Developing The 21st Century Executive
November 22, 2007
Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes)
It is no great secret that the globalized corporate world is engaged in a war for talent. Nearly all companies go through the time consuming process of deciding whether to focus on homegrown talent or acquire talent from the market.
As a best practice, a 70/30 blend of homegrown v. free agents is recommended. This is true when the organization invests in their homegrown talent from the inception, and this is why it is essential to infuse systems of leadership and communication into the everyday working culture of the people in the organization.
In many large firms, there are tremendous knowledge gaps from office to office. Bringing in high-flying talent from the market is essential, but doing so can attenuate an organization with a sub-standard corporate culture if that individual doesn’t mesh well with the team. Read more… »
Video: Introduction To II-Asia
November 17, 2007
In our first video post, Ravi Sastry talks about his early experiences in Asia, the emergence of China and India as low-cost producers, and the opportunity for smaller companies to benefit from having an Asia presence.
Click on Ravi’s picture to play the video ….
Market Research: Expense or Investment?
November 17, 2007
Custom market research costs money. How much depends on the scope and complexity of the work to be done and the format in which the findings and recommendations will be delivered.
Some companies, especially smaller ones, tend to view market research as an expense. By that I mean that when they’re considering whether or not to conduct a research study, much of their attention is focused on the cost. "Can we afford to do this?", or, "Can we get the price down?" That sort of thing.
In my experience, companies that focus on the expense of market research don’t pay enough attention to the impact that the research can have on their business. They "control" the cost, but fail to get as much benefit as they could. Read more… »
Opening A Vietnam Rep Office
November 3, 2007
The Representative Office (RO) is the most simplified structure for gaining a toehold in Vietnam. The strategy behind the RO is to make a minimum investment as you learn about the inner workings of the country, understand the costs, established a market channel, and investigate the capabilities of the people. Following are the key step required for opening an RO in Vietnam.
Establishment of the RO
To establish a representative office in Vietnam, a foreign company must apply for a license issued by the Provincial Trade Department, and complete post licensing procedures including notice of operations and obtaining a seal. Application files for establishment of the representative office must be submitted to the Provincial Trade Department. To obtain a seal, the chief representative of the representative office or its staff may be required to personally lodge the applications due to security reasons. The following documents must be submitted to the licensing authority for obtaining the License: Read more… »