Be Prepared ... for a changing world

IBM Corporate Service Corps

Getting ready for this assignment has taken 3 months, with homework and weekly review calls.

It's a thoughtful, well orchestrated process and topics ranged from effective teaming to learning about our host country, and how to recognize and adapt to cultural differences.  Working through case studies highlighting some of the challenges prior teams have faced gave us all a new appreciation of how important it will be to listen to our client, our host country advisors and our teammates. 

In 2006 the Harvard Business Review published "The Link Between Competitive Advantage and Corporate Social Responsibility."  Maybe you've seen Michael Porter on the TED stage talk about it.  Companies around the world are following this advice and IBM, in 2008, was one of the first.  This paper is quoted below.

Our CSC team completed this reading as part of Module 13, near the end of our second month of preparation.  Companies open to the possibility of addressing social challenges, growing their understanding of cultures in the developing world as those economies develop, and helping their employees and future leaders develop the skills needed in a diverse, dynamic and interconnected world will benefit themselves and those they seek to help.  The examples are inspiring.  #CSCZA19 #IBMCSA

"Ultimately, a healthy society creates expanding demand for business, as more human needs are met and aspirations grow."