IT Spending By Auto-Parts Makers Expected To Increase This Year
The News Review:
- IT Spending By Auto-Parts Makers Expected To Increase This Year
- A vision of excellence from Africa’s directors
- Opening up the ivory tower
- BBC NEWS / AFRICA
- Welcome home for Somalia’s leaders
IT Spending By Auto-Parts Makers Expected To Increase This Year
InformationWeek – Feb 25, 2005
Many haven’t taken steps to integrate their disparate applications and move to a common application platform because of ongoing cost pressures, says Jeff Glueck, principal and regional practice leader of the Great Lakes manufacturing practice of Deloitte Consulting, a subsidiary of Deloitte and Touche. But this is going to change over the next two years, he says. In a study released this month, Deloitte and Touche and OESA surveyed 28 CIOs from original-equipment-manufacturer automotive-supplier companies in North America, Western Europe, and Japan. Of the large and small suppliers that participated, 57% have undergone mergers and acquisitions over the past two years and 50% are starting up operations in or are already operating in China.
A vision of excellence from Africa’s directors
Namibian – Feb 25, 2005
For eight days, the capital Ouagadougou will host the biggest names in African film. Around 200 movies will be screened and debates will rage about the challenges of making films on a continent better known for conflict than for cinema. Fespaco has chosen "training and the challenges of professionalisation" as its theme this year, stressing the need for home-grown talent. African film makers have long complained about the difficulties of getting their movies from the storyboard to the screen. They often have to seek foreign funding, which comes with strings attached, and the home market is underdeveloped. The technical expertise needed to bring their visions alive is also often found outside the continent, forcing them to travel abroad for special effects or editing facilities. Two new film schools in Burkina Faso hope to address these needs.
Opening up the ivory tower
The Age – Feb 25, 2005
A casein point is pub chain Punch Taverns, which has a very small IT teamof senior executives as it outsources IT. David Rowling, the company’s information systems director,says: “I have always tended to look for experienced professionals,but next year we are intending to recruit a good quality graduatewho can deal with the ambiguity of a fast-moving business. It is more cost-effective to introduce home-grown employees andif they are bright they will be good enough in two years. Bringinga bright young thing into the company is beneficial because you aregetting human growth in the company. The local supporters club The road to forming a start-up companyis long and arduous. After sweating away on producing a piece ofcutting edge technology, what academics need more than anything isa support network of business angels, lawyers, accountants andventure capitalists. US academic entrepreneurs at US business schools are oftenblessed with such a network, while those in the UK are often farmore isolated.
BBC NEWS / AFRICA
BBC News – Feb 25, 2005
It is sad that traditional musicians live on handouts and charity. Mustapha Kah, University of the GambiaIt’s African art, at all levels, that keeps the African soul alive despite the hardships we endure. Isabella Kapolo, Windhoek, NamibiaThe music industry is growing rapidly here in my country, Sierra Leone. The youth, who make up the bulk of the population, are using this medium to preach about the failures of our government. Murtala, Sierra LeoneAfrican artists have themselves to blame for the loss of local fans and local support. They imitate western culture, like hip-hop music and Hollywood styles, and ignore rich African traditions and heritage. Many artists in Africa have no local audience because their themes are immoral, especially the musicians…
John Mensah, UKAs a filmmaker based in both Los Angeles and Nairobi, I often ask myself is there a future for filmmakers in Africa? My answer is a resounding yes. But the solution is not necessarily more government support. In East Africa, the problem is two-fold: a lack of home grown support for African films and a lack of appreciation by the filmmakers for their audiences. These topics are of interest to the United Nations and the government, but they don’t speak about the daily lives of the people themselves. Like all people, Africans want to see themselves on film. They want to see strong dynamic and engaging characters, and they want well-told stories.
Welcome home for Somalia’s leaders
Times Online – Feb 25, 2005
Many of the warlords who took control of parts of the country have been co-opted into the new transitional government. The President and Prime Minister are heading a large delegation that will examine the possibility of relocating this government from Kenya. That the leaders have finally landed in Somalia comes as a great relief to its people and the international community, who have grown increasingly concerned about the government’s reluctance to go home. “The trip is the most crucial step to the relocation of Somali government from Kenya to its homeland,” said Mr Gedi shortly after his arrival.