I had the great fortune to be in Abu Dhabi two weeks ago leading a group of MBA students from USF as part of their Global Immersions study abroad program. Most of the students are executives pursuing their MBA part-time and this was for many their first visit to the region. At the beginning of our trip, I cautioned them as I do any group of Western executives new to the region about what I call the Three R’s for conducting business in the GCC:
•Respect – Your mindset should be I am a guest in their country, and at all times should be respectful of their customs, traditions, and modes of behavior
•Reaction – Be mindful of how you react to circumstances that are different from those at home; exercise patience and restraint in surfacing negative reactions and responses
•Relationships – The most important lesson to remember when conducting business in the GCC revolves around relationships. Relationships are everything. Exhaustive amounts of time and care should be devoted to fostering and nurturing relationships.
I also spent a good deal of time explaining the rich symbolism we witnessed at every turn even in the most urban settings. I asked the students to be consciously aware of these symbols during our trip as so much of our attention, naturally, was often pulled to the latest innovations and dazzling architectural achievements on display. We spent the first half of the week in Dubai meeting with business leaders from every sector. Dubai for me is as it has always been these past few years, vibrant, optimistic, and progressive. Even in the darkest days of the recession Dubai has exhibited these qualities and now they are back with a vengeance as more and more investment and development pushes ahead. We also had the distinct privilege of being in Dubai when Secretary Clinton was visiting, which always provides a unique window into a country’s and region’s view of US foreign policy and leadership. From all accounts the Secretary was well received, even embraced, by much of the UAE and Pan-Arab press. This in a week where Sudan and Tunisia dominated coverage, and the shootings in Tucson raised concerns about the levels of violence in the US. Geopolitically, we could not have picked a better week to be in Dubai.
Abu Dhabi, though, had the most lasting imprint on our delegation. In its quiet, elegant, thoughtful way it left an indelible impression even on those of us who had been before. Abu Dhabi is a unique case study in corporate and public diplomacy and one of myriad contradictions. The quote I captured from a display at Emirates Palace from His Highness Sheikh Zayed, former President of the UAE, sums up Abu Dhabi perfectly: “A country is not measured by the size of its area on a map. A country is truly measured by its heritage and culture.” The emphasis on and investment in heritage and culture was everywhere throughout the city juxtaposed to advertisements for the World Future Energy Summit this past week, and FerrariWorld. Abu Dhabi has historically been known primarily as an international financial powerhouse and source of immense oil and natural gas reserves. These elements of Abu Dhabi have only multiplied and matured over the years and those investment firms which were also historically very private and closed off from the world are now seeking to engage with the world.
One example of this shift to greater transparency and a distinctly corporate diplomacy point of view was our meeting with leadership at the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA). ADIA was incredibly candid and open about their various investment approaches and what struck me was their focus on and commitment to building understanding with the broader international community. This from a firm who only recently added a website presence and began issuing press releases on their efforts. They see their move towards openness and engagement as something others will likely emulate in years to come.
Perhaps the most indelible impressions however came from our host the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA). Dear friends at ADTA planned most of our day and personally guided our visits in Abu Dhabi answering questions, sharing insights, and helping us understand the broader approach Abu Dhabi was taking towards its own development. ADTA’s hospitality was, in short, extraordinary. I am always inspired and humbled by Arab hospitality in general, and this was above and beyond any of our expectations. When we toured the Emirates Palace we were struck by the Saadiyat Island exhibition on planned cultural development. The emphasis on the arts and cultural projects coupled with unique living environments geared towards families was awe-inspiring and world-class. Unlike The Palm developments in Dubai which cater to the very wealthy and extensions of the hospitality sector, Abu Dhabi is focusing more on the families who live and work there. Throughout our day the presence of H.H. Sheikh Zayed was palpable. Whether through the many portraits displayed along the corniche or in his quotes placed strategically throughout the city, you could feel his presence guiding us. If you visit His Highness’ website you will feel some of what we felt on the ground.
We ended our day at the Grand Mosque with a private tour, guided by an Islamic scholar who exerted tremendous patience, answering every question we had over the course of more than two hours. It was fitting, after beginning the day with a business focus, to end the day in reflection. I reminded the students of the meaning of the term January. It derives from the Latin term Janus, the two-headed Roman god who could at once see both the past and the future. Here in Abu Dhabi, where we could vividly see the past and future, we left eager to return.
Link to Full Post: http://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/index.php/newswire/cpdblog_detail/corporate_diplomacy_perspectives_--_the_view_from_abu_dhabi/
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Corporate Diplomacy Summer Reading List
BOOKS
-- The Next 100 Years, By George Friedman
-- The End of the Free Market, By Ian Bremmer
-- You've Only Got Three Seconds, By Camille Lavington
-- One Nation Under Contract: The Outsourcing of American Power and the Future of Foreign Policy, By Allison Stanger
-- Working with Americans, By Lanie Denslow & Allyson Stewart-Allen
WEBSITES
-- www.WatchingAmerica.com Free daily translations of global US coverage
-- www.drudgereport.com The One & Only Drudge
-- http://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/ USC Center on Public Diplomacy
-- www.WorldCitizensGuide.org World Citizens Guides
-- www.Businessfordiplomaticaction.org Business for Diplomatic Action
-- www.traveltalkmedia.com/businesstravelradio.shtml Business Travel Radio
-- http://www.formsofaddress.info/faq.html Robert Hickey's Etiquette and Protocol Site
MAGAZINES: Harvard Business Review, The Week, Foreign Policy, Foreign Affairs
MUST HAVE DESK REFERENCES
-- Kiss, Bow, and Shake Hands: The Bestselling Guide to Doing Business in More Than 60 Countries, By Terri Morrison & Wayne Conaway
-- Honor & Respect: Titles & Forms of Address, By Robert Hickey
-- Routledge Handbook of Public Diplomacy, Edited By Nancy Snow
-- The Next 100 Years, By George Friedman
-- The End of the Free Market, By Ian Bremmer
-- You've Only Got Three Seconds, By Camille Lavington
-- One Nation Under Contract: The Outsourcing of American Power and the Future of Foreign Policy, By Allison Stanger
-- Working with Americans, By Lanie Denslow & Allyson Stewart-Allen
WEBSITES
-- www.WatchingAmerica.com Free daily translations of global US coverage
-- www.drudgereport.com The One & Only Drudge
-- http://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/ USC Center on Public Diplomacy
-- www.WorldCitizensGuide.org World Citizens Guides
-- www.Businessfordiplomaticaction.org Business for Diplomatic Action
-- www.traveltalkmedia.com/businesstravelradio.shtml Business Travel Radio
-- http://www.formsofaddress.info/faq.html Robert Hickey's Etiquette and Protocol Site
MAGAZINES: Harvard Business Review, The Week, Foreign Policy, Foreign Affairs
MUST HAVE DESK REFERENCES
-- Kiss, Bow, and Shake Hands: The Bestselling Guide to Doing Business in More Than 60 Countries, By Terri Morrison & Wayne Conaway
-- Honor & Respect: Titles & Forms of Address, By Robert Hickey
-- Routledge Handbook of Public Diplomacy, Edited By Nancy Snow
Thursday, July 29, 2010
> Would welcome any comments and feedback on my most recent blog post, http://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/index.php/newswire/cpdblog_detail/what_mpds_and_mbas_c
Monday, July 26, 2010
Mapping the Social Internet -- A Global Look
From the current issue of Harvard Business Review there is an excellent visual representation of how people in different countries utilize social networks.
Some of the Key Take-Aways
* Asia is the Most Social -- BRIC and other developing countries show the most engagement overall
* Fewer than 15% of Americans say they've written a blog
* European, North American, and Australian users tend to use social platforms in essentially the same ways. More active than Eastern users when it comes to photo sharing and managing a social network profile but less active on broadcast behaviors. Microblogging is much lower.
* Chinese and Indian users, are three times as likely as Westerners to microblog, or tweet, as American users.
* Emerging Markets have much more room to grow their internet populations and encourage experimentation whereas behaviors in the West are well established
Full Article & Map:
SOURCE -- www.hbr.org
Some of the Key Take-Aways
* Asia is the Most Social -- BRIC and other developing countries show the most engagement overall
* Fewer than 15% of Americans say they've written a blog
* European, North American, and Australian users tend to use social platforms in essentially the same ways. More active than Eastern users when it comes to photo sharing and managing a social network profile but less active on broadcast behaviors. Microblogging is much lower.
* Chinese and Indian users, are three times as likely as Westerners to microblog, or tweet, as American users.
* Emerging Markets have much more room to grow their internet populations and encourage experimentation whereas behaviors in the West are well established
Full Article & Map:
SOURCE -- www.hbr.org
Friday, July 16, 2010
EMPIRE OF THE SUN -- Recent USC CPD Post
July 2010
Film Clip:
http://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/index.php/newswire/cpdblog_detail/empire_of_the_sun/
I’m finally cleaning out and catching up with my Netflix queue, working on a relationship I’ve neglected for far, far too long. As a foreign and political film junkie, I may be one of the few people my age who has only just watched Empire of the Sun , the 1987 Spielberg film initially set in 1940s Shanghai, where a group of privileged and protected Westerners have built their lives in China since the British first arrived in the early 19th Century.
Based on J. G. Ballard's autobiographical novel, the film follows a British boy, Jim “Jamie” Graham, who, after being separated from his parents, is captured by the Japanese and taken to the Soo Chow confinement camp. Stripped of every comfort and surrounded by sickness, disease, and death, Jim attempts to rebuild his former life, while bringing hope and dignity to those around him. The film is ultimately about survival, the enduring strength of the human spirit, and the idea that even in times of war, we all have more things in common than the ones which separate us.
I was profoundly and deeply moved by this film. In part, I was drawn in by Spielberg’s visual imagery and layering. At every turn I felt as though I were there, witnessing history unfold. The underlying themes and cross-cultural nuances throughout, though, are what truly left an indelible impression.
From the very beginning, I was struck by the excellent manners young Jim possessed. He was composed, observant, sensitive to others needs, incredibly self aware, and treated everyone with dignity and respect. Let me repeat that – he treated everyone with dignity and respect. His most outward displays of sensitivity, deference and respect are shown in several poignant scenes with his Japanese captors. He takes several tense, potentially violent moments and diffuses them with the flair of a seasoned diplomat when he smiles broadly and genuinely, speaks in Japanese, and bows to the ground. He stays bowing until the Japanese give him instruction to rise. At another particularly moving point, while observing the Kamikaze rituals, he salutes and begins singing with the pilots.
The timing of watching Empire of the Sun is rather appropriate, as I am due to deliver remarks at the International Protocol Officers Annual Education Conference in Long Beach, CA at the end of this month. It is always an intimidating thing to be surrounded by an audience of protocol and etiquette professionals, especially for a native Texan. But I never miss a chance to be with them, as I love the energy of this group and their almost evangelical approach to their craft. I wish more were aware of the power of protocol and etiquette – traditional vestiges of diplomacy, and an area many consider to be within the soft power realm. I touched on this in my prior post, ' The Five Tool Corporate Diplomat', but I feel compelled to underscore the importance of protocol and etiquette as essential global skills, which are absolutely critical to building trust and operating effective cross-culturally.
Which brings me back to young Jim in the film. Jim was born into a privileged, global elite, which was well versed and schooled in the ways of the world and how to operate within the echelons of power. Many will look at that film and even at modern practitioners of diplomacy, etiquette and protocol, and say that understanding such cross-cultural nuance and learning how to deftly navigate oneself in a global environment is passé in a world where technology, access and speed are pre-eminent.
If one delves deeper, though, in any environment – whether government, corporate, or societal – where power and influence are concentrated, successful relationships develop slowly over time and are carefully crafted by how one positions and maneuvers within such structures. Access is granted and influence developed by those who are able to operate effectively, with sensitivity, respect, and acute awareness of those around them. This is where etiquette and protocol, or in plain English, good old fashioned manners, make all the difference. Why then are so few young people, especially Americans, educated systematically in the art and craft of protocol and etiquette? In a globalized world where we are all increasingly competing with the world for jobs, positioning and influence, these skills should be part of every child’s basic education.
“Amatus sum, amatus es, amatus est”
Towards the end of the film we hear Jim reciting the Latin phrase “Amatus sum, amatus es, amatus est." Translated, it means: I am loved, you are loved, he/she is loved. The phrase (and more broadly, the film) speaks to the universality of the human condition and how each of us possesses the capacity to bring grace, humility, courage, and hope to those we engage with every day. It’s a lesson we should all embrace.
For additional related research, resources and insights, visit: http://thefivetoolexecutive.blogspot.com/
Film Clip:
http://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/index.php/newswire/cpdblog_detail/empire_of_the_sun/
I’m finally cleaning out and catching up with my Netflix queue, working on a relationship I’ve neglected for far, far too long. As a foreign and political film junkie, I may be one of the few people my age who has only just watched Empire of the Sun , the 1987 Spielberg film initially set in 1940s Shanghai, where a group of privileged and protected Westerners have built their lives in China since the British first arrived in the early 19th Century.
Based on J. G. Ballard's autobiographical novel, the film follows a British boy, Jim “Jamie” Graham, who, after being separated from his parents, is captured by the Japanese and taken to the Soo Chow confinement camp. Stripped of every comfort and surrounded by sickness, disease, and death, Jim attempts to rebuild his former life, while bringing hope and dignity to those around him. The film is ultimately about survival, the enduring strength of the human spirit, and the idea that even in times of war, we all have more things in common than the ones which separate us.
I was profoundly and deeply moved by this film. In part, I was drawn in by Spielberg’s visual imagery and layering. At every turn I felt as though I were there, witnessing history unfold. The underlying themes and cross-cultural nuances throughout, though, are what truly left an indelible impression.
From the very beginning, I was struck by the excellent manners young Jim possessed. He was composed, observant, sensitive to others needs, incredibly self aware, and treated everyone with dignity and respect. Let me repeat that – he treated everyone with dignity and respect. His most outward displays of sensitivity, deference and respect are shown in several poignant scenes with his Japanese captors. He takes several tense, potentially violent moments and diffuses them with the flair of a seasoned diplomat when he smiles broadly and genuinely, speaks in Japanese, and bows to the ground. He stays bowing until the Japanese give him instruction to rise. At another particularly moving point, while observing the Kamikaze rituals, he salutes and begins singing with the pilots.
The timing of watching Empire of the Sun is rather appropriate, as I am due to deliver remarks at the International Protocol Officers Annual Education Conference in Long Beach, CA at the end of this month. It is always an intimidating thing to be surrounded by an audience of protocol and etiquette professionals, especially for a native Texan. But I never miss a chance to be with them, as I love the energy of this group and their almost evangelical approach to their craft. I wish more were aware of the power of protocol and etiquette – traditional vestiges of diplomacy, and an area many consider to be within the soft power realm. I touched on this in my prior post, ' The Five Tool Corporate Diplomat', but I feel compelled to underscore the importance of protocol and etiquette as essential global skills, which are absolutely critical to building trust and operating effective cross-culturally.
Which brings me back to young Jim in the film. Jim was born into a privileged, global elite, which was well versed and schooled in the ways of the world and how to operate within the echelons of power. Many will look at that film and even at modern practitioners of diplomacy, etiquette and protocol, and say that understanding such cross-cultural nuance and learning how to deftly navigate oneself in a global environment is passé in a world where technology, access and speed are pre-eminent.
If one delves deeper, though, in any environment – whether government, corporate, or societal – where power and influence are concentrated, successful relationships develop slowly over time and are carefully crafted by how one positions and maneuvers within such structures. Access is granted and influence developed by those who are able to operate effectively, with sensitivity, respect, and acute awareness of those around them. This is where etiquette and protocol, or in plain English, good old fashioned manners, make all the difference. Why then are so few young people, especially Americans, educated systematically in the art and craft of protocol and etiquette? In a globalized world where we are all increasingly competing with the world for jobs, positioning and influence, these skills should be part of every child’s basic education.
“Amatus sum, amatus es, amatus est”
Towards the end of the film we hear Jim reciting the Latin phrase “Amatus sum, amatus es, amatus est." Translated, it means: I am loved, you are loved, he/she is loved. The phrase (and more broadly, the film) speaks to the universality of the human condition and how each of us possesses the capacity to bring grace, humility, courage, and hope to those we engage with every day. It’s a lesson we should all embrace.
For additional related research, resources and insights, visit: http://thefivetoolexecutive.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Current Research of Note -- July 2010
There are several recent studies that The Five Tool Executive should take note of and I will periodically post key take-aways, resources and insights.
This month, I'm focused on the McKinsey Global Institute's findings from their recent Competitiveness Report. There are several warning signs for the US that US multi-nationals in particular and the USG should take note of principally in the FDI, K-12 Education, Talent Recruitment & Retention, and Infrastructure.
McKinsey Global Institute Competitiveness Report 2009-2010
Key Take-Aways
OTHER COUNTRIES ARE CATCHING UP IN THE COMPETITION FOR US MULTINATIONAL CORPORATE INVESTMENT
The United States remains an attractive location for multinational economic activity. The US economy is the largest in the world, with strong patent protection, stable government institutions, high-quality transportation and communications systems, and an abundance of skilled and highly productive workers. But the world is changing. Today, countries in both the developed and developing world are also attractive investment locations, eroding the United States’ advantage (Exhibit 31). Many countries now provide large and growing markets, innovation, and talent that match or exceed those in the United States.
Countries’ competitiveness in attracting investment generally depends on four groups of attributes: economic fundamentals, business climate, human capital, and infrastructure.37 Historically, the developed economies, and the United States in particular, have performed best across these measures of country attractiveness, and it is these countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) that are home to the bulk of US multinationals’ foreign activity.
Top ten most attractive economies for location of FDI, 2009–10 -- BRIC Countries lead the top five
US infrastructure was graded a “D”in 2009 and needs over $2 trillion in investment
The ability of the United States to sustain some of its advantages will depend in part on its relative performance in K-12 education. A report by the McKinsey & Company Social Sector Office found that the United States faces a significant international achievement gap in primary and secondary education.43 Among the report’s findings:
*In cross-country comparisons of fourth-grade reading, math, and science, US students scored in the top quarter or top half of advanced nations. By age 15, US students ranked in the bottom half.
*In 2006, the United States ranked 25th of 30 nations in math and 24th of 30 in science when the achievement of 15-year-old students was measured in OECD countries. The United States has among the smallest proportions of 15-year-olds performing at the highest levels of proficiency in math.
*Forty years ago, the United States was a leader in high school graduation rates; today, it ranks 18th out of 24 industrialized nations.
This month, I'm focused on the McKinsey Global Institute's findings from their recent Competitiveness Report. There are several warning signs for the US that US multi-nationals in particular and the USG should take note of principally in the FDI, K-12 Education, Talent Recruitment & Retention, and Infrastructure.
McKinsey Global Institute Competitiveness Report 2009-2010
Key Take-Aways
OTHER COUNTRIES ARE CATCHING UP IN THE COMPETITION FOR US MULTINATIONAL CORPORATE INVESTMENT
The United States remains an attractive location for multinational economic activity. The US economy is the largest in the world, with strong patent protection, stable government institutions, high-quality transportation and communications systems, and an abundance of skilled and highly productive workers. But the world is changing. Today, countries in both the developed and developing world are also attractive investment locations, eroding the United States’ advantage (Exhibit 31). Many countries now provide large and growing markets, innovation, and talent that match or exceed those in the United States.
Countries’ competitiveness in attracting investment generally depends on four groups of attributes: economic fundamentals, business climate, human capital, and infrastructure.37 Historically, the developed economies, and the United States in particular, have performed best across these measures of country attractiveness, and it is these countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) that are home to the bulk of US multinationals’ foreign activity.
Top ten most attractive economies for location of FDI, 2009–10 -- BRIC Countries lead the top five
US infrastructure was graded a “D”in 2009 and needs over $2 trillion in investment
The ability of the United States to sustain some of its advantages will depend in part on its relative performance in K-12 education. A report by the McKinsey & Company Social Sector Office found that the United States faces a significant international achievement gap in primary and secondary education.43 Among the report’s findings:
*In cross-country comparisons of fourth-grade reading, math, and science, US students scored in the top quarter or top half of advanced nations. By age 15, US students ranked in the bottom half.
*In 2006, the United States ranked 25th of 30 nations in math and 24th of 30 in science when the achievement of 15-year-old students was measured in OECD countries. The United States has among the smallest proportions of 15-year-olds performing at the highest levels of proficiency in math.
*Forty years ago, the United States was a leader in high school graduation rates; today, it ranks 18th out of 24 industrialized nations.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
