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International Productivity Conference 2007: Knowledge Management – From Brain to Business
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| WELCOME ADDRESS by Dr. Phanit Laosirirat, FTPI Executive Director |
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The International Productivity Conference (IPC) is one of the prestigious public forums of the Asian Productivity Organization (APO). The IPC is only held on a special occasion to celebrate when APO reaches a crucial milestone. And this year, it is the 45th Anniversary of hard working to promote the national productivity movement of member countries. Moreover, it is also the 12th Anniversary of Thailand Productivity Institute's presence in promoting the productivity movement in Thailand. For every IPC, National Productivity Organizations and the APO Secretariat carefully select the emerging issue of productivity topics that would strengthen the productivity movement in member countries. The theme of this conference is on "Knowledge Management – From Brain to Business." The conference will showcase outstanding KM applications by globally renowned enterprises from Asia, Europe, and the USA.
This International Productivity Conference continues to bring the latest developments in the productivity tools and techniques within government, business, and at the gross-root level. This year it will showcase the newest techniques, the latest developments on what's happening, and has brought together the best and the brightest in the world of knowledge management all in one place. These highly qualified speakers will cover the advanced topics that meet the needs of the evolved knowledge management practicing organization.
One of the speakers we are honored to have with us today is Prof. Ikujiro Nonaka. His presentation today tries to point out the importance of knowledge management as an essential tool to drive strategy for any organization. He says that for any company to create value, it must possess the ability to determine and undertake the best action in a specific situation to serve the common good. A presentation by Mr. Rangarajan from Tata Group will confirm Prof. Nonaka on this point, which Mr. Rangarajan will present from the Tata Group's experience.
There also will be presentations that are truly based on the firm's experiences on how to tackle the knowledge management initiative inside any organization. Ms. Martha Seng, who is the Knowledge Transfer Manager of Buckman Laboratories (Asia), will stress the need to engage the individual worker in learning, because only if that individual has a need or desire to learn will he or she participate in knowledge sharing. Individuals must be supported with the tools, resources and environment needed to freely engage in various communities.
Mr. Dirk Ramhorst, Vice President of Operations, Seimens Business Service Germany, will focus on new territories of knowledge management. He is a true believer in knowledge management in every aspect of the organization. His presentation will be on how to structure project management or even organizational design based on knowledge management.
The conference would also like to thank Mr. Chaovalit Ekabut, President, Siam Pulp and Paper, SCG Group. The members of the Thai business community always turn their eyes to whatever this group is doing.This time, Khun. Ekabut will shed some light on an ongoing project of the Group. That is how to integrate KM and Learning into Innovation.
In this conference we also have Mr. Atsushi Niimi, Senior Managing Director, Toyota Motor Corporation Japan, with us. The number one car maker on Earth also intensively applies knowledge management in its operations. His presentation will be focusing on knowledge management practices at Toyota Motor Corporation.
Last but not least, we have the Managing Director of Teleos, Mr. Rory Chase. Teleos is the main principal that established the Most Admired Knowledge Enterprises, or MAKE, research program. In association with the Know Network, it identifies and recognizes those organizations which are leaders at creating intellectual capital and shareholder wealth by transforming new as well as existing enterprise knowledge into superior products/services/solutions.
With all these resources speakers, this conference will strengthen what we know about knowledge management. Whether it's growing and developing your internal talent, guiding your organization through new transformations, bringing your knowledge strategy to new heights, or finding out what's new in the field, this conference provides a great opportunity for learning and networking.
Finally, I would like to thank all resources speakers, the APO, supporting organizations, and participants who have made this conference a dream come true. Sitting here today you are all already a winner. I hope you will enjoy and bring back what you have learned into fruitful practice in your own organization.
