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Topic 3 : Making local areas active partners in globalisation

Workshop 3.3 : Major transformations: how can we anticipate them together?

Complete file of the workshop _ English and french version

Workshops Topic 3 :

The globalisation of economies forces accelerated changes on companies. The process has imposed profound changes on the behaviour of institutions, companies, employees, consumers and social actors, while the legal, regulatory, and cultural frameworks, the cornerstones of social behaviour, evolve with less speed and scope, all of which leads to feelings of uncertainty and anxiety.

Because the processes involved are so intricate and unpredictable, isolated actors – even large organisations – can no longer cope alone with the complexity of the factors underlying economic and social trends. Understanding and anticipating these major changes requires concerted action to be taken by business players (management, shareholders, employees, partners etc.) and by the other stakeholders (suppliers, subcontractors, service providers, local authorities etc.) in order to identify the stakes, implement effective anticipatory strategies and provide whatever guidance is necessary.

The aim is to set the foundations for “socially responsible employment” in which all local actors participate, to contribute to the organisation of real policies for anticipating change.

The workshop will identify the specific conditions and approaches that facilitate dialogue and anticipation, involving stakeholders in companies and the local region to anticipate major economic changes and develop strategies for a concerted approach to managing economic restructuring:

How can we develop a shared ability to analyse future trends which reaches beyond the confines of company management and its shareholders?
How can debate be organised among representatives of employees, employers, local authorities and other local actors on economic issues, strategic choices and change management, with an eye to the future?
How can we reduce the lag often seen between the first signs of a problem and the start of any real solution, and how can we resolve differences in the sense of urgency among the various actors?
What are the most efficient methods and actions for anticipating change together? What are the pre-requisites for these experiences to be transferable to other contexts?
How can we help employees prepare for economic change when it is foreseeable, and even more so when it is not ?

This Workshop has been prepared in coordination with ALPHA Group.

Speakers

Chair: Fernando Vasquez, Adviser to the Director-General in charge of Corporate Restructuring, European Commission

Moderator: Mireille Battut, Director for International Development, Alpha Group, France

Case Study Presenters:

Bernard Juan, International Industrial Director, SEB Group
Iordanis Andreadis, Prefect of Kozani, Greece
A representative from Hewlett Packard, France

Discussants:

Lars Eklund, President, The Competitiveness Institute, Sweden
Pierre Farouz, Human Resources Director, Brink’s
Jean-Louis Gagnaire, Vice-President, Rhône-Alpes Regional Council, France
Danielle Kaisergrüber, Director, DKRC, France
Zwelinzima Vavi, Secretary General, Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), South Africa

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