The framework to take the decision to outsource elements of your organisation’s operations has changed in the 21st century. The long-term consequences of outsourcing without considering the very foundations of organisations are becoming more apparent. The real problem with outsourcing is “fracturing”, the splitting of what should be integrated parts of the organisation.
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Plausible Deniability 101: lessons in avoiding accountability
What symptoms of Plausible Deniability-itis have you witnessed? Is it happening in your business and you haven’t noticed or admitted it yet? Here’s some lessons for those of you who want to avoid accountability and climb the corporate ladder.
Penang Property Proposal
A scheme like this would take the current interest in foreign investment in Penang and leverage it into creating the future that the Chief Minister seemed to be aiming for in his speech, creating opportunities for local ownership. The important thing is to change the way of thinking from traditional approaches that don’t work to innovative ways of achieving goals that delight the community.
The USA and APAC
“As President, I have, therefore, made a deliberate and strategic decision — as a Pacific nation, the United States will play a larger and long-term role in shaping this region and its future, by upholding core principles and in close partnership with our allies and friends.”
APEC & the business leadership of women
The evidence demonstrates that increasing the involvement of women has markedly beneficial effects on business, both short and long-term. Therefore you would think that Boards and senior management teams striving to do the best possible thing in the interests of the company and shareholders would be clamoring for much greater participation on Boards and in senior management for women.
Island-Australia Anxiety in the 21st Century
In the 21st century we shouldn’t allow our Island-Australia Anxiety to cloud our thinking, our relationships with other countries, our business dealings and our lives. As we continue our path towards participation in the global community and in the next Asian century, we need to be wary about these deep-seated cultural ideas and the way that we express them.
Challenging the Unkind Cuts
Budget cuts, especially when they relate to labour cuts, have dramatically unkind impacts on the people in your organisation, their morale, the ability to get the work done. They result in long-term hardship to your people (or former people in the case of labour cuts) and their families, as well as having a broader impact on customers and communities. History tells us that budget cuts are often the beginning of the end for companies, leading to eventual closure, takeover or liquidation.
The Influence of Key Stakeholders
Over the last fifty years, the range of key stakeholders for most corporations has been expanding. Corporate responsibility expectations are changing as a result of the influence of key stakeholders, with the consequence of potentially limiting the ability of shareholders and managers to operate in their preferred environment. In the meantime, the more traditional key stakeholders, shareholders, clients, customers, suppliers and staff, are asking for more involvement in organisational operations.
Transactional Relationships – Is this still the Australian way in Asia?
It is important that as Australia creates its strategy for the Asian Century we realise we are well beyond the transactional relationships that apparently continue to occupy the minds of those in government, business and media. Australia needs to work hard to move from the little lot down the road to become part of Asia’s back yard.
Guess who’s coming to dinner – the Power of Dialogue
I would love to set up the modern equivalent of an ancient concept – a space for dialogues that allow us to challenge our own concepts, create and define our real values and philosophies, and better understand the power of diversity. I would love to set up a Google+ circle that allows a number of excellent business thinkers and leaders to ask each other questions and respectfully listen to each other over months and years as we take the voyage of exploration through this complex world
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