One Month in Bangalore, India with IBM Corporate Service Corps

© 2010 IBM Corporation

One Month in Bangalore, India with IBM Corporate Service Corps

W. Cramer

25 October 2010

© 2010 IBM CorporationPage 2

Agenda

� About IBM’s Corporate Service Corps (CSC)

� My CSC Team

� My CSC Project

� My Cultural Experience

� Find out more about CSC


About IBM’s Corporate Service Corps


IBM is a global company with operations in 170 countries… a culturally, economically, politically diverse world.

Triple challengeTriple challengefor IBMfor IBM

1. Develop global leaders

2. Establish the IBM footprint in new markets

3. Earn the opportunity to do business by donating IBM skills and expertise to impactful local projects.


In response to the increasing global nature of business, IBM introduced the Corporate Service Corps program in July 2007.


The Corporate Service Corps (CSC) exposes

high performance IBM employees to the

21st century context for doing business ---

emerging markets, global teaming, diverse cultures,

working outside the traditional office, and increas ed

societal expectations for more responsible and

sustainable business practices.

What is the IBM Corporate Service Corps?

DevelopingDevelopingfuture leadersfuture leaders

� Ability to work with and lead multi-cultural teams.

� Understanding the societal, educational, environmental challenges impacting 21st century business.

� Resiliency, adaptability, and global awareness.

� Working outside the office, outside your comfort zone.


The Corporate Service Corps program has received a positive response from the media.


Brazil

China

Egypt IndiaNigeria

Ghana

Philippines

Romania

S. Africa

Tanzania

Turkey

Viet Nam

Malaysia

Poland

Indonesia

Sri Lanka

Morocco

Kenya

Russia

Through 2010, the CSC program has staffed nearly 100 teams across 18 countries.

� CSC: over 930 participants on 90 teams across 18 countries

� Executive CSC: 34 execs from 12 countries on 6 teams in 4 countries

� Services contribution valued at $250K X 90 teams = $22.5 million


IBM POPULATION380,000+ employees170+ countries

ELIGIBLE APPLICANT POOLTop 15% of performersPre executive>2 years IBM tenure~50,000 employees

APPLICANTSPhase1: 5,500 IBMers

54 countriesPhase3: 9,625 IBMers

63 countries

Geography Review Boards

SELECTIONSPhase1: 100 IBMers

31 countriesPhase3: 450 IBMers

44 countries

The CSC application process identifies a very small percentage of the top performing IBMers to participate in the program.


� IBM declared growth markets�Emerging or pre emerging�Address societal, educational, environmental challenges

COUNTRY

� Logistics�Project planning� In-country support

NGO PARTNER

PRE WORK (3 Months)� Preparation work completed virtually� Team building and skills development� Established curriculum

IN-COUNTRY (1 Month)� Work at the intersection of business, technology and society� Immersion in local culture� Outside the office

POST SERVICE (2 Months)� Linkage back to the business� Measurement and evaluation� Reflect, learn and apply� Internal and external presentations

EXPERIENCE

The CSC program is structured to address societal challenges in growth markets.


My CSC Team


I was part of a team called the Blue Tigers which was composed of 12 IBMers from 9 different countries.

Joanne, Canada

Patricia, Mexico

Dan, US Randy, US

Chris, UKKatja, Denmark

Mario, Germany

Kohichi, Japan

Natalia, SpainJaakko, Spain

Wolf, US

Mariana, Colombia


We traveled to Bangalore (the “Silicon Valley of India”) for a month in September / October 2010.

Bangalore Economy:

• One of the major economic centers in India

• Economic growth of 10.3%

• Fastest growing major metropolis in India

Bangalore Demographics:

• Third most populous city in India

• The cosmopolitan nature of the city has resulted in the migration of people from other states.

Bangalore Climate:

• Tropical savanna climate with distinct wet and dryseasons

• Due to its high elevation, Bangalore enjoys a more moderate climate throughout the year.


Through pre-work meetings and in-country events, our team formed a very strong bond based on trust and respect.

Our first meetingGroup discussions

Project KickoffTeam Dinners


My CSC Project


Clients Members

Individuals(Entrepreneurs)

Volunteers(Professionals)

Partners(NGOs, Universities)

Corporate(Med & Large Business)

Job placement

Value Activities & Events

Give-back

Special Skills Training

Computer Centre

Unemployed Elderly

Children Students

Networking

Entrepreneurial

Volunteerism

Job Placement

Female EmpowermentFemale Empowerment

Our partner was eMERG, a non-profit group focused on providing specialized training for underprivileged women.

� eMERG– Engineering Manufacturer

Entrepreneurs Resource Group – 3 year old non-profit – Started by 7 women

entrepreneurs

� Social mission– Provide training for the rural

unemployed, with a focus on women, to build up their capabilities and incorporate them into the industry.

� Training offered to clients– Manufacturing training – Computer Literacy Center

� Current membership– Approximately 100 members – Entrepreneurs and business

professionals.


Working with one other IBMer, our effort was to develop a strategy for eMERG to increase members and improve renewal rates.

� Objective of Assignment: – Research and understand the needs and concerns of the

local women entrepreneurs and professionals in the engineering, technology and services sectors.

– Develop a recommended strategy and implementation approach to increase membership numbers and organizational outreach.

� Deliverables of the Assignment: 1. A recommended strategy to increase membership;

2. Written explanations & recommendations for implementation;

3. A documented framework for membership renewal activities;

4. Final summary presentation.


We used the Issue Based Consulting (IBC) technique to gain insights to defining the strategy.

EngagementObjective

Issue Issue Issue

Hypo-thesis

Hypo-thesis

Hypo-thesis

Hypo-thesis

Hypo-thesis

Hypo-thesis

KeyQuestion

KeyQuestion

KeyQuestion

KeyQuestion

KeyQuestion

KeyQuestion

KeyQuestion

KeyQuestion

KeyQuestion

KeyQuestion

KeyQuestion

KeyQuestion

ClientObjective

Recommendations

Conclusion Conclusion Conclusion

FindingFinding Finding FindingFindingFinding

Fact

Fact

Fact

Fact

Fact

Fact

Fact

Fact

Fact

Fact

Fact

Fact

Client Problem

Accepted Recommendations

Definition StructureData

GatheringSynthesis Buy-In

Client interaction and communication

Investigate

IBC begins with a topsIBC begins with a tops--down discovery approach and uses a down discovery approach and uses a bottomsbottoms--up approach to identify recommendations.up approach to identify recommendations.


In less than four weeks, we developed a membership strategy withdetailed actions for eMERG.

� We structured our effort to consider all stages of the Membership Lifecycle.

� We held collaboration sessions with interested parties to understand their priorities & challenges.

� We gained new insights for the client as we analyzed the data we gathered.

� We defined three major recommendations to improve eMERG’s recruitment & retention activities.

� We formulated a detailed action plan for each recommendation with tactical strategies & suggestions for implementation.


My Cultural Experience


India is an incredibly diverse and complex country filled with paradox and contradiction.


Our team took every opportunity to immerse ourselves in the Indian culture.


We made many new friends along the way.


The CSC experience also allowed me to grow my IBM network and create lifelong friends.


Throughout the trip, I blogged about my personal experience.

http://india9.posterous.com/https://www-146.ibm.com/corporateservicecorps/node/5738


Find out more about CSC


Visit the CSC program site to learn more.

https://www-146.ibm.com/corporateservicecorps/


Thanks

Gracias

ध�यवाद

One Month in Bangalore, India with IBM Corporate Service Corps

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