Competency and Performance Solutions

Press release received from: The NATC’s Exclusive Coverage Of The International Business Summit

Tampa, Fla. – The National Association of Tourism and Conventions (NATC-TV) has exclusive coverage of the 4th International Business Summit that was held on March 11th here in Tampa Bay. The event bought together nine multicultural Chambers of Commerce, Coca-Cola, Tampa Port Authority, and other corporate sponsors. The NATC knows it witnessed something that will inspire the world to collaborate and cooperate with Tampa Bay’s business community not only to prevent chaos but create a beloved community. In short, the NATC knows it witnessed a model for unlocking the potential of the global economy.

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Ansgar Gabrielsen, a male Norwegian businessman and politician, is an expert on the details of a 2007 Catalyst study, The Bottom Line: Corporate Performance & Women’s Representation on Boards,

Gabrielsen’s focus has not been on gender equality. His interest is in “the fact that diversity is a value in itself, that it creates wealth.” He is part of a movement has led to a law that requires all listed Norwegian companies to have at least 40% of women on their boards.

Despite much outcry about the law, research findings show that companies with the highest representation of women on their top management teams perform better financially than groups with the lowest female representation. The Norwegians have therefore made diversification mandatory, on the basis that  increased profits can be, and are, achieved through diverse boards, and that a company’s primary responsibility is to act in the best interests of its shareholders by maximizing profits.

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The 2010 International Business Summit will be held at Higgins Hall (cnr Hillsborough and Himes) on Thursday, 11 March, 2010, beginning at 9 a.m. (Registration: 8.30 a.m.)

IBS is in its fourth year, as an annual event that brings together the diverse communities of Tampa Bay to build economic prosperity for the Tampa Bay/Suncoast area. It is organized by the Bi-national Chambers of Commerce and Trade Associations, including the British, Caribbean, Chinese, French, Hispanic, Indo, Philippine, Scandinavian-Baltic, Swedish, etc. Please see www.ibsummit.org.

IBS provides three tracks for education (the Collaboration, Diversity and Prosperity tracks) and is relevant to both local and international businesses. Continue reading »

I apologize that there was not CPS newsletter in March. IBS was time-consuming. There are limitless jobs one can acquire as secretary of the Board, and I was presenting “Understanding American Culture” as well.

But it was worth it. Higgins Hall was the perfect venue, elegant, full of natural light, beautifully-maintained and decorated – and dedicated entirely to the IBS event. The break-out rooms were exactly the right size and the catering was highly satisfactory. Every speaker offered truly exciting ideas, and the lunch and speed-networking brought many people together for new opportunities. The organization went flawlessly even though there were some late nights behind the scenes. Continue reading »

Many organizations are staffed by a mix of people from individualist cultures (e.g. USA, Canada, Western European cultures) and collectivist cultures (e.g. Latino, Asian, African cultures).

Building trust and understanding between these diverse groups is not easy, either for the team members concerned, or for managers and learning specialists who facilitate the process.

Everyone has an “I” consciousness and a “we” consciousness. The “I” focuses on self achievement, self responsibility and autonomy. The “we” identity focuses on connection to our reference groups, and our relatedness. This emphasis varies from person to person, and from culture to culture.
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