Alexander Lenz
Customer Cluster Justice
Structure meets creativity
Like a kaleidoscope that reveals new, fascinating patterns with every turn, Alexander Lenz designs digital solutions that are creative, functional and well thought-out. He attaches particular importance to ensuring that they are not only modern and aesthetically pleasing, but above all useful and efficient in the everyday lives of users.
Working closely with his team, he ensures that each individual solution fits seamlessly into the big picture – just as many small elements in a kaleidoscope come together to form a coherent overall picture.
How did you come to virtual7?
I came to virtual7 after working in various areas, including in the private sector. Ultimately, I was convinced by the opportunity to work remotely, which is very important to me. After a few conversations with Christoph and Marek, it turned out that virtual7 was a good fit for me, both in terms of the conditions and the working environment, so I started in the Customer Cluster Justice in November 2022.
What is important to you in your job?
It is important to me that the work is meaningful and fulfilling. I want to take on tasks that interest me and where I can either contribute my skills or learn new ones. The working environment should also be pleasant, with colleagues who are open and understanding.
It’s important to me that I feel good in my job and enjoy going to work. For me, a good workplace is a place where I work with people I respect and like, and where an open dialog is possible in order to solve problems together. In short, the right mix of meaningful work and a positive working environment is crucial for me.
What are your tasks in the Customer Cluster Justice?
I mainly work as a developer in the Customer Cluster Justice. I provide support in the implementation of customer projects, which we either work on directly as part of clusters or receive via tenders. I program applications both in the backend and partly as a full-stack developer.
One example is a current project on behalf of the federal government, in which we are developing secure and functional software that meets the technical and legal requirements. My work includes not only the technical implementation, but also the understanding and application of relevant guidelines. I also occasionally help my colleagues with troubleshooting or development-related tasks.
You work remotely – how do you stay in touch with your colleagues?
To stay in contact with my colleagues remotely, I use various options such as regular meetings and informal discussions. Through my participation in the conference and internal presentations, I was able to establish many personal contacts and promote a good exchange with colleagues. I think that most people now have an impression of me, even if this can of course vary from person to person. It is important to me to always find a common denominator in discussions in order to communicate on an equal footing.
Do you find it difficult to work for the customer on a project on the one hand and to contribute to the company on the other?
It can sometimes be difficult to both meet the customer’s requirements and actively participate in the design of virtual7. While the customer often sets clear specifications that must be strictly adhered to, our internal working methods are more flexible. The challenge is to recognize these differences and build a bridge between the two worlds without losing one’s own values and working methods.
It is important to be able to adapt flexibly in order to create the greatest possible added value in the end. Some people appreciate the stability of traditional working environments, even if they work for an innovative company like virtual7. Everyone contributes to the overall success to a different extent and that’s okay. It is less important whether everything fits together perfectly than that we all make our valuable contribution and achieve a positive overall result.
If we support each other and are open with each other, we can successfully bridge the differences between customer requirements and corporate values
What roles have you taken on at virtual7 and what do you enjoy most?
At virtual7, I have taken on various roles, especially as a developer, but in some roles I take on communicative and planning tasks. What I particularly enjoy is the variety of my tasks.
I enjoy putting on different “hats” – from programming to project planning and communication. It is exciting to take on different perspectives and thus contribute to the successful implementation of our projects. The flexibility that this diversity offers and the opportunity to actively contribute to the team dynamic make my work particularly fulfilling.
What excites you about working on the digitalization of Germany?
What excites me most about digitalization in Germany is the opportunity to make processes more efficient and simpler. Although digitalization often has a bad reputation here, I see it as an opportunity to leave traditions behind and break new ground.
It makes our lives easier and more convenient – from paperless tax forms to faster administrative processes. It’s about accepting constant change as a positive development and thus making everyday life better. The constant development of technology and the ability to carry out everyday tasks digitally make many things easier and more convenient.
What do people need to bring with them to work successfully in your cluster?
From my perspective, we need people who are willing to try out new things. This doesn’t have to be radical, but it does require openness and a willingness to accept new circumstances. For example, if someone comes to us with an entrenched attitude and is not prepared to accept our way of working, this can lead to difficulties.
We need those who are open, willing & sensible to see new ideas, ready to tackle them and have the flexibility to recognize when something is not working. The co-creators who try out these new ideas with us and write them on new boards. It is important that we not only try out new things, but also have the courage to evaluate what we have done and, if necessary, discard it if it does not bring the desired success.
I stand by this attitude and look forward to meeting people who break new ground with openness and courage.
How do you see future developments?
Digitalization will shape the future in interesting ways. On the one hand, many things are being automated and simplified, which could speed up processes. On the other hand, human decisions and human interaction remain essential.
It is likely that we will continue to encounter digital errors and be annoyed by administrative problems, but human contact will always remain important. Ultimately, digitalization will bring with it a mix of greater efficiency and ongoing challenges, whereby human contact remains indispensable.
