My existence in the virtual world

In its issue of June 28, CG Lynch commented in CIO — Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales discusses what it takes for effective groups to work, why speed is a big deal and more.He summed up: the 5 winning strategies of online collaboration.

1) You need mechanisms in place for effective collaboration. Certainly, people can post bad things onto a wiki, a message board, or a mailing list. The real question is, what systems are in place to deal with this? The mechanisms of a wiki have proven highly effective and have to do with the ability of the community to revise the content or revert to a prior state, and the ability to block communication by people who are causing trouble.

2) Online identity is important. But requiring people to use real names online seems to be a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist. When people decide to interact anonymously with no stable identity, then bad behavior is the usual result. The safeguard mechanisms mentioned above can address such a situation. Meanwhile, contributors who use a steady pseudonym can and do gain reputation capital in a way that establishes credibility just as a real name would offline.

3) A successful collaboration requires a shared vision. A good example of this is a successful wiki called wowwiki.com , a wiki about the online computer game World of Warcraft. There, participants work together successfully because they have a shared vision of the kind of work they are trying to complete: a comprehensive guide to all things World of Warcraft. We see the same pattern over and over: A charitable goal like that of Wikipedia is not necessary. Neutrality is not necessary. But a shared vision is.

4) Organizations are becoming flatter. Flat hierarchies are incredibly powerful and, due to technologies like wikis that allow peer-to-peer communication without a lot of barriers, flat hierarchies are taking hold across the business world. Maybe some people are hesitant, but there is an overwhelming adoption of collaborative technologies going on right now. If old-fashioned CIOs are not seeing this, they should be replaced.

5) Speed is incredibly important. A fast and flexible system will always beat a paranoid system that wants to get everything right before publication.

Last week with great pomp Hong Kong celebrated the 10th year of the reunification of Hong Kong to mainland China. I eagerly watched the celebration ceremonies on both CCTV9 and the BBC during the past weekend. A few days ago, on the French radio, I heard an interview of the director of Alliance Francaise in Hong Kong giving his views on the one country 2 systems as lived in the (SAR) Special Administration Region.

On the one hand, I am still in admiration of Deng Xiao Ping’s idea of creating the one Country 2 systems in the SAR, on the other hand have to admit that it is not an ideal situation whilst democracy is flouted on and off by the central government. I do accept that it is a transitional period signed for 50 years with the SAR communities that has brought economic expansion to Hong Kong and the relative peace to all concerned.

Of course, the situation, as in most compromises, does not bring complete happiness to either side. Not quite a Win-Win situation which brings satisfaction albeit bliss on each side.

Political Democracy

The democratic party of Hong Kong, whose aim is to reach full democratic representation with an independent government, continues to press the central government to reduce the number of nominees in the SAR’s government. SAR’s residents enjoy freedoms which are far greater than their fellow citizens of the main land. Depending on one’s lieu of abode though being in the same country one would enjoy differentiated fundamental freedom rights and be subjected to another set of constitutional(basic) law.

Freedom of Speech

They have a freedom of expression and views, unacceptable on the main land, yet not as extensive as a full western democratic country would allow. China Government does not allow any opposing view to their policy and will suppress any attempt to any criticism.

Freedom of Religion

In opposition to the main land rule, SAR’s residents are free to adhere to any religious denominations. Hong Kong’s Catholic Cardinal Zen is allowed to voice out and comment on China’s action. He has been subjected to high pressure from the central government but still allowed to perform his duty. In China the Patriotic Catholic Church is under the government’s control and the Roman Catholic Church with allegiance to the Vatican is officially not recognised.

Cardinal Zen has long been known as the “new conscience of Hong Kong” for his unflinching defence of human rights, political freedom, and religious liberty in the face of criticism from China’s communist government. He has bluntly said that the Chinese crackdown on pro-democracy protestors in Tiananmen Square was “a big mistake,” and called on the government to “tell the truth” about those events. He was also a leading opponent of Hong Kong Basic Law Article 23, a since-shelved national security bill, which in 2003 prompted an anti-government protest by half a million people. Zen is a vocal proponent of a push for universal suffrage in Hong Kong, telling his flock in a 2005 homily that “a path will appear when enough people walk on it.” He has publicly called on officials in Hong Kong to support the aspirations of the people, rather than functioning as spokespersons for the central government in Beijing. At a personal level, he is described by John L. Allen Jr., a Vatican watcher, as “a gracious, humble man, a moderate on most issues. (Extracted from Wikipedia)

Freedom of Entreprise

It would appear that Hong Kong has made its mark as the premium location for Finance and services. Hong Kong financial services’ platform is reckoned to have channelled 60% of FDI of China. At some stage, Hong Kong feared that it would have been superseded by the power and large invested in Shanghai. By the way, let us not forget the ever existing rivalry that has always existed between the north and south population.

So far so good for SAR Hong Kong.

One French commenter said that “You would have thought that main land China with its will and power would have souped up tiny Hong Kong, on the contrary Hong Kong is influencing China to move to greater freedom. With its economic success coupled with the ingenuity, flexibility, efficiency and swiftness the people Hong Kong have become a model for the whole country.”

Who knows may be one day Hong Kong might lead the main land to a new form of Democracy? The Moon Festival,a Chinese traditional has not reentered the Chinese Culture in China from Hong Kong after having been banned by the communist China for decades.

My early work life in aviation has given me a continued interest in the world of aviation. I lived in the 60’s the transition from the propeller aircraft to the jets and the transition when air transport was of the domain of the select few ‘rich and mighty’ to the domain of almost all.

It is forecasted that China would require some 2900 wide bodied aircrafts by 2025 for its needs, based by the trend drawn from the curve of the last decade. No wonder the two world aircraft manufacturers, Airbus and Boeing are focusing on the China market. China itself with such a large market and having achieved a level of technology, it would be natural for China to eye entering the aircraft manufacturing market. From last week world news, it would appear that Boeing is ahead of the game as they have entered into an agreement with the Chinese authorities for exchange of know-how to allow China to enter the industry. Analysts at Airfinance Journal are now evaluating when China will be the number three world plane maker?

The Boeing Company recently held a conference in Beijing to discuss the design and construction of its new 7E7 jetliner. The 7E7 is to be a super-efficient, long-range aircraft pushing the edge in aviation technology. Boeing China president David Wang was quoted in China Daily as saying that Boeing wants more Chinese participation in the program because it sees Beijing as a strategically important part of its globalization strategy. “Boeing should become more Chinese in China,” said Wang, “Twenty years from now, China will view Boeing as a global China brand, not just a global brand….We must be more Chinese in our leadership, and in content… have more designs, capability coming from China in the long term.”

Extracted from China Brief of James town Foundation

At the 2007 Paris Air Show, where Airbus booked firm order of over 400 aircrafts, it was reported that Russian aircraft manufacturers seem to have made some progress in re-organising themselves. The Italians have signed in with the Russians for a fleet of medium size aircraft. Would there be a market large enough for this type of aircraft for China to get involved?

Je lis dans le texte de ce dimanche l’appel que nous fait le Seigneur. Même si nous voulons le suivre à l’image de cet homme qui dit qu’il le suivra partout ou Il ira, il nous faudra du courage car le Seigneur semble ne pas avoir de lieu où reposer sa tête. Lui-même, il lui a fallu du courage pour prendre la route de Jérusalem et d’assumer sa pénible mission.

Par trois fois, Le Seigneur nous démontre les difficultés que nous aurons à surmonter. Nos liens avec les choses humaines, comme enterrer son père et dire adieu aux gens de la maison ou regarder en arrière, sont des freins à suivre le Seigneur. La lettre aux galates, nous indique bien que suivre le Christ notre Seigneur c’est vivre sous la conduite de l’Esprit. Se défaire des tendances de la chair est le challenge. Fort heureusement, IL a parcouru le chemin avant nous et nous a promis son aide et assistance si nous nous laissons conduire par son Esprit.

. De vivre ma mission à la suite de Jesus est mon obseession.

Je vous le dis : vivez sous la conduite de l’Esprit de Dieu ; alors vous
n’obéirez pas aux tendances égoïstes de la chair.
Car les tendances de la chair s’opposent à l’esprit, et les tendances de
l’esprit s’opposent à la chair. En effet, il y a là un affrontement qui
vous empêche de faire ce que vous voudriez. Mais en vous laissant conduire par l’Esprit, vous n’êtes plus sujets de la Loi.

Last Friday, I attended the Port Louis Toastmasters annual dinner at the Caudan Water front Ocean restaurant. It is traditional at each business year end for the out going president to close his year with a sum up of the activities during his tenure and for the newly elected president to present his team and to share his or her focused objectives for the coming year.

We thus saw outgoing president Eddy Tong Sam remitting symbolical the gavel to the in coming president Wairimu Kanja-Ristic. Wai, as she is called by most of the members, has committed this year’s team to give non members of Toastmasters the taste of learning and growing through playfulness by organising public targeted events.

This being the direction taken by the Port Louis Toastmaster club, I thought that I had to comment on Toastmasters to my blog readers  and to raise your level of awareness in possibilities that are offered to each one of you , where ever you may be in Mauritius or else where in the world to join in a Toastmasters club.

Do find out: how Toastmasters can enhance your people skills: both communications and leadership skills? Discover: How fun it can be to be part of a world wide well structured self-development club? Enjoy the fellowship of friends, value the uniqueness of each person, and be cross pollinated by the difference in style, thinking, upbringing and cultures.

I for one have gained a lot from Toastmasters. My biggest wins were: 1. to become more structured in my thinking, 2.to become a better communicator by being a better listener, 3. and to deliver in a sequence that is optimum to my audience’s receptivity.

This morning I had the time to scan through the world demography web page which published the July 07 estimates. Whilst Mauritius birth rate is given as 15.26 per 1000 population, it is worth to note that the top score is held by Niger at 50.16 per 1000 population, i.e over three times that of our country whilst Hong Kong trails at 7.34 per 1000 population i.e.half of our rate.

 

The world population stands at 6,602,224,175 with a growth of 1.167%. The sex ration figures are telling.

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.064 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.024 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.781 male(s)/female
total population: 1.014 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

These are some of the some indicators that interested me.

Religions

Christians 33.03% (of which Roman Catholics 17.33%, Protestants 5.8%, Orthodox 3.42%, Anglicans 1.23%), Muslims 20.12%, Hindus 13.34%, Buddhists 5.89%, Sikhs 0.39%, Jews 0.23%, other religions 12.61%, non-religious 12.03%, atheists 2.36% (2004 est.)

Languages

Mandarin Chinese 13.69%, Spanish 5.05%, English 4.84%, Hindi 2.82%, Portuguese 2.77%, Bengali 2.68%, Russian 2.27%, Japanese 1.99%, Standard German 1.49%, Wu Chinese 1.21% (2004 est.)
note: percents are for “first language” speakers only and therefore do not add to 100%

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 82%
male: 87%
female: 77%
note: over two-thirds of the world’s 785 million illiterate adults are found in only eight countries (India, China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Egypt); of all the illiterate adults in the world, two-thirds are women; extremely low literacy rates are concentrated in three regions, South and West Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Arab states, where around one-third of the men and half of all women are illiterate (2005 est.)

Way back in 1997, when I attended a month long course in the beautiful mountains of Colorado, at Winter Park, I met with Jane Rogers. A very brave English lady who migrated earlier to Nova Scotia, Canada, with her family followed the same course to improve her skills. We shared a few meals together and exchanged views on raising a family.

Few months after, Jane got in touch with me and requested for some assistance for her son, Joe who just graduated from university in marketing & psychology. Joe wanted to have some international experience before starting a career. After we set up a meeting in Montreal Canada, Joe decided to take up the challenge of spending a year at Rogers & company as a management trainee at the Consumer & Retail cluster.

During his year in little Mauritius, he had the opportunity to work on different projects to hone his skills. The small and almost intimate surrounding of the Mauritian business environment yielded a large and enriching experience to him. It was possible to learn from many sectors of the business and to have a first hand experience in different fields: Fuji photoshops, white goods retailing, supermarkets, car dealership…etc..

He thereafter found no difficulty in securing a job at Leeds, in the UK in a business strategy and design consultancy firm. Today he is heading the Australian branch of an international firm renowned for having won numerous awards.

The good news is that after at absence of 7 years, Joe is back for a short surf and kite surfing holiday. Joe renewed with his friends and rekindled the friendship with the lot he left to pursuit his career.

Last week, I met him with great pleasure. He has become an international businessman braving the big names of the industry he wages in. Steadily and surely he is climbing the ladder of success. Now based in Melbourne, he has managed to double up the size of his branch in less than a year and a half and captured markets of big names of the like of Nike, Coles, Fronterra….

Joe yesterday shared his experience with a group of entrepreneurs. He focused particularly on his thinking for the “Coles Chain of supermarkets: Creating emotions to the brand. “What are you famous for?” was the take home punch line of his enriching presentation.

Thank you Joe.

Your true feeling of success will only come from what you give to the world through your work and love. Entertainment is based on what you can get from the world.

That explains why people who don’t worry about what they’re going to get are the ones who always seem to get the good stuff. And those who come to get something wonder why they can’t obtain it. They wonder why life always feels so unfair.

The hands-off manager models, inspires and nurtures this giving approach. He or she mentors contribution. When you take your hands off people’s lives and let them give what they’ve got, you’ll be allowing them to succeed. They will look to see what’s inside them and they will look to see how they can give that to the world.

I like the idea of Giving creating Success. Most sensible humans will be glad to help you out when asked. Would you open your purse when an appeal is made to you for a noble cause? I certainly will. Steve Chandler & Duane Black in ‘The Hands-off Manager‘ drive this idea. “We can allow the results to emerge in the world outside of us if we take care of this world inside. And there’s so much less stress”

Creating Results: The Benefits of Hands-Off Management