July - August 2001  

World Bytes

Summer Solstice

by Terrance Malkinson

A Thought to Chew On

The slowing of the world's economies, information overload, lack of control and overwork are but a few of the forces resulting in burnout, neglected personal relationships, mistakes on the job, and increasing stress-related disease for many workers. A study by the New York-based Families and Work Institute and reported by CNN.com (16 May 2001) revealed that 46 percent of respondents felt overworked in one way or another. In Canada, a similar study conducted by Ipos-Reid and reported by Globeandmail.com (2 May 2001) revealed an even greater rate: 62 percent of workers reported a "great deal of stress" on the job, and an amazing 34 percent said "workplace stress has been so overwhelming that it has made them physically ill at times."

It is important for all of us to reassess our lives periodically and recommit to the things that we value personally. Take some time to enjoy the summer months. Restore balance between your personal life and your career ambitions. Marvel at the intricacies of the global ecosystem and recognize that as humans, we are a part of a natural world ecosystem that has a finite life span. In other words, life is short; live it.

Other Bytes

Here are some of the many other things going on in and around the world engineering community:

• A business tool for those who want to capitalize on global economic opportunities is Dun & Bradstreet's Guide to Doing Business Around the World by Terri Morrison, Wayne Conaway and Joseph Douress (Prentice-Hall Press, ISBN 0-7352-0108-0, 2001). This guide provides insight on the top 40 U.S. trading partners. Each includes an economic overview, statistics, demographics, cultural factors, negotiating styles, visa and passport requirements, and economic/political/cultural issues. This guide serves as invaluable reading for anyone interested in pursuing global career opportunities.

• "Who Owns Your Work?" is the title of an article by Laurel Hyatt in June's Workplace Today, www.workplace.ca, pp. 14-16, 2001. The author discusses many of the complexities related to intellectual property ownership. Employees should understand their employer's policy on the ownership of their work products.

• By the end of 2005, a Western Hemisphere free-trade area extending from the top of Alaska to the tip of Argentina may be an economic and legal reality. This 34-nation, consumer Free Trade of the Americas (FTAA) will present commerce and employment opportunities and will dwarf the seven-year-old NAFTA, which encompasses the United States, Canada and Mexico only. (www.industryWeek.com "Dwarfing NAFTA." 250(8): 45-48. 21 May 2001.) The 11 June issue of TIME www.time.com provides a special report on "The New Frontier," an examination of Mexico. Another report in the same issue, "Wired Canada," reports on the changing and growing place of Canada in North America's high-technology sector. The FTAA will have an enormous impact on workers in all countries of the Americas. Becoming informed of its impact and being proactive will be increasingly essential to career success in the future.

• An update of McKinsey's 1997 survey on recruitment reveals that recruitment and retention of skilled workers is difficult despite the current economic slowdown and the end of the dot-com boom. Only seven percent of the survey's respondents strongly agreed that "their companies had enough talented managers to pursue all or most promising business opportunities." (The McKinsey Quarterly, "War for Talent," 2001, Number 2., mckinsey.quarterly.com)

• On a similar theme, the HayGroup's working paper "The Retention Dilemma" (www.haygroup.com) analyzes why productive workers leave an organization and provides seven suggestions for keeping them. Career-savvy individuals will look at this as an opportunity to position themselves strategically as being committed to their employer and receive the payoffs that can result from demonstrating corporate loyalty.

• Economist.com, 13 June 2001, reports on the strong demand for candidates for general management, business restructuring and technology skills in Asia. Candidates who can offer an international education, experience and multicultural sensitivity are particularly in demand.

• "Top CIOs Reveal Their Leadership Secrets" is the title of an article in CIO www.cio.com. Five top Chief Information Officers explain how they lead in their own words. As IT leaders in the executive suite, they are closest to the vision of technological possibilities aligned with business opportunity. The increasing importance of IT professionals to the executive team and organization leadership presents a career ladder worth considering. All assist their fellow executive team members in understanding how information technology is changing the business process. Commonalties of leadership emerge from the five stories. (CIO. 14(16): 62-71. 1 June 2001.)

• The June issue, 44(2) of IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication www.ieeepcs.com focuses on technological innovation and global business communication. Interesting papers on computer-mediated communication, international web design, a comparison of local vs. global websites, multicultural distributed teams and non-face-to-face international business communication all provide insight and valuable tips.

• The Asian-American Business Explosion is the title of an article in BusinessWeek Online, 31 May 2001, www.businessweek.com. Analysis of Census 2000 data reveals a number of interesting trends. Asian-owned businesses are the fastest growing segment of U.S. small business. According to census data, Asians now make up 25 percent of the foreign-born population in the United States. Entrepreneurial activity has long been entrenched in the Asian cultures. On a similar theme, many eyes are watching a "political renaissance" in Japan, with the election of the reform-minded Prime Minister Junichino Koizumi. Frank and assertive, he is calling for massive changes in Japanese policy, and a greater Japanese involvement in international affairs. Both of these events are important to know about.

• IEEE Engineering Management Review 29(2) provides a number of interesting articles of interest to those looking at global career issues. Trade and Technology in the Single Global Marketplace, and Meeting the Challenge of Global Team Management are two of these. www.ewh.ieee.org/soc/ems.

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