World leaders gear up for ‘Belt and Road Initiative’
As companies update strategies, EMBA and DBA programmes prepare candidates for changing market needs
Ambitious businesses and leaders in the region are busy formulating strategic plans to be involved in the “Belt and Road Initiative”, worth thousands of trillions of dollars and involving the participation of more than 70 countries, even though some still believe the initiative to be no more than a slogan.
“The challenges all leaders will face regardless of size, track record, whether state owned enterprise, Hong Kong-listed or family-owned business, will be the development of a unique and competitive ‘road map’ for each regional operation, which not only determines its role in the region but also clearly illustrates what differentiated products and services they will supply and deliver,” says Dr Brian To, senior practice professor and senior fellow of the Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania.
To says the competitive forces will be vastly different from the usual Hong Kong model of business development and expansion.
“The mindsets or mental models in relation to competition, talent management, investment in innovation and global business expansion all must be refreshed.
“Long gone are the days when we could just depend upon guanxi for business development and revenue expansion.”
A more evenly distributed network for administration, logistics and professional services is needed. The global strategist says: “Boards will only benefit by embracing diversity by engaging experienced global and innovation experts.”
