In 2009, he started his professional life and founded the Centre for Futures Studies and Knowledge Management at the EBS University of Business and Law, which he developed into an independent research institute in the years that followed.[7][8] One of the institute's key areas of focus was the scientific foundation of futures research methods. In 2013, he co-founded the first executive education program for corporate foresight in Germany.
In 2013, von der Gracht joined KPMG Germany as a futurist and head of a think tank for strategic foresight.[9]
He obtained his Habilitation (post-doctoral lecturing qualification) in 2017 from University of Erlangen–Nuremberg. Since 2024, he has been Professor of Foresight and Digital Transformation at the University for Continuing Education Krems.[10] Previously, he held the Chair of Futures Studies at Steinbeis University.[11] As of 2023, von der Gracht has educated more than 8,000 students in foresight methods in postgraduate and part-time degree programs.[12][13]
Von der gracht has led foresight projects across various industries and fields, in particular on the future of automotive, energy, pharmaceuticals, purchasing, logistics and mobility, artificial intelligence and new work.[14] In collaboration with Eurac Research and on behalf of the Government of South Tyrol, he developed future scenarios and options for a sustainable South Tyrol, taking into account the experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Von der Gracht was a member of the interdisciplinary project advisory board and scientific director for the project process and methodology.[15]
Von der Gracht also serves as a member of the Global Foresight Network at World Economic Forum (WEF)[16] and as ambassador for its Global Collaboration Village (Forum Metaverse)[17]
Research
In the Stanford/Elsevier Ranking, von der Gracht has been among the top 2 percent of the most cited scientists worldwide for consecutive years (2019-2024).[18][19][20] In the Handelsblatt scientists ranking 2014, which analysed the research performance of more than 2,300 researchers in business administration in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, von der Gracht achieved 50th rank (category: all age groups) and 32nd rank in category under 40 years.[21]
He has published research articles in academic journals in various sub-disciplines of business administration, including logistics, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship and sustainability management.[22] He often uses the Delphi method in his empirical research. Based on the pioneering work of futurist Theodore J. Gordon in The Millennium Project, von der Gracht developed the expert survey software ‘Real-time Delphi’.[23] In 2011, von der Gracht and Gordon presented a joint paper at WFS Annual Summit 2011, which summarizes the lessons learned of 40 Real-time Delphi (RTD) studies across their two platforms.[24]
Consensus Measurement in Delphi Studies – Review and Implications for Future Quality Assurance. In: Technological Forecasting & Social Change. Vol. 79, No. 8, 2012, p. 1525–1536, doi:10.1016/j.techfore.2012.04.013.
with Daniel Beiderbeck, Nicolas Frevel, Sascha L. Schmidt, Vera M. Schweitzer: Preparing, conducting, and analyzing Delphi surveys: Cross-disciplinary practices, new directions, and advancements In: MethodsX. Vol. 8, 2021, p. 101401, doi:10.1016/j.mex.2021.101401.
with Christoph Markmann, Alexander Spickermann, Alexander Brem: Improving the question formulation in Delphi‐like surveys: Analysis of the effects of abstract language and amount of information on response behavior. In: Futures & Foresight Science. 2020;e56, doi:10.1002/ffo2.56.
with Inga-Lena Darkow: Scenarios for the Logistics Service Industry: A Delphi-based analysis for 2025. In: International Journal of Production Economics. Vol. 127, No. 1, 2010, p. 46–59, doi:10.1016/j.ijpe.2010.04.013.
with Tobias Gnatzy, Johannes Warth, Inga-Lena Darkow: Validating an Innovative Real-Time Delphi Approach – A methodological comparison between real-time and conventional Delphi studies. In: Technological Forecasting & Social Change. Vol. 78, No. 9, 2011, p. 1681–1694, doi:10.1016/j.techfore.2011.04.006.
with Robert Vennemann, Inga-Lena Darkow: Corporate Foresight and Innovation Management: A Portfolio – Approach in Evaluating Organizational Development. In: Futures – The journal of policy, planning and futures studies. Vol. 42, No. 4, 2010, p. 380–393, doi:10.1016/j.futures.2009.11.023.
with Jay E. Gary: The Future of the Foresight Professionals: Results from a Delphi Study. In: Futures – The journal of policy, planning and futures studies. Vol. 71, 2015, p. 132–145, doi:10.1016/j.futures.2015.03.005.
with Victor A. Bañuls, Murray Turoff, Andrzej M. J. Skulimowski, Theodore J. Gordon: Foresight Support Systems: The future role of ICT for foresight. In: Technological Forecasting & Social Change. Vol. 97, 2015, p. 1–6, doi:10.1016/j.techfore.2014.08.010.
^John P.A. Ioannidis: August 2024 data-update for "Updated science-wide author databases of standardized citation indicators", Elsevier Data Repository, V7, doi:10.17632/btchxktzyw.7
^John P.A. Ioannidis: August 2024 data-update for "Updated science-wide author databases of standardized citation indicators", Elsevier Data Repository, V7, doi:10.17632/btchxktzyw.7
^Gnatzy T, Warth J, von der Gracht HA, Darkow IL (2011). "Validating an innovative real-time Delphi approach - A methodological comparison between real-time and conventional Delphi studies". Technological Forecasting and Social Change. 78 (9): 1681–1694. doi:10.1016/j.techfore.2011.04.006.
