Strategies for Human Resource Development toward an e-business economy

1. Strategies for Human Resource Development toward an e-business economy Shaun Lake MD, Global Trade Training (Pty) Ltd

2. Skills development for e-business does not mean IT skills… • Most country e-readiness reports talk about computer skills graduates, computer literacy, IT support, web development etc. • If Curacao had to wake up tomorrow morning to find a thick pipe of cheap bandwidth coming into the country, a few plane loads of computer geeks with thousands of computers under their arms, would this alone turn Curacao into an e-business economy? • Why, because business is still business, it is about leadership, efficient operations, consumer trust, shareholder value, collaboration, etc. Example: dot.com flop

3. The web has raised the stakes • Many say that the web has leveled the playing fields between developing vs developed because of universal access to information. For some this is true, but not because of information access… • Along with globalisation, the web has in fact raised the stakes. In an information driven web age, global business is advancing at a rapid rate increasing competitiveness. The winner is going to be those with the best people. • Ultimately it takes people to implement more efficient operations, efficient supply chains, better customer service, better product offerings etc. • The downside for developing and least developed countries is that cheap labour alone will not guarantee participation. It is the quality of application of appropriate human capital that will determine participation.

4. Its first and foremost about leadership ….. At a policy level (government and business) it is leadership and an ability to implement. This involves making strategic choices. Where is the value, what are the strengths etc. Our leaders need to articulate their vision for the 21st century and focus the resources of the country.

5. Education toward an outcome • Just think about how some developing countries have become world renown exporters. Export development strategies are not too different to creating an e-business environment. Why? Because e-business is borderless!!! • We need to educate our people to toward an outcome, not toward a certificate or degree. One of the legacies of colonialism is the mark it has left on what people value in terms of educational status. There is greater importance on the certificate rather than on the what the person can do. Have people been given the ability to think, to innovate, to outsmart the opposition, ability to make decisions,

6. What are the skills needed in an e-business economy? The value skills of the 21st centaury are: • the ability to problem solve and make decisions • the ability to communicate • The ability to collaborate • Attributes such as accuracy, precision, discipline and reliability are all critical to the type of person needed for this revolution • People with these skills are often referred to as “knowledge workers”. • A government or company full of knowledge workers is an organisation that can institute flat structures and high levels of delegation. This creates an environment for innovation and entrepreneurship. • This will be the makings of an e-company of the 21st century.

7. Recommendations • A commitment from the highest level is needed to take advantage of e-business opportunities. Be willing to do what it takes. Think of the thousands and let them lift the millions. • Government must start preparing the future population. I believe in human intuition. School curriculum’s need to be revised to ensure that the future workforce is equipped with 21st centaury skills. Kids must be exposed to the web as soon as possible. Companies who develop their people appropriately should be rewarded.

8. Recommendations • Governments should identify e-business opportunities and focus their human resource development in those directions. For example, if call centres are considered a focus area, there should be a national campaign in preparing people for this type of work. • Develop a culture of e-business by offering e-Government services. Encourage the banking community to offer e-banking to the masses. E-mail should become the primary method of acceptable written communication and accepted as official for communications with government.