The TGW World and Its Foundation Philosophy of "Focusing on People - Learning and Growing" (eBook)

Introduction

“I am incredibly happy I can be here today. I would like to tell you about my legacy.” With these words, Ludwig Szinicz began his Christmas speech in December 2016. Everybody in the festively decorated exhibition hall in Wels sensed how important the speech was to him. The founder of the TGW Future Private Foundation usually didn’t push himself to the fore. No, the legacy was supposed to be the star of the evening. Ludwig Szinicz wanted to showcase it to the employees in person. He had meticulously prepared himself for this presentation, with the dedicated help of TGW Future Private Foundation Board member Clemens Steiner. Because he’d pledged himself to the idea of learning and growing his entire life, even at the age of 78.

For the founder of a company to concern himself about its future is nothing new, really. But how Ludwig Szinicz answered the question at the beginning of the millennium can certainly be described as special and quite visionary. He designed a very specific foundation model for that purpose. Put simply, it was to have a dual function: to ensure the continuation of the company as well as do something substantial towards serving people and society as a whole.

When and how did it all start with Ludwig Szinicz’ special “Idea TGW”? Formally, it began in 2004. Four years earlier, he and his partner, Heinz König, had transferred the leadership of TGW to three young, “homegrown” managers. Subsequently, Ludwig Szinicz acquired 50% of the shares in the company from his partner. In 2004, he donated 100% of his shares to the TGW Future Private Foundation. Thus, he assigned future responsibility to external, non-family Foundation Board members, looking for a constellation on the owner side separate from the family in the long term. It was to outlast the coming generation and apply in perpetuity. He wanted to ensure its sustainable continuation over many generations through the self-renewal principle of the Foundation Board (cf. illustration on p. →). So, Ludwig Szinicz dared to put in motion an experiment in 2000 whose practicability and success would only become apparent in the future.

The foundation model has a deeper meaning. The mission of the Foundation prescribes that TGW be not merely “a convenient economic community” but a “purpose-oriented community of values, that facilitates human and professional growth and entrepreneurial success”. “Focusing on people – learning and growing” was the guiding principle under which Ludwig Szinicz summarised the details of his foundation model. His ideal was: At TGW, the focus would be put on human beings, unlike in any other company. The founder wanted to provide the right framework for this with his TGW World: a company that manages to be economically successful and at the same time respects and advances humaneness in the company. Every employee is given the opportunity of working with real purpose in an appreciative environment.

At this point, shouldn’t we sit up and ask what makes Ludwig Szinicz’ approach so special? Don’t many other companies also claim to put human beings before all else? So, what’s so special about his foundation model? Answer: the framework conditions, which have even been stipulated in writing. Ludwig Szinicz defined the basic principles of the Foundation philosophy in 10 guidelines in the Foundation Declaration, a constitution, so to speak, for the Foundation. Even the metaphor of the TGW cow, whose milk is to be distributed “fairly and wisely”, was included in it (cf. p. →) These guidelines, plus the six dimensions of the “hexagon of the Foundation philosophy” – purpose orientation, conception of human beings, value system, sustainability, holistic education, exemplary entrepreneurship – are described in detail in this book. All this applies not only to TGW Logistics but to the non-profit activities as well. These activities were established together with external legal entities in 2007. For the founder, they were no less a matter of the heart than the company was. Today, this social entrepreneurship operates under the name of TGW Future Wings with the focus on “education & innovation” on an equal footing – but not of equal ranking – with the industrial entrepreneurship, i.e. TGW Logistics. In case of doubt, the TGW cow is always given priority because her health is the greatest good for the entire TGW World.

If you look at his foundation model and the Foundation philosophy from today’s perspective, it’s clear that Ludwig Szinicz had quite a definite idea about a “purpose-driven economy” – highly touted nowadays – at the beginning of the millennium. He was enormously intrigued by the new way of thinking about how we do business. And the holistic entrepreneurial approach, implemented through the Foundation philosophy of “Focusing on people – learning and growing”, is just such an attempt to do business in a different and novel manner: more human-centred and more sustainable!

You’ll understand Ludwig Szinicz’ intentions even better if you look at current economic theories that address the shortcomings of 100% capitalist or 100% socialist models. There’s no doubt that a healthy society needs an economic order that optimally supports human development. This means that much, much more is involved than just material aspects. Simply put: Social concerns, values of care, the environment and human development must be given greater priority, be ascertained by appropriate indicators and lead to changes in the way we act.

So, if you take a closer look at Ludwig Szinicz’ interpretation of entrepreneurship, you need to pay attention not only to the sober facts of his Foundation philosophy; his considerations regarding a new way of doing business are quite fundamental. “Nothing is more practical than a good theory”: These wise words from well-known social psychologist Kurt Lewin encourage the concrete application of theoretical building blocks familiar from academic and professional discourse to the TGW World. This is why we deal in one of the final chapters with the holistic view of its impact on society.

This book presents the TGW World in all its various features. Rough edges are not left out, and neither are statements that might irritate or lead to arguments – or, as Ludwig Szinicz preferred to say, “encourage debate”. Because what could be more valuable and provide more crucial stimuli for a constructive and productive dialogue than the critical examination of the Foundation philosophy?

This book that is addressed to the TGW World in particular is also a reference system, so to speak. It can counteract uncertainty about what the Foundation philosophy means today and provide clarity.

Anecdotes, stories, theoretical models, history, the present day and future, things that are immutable and things that are transient, facts, classifications and interpretations, documentation and reference work, getting closer to the founder, understanding the foundation model: All this awaits the reader on this journey through the past, present and future of the TGW World. Some readers might stumble over or be irritated by the three digressions into practice-oriented scholarly theories, but this opportunity to immerse yourself in these topics was provided on purpose; besides, the graphic underscoring allows you to simply skip over them.

All the different building blocks in the book are related to the subject of the Foundation philosophy. But don’t worry: You can also pick and choose only the individual aspects that are of special interest to you. There are key documents and speeches by Ludwig Szinicz that speak for themselves. But here, too, it is helpful to put them in a more comprehensive context by means of classification, explanation or even elaboration.

Everything is in flux when it comes to the implementation of the Foundation philosophy – “learning and growing”, that’s for sure. This is why this book can only provide a snapshot. The subjects outlined go beyond the here and now and peer into the future. The texts seek to invite the reader to think about how the guidelines or the six dimensions of the hexagon can be implemented, for instance. Giving orientation and inspiration while providing multiple perspectives and possibilities. All the things that can be subsumed are shown under “Focusing on people – learning and growing” – without excluding new ideas.

Keep the founder’s great dream in mind while reading; it will help. Before we begin with Chapter I, which is dedicated to the showcasing of the TGW World and provides insights aplenty into its roots, we want to quote Ludwig Szinicz’ Christmas speech on 16 December 2016 (see the full text of the speech in APPENDIX p. → et seq.).

An audience of over 1,500 experienced his very personal summary of what’s at stake. So much wit and positive energy filled the hall! Nobody imagined it would be his last big speech. What we especially remember today is the emotional conclusion:

Christmas speech / Video Ludwig Szinicz (2016)

I told you that I set down my legacy in 2004 and that there will be no changes to it.

I would like to make one small but – for me – important additional request: When I am peering down on TGW in 10 or 20 years‘ time, I would like to see that my idea for the future of TGW has been...