Latest News from John Funnell

The Stars Come Out for Facility Management & Property Event Gala Dinner

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:03:33 EDT

Productivity, profit, but also sustainability- these are all key drivers at c-level in these times. Meeting and enhancing demand while maintaining cash flow, reducing the bottom line, but also ensuring growth can be sustained not only in the coming quarters, but in the years to come. These strategic concerns merge with operations in the workplace, and addressing these challenges is the work of the delegates at the recent Facilities Management and Property Event at the Belfry. The event welcomed 150 industry leaders for two days of intensive thought leadership, benchmarking, and networking. As a cross vertical initiative Fortune enterprises such as Vodafone, Barclays, Shell, and Diageo, rubbed shoulders with leaders in the public and third sector. A closed door dinner for speakers and committee members started proceedings. To name a few Philips, GM, BBC, Lundbeck, The Co-Operative, Met Police, Astrazeneca, Royal Mail, EC Harris, Experian, Seven Trent, BT and BAA all met for two hours of private closed discussion that helped set the gathering's tone.

CIOs Rush Home from the Beach

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:33:38 EDT

With August being the holiday month for most executives the CIO Committee (the advisory board behind Europe's most prestigious CIO Event held annually at the Celtic Manor home of the Ryder Cup), have just announced the findings of their recent survey on Executive behaviour during the Holiday season. They have concluded that the majority of employers now actively encourage their staff to take time off but a majority of the CIO's asked were fearful about the impact of their absence would have on the business, most admitting to contact their organisation during a holiday. Even when these workaholics do make it on holiday, CIOs find it difficult to relax. Almost half regularly check their work emails and nearly all monitor voicemail. In an effort to keep in touch with colleagues 80% take away their work mobile phones. When the CIOs were asked why they worked on holiday, the main reason was down to short-term project deadlines, meaning they have had to work at some point during their holiday. Others commented about the inevitable backlog of over 300 emails facing them on their return. The "CIO Committee" enjoys continuous communication, holding regular meetings with Key members leading up to each event, ensuring that the Programme over the two days is 100% focussed to your needs and mirrors that of the IT world in Real-Time. The "CIO Committee" prides itself on creating an ethical working environment to support your personal development. We offset the Carbon emissions created by the Event and make a donation to Save the Children for every attendee that joins the forum.

Our Legacy and the Three-Eyed Monsters of the Future

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 13:58:17 EDT

How can our generation (expert in creating profits out of virtual nothingness) do something real to leave a legacy that can be dug up by the three eyed monsters of the future? Among the innate PR I repeatedly churn out on this blog, I try to imprint the odd piece with some remote integrity, hoping to inspire honest thought (even if in a humorous context). I hope this article is one of the Diamonds in the rough and can engage you a bit more than usual. I read this week that the human race is consuming one and a half times the natural resources the earth can provide and this is growing exponentially as the population rises.

Unlocking Liquidity from the Financial Value Chain

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 10:41:51 EDT

Tumultuous economic times have forced companies to take a closer look at their liquidity management initiatives and identify areas of cost savings. Having effective access to near-term liquidity to support critical operations has made its way to the top of the executive's agenda across many industries. Consequently, companies, particularly those in the finance sector, are taking strategic actions to improve their cash position visibility and cash forecasting accuracy. In the latest Aberdeen Business Review, over 1,400 companies were evaluated to uncover their top business goals and initiatives for 2011. In the aftermath of the credit crisis, resulting in the fall of major financial institutions, the focus on profitability and cost reduction has become more pronounced for the finance community than the rest. Such initiatives on improving profitability and lowering cost lead to favourable cash positions, allowing companies to leverage the additional liquidity towards enhancing operational performance. This trend has resulted in notable changes in revenue, operating profits, headcount, overall budget, and technology budget in the past couple of years. Sourcing and managing liquidity, however, has continued to be a challenge.

SME Pitfalls

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 11:21:58 EDT

The UK recruitment industry, has an annual turnover of £27 billion and the majority of operators are SMEs. It's interesting to note that many of the SMEs that we support through our intensive development schemes, don't actually need cash - they need mentoring, support and advice on exit planning. The problem is that they often go unsupported and fail to deliver significant turnover and value in line with the owner's vision. The challenges faced by entrepreneurs both in the recruitment sector and the wider business arena, are many and varied but most have two burning issues: creating value and exit planning. One of the biggest mistakes we see being made by entrepreneurs is the ‘Porsche and Rolex effect'. This typically happens in year three of a new business where years one and two have been very successful. Instead of keeping a ‘war chest' which can be used to invest for growth, owners reward themselves for their success and hard work - but it's just a tad too early! They don't seem to understand that to create real value and work towards an exit strategy, it's vitally important not to rape the business of all its cash! Maintaining sufficient working capital to meet both liabilities and requirements for future growth, as well as maintaining that ‘war chest' to facilitate any short term problems, really is a no brainer - so why don't more of them ‘get it'?

Exponential Growth Challenges!

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 16:03:27 EDT

The economic crisis of 2009 presented a false base for many businesses including ours, giving us nothing upon which to produce any meaningful type of growth statistics or trend data but all things considered our result of 400% is still incredible growth by any standards. So in this environment and at these high levels of growth how can you possibly manage costs based on historical information or results? Well the fact is you can't! After many years, I am now of the view that there are two sides to finance, the ‘science' and the ‘art'. Drawing upon a flying analogy, the numbers are like your wingman...always there to provide guidance and assurance, providing you with the holistic view of reality; however their observations are instantly in the past and provide little or no indication of the right flight path going forward. It's the true gut feel, the ‘art', in this type of journey which helps spot the fighter jet on to the aircraft carrier, a somewhat small target in the scheme of things. In my experience it's this gut feel that unlocks the potential to deliver such impressive growth.

What to Expect from a CFO

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 12:22:35 EDT

Looking back on another financial crisis - another generation of finance executives who proudly bear the scars of managing organisational and personal stress in delivering survival over growth! Whose grasp of risk management is not just theoretical but practical. Who are commercially orientated but understand the checks and balances required for survival short term and a successful and growing business long term; who can operate bi-focally at a tactical or strategic level. This generation of CFOs take on leadership roles but are effective in teams; they are intent on building a sustainable organisation, nuturing talent and developing their own teams, sometimes taking tough people decisions. They manage change - far sightedly or responsively to fastmoving markets. Often they expected to drive cost reduction. They influence spatially across theorganisation, co-pilot the Chief Executive, and communicate at all levels of financial sophistication, including the board. To do that they have to find a way of working with the Chief Executive - stowing away the ego and adapting working styles but at the same time being tough and principled. They can help the executive team and board, often a mix of non executive and executive directors, set the priorities for the business. They bring financial relevance and a performance orientation to theorganisation and drive the debate to define performance objectives and value creation.

Corporate Sustainability – Just Compliance or Growth Driver?

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 12:20:00 EDT

Assessment of our Corporate Sustainability is often driven by a need to comply in order to achieve the tick in a box for tender activity but is this how it should be perceived? Surely implemented in the right spirit and with across the board buy-in, this buzz word strategy is a strong driver to business growth potential if only by spreading the word throughout your sector that you are sustainably aware and striving to be the best you can in your environment. Didn't Marks and Spencer role out Plan A? A 5 year road map to spend £200 Million improving their sustainability by 2012? Within 2 years they announced they were ‘cost positive' for the project,generating returns as early as 2009. Very few organisations perceive sustainability as an opportunity to drive up the bottom line, but history proves this to be an outcome of investment in positioning yourself as a leader in efficient use of resources utilising sustainable commodities to produce adesirable product for your marketplace whilst enhancing your brand reputation and hence reducing risk. A by-product is the effect on your competitive advantage and this flows through to the bottomline returning the investment in sustainability many times if planned and executed in the correct manner.

Are You Just a Bean Counter or Do You Try to Grow Beans?

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:55:34 EDT

For generations the Finance profession has been deemed to be the most boring of things - mere ‘bean-counters' valuing, counting and confirming quantities throughout the world of commerce. If this remains your perception of your role then you are in danger of being passed to the realms of extinction! No longer can we continue with this age old adage of our profession, we must all migrate to the 21stCentury and ensure we accept our new role within business. That of accountants embracing change and adding value through their role - ‘growing beans instead of counting them'.

Finance Recruitment: “Spring Is Definitely in the Air,” Says Ben Davies

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 13:05:43 EST

Green shoots of recovery are appearing in the finance executive job market after a long, hard winter. People who decided to play a game of ‘sit tight, watch and wait' are once again considering their next career move. Pay freezes are melting and company boards have recognised that job cuts and growth are incompatible. Well, I'm a recruitment consultant, so I would say that wouldn't I? But before you discount this as just the deluded optimism of someone talking up the market, consider the evidence. Deloitte's latest quarterly Chief Financial Officer Survey, reports a rebound in optimism among the UK's largest companies in Q4 of 2010. It says CFO's ‘appetite for risk' has risen to levels higher than immediately prior to the recession, and that FTSE350 corporates (which comprise the majority of respondents) have shifted from defensive to expansionary strategies.

£65m in Pennies Hoarded by Brits

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 13:43:06 EST

The way we shop and pay is changing; 41% of people now treat cash as a secondary option and more than half of Brits (54%) remove loose change out of their wallets and purses, leading to an estimated £65 million in pennies lying around the nation’s homes. Which coins do we keep in the great coin clean-out? With over £245 million in one and two pence pieces in Britain today, estimates show there could be as much as £65 million in loose pennies lying around in people’s homes or even lost down the back of sofas. When it comes to low-cost items, cash is still king as 77% say they’d choose this as their preferred method to pay for items under £3, rising to 83% of those aged 55 and above. However, a trend is emerging among younger consumers for cashless payments, with one in eight of Britain’s under-35s (12%) opting for debit cards for these low-cost transactions, and an additional 5% keen to embrace the new contactless payments that are being rolled out onto the nation’s cards as their method of choice.

Rating Customer Service with Twitter

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 14:43:02 EST

Search Twitter under the hashtag fail (#fail) and you’ll come across examples of poor service, disgruntled customers and some almost unbelievable situations. (My next #FAIL is directed at keyboard manufacturers who bury the hash tag deep in the computer – they need to move with the times and have it as easy to reach as the exclamation mark.)

Global Investment in Renewable Academia on the Rise in Europe

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 10:54:11 EST

In the US, funding on solar transfer projects has begun to pay dividends. At MIT, scientists have been toiling over solar energy capture and are exploring a thermo-chemical approach, a distinct different from current solar standards which include photovoltaics – turning sunlight into electricity, and solar thermal – utilising the sun's heat to boil water to turn a turbine, or use the heat directly for hot water or home heating. With extensive funding the scientists at MIT have been able to locate a molecule which absorbs sunlight to go into one state and then release heat when it reverts back to its original state. "Essentially, the molecule undergoes a structural transformation when it absorbs sunlight, putting the molecule into a higher-energy state where it can remain stable indefinitely. Then, triggered by a small addition of heat or a catalyst, it snaps back to its original shape, releasing heat in the process," scientists have said.

Dawn of the Digital Campus

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 10:13:21 EST

Education has at last embraced the future and is not stopping with digital signage and a well run intranet the whole education system will be ‘digitally overhauled'. "With increasing numbers of students applying to universities, the focus now encompasses not only technology but the necessities of good business. Educational institutions are now treating their students and staff as customers and require solutions which would help towards consolidating the data held by their faculties, departments and services units, allowing students and staff to access facilities with a common set of credentials, preferably through a single point of entry, both on and off campus."

The Big Oil Land Grab

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 10:10:21 EST

With territorial ownership being put forward in all four corners of the globe, including Great Britain’s claim to the Falkland Islands and more recently Japan’s claim to the Kuril Islands, Great British and Argentinean armed forces are on standby for inevitable confrontation. Argentina dispute Great Britain’s claim to the Islands they call Islas Malvinas and Russia dispute Japan’s claim to the Kuril Islands.

Mobile Identity

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 10:02:37 EST

Smartphones are slowly replacing traditional dial and text mobile phones, and as they do they gradually change the face of IT and telecoms infrastructure. Soon mobile phones could pose as not only a device to call a friend, but as a passport and credit card. Morten Hother Sørensen, Vice President at TDC spoke at length at the Next Generation Telecoms Summit about advancements in mobile technology – detailing the future of smartphones arcing towards a complete payment service. Morten suggested that future smartphones would incorporate software to be utilised as a passport, cash, driver’s license, public ID, health insurance, debit card and supermarket loyalty cards, among others.

Digital Solutions in a Digital World

Mon, 29 Nov 2010 15:30:00 EST

Recession or not, there has never been a better time for technology to come to the fore and prove its worth within the retail environment. Attitudes towards technology are changing in that the hard times may come and go, but consumer expectations do not. And retail technologists now have the perfect opportunity to help shape a better retail experience for the future.

You Are Who Google Says You Are

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 07:45:00 EST

If you want to know what impression your brand is making, there is no need to send out thousands of students armed with clipboards – just simply Google yourself. You are who Google says you are after all. This has been known in the B2C environment for sometime as brands fight to control consumer feedback, sharing the good and hiding the constructive. B2B giants have (so far) been naive to the transparency of the new digital world and are now suffering the consequences, rushing crisis communication to cover up the cracks.

Global Events Company Opens in Miami

Mon, 22 Nov 2010 14:39:30 EST

Away from its stunning beaches and Keys, Miami offers a strong business culture, the region’s leading financial center, and access to one of the world’s fastest growing markets, Latin America. No wonder that Spencer Green, Chairman of the high-end global media and event company GDS international is developing its next office here, in the heart of Florida. UK-based GDS opened its first US office in New York City and has never looked back. Now Spencer Green is looking to tap into the sophisticated metropolitan business culture of Miami and develop his next generation of business leaders. “All our research points to Miami,” says Spencer. “The people here have the drive we need to take our already strong Americas project portfolio to the next level. I am very excited about this new growth opportunity. Having a strong presence in one of the fastest growing markets globally is a core focus for us.”

Broadband Buffet Is Over

Mon, 22 Nov 2010 14:37:58 EST

The glory days of an unlimited broadband appear to be nearing an end as ISPs look to implement caps and metered pricing for broadband services. In the not-so-distant-future, broadband users will be forced to pay on a metered basis in the same way as other utilities such as electricity and water, with customers only paying for what they use. Unlimited flat-rate packages are a reflection of internet companies’ desire back in the mid-1990s to get potential customers to sign-up and explore the internet revolution. Now, with just under two billion people using the internet globally, companies are keen to reinvent and monitor how costumers utilize their bandwidth.

The Territorial Oil Dispute

Mon, 22 Nov 2010 14:32:53 EST

The Turn Back to Globalization in HR

Mon, 22 Nov 2010 14:30:30 EST

Globalization across workforces has seen exponential growth in the last two decades, and after a dip during the most recent recession, is now emerging again within HR, creating challenges as well as opportunities, and tremendous uncertainty. In a new major study by the IBM Institute for Business Value, more than 700 chief HR officers and senior executives from 61 countries and 31 industries worldwide found that China and India are leading the way by increasingly hiring in North America and Europe. In fact, the study found 45 percent of companies in India and 33 percent of companies in China plan to increase their head count in North America alone. The study outlines the new global workforce that is emerging as companies start to deploy talent globally once again in order to achieve their corporate objectives.

Africa Connected

Mon, 22 Nov 2010 14:26:00 EST

A telecoms committee has been recently formed to urge African Countries to focus their attention to broadband deployment and telecom services to rural communities. Africa is still experiencing strong growth in telecommunication, broadband, non-voice services, rural expansion and efficiency strategies which have all been identified as the main opportunities for continued expansion within Africa

IT Picking Up Where G20 Left Off

Mon, 22 Nov 2010 14:16:42 EST

With the conclusion of the G20 Summit in Seoul providing a bleak economic outlook across several financial sectors, there is a distinct need for another industry to provide the growth needed to rebuild confidence in the global marketplace. Globalization has seen an exponential speed of implementation over the last couple of decades and the information technology sector has been a driving force behind this change. With the sector seeing similar areas of development throughout different regional marketplaces development of topics like cloud computing, virtualization, mobility and security means IT is well positioned to bridge the gap needed between countries represented at the G20.

Meet the Boss Behind MeetTheBoss.tv – Spencer Green

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 13:24:19 EST

MeetTheBoss.tv is something of a revelation – an online business resource that is, according to user feedback, ‘an MBA on speed’, ‘brilliant’, and ‘more useful than TED’. 2.25 million return visits show this new launch offers that rare thing on the Internet: lasting value. The man behind MeetTheBoss.tv is Spencer Green, Chairman of GDS International, the media and events company he founded in 1993. “We have always invested every penny we’ve got in our products,” says Spencer. “Investing in the product is everything, and we see the benefits in the phenomenal response we’ve had to MeetTheBoss.”

GDS International Chairman: “Middle East set for Telco Expansion”

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 13:21:07 EST

The Telco industry in the Middle East is set for further growth opportunities. How? At first glance, many countries seem to be saturated, especially in the mobile sector, but increased competition has led to many industry observers predicting good returns for those companies well placed to take advantage. Spencer Green, Chairman of global media and events company GDS International, wholeheartedly agrees. GDS has long been a major player in hosting senior level business summits for the Telco industry.

GDS Chairman: “Involvement in Emerging Markets is Vital for Growth”

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 13:16:00 EST

GDS International Chairman Spencer Green: “Involvement in Emerging Markets is Vital for Growth” Last week's G20 summit may have done little to quell the divisions between the emerging and advanced countries with many column inches devoted to “the currency wars” and the suspicion that many countries are using devaluation as a form of protectionism. However, it's clear for the business world that plenty of expansion opportunities still exist for companies eager to benefit from the economic growth in the emerging markets when compared to the stagnant or limited growth in the developed world.

GDS International Bucks the Trend with 9.5% Growth

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:49:00 EST

Media companies who rely on dwindling ad spend have felt the pinch and are looking for alternative business models to drive growth in 2010. After a catastrophic 2008 for global markets, dazed investors emerged from their shelters to ask if 2009 will be any better. With Stocks losing 42% of their value, erasing more than $29 trillion in value the consensus among professionals? Do not expect the big rebound that usually follows a sharp downturn. Because of this U.S. online ad spending dropped for the third straight quarter during the third quarter of 2009 by 4% to $6.4 billion compared to a year ago, according to new data from market research firm IDC. Globally, online ad dollars slipped 1% to $14.7 billion over the period. Because of this Media companies who rely on such revenues have felt the pinch and are looking for alternative business models to drive growth in 2010. Large corporate publishers such as Haymarket are ending print editions and News Corp are set to begin charging for online content. But is this a step in the right direction? GDS International does not agree.

GDS International’s A-List: "The Board That You Could Never Afford"

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 15:26:01 EST

GDS International has come out of nowhere in 2010. GDS International has had double-figure growth every year for the last six years and has offices in almost every continent, enabling it to build a strong reputation among the fortune 1000's top companies. As a result several of the world's business leaders are queuing up for an opportunity to work with GDS International. Below is a shortened directory of A-list executives that have played a major part in the company's success in 2010.

Europe Still on Track to Hit Wind Targets?

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 15:25:51 EST

Over the past three decades, the cost of generating wind power has fallen by 80 percent, to a level where it is fully competitive with new coal power or gas power plants, and significantly cheaper than nuclear energy, in most European countries at the carbon and fuel prices. As a result, the targets set during The Copenhagen Climate Treaty are more financially viable, as are the improvements in technology, turbine maintenance, energy transfer from turbine to grid and logistics and facilities management. The European Union is fully expected to surpass its target to consume 20 percent of its energy from renewable energy sources by the year 2020, according to individual forecasts released by all 27 EU member states. Spain and Germany forecast the largest surpluses in 2020, predicting they will exceed their national renewable targets by 2.7 and 0.7 percentage points respectively.

Smart Grid Is a Two-Way Street

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 15:23:12 EST

A healthy and successful smart grid will change how Americans think about electricity. Both energy companies and third-party investors are keen to provide resources to innovate and advance the current grid infrastructure, something that could eventually save the planet, save lives, and save the US economy. Leading protagonists from within the Utilities sector met this week in a closed door meeting to discuss various aspects of US' investment in the country's smart grid - from improving communications, battery power and longevity, grid technology, and advanced metering infrastructure. The attendees at the Next Generation Utilities US Summit (hosted by GDS International) were among the pioneers championing a change in philosophy across the grid.

Imaging Biomarkers

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 15:21:30 EST

Large pharma has been seeking new biomarkers for years - all part of their drug discovery process, but often only as an afterthought in the development process. That's changed over recent years, but by-and-large the bulk of biomarker work remains in the hands of small -to -medium-sized companies whose focused approach is more attuned to biomarkers being a major element of a final product. Pharmaceutical companies have invested heavily in Translational Science (TS), both clinical and pre-clinical, to smooth the passage of compounds into clinical development. There are some excellent examples of effective uses of TS in developing biomarkers to select dose, evaluate efficacy and tolerability as well as some examples of patient selection.

African Continent Explores Deep-Sea Safety

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 15:19:45 EST

The Deepwater Horizon spillage in the Gulf of Mexico highlighted the challenges that face companies looking to extract oil in deeper waters, and how offshore technologies are potentially not up to the job of stemming a spillage. The affect rippled across the globe, putting all countries that participate in deepwater drilling on guard - putting further emphasis on equipment safety protocol and an investment in more suitable drilling equipment. In September US oil major Chevron bought a 70 percent interest in three deepwater exploration blocks off Libera, which led Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to warn that her country would not fall victim to the oil curse.

Bringing Home the Digits with Digital Signage

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 15:17:15 EST

Digital signage is on a meteoric rise, both in Europe and the US. Originally utilized as branding and advertising on high streets, landmark sites and sports events, digital signage is now being utilized as a successful in-store marketing tool, especially within the supermarket/grocery market; revolutionizing retail and providing a whole new dimension to customers’ shopping experience.

Mobile Banking

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 15:12:00 EST

New forecasts from ABI Research indicate that in 2015 about 244 million people worldwide will carry out financial transactions using their mobile phones. This growth in the financial cell phone sector is not specific to North America or Europe, and large investment is anticipated in regions like Latin America. Latin American infrastructure is a drawback; only about 33 percent of the population has access to formal financial services. But 80 percent have access to mobile phones, which presents a significant opportunity for extending financial services to millions of low-income customers in the region.

Latin America in The Clouds

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 13:07:00 EST

Making the push to the Cloud may no longer be a yes or no decision for Latin American businesses – it will become a necessity. Although it is notoriously challenging to calculate exact return of investment (ROI) from entering the cloud, new figures have come to light – and the results make resisting a move increasingly difficult.

A Look at Telecoms Through MENA

Thu, 11 Nov 2010 10:33:53 EST

There is more to developing a successful global 4G network than having the likes of WiMax or LTE fighting to be the predominate network provider. For 4G to be successful, several other areas need to be synergized effectively. In fact, media and entertainment, IT, sustainability and electronics all have a profound effect on the development of a thriving 4G network.

Tun Dr. Mahathir Outlines How to be a Good Leader on MTB.TV

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 10:50:39 EST

When Tun Dr. Mahathir took the reins of government in Malaysia in 1981, he was the first Prime Minister not to have been educated in Britain. Whether this played any part in his very unique leadership style is debatable, but one thing is indisputable: during his tenor as PM Tun Dr. Mahathir changed the global perception of Malaysia. Throughout his 22-year tenure in office, Tun Dr. Mahathir was credited with a number of key leadership decisions. He survived leadership contests, splits in UMNO, and challenges from the Islamic Party (PAS). Yet through his term as PM, the Barisan National (a coalition dominated by Mahathir's UMNO) sustained an overwhelming majority in the federal parliament as a result of successive electoral victories.

The Future of Pharma Is Asia

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 10:11:45 EST

Reshaping the pharmaceutical industry's quality standards is currently the top priority for the Chinese government. Earlier announcements by its Ministry of Health to issue new tougher Good Manufacturing Processes (GMP) standards for medical products comes at the right time as current regulations do not meet international standards which result in poor performance by Chinese companies in the international market. In order to respond to these GMP changes, Chinese manufacturers however are in urgent need to upgrade their facilities and technologies, as failure to comply will result in closure. The NGP Asia committee has called an emergency meeting to combat the current situation. Asia has become a more attractive place to conduct clinical trials (CT) but as it grows so do the challenges. For pharmaceutical companies, Contract Research Organizations (CROs) or Central laboratories (CL) the biggest challenge is keeping trials on track, on time and on budget; all three are key to global competitiveness. In the last 10 years Asia has been targeted by pharmaceutical companies from across the globe who wish to take advantage of the region's ethnic diversity and huge population to test their medicines at an affordable price. Asia has now moved to a position where they can challenge to become the number one contender for CT, the US.

Believe in the Brand

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 10:11:36 EST

So far this quarter online retail sales in the US have increased to $32.1 billion, a nine percent rise from the same quarter last year. The single-digit increase represents the fourth consecutive quarter of positive year-over-year growth following a full year of flat or negative growth rates. This week the leading names in retail met at a closed meeting at the NGR US summit, in Miami. The Meeting began with the NGR20, a closed-door session for 20 of the most senior retail representatives who specifically focused their discussions on e-commerce, customer experience, social media and mobile commerce.

Future Security in the U.S.

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 16:33:00 EST

US Stocks reported good growth this week after the tech giant Fortinet approached network security company International Business Machines Corp about a possible takeover. Shares for fellow network security company Sourcefire Inc. also bolstered stock trading on Wall Street. Both mergers indicate that the banking community is keen to seek security for a safer consumer future.

Avoiding Disaster for Energy Independence

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 11:19:10 EST

Latin Americas’ goal for energy independence is tied to its offshore oil and gas reserves. Experts from the illustrious O&G LA 20 committee believe that the offshore sector will become even more important in the future as the industry shifts to deeper waters. A spokesperson for the committee set to meet in Rio de Janeiro, early next year chaired by Juan Carlos Zepeda, President CNH, Tomas Vargas, Vice President BPZ and Guimar Vaca Coca, MD Americas Petrogas stated this week “There is an apparent need to expand on the offshore services available. Whether it’s deploying workers on and off rigs, improving offshore safety, or making sure subsea construction is done as efficient as possible, marine servicing has expanded thoroughly throughout the Americas.”

A Look at Telecoms Through MENA

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 10:34:01 EST

There is more to developing a successful global 4G network than the likes of WiMax or LTE fighting to be the predominate network provider. For 4G to be successful several other areas need to be synergized effectively. In fact, media and entertainment, IT, sustainability and electronics all have a profound effect on the development of a thriving 4G network. The convergence of media and entertainment, IT, sustainability and electronics across 4G networks, as well as the outcome of a WiMAX and LTE showdown will be discussed this week at the NG Telecoms MENA Summit held in Dubai. With the IDC providing a unique insight to industry trends during the three days at the Jumeirah The Meydan, companies like Eltek Valere, Nokia Siemens Network, and PeerAp will be focusing on sustainability, service oriented and value added services, and benefits and characteristics of convergence.

Is Attitude over Aptitude a Viable Employment Practice

Tue, 02 Nov 2010 09:00:23 EDT

Is Attitude over Aptitude a Viable Employment Practice

A Change of Culture for Healthcare

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 16:17:09 EDT

“Many commercial organizations maintain a competitive edge by pursuing a policy of cultural continuity’, they capitalize on the lessons, working practices and traditions that have worked for their company in the past, for this to work they focus on the growth or reproduction and repetition” Today the management of culture within healthcare is becoming more and more important. It is now viewed as a necessary part of the health system reform. In the United Kingdom, the National Health Service (NHS) reforms are based on the premise that any major cultural transformation of an organization must be secured alongside structural and procedural change, this in turn will deliver improvements in both quality and performance. Culture change can be seen as a lever for performance improvements. The industry is well aware of the limitations of a mangeralist perspective. A new Committee of healthcare specialists believe that culture change within the industry must be targeted in one of two ways. Their first objective is to ‘do what you do better'. The Next Generation Healthcare Committee will meet at the NGH Summit in Miami.

African Telecoms Continue to Show Substantial Growth

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 16:06:02 EDT

“Now that the sub-sea cables have landed on mainland Africa, the continent now has access to broadband and the various services that can be delivered via high speed internet. However, several key challenges still remain before subscribers can enjoy a reliable, safe and affordable service from ISPs and operators in the region.” African telecoms are the fastest growing telecommunications sector in the world, with a total investment of $18 billion since 2001. Between 2002 and 2007, according to Ernst & Young, the industry grew by 49.3 percent as opposed to Asia which recorded a 27.4 percent growth. This figure is significant: It is double Brazil's telecoms growth of 28 percent and almost seven times the growth France which grew at 7.5 percent over the same time.

Social Schooling in the U.S.

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 16:01:09 EDT

“The Web 2.0 evolution has enabled educational institutions to connect in transparent and impactful ways, achieving a greater competitive edge. However not all institutions have taken the full advantage of this movement. While over half of students report using social networking tools for educational purposes, faculty are not exploiting these tools to connect with students, instead preferring traditional methods of communication.” Next Generation Education Committee.

European CIOs Announce Latest Plans for Europe

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 15:11:45 EDT

“The current market means that we are all under pressure to do more with fewer resources. Join our interactive round table discussion with virtualisation specialists and learn how to take advantage of Windows and Open Source Linux interoperability to employ virtualisation, reduce systems overhead and save costs.”

Cloud Committee Concludes

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 15:08:30 EDT

The Information & Communications Technology (ICT) market will have a strong transformation over the next 10 years. Fixed and mobile network improvements, new infrastructure and application delivery models, along with more intelligent devices will change the way that consumers and businesses use technology, and ultimately the way they do business. It is still extremely important for service providers to set a roadmap for users to follow in order for them to be well prepared and to be successful in the current market transformation.

The Evolution of 4G

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 15:05:18 EDT

"We need to get people away from the alphabet soup they don't care about, and just provide a better experience," Chief commercial officer Mike Sievert of Clearwire said. "There really is a massive consumer demand [for 4G services]. The question is now, how do you stay ahead of that tidal wave of demand?" With Apple resisting the move to a 4G network until 2011 at least, other top service providers like Google Android have been able to fill the 4G-less void, yet Apple's resistance raises several questions about the validity and future of 4G, and the relevant infrastructure that needs to be in place to utilize it fully.