the Koreas, Japan, the US & Hofstede

(part two)

Japan
   In the 1970s, the Japanese began noticeably to change the managerial landscape; including the United States. There were many points of view forwarded, and many books written on the topic. As the world, typified by American business, came to grips with what was working in Japan, one of the best works to be published on the topic was The Art of Japanese Management (Pascale & Athos , 1981). Pascal and Athos noted “7 S's”; strategy, structure, systems, skills, staff, style, and shared values. Moving forward from such an eye opening, management that took things for granted would hereafter do so at their own peril.
   This holistic sensibility echoes the Zen of the predominant spiritual path in Japan; Buddhism. An extension of the contextual balance just cited, finds Japanese effective management tending to demure from force or personality; in contrast with the US (World Business Culture, n.d.).
   Naturally, there is much more similarity among the Asian countries. One such example finds both Koreas, tending to seek out consensus building as part of decision-making processes. This is been developed in Japan to an actual system, wherein the managerial facilitating role still allows for some influence; and is called nemawashi (World Business Culture, n.d.).

the Koreas, Japan, the US & Hofstede

(part one)

Abstract

   This represents a compare / contrast of Hofstede's cultural dimensions vis-à-vis behaviors of managers in the Koreas, Japan and the US.

Introduction
   In the late 1970s, the Dutch organizational sociologist Geert Hofstede, began his exploration of behavioral patterns in somewhat simplistic terms; based on country. While aware of what might be construed as viable arguments, he acknowledged the flexibility inherent in cultures (e.g., differences from region to region, etc.), noting the value of organizing as objectively as possible what we can. With an eye, in particular, on differences from a business perspective, he created quantifiable metrics to weigh differences in five significant arenas: power distance, individualism, masculinity, uncertainty avoidance, and long-term orientation. His construct is so thorough that the majority of current multicultural academic research tends to reference it.
   As valuable as Hofstede’s work may be, as valuable as any armature or scaffolding may be to a larger sculpture, other works are included to expand and give meaning the larger picture.
   Another consideration, useful for the reader, is to avoid the presumption and point out that at this writing there are still two Koreas. Most current work, including Hofstede, understandably leaves North Korea out of the picture. Nonetheless, there has been some work developed on the north, and there is an effort to that end; to acknowledge North Korea.

Background (for dissertation)

   The researcher has been an active commercial artist all his life, with a 1982 BFA in Illustration from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.
   Perhaps it is best stated now that the author has or currently works for the International Academy of Design & Technology and the Art Institute (both at Tampa, FL). It is impressive how these institutions are in relationship to the subject matter that inspires this pursuit. Both institutions tie coursework outside the major to the major, as well as making available courses that contextualize the major in the business world as it is. Along with that curricula shift, each school supports an entire department devoted to researching and networking the immediate community to support career placement as a graduation transition occurs.
   In contrast, the 1982 undergrad degree at UArts was considered the best commercial art university experience worldwide at the time. But in the 1970’s and ‘80’s our “gen ed’s” (general education classes) were not specifically designed to support our majors. Indeed, there is no recollection of even one business-type class offered at all. Moreover, we did not have a career placement department.
   Things may be changing. The research seeks to find out how much; and whether it makes a difference.

of Colas, Hoftede & India

   Kasim Hussain writes an interesting and easy to read report on the connection of Coke (and Pepsi, for that matter), Hofstede’s work and the people/country/culture of India. Unfortunately, he doesn’t tie the dots together as much as I’d like (whoever he is, he would do well to get his papers proofread also).
   It seems we have similar avoidance and masculinity characteristics, but approaching this from the other side of the equation does not help much. The larger consideration is to throw out the American indexes and to anticipate how to address the key differences: power distance, individualism and long term planning. For example, Mr. Hussain did point out various issues in the face of market entry. However, he never even mentions Limka or Thumbs Up. These soft drink brands in India are what Coke and Pepsi are in the US; iconic, with strong loyalties. We saw what happened with New Coke in the US in 1985, and we’re not as fiercely loyal as India is.
   Really, if it wasn’t for the tenacity of throwing money at the brand establishment over time (long term outlook?) the US product would not have stood a chance. And by the way, consider the tastes. We are talking about two cola flavors that never existed before in a sub continent that knows spices more than most.
   Power distance had a push back based in colonialism, he posits (good), but that historical fact has no immediacy with Hofstede. This would be the power distance index (and analogously the individualism index); and given the differential one may imagine the Indian’s eventually made allowances for its more powerful friend the US (beverage companies). Isn’t this the opposite? Yes; and while both perspectives have a semblance of truth, both worthy of our consideration, the Hofstede angle was not developed in Mr. Hussain’s paper.
   So, did Coca Cola anticipate what it would go through in India? If it did not, and thoroughly, it wasted money (though it is imagined it can afford to waste; relatively). The margins on flavored water are ridiculous. I’m certain the answer is yes, they pre-understood thoroughly.
   The two most notables (in this writers knowledge set) vis-à-vis this whole Cola / India thing: [1] Coca Cola had some issues with drawing water some years back with one of its local bottling plants. The locals, who were experiencing a bit of draught took issue with the plant. Despite the fact that Coca Cola was drilling significantly deeper than the aquifer the villagers referred to, the company nonetheless worked with the locals to resolve beyond the relational issue and helped them resolve the larger issue. Coke does that well; and that’s the kind of thing that impresses Indians. [2] Have you noticed who heads up PepsiCo? Indra Nooyi, a 54 year old woman from the former Madras area (Chenai) of India. She achieved this rise after joining the company within 12 years. At this writing that was four years ago. Both her insights and symbolism went a long way in India for Pepsi.

Reference

Hussain, K. ([u/k]). untitled. Retrieved from Pacific Lutheran University:

   www.plu.edu/~hussaika/doc/coca-cola.doc

How Hofstede's findings show up in US university classrooms

   As an educator I’ve noticed that most island cultures are very relaxed, Scandinavian’s and Balt’s tend to be serious, Mediterranean & Hispanic cultures are expressive and most Asian cultures tend to be “shy”. If I want participation, I have to honor and work with what I have.
   How is this not a stereotype? Relaxed, serious, expressive and shy are inherently neither good nor bad; they are straightforward characteristics. They may or may not be preferred and/or useful under varying circumstances; but of themselves they carry no inherent baggage. This is markedly different than adjectives such as lazy, smart, shut down or inscrutable (to name, God knows, just a few). Nothing means anything until we assign it meaning; and here is a great opportunity to watch how we do so.
   So, that disclaimer out of the way, and my experience now stated, let’s see what ole Geert has to say. The most notable in the Pilipino chart was the Power Distance ranking of 90. Well, that certainly expresses deference. My Ecuadorian kid seems consistent with the rankings for Ecuador: Power Distance just above 70, Uncertainty Avoidance just over 60 and Masculinity just under 60 … and all the while maintaining her femininity and decorum she found ways to communicate her needs, made sure all her questions were answered, always had clarity; moreover, always expressing respect. My Dane was often made fun of behind his back. He exhibited behavior that is characterized as eccentric here. He was dead serious always, and expressing his somewhat foreign views was very important to him (he is a very bright atheist). It might also be noted that he never made enemies, for he was also respected (maybe even secretly admired); seen as struggling with existential angst … but at least he was authentic. Denmark’s most notable ranking is Individualism.
   I’m not surprised.

http://www.geert-hofstede.com/hofstede_ecuador.shtml

http://www.geert-hofstede.com/hofstede_philippines.shtml

http://www.geert-hofstede.com/hofstede_denmark.shtml

retrieved Thursday, September 16, 2010

skill versus talent (an aspect of preface)

art versus craft
   I have personally known any number of people that were magnificent talents but had no development to speak of in people skills, professional skills, political skill, etc. Those folks tend to fail. Talent alone is no guarantee. I have also known many people who have had the skills I just spoke of and little or no talent. Whether they succeed or not will often depend on the degree to which they can develop their craft; an aspect of talent, the technique or technology of talent. And let us not overlook the value of tenacity.
   With the advent of such muscular software there is little involved in the craft and mastery of the technique for more often than not it involves one’s own personal commitment to celebrating the software; spending face-time exploring it, devouring tutorials and so on.
   While there may be no pixie dust to afford someone a “good eye”, much like the inability to “buy class”, one can nonetheless pick up on the essential sensitivities along the way. And you are hereby heartily encouraged to do so. Is this the end of talent? I should certainly think not. If you believe yourself to have talent continue the commitment to its development, alongside all these other skills I spoke of, and you should rise above the rest. This, too, I’ve seen repeatedly. But the cautionary is that the field of effort is evening. We will all be students for the rest of our lives.

ethereal versus business
   Another matter becomes applying artistic sensibilities to hard business; yet another skill set. Were I to have to bet on the longevity of the savvy entrepreneur who knows nothing about baking and the baker whose love of the art exceed all other experiences opening up a boulangerie my money is on the businessman/woman. For all the altruistic within us, business is about driving income; at least as a survival basis for the business itself, which can then be something beyond that (expressive, philanthropic, quality service, etc.). But much as a painter frames the painting, most often the frame is not his own; so too the desire to pursue one’s own expression must live within the context of how our world current works.
   So, we now add to the skill sets ideas like, well, business savvy. This is often a function of familiarity to mastery over such areas as all that money entails (accounting, economics and finance; and their sub-considerations), all that marketing involves (e-commerce, advertizing, etc.), the legal and ethical considerations, and all that management entails (knowledge, operations/organization, process, product, project and supply chain). Along the way some overlapping skills also become evident. The need to be familiar with other software (most notably the document, spreadsheet, database, presentation and notebook software represented by those components of the Microsoft Office Suite) and skills (such as statistics).
   One can argue which of these come before actualization, in what order and measure, and I imagine you already know there is no hard answer. Here is an area where being right-brained, seeing the forest for the trees, can find an objective individual with an advantage. If you’re honest with yourself you may know more organically, more fluidly what parts to develop in what order and how far before reaching each new plateau.

Company Environment Policy

Introduction

   This particular document seeks to overview configurations and considerations of truly global public companies regards to being green. Despite being a review, a mere snapshot of sorts, a conscious choice was made of iconic companies in very different industries with relative representation in mind.
   The approach began with the scouring of the four companies 10K reports, took a detour to the share price over the last five years (given that increasing shareholder wealth is the primary fiduciary responsibility of the public company) and then went back and scoured the annual reports as well. Just for good measure, each company was googled for the phrase: “Is ___ green?”
   The companies are General Electric, Microsoft, Time Warner and McDonalds. Each of these companies has at least a footprint in more countries than not, and more than being global in a literal sense they are each recognized globally for the corporate citizens that they are. A notable aside: that each of these companies is, in and of itself, a larger economy than half the world's countries.

General Electric
   If there could ever be such a thing as the quintessential Corporation, it would certainly have to be GE. Many of the considerations that we think of when we consider American corporations became famous through GE; in particular through its last CEO Jack Welch. Arguably, for better or for worse, such corporate expressions included off shoring, Six Sigma and while for others would be enormously successful enterprises in their own right, for GE, these distinct entities were simply modules rearranged on a chessboard, merged, deconstructed... whatever was necessary to line the coffers.
   When most people think of GE, they tend to think of appliances and light bulbs. The new (well, since 2000) CEO, Jeff Immelt, began to extinguish the appliance line altogether in 08/09. The last incandescent light bulb to be manufactured in the United States occurred this month (September 2010); the fluorescent bulb manufacturing having already been established overseas. Yet, a point in fact, as much of American business is making money off money (Sears), GE's 10K reveals an acknowledged 13 distinct entities, the majority financial institutions.
   Despite being the behemoth that it is GE seems almost human compared to other MNCs; given its nimbleness and cleverness. Embedded in the military-industrial complex of the United States GE remains in the background by only doing pieces and parts. Upper management sees where tomorrow's money will be coming from, and as if having turned on a dime across this last decade, GE has rebranded itself as the champion of tomorrow's energy, coining the phrase: Ecomagination. An enormous effort from a company that is still in the process of dredging PCBs from the Hudson River under restraint of federal law.
   GE's efforts, to name a few, include gasification, synthetic gas, conversions of coal and other hydrocarbons, nuclear, more efficient power generation wherever they can find it and the new symbolic poster child, their wind farms.
   Beyond the 10K, the annual report reveals more references to the environment, green and sustainability than all the other annual reports reviewed combined. GE happily trumpets green collar jobs. While GE may be doing more than most to this end, make no mistake, GE is about making money in the long term; and the green thing is by far more marketing than the over arching aspect of all the GE does.
   Taking a quick look at how they have fared over the last five years, they trade on the NYSE, their high was on Oct 1st 2007 – 41.77, their low on Mar 2 2009 – 7.06 and as of September 13 – 15.98. These are some significant swings; and while we will see some of this echoed in the other companies, given what happened in the global economy over last five years, the other three companies do not swing is much, nor did they try to reinvent themselves as much.
   As this new makeup was being applied at 2005 article in Forbes entitled Has General Electric gone eco-mad? had the interesting line, “environmentalists sneer that Ecomagination is like having Philip Morris run a chain of cancer clinics.”

Microsoft
   Microsoft is the new kid, compared to the rest; founded in 1975 (of course was Thomas Edison who had found the GE). In its 35 years it has certainly grown to be global, a natural expression of what it does. It has over 89,000 employees, nearly half of which are located in at least 10 other countries. The technology that Microsoft represents has been transformational for entire world. The author was unable to find corroboration, and it may be urban legend, it is said that that the world runs on Windows; specifically, that Microsoft has 92% of the market share.
   For much of its life Microsoft has enjoyed the spin that what it produces is inherently green. With so much becoming digital think of all the paper, photo chemicals, and the like, that our planet is being spared.
   Unfortunately, being born into a consumption culture, none of these appliances or its attendant pieces has seemed much less than disposable. Worse, these materials have been among the most insidious to get rid of and/or to recycle.
   A quick detour to how Microsoft has fared over the last five years in the markets shows the following: it trades on NASDAQ (MSFT), saw its high on Oct 29 2007 – 37.06, its low on Mar 09 2009 – 16.65 and as of September 13, 2010 was trading at 23.85. This seems a very conservative reflection of what has been happening in the world economically.
   Wrapping up the Microsoft commentary it is noteworthy that there was virtually no acknowledgment of the environment, anything green or sustainability in either the 10K or the annual report proper. However, found elsewhere, Microsoft is making an effort. It is unclear how much this effort actually represents. Nonetheless, this includes solar powered data centers, bio diesel trucks and a purge of PVC in its products, begun in 2005.

Time Warner
   With 87 region specific versions and local language feeds in approximately 180 countries around the world (depending on who is counting, there are only 195 to 200 countries) one could argue Time Warner has more of a global penetration than any other company does. Of course its holdings include entertainment beyond the television; with all manner of publication, video games and theme parks, just to name a few. Time Warner has over 550 movie theater screens in Japan and the US alone.
   Trading on the NYSE (TWX) , the five-year high came Jan 16 2007 – 67.86, the low Feb 17 2005 – 22.05 and as of September 13th, 2010 – 31.78. Like Microsoft, Time Warner’s market movement seems reflection of global economics.
   The 10K itself yielded nothing about any green movement on Time Warner's part. The annual report, however, had a seal on the back page stating, "Time Warner reduce printing and postage expenses and helps protect the environment." That was about it.
   However, also like Microsoft, more about Time Warner's green efforts were elsewhere. Acknowledged on their own website were practices and initiatives, studies, recycling efforts, some kind words towards carpooling and energy conservation and a solar powered building. It is difficult to see this is much more than cosmetic, also. It is hard to imagine the paper consumption alone offset by these efforts.

McDonalds
   One of the four companies considered, only GE and McDonald's had something to say about the environment within their 10K statement. McDonald stated, “The Company continually monitors developments related to environmental matters and plans to respond to governmental initiatives in a timely and appropriate manner. At this time, the Company has already undertaken its own initiatives relating to preservation of the environment, including the development of means of monitoring and reducing energy use, in many of its markets.”
   If this sounds somewhat weak, it likely is for several reasons. For generation now, McDonald's has been a target of consumer activism. The Styrofoam clamshell packaging has been gone for some time now. McDonald's may still be a producer of extraordinary waste, but its environmental efforts continue enough that consumer pushback today is largely focused on the actual nutrition content of the food, issues of obesity, etc.
   At least that is how the conversation seems left for the North American audience. In Europe, however, the greening of McDonald's has recently included something as drastic as a color change in the timeless icon itself.
   “The Annual Report is printed on paper certified to the standards of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and includes postconsumer fiber”. Otherwise, the annual report is largely silent about environmental matters as well.
   McDonald's trades on the NYSE (MCD); and there is something of interest to note. Insofar as we all have to eat, and McDonald's has positioned itself as a low-cost food source. Its low over the last five years was on October 10, 2005 at – 32.32, but it has continued to climb since. As of September 13, 2010, McDonald’s was trading at a five-year high of – 75.01.
   Consistent with its other heavyweight colleague's McDonald's efforts to go green were largely found away from its own grid of 10K and annual report. In 2008, McDonald has had its first LEED® Certified restaurant. In 2009, McDonald has installed electric vehicle charging stations for the first time. However, these tentative first gestures can hardly offset the destruction of football field’s worth of tropical rain forests every day, to create new lands for cattle grazing.

Summary
   Sadly, only half of the four had pronounced environmental activities sections within their formal 10K and/or annual reports. Of itself, this was a surprise; given the general mood among first world nations’ consumers to be sensitive to such things. While all four companies have made an earnest movement in the green direction, it seems far too much has been cosmetic, lip service or even at best, minimal, compared to the portrayal.
   GE sees a monetized future if we can establish itself well enough as first to market. The rest seem to be making as much movement as they need to speak to as much noise as they may be getting; enough to keep off the hounds, allowing them to continue business as usual (as much as possible). Managing interdependence between host and home is largely a case-by-case basis; as witnessed by McDonald's new green signs.
   Concluding thoughts would have to acknowledge that any efforts to this end are good efforts; we simply need to elevate the conversation, hold corporations more accountable. The citizens of the world are at the mercy of the conflicting agendas playing out on the world stage: the cancerous need of capitalism to seek deregulation versus the good governance global institutions and their treaties with the politics of the respective governments caught in the middle. People speak up!

References

General Electric. (2010). Annual Report ([pdf download]). Retrieved from Corporate home website: http://www.ge.com/

General Electric. (2010, Feb 19, 2010). Annual report [Section 13 and 15(d), not S-K Item 405]Acc-no: 0000040545-10-000010 (34 Act) Size: 22 MB ([digital/online]). Retrieved from SEC; EDGAR system: http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/40545/000004054510000010/frm10k.htm

McDonalds. (2010, February 26, 2010). Annual report [Section 13 and 15(d), not S-K Item 405]Acc-no: 0001193125-10-042025 (34 Act) Size: 4 MB ([digital/online]). Retrieved from SEC; EDGAR system: http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/63908/000119312510042025/d10k.htm

Microsoft. (2010, July 30, 2010). Annual report [Section 13 and 15(d), not S-K Item 405]Acc-no: 0001193125-10-171791 (34 Act) Size: 20 MB ([digital/online]). Retrieved from SEC; EDGAR system: http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/789019/000119312510171791/d10k.htm

Time Warner. (2010, February 19, 2010). Annual report [Section 13 and 15(d), not S-K Item 405]Acc-no: 0000950123-10-014479 (34 Act) Size: 7 MB ([online/digital]). Retrieved from SEC; EDGAR system: http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1105705/000095012310014479/g21813e10vk.htm

Training Expats

   (yesterday's post)

   Training, and the broader preparation that is development, is fundamental. Yet the evolution of development seems patchy; though there are documented best practices and lessons learned.
   Multinational entities fall short of providing pre-departure training for ex-pats about half the time. One implication found that about half remain overseas at performance levels lower than expectations. A related insight found a link between performance and pay but not performance and career development.
   Often, training departments almost seem to be begrudging afterthoughts; frequently not treated as part of the larger management team. This is evident in that knowledge transfer is usually from headquarters to subsidiaries, while fewer lessons seem learned from the reverse.
   However, it is beginning to emerge that ongoing, periodic general management training, coupled with international sensitivities pays off. There is recognition afoot that training, the employee and the business entity need to grow together; including “globalization”, for today’s work environment right here is increasingly multicultural.
   Let us look at a few key ex-pat target areas for training:
Job related:
• the company's DNA at the alternate location.
• the other governments’ regulations, policies (IP, trade)
• geography
• economics
• legal and ethical systems
• the history
• political environment
• language information
Business Customs (differences):
• negotiation, organization & sociology of the business
• management styles, (distribution, marketing)
• accounting / finance
and Culture:
• money (ATMs, banking, costs generally)
• housing
• food
• appropriate entertainment
• shopping
   Will the spouse and/or children be going or not? If they attend, are they prepared; is counseling in place, can the spouse work? If the family is left behind, who visits whom, for how long and how often?
   Training should not end once overseas; problem recognition is a key first step. Inability to adjust on the part of the employee and or family, along with coping, cultural challenges and competencies are the constant refrain for shortfall.
   Numbers vary, yet generally about 20% fail during the assignment, about 20% leave the position within a year of returning and more than double that of ex-pats, 40% leave within three years.
   Neither should training end upon repatriation. Concerns as to whether a position will be available upon return and its significance, and the shock of coming home have been issues cited. One successful technique has been to dedicate a kind of coach.

about Coaching, and Global coaching

   We see justifying gestures, acknowledging the powerful leverage of information, data and knowledge generally. We are now in a knowledge-based society. Knowledge is power. And yet far too often human resources is relegated to a department focused on forms, policies and procedures. However, HR is evolving; and may well find its footing more meaningfully as a backup department to all other departments. A significant aspect of this movement is the internal development of knowledge management.
   To be clear, part of the evolution of knowledge management has, or will likely include, the documentation of processes. Sometimes this occurs with such rigor that employees feel that they are establishing everything the company needs so that they are creating their own plug-and-play replacement opportunity. Naturally, if the company has done its own job properly from the start it is looking to hire human value, not just human bodies; and therefore this approach misses the point (nor is this good for general morale).
   Knowledge management as such has only been around since the early 1990’s. Its larger consideration is not just to capture and distribute base knowledge, for the opportunity is larger than that. To extend experiences and insights, to organically distribute, and in the process continue to represent and create; this is the larger opportunity of knowledge management.
   Software has its place, has been being developed, and some of it is very useful; however, this tends to speak more to the base concern. Course work has and continues to be developed and implemented; there are now certifying institutions for such business coaching. Certainly, this is a movement with more potential than software, though every iteration has its place. It seems the best evolution of this consideration to date is an internal network of coaching elders. Such a networking coordination necessitates a managerial expression on the part of HR.
   By this method, the goals are extended. Behaviors and situations are assessed, competencies are weighed, benchmarks are monitored and support is inherent. Bright noticed the Japanese senpai-koai (senior-junior found in the organizational setting) or oyabun-kobun (leader-subordinate-apprenticeship relationship) approach; somewhat different from the strategy-based US, or socially based UK approach. Although it must be said that these relationships still tend to be one-on-one, they bring us nearer where we wish to be with group mentoring. These relationships are long-term; and as such, forward organizational trust, as well as reduce turnover.
   The proposition of taking this one-step further and having HR pair a junior to more than one senior simply takes this to the next level. No longer are all your eggs in one basket, and any weaknesses of one are offset by another. The junior becomes an active seeker with wise friends, experts in their own right, in their surgically selected fields.
   Such an approach becomes increasingly significant when looking to establish business interaction with another country and culture; no one could possibly be the quintessential expert on everything that may arise. Such an approach also offers more to the junior by spreading out responsibilities among a variety of seniors.

Bright, M. I. (2005). Can Japanese mentoring enhance understanding of Western mentoring? Employee 
   Relations, 27, 4, 325-339.
C. Brooke Orr and Nancy R. Lockwood, SPHR, GPHR, SHRM Research Department. http://www.shrm.org/. Retrieved 
   8/15/2010.
Nonaka, Ikujiro (1991). "The knowledge creating company". Harvard Business Review 69 (6 Nov-Dec): 96–104.
   http://hbr.harvardbusiness.org/2007/07/the-knowledge-creating-company/es.

Hope, more growing pains, more emphasis (part five; conclusion)

Summary

   That we will witness a rise in hope, both in expression and in its resultant fruition has been the prediction of this document. The expression may not always be credible. There has always been such disingenuous capitalizing. However, the larger value will always eclipse such nuisances.
   We speak in terms of politics and economics, legal systems and trade. When having these conversations there has always been the limits of geography. Now the conversation is global, and that geography is the entirety of our one blue marble. The answers to our questions are making themselves known. Countries were, basically, on their own more than 100 years ago. Across the previous hundred years, the arc of charity rose. This next century should see less-developed countries (LDCs) increasingly being given opportunity, charity, and perhaps even adoption; why not?
   Hope as aspiring, yearning and/or goal setting has opportunities to work now that it never had before. Ostensibly, the human condition is universal. We have far more in common than we do not. For instance, certainly we have assigned meaning to order things; over the years we have used terms like black, white, mulatto, light skinned, dark skinned, African-American, Hispanic, Latino, but there is just one race, the human race. This human race has a magnificent range of coloration, but honestly, it is all from the darkest to the lightest within the same family of brown. There has never been a race truly red, yellow, or for that matter any other color. The slow disassembling of the racial divide is upon the peoples of the world; and is not to be over-looked for its power to uplift us all, or for that matter for some to uplift others. This is but one example.
   We saw the difference the internet made in Tiananmen Square, and during the 2009 Iranian elections. Sometimes the difference making, like these political expressions, will be a slow erosion; but sometimes not.
   An article published May 1, 2007 in Foreign Policy News, found the editors carefully chose subject matter experts to review how dire, or indeed hopeful, the worst of the worst might be. The 21 subject matter experts each took on one of the worst considerations facing the planet. One by one the issues are addressed. The article entitled 21 Solutions, effectively maps out authentic reason to strive, inspire vision, and pursue hope (Kasparov et al., 2007).
   In some ways, like those associated with energy and climate, we have no choice. We know that we must act, and fortunately, we know how; and we can. In other circumstances, such as poverty, hunger, malaria and AIDS, not only is it making more sense to help then to not, the motivation of attached dollar signs are freeing up resources hitherto unassociated with such causes.
   Truly, hope must and will have an elevated expression.

References
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   Answers Corporation. (2010, ). How big is the ozone hole? [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_big_is_the_ozone_hole
   Brabeck-Letmathe, P. (2009, ). H2O. Foreign Policy, May/Jun2009 (issue 172), 93. doi: Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/viewarticle?data=dGJyMPPp44rp2%2fdV0%2bnjisfk5Ie46bJPr6ewTLWk63nn5Kx95uXxjL6vrU6tqK5JrpavSrirsFKurJ5oy5zyit%2fk8Xnh6ueH7N%2fiVa%2brslG1prJMtKmkhN%2fk5VXj5KR84LPffuac8nnls79mpNfsVbKmr0qzr69JpNztiuvX8lXu2uRe8%2bLqbOPu8gAA&hid=107
   Buffett, W., & Gates, B. (2010, Jul 21, 2010). The Giving Pledge [Abstract]. . Retrieved from http://givingpledge.org/
   CNN (Producer). (2010, September 8, 2010). 1PM EST broadcast, with Ali Velchi [Television broadcast]. : CNN.
   Fisch, K., McLeod, S., & Brenman, J. (2008). Did You Know? 3.0 and 4.0 [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECDZbrzkTxk
   Fresco, L. O. (2009). Better Biofuels. Foreign Policy, May/Jun2009 (Issue 172), 93. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/viewarticle?data=dGJyMPPp44rp2%2fdV0%2bnjisfk5Ie46bJPr6ewTLWk63nn5Kx95uXxjL6vrU6tqK5JrpavSrirsFKurJ5oy5zyit%2fk8Xnh6ueH7N%2fiVa%2brslG1prJMtKmkhN%2fk5VXj5KR84LPffuac8nnls79mpNfsVbKmr0qzr69JpNztiuvX8lXu2uRe8%2bLqbOPu8gAA&hid=107
   Friedman, T. (2005). The World Is Flat. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux .
   Gladwell, M. (2001). The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference. Boston, MA: Little Brown & Company.
   Grimm, N. B. (2008). THE DAWN OF AN URBAN MILLENNIUM - “Global Change and the Ecology of Cities”. Science, 319, no. 5864 (8 February 2008), 756–60. Abstract obtained from Environment Magazine, 2008, Sep2008, Vol. 50 Issue 5, p4-5.
   Head, L., & Atchison, J. (2009). Cultural ecology: emerging human-plant geographies (Progress in Human Geography, Apr2009, Vol. 33 Issue 2, p236-245, 10p; DOI: 10.1177/0309132508094075; ). Retrieved from EBSCO: http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/viewarticle?data=dGJyMPPp44rp2%2fdV0%2bnjisfk5Ie46bJPr6ewTLWk63nn5Kx95uXxjL6vrU6tqK5JrpavSrintFKwqp5oy5zyit%2fk8Xnh6ueH7N%2fiVa%2brslG1prJMtKmkhN%2fk5VXj5KR84LPffuac8nnls79mpNfsVbGst1GyqLBOpNztiuvX8lXu2uRe8%2bLqbOPu8gAA&hid=107
   Kasparov, G., Mallaby, S., McKibben, B., Gardner, H., Appleby, R. S., Lewis, S., Hitchens, C., ... Homer-Dixon, T. (2007, April 18, 2007). 21 Solutions to Save the World. Foreign Policy News. Retrieved from http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2007/04/18/21_solutions_to_save_the_world
   Keyes Jr., K. (1984). The Hundredth Monkey . Camarillo, CA : Devorss & Co..
   McCandless, D., Key, J., & Hancock, M. (2010). Graphic (with attendant spreadsheet) [jpg file]. Retrieved from http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/category/environment/
   Raja, S., Ma, C., & Yadav, P. (Summer2008). “Beyond Food Deserts: Measuring and Mapping Racial Disparities in Neighborhood Food Environments”. Journal of Planning Education and Research 27 , no. 4, 469–82. Abstract obtained from Environment Magazine, 2008, vol. 50.
   Reggio , G. (Producer) & Reggio , G. (Writer/Director). (1982). Koyaanisqatsi: Life out of Balance [Motion picture]. US: .
   Sachs, J. (2005). The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time. E Rutherford, New Jersey: Penguin Group USA.
   The Hunger Project. (February, 1977). [website]. Retrieved from http://www.thp.org/

Hope, more growing pains, more emphasis (part four)

(concluding part five tomorrow)

Something for Hope to Stand Upon



   Technology, the internet, social media and the whole genre of however you may refer to the collective phenomena that has given us this opening that we've never had before, one may say is beyond refreshing. In 2005, Thomas Friedman declared that the world was flat (Friedman, 2005). This leveling of the playing field will do more to blur capitalism, communism, socialism, etc. than anything else ever had the possibility. Look with the governments of the world at this time. An evolution has taken place. Based on what works best for most economies is a sort of democratic capitalistic socialism. In the last quarter-century, we find that the majority of countries have moved in this direction. The same kind of self-serving self-interest will likely move the rest of the world in similar fashion concerning trade, the construction and structure of law and all the other nuances that go into a “self-sustaining", respectable country. In addition, the reason why is because we do not need to bludgeon each other any longer about such things. If you think you have a better way, try it. If you are right, we will all move in your direction. We have only to look at the mutations of communism in countries with as much potential as Russia and China to witness for ourselves how differently things can play out. Lessons learned from this alone include expanses of infertile planes versus ports and coastline, the centralization or not, and the management styles of the government, and how trade interactions occurred or not, just to name a few.
   Such colossal movements need colossal conversations, and naturally, they need colossal forums. It becomes a subjective opinion as to where you want to go back and what you want to point to; the telegraph would be a great example of technology, the summits involved in the World Wars would be great examples of diplomacy. The establishment of the United Nations is likely as good place to start as any. Notice the evolution; for soon after the UN was established, we saw other world organizations slowly come into being. At the level of community or group we also saw global charities established. The Hunger Project was likely the first truly global charity that was both secular and without government backing (The Hunger Project, February, 1977). We are now in a time where the world has George Soros’ and Richard Branigans’; individual collections of wealth finding inspiration to coordinate and/or create charity. The Giving Pledge, aka the $600 Billion Dollar Challenge, Warren Buffett and Bill Gates, dares others to join in the philanthropy (Buffett & Gates, 2010). And giving doesn’t have to be in the form of enormous wealth; the intellectual prowess of Jeff Sach’s work, the celebrity power of a Bono and so forth have been making transformational changes.
   That social media will continue its difference-making, monetization has extended into this arena; with celebrity endorsement and corporate alignments joining the movement. The ability to rally and feel good around causes is likely in the midst of developing best practices. This will address over time lessons learned regarding pace, timing and the like; avoiding or minimizing charity weariness, etc.
   Countries and cultures will longer evolve in a vacuum.

More ethics than ordinarily meet the eye?

   When it comes to payroll, one of the most prevalent things to come mind is the matter of privacy; the ability to maintain security on behalf of the employee. This has been able to be addressed in a myriad of ways; direct deposit, mailing a check directly or handing it over in an envelope. Naturally, all the eyeballs that meet with the documentation on the way to the actual production of the paycheck need to adhere to a code of confidentiality, as well. Most countries behave consistent with such methods.
   As the following questions claim your attention please consider what your response could be based in both your own home country, as well as that of another country: Is it ethical to pay research subjects? Is it ethical for the vast majority of the employees to take a pay cut during difficult times if the management does not follow suit? Under what circumstances would you keep someone on the payroll if faced with ethical violations? Under what circumstances is prison labor ethical and does it matter whether there is compensation or not?
   For further discussion, consider the idea of ethical relativism. You are an eight-year-old child working a 16-hour day in a Third World country factory. There are no safety regulations; your safety is predicated on the concern of your coworkers. Does it make you feel any better to know that this is among the best options for this child; given that the parents cannot afford food, let alone school. Ordinarily, the other attractive options include either being a drug mule or a prostitute. So, does your company contribute to the eight-year-olds’ pay by allowing an alliance with this factory or not?

Hope, more growing pains, more emphasis (part three)

Some Reasons for Hope


   At the superficial level of corporate ego there seems to be evidence of positive directions. Naming rights has only been around for about a generation. So far it seems restricted to arenas and stadiums, but I imagine there is no real reason for this not to spread (Washington State becomes Microsoft State).
   Genetic engineering, breaking the genome and all the rest of the biotech industry holds all the promise and anticipation that we saw just a generation ago with technology. If we have forgiven the deaths of whole countries, who will underwrite free medication to once and for all and malaria and AIDS (Sachs, 2005). We are living in a time of face transplants, genetically engineered foods and the possibilities of banking one's own physical copy or backup. Certain ethical gauntlets have already been established; no human cloning, for example. Still, when you stop and think about it, the possibilities for good seem on the almost endless.
   The computational prowess of a common PC is supposed to equal that of a human brain within just a few years (Fisch, McLeod, & Brenman, 2008). What technology has already given us, just in the last 20 years, has been extraordinary. Begun in 2005, the nonprofit One Laptop Per Child Association, Inc. (OLPC) has given away hundreds of these little, portable educational and opportunity objects. For those who tend to use their computers for little more than e-mail and social media the PC revolution may seem passé. But conventional wisdom has not weighed in for good reason; the implications for what's to come are still staggering.
   When one asks about the environment, we tend to think of the environment out there. Yet it is here in our homes, this environment, where, in many ways, the waste starts. We have been tinkering around the edges, some might say for too long. However, it took the time that it took. For example, LEED certification has only been around since 1998 (a mere dozen years at this writing), but has already taken the related fields of architecture and interior design, etc., by storm. I imagine inclined solar panels rimming the lip of a bright white cistern, sharing space with skylights as the roof of a home for which recycling is so easy it is second nature (Anonymous, 2004). An aspect of my prediction of hope, and its new expressions, includes this very kind of thing. Prices continue to come down and the housing industry is in crisis, what better way to add value and differentiate (Head & Atchison, 2009)? We could have the same conversation about automobiles. High-speed magnetic trains and other green infrastructure are back on the drawing boards. The building of wind farms is happening as fast as possible. IKEA is drilling hundreds of feet under Denver to leverage thermal energy (CNN [CNN], 2010). The response never seems to be adequate for the need in this self-gratification, microwavable, just add water, and drive through times. However, if you look closely, it actually is. The first Earth Day was April 22, 1970. There was an excitement for a while, and then the world slowly forgot. We have learned from those lessons. Now we monetize green, assign meanings of sophistication... we now hope green; and we now incorporate the behavior to back up (Fresco, 2009).
   Among the thought leaders of the 1960s and 70s was Bucky Fuller. Buckminster Fuller was also caught up in the original green movement. He gave us the geodesic dome, and much more. Among his legacy, he left us a thought posture that was worth noting then, as well as forward; and has in the intervening time since been rediscovered and re-celebrated. Fuller used to refer to a breaching of a threshold that makes a difference as the trim tab. Actually a trim tab is the small rudder within the rudder of a large ship of state, an aircraft carrier, an ocean liner, etc., that is wired all the way to where the captain sits. For all the men and all the machinery under his command, nothing else quite has the ability to rotate in the middle of an ocean such a small city as the trim tab. In subsequent writings such as Ken Keyes’ the Hundredth Monkey , or even more recently in Malcolm Gladwell’s the Tipping Point, such thresholds for difference making change continue to be celebrated and pointed to for lessons learned for such paradigms (Keyes Jr., 1984), (Gladwell, 2001).

Hope, more growing pains, more emphasis (part two)

Problems; perennial & otherwise

   A therapist once put into perspective the complaints of his charges in recovery, that for all the complaining they now had a better caliber of problem. Problems do not disappear altogether. This could easily serve as a metaphor for our times. It is easy to be nostalgic about times past, until one peels away all the romanticism and is reminded of the inefficiencies, the burdens, the relative ignorance, the diseases, the shortened life spans ... ad infinitum.
   We still have war, and the US has a military complex larger than the rest of the world combined. We have pandemics, seemingly with regularity since the turn of the millennium; SARS, mad cow, avian flu, swine flu. It does not appear that we have cured disease since polio; and that was in the 1950s. Food issues have always been around. At this moment whole species are dying out, which should not be justified even when speaking of an insect. However, we are now to the point where we are speaking of whole fish stocks. Hunger has killed more people than all the wars combined (The Hunger Project, February, 1977). Pressures from every direction question the future of energy. Among all the other implications of how energy has been shifting around the world there are projections for all the known petroleum reserves to end in less than 30 years (McCandless, Key, & Hancock, 2010). Some issues, such as despots, greed and the gap of classes may always be around in some form or another; so much of those dynamics are part of the human condition.
   In addition, consider some new problems. No sooner do we find ourselves at a juncture where the very dynamic of one country's standing armies out-might those of another seeming quaint and ridiculous, then we find someone has reinvented war. Global terrorism seems to have thoroughly changed every aspect and rule of war. Then there are issues such as extreme climate change. There is a floating as well as a submerged garbage dump in the middle of the Pacific as large as the state of Texas, ice sheets breaking off in the Arctic the size of Maryland, volcanoes dormant for hundreds of years coming back to life. “The ozone hole peaked in size on Sept. 13, 2007 reaching a maximum area extent of 9.7 million square miles (24.7Area (million sq. km) ¬ just larger than the size of North America … Approximately 120,000 residents of Punta Arenas, a city in southern Chile, were exposed to very high levels of ultra violet radiation.” (Answers Corporation, 2010). There is likely more, and one more relatively new issue is internet security. Counterfeiting has always been around, by some estimates it accounts for 10% of today's commerce, and passing yourself off as someone else is nothing new, but to be virtually someone else so thoroughly, so completely, identity theft devastates people's lives. Stealing is nothing new, but stealing bits and bytes on the one hand is stealing knowledge, just data, or from a different perspective just ideas. This too lays waste, as groups of boys in Third World countries hurry to the Internet café after school and compete with each other in a sort of game to hack credit card numbers and see who can order the most toys for themselves.

Hope, more growing pains, more emphasis (part one)

   It was mid-2008 in the United States of America and the country was poised for what was arguably going to be a transformative election. In the great scheme of things it had been less than 100 years since either people of color or women had the right to vote, or really had much of anything; and for all appearances, we were about to elect either our first woman or our first person of color. Yet for many either of these was long overdue. One of the two campaigns was smart to leverage that hope, and the abstraction became an icon. Barack Obama went on to win the presidency.
   While not seeking to associate a renaissance to the idea of leveraging hope, the campaign was at least a milestone for hope. What a universal behavior to believe in something positive. We are not talking about positive affirmations here, or Pollyannaish fantasy; this is more a function of aspiring, yearning or goal setting.
   As we look around at the beginning of this new millennium one might ask what use have we for something so vague. One might also take pause and realize the wide spectrum from global horrors, injustices and inequities and the massive new possibilities and resources. Marketing and sales have always had hope on their palette. While it never went away, hope may yet find an elevated status moving forward.

Example two – employing and/or subcontracting rights violations

   One may call it a possibility or an opportunity, yet to appreciate the significant arbitrage of currency between the US and Indonesia necessitates something of an introduction. Like most of its surrounding countries, Indonesia was under colonization, in their case by the Dutch, for 400 years. No sooner had they gained independence they soon found themselves having to fight off foreign communism. The country has had its independence for less than 50 years. On top of that, it is the world's largest archipelago, comprised of some 17,000+ islands.
   Although it has a rich cultural history, it has hardly been in a position to gain any kind of traction to aspire to first world status. In the west and north the people's had originally migrated from the Himalayas; consequently stretching from the Himalayas to deep into the archipelago, being the last in that stretch of the Malay languages (with Malaysia in between). It shares the island of Guinea with Malaysia (eastern half, PNG, is the latters) as well.
   These are hard-working people. It is common, even in urban settings, to find the majority of markets to be more like bazaars. Fresh meat often means picking out a live chicken, having its neck twisted, and handed over to you. Alternatively, pointing out a fish in a tank, having it grabbed, lifted out, slapped on a cutting board and watching its head separated with a cleaver.
   Contrasting with the United States, it has been the better part of this century since most Americans had to have such an intimate relationship with their food. Similarly, Americans have had united States for most of the period more than four times longer than Indonesians have. Indeed, that goes for colonization as well.
   The point being sought here is that most Americans have had the luxury to have a different relationship with mortality, the value of life generally, than Indonesians have.
   “In Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, there are an estimated 700,000 child domestic workers. … Although child domestics can be as young as five years old, most are teenage girls, who are especially vulnerable to sexual abuse”. (Amnesty International USA, 2010)
   In the logging industry in Papua New Guinea (the Malaysian side of the one large shared island), a veritable museum of human rights abuses has been chronicled by the Australian government. (The Centre for Environmental Law and Community Rights and The Australian Conservation Foundation, 2006)
   Then there’s the infamous Nike scandal. Thailand and Vietnam shared in this with Indonesia. The CEO and founders’ attitude was that the company was not responsible for any human rights violations in that it was actually the subcontractors. (Gordon , 2003) As despicable a rationale as this may be, and despite the scandal having created significant damage to the Nike brand, hiding behind subcontractors has become a very popular way to accomplish the ugly.
   I just looked at a handful of abuses in Indonesia alone, but it is far from Indonesia alone. For some corporations leveraging any disadvantage is a way to their purpose: increasing shareholder wealth. However, more and more, the innovative material steering the future direction of business states otherwise; and is poignant about avoiding any implication in such horrors at all costs.

References
Amnesty International USA. (2010). Humankind owes the child “the best it has to give”; 1959 UN Declaration on the Rights of the Child. Retrieved from http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?lang=e&id=B0275B42F3B4C25380256900006933EF
Gordon , N. (2003). Strategic violations: the outsourcing of human rights abuses. Retrieved from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1374/is_5_63/ai_107897330/
Nation Master. (2010). Lifestyle Statistics > Happiness net (most recent) by country [bar graph]. http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/lif_hap_net-lifestyle-happiness-net: .
The Centre for Environmental Law and Community Rights and The Australian Conservation Foundation. (2006). “Bulldozing Progress: Human Rights Abuses and Corruption in Papua New Guinea’s Large-scale Logging Industry”. Retrieved from http://www.acfonline.org.au/uploads/res_ACF-CELCOR_full.pdf

Unstable Climate Dangers - Example one - Chavez’ expropriation of industry

   It seems most Americans would tend to be grateful for our social institutions. We have a wonderful interstate highway, food inspection with the FDA, safety standards with OSHA, and so forth. Socialism, therefore, is much like capitalism or communism when it comes to its relatively. Yet even in the United States, the word socialism remains charged. This is due in part to the hangover/stain of the memory of the Soviets and/or the current quasi-governmental/political media outlets decrying social programs for the sake of doing so, or their own gain.
   Bearing relativity in mind, some Socialism does carry with it some real baggage. An iconic aspect of incredulous socialism is expropriation. Hugo Chavez and his United Socialist Party of Venezuela (or PSUV) has been holding sway over Venezuela for over a decade now. (“Venezuela “, 2010) . A quick sketch of the Venezuelan people, by way of the Hofstede rankings (Hofstede, 2009), seems to echo not so much a Chavez administration as a regime. And yet, a quick look at the 2010 happiness index finds Venezuela exceeding the United States with rankings of nine and 13 respectively. (Nation Master, 2010) However, this document has no interest in arguing one way or the other whether the ends justify the means.
   So imagine you are Shell or Exxon Mobil and you have invested heavily in infrastructure in Venezuela. Everything is going quite fine, and then one day the government says, “Thank you very much for all these buildings and equipment. We hope you made enough money, and now it is time for you to leave. Oh, and by the way, we're keeping all the buildings and equipment.” And that is basically what happened. (Padgett, 2007) This may be very nice for the people of Venezuela and its economy, but it certainly was not for the petroleum companies involved. The sad thing is, it continues to happen; (“Chavez orders expropriation of brewer Polar’s prime land “, 2010) , which begs the question “why would anyone want to invest in Venezuela?”.

Chavez orders expropriation of brewer Polar’s prime land . (2010, April 28, 2010). FRANCE 24. Retrieved from http://www.france24.com/en/20100428-chavez-orders-expropriation-brewer-polars-prime-land
Hofstede, G. (2009). Venezuela [rankings / index’]. the Netherlands: itim. http://www.geert-hofstede.com/hofstede_venezuela.shtml
Nation Master. (2010). Lifestyle Statistics > Happiness net (most recent) by country [bar graph]. http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/lif_hap_net-lifestyle-happiness-net: .
Padgett, T. (2007, Tuesday, May. 01, 2007). Chavez’s Not-So-Radical Oil Move. Time. Retrieved from http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=5&sqi=2&ved=0CCgQFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.time.com%2Ftime%2Fworld%2Farticle%2F0%2C8599%2C1616644%2C00.html&ei=OpSCTOCXEIOC8gbHuOSNAQ&usg=AFQjCNGb8V29E6kcZ1-39f4QeIaqn4ommw&sig2=GBaATy0vv7oVjWcfaX4izw
Venezuela . (2010). Retrieved September 4, 2010, from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ve.html

Case: The quiet pay incentive as India embraced Western jobs

   When outsourcing began in earnest in the United States in the mid-to-late 1980s, a significant sector that went overseas were call centers going to India. This should not be surprising given that the rupee traded against the dollar between 42 and 48 to 1 as far back as that time; and still tends to. Just to put that in perspective, at the turn of the millennium you could have your garments laundered for three pennies each, USD. This is already impossibly inexpensive in the West; but then add to that your garments also came back starched, pressed and folded, and they had been washed by hand against a rock in the river.
   Couple the financial incentive with the fact that India still holds on to the distinction of being the largest English-speaking country on the planet, is the world's largest democracy and that its population is highly literate. Moving jobs to India made significant financial sense.
   In the intervening years, India has worked very hard to attract higher skilled employment opportunities. What is also true is that several other considerations saw movement against this backdrop. One such movement saw the cities of Hyderabad and Bangalore established as centers for such imported work. Fallout from foreign employment also contributed to auxiliary businesses that sprung up in these cities to address the flood of the new young populations coming in from the countryside. A new and fresh western nightlife became the frame within which these young lifestyles found their expression.
   We understand the difference between wages and compensation. There is such a thing as nonmonetary pay (the free coffee in the employee lounge), indirect pay (benefits), incentive pay (based on goals met), stock options, profit (or gain) sharing and bonuses. In what is arguably the most spiritual country on the planet, with a representation of every religion that man has ever conceived and shrines (seemingly) everywhere you turn, it is not surprising to notice that the Indian people have a pronounced inclination towards storytelling. Can you see how the buildup and excitement of the employment centers of Hyderabad and Bangalore may have made their way into the countryside? Surely, people would have been attracted simply for the jobs, let alone better jobs. Nevertheless, to find such an attractive draw certainly supported the movement to attract higher skilled or professional employment opportunities as well.
   Nonmonetary pay frequently included/s more sophisticated and fun employment atmospheres, flexible hours and employee recognition programs.
   Now in the twenty hundreds things have settled in. The new couture, the latest cell phones and the nightclubs have changed only as has fashion. The call centers may still be there, but so too, now x-rays are e-mailed, reviewed and diagnosed by highly trained doctors for a fraction of the cost. These cities have become centers, more than anything else, of all things technical; IT, software, etc.
   Of what is now established, we see included all the compensation schemes we would ordinarily see in the West. Some positions offer everything, most at least afford you tea in the employee lounge. The latest information on Indian IT shows that the greatest differential in pay has to do with years of experience. The movement is over. What had been a movement is now established.

e-Digg. (2010). Standard Salary Structure

Pay Structure in India

Corporate Pay Structure [table]. Retrieved from http://www.e-digg.com/top-articles/pay-structure-in-india.html

PayScale, Inc.. (2010). Salary Survey for Country: India (web page [faq’s, charts, salary links]). Retrieved from PayScale, Inc.: http://www.payscale.com/research/IN/Country=India/Salary

Questions:
1. If you were living some distance from an urban center in rural India in the 1990s would the opportunity of employment have been enough to move you to such a city?
2. If you had lived a somewhat greater distance, would the perceived sophistication of the company being Western been motivating enough?
3. Assuming you were in your 20s during this time, would the after work lifestyle have inspired you to move?

GATHERING GLOBAL WAGE DATA (webliography)

   There are many reasons to want current information about the compensation for specific employment positions in different countries. One reason from an employer's perspective is the need to benchmark, so that the company is neither over nor underpaying. From an employee's perspective there may be more moving parts. Is the pay relative to the cost of living in the other country comparable to staying where one is? Is there long-term career value associated with working elsewhere for a period of time? What is the value of all else associated with the overseas assignment; training, cost of relocating, cost of travel, whether one’s family goes with you or not, etc.? Has the company offered you a pay where you would live like a king in the relocated country, however, it is a fraction of what you would have made had you stayed in your home country? Can you retire on that income? How long is the assignment?
   As a foundation, most of these questions’ answers are available through colleagues, the employer, and associations with ex-pats, one's own research, etc.
   As with any webliography the information is time sensitive; websites come and go. Of course, the information will be current as of the edition. It is also true that any webliography is most likely not exhaustive.
   Your research along the lines of cost of living information should necessarily take into consideration the unforeseen. For example, will you need more money to compensate for that which you may take for granted where you currently live?
   Some web sites make specific industries their focus. Salary makes International data available for Canada and the IT industry. PMI.org charges for specifically Project Management data.
   Beyond this other examples include FindLaw, offering some compensation information. Forbes and BusinessWeek publish on their websites regularly executive salary information. And, anything that trades publicly must report such financials to the SEC; and the database EDGAR would have that information.
   So with all that said, here is a webliography of global wages.


currency
Oanda
(Nearly) all things currency. You may find a need to convert currencies.
http://www.oanda.com/currency/converter/
~~~
Global
Job Star
Links to various others
http://jobstar.org/tools/salary/index.php
Job Mob
Links to various others
http://jobmob.co.il/blog/salary-surveys-2010/
Salary Expert
Allows change of country. Be prepared to give to get information. Their Global Salary Calculator, at last check, cost 889.USD.
http://www.salaryexpert.com/
Robert Walters
Be prepared to give to get information.
http://www.robertwalters.com/en-gb/employment-trends/salary-survey.do
Payscale
Allows change of country. Be prepared to log in.
http://www.payscale.com/
World Salaries
To the point, just not exhaustive.
http://www.worldsalaries.org/
Salary Scout
…has a beautiful interactive graphic with a ton of information associated with your query. Some professions may be sparse. Salary Scout seems to gather information the way it is presumed Salary Expert and Robert Walters do; they simply don’t force you to upload your info first. To go directly to a country a login is required.
http://www.salaryscout.com/
Robert Half
Comprehensive and free. Information is limited to their fields of expertise.
http://www.roberthalf.com/SalaryGuide

Case: How Leadership is postured at Saipem

   Just over a half century old, subsidiary of the Italian energy group Eni, Saipem, focuses on the petroleum industry and naturally seeks to grow itself. This is an interesting industry to focus on, because the bulk of the workforce is usually from countries other than that of the headquarters.
   Robert House initiated the Globe Study, of 62 societies, in the early 1990s to address issues such as might arise when mixing various divergent cultures; beyond seeking acknowledgments of what might be different. It also sought to determine what, if anything, might be the same. Much work along these lines stands on the shoulders of Geert Hofstede's work. Before we look at what may be the same, let's notice first what might be different; indicating potential challenges.
   Saipem’s Sustainability Case Study acknowledges countries in the area. However, in the subcontractors and local partners section, we are looking predominately at Indonesians. A quick look at Hofstede's work comparing Italians and Indonesians finds a power distance index for Italians somewhat with an average; in the mid-40s. For Indonesians, the score is even above the average for most Asian countries, clocking in at 78. This is a striking contrast, and indicative of a cultural acceptance toward inequality, vis-à-vis power structures and hierarchies for Indonesians. Further exacerbating such naturally inclined disparities finds a world ranking of 43 on the individualism index; Italy hovers around a ranking of 70, Indonesia clocks in at 14!
   Consequently, there is real and natural danger for Italians in position of power to take advantage of such natural cultural differences with their Indonesians subordinates. However, we do not see this happening; at least not as graphically as Hofstede's work might indicate.
   Saipem is seeking what is the same, and perhaps even looking to err on the side of conservatism as it seeks to establish leadership parameters. With an eye towards the long haul, Saipem has instituted human resources strategies that go above and beyond what one might think is typically offered. This includes a robust internal infrastructure with an eye towards safety and health, a very muscular fabric of corporate posture towards ethics and morality, a ready acknowledgment of the found religious values, as well as standards on pay and benefits (minimum wages and overtime, medical and maternal leaves and a traveling allowance).
   This gesture of corporate posture may be seen as ordinary in the West. However, a quick reminder of Hofstede's work, coupled with every corporation's task to increase shareholder wealth, would indicate a path that more commonly played out in years gone by. Indeed, corporations with an eye towards long-term relationships are increasingly ready to embrace that which works universally. The costs outweighed by the benefit.
   Saipem goes further, not simply looking to lift up its employees, but its local community relationships as well. It seeks to use local manufacturers, vendors and suppliers, where possible. It even goes the extra step to audit such local businesses to ensure that it is not doing business with an enterprise that might be questionable when it comes to child labor or other issues of human rights.

Hofstede, G. (2009). Geert Hofstede™ Cultural Dimensions. Retrieved from http://www.geert-hofstede.com/

House, R., Hanges, P.J., Javidan, M., Dorfman, P.W., & Gupta, V. . (2004). Culture, Leadership, and Organizations-The GLOBE Study of 62 Societies. Thousand Oaks, CA 91320: Sage Publications.

Saipem S.p.A. . (2008). Asia Pacific Saipem Sustainability Talent Case Study (case study whitepaper [pdf]). Retrieved from http://www.saipem.it/site/download.jsp?idDocument=1113&instance=2: www.saipem.it/

Questions:
1. Do you think treating foreign labor the way Saipem does is good enough or too much?
2. Insofar as we are dealing with human behavior, and other subjective considerations, how do you think you might go about creating a rubric or metric so that you can address a cost-benefit analysis? What might be some of the components that you would want to include?
3. By what methodologies do you feel you might be able to get a reliable sense of measurable satisfaction from the Indonesian laborers? What are some of the questions that you might want to ask them?
4. In the case study it seems to Saipem polices itself. There are world organizations for labor and human rights, do you think that Saipan should report to such organizations or should such organizations police companies like Saipem?