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    Saturday, June 20, 2009

    How can organizational structures enable growth?

    From my perspective, a good way to understand how organizational structures enable growth is by analizing how buildings' structures sustain tons and tons of weight. (CCTV HQ Beijing, China)


    When designing the internal structure of a building the main question is how to connect or build relationships within the forces generated inside of the building in a way that new supporting forces will emerge.


    Organizational wise the question could be, "what relationships we need to enable to drive the key initiatives that drive growth?"

    By making those relationships formal, we give the organization the opportunity to use the structure as catalyst of the connections that drive success.

    Thursday, June 18, 2009

    How can EU immigration policies hold back the region?

    In order to be able to generate value, organizations need to converge technology, money and raw resources with the right talent in an environment that fosters growth.

    And that's Europe's challenge..., every day there is less talent.

    This is a multivariable situation mostly generated by the following factors:
    • Aging population (by 2013 countries like Sweden will loose around 30% of the labour)
    • Lower number of EU technical students and graduates
    • Unfavorable migration balance for EU when compared with North America
    • Lower migration from emerging economies due to an increase in the quality of life abroad and thriving business environments
    The main consequence is that business will move where talent is and job losses will remain behind.

    Therefore, initiatives in the line of the Swedish migration reform could bring a hope into a region thirsty of talent - http://www.workpermit.com/immigration-video.htm?v=indian-skilled-workers



    Wednesday, June 17, 2009

    Why should we invest in mobile communication in Africa?

    Taxation and the growth of mobile in East Africa 2009

    The impact that mobile communications is having on economic and social development in East Africa is akin to that of other major enabling infrastructure like roads, ports and railways. All stimulate trade, create jobs, generate wealth and enhance social welfare. Mobile communications, in particular, is making a profound impact by:
    • delivering universal access - mobile networks cover the vast majority of East African citizens, and operators are investing substantial amounts in further network roll out;
    • delivering universal services - mobile phones account for around 95% of all telecoms connections in East Africa; and
    • boosting GDP - recent analysis by Deloitte shows that a 10% increase in mobile penetration leads to a 1.2% increase in GDP in the long-run across developing countries.
    Ericsson Proves Mobile Communications can Transform Africa

    With mobile voice and data communication, Dertu's nomadic pastoral community of more than 5000 people can now build on the economic and social gains it has made since a mobile network was installed in the village. Rather than making the 100km journey by dirt road to the larger city of Garissa, many people from nearby communities go to Dertu to make calls, access improved health services and take advantage of new businesses -- making the village an economic hub for the region.

    More than 3000 phone minutes are logged daily, with new markets springing up for SIM cards, second-hand phones, charging and accessories. Transport costs have also gone down thanks to mobile ordering and invoicing.

    Residents use mobiles to find out about good pastures, which are often hard to come by in this arid region. Socially, families can be closer to distant relatives, and health care and remote education are now within reach. In case of an emergency water shortage, a mobile phone call brings help more quickly.

    Challenges: Perspectives on constraints of ICT in Africa

    Back at the Web4dev conference in February, Grant Cambridge made a very interesting presentation called: Access to Information. Challenges and Obstacles – a Rural African Perspective. Cambridge describes in his presentation the situation in rural South Africa, where:
    • There is virtually no access to computers
    • There is limited access to knowledge and information
    • A child’s potential to learn is directly proportional to the knowledge of the teacher
    • Many people have never even typed their names on a keyboard
    • Where the edge of your world is as far as you can walk in a day
    He describes that even the much better accessible mobile phone involves multiple challenges, such as “People walking up to 3 miles several times per week to recharge battery.” Cambridge works on a robust single or multi-terminal system for rural areas, and concludes in his presentation that access does not imply inclusion.

    What opportunity does it set for AIESEC?

    Since the begining of AIESEC in Africa, one of the main challenges for the region has been the limited accessability to our cutting edge technologies.

    Our current system is the main tool supporting the realization of more than 5.500 exchanges per year -Africa contributes with aprox. 300 internships and 200 interns-. It provides to our members the opportunity to network, learn and match their opportunities with people around the world.

    The lack of general infrastructure, like broadband connection, makes it very hard and expensive for our members to access the system.

    One way the we can improve this situation as Global Organization is by migrating key features of our system to the proper technology that can be access through mobile technology.

    I am sure funds can be raise within our network, within organizations interested in the development of the region or within organizations looking to increase their mobile presence in the region.

    This is a new challenge for the AIESEC Network to overcome!

    ---------

    Drop your ideas here or send them to the future AIESEC International Director for Africa at: cindyr@ai.aiesec.org

    Tuesday, June 16, 2009

    Evolution of strenghts - Leadership

    These are some interesting results on how my strenghts have evolved in the past 3 years due to a very intense and international experience.

    I took the assessment as part of the activities my team is running to support each others career development. We are using the frame of The International Leadership Strengths Research Project of Mr David Pollay from the University of Pennsylvania. The project aims "to encourage these leaders to fully develop their strengths in support of their goals".

    Here are the results (without analysis), below you find deeper descriptions of the strenghts. Note that the frame is based on 24 strenghts.

    Date: September 2006
    Location: Beijing China
    Role: National Vice President for Corporate Social Responsibility (National PBoX Manager)
    1. Creativity, ingenuity, and originality
    2. Industry, diligence, and perseverance
    3. Bravery and valor
    4. Perspective (wisdom)
    5. Social intelligence
    Date: June 2009
    Location: Rotterdam, The Netherlands
    Role: President of AIESEC International
    1. Creativity, ingenuity, and originality
    2. Social intelligence
    3. Leadership
    4. Curiosity and interest in the world
    5. Perspective (wisdom)
    ---------------------------------------
    Strenghts description

    Creativity, ingenuity, and originality
    Thinking of new ways to do things is a crucial part of who you are. You are never content with doing something the conventional way if a better way is possible.

    Industry, diligence, and perseverance
    You work hard to finish what you start. No matter the project, you "get it out the door" in timely fashion. You do not get distracted when you work, and you take satisfaction in completing tasks.

    Bravery and valor
    You are a courageous person who does not shrink from threat, challenge, difficulty, or pain. You speak up for what is right even if there is opposition. You act on your convictions.

    Perspective (wisdom)
    Although you may not think of yourself as wise, your friends hold this view of you. They value your perspective on matters and turn to you for advice. You have a way of looking at the world that makes sense to others and to yourself.

    Social intelligence
    You are aware of the motives and feelings of other people. You know what to do to fit in to different social situations, and you know what to do to put others at ease.

    Leadership
    You excel at the tasks of leadership: encouraging a group to get things done and preserving harmony within the group by making everyone feel included. You do a good job organizing activities and seeing that they happen.

    Curiosity and interest in the world
    You are curious about everything. You are always asking questions, and you find all subjects and topics fascinating. You like exploration and discovery.

    Monday, June 15, 2009

    AIESEC in the news!

    Every day, journalists find the story of AIESEC on each corner of the World and every time I read those articles my hearts beats up stronger because it makes me feel that what we do everyday is changing the world little by little.

    ISAF Headquarters Hosts AIESEC Conference

    KABUL, Afghanistan - AIESEC is the world's largest student organization and has worked with ISAF in Afghanistan for the past three years.

    The conference provided an opportunity for the young men and women of AIESEC to discuss their contribution to security in Afghanistan and the perception of ISAF and NATO throughout the country. Conference speakers included Afghanistan's Minister of Education, Minister Farouq Wardak, Minister of Women's Affairs, Minister Hussan Ghazanfar, the Chancellor of Kabul University Professor Hamidullah Amin and ISAF spokesman Brig. Gen. Richard Blanchette.

    "This successful event has helped provide the future leaders of Afghanistan with a platform to voice their opinions," said Blanchette. "In a country where 65 percent of the people are under 25, education is vital in providing a basis for the reconstruction and redevelopment of this country."


    --

    Youngsters make use of summer vacation, work with NGOs

    Chandigarh, India- Patrick Dixon once said “volunteering is a window into the passions of the soul”. It seems the city has found many such windows, especially among the youth.

    With the advent of summer vacations coupled with an array of NGOs working in the city, youngsters are spoilt for choices when it comes to volunteering opportunities.

    --

    Mate-Papo da Aiesec aborda cultura indiana

    Santa Cruz, Brazil - Na próxima terça-feira a AIESEC Santa Cruz promove o Mate-papo Cultural – Edição Índia. O debate será na sala 101 da Unisc, às 19 horas, com a presença do ex-intercambista Télcio Cardoso.

    Graduado em Ciência da Computação pela Unisc, Télcio foi vice-presidente da área de Intercâmbios da Aiesec Santa Cruz e, durante seis meses, realizou seu intercâmbio como consultor de Tecnologia da Informação na Kaavian Systems Private Limited, uma subsidiária da Smartsoft International Inc., empresa norte-americana que possui escritórios em países como Alemanha, México, Austrália e Índia.

    Por meio desse intercâmbio, teve a oportunidade de aliar a convivência com a cultura indiana ao trabalho na sua área de formação. A Índia é um país com desenvolvimento ascendente e importante no cenário da TI.


    --

    如今大学生实习要去海外 AIESEC员能提出申请

    20090615 04:52:46 浙江在线新闻网站

       浙江在线0615到海外去实习,在一个完全陌生的环境里,我们大学生可以最大程度地锻炼自己各方面的能力。昨日下午,宁波诺丁汉大学AIESEC员金恺昉说道。这两天,他正忙着收集海外实习的有关资料,2周后他将奔赴印度尼西亚宣传农业知识,帮助当地村民完成农业发展项目。


    Tuesday, June 02, 2009

    AIESEC 2010 Ambition

    “Every day, AIESEC is enabling the development of agents of
    positive change who create the needed impact in society.

    Our rapidly growing network connects high potential people around the world to generate an increasing volume of AIESEC Experiences.

    Every member in our thriving local and global communities of
    learning completes a life-changing AIESEC Experience.

    Our contribution makes us the first choice amongst young
    people and organizations for activating leadership.”

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