Procedural transparency is required to counteract possible conflicts of interest in development processes and in the elaboration of joint projects and plans, perspectives and visions. In this context, the museum concept developed by the Director General of the NHM Vienna deserves special highlighting. As clearly formulated as it is courageous, this concept identifies goals and problems, contains concrete projects and strategies, but also visions, and it addresses opportunities for improvement.
The museum concept of the NHM Vienna focuses on the next 20 years and aims to promote both the international networking of its staff and the significance of the museum in the local and regional context. It is obvious that this paper was not just developed to be filed away in a drawer, as exemplified by the pesticide management system that has been initiated, by the framework for action for the digitalisation strategy and visitor communication, and especially by Deck 50, which was set up as a laboratory offering easy access to children and families.
Active efforts are being made at the NHM Vienna, and indeed there is a need for action, as not all parts of the permanent exhibition meet the latest standards: there is the need to develop a common collection strategy and common standards of digitalisation, and the provenance of the collection (e.g. with regard to colonialism) needs to be screened, to single out but a few issues.
