Transcending boundaries

Perspectives

ME PoV Fall 2013 issue

Transcending boundaries

The Fall 2013 issue tackles several hot issues: from risk, oil & gas, employee engagement, to cloud computing, innovation, human capital trends, private-public partnerships and much more.

About this issue

In one of the opening scenes of the highly acclaimed 1989 movie Dead Poets Society, Robin Williams a.k.a. Mr. Keating, the new English teacher, stands on his desk and urges his students to do the same in order to look at the world from a different perspective and to always “seize the day,” the moment, daring them to transcend the sometimes rigid boundaries of tradition and conservatism imposed on them by their home and school environment.

Mr. Keating’s unorthodox views and teaching methods eventually cost him his job, but not before he had already changed his students’ lives, we are led to believe, forever.

Transcending boundaries, be they physical or metaphorical, pervade this issue of Middle East Point of View.

Click the link on the left to access the Fall 2013 issue. Alternatively, you can read each article separately by clicking below.

The ME PoV magazine Fall 2013 issue

Who goes there: friend or foe?

Russia and the Middle East both supply gas to Europe and to Asia. In theory that makes them competitors. They are also both affected by Chinese demand and North American supply and, in theory, that gives them a common cause. Should Russia and the Middle East be enemies or friends?

Click here to read the full article.

Who goes there: friend or foe?

The project finance compass

If there is one defining feature of major public sector construction projects over the last two decades in developed economies, it is the irrepressible rise of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) as a way of executing major projects. How does the Middle East, the liquidity-rich Gulf in particular, compare?

Click here to read the full article.

The project finance compass

Oman 20/20 vision

Once a middle-income economy heavily dependent on depleting oil resources, the Sultanate of Oman has been actively pursuing a development plan focusing on diversification, industrialization and privatization, with the objective of reducing its reliance on the oil sector’s contribution to GDP, currently at 48.44 percent (USD 37.8 billion) and creating more employment opportunities for the rising number of young Omanis entering the workforce. And the outcome? The Public Authorityfor Investment Promotion and Export Development (PAIPED) was recently recognized at the United Nations Conference for Trade and Development held in Geneva for its efforts to promote non-oil products.

Click here to read the full article.

Oman 20/20 vision

Risk, why is it your problem?

As businesses continue to face a challenging economic environment in most developed economies and are looking towards rapid-growth markets with potentially better prospects, they also face the risk of higher levels of bribery and corruption. The rising trend of cross-border regulatory action and the increasing focus of investors on governance and transparency have brought these risks into sharper perspective. Leading companies are responding with enhanced compliance and due diligence measures, robust internal audits, enhanced investigative capabilities, whistleblowing and leveraging off the latest data analytical tools. The precautionary adage: better safe than sorry, has never been more pertinent.

Click here to read the full article.

Risk, why is it your problem?

“I do.” Or do I?

Over the last decade the business world has shown significant interest in the concept of employee “engagement.” Identified as an internal state of being – physical, mental and emotional – employee engagement brings together concepts of work effort, organizational commitment, job satisfaction and optimal experience. But does the social engagement of employees lead to a lasting and successful marriage? Yes, says this author.

Click here to read the full article.

I do. Or do I?

The Cloud: A CIO’s survival guide

Despite a grand entrance into the technology arena, cloud computing has become a point of contention in some organizations. While some department leaders have bypassed their trusted IT departments completely and procured services directly from cloud providers to address immediate needs – claiming reduced costs, faster time to market and improved user experience – some CIOs are not convinced. So how does a CIO survive and remain relevant within the organization if the cloud is viewed as a threat to their existence? Embrace the cloud and evolve your value proposition.

Click here to read the full article.

The Cloud

Innovation: A chimera no more

Innovation is celebrated far and wide, but the lack of a shared, accurate definition has undermined our collective ability to manage it effectively. The implications are anything but academic. Companies that treat an attack based on differentiation as if it were breaking important trade-offs may overreact, but mistake a true innovator for the merely different and the pain can last for decades.

Click here to read the full article.

Innovation

Human capital trends

In a recent survey1 conducted with business leaders and human resources (HR) executives world-wide, almost identical top five trends were identified and similar top three HR and Talent concerns were noted. While each region has its own specifics and challenges, the below highlights more commonality than difference in what is driving the HR and Talent agenda today.

Click here to read the full article.

Human capital trends
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