Sustainable dating

Sustainability is a popular term. Many entrepreneurs feel a connection with their surroundings and 'want to do something'. Continuously new large- and small-scale initiatives are developed, but these actions are mainly internally focused. That is a shame, because joining forces with other organizations provide enormous added value. But how do you start?

Tasty setting

Twice a year in the Dutch city Eindhoven forces are working together to connect companies, schools, social and governmental organisations who are involved with their local environment. Well, ‘working’… the highlight of the ‘Sustainability 040’ *) is a nice diner. In a cosy setting contacts are easily made. The purpose of this particular evening: to create partnerships to ensure people with a distance to the labour market are provided with new opportunities, for example by offering internships or providing workshops.

It is not about money

We don’t have to invent the wheel again. Companies must do what they are doing already and should stick to their core business. A law firm provides legal services; a newspaper provides publicity, but for free. It is specifically not about money, but about sponsoring with knowledge and resources.

70 matches

The wonderful thing about ‘Sustainability 040’ is that matches between organisations are made quickly. No big projects, but action! During the last event on 6 November 2012 44 organisations were present, which resulted in no less than 70 (!) matches. Some of the agreements made:
* A well-known hospitality chain is offering internships. 
* Women in local woman’s shelters are provided legal support by a law firm.
* A local recruitment agency is going to recruit new volunteers for the local support-service (Vrijwillige Hulpdienst) in Eindhoven.
* DressforSuccess is going to make sure newcomers are adequately dressed for a job interview.
* Local hospitality companies will help provide the traditional Christmas diner to the Salvation Army.

Who is next?

It is probably clear: sustainable dating is tasty, cosy and leads to quick success. Who is next?

*) ‘Sustainability 040’ (in Dutch: Duurzaam Ondernemen 040) is an initiative of the municipality of Eindhoven and De Lage Landen. 040 is the city access code for calling to Eindhoven.

Go with the flow or stay behind

The EFQM Forum 2012 was organized last October 9 and 10. Under the name 'Fit for the Future', the challenges and chances that await us over the next 20 years were discussed. We are living in a dynamic, changing world where both raw materials and time are scarce, so how do we deal with that? How do we create excellence for our organization?

New base
On behalf of the European Commission, Reinhard Buescher had a shot: 'There is no easy solution available for the current crisis. We need a new industrial base in Europe, a strong, sustainable and solid one. Mainly technological innovations enable us to structurally change society.'

Futurologist Peter Cochrane even heighted this: 'We cannot get any smarter or work harder from a biological perspective, we have reached our max.' Luckily, he was there to offer a solution as well: 'Technology can help us save the world.' A beautiful example of such innovation is the 3D printer. We can already use them for medical goals.

Flexible life
‘Research proved that 92% of all creative work-related ideas are invented outside the office', as says Marc Buellens (Professor of the Vlerick Leuven Gent Business School). The mind is flexible and needs a flexible organization. Or: it's finally time for 'The New World of Work'. Finally indeed, because not much has changed since its introduction in 1954 (Peter Drucker - Management by objectives), not counting the small number of exceptions.

But in the year 2012, we live in a time where smartphones, tablets and laptops have become common property. We live in a global village, can work everywhere and it's therefore unnecessary to join the traffic jams every day. Moreover, employees don't see the point of it, generation Y leading the pack. This generation – that first thinks of a virtual meeting place when they hear the term 'social network' – is exceedingly suitable for flexible forms of labour based on autonomy and own responsibility.           

Remarkable results
The Belgian Mobistar has now embraced The New World of Work, as became clear at the Work@Home,Home@Work Bbest Conference at October 8 2012. A large part of the staff was offered the chance to (partially) work from their own homes. Of course a number of rules was set, but there was more than enough space for one's own initiative within these rules. This lead to more motivation, less 'traffic jam distress' and a better 'work-life balance'. The results were also positive to Mobistar: there was a significant improvement of both productivity and cost efficiency.

Network society
Regardless of being an employer or employee: it's time to open your eyes. Only 5 years ago, Twitter and Facebook were still relatively unknown. In 2009, only 10% of the Dutch inhabitants had a smartphone, in the year 2012 over 60%. In only 2 years, the knowledge recorded on the web will double every eleven hours(!). A network society based on premium technology is the future. It is just a matter of going with the flow, or staying behind... 

  

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