The Malaysian ministry of Science, Technology & Innovation (MOSTI) and technology giant IBM are to host a forum to share ideas that can help companies become more competitive in a softening economy.
Themed “Innovating for the Future” the inaugural MOSTI-IBM forum – to be held September 15 in Kuala Lumpur (www.ibm.com/my/events/innovationforum) - is to help cater to companies keen to embrace change, said the MOSTI minister, Datuk Dr Johnity Maximus Ongkili.
According to IBM’s 2008 Global CEO Study, where 1,130 CEOs worldwide were interviewed, those CEOs who demonstrate the capacity to manage major change can beat the competition by reaching new classes of customers, and making bold moves in shifting their business design around global integration.
IBM Malaysia managing director Ou Shian Waei said: “The ability to manage change is driving a wedge between winners and losers in the marketplace.
“Through this forum, we aim to provide a platform for industry leaders and C-level executives to hear the views of the industry’s experts and key corporate leaders as they share valuable tips on how they have embraced innovation to stay competitive and profitable. The inputs and actions from this Innovation Forum will also be used to support Malaysia’s Innovation agenda.”
Facing future challenges
Ou explained that the forum would feature a selected group of global and local thought leaders and that government agency Multimedia Development Corporation’s (MDeC’s) chief executive officer, Dato’ Badlisham Ghazali, would lead a panel discussion on the future challenges faced by Malaysia.
IBM’s vice president for Technology & Innovation, Nick Donofrio, will present the keynote address, while consultant firm Cutler and Company’s principal, Dr Terry Cutler, will discuss Malaysia’s position in the global innovation economy.
Ou added that other IBM speakers include Stephen Braim, Asia Pacific vice president for Government Programmes, and Philip Thrush, IBM Malaysia, global Business Services Leader, who will present a paper on 2008 CEO Study: Genuine Not Just Generous, detailing how corporate social responsibility will play an important role in differentiating an enterprise in the future.
Malaysian academic, Prof. Tan Sri Dr. Dzulkifli Razak, vice chancellor, Universiti Sains Malaysia, will explain why knowledge workers of the 21st century need cross-disciplinary programmes and degrees in order to compete.
