Last Blog

       Wow. I can't believe this is my last blog and we leave Florence tomorrow for the states. This experience has taught me so much about so many different things. At the beginning of this trip, I really wasn't in the mindset to be thinking about business and comparing it to the Unites States's businesses. But, after a week or so, you can't help but think how Italy compares to back home. The first thing that comes to mind when I compare is the restaurant/service industry. Back home, many people thrive off tips. Here, tips don't exist because it just isn't part of the custom. So, in return, the servers here have nothing to work for. As long as they do there job to the minimum requirement and get they pay check, their happy. Here's one example, this past week we had dinner at a restaurant and the service wasn't terrible to what we've been used to until the end. When she brought out our check, all it had was a list of things we ordered, and that's it. No prices, nothing. So, we when asked her to clarify everything she made it the biggest deal because she had to go get a menu and put the prices on it. I guess we're spoiled, but I just feel like its way more enjoyable to go eat out in the states than here. I've also noticed something about their family owned businesses. While the US still has many businesses that are passed down generation to generation, I feel like that is way more common here. It almost understood to take over the family business. One example is Perque No, which is the best gelato shop in Florence. While the owner still runs the show, his son-in-law is working there everyday to learn the ropes so that one day he can take over.
            There are many other things to talk about when relating the US's businesses and Italy's. This trip has not only opened my eyes to so many different business aspects, its taught me how to do so many things. Like get a train to a different country, or how to ask for something in Italian. Overall, I would definitely recommend this trip for any business major. There's a lot more than just what's back home.

Motivation Theories

The ERG theory was developed by Clayton Alderfer and it is based on the concept of frustration regression to describe how how we deal with our unmet needs. Frustration regression is the situation in which we are unable to satisfy a need and, in reaction, regress to a lower need. My example happened many years ago. When I was younger, I played biddy basketball. I played in this league from about the 2nd grade up to the 5th grade. At the end of each season, they had tryouts for the All Star team. This was picked by all the coaches. After tryouts my first year, I didn't make the All Star team and at first was discouraged. But, instead of settling for just playing on a team every year, I worked harder and made the All Star team every year after that. So, this example goes against Aldefer's theory in that I didn't give up and settle, but I tried harder and reached my goal.

Wine Tour

The wine tour we went on Wednesday was pretty awesome. First, we stopped at Machiavelli's estate and got to see his own wine cellar. We also took some awesome pictures of the vineyards and got an up close look at the grapes.

After seeing the outside of the property, we got to go inside and see the estate itself. We even go to see where Machiavelli wrote his famous books. After a quick tour, we sat down and had some lunch. It was a little different because the food was very Italian, but very interesting. The best thing that we got to do was taste some different wine and even pair a wine with some food which was amazing. 

After the Machiavelli estate, we took a quick bus ride to our next vineyard. It was an all organic vineyard which was neat. This vineyard was more realistic than the Machiavelli estate in that it was more up to date. They were also doing some reconstruction that had been being planned for the past 5 years. It was going to be built to use less electricity and to put as little stress on the fruits as possible. Again at this vineyard, we got to taste some wine. One of the wines was probably the best wine I've ever tasted.