herz, Andreas/Linberg, Anja/Ulrich, Susanne Marlene/Kuger, Susanne
Organizing Complexity: Matrix Collaboration in the AID:A Longitudinal Multi-Actor Study.
European Survey Research Association (ESRA) Utrecht "ESRA 2025 Conference." 16.07.2025
The longitudinal study "Growing up in Germany (in German: AID:A)" explores the multifaceted contexts and relationships shaping childhood, youth, and transitions to adulthood. Drawing on a nationwide probability sample of individuals aged 0 to 32, the study provides valuable insights for social reporting and research on well-being. Its interdisciplinary and multidimensional framework captures various aspects of individual and family life. AID:A employs a multi-actor design and integrates often-overlooked voices such as those of young children, children from disadvantaged families, and separated families. This presentation offers an in-depth look at the organizational structure, academic roles, and survey management processes underpinning AID:A, conducted by the German Youth Institute (DJI). The study employs a matrix organization to bundle thematic and methodological expertise in so-called competence teams. Each team consists of members of the DJI’s thematic departments (children, youth/transitions, families/adults) and one pairing member of the methods department serving as the team head. The team heads constitute an interface within and between the departments, which ensures survey quality and efficient processes by linking the scientific study board, item developers, data managers, the research data center, consulting services, and data users. In close collaboration with the principal investigator, the team heads are also the drivers of the survey’s strategic and operational hub, handling study planning, survey design, fieldwork coordination, data management, data documentation, and public outreach. After introducing the model of matrix collaboration in AID:A, the presentation reflects on the advantages and challenges of this organizational model for communication and decision-making processes. We also discuss the challenges for the team heads managing diverse interests and temporal bottlenecks and offer brief insights into tools we developed for our task management, resource allocation, and item-collection synthesis. By sharing lessons learned, we contribute to the session’s goal of fostering understanding, collaboration, and professional growth in survey management.
Organizing Complexity: Matrix Collaboration in the AID:A Longitudinal Multi-Actor Study.
European Survey Research Association (ESRA) Utrecht "ESRA 2025 Conference." 16.07.2025
The longitudinal study "Growing up in Germany (in German: AID:A)" explores the multifaceted contexts and relationships shaping childhood, youth, and transitions to adulthood. Drawing on a nationwide probability sample of individuals aged 0 to 32, the study provides valuable insights for social reporting and research on well-being. Its interdisciplinary and multidimensional framework captures various aspects of individual and family life. AID:A employs a multi-actor design and integrates often-overlooked voices such as those of young children, children from disadvantaged families, and separated families. This presentation offers an in-depth look at the organizational structure, academic roles, and survey management processes underpinning AID:A, conducted by the German Youth Institute (DJI). The study employs a matrix organization to bundle thematic and methodological expertise in so-called competence teams. Each team consists of members of the DJI’s thematic departments (children, youth/transitions, families/adults) and one pairing member of the methods department serving as the team head. The team heads constitute an interface within and between the departments, which ensures survey quality and efficient processes by linking the scientific study board, item developers, data managers, the research data center, consulting services, and data users. In close collaboration with the principal investigator, the team heads are also the drivers of the survey’s strategic and operational hub, handling study planning, survey design, fieldwork coordination, data management, data documentation, and public outreach. After introducing the model of matrix collaboration in AID:A, the presentation reflects on the advantages and challenges of this organizational model for communication and decision-making processes. We also discuss the challenges for the team heads managing diverse interests and temporal bottlenecks and offer brief insights into tools we developed for our task management, resource allocation, and item-collection synthesis. By sharing lessons learned, we contribute to the session’s goal of fostering understanding, collaboration, and professional growth in survey management.