Review

Janina Kugel Head of Personnel Strategy & Executive Development and Chief Diversity Officer, Siemens AG, Munich As part of the “MCI Alumni & Friends” lecture series, the Entrepreneurial School® welcomed Janina Kugel, Head of Personnel Strategy & Executive Development at Siemens AG in Munich. Ms. Kugel’s lecture looked at what impact increasing digitalization is having on the world of work and what challenges this will pose to HR executives and managers in the future. She began by stressing how the emergence of “Industry 4.0” was changing the way HR executives were approaching their work, with most already using social media to recruit new staff. This method has proven particularly popular in Asia, where it is already standard practice in 90 percent of cases. The digitalization of the industry will require new skills and capabilities in future for which companies already need to start gearing themselves up. In her role as Chief Diversity Officer, she is calling for a rethink on immigration management and on integrating women into the world of work. However, it is not just the workplace that is evolving – the requirements being made of managers are changing too. Management styles based entirely on a hierarchical structure have already become outdated in the face of increased globalization. If you are to manage employees across the world, for instance, then you need to involve staff from various levels in a different way. An employee who decides to leave a company does so usually because of their working environment and, especially, their manager – rather than their work per se. Particularly in times when skilled staff are proving ever harder to come by, it is all the more important that they be retained. With this in mind, Ms. Kugel listed three golden rules for managing staff: Be honest, show respect, and have the courage of your convictions. The event was chaired by MCI Rector Dr. Andreas Altmann. A stimulating debate rounded off the lecture.2015_03_19_Vortrag_Management_Center_Innsbruck_Leadership__Cultural_Change_final.pdf{phocagallery view=category|categoryid=946}

...or is there a globalization crisis? Thomas Wieser, Eurogroup Coordinator and President of the Euro Working Group In the framework of the MCI Alumni & Friends lecture series, the Entrepreneurial School® recently had the pleasure of welcoming Thomas Wieser aka Mister Euro, who explained the background to the much discussed euro crisis in a impressive presentation. The President of the Euro Working Group began with the question of the causes of the euro crisis, which has impacts on national debt, the banking sector and the economy within the European Union. He sees globalization as the driving force. He said the entry of new and dynamic players on the international markets had confronted the EU member states with major challenges. Wieser takes a critical view of the reaction of the EU countries to these changes and sees that as the original cause of the euro crisis. The speaker said that the establishment of the European Banking Authority had ensured that crises could be met with a fast response in future. The Eurogroup Coordinator also called for more funds to be invested in education and research in order to ensure success in the face of international competition. The highly successful presentation was followed by a lively discussion, which was chaired by Oliver Stock, Editor in Chief of Handelsblatt Online.{phocagallery view=category|categoryid=944}

Václav Klaus, former Prime Minister and former President of the Czech Republic In the framework of the MCI Alumni & Friends lecture series, the Entrepreneurial School® recently had the pleasure of welcoming Václav Klaus, former Prime Minister and President of the Czech Republic, who took a critical look at the future of Europe. As his country’s former President, Václav Klaus was invited to speak at the MCI once before, namely in 2006, when he already criticized the European Union, considering it to be in a state of stagnation and to be paying too much attention to political correctness. In his recent speech, he said that these concepts had become even more relevant. Centralization at the European level in so many fields and the resulting loss of sovereignty for the EU member states is something that Klaus sees as an obstacle for a free economy and as a threat to democracy. Greater homogeneity between the member states, he said, is not something that can imposed by dictating structures but something that must come about through a process of evolution. The former Czech President conceded that many people found his interpretation of the situation in the European Union excessively critical, but he considers Europe to have come to a dead end from which it can only turn back. He said it was time for the Europeans to recognize that and to initiate a return to the fundamentals of a free economy and economic liberalization, something that required greater political courage. Professor Klaus Schredelseker chaired the subsequent lively discussion.Einladung_Vaclav_Klaus2.pdf{phocagallery view=category|categoryid=943}

Innsbruck’s universities and the MCI with Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz in the heart of the Bavarian capital at the invitation of German Friends of the Universities in Innsbruck – “Integration through Achievement“ as a successful concept for coexistence – bridge building between Austria and Germany and promoting relations between the academic and business worlds and society “Universities Meet Friends - Let’s go Munich!” Under this appealing motto, the German Friends of the Universities in Innsbruck (DFK) and the Innsbruck universities and the MCI again took the Bavarian capital by storm this year with an exciting event held in Munich’s splendid Maximilianeum. Following such prominent keynote speakers in the last few years as Minister of Economic Affairs Reinhold Mitterlehner, Minister of Science Karlheinz Töchterle and Governor Günther Platter, who provided valuable inputs at a forum dedicated to good relations between the neighboring states of Tyrol and Bavaria and between Austria and Germany, this year’s star in an impressive event was Europe’s youngest foreign minister. In a speech packed with specific examples, personal experiences and witty bon-mots, Austrian Federal Minister Sebastian Kurz underscored the motto of the “Meeting Friends” series of events, which was launched four years ago, and explained to his illustrious audience the sociopolitical strategy of “Integration through Achievement”. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Integration Sebastian Kurz said that migrants should be measured, not according to their origins, but in terms of their performance at work, in the family and in society. Successful integration, he continued, is based on a knowledge of German and success in education and at the workplace, which is why his ministry is concentrating on these fields. He pointed out that government spending on language teaching in early childhood had been significantly increased and that an additional 60 million euros would be made available for kindergartens by 2018. He also mentioned that the government was working flat out on legislation to simplify recognition of qualifications obtained in other countries in the interest of equal opportunities on the job market. The Minister then went on to discuss the new Islam Law that was about to come into effect in Austria, which would clarify the rights and duties of Moslems living in Austria and create a framework for a European Islam without influence from abroad. Kurz said that, in an enlightened country based on the rule of law, there was no more room for a political Islam than for any other form of political instrumentalization of religion. Where religious feelings are offended, he added, it is the courts and not policy-makers who must take a decision. In addition to several other pillars, the Minister said he saw in the Islam Law now before Parliament an important step towards an active style of coexistence. There is no contradiction, according to Kurz, between being a convinced Moslem and a proud Austrian, but equally he said there could be no tabu on the withdrawal of state support in cases of a substantial refusal to integrate. Kurz added that an active approach was required to the challenges of migration and that the problems noted had to be debated and solved instead of simply assigning people who pointed to the problems to the extreme right wing. That is how the Foreign Minister sees the responsible policies needed to avoid a social schism. Respect for other cultures, he concluded, is fundamental and can be expected of both the host society and the incoming migrants. DFK Chairman Dr. Yorck Schmidt said he felt the German Friends of the Universities in Innsbruck had fulfilled their mission, namely to bring the University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck Medical University and Management Center Innsbruck into contact with leading public figures, companies and institutions in the worlds of science and business, to promote a dialog and encounter between neighbors and to help further develop Austro-German relations. The event was attended by President of the Bavarian State Parliament Barbara Stamm, long-serving Member of the Bavarian State Parliament and Chairman of the Bavarian Medical Council Dr. Thomas Zimmermann, President of the Jewish Religious Community in Munich and Upper Bavaria Charlotte Knobloch, the Austrian Ambassador Dr. Nikolaus Marschick and the Austrian Consul General in Munich Dr. Helmut Koller. The Tyrolean contingent included President of the Tyrolean State Parliament Dr. Herwig van Staa, Rectors Dr. Helga Fritsch (MUI) and Dr. Andreas Altmann (MCI), Vice-rector Dr. Sabine Schindler (LFU), Innsbruck City Councillor Franz X. Gruber, German Honorary Consul to the Tyrol Dr. Dietmar Czernich and over 200 top academics, business people and leading social figures. A lively and attractively chaired discussion and a successful conclusion to the event are further powerful evidence of the success of the attractive mission adopted by the German Friends of the Universities in Innsbruck with their "Universities Meet Friends“ and their bridge-building function between Austria and Germany and the scientific and business worlds and society.{phocagallery view=category|categoryid=934}

Hans Jörg Schelling, Federal Minister of Finance of the Republic of Austria During the Tyrolean Industry Talks (Tiroler Industriegespräche), Management Center Innsbruck’s MCI Alumni & Friends club and the Federation of Austrian Industries Tyrol welcomed the Austrian Minister of Finance, Hans Jörg Schelling. In an impressive speech, the finance minister explained the key elements of Austria’s current fiscal policy as well as the strategic course for the years to come. According to Schelling, geopolitical and sociopolitical factors as well as global economics need to be considered to assess Austria’s currrent fiscal state: Global economic growth has slowed. As a consequence we can no longer rely on solving fiscal problems through growth. In addition, terrorism, war and political unrest – as in Paris or the Ukraine – have shown to be massive setbacks for most European economies. However, the finance minister believes that playing the blame game and holding others responsible for the country’s financial misery would be utterly wrong. Like many other countries, Austria will have to do its fiscal homework, which is long overdue. Schelling underscores that Austria does not suffer from a lack of earnings but from overspending. The country’s 85 % debt ratio provides clear evidence of that. Since the founding of the Second Republic, Austria has only managed to reach a ‘zero deficit’ twice. According to Schelling, financial restructuring requires the definition of strategies and targets before structural changes can actually be addressed. For a long-term positive development it is essential to set the right course using courage and leadership. A number of challenges and implicit cost developments need to be considered: rising costs for pensions, a growing demand for care, annually increasing administration costs and a persisting lack of flexibility on the job market. Currently a five billion euro ($ 5.5 billion) tax cut is on its way, the biggest fiscal reform in the history of the Second Republic. It is based on the following pillars: ·         tax relief for citizens ·         ownership unbundling and reduction of bureaucracy ·         generation of growth and employment The reform will lower the starting rate of income and payroll tax from 36.5 % to 25 %; the highest tax rate will be changed to apply only for an income of over 80,000 – 100,000 euros (about $ 88,000 – 110,000). Citizens currently not paying income or payroll taxes will benefit from a reduction of social security contributions. According to Schelling, approximately 15 to 17 % of the tax reform will come at no cost and will be financed by a multiplier effect on consumer spending. A substantial portion of the tax reform will be financed by the federal government (67 %), the states (22 %) and the municipalities (11 %). Further approaches on how to pay for the reform are weeding out subsidies, abolishing tax exemptions, and introducing measures to combat tax evasion, benefit fraud and organized VAT fraud. On a federal level an administrative cost reduction initiative will be launched, which will aim to lower predicted 2016-2020 administrative costs from 2.9 % to 1.9 %. This cumulative effect alone will recoup at least three billion euros of lost tax revenues. Schelling’s speech was followed by a lively discussion with the audience headed by MCI Rector Andreas Altmann.Einladungsflyer_Bundesminister_Schelling.pdf{phocagallery view=category|categoryid=932}

Ralf Kalmbach, Global Head Automotive, A.T. Kearney In the framework of the MCI Alumni & Friends lecture series, the Entrepreneurial School® welcomed Ralf Kalmbach, designated Global Head Automotive at A.T. Kearney international management consults. In his presentation, Ralf Kalmbach, who studied mechanical engineering and business administration, described the challenges confronting the consulting industry today and stressed the need for specialized knowledge: “You have to be a specialist in your field in order to be a consultant. When analyzing change within an organization, consultants have to be on a par with their clients, and that is only possible if they have the necessary expertise in the subject involved. For Kalmbach, specialization is the key factor that enables consultants to perform as experts in their field and be successful in their work. According to Kalmbach, the focus in the past tended to be on the analysts, but today it is more the networkers and problem solvers. What is important is to offer clients a complete package, which is why experienced senior consultants are now in more demand than ever before. The presentation was followed by a lively discussion. The event was moderated by Professor Peter J. Mirski (Head of the Department of Management, Communication & IT).Einladung_Ralf_Kalmbach.pdf{phocagallery view=category|categoryid=912}

H.E. Sergey Nechayev, the Russian Federation’s Ambassador to AustriaIn a lively talk given at MCI Management Center Innsbruck, His Excellency Ambassador Sergej Nechayev explained the Russian position on Europe. In the last two decades, Euro-Atlantic relations with Russia have been put to the test; serious problems at the system level have accumulated in Russia’s relationship with Europe and also with the USA. No use was made of the opportunity presented by the fall of the Berlin Wall to follow the path to partnership without ideological barriers. The problems include the insistent efforts of the West to extend its geopolitical control to areas closer and closer to the Russian border, the failure of Russia’s proposal for a collective security agreement with Europe, and a war of words that generates disinformation, for example about the Olympic Games in Sochi, alleged submarine sightings off the coast of Sweden, and so on. These negative developments came to a head last year with the refusal of the Ukraine to sign a planned association agreement with the European Union, leading to the overthrow of the Ukrainian government. Most of the blame for those developments was assigned to Russia. For Ambassador Nechayev, the secession of the Crimea was the result of a free declaration of will of the predominantly ethnic Russian population and was in keeping with the principles of international law. He said that all the attempts made since the end of the Second World War to isolate Russia had had negative consequences, while the measures taken to integrate Russia had been a blessing for securing peace and economic development in Europe. On the other hand, the Ambassador said that, even though the North Atlantic Alliance was now using the language of war and extending its military presence to the borders of Europe, the Russian view was that one could not speak of a new Cold War. On no account, he continued, would Russia become involved in geopolitical conflict and was ready to enter into a dialog at all times. The Ambassador explained that it was necessary for the various actors to bundle their efforts, overcome their differences of opinion on the Ukraine conflict, refrain from taking unilateral measures and decisions, and observe the provisions of international law. He went on to warn that the more Europe focussed on sanctions against Russia in the hope of triggering change in Russia’s domestic or foreign policies, the stronger the process of consolidation within Russia would be. Finally, Ambassador Nechayev stressed the need to lay aside the geopolitical stereotypes of the past and seize the opportunity to resolve the conflicts. With regard to the relationship between Russia and Austria, Ambassador Nechayev said that it was very positive and effective and was based on mutual trust and understanding. The talk was followed by a lively discussion chaired by Professor Gerhard Mangott.Flyer_S.E._Sergej_Netschajew.pdf{phocagallery view=category|categoryid=908}

How media, communications and marketing are changing for ever. Gerhard Kürner, Director Corporate Communications, Voestalpine AG In the framework of the MCI Alumni & Friends lecture series, the Entrepreneurial School® welcomed Gerhard Kürner, head of Corporate Communications at Voestalpine AG. In his talk the communications expert summarized the key changes that have taken place in the media world in the last few years. He spoke of the crisis of journalism, which he sees as a triple crisis: an economic crisis, a structural crisis and an innovation crisis. That led the speaker to the question: “Do we still need the traditional media?” His answer is “yes”, especially with regard to independent media, but he is convinced that they must be capable of presenting the global picture. For Voestalpine, Gerhard Kürner proposes a communications policy focussed on content management – with a company magazine, an in-house newsletter, a corporate blog, an apprentice website and social media channels. For him the basic principle is “to think like a publishing house” in order to guarantee excellent employees, attractive investors and enough customers. The event was moderated by Professor Siegfried Walch, Program Director for Nonprofit, Social & Health Care Management and for International Health & Social Management. The talk was followed by a lively discussion.{phocagallery view=category|categoryid=898}

Hubert Schmalix, International artist from Austria On Wednesday, November 12, in the framework of the MCI Alumni & Friends lecture series, the Entrepreneurial School® welcomed the artist Hubert Schmalix, who gave his audience a fascinating insight into his life and art. Schmalix, who was born in Graz and now lives in Los Angeles, studied at the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts from 1971 to 1976 and was a professor there from 1999 to 2006. He also taught at the UCLA in Los Angeles as a visiting professor. The famous artist first attracted international attention at the beginning of the 1980s as an exponent of the "Neue Malerei" (New Painting). Schmalix also has a connection with Innsbruck, where he was commissioned – as one of the “Junge Wilde” (Wild Youth) – to produce a huge mural in the form of a brightly colored mosaic for the main corridor of the new lecture hall wing. “Everything I experience is important for my work,” says the international artist. Even so, he still has to find the daily motivation to paint. With regard to his works and motifs he says, “Many small steps lead to change that only becomes apparent at the end of the process.” The event, which closed with a lively discussion, was moderated by Professor Wolfgang Meixner, Vice-Rector of Innsbruck University.{phocagallery view=category|categoryid=895}

Perspectives for the European Higher Education Area François Biltgen, Judge at the European Court of Justice In the framework of the MCI Alumni & Friends lecture series, an interesting talk was given at the Entrepreneurial School® by François Biltgen on Monday, October 27. Luxembourg’s former Minister for Higher Education, Justice, the Civil Service and the Media started off by pointing out that research is the key to improvement, that it is the means to the end of moving the economy forward, and that there should therefore be no cutbacks in research at times of economic crisis. He also said that research had to be promoted not only in technical fields but also in the arts, and that it was particularly important to address social challenges. For such activities, the countries of the EU need money and above all researchers, which is why we have to invest in and train young scientists. With regard to study at a university, François Biltgen said that the Bologna process was facilitating student mobility because it made it easier to compare national systems in spite of differences between the various countries at the level of implementation. The ECTS system of precisely quantified credits offers a measure of the work involved for students taking a given class so that credits can be awarded for classes taken abroad. For Biltgen, this is a positive step, which needs to be developed further. The presentation was followed by a lively discussion, which rounded off a highly successful event. It was moderated by Professor Markus Frischhut, head of the EU Law Department.{phocagallery view=category|categoryid=891}

Dr. Karl Stoss, Director General of Casinos Austria, CEO Austrian Lotteries & President of the Austrian Olympic Committee In the framework of the MCI Alumni & Friends lecture series, the Entrepreneurial School® welcomed the former competitive swimmer and water polo player Dr. Karl Stoss, who was born in the Vorarlberg region of Austria. The speaker delivered a plea for a stronger focus on achievers and achievement, which he considers essential in order to succeed in the face of international competition: “That applies to sporting and professional life in equal measure!” In his talk, he described the achiever mentality as “cool” and criticized modern society for being so sluggish. “We are becoming a society of complacent average performers,” he says, a development he considers problematical in the face of today’s merciless international competition. As a solution, the head of Casinos Austria appealed to everyone to have more self-confidence so as to ensure that they live their dreams and achieve their goals on their way through life. For Karl Stoss, the key to success in achieving one’s goals is the discipline required to make optimum use of the full day: “We all have 24 hours at our disposal. The only questions is what we make of them!” The lecture was chaired by the MCI’s Rector Dr. Andreas Altmann. {phocagallery view=category|categoryid=888}

Prof. Dean Harris, Professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel HillOn October 16th, Prof. Dean Harris gave a “best practice” guest speech on the topic “Universal ethics - universal human rights?” Dean Harris has studied law, practiced as a lawyer and is now a Clinical Associate Professor at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he teaches and publishes on Healthcare Law and Ethics. Having a longstanding experience, also concerning China, in his MCI guest speech, he first focused on China and their rejection of Western universal values. He then applied this to the issue of ethical values and human rights in terms of how they affect the responsibility of each society to disadvantaged residents by contrasting different attitudes of solidarity in the European Union and the United States of America. Finally, he gave some interesting insights on the questions of ethics and values in the debate about US President Obama’s health reform. More than 140 students (from both Innsbruck University and MCI) followed Dean’s very active presentation and afterwards engaged in an interesting, but also controversial, discussion moderated by MCI Professor Dr. Markus Frischhut, and summarized in a concluding statement by MCI Professor Dr. habil. Belachew Gebrewold.Best_Practice_Dean_Harris.pdf{phocagallery view=category|categoryid=883}

Dr. Kurt Pribil, Member of the Board at the Oesterreichische Nationalbank On Thursday, October 8, in the framework of the MCI Alumni & Friends lecture series, the Entrepreneurial School® welcomed Dr. Kurt Pribil, Director of the Österreichische Nationalbank (OeNB). “Cash is something for your grandmother and bank robbers!” That provocative statement came at the beginning of the lecture held by Dr. Kurt Pribil, who was appointed Director of the OeNB last year, on the subject of “On the way to a cashless society”. In the course of his presentation he addressed the question whether the future is going to bring us the cashless society. In Austria, the first cashless transactions were made in the mid-1960s, when Diners Card appeared on the scene. Today credit cards and debit cards are in general use, and payments via the Internet and smart phones are nothing unusual. With the advent of new technologies like NFC for contactless payment, it is now possible for even small amounts to be handled on a cashless basis, e.g. for purchases from the local baker. By 2020, NFC is expected to be a feature of all debit cards in the euro zone. In spite of the convenience of cashless transactions, a poll conducted by the OeNB shows that, at 65 %, cash is still the primary means of making everyday payments. The volume of cash in circulation also continues to increase and currently stands at 980 billion euros. In conclusion, Dr. Pribil stated that the cashless society is still a utopia in view of the continuing reliance on cash for daily transactions, the constant increase in the volume of cash in circulation and also the ECB’s decision to issue new euro notes. The lecture was chaired by Professor Matthias Bank, Chair of Banking & Finance at Innsbruck University, and closed with a lively round of discussion.{phocadownload view=file|id=5802}{phocagallery view=category|categoryid=873}

Where is the energy transition taking us?Prof. Dr. Rolf Wüstenhagen, Director, Institute for Economy and the Environment, University of St. GallenProfessor Rolf Wüstenhagen, Good Energies Professor for the Management of Renewable Energies and Head of the Department of Economy and the Environment at the University of St Gallen, recently spoke as a visiting lecturer at the Entrepreneurial School®. Energy was very much on the agenda at an event held in the framework of the MCI Alumni & Friends lecture series on the evening of September 24. For Professor Wüstenhagen, the current picture shows a clear trend to the increased use of renewable energies. The ratio of non-renewable to renewable energies will shift from 80:20 to 20:80 according to the St. Gallen Professor. The reasons are to be found not only in nuclear power plant disasters like Fukushima but also, and above all, in the potential for renewable energy to benefit from economies of scale, thus leading to lower prices. The challenge for policy makers is to take climate change seriously and to act today to set the stage for the increased use of renewable energy tomorrow and create the stable conditions needed for that purpose and at the same time, Professor Wüstenhagen added, reduce the future level of costs. The speaker also pointed out that energy storage was a particularly important aspect of the use of renewables. The subsequent lively discussion chaired by the MCI’s Rector Dr. Andreas Altmann rounded off a successful evening. Einladungsflyer_Wuestenhagen.pdf{phocagallery view=category|categoryid=870}

More than a thousand guests celebrated at the MCI On June 13 and 14, members and supporters of MCI Alumni & Friends came together to celebrate the end of the 2013/14 academic year. Full and varied program This year, too, the MCI Alumni & Friends Club marked the close of an intensive and interesting year of events with its traditional MCI Alumni Weekend, offering an exciting program as the rousing culmination of the academic year. The event began on the Friday afternoon with words of welcome spoken by Rector Andreas Altmann and a get-together of MCI graduates including the jubilee years, who learnt about and discussed the MCI’s highly promising plans for the new campus, Ph.D study programs, and the new online study program in Business Administration, etc. Presentation by the CEO of Austrian Railways (ÖBB) In the following talk given by Christian Kern, CEO of Austrian Railways, the gathering heard that the ÖBB is optimistic about the future and sees further potential for corporate growth in people’s changing mobility habits. According to the speaker, the number of railway users in Austria and their level of satisfaction are higher than ever before, and productivity at Austrian Railways is outstanding at the European level. The CEO is determined to further consolidate the ÖBB’s position in the future and to move up to join the leaders in Europe in terms of profitability, economy and punctuality. Following the interesting talk given by Christian Kern, the MCI was privileged to welcome another top-level guest, namely Professor Tilmann Märk, Rector of Innsbruck University and Chairman of the Tyrolean University Conference, who spoke about the current situation of the Tyrol as a university location. He explained that the various tertiary education facilities in the Tyrol are not hostile competitors but part of a healthy higher education market on which they complement one another and thus make the university scene more attractive. The decision to pull together in the framework of the Tyrolean University Conference is seen as a source of additional effective cooperation in the fields of teaching and research. It also underlines the importance of the goal of knowledge transfer to society. Chilling out at the MCI Summer Clubbing Socializing & Networking was the order of the night: At the MCI Summer Clubbing in the Hofgarten, graduates, students and the MCI team, as well as friends and partners of the MCI gave themselves over to the clubbing sound and a delicious buffet until the early hours. Zoological end to a successful Alumni Weekend On Saturday morning, Dr. Michael Martys, Director of Innsbruck’s Alpine Zoo, provided interesting insights into behavioral research in the animal world. The speaker explained that animals live in a space-time system based on incentives and enticements. Even though human beings are zoological creatures, he said, they cannot be treated on a level with animals; human thought and action are shaped by processes of socialization and decision-making and involve a greater degree of responsibility. Even though Dr. Marty refused to equate human beings with animals, he was able to draw fascinating parallels between human and animal behavior.Dr. Marty’s presentation brought to a close a wonderful weekend under the motto “Meet & celebrate with motivated people”.Alumni-Weekend-Einladung-2014.pdf{phocagallery view=category|categoryid=839}

From the old railway to an innovative enterprise.Christian Kern, CEO, ÖBB Holding AGVisitors to this year’s Alumni Weekend on June 13-14 were again treated to a number of excellent presentations given by visiting speakers. The opening talk on the Friday was given by Christian Kern, CEO of ÖBB Holding AG. He gave his audience an interesting insight into the challenges facing the railways today. His recipe for success is always to be one step ahead of the market, with know-how and innovation as the decisive factors for a positive performance. ÖBB Holding AG is a company with a long history, although Christian Kern is well aware of the fact that that alone cannot be the basis for future success. For him, the company’s innovative power is a critical instrument for the further development of its potential. “The ÖBB is also an enterprise and as such requires entrepreneurial thinking and behavior,” said the CEO, who believes that all decisions have to be based on their commercial implications. For him, a non-political mentality within the company is essential if it is to achieve its full potential. In the last few years a number of reorganizational measures have been taken that in some cases have met with opposition. In spite of that, the ÖBB has developed into a successful company in the recent past. According to the speaker, the number of ÖBB customers and their level of satisfaction are higher than ever before, and productivity at Austrian Railways is outstanding at the European level. The CEO is determined to further consolidate the ÖBB’s position in the future and to move up to join the leaders in Europe in terms of profitability, economy and punctuality. The CEO of the ÖBB is optimistic about the future and sees further potential for corporate growth in people’s changing mobility habits. Dr. Andreas Mehrle chaired the event, which culminated in a lively discussion. Einladung_Kern2.pdf{phocagallery view=category|categoryid=837}

Socializing & Networking was the order of the night: At the MCI Summer Clubbing in the Hofgarten, graduates, students and the MCI team, as well as friends and partners of the MCI gave themselves over to the clubbing sound and a delicious buffet until the early hours. {phocagallery view=categories|categoryid=841|imagecategoriessize=0}

Findings of behavioral research for management and leadership.Michael Martys, Director of Innsbruck's Alpine ZooOn Saturday morning, Michael Martys, Director of Innsbruck’s Alpine Zoo, provided interesting insights into behavioral research in the animal world. He began by pointing to the dangers of the anthropomorphization of animals. “It can merely serve to make concepts more easily understood; it should not serve as a reference to the animal in the human being.” Even though human beings are zoological creatures, they cannot be treated on a level with animals; human thought and action are shaped by processes of socialization and decision-making and involve a greater degree of responsibility. Animals live in a space-time system based on incentives and enticements. They are the true homo oeconomicus, as animal behavior tends always to take account of the cost-benefit ratio. At the end of the day, the yield must be greater than the energy input, failing which the animal will not survive. Animals employ various strategies in the interest of survival for themselves and their progeny: If you are big, you need to fight. If you are small, you must deceive. Or the weaker animals enter into coalitions to ensure survival. There is also a constant give and take in the animal world. The example of the wolf pack shows that it is not always the biggest and strongest that is the leader but the individual with the most commanding manner and the best character. Even though Martys refused to equate human beings with animals, he was able to draw fascinating parallels between human and animal behavior. The talk was chaired by Johannes Dickel. With lively discussions in a relaxed atmosphere and a substantial buffet lunch after the presentation, this year’s Alumni Weekend came to a worthy finish.Einladung_Martys4.pdf{phocagallery view=category|categoryid=838}