ME PoV Spring 2012 issue

About this issue

Political animal, meet citizen journalist.

Almost 2,500 years ago, Aristotle advanced the view that man is, essentially, a ‘political animal’ – intertwined with his city-state and morally obligated to participate in the matters of the polis.

With the rise of social media platforms, it has become easier than ever to participate in all that is pertinent to one’s existence.

As elucidated by Ceem Haidar, Middle East Public Relations leader at Deloitte, in her article Who’s trending what?, 70 percent of respondents to a survey carried out by the Dubai School of Governance in November2011 use social media to voice their opinions on a multitude of topics. As such, the region is “fueled with highly active web users, engaged on the various social media platforms.”

But these citizen journalists, as they are now known, are not only engaged in politics according to Ms. Haidar.
Companies are also at risk. “With online news and social media, a small mistake can become an international #trending topic within seconds,” she says. “Brands  are now more vulnerable than ever.”

Click the link on the left to access the Spring 2012 issue. Alternatively, you can read each article separately by clicking below.

Who’s Trending what?

What the Arab Spring elucidated perhaps more than a disgruntled population, was that this population is signed in and logged on. Throughout the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region and specifically in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt, over86% of active web users use social media to get news, information and advice on various issues, according to The Arab Social Media Report, issued by The Dubai School of Governance in November 2011.

Click here to read the full article.

On the road to quality

Pick up the business section of a newspaper or tune in to one of the many business programs on TV and there is agood chance someone somewhere will be articulating a view on the quality agenda, about organizations having sound (or poor) risk management practices or about executives effectively (or ineffectively)managing reputational issues faced by their organization.

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Keep calm and carry on

Despite recent surveys pointing to fraud being on the increase, the discovery of a suspected fraud within any organization is not an everyday occurrence for most people and initial reactions may include shock and surprise. However, action taken in the first few hours and days after discovery will significantly impact the course and/or outcome of a full investigation and may even make it or break it.

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GCC healthcare

Driven by new government strategy and regulatory reforms, more investments are expected in the GCC healthcare industry, aimed at enhancing and developing healthcare infrastructure and value chain. This increase in investment will lead to a significant expansion in the healthcare sector and will create attractive opportunities for private sector participation in the industry.

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Family businesses

Family businesses are fundamental to the business landscape of the Middle East and are intrinsic to the region’s economy. The challenges faced by today’s family businesses are perhaps greater than ever: competing in a more turbulent environment dominated by pluralistic social values, intensified competition, a global economy and rapidly changing politics and regulation.

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Is your Corporate footprint stuck in the mud?

Many organizations recognize that geography is a key driver of corporate performance. Yet many maintain ineffective and inefficient footprints that can hamper talent attraction and retention, increase operating costs, overexpose them to risk and depress shareholder value.

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We’ve got to talk about… the C-word

Cancer, once an enigma, is now the second leading cause of death worldwide, after cardiovascular disease. It is also increasingly on the rise in the developing world, where it is rising at a faster rate than population growth. In the Middle East, in particular, cancer cases will outpace population growth by a rate of almost two to one.1 It is an issue that not only cannot be ignored but should be prioritized.

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An everchanging game plan

Nine years after the U.S.-led invasion, security remains the number one concern to the general public, local businesses and foreign investors. Iraq’s infrastructure is still dilapidated and the economy is firmly controlled, for the most part, by the central government. Electricity shortages and an antiquated banking system continue to hinder progress in an economy that was ravaged by wars and sanctions.

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