When the NZZ writes about MasterPlanning – and why that makes me particularly happy

There are those moments when you pause for a minute. For me, that was the moment I read the article in the Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ) . The NZZ devotes several hundred lines to MasterPlanning – an analog time management system I developed, which is currently being implemented at Alpla, the Austrian specialist for plastic packaging. A detailed, nuanced report, written by Christin Severin , picked up and disseminated by Vol.at. For me, that's more than just media attention. It's a endorsement. And a powerful signal. Because what's described there is exactly what I've been experiencing in corporations for years.

An entrepreneur against the grain

Philipp Lehner, CEO of Alpla, says something in the NZZ that sticks in your mind: "In the future, I only want managers who use a paper calendar." For an industrial group with 24,000 employees in 46 countries, this is a radical step. And yet, it's surprisingly logical. Lehner observes—as do many of us—that the digital hamster wheel is accelerating: meetings, emails, chats, push notifications. Constant stress. Loss of control. Illness. His answer isn't more software. It's a handwritten MasterPlanning calendar.

What MasterPlanning really is

The article describes very precisely what it's about – and what it's not. It's not about nostalgia. It's not about paper for paper's sake.

It's about:

• realistic daily planning

• clear time windows for efficient work

• conscious breaks

• and therefore, to make tasks visible and binding.

  
  

The MasterPlanning calendar doesn't just specify "when" something takes place, but also "what" needs to be done – with date, time, and a clearly defined action. Large tasks are broken down into smaller, more manageable ones. Unfinished tasks are deliberately delegated. As one Alpla executive states in the article, this has an "educational effect." Or, to put it another way: People work more efficiently, reliably, and with less stress.

Skepticism is part of it.

The NZZ doesn't sugarcoat or conceal anything – quite the opposite. Christin Severin also describes the skepticism in the workshops with statements like: "The boss sent me." Or "But I already work completely digitally." I know that feeling well. Resistance at the beginning is normal. But my experience – and the article also shows this – is clear: Those who use the system see the advantages. Not immediately euphoric, but lasting.

Why these reports make me especially happy

The fact that a leading publication like the NZZ is giving this topic so much space – and that Vol.at is picking up the article – shows me that more and more companies are realizing that productivity doesn't come from more tools, but from better time management. MasterPlanning isn't a trend. It's a counter-model. And one that strikes a chord. When an international industrial corporation says, "It's like a miracle rocket," that's not marketing. It's lived practice.

My conclusion

Christin Severin's article in the NZZ illustrates what many have long sensed: constant digital overload is not a solution for good work. More and more people and companies are searching for alternatives that restore focus, clarity, and reliability.

Philipp Lehner's consistent approach at Alpla makes it clear that analog time management is not a step backward, but rather a conscious counterpoint to the constant digital noise. Ultimately, it boils down to a simple yet crucial question: Am I the boss of my own time – or are others? MasterPlanning allows you to consciously answer this question.