Working Group for Economic Administration

The Arbeitsgemeinschaft für wirtschaftliche Verwaltung e.V. (AWV) — the Working Group for Economic Administration — is a German non-profit registered association (gemeinnütziger Verein bürgerlichen Rechts) that functions as a nationwide network for digitalisation and administrative burden reduction. Founded in 1926 in Berlin as the "Ausschuß für Wirtschaftliche Verwaltung e.V." within the RKW, it was re-established on 26 September 1950 and has since acted as an intermediary between the state and the private sector. Its seat is in Eschborn near Frankfurt am Main. The AWV describes itself as a forum in which answers to current questions about the economically sound design of administrative processes are developed. It is a neutral platform on which more than 1,200 executives and experts engage on a voluntary basis. Its more than 200 members include large corporations, SMEs, associations and public authorities, as well as start-ups and research institutions. The association is funded by the Bundesministerium für Digitales und Staatsmodernisierung (BMDS) on the basis of a decision of the German Bundestag; its budget is provided predominantly from federal ministry funds. Its central goals are the reduction of bureaucracy and the digitalisation of business and administration. The AWV supports the optimisation of internal procedures and of existing interfaces between sectors, with particular attention to the digitalisation of administrative processes in business, public administration and the third sector, and to the requirements of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Its work is organised across sectors, industries and levels of administration through five technical committees (Fachausschüsse) to which roughly 40 working bodies are assigned. Results of the AWV's work — guidelines, practical guides and expert opinions — are disseminated through seminars, workshops, conferences and congresses, as well as through its publications, including the periodical "AWV-Informationen" and dedicated internet presences. Notable working circles include the Forum elektronische Rechnung Deutschland (FeRD) and the eXTra-Standard. The AWV also maintains a Lobbyregister entry and cooperates on events such as the E-Rechnungs-Gipfel Umsetzungstage.

The AWV was founded in 1926 in Berlin, initially as the "Ausschuß für Wirtschaftliche Verwaltung e.V." within the RKW. From its beginnings it concerned itself with the optimisation of administrative processes at the interfaces between business and public administration. In the interwar period, and again after its re-establishment on 26 September 1950, the AWV acted as a mediator between the state and the private sector and played a significant part in realising rationalisation approaches, implementing modern office organisation, introducing modern techniques, and translating norms and other legal and statutory requirements into administration in a way compatible with business. Early examples of its work include the "Richtlinien für das Maschinenschreiben" (guidelines for typewriting), produced in close cooperation with the "Deutscher Normenausschuß" (DNA) and first published in 1930, and the brochures on "Einheitsbuchführung" (uniform bookkeeping), which were developed on the basis of the Schmalenbach chart of accounts for various branches of industry and published between 1928 and 1930. From 1983 the president of the association was the bank manager Josef Meyer. Over the decades the AWV evolved into a nationwide forum for digitalisation and administrative burden reduction. It is organised into five technical committees (Fachausschüsse) with roughly 40 working bodies assigned to them. Its results are made available through specialist events, specialist publications, the periodical "AWV-Informationen" issued by the AWV, and internet presences. Certain working circles maintain their own internet presences, notably the Forum elektronische Rechnung Deutschland (FeRD) and the eXTra-Standard. Today the AWV is a non-profit registered association funded by the Bundesministerium für Digitales und Staatsmodernisierung (BMDS) on the basis of a decision of the German Bundestag, with its budget provided predominantly from federal ministry funds. Its seat is in Eschborn near Frankfurt am Main. It counts more than 200 members — large corporations, SMEs, associations, public authorities, start-ups and research institutions — and engages more than 1,200 executives and experts on a voluntary basis. Its current focus areas include digitalisation and modernisation of administrative processes, accounting and taxes (including transfer pricing), and administrative burden reduction and digitalisation of the third sector and civic engagement.

• 1983

  Bank manager Josef Meyer becomes president of the association.

• 1950

  Re-established on 26 September 1950.

• 1930

  First publication of the "Richtlinien für das Maschinenschreiben", developed with the Deutscher Normenausschuß (DNA).

• 1928

  Publication of the "Einheitsbuchführung" brochures based on the Schmalenbach chart of accounts begins (through 1930).

• 1926

  Founded in Berlin as the "Ausschuß für Wirtschaftliche Verwaltung e.V." within the RKW.

Neutral, federally funded cross-sector platform and network for digitalisation and administrative burden reduction, mediating between business, public administration and the third sector.

• Richtlinien für das Maschinenschreiben

  Guidelines for typewriting produced with the Deutscher Normenausschuß (DNA), first published in 1930.

• Einheitsbuchführung brochures

  Uniform bookkeeping brochures based on the Schmalenbach chart of accounts, developed for various branches of industry and published between 1928 and 1930.

• AWV-Informationen

  Periodical issued by the AWV.

• Forum elektronische Rechnung Deutschland (FeRD)

  A working circle with its own internet presence providing information and results.

• eXTra-Standard

  A working circle with its own internet presence providing information and results.

1. 1Homeawv-net.de
2. 2Über unsawv-net.de
3. 3Arbeitsgemeinschaft für wirtschaftliche Verwaltungwikidata.org
4. 4Arbeitsgemeinschaft für wirtschaftliche Verwaltungde.wikipedia.org