-- John Steinbeck, "Travels with Charley: in Search of America", 1960
Sunday, May 25, 2008
San Francicso - Baghdad by the Bay
"When I was a child growing up in Salinas we called San Francisco 'The City.' Of course it was the only city we knew, but I still think of it as the City and so does everyone else who has ever associated with it... San Francisco put on a show for me. I saw her across the bay from the great road that bypasses Sausalito and enters the Golden Gate Bridge. The afternoon sun painted her white and gold -- rising on her hills like a noble city in a happy dream... New York makes its own hills with craning buildings, but this gold and white acropolis rising wave on wave against the blue of the Pacific sky was a stunning thing, a painted thing like a picture of a medieval Italian city which can never have existed. I stopped in a parking place to look at her and the necklace bridge over the entrance from the sea that led to her. Over the green higher hills to the south, the evening fog rolled like herds of sheep coming to cote in the golden city. I've never seen her more lovely."
-- John Steinbeck, "Travels with Charley: in Search of America", 1960
-- John Steinbeck, "Travels with Charley: in Search of America", 1960
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Glossary
Today we begin a glossary of terms for de Baak International. On the left side of the column are the Dutch language terms; on the right side the English equivalent.
These terms will be first introduced here before being placed into the permanent glossary on the de Baak Intranet. Any discussions or questions regarding the translation of a term can take place here. Once the word appears on the intranet, it will have been entered into the lexicon of de Baak. This first list has been proposed by Leo and Barbera and has been reviewed by a small team of internationals (Josette, Caroline de Ruijter, [etc]).
Today's terms:
- Programma = "Program": please note the spelling (US English)
- Programmaassistent = "Program Assistant"
- Programmamaker = "Program Director": the "programmamaker" function at de Baak is very broad and includes a variety of functions with different titles: program manager, trainer, account manager, program designer, marketing manager, sales and acquisition, business developer, etc. "Program Director" was decided upon as the equivalent translation even though it is not particularly accurate (a true Program Director is de Baak's equivalent of an OK director). The reason being that it was the only term that conveys the equivalent weight and status when interacting with international target groups.
These terms will be first introduced here before being placed into the permanent glossary on the de Baak Intranet. Any discussions or questions regarding the translation of a term can take place here. Once the word appears on the intranet, it will have been entered into the lexicon of de Baak. This first list has been proposed by Leo and Barbera and has been reviewed by a small team of internationals (Josette, Caroline de Ruijter, [etc]).
Today's terms:
- Programma = "Program": please note the spelling (US English)
- Programmaassistent = "Program Assistant"
- Programmamaker = "Program Director": the "programmamaker" function at de Baak is very broad and includes a variety of functions with different titles: program manager, trainer, account manager, program designer, marketing manager, sales and acquisition, business developer, etc. "Program Director" was decided upon as the equivalent translation even though it is not particularly accurate (a true Program Director is de Baak's equivalent of an OK director). The reason being that it was the only term that conveys the equivalent weight and status when interacting with international target groups.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
The Relationship Between "Creative Economy" and Productivity
U.S. author Richard Florida helps us identify this correlation. Florida recently published the ranking of the countries according to the measurement criterion of his creativity index.
In short, Florida established what he refers to as the three “T’s” of Creativity: Talents, Technology and Tolerance.
The first 20 countries on Florida’s ranking of Talents have a population in which 20% of the people dedicate themselves to activities related to the “Creative Economy”. The Talents index also calculates the percentage of the population with a university degree, the number of scientists, PhDs, and the like.
The Innovation index, also referred to as Technology, is measured by the percentage of investments in research and development and the number of patents per one million inhabitants.
In the first twenty positions in the ranking, the percentage of investments in Research and Development ranges from a minimum 1.11% (New Zealand) to a maximum of 4.27% of GDP (Sweden); in relation to patents, the United States ranks first by far, with 307 patents per one million inhabitants, followed by Japan with 261, Switzerland with 196 and Sweden with 196.
In relation to the third “T" – Tolerance, the study involves more subjective evaluations, obtained through research that measures, above all, a given society’s acceptance of the so-called ethnic and religious minorities, among others.
The Global Creativity Index defined according to the criteria above, ranks the following countries in the first 10 positions. This index was published in “The Flight of the Creative Class”:
1. Sweden
2. Japan
3. Finland
4. United States
5. Switzerland
6. Denmark
7. Iceland
8. Holland
9. Norway
10. Germany
Brazil ranks 43rd on this list of 45 countries, behind Uruguay, Poland, China, Argentina, Turkey, Chile, India and Mexico, and higher only than Peru and Romania.
The research study published in Professor Richard Florida’s “The Flight of the Creative Class” in April, 2005, was conducted by him and by Professor Irene Tinaglia. Both professors are from Carnegie Mellon University, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.
The development of regions, cities and nations is related to the growth of the so-called “Creative Economy” and, consequently, to the number of talents resorted to by this economy.
It is interesting to see a cross study of the results of this research study and the results of the research study on productivity prepared by the industry association “Federação das Indústrias do Estado de São Paulo/ FIESP (the São Paulo State Federation of Industries) published by Folha de São Paulo newspaper on September 23, 2005, and included in an article written by Marcelo Billi. Below are some excerpts:
“Brazilian competitiveness is still low, as evidenced by the study prepared by FIESP (Federação das Indústrias do Estado de São Paulo). The research study analyzed data from 43 countries that together account for 95% of the world’s economy. Brazil ranked 39th on the list prepared by FIESP.
The 43 countries were divided into four groups. Countries with high productivity levels were classified in the group led by the United States. Denmark, which ranked 12th on the list, led the group of countries with satisfactory competitiveness levels. Countries such as Italy, China, Portugal, Russia and Argentina have average competitiveness levels. Finally, the group that Brazil is part of includes countries such as Chile (34th place) and Mexico (36th place)”.
Analyzing the five countries that were best positioned, the research study ranked these countries as follows: United States, Sweden, Switzerland, Japan and Singapore. Interestingly, the highest ranking countries on the creativity list are as follows: Sweden, Japan, Finland, United States and Switzerland. This is no mere coincidence! There is a direct relationship between the educational level – the main link of the so-called “Creative Economy”, coupled, of course, with other factors - and a given economy’s productivity.
Reprinted from http://www.economiacriativa.com.br/ec/en/eventos/relacao.asp
In short, Florida established what he refers to as the three “T’s” of Creativity: Talents, Technology and Tolerance.
The first 20 countries on Florida’s ranking of Talents have a population in which 20% of the people dedicate themselves to activities related to the “Creative Economy”. The Talents index also calculates the percentage of the population with a university degree, the number of scientists, PhDs, and the like.
The Innovation index, also referred to as Technology, is measured by the percentage of investments in research and development and the number of patents per one million inhabitants.
In the first twenty positions in the ranking, the percentage of investments in Research and Development ranges from a minimum 1.11% (New Zealand) to a maximum of 4.27% of GDP (Sweden); in relation to patents, the United States ranks first by far, with 307 patents per one million inhabitants, followed by Japan with 261, Switzerland with 196 and Sweden with 196.
In relation to the third “T" – Tolerance, the study involves more subjective evaluations, obtained through research that measures, above all, a given society’s acceptance of the so-called ethnic and religious minorities, among others.
The Global Creativity Index defined according to the criteria above, ranks the following countries in the first 10 positions. This index was published in “The Flight of the Creative Class”:
1. Sweden
2. Japan
3. Finland
4. United States
5. Switzerland
6. Denmark
7. Iceland
8. Holland
9. Norway
10. Germany
Brazil ranks 43rd on this list of 45 countries, behind Uruguay, Poland, China, Argentina, Turkey, Chile, India and Mexico, and higher only than Peru and Romania.
The research study published in Professor Richard Florida’s “The Flight of the Creative Class” in April, 2005, was conducted by him and by Professor Irene Tinaglia. Both professors are from Carnegie Mellon University, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.
The development of regions, cities and nations is related to the growth of the so-called “Creative Economy” and, consequently, to the number of talents resorted to by this economy.
It is interesting to see a cross study of the results of this research study and the results of the research study on productivity prepared by the industry association “Federação das Indústrias do Estado de São Paulo/ FIESP (the São Paulo State Federation of Industries) published by Folha de São Paulo newspaper on September 23, 2005, and included in an article written by Marcelo Billi. Below are some excerpts:
“Brazilian competitiveness is still low, as evidenced by the study prepared by FIESP (Federação das Indústrias do Estado de São Paulo). The research study analyzed data from 43 countries that together account for 95% of the world’s economy. Brazil ranked 39th on the list prepared by FIESP.
The 43 countries were divided into four groups. Countries with high productivity levels were classified in the group led by the United States. Denmark, which ranked 12th on the list, led the group of countries with satisfactory competitiveness levels. Countries such as Italy, China, Portugal, Russia and Argentina have average competitiveness levels. Finally, the group that Brazil is part of includes countries such as Chile (34th place) and Mexico (36th place)”.
Analyzing the five countries that were best positioned, the research study ranked these countries as follows: United States, Sweden, Switzerland, Japan and Singapore. Interestingly, the highest ranking countries on the creativity list are as follows: Sweden, Japan, Finland, United States and Switzerland. This is no mere coincidence! There is a direct relationship between the educational level – the main link of the so-called “Creative Economy”, coupled, of course, with other factors - and a given economy’s productivity.
Reprinted from http://www.economiacriativa.com.br/ec/en/eventos/relacao.asp
De Baak Goes International
Welcome to the blog of De Baak Management Center VNO-NCW. This blog has been set up to give a place to show de Baak's international developments. If you want to be a member, send me an email: l.salazar@debaak.nl.
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