2010: Celebrating the Year of the Tiger
It’s been a long and rough ride through the past year’s economic upheavals and business challenges around the world. Although spending and investments are still on a conservative path, the Year 2010 brings a new decade, new hope, new aspirations, and new promises. With the Chinese New Year upon us, we can also look forward to the Year of the Tiger and its fearsome energy. Innovation initiatives embrace the traits of the Tiger in showing courage, energy, and engagement across cultures. In addition to great perseverance, the luck of the Tiger may help accelerate new opportunities for managers, teams, and organizations in 2010.
The entrepreneurial and creative forces that are steadily developing in key world regions promise exciting new opportunities. Innovation and creativity served as the central theme for the European Union during the past year. With initiatives spanning businesses, governments, and universities, Brussels organized events and developed networks devoted to exploring and implementing new approaches to nurturing innovation. Best practices emerged from across Europe including programs involving entrepreneurship, learning, art, digital entertainment, cross-cultural management, and green tech initiatives. Companies have actively sponsored new product development programs and competitions with engineering, business, and design schools to train the future innovators of Europe. There is a renaissance of the arts, design, and technology that’s inspiring new ideas and opportunities.
Across the Atlantic and back in the US of A, the entrepreneurial spirit and new business missions continue to propel the next generation of opportunities. Green tech and Web 2.0 technologies have served as a driving force for new start-ups and ventures. Silicon Valley serves as the meeting point for talent, ideas, and funding for local and foreign entrepreneurs. The buzz and energy is in the air, from eco networks to cloud computing to solar power. Incubators are growing quickly while universities and companies are exchanging talent and ideas. These networks are reaching across the oceans as universities and companies develop new product ideas and go to market efforts around the world.
Emerging markets are leading the way through innovative business models while establishing strong links in the global value chain. Despite lower market demand, the IMF has forecasted a 7% growth rate for emerging Asia (excluding Japan and Australia) in 2010, with China (9%) and India (6.4%) leading the way through investment and stronger domestic demand. The Middle East and African regions are receiving increased attention and investment from companies. One of the most inspiring initiatives discovered in 2009 is the Vital Voices Network which assists women entrepreneurs and business leaders in developing countries to realize initiatives that contribute to the local economy. A virtual network has been created in order to encourage exchange and assistance between women business professionals all over the world. Please see the Vital Voices article for more details. Yes, the world is innovating across the Web.
Global market opportunities are growing and it’s time to harness and transform these creative ideas into successful business results. This demonstrates the need to leverage cross-cultural capabilities in order to innovate from concept to launch. Stay tuned for more inspirations as I will continue to explore and share new ideas, practices and solutions during 2010.
