Doing Business in the German Speaking World - FH Kufstein Tirol

Course Syllabus
course unit title
course unit code
type of course unit (compulsory,
optional)
level of course unit (e.g. first, second
or third cycle; sub-level if applicable)
year of study (if applicable)
semester/trimester when the course
unit is delivered
number of ECTS credits allocated
name of lecturer(s)
learning outcomes of the course unit
mode of delivery (face-to-face, distance
learning) 8
prerequisites and co-requisites
recommended optional programme
components 9
course contents
recommended or required reading
planned learning activities and teaching
methods
Doing Business in the German Speaking World
(limited number of places)
IP_WS1213_6
Optional
First Cycle
1. year of studies
Winter semester
4 ECTS
Prof. (FH) Guillermo Duenas, Ph.D.
That students learn about the three economies in these
countries
That students understand why these economies are so
successful
That students gain an insight and understanding of how
companies in these countries work through the field
visits to several companies in the area
Face- to - face
That students be enrolled in a program of study within the
business administration area
not applicable
The economies of three of the German Speaking
countries, Germany, Austria and Switzerland perform
among the best in Europe. Austria in particular has had a
stellar performance in the last years. It is important to
understand the reasons these three economies rank
among the best in the developed world, and identify the
common themes. Their businesses are highly competitive.
A closer look shows that most of them are small, and
many times, family owned enterprises that dominate world
niches in their industries.
The main purpose of this course is for students to become
familiarized with the way business is conducted in three of
the countries where German is spoken: Austria, Germany,
and Switzerland. This includes an understanding of the
main cultural and economic traits in these countries as
they relate to business and management practices.
A selection of articles and reports on the economies of
Austria, Germany and Switzerland
To achieve the objectives mentioned above, the course
includes several field trips to companies in Austria and in
Bavaria in Germany. Examples of the companies visited in
the past include:
1. The crystal companies Swarovski and Riedel Glas;
2. The pharmaceutical company Sandoz;
3. The automotive company BMW.
4. The logistics company LKW Walter
5. Also included have been some organizations like:
a. General Electric
b. The Tirol Chamber of Commerce, and
FeuerWerk, the largest and most important

assessment methods and criteria
language of instruction.
work placement(s) 10
8
9
10
bio-mass power station in Europe.
Students are required to attendance to all company
visits
Students must carry independent research and submit
a final paper on a topic of their choice but related to the
themes reviewed in class
Students are also required to make presentations on
their final papers.
English
not applicable
Indicate whether the course is delivered face-to-face or through distance learning (or a combination of both)
Indicate any courses (programme components) that are recommended to students beyond their compulsory curriculum to allow them to
complement their study programme
Indicate if the course consists of / contains a compulsory or optional work placement