Structure Follows Process Follows Strategy
Dr. Kurr's operating model philosophy is rooted in a core equation: structure follows process follows strategy. Too many organizations restructure without first rethinking their processes or clarifying their strategy. The result is expensive reorganization that changes reporting lines but not outcomes. Every operating model engagement begins with strategic clarity - what is the organization trying to achieve, for whom, and at what scale? - then moves to process architecture, and only then to organizational structure. This disciplined sequence, anchored in the three pillars of People, Process, and Technology, prevents the common pitfall of reorganizing without rethinking how work actually gets done.
Shared Services, Offshoring, and Nearshoring
Dr. Kurr has deep experience designing and launching global service centers. At Boehringer Ingelheim, he built a Digital Content Factory in India (an offshore production center), a Creative Factory, and a Global Services Delivery Unit - all integrated into a single, scalable operating model. The insource vs. outsource decision is never binary. The right model depends on capability maturity, regulatory requirements, cost structures, and talent availability. Dr. Kurr helps organizations make these decisions systematically, using stage-gate transition planning that de-risks the journey from current state to target state.
Vendor and Partner Ecosystem Optimization
Most pharma organizations work with dozens of external partners - agencies, technology vendors, BPO providers, consultancies. Without deliberate ecosystem management, this creates duplication, quality inconsistency, and spiraling costs. Dr. Kurr's approach includes vendor consolidation, performance management frameworks, and strategic partnership design. His published research on cooperation management provides the academic foundation for this work, while his operational experience at Boehringer Ingelheim (where he built a strategic partnership with Indegene for go-to-market transformation) provides the practical blueprint.
From Design to Implementation
Operating model design without implementation is just a slide deck. Dr. Kurr stays through the transition - from design through piloting, rollout, and stabilization. At Boehringer Ingelheim, the first geography (Singapore/ASKAN region) went live in early 2020, and within four years the organization had achieved full geographical scale covering all markets worldwide. This hands-on implementation experience - not just advisory - is what separates Dr. Kurr's approach from traditional consulting engagements.