Layoff

Downsizing (English for reduction, reduction, reduction, downsizing ) means a reduction related variables (eg weight, engine capacity) with the same or similar capacity - thus the energy consumption decreases. Most commonly, the term is used in recent years in connection with vehicle engines, also held in the real estate sector (see also Small House Movement).

The trigger for downsizing technological advances and rising energy and commodity prices are mentioned. Manufacturers try to enhance their market position due to downsizing.

Automotive industry

The best-known downsizing in the automotive industry is to reduce the engine capacity so far, that, after an increase in efficiency in approximately the same capacity as the larger engines before. The efficiency is usually increased by several measures, such as

• Improvements in the motor control
• Reduction of internal friction by smoother materials
• Reduction of moving masses (eg, lighter connecting rods or camshafts )
• Use of a turbo charger for engines which had not previously (see also the TSI ( engine technology ) )
• Use of an improved turbocharger (for example, a variable geometry turbocharger )
• Using fewer cylinders ( for example, four instead of six, instead of three- four-cylinder )

The consumption of an internal combustion engine depends on the same load predominantly on its engine capacity; a smaller capacity has a smaller surface area occur on the lower energy losses due to heat. Similarly, the friction losses decrease with decreasing displacement. When are switched off at part load cylinder ( " cylinder deactivation " ), it is called dynamic downsizing. In addition, a smaller motor is usually also easier to see what the requirements for the engine, which indeed itself must carry, in addition reduced.

Typical "downsizing " engines are the 1.2L TSI engines from Volkswagen or Fiat Twin -Air. Both engines deliver up to about 70 kW; in which the displacement of previously rarely lay a value that allows the use of these engines up in the middle class under 1.5 liters.

The reduction is mainly lead to increased efficiency in the partial load - full load is often achieved no improvement, possibly resulting even higher fuel consumption.

Another measure of downsizing is to offer cars - for example, small car - with features that were previously available only in much higher vehicle classes. This can persuade customers to buy a much cheaper vehicle consumption. In a very similar way, some manufacturers have combined the models of the middle class and upper middle class - the new models combine the weight and dimensions of the middle class with optional equipment features of the upper middle class or upper class.

Real estate sector

Especially in America took place in the last 50 years the size of the living space of single-family homes constantly, even though statistically speaking, the number of persons living together in a household decreased. An increasing environmental awareness over the last ten years, and not least by the financial crisis starting in 2007, which began in the U.S. with the housing crisis, there was a counter-movement: the Small House Movement. Proponents of this downsizing process raise the one hand the financial benefits of smaller houses out, on the other hand, the conservation of resources and the simplification of life by focusing on the essentials.

Information Technology

In information systems will often take more than one server, one for each purpose one (1) very large server purchased on the then virtualization is employed. This increases the resources for the most part distributed dynamic; this approach consumes less power.

As workstation small systems such as nettops are used instead of full but actually over-sized personal computer. These have no - superfluous in this area - multimedia capabilities.

Management

In the Anglo-American concept of downsizing is often used in management and describes a reduction of expenditure ( for example, by mass layoffs ) while maintaining the output. Thus, the productivity per employee is increased. Often these measures are associated with outsourcing and plant closures. The word has a euphemistic connotation, because it sounds with, a company will reduce ( less input, less output). In fact, more power is required ( work intensification, job Enlargement and / or job enrichment ).

According to a British study is the way that is done in the downsizing, critical to maintaining the motivation of employees, and indeed more so taken as the severity of the redundancy itself. A poorly managed process of downsizing will be interpreted as a breach of the psychological contract, and it reduces the use of the remaining employees.