
The MPIfG is managed by two co-directors. While they alternate being
managing director every two years, they share responsibility for
all decisions each takes regarding the research goals of the
institute. Day-to-day operations are supervised by the administrative director of the institute.
Having been chosen because of their outstanding reputation in
the social sciences, the directors are free to decide which
topics the institute will investigate. The institute is advised
and rigorously evaluated by the Scientific Advisory Board, a
group of leading international scholars that is continually kept
abreast of research developments and meets every
three years to
conduct its evaluation. The Board of Trustees, made up of
opinion leaders in government, the media, business and
associations, meets annually at the institute and serves as an
interface to the society at large. Further input into the
research goals of the institute is gained from the semi-annual
institute assembly, where planning for the coming years is
discussed among the directors and the research staff. The
service staff attends the institute assembly as well.

Operational goals at the institute are discussed in several
committees. The functional committees addressing computing, the
library, professional development, publications and the website
are each chaired by a researcher and are made up of research and
service staff. The institute's works council has substantial
input into the relationship between the staff members and the
directors. Its interactions with the directors are marked by a
constructive approach and a spirit of mutual trust. Regular
managerial meetings also facilitate communication. They include
a monthly meeting of the managing director and the service group
heads and a monthly management meeting of the committee chairs,
service group heads, the head of the works council and the
managing director. Members of the service units and the research
staff have a high degree of autonomy in organizing their work
environment, so that the directors only have to get involved at
critical phases of the decision-making process.

In a three-year,
on-the-job
program accompanied by instruction at a vocational school,
the MPIfG trains students to become certified office communication
specialists and information systems specialists.