International Productivity Conference 2001
2-4 October 2001, Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore
Conference
Overview
The
APO is celebrating its 40th Anniversary this year
along with the turn of the new millennium. From 2
to 4 October this year, the APO organized the International
Productivity Conference (IPC-2001) as the culmination
of a series of commemorative activities undertaken
for the APO's anniversary year. IPC-2001 was hosted
by Singapore. It is a happy coincidence that year
2001 is also a remarkable year for Singapore as it
marks the 20th anniversary of the Singapore Productivity
Movement which has played a significant role in that
country's magnificent economic development.
The APO organizes the international productivity
conference every 10 years to review its activities
of the past decade and to refresh the direction towards
which the productivity movement should be advanced
through the search for new ways and means. The main
theme of the IPC was chosen to reflect the needs that
have emerged due to changing socio-economic environment
in APO member countries. The theme of the first IPC
was "Productivity Through People in the Age of
Changing Technology." The theme of the second
IPC was "New Dimensions of Productivity and Development
Strategies for the 1980s." The theme of the third
IPC was "Better Quality of Work Life Through
Productivity" and the theme of the fourth IPC
was "Enhancing Competitiveness though People
and Value Creation."
Welcome addresses were given by Mr.
Takashi Tajima, Secretary-General of the
APO and Mr.
Lim Boon Heng, Minister Without-Portfolio,
Secretary-General of the Trade Union Congress of Singapore,
Chairman of Singapore Productivity and Standards Board
and APO Chairman.
The
keynote address was delivered by the Guest of Honor, Mr.
Lim Hng Kiang, Minister for Health &
Second Minister for Finance.
The inaugural session was commenced with the observation
of a one-minute silence in honor of the victims of
terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001 in the USA.
The conference was attended by about 400 delegates
of various APO member countries and also of many APO
non-member countries. Altogether there were five Plenary
Sessions and 18 concurrent sessions. Plenary session
I and Plenary Session V focused on the overall theme
of the IPC and the remaining four plenary sessions
and concurrent session focused on three following
themes:
a) Competitiveness, b) People, and c) Value Creation
The speaker of Plenary Session I was Dr. Don Beck,
founding partner, the National Values Center, Inc.
and CEO, the Spiral Dynamic Group, Inc., USA, who
addressed the topic "Human Capacities in the
Integral Age: How Value System Shape Organizational
Productivity, National Prosperity and Global Transformation."
The speaker of Plenary Session V was Mr. Paul Hawket,
Chairman and Founder of GROXIS, Inc. USA on "Natural
Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution."
a) Competitiveness
Competitiveness strategies apply to all sectors of
the economy -- from manufacturing to services and
from export-oriented to domestic industries. A key
approach for achieving competitiveness is to build
strong institutional mechanisms to facilitate the
country's productivity drive. These institutions,
especially the NPOs and their agricultural counterpart,
act as the driver for productivity development and
provide access to tools and techniques that will enhance
the capability of industries and enterprises to achieve
competitiveness in the new millennium.
(Please click here to learn more about speakers and presentations under
this theme.)
b) People
The prime focus of the national productivity organizations
(NPOs) in leading their people to face the challenges
of the 21st century is the development of human resources.
People are the source of ideas and innovation that
will give the economy the competitive edge. Long-term
value creation demands focusing on people. No strategy
can be implemented unless people have the knowledge,
skills and attitudes to do so. The priority for countries
at different economic development levels might differ,
but increasingly, a highly skilled, motivated workforce
will be the organization's key to crating new value.
(Please click here to learn more about speakers and presentations under
this theme.)
c) Value Creation
With premium quality expected as the norm, businesses
that can add, or even better, create value in a product
or service will be the leaders in the next millennium.
Value creation is not restricted to technologically
advanced enterprises but applies to traditional business
as well.
(Please click here to learn more about speakers and presentations under
this theme.)
Mr.
Lim Boon Heng, Minister Without-Portfolio, Secretary-General
of Trade Union Congress of Singapore, Chairman of
Singapore Productivity and Standards Board and APO
Chairman, delivered the closing statement during the
closing plenary session.
During the closing Plenary Session the APO launched
the Stamariaara
APO in celebration of the significant achievements
and milestones it has made in the name of productivity.
Minister Lim Boon Heng and Mr. Takashi Tajima jointly
launched the Stamariaara APO.
Click here to learn more about the "Stamariaara APO."
The IPC was closed with the IPC
Declaration which was read by Mr. Takashi
Tajima, Secretary General of the APO
Click here to read the full text of the IPC Declaration - 2001.
