On 2 May, Volksbank AG invited customers to its forum “Corporate culture as a factor in success – constructive solutions with business mediation”. VBAG has used business mediation since 2008, making it the first European banking group to do so, and has set up an innovative corporate responsibility project as part of this. Business mediation offers a new model for customers, partners and employees, allowing them to improve cooperation, cut the cost of conflict, achieve better financial results and generally have a positive impact on the corporate culture. Whether and how all this can be achieved was discussed by well-known representatives from the fields of business, law, science and mediation.

Customers and partners attended keynote presentations given by Ulrike Gamm (graduate geographer), Dr Christine Mattl, Dr Annemarie Stipanitz-Schreiner (engineer), Christian Wozabal, MBA, Johann Garstenauer and Dr Mario Patera (graduate engineer). The lecturers shone a light on the issue of corporate culture from very different perspectives. After the short theoretical input sessions, customers, partners and customer relationship managers had the opportunity to hold discussions and exchange experiences in small groups. The lecturers highlighted the preventive effect of mediation skills, which enable managers and professionals to bring conflicting parties back into constructive talks in order to create a productive working atmosphere. In the field of corporate finance in particular, it is important to use mediation skills to recognise critical situations at an early stage, emphasised Dr Gerhard Reiner, Chairman of the Managing Board of Volksbank Graz-Bruck.

Guests learned first-hand how Volksbank Graz-Bruck managed to reduce costs and thus to achieve measurable success using mediation techniques. At the subsequent networking event in the atrium of VBAG’s new customer centre, the quality of the stimulus talks was emphasised, which had provided helpful input for everyday work and some interesting food for thought.

The first “Corporate Responsibility-Real Estate Dialogue” took place on 11 October. A series of events, which promotes the exchange of information on the subject of sustainability in the Group and provides new impetus, started with the “CR-Real Estate Dialogue”. The impetus for this dialogue on the benefits of sustainable properties was provided by Kurt Kaiser and Mirjam Ernst as part of CR management.

More than 50 staff from Volksbank AG – Investkredit, Real Estate Financing department, Immoconsult Leasinggesellschaft m.b.H. and Premiumred Real Estate Development GmbH seized the opportunity to participate in this first discourse on sustainability.

Participants and organisers were delighted that the CEO Gerald Wenzel, as commissioner of the CR project, made an opening statement. Mirjam Ernst, Head of Corporate Marketing and Sustainability Representative at ÖVAG, spoke on the subject of “managing corporate responsibility”. The management of the real estate subsidiaries, Dr. Brigitte Fruhstorfer (Immoconsult) and Leopold Deufl (Premiumred), the Head of Real Estate Financing at Volksbank AG – Investkredit,  Klaus Scheitz, and Alexander Bosak, Real Estate core team, dealt with the significance of the topic for the real estate sector in their statements. The CR experts from Denkstatt GmbH, Karl Resel and Clemens Rainer, reported on “Eco-housing and sustainable management”.

The round table “Sustainability – a fig leaf or an integral component of corporate strategy” with Leopold Deufl, Brigitte Fruhstorfer, Klaus Scheitz, Karl Resel and Clemens Rainer gave the audience a chance to participate in the discussion. The essence of the remarks was that sustainable development in the real estate sector has many supporters, existing development potential is being perceived. However, the effects in quantifiable figures and facts are still to be seen.

According to a current survey of players in real estate management* in Germany, Austria and Switzerland

* Roland Berger study, April 2010

The second social day was held with children and young people from the Caritas organisation “Am Himmel”. The joint treasure hunt at the art history museum was an unforgettable experience for children and adults alike.

The social day provided an insight into the strategic management of non-profit organisations and an opportunity to get to know and appreciate people who are not normally in the spotlight.

Diversity Management – Equality of Difference & Difference as Enrichment

In 2009, a Diversity Management project was established to utilise and promote diversity. Diversity management is anchored in the company culture of VBAG. The Diversity Management project covers six dimensions: nationality, gender mainstreaming, religion/faith, people with disabilities, age and sexual orientation.

In April 2010, the pilot course “Business Mediation and Mediative Competences” was launched, which will provide mediator training to 16 management staff of the Volksbank Group. Personal experiences are necessary to authentically apply the new method of handling crises and conflicts. Mastering business mediation means a having better command of conflicts and crises and a measurable advantage against competitors in our business. Mediative expertise is of direct benefit both in dealing with customers and in managing employees.

First Social Day at VBAG: employees at Volksbank Consulting visited the St. Barbara Caritas home in keeping with the theme of “creating together”.

There is also good news in connection with sustainability and the new headquarters. The building was inspected and evaluated by Österreichische Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen (ÖGNB – the Austrian Sustainable Building Council) and klima:aktiv – the most comprehensive building evaluation system in terms of sustainability standards to date (Total Quality Building).

The new Group headquarters will switch completely to Fairtrade coffee and other Fairtrade products will be offered.

VBAG is committed to green events in its Event Management and implements this sustainability aspect – as far as permitted by the respective conditions – in organisational processes.