September - October 2001  

World Bytes

Restart

by Terrance Malkinson

A Thought to Chew On

September is a month of transition for many of us. We return from the typically more relaxed pace of summer, resuming a full schedule of work, school and other activities. An annual "kick-back" is important, whether you take it during the summer or choose some other time of year. Unfortunately, too many of us forego that personal time.

An increasing number of reports are suggesting that North Americans are working too many hours; we put in long days and tend not to take our vacations (Business Weekonline, 28 August 2001; INC., 23:34-39, July 2001; and IEEE Spectrum online, 16 August 2001). Not the case in other countries, ironically this tendency to work more has not increased our productivity. In fact, some reports suggest this practice may actually be counterproductive.

Remember, career success encompasses more than logged work hours. Take time every now and then to "restart." Set a few realistic, attainable career goals for yourself, and develop a strategy for reaching them. You might enroll in a continuing education course, attend a business conference or even present a paper, add to your contact list by getting involved in a new networking group, or even choose a set of good books to read during the winter months. Whatever you do, be sure you make some of your time personal time. Each small step, whether business-related or personal, will contribute to your career success.

Other Bytes and Tydbytes

Here are just a few of the many things going on in and around the global engineering community.

• "The Boom. The Bust. Now What?" is the title of a Business Week feature (27 August 2001, www.businessweek.com) on America's future. This article is excellent reading for those interested in career success information. It discusses lessons learned and other issues related to the dot-com flameout, the new economy, and perspectives on career opportunities.

• European Management Journal (19:359-369, 2001) discusses the challenges and management strategies for facilitating and promoting entrepreneurship in companies that expand internationally. In the same issue, "The End of Global Strategy" offers an interesting perspective on globalization, suggesting that international business takes place in regional blocks, rather than in a single global market.

• The Virtual Learning Organization (G. Prestoungrange et al. New York: Continuum. 2000. ISBN 0-8264-4707-4) discusses the belief that the virtual learning organization will become the enabler for change and renewal. The benefits of this include organizations that are able to leverage the benefits of action learning in the workplace.

• The Managers Guide to Hiring the Best Person for Every Job (D. Rosenberg. New York: Wiley. 2000. ISBN 0-471-38074-1) provides a comprehensive guide for recruiting the best job candidates. If you are seeking employment, find out what recruiters might be thinking or looking for and adjust your interview strategy accordingly.

• Peak Performance (J.R. Katzenbach. Boston: Harvard University Press. 2000. ISBN 0-87584-936-9) discusses emotional commitment and how it facilitates increased performance. Examples are drawn from high-performing companies.

• "Putin's Choice" is the title of a special section in The Economist (21 July 2001, www.economist.com). This analysis considers the leadership, what has changed, the state of Russia's infrastructure, and quality of life and motivations of Russian citizens. It is interesting to think of what challenging career opportunities might be available in Russia for those seeking adventure.

• "The Next Tech Super Power" is the title of the cover story in AsiaWeek (27(29):34-37, 27 July 2001, www.asiaweek.com). This article discusses strategies the Chinese are using to become global players. What threats or opportunities does this present to your company or career?

• Important e-mail security issues are discussed in the August 2001 issue of SCMagazine (www.scmagazine.com). What are the risks? What are the weak links? What are the liabilities? A related article in HR Magazine (July 2001, pp. 75-80) discusses strategies for using e-mail effectively at work.

• Fortune provides its list of the 100 fastest growing companies in the 3 September 2001 issue (www.fortune.com). Are these employers of interest to you?

• Personal Leadership: Taking Control of Your Work Life (J. Baldoni, Everywhere Press, ISBN 0-9657-3451). The author provides practical "real-world" tips on how to become a leader whom others will respect, trust and follow.

• "Brains Abroad" in The McKinsey Quarterly (August 2001, www.mckinseyquarterly.com) provides a detailed analysis of issues related to the migrating global workforce. "Brain drain" has significant and sometimes devastating implications for the emigrating country. The authors suggest that a strategy that encourages the participation of emigrants in the economic development of their home countries can mitigate the effects of emigration.

Terrance Malkinson is a proposal manager/documentation specialist with GE Capital IT Solutions Inc.