BUSINESS BEYOND BORDERS: Global Perspectives, Domestic Dynamics

The Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) aims to promote understandings on the opportunities and challenges behind an integrated economic region, provide ideas that could encourage global and innovative thinking in companies and organizations and allow participants to engage with and learn from global and regional companies. These objectives intended to educate and give knowledge to the Filipino firms how to be globally competitive, develop to larger markets and more opportunities available to them. According to the conference conducted by MAP, which is BUSINESS BEYOND BORDERS: Global Perspectives, Domestic Dynamics, through ASEAN economic integration and innovation will lead Filipino businesses to its growth and positive changes. The conference wanted to emphasize the benefits of having an integrated economic region and to show that businesses in the country have no boundaries. Filipino companies and businessmen are open to the possible opportunities brought by other ASEAN countries and can adapt to changes easily. One of the main purposes of the conference is to present the global perspective of businesses. With the help of wellknown business leaders, they shared their experiences in the industry and how did they bring their businesses to different markets around the world. The conference was divided into different sessions. Some of the sessions are the following:

The New Network Economy: Going Beyond Borders (Session 5) The speaker of the session is Mr. Shareen Gongular, head of Procurement Solutions for South East Asia. In here, he discussed about the importance of technology in businesses. Technology became essential in the industry because it was used as the mode of communication. Businessmen could easily communicate and collaborate with its customers, suppliers and investors through the advancement of technology. This enables the business to improve their performance and achieve unprecedented levels of productivity. Most of the firms nowadays use social and business networking in promoting their company and selling their products and services. Through online advertising, it allows more potential consumers of the business products from different nations and businesses incur fewer costs with networking. Aside from that, Mr. Gongular also shared the other benefits of

networked economy in which it can offer exceptional ways to improve sales, procurement and financial processes. The buyers can efficiently discover new sources of supply and coordinate orders across their supply chains and it enables transparency of payables and receivables to make better working capital solutions. Despite of the advantages brought by technology, some people are concerned with some ethical issues it faces. For instance, buyers give their credit card account number when purchasing a product to a certain firm. Ethical concerns exist because the account number given by the buyers could be used by the internet hackers for their own purposes. Aside from that, another ethical concern occurs due to networking. The products ordered of the customers are different on what shown in their networking sites or became defective due to shipping. As we can see, technology has an integral part in our lives and in the development of our businesses. Disadvantages will exist if people will take for granted the benefits of technology. Businesses must balance the benefits and the usage of technology in their organization. Aside from that, businessmen must be aware and be prepared with the possible consequences of technology in which they could minimize the disadvantages and maximize the benefits. Businessmen must educate their selves to different policies concerning with ethical issues about technology or networking. Truly that it gives a wider communication and more potential customers but firms must be alarmed with the existence of these issues in order for them to protect the rights and maintain a good relationship with the customers, partners and investors.

THE INTERNATIONALIZATION OF HEALTHCARE: HR Mobility and Talent Retention (Session 6) The speaker of the last session is Dato Dr. Jacob Thomas, M.D., president of Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia and also the president of Asian Hospitals Federation. In this topic, he discussed about the concerns in health care to the organizations and as a major issue for the global community. Healthcare services are one of the benefits that will be received by the employees as a reward of their work performance. As the number of employees increases every year, the demand for healthcare services will probably increase. However, it became a great challenge for the organization to meet the demands and cost of providing universal and equitable access to

healthcare services. Higher costs will be entailed if the organization is composed of many employees. The leader or head of the organization must ensure health benefits to its employees to secure their health and safety. For instance, an employee experienced a severe illness and needed to take some rest for few days. Absenteeism of employees due to an illness can affect the performance and progress of a certain task thus lessens the effectiveness of the organization. But through health services and incentives provided by the organization, employees will be cured promptly in which guarantees that the organization give significance to their employees. Employee benefits and incentives serve as motivations for the employees to perform their tasks properly and effectively. Thus, it is important that every organization must provide these benefits in order for them to be able to achieve the organizations objectives and will succeed in the market.

Reference: (1) del Mundo, J. (2013, August 13). Business beyond borders. Philippine Daily Inquirer.