Dear readers,
I warmly welcome you to this first blog entry after the summer break! We are excited to provide you with weekly updates on various, and yes, sometimes very different topics. From sustainability to digitalization to trips and trade fairs, we’ll cover it all. As is customary at the beginning of October, our annual strategy seminar in Schielleiten took place again this year. This will be the subject of today’s first blog post of the semester.
As with many project works or management activities, the Deming Cycle, Plan-Do-Check-Act, played a significant role in our strategy seminar. On one hand, of course, the seminar’s intended for the strategic perspective of our firm (=Plan), and on the other hand, it focused on strengthening the team dynamics and collaboration. On October 3, 2024, at 9:00 AM, our employees were welcomed at the Baroque Castle of Schielleiten in Stubenberg, after which we promptly moved to the library, our personal meeting room for these two days, to discuss the agenda for our stay. After a brief introduction round, we delved into the program and discussed the role of training companies on both a national and global level, the organizational effort involved, and the significant benefits it offers to participants. Following a theory-heavy morning and a lunch break, we enjoyed an afternoon sports session filled with tactical, team-oriented games and tasks to provide some necessary variety. After the physical teamwork in sports, we wrapped up the day with cognitive collaboration by solving riddles presented by the ÜFA team. Even if the riddles weren’t solved immediately or with the optimal approach, the respectful teamwork was clearly demonstrated.
The following day started similarly, with interactive knowledge sharing, followed by a shorter sports session focused once again on team building and trust. A key highlight was an exercise where participants had to navigate a course blindfolded, relying solely on each other’s guidance.
After lunch, the employees were assigned to individual profit centers, and departments were formed. In the upcoming blog posts, we’ll reveal who has been assigned to which department, how teamwork within and across departments will unfold, and who will take on specific responsibilities. Stay tuned!
