Archive for June, 2009
Economic Crisis Can Lead to a New Beginning
Nothing is certain but death and taxes, or so the American phrase goes. In the Middle East, we might say that nothing is certain except death and changes. At least in the business world that’s the case, especially after the economic catastrophe that started last year. Many people are dealing with life-changing circumstances — losing their jobs, their homes, their savings; being forced to move, sometimes out of a country they have grown to love; seeing the businesses they worked so hard to build suffer and collapse under the strain. Read the rest of this entry »
Perception vs. Reality: The True Nature of Innovation
The new reality TV series, “Stars of Science,” gives 16 young Arab inventors a chance to design and build their dreams. From a solar-powered generator for tents, to an oxygen-infused juice drink, contestants vie to impress the judges and the audience. The show has captured the attention of many viewers, some of whom are eager to demonstrate that the Arab world can produce innovations as clever and profitable as the rest of the globe.
“Stars of Science” is sponsored by the Qatar Foundation. While it’s an honorable undertaking that encourages individual creativity, the one problem with the show is that it promotes only the popular perception of innovation. That is, a singular genius tucked away in a laboratory, experimenting with ways to make his or her inspiration a reality. Read the rest of this entry »
Understanding Resistance to Change
Organizational change comes in all flavors. From a localized project that modifies a key process for a workgroup, to enterprise wide initiatives, such as rolling out a new IT system or deploying Performance Excellence. Yet, one thing that’s consistent across all change efforts, big or small, is the likelihood of resistance – and, in this case, resistance is not futile. In fact, if it isn’t identified and countered in time, resistance can lower morale, delay progress or even derail the change effort. Read the rest of this entry »
