Posts by author
Henry J. Schumacher
Let’s build a Sustainable Future
Business and government must understand how sustainability requirements filter down throughout companies and government operations. Please allow me to highlight a few areas for your considerations.
People, planet and profits–the 3 pillars of sustainable development
Sustainable Development and Inclusive Growth must be on the agenda of government by effectively addressing the three main pillars: economic, environmental, and social. These three pillars are informally referred to as people, planet, and profits.
Young, wild and free (from corruption)
On August 12, we celebrated the International Youth Day. That was certainly an opportunity to cast a spotlight on the young advocates boldly leading the fight against corruption.
Goodbye, plastic
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has revealed that as of July, only 16.55 percent or just 662 of around 4,000 enterprises registered with the Deprtment of Trade and Industry had submitted to the National Solid Waste Management Commission their programs for the proper management of their plastic wastes. These include plastic bags, sachets, labels, laminates, and both rigid and flexible plastic used for such products.
Let’s join BBM in fighting corruption!
It should be our clear understanding that every loud proclamation that Corruption—as we know it—is “dead” is followed by something new. Let’s agree that there is plenty of resourcefulness out there to redefine and reinvent corruption. Resourcefulness generates options—through creative and curious problem “creation,” especially in an environment of lacking accountability and supervision. I have my doubts that digitalization is going to be an anti-corruption tool.
The youth and their expectations
Luckily, the youth and their development were part of the President’s SONA yesterday. We must recognize a hard truth: it’s not an easy time to be a young person.
Young people are deeply concerned about the state of the world: a recent global survey shows that they are seeking real, sustained change. And they’re not just watching from the sidelines. Young people are taking initiative through social movements and activism—with extraordinary results! Just consider the impact of the youth-led global climate movement calling for radical change.
Today’s youth are also making their mark on the fight against corruption. The youth deserve an end to corruption. Young people are not just our future. They are key to creating a just, peaceful and prosperous world just now. Remember: 37 million youth were involved in the May 9 elections and many of them certainly listened to the President yesterday to get the confirmation that they made the right decision a year ago.
Future Planning: Life in 2024 and beyond
Economic headwinds coupled with unexpected trends in employment will make planning and budgeting for 2023 trickier than normal. Leaders must temper their overly optimistic predictions for budget increases with discipline and precision.
Water Scarcity leads to water interruption
The information about water interruptions this week and the ongoing El Niño phenomenon reminds me of articles I wrote in 2015 about water scarcity and what should be done about it.
Stop giving away the most precious resource of the 21st Century: Your Data. Why?
In 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, Yuval Noah Harari explains:
Preparing for AI’s impact on our jobs
Where’s the good news that I mentioned above. The artificial intelligence (AI) revolution is here to stay, but you can “AI-proof” your jobs and prepare yourself for this new world. Even more importantly, you can leverage AI to make your position irreplaceable. Here’s how:
Too young, or just old enough?
I love to read YOUNGBLOOD in the Inquirer. It allows young people to express their issues and thoughts. I am always looking at a column that Daphne S. Sagun, a BA Communications student at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, wrote some years ago. I have kept her great story about what parents tell their kids.
How does corruption hurt us?
For years the Integrity Initiative has tried to create Integrity Nation, a nation where transparency and integrity rule, and where corruption is no longer part of everybody’s life. Have we succeeded? Not yet. One day we claim: Corruption is Dead! And then we realize: Long live Corruption!
The purpose of business in society
Business leaders are pressured more and more to redefine the role of business in society.
Powerful analytics needed in integrated compliance management
Let me start by stating why I am committed to compliance management: it is important because noncompliance may result in fines, security breaches, loss of certification, or other damage to your business. Staying on top of compliance changes and updates prevents disruption of your business processes and saves money.
AI–the most impactful tech for 4th year in a row
Ihave been writing about AI many times already and I am always telling myself that all has been said. But whenever I am preparing to write a new column and are looking at impacts on business, AI pops up again. Let my highlight a few developments:
Generative AI vs general AI in your organization
The basic question we need to address is do we in business need to get involved in AI. Of course, the answer is: YES. If we don’t get involved, our competitors will be happy and leave us behind.
‘Sustainable Development’–the Mandate for the Future
Capitalism is better than critics try to make it. Capitalism has the ability to change, keeping long-term profits in mind, but declaring money (making money) and purpose (keeping purpose high on the agenda) as twins.
Ethical, AI-powered automation
ChatGPT is a new technology that within a period of 2 months has attracted 100 million people who are testing and using this amazing new technology. This is the fastest development of a technology in human history. And it is also the first time that humans can hardly distinguish whether they are talking to another human or to a computer!
Anti-Corruption 2023 and beyond–Are we dreaming?
The first year of the Marcos Presidency is almost done. As I sit to formulate visions for the next 18 months up to the end of 2024, my mind is asking whether we will enjoy a level playing field, and be tough and walk away from all corruption challenges?
Generative AI capabilities to boost work force productivity
Allow me to highlight the importance of generative artifical intelligence (AI) again, given this exciting development information technology (IT) teams and their leaders have to think strategically about how to upskill workers so that they can reap value from these tools.
The new tribe are ‘knowledge workers’
All countries and peoples are changing rapidly—as the market economy, democratic politics, and the international millennial’s culture spread all over the world, in the process called “globalization.” American management thinker Peter Drucker described this emerging social organization as the “Knowledge Society.” By this, Drucker meant that—in our world today —knowledge has become the basic human resource.
How do companies create a culture that innovates?
IN your experience, how are Millennial and Gen Z workers looking at technology in the workplace?
How to lead a high-performance team
WE all want to lead high-performance teams, right? Then we are all confronted with these questions:
Empower the ethics of your workforce
A focus on ethics cuts through the “compliance clutter” to help employees understand and do the right thing. The need for compliance programs will never recede, of course; but when a company fosters a strong ethical climate, the compliance obligations it faces become much easier to manage. Still, empowered ethics is easier said than done.
Investing in the Philippines: There’s an urgent need to improve the efficiency of government agencies
DURING investment missions to and from the Philippines, government officials and local businessmen have encouraged investments in the Philippines and offered support for foreign investors interested to invest here.
Risk management in a world in crisis
IN times of upheaval and uncertainty, people and organizations need a vision, and a clear value orientation that the organization and its employees can use. They need a clear “sense of belonging” and “sense of direction” so that their actions have meaning and impact.
Companies cannot ignore Generative AI
Ready or not, the generative artificial intelligence (AI) revolution is here. Any business involving words, images, sound, or code stands to gain from the new tech that Silicon Valley is calling “the next platform.”
Building compliance into your business
What do ethics have to do with compliance? Businesses have to have a clear vision of ethical standards and have to understand how compliance filters down throughout the company and how it impacts business performance.