June 6, 2004
The need for “Strategic Technology and Innovation Management” in the highly competitive market scenarios of the UAE was underscored at a seminar organised by e-TQM College’s Virtual Executive Club (VEC), the first online club for executives, in Dubai recently.
VEC hosted the seminar as part of its objective of developing enhanced interaction between executives and managers in the Arab world and all over the globe. The club supports executives by utilizing recent developments in tactical and strategic management thinking to improve members’ performance in their organisations
Professor Mohammed Zairi, Dean of e-TQM College and Head of European Centre for TQM presided over the seminar which was addressed by Professor Arthur Francis, Dean and Director; and Mr. Stuart Sanderson, Associate Dean, Graduate Programmes, School of Management, University of Bradford, the UK. Attended by more than 50 leading management professionals from both the private and public sector in the UAE, the seminar stressed on the crucial role played by innovation in providing and maintaining competitive advantage in face of increasingly demanding markets.
“Many technology- and resource-rich firms often fail to compete in the technologically turbulent environments that they helped to create in the first place. This is due to a failure to perceive the subtle changes taking place in the market. It does not take much for an enterprise to get bogged-down by institutionalised procedures. Research has proven that there are almost no cases of a company transforming itself without there being some huge shock imposed upon it,” explained Professor Francis. “On the other hand sustaining innovative management attitudes, that would lead to technological innovation, requires a thorough and timely action against inertia and hubris (normally described as the level of arrogance that leads to disaster) that sets in when companies begin to perceive themselves as comfortably established.”
Professor Francis presented 19 interesting ideas about technology, innovation, strategy and management. Professor Sanderson provided an insight into “Strategic Planning in support of a Knowledge-Based Economy: A Best Practice Perspective.” Discussing the evolution of the Information age, Stuart Sanderson detailed the new bases of competitive advantage, which develop from new forms of organisation, new strategies, new models of leadership and new methods of strategic planning.
“There is a clear message that leadership in the 21st century is about engaging people’s hearts and minds and harnessing their creative capacities with advanced technological support,” said Professor Zairi. “Modern enterprises operate in a knowledge driven competitive environment, where management practices rooted in institutionalised attitudes need to be reformed if the innovation has to be sustained. Performance Management and Total Quality Management have therefore assumed increase importance in business studies. With this seminar, we have attempted to draw in market leaders to encourage a dialogue on management models emerging in markets across the world.”
“e-TQM College and VEC are excellent initiatives because they boost learner-friendly knowledge dissemination to the masses,” said Sanderson. “Dubai displays an impressive degree of economic and cultural vitality, sustaining a level of economic growth that can be achieved only through dynamic attitudes that stay in touch with global trends and adapt them to suit the country’s specific requirements and work environment. Dubai, in particular, is managing the process of development proactively and effectively. In such a vibrant economy, the level of competition is bound to be very high; hence the need for processes that will help established as well as new players in the market to evaluate their strategies for success.”
e-TQM College’s Virtual Executive Club mirrors the college’s commitment to help individuals in the Arab World advance their personal and professional skills. VEC’s drive to disseminate quality education to inform, influence and develop market skills complements Dubai’s position as a modern, knowledge driven city, through development of its human capital. VEC provides special tailored series of excellence programs like excellence 001 and excellence 002 in addition to initiatives like Quality Hub and e-Quality Digest newsletter. These programs are considered valuable tools to executives looking for enhancing their skills in total quality management through their membership in the club.”
“VEC has made an excellent choice of professors in enhancing the standing of the seminar,” said Saleh Al Shunar, Director, Marketing, Television.com. “The concepts were clearly presented and developed and the high quality of participants ensured quality discussion on management issues. I look forward to more such seminars.”
“VEC’s initiative in disseminating education in Total Quality and Performance Management is in-line with Dubai eGovernment’s mission of creating a knowledge based society,” said Anas Haddad, Content Manager, Dubai eGovernment. “The case studies presented in the seminar of organisations that lost their competitive edge, as well as of organisations that reformed, survived and even maintained lead positions in highly competitive markets, were excellent illustration of the ideas discussed at the seminar. Professors Francis and Sanderson made an excellent case for sustained performance and quality management practices. I congratulate Virtual Executive Club for organising such an informative seminar.”
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About e-TQM College:
e-TQM College is a Dubai-based institution that has pioneered e-learning in the Middle East by launching world-class online courses in Total Quality Management. Launched in September 2002, the college is the first of its kind in the world. It has been recognized by EFQM, a leading European body for quality management, and has been accepted as a key member of the British Quality Foundation. It aims to be the college of choice for Total Quality Management in the Arab world.
e-TQM College provides e-learning programs to private and public sector employees as well as members of the public. Courses include Foundation Diploma in TQM, Excellence Best Practice Series and Certificate in Quality in Policing.
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© Press Release 2004
