Week 2 Pre-Work

Vienna Sausages-
In the duration of week 2 prework, we learned extensively about the European Union, the political environment, cultural environment, and the economic environment of Austria.

To summarize, the European Union was created after World War 2 in the hope to make a prosperous, and peaceful Europe. There were eleven founding fathers and it started out with only six states. There are now 28 states in the Union and it involves the majority of Europe. The Union accounts for almost twenty percent of all exports and imports traded globally topping even the U.S.A. which accounts for only fifteen percent. They focus on peacemaking, security, donating, and feeding starving people in Africa. Last year they donated over 53.8 billion euros to help aid other countries and to help their cause.

For the political environment of Austria, Heinz Fischer is the leader of the country of Austria. He was elected in 2004 and again in 2010. (There is also a Chancellor who is Werner Faymann.) Once Fischer was in office he became independent and renounced any party membership. The president is elected by popular vote and holds office for one term, which is six years. The president is the head of the state but he acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers. The Council of Ministers is led by the Chancellor (Werner Faymann). There is no electoral college; the president just wins by having the majoirity vote. If there is a tie they go into their second elections and only the top two candidates are allowed to run for office. In article I of the Federal Constitutional Act of Austria, it states "Austria is a democratic republic. Its laws emanate from the people." October 1, 1920 marks the day that the Federal Constitutional Act was passed. The Federal President is Dr. Heinz Fischer. Dr. Heinz Fischer was actually a professor of political science before being elected the Federal President on July 8, 2004. To become the Federal President, you are elected by the Austrian people for a term that consists of 6 years. The Federal President is the only representative of the country that is directly elected by the people. The head of government, is the Federal Chancellor, which is Werner Faymann.

To summarize the cultural environment, In Austria it is important to know that business meetings are conducted in a very formal way and they begin with a "quick but firm" handshake. When entering a room it is also customary to shake hands with everyone present; in social settings this includes children. It is important to maintain eye contact when you are greeting someone. Some older generation austrian men will kiss the hands of females when greeting them. Something I found interesting is that when women are introduced to men they also may kiss. You should use a person's title until you have been invited to refer to them by their first name. When it comes to being invited into and Austrians home you should come with a gift, something like chocolate or flowers. Something interesting is if you give flowers make sure there is an uneven number of flowers because even numbers, with the excetion of 12, are considered to be unlucky. "Do not give red carnations, chrysanthemums or lilies as these are considered as being for funerals." If you are bringing a gift that is not flowers, it should be wrapped. 

To summarize the cultural environment, Austrian companies have learned to deal with environmental and social friendlyness and also with the term sustainability. Enterprises ahve started to use the concept of sustainability in their management strategies and tools. Austrian Corporate Social Responsibility builds "upon long-lasting Austria tradition of broad stakeholder involvement within the so called social-partnership." Austria realized its pivital position when they realized they were in the heart of Europe. They came to realize the key role they could play. Over the last twenty years many differet and "social friendly economic development: programs have become part of the ongoing societal transformation process.

To summarize the economic environment, I found it interesting just learning about the European Union as a whole and learning about the European Parliament was interesting too. I found it intersting how the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union work together. I thought it was interesting learning about where they get their money and funding from but also what the money in spent on. I also found it interesting how many of the countries in the EU used the Euro.

Conner Crooker