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Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Questions Every Board Director Needs to Ask about Technology

Female Board Director. Photo Credit: Telegraph.

20 Jun 2012 15:30 Africa/Lagos

Questions Every Board Director Needs to Ask about Technology

WomenCorporateDirectors Address Tech Challenges for Companies

NEW YORK, June 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Big data, cyber security, gaming apps, Twitter – these and other technology developments are no longer just the province of IT departments and twenty-something employees. Companies are coming to realize that new tech issues must be brought onto the boardroom agenda and into governance at the highest levels.

WomenCorporateDirectors (WCD) recently featured emerging technologies as a key theme at its second annual Global Institute in New York, drawing an audience of 250+ business leaders and directors, including many CEOs.

"New technologies are changing everything we hold true as board directors," says Susan Stautberg, co-founder and co-chair of WCD, the global membership organization of more than 1,400 women corporate directors.

"Our ideas about risk, innovation, talent development, understanding consumer behavior – all of these are being transformed more quickly than we can imagine by technology. And the burden of establishing governance around these changes falls to the board."

In the "Creating Advantage: What's the Next Paradigm Shift in Technology" panel at the Global Institute, experts delineated some of the key questions boards need to ask about technology and how it can be leveraged:

Questions Boards Need to Ask about Technology

Is my company a candidate for "big data"? Panelist Sara Mathew, chairman and CEO of Dun & Bradstreet and a director of Campbell Soup Company, explained how D&B – which has a global database of more than 205 million business records – uses big data to rethink its business: "Let's say a thousand of my customers are all looking at one particular company. The insight generated in that moment tells me something about them, and that's probably more powerful than all the historical data I could aggregate, mine, analyze, and understand."

Even Twitter – which can often seem like a thousand people in a room screaming random things – can lend particular insight, she explained. "Twitter can be big data at its best, and there is enormous insight into sentiment that boards can learn through tools like this."

How safe is our data? "All good things can be a bit of a double-edged sword," advised Una Ryan, president and CEO of Diagnostics For All (a biotech nonprofit) and director of AMRI Global. Any kind of company that stores customer data – from financial information to health records – runs the risk of a data breach. "Every time you hear something absolutely wonderful that can be done and will take your business to the next level, also ask, what is the really terrible thing that could happen here that could ruin our reputation?"

U.S. Naval War College professor and cybered resilience researcher Chris Demchak iterated the importance of boards' requiring their security team to explain their active protection of intellectual investments in data and systems across their organizations: "You have to push them – and keep pushing them until they can almost draw you a picture. They may not like it, but you have to make them tell you so that you know where your data is and how they protect it resiliently against nasty surprises."

How are we using technology to train our people? The way younger people think and learn is fundamentally changing, said panelist Toti Graham, who serves on a number of boards in Peru, including Interbank, Ferreyros, Corferias del Pacifico, Fundacion Backus, and OWIT Peru. "We need to rebuild how we get knowledge into our minds – it's not about big conferences or getting everybody into the same room. We have to develop the next step with iPhones, iPads, and BlackBerries, and create these little 'pills of knowledge' that people can consume while they are walking in the street or waiting for a train. If you do this, and build communities where employees can share knowledge and build projects, you will be able to retain them for four or five years or longer instead of a year or two."

How can games create value for our company? "Gaming is a very powerful way of motivating individuals to pick themselves up and try again," said Dun & Bradstreet's Ms. Mathew. "You don't always get it right the first time. By bringing in collaboration and data and then adding the gamification component, you can get scales of collaboration on business issues to create real value and solve real business problems."

How can we crowd-source? Related to the interactivity of gaming is the Wikipedia-like notion of crowd-sourcing and how companies can leverage this for business. "We can definitely tap into crowds more than we do," said Ms. Ryan, even when entering markets in different countries. "There are all sorts of groups that you can access that you don't have to create yourself." As the head of a healthcare-related organization, she has seen, for instance, the crowds that are associated with pharmacies in Latin America. "You can get street-by-street, hut-by-hut information and give people back information that's useful to them about a particular disease that's prevalent or something that's of interest to them. This creates a local and regional source that you couldn't possibly create on your own."

The bottom line, said Ms. Graham, is that boards must be leaders in their companies when it comes to technology, and not separate themselves out from it. "Technology is changing our people, and it is changing our markets. You cannot lead a company saying, 'Yes, yes, technology is for the employees, but I cannot lead with that.' We have to be role models. We have to say, 'Yes, I embrace technology. Let's work together on that.'"

For more information about WomenCorporateDirectors and their programs for directors, please contact Davia Temin or Suzanne Oaks of Temin and Company at 212-588-8788 or news@teminandco.com.

About WomenCorporateDirectors (WCD)
WomenCorporateDirectors (WCD) is the only global membership organization and community of women corporate directors, comprised of more than 1,400 members serving on over 1,550 boards in 43 chapters around the world. In this new era of responsibility, WCD is committed not just to good governance, but to governance with global vision. Smart boards are going global in members and mindset. Our members share information and insights in order to ensure best practices in corporate governance around the world.

WCD's global chapters are located in Arizona, Atlanta, Australia, Beijing, Bogota, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Delhi, Denmark, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Houston, Indonesia, Israel, Lima, London, Mexico City, Malaysia, Melbourne, Minnesota, Morocco, Mumbai, New York, Nigeria, Northern California, Northern/Central Europe (Berlin), Paris, Philadelphia, Sao Paulo, Seattle, Shanghai, Singapore, South Africa, Southern California, South Florida, Switzerland, Tennessee, Toronto, United Arab Emirates, and Washington, D.C.

In 2012, WomenCorporateDirectors launched the WCD Global Nominating Commission. The Commission is a high-level task force of select corporate board nominating committee chairs and members from around the world, as well as CEOs, focused on proactively building diverse boards and candidate slates.

Our mission is to continue to expand the WCD community through leadership, diversity, education, best practices in corporate governance, and a focus on development and new board placement opportunities – see WCD's Call to Action to improve diversity on boards. WCD offers local, regional, national, and international forums, providing a platform for turning ideas into action. WCD is supported by its Founding Partners, Heidrick & Struggles and KPMG. For more information, visit womencorporatedirectors.com.

SOURCE WomenCorporateDirectors

Web Site: http://www.womencorporatedirectors.com

Time for Women To Stop Being Shrinking Violets at Work

“I DON’T know any successful women who haven’t had a powerful sponsor in their organisation to give them their first big break,” says Avivah Wittenberg-Cox, the boss of 20-first, a consultancy that helps companies put more women into senior jobs. That sentiment is echoed by many people who work in this field. But why do women need so much help?

Click here to read the complete report.

Innovation Africa Summit in Cape Town to Bring Together World Leaders

20 Jun 2012 08:00 Africa/Lagos

Innovation Africa Summit in Cape Town to Bring Together World Leaders in ICT, Education, and Technology

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, June 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Featuring participation by top level ministers and officials from across Africa as well as representatives of the world's top technology brands, the Innovation Africa Summit to be held October 5-7 in Cape Town aims to be the networking event of the year, facilitating crucial public-private partnerships to guide the future development of Africa's fast growing ICT, education, and technology sectors.

AfricanBrains, the organizers of the Innovation Africa Summit, says that the goal is to encourage greater investment into education and professional training in South Africa and across the continent.

"When you talk about opportunity, our summits go beyond the realm of corporate social responsibility," says John Glassey. "We pride ourselves on our organization and our ability to serve as hosts for senior industry and political actors alike to engage and foster new relationships to improve investment in education. We not only wish to promote to the world the high standards of achievement in science & technology in Africa but that these intimate one-to-one sessions can bypass the rhetoric and create long-lasting change within the span of 72 hours."

The event is supported by the Government of South Africa and organised in partnership with University of the Western Cape. So far, at least nine Ministers of Education, Science and Technology have confirmed attendance to Innovation Africa, including representatives from Burundi, Kenya, Malawi, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The conference organizers also expect to confirm attendance by Ministers from Angola, Botswana, Ghana, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria and Tanzania.

Innovation Africa will include an opportunity for delegates to visit the campus of the University of the Western Cape (UWC) as well as the newly refurbished Pavilion Centre in Cape Town to hold scheduled meetings between the private sector, government and educational institutions. These include a number of South African universities and Further Education & Training (FET) Colleges as well as the independent schools sector being represented by the Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa (ISASA).

The conference will feature keynote addresses from both government and private sector leaders, focusing on the transformation of African economies the realisation of advances in technology for the benefit of education and research in Africa. Conference attendees will have the opportunity to debate key issues such as developing e-skills and the knowledge economy, investment in African digital content, e-learning, improving connectivity and advancing multi-stakeholder partnerships.

The Innovation Africa Summit follows on from the highly successful Southern African ICT for Education Summit that took place in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe in January of this year. The event included ministers and officials representing 13 Southern African countries, with South Africa represented by the Deputy Minister for Higher Education, Hon. Hlengiwe Mkhize. Indeed this coming Innovation Africa Summit will have representation from many of the world's best in class technology and communications companies as well as leading South African businesses and entrepreneurs.

For details of the Innovation Africa Summit, visit www.africanbrains.net/ia
Enquiries can be made to the team at AfricanBrains directly at info@africanbrains.org.

Contact:
Sam Amsterdam
(+1-202-505-0523; samuel.amsterdam@africanbrains.org )

Web Site: http://www.africanbrains.net/ia

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Hot Spots: NICB’s Annual Report on Vehicle Theft

Hot Spots: NICB’s Annual Report on Vehicle Theft
How Hot is Vehicle Theft in Your Area?

Des Plaines, IL, June 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reported today that 2011 is on track (final numbers will be published in the fall) as yet another consecutive year of declining vehicle thefts. Four of the top 10 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) reported more thefts in 2011 (+925 collectively) while the remaining six posted fewer (-2,017 collectively).

It is important to note that the Hot Spots report is a reflection of vehicle thefts on a per capita basis. An area with a much smaller population and a moderate number of thefts can—and often does—have a higher theft rate than an area with a much more significant vehicle theft problem and a larger population to absorb it.

NICB’s Hot Spots report examines vehicle theft data obtained from the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) for each of the nation’s MSAs. MSAs are designated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and often include areas much larger than the cities for which they are named. For example, the Fresno, Calif., MSA includes all thefts within the entire county of Fresno, not just the city of Fresno.

The FBI’s preliminary 2011 crime statistics released last week indicate a 3.3 percent drop in vehicle thefts from the 2010 number of 737,142. Contributing to this decline was the significant drop in the rankings of the Laredo, Texas MSA—from No. 1 in 2009 to 53 in 2011. Within two years, Laredo’s thefts were down 53 percent, from 1,792 in 2009 to 849 in 2011.

Watch this video to see how the Laredo Police Department’s efforts to reduce thefts have paid off.

The full Hot Spots report is available at www.nicb.org.

Although national vehicle thefts continue to decline, NICB still recommends that drivers follow our four “layers of protection” to guard against vehicle theft:

Common Sense — The common sense approach to protection is the easiest and most cost-effective way to thwart would-be thieves. You should always:

Remove your keys from the ignition
Lock your doors /close your windows
Park in a well-lit area

Warning Device — The second layer of protection is a visible or audible device which alerts thieves that your vehicle is protected. Popular devices include:

Audible alarms
Steering column collars
Steering wheel/brake pedal lock
Brake locks
Wheel locks
Theft deterrent decals
Identification markers in or on vehicle
VIN etching
Micro dot marking

Immobilizing Device — The third layer of protection is a device which prevents thieves from bypassing your ignition and hot-wiring the vehicle. Some electronic devices have computer chips in ignition keys. Other devices inhibit the flow of electricity or fuel to the engine until a hidden switch or button is activated. Some examples are:

Smart keys
Fuse cut-offs
Kill switches
Starter, ignition, and fuel pump disablers
Wireless ignition authentication

Tracking Device — The final layer of protection is a tracking device which emits a signal to police or a monitoring station when the vehicle is stolen. Tracking devices are very effective in helping authorities recover stolen vehicles. Some systems employ “telematics” which combine GPS and wireless technologies to allow remote monitoring of a vehicle. If the vehicle is moved, the system will alert the owner and the vehicle can be tracked via computer.

Anyone with information concerning vehicle theft can report it anonymously by calling toll-free 1-800-TEL-NICB (1-800-835-6422), texting keyword “fraud” to TIP411 (847411) or by visiting our website at www.nicb.org. Or, iPhone or iPad users can download the NICB Fraud Tips app to make it easy to quickly send a tip and get a response.

About the National Insurance Crime Bureau: headquartered in Des Plaines, Ill., the NICB is the nation’s leading not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to preventing, detecting and defeating insurance fraud and vehicle theft through data analytics, investigations, training, legislative advocacy and public awareness. The NICB is supported by more than 1,100 property and casualty insurance companies and self-insured organizations. NICB member companies wrote over $339 billion in insurance premiums in 2011, or approximately 80 percent of the nation’s property/casualty insurance. That includes more than 94 percent ($156 billion) of the nation’s personal auto insurance. To learn more visit www.nicb.org.

###

Media Contact:
Frank Scafidi
916.979.1510
fscafidi@nicb.org

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Americans Remain Complacent as Devastating Disasters Strike

40% of cell owners said they found themselves in an emergency situation in which having their phone with them helped

19 Jun 2012 06:01 Africa/Lagos

Americans Remain Complacent as Devastating Disasters Strike

New Study Finds Many Americans Largely Unaware of Local Emergency Communications

WASHINGTON, June 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Despite a record-breaking year of federally declared disasters in 2011, including floods, tornadoes, hurricanes and wildfires, many Americans still lack basic awareness of their local emergency communications systems. At the BE Safe America Congressional Briefing presented by Safe America Foundation at the U.S. Capitol, Federal Signal Corporation today announced the findings of the 2012 Public Safety Survey, which takes a hard look at how knowledgeable and prepared Americans are for emergencies. While the survey found that more than 56 percent of Americans believe they are aware of the steps they need to take should disaster strike, the results uncover a shocking lack of knowledge—and even indifference—surrounding emergency alerts and notifications.

"Not only is it necessary to create a thorough preparedness and response plan for an emergency or disaster, it's critical that people are as educated as possible about the emergency communications systems in place within their communities—which can prove lifesaving," said Len Pagano, president and CEO, Safe America Foundation. "We were surprised to see just how many people remain unaware of the alerting systems in their area, and even more disconcerting, how many are apathetic in their response to emergency scenarios and communications."

Conducted for the third consecutive year by Zogby International, the survey found that 71 percent of Americans are unsure if they have a personal alerting and notification system (ANS) in their area, which includes a combination of options for calls, text and email message notifications. Yet, respondents said they would be more motivated to take action in an emergency by ANS alerts than any other communication, ahead of traditional warning sirens, radio and TV public services announcements and even word-of-mouth communication from friends and family.

The survey also showed that the public is largely unaware of their local warning sirens. More than half (57 percent) of those surveyed do not know when sirens in their area are tested, and 70 percent are unaware of the sounds and sirens associated with various warnings. In fact, more than one in four respondents did not know if their community has a warning siren system at all.

"With all of the options available to keep the public informed of nearby disasters or emergencies, we were alarmed to see how many people aren't aware of the existing notification systems in their communities," said Joe Wilson, president of the Industrial Systems Division, Safety and Security Group at Federal Signal. "In times of crisis, people need to act fast—or risk waiting until it's too late. Now more than ever, it is essential that we educate communities on the emergency communications options available to them, and to drive the sense of urgency surrounding swift response to emergency alerts."

Even severe weather conditions do not motivate Americans to take action. Less than one half (47 percent) of survey respondents would take action based on a potential severe weather warning and one-third (33 percent) of respondents would require actual property damage or injury in order to care strongly about public safety awareness. Further, one in four respondents (28 percent) would require confirmation of severe weather, such as an actual tornado sighting, flood waters or a visible fire in order to take immediate action. A shocking 1 in 12 people said that nothing would cause them to care.

"We were shocked to see that the public could be so complacent when it comes to awareness and response to emergency communication," said Wilson. "The fact that people could receive a warning that wouldn't motivate them to action is extremely concerning, particularly with 99 FEMA major disaster declarations issued last year alone."

Survey findings show that the public continues to rely on community officials to ensure public safety. In fact, results found that more than half of respondents (58 percent) trust local and regional government to ensure sufficient public safety standards, communication and planning in their area. Yet, only 29 percent feel that their community officials currently are investing in, or giving government attention to, their public safety. In terms of potential contributing factors, more than one-third feel that the economy has had a negative impact on the level of investment in their community.

"Preparedness starts with awareness," said Wilson. "As emergency managers strive to support their community with effective programming and planning, it's imperative that the public stay informed of what communications systems local officials and emergency managers currently have in place—and more importantly, that communities are prepared to respond efficiently and effectively."

For more information on the 2012 Federal Signal Public Safety Survey, visit http://www.alertnotification.com/.

About the Survey
Zogby International was commissioned by Federal Signal to conduct an online nationwide survey of 2,059 adults. All surveys were completed June 1 through June 4, 2012. A sampling of Zogby International's online panel, which is representative of the adult population of the U.S., was invited to participate.

About the Safe America Foundation & BE Safe America
The Safe America Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit licensed by the state of Georgia. Chartered in 1994, the Marietta, Georgia based foundation partners with corporate, governmental, public and private sector organizations, and other nonprofits to improve the safety awareness and preparedness of Americans nationwide. The BE Safe America Program is the nation's first coast-to-coast "drill" involving more than two million Americans in grassroots emergency drills this September – October. Included is the "Text First. Talk Second" Campaign, being endorsed by First Spouses across the country and headed by Puerto Rico First Lady Luce Vela. For more information please contact Matthew Thome at matthew.thome@safeamerica.org. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or via cell at 847-431-7825.

About Federal Signal
Federal Signal Corporation (NYSE:FSS) enhances the safety, security and well-being of communities and workplaces around the world. Founded in 1901, Federal Signal is a leading global designer and manufacturer of products and total solutions that serve municipal, governmental, industrial and institutional customers. Headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., with manufacturing facilities worldwide, the Company operates four groups: Safety and Security Systems, Environmental Solutions, Federal Signal Technologies, and Fire Rescue. For more information on Federal Signal, visit: http://www.federalsignal.com.

Media Contacts
Luke Cushman
Hill + Knowlton Strategies
+1 312-255-3080
Luke.Cushman@hkstrategies.com

Abbie Ginther
Hill + Knowlton Strategies
+1 312-255-3136
Abbie.Ginther@hkstrategies.com

SOURCE Federal Signal Corporation

Web Site: http://www.federalsignal.com/

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Nigeria Is Burning And Our President Is Traveling

A corpse under one of the burnt cars after the Sunday terrorist suicide bomb attacks in Kaduna. Photo Credit: The Guardian of Nigeria.

How can the man whose home is on fire travel so far away?

President Goodluck "it is not my fault" Jonathan would have left for the Rio+20 Earth Summit at the Riocentro Convention Centre in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this morning, while Nigeria is still smoking from the Islamic terrorist suicide bombings in Kaduna and Yobe with the corpses of the dead and carcases of burnt vehicles all over the place.

Over 67 people have been reported dead and two churches destroyed in the latest suicide bombings in northern Nigeria where the dreaded Islamic sect Boko Haram has been on rampage in suicide attacks targeting Christians and government forces. The latest attacks provoked reprisals by youths who ended up killing innocent Hausa Muslims and other suspects in the Wusasa and Sabon-Gari areas of Zaria and Banawa in Kaduna State.

While many families and relations are still searching for their missing members, the President left Nigeria for the Earth Summit in Brazil.

Would he have travelled if he lost anyone from his family and relations in the terrorist suicide attacks?

Nigerian Journalist Assaulted In Front of Soldiers and Police Officers in Port Harcourt

Bashir Abdullahi.

19 Jun 2012 06:34 Africa/Lagos

In Nigeria, journalist assaulted in front of military and police

NEW YORK, June 19, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Nigerian authorities must investigate the assault on a Nigerian journalist on June 14 and ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. News accounts reported that the attack occurred in the presence of military and police officers who did not come to the journalist's aid.

Bashir Abdullahi, a journalist with the daily Daily Trust, was covering a seminar at the Federal Secretariat in Port Harcourt, in Rivers State, when officials of the Rivers State Environmental Task Force, escorted by military personnel, assaulted him, he told CPJ. "One of them slapped me twice on the face, hit me on my shoulder, and seized my phone. I complained to the soldiers, who told me to solve the problem myself," he said.

Abdullahi told CPJ he was wearing his ID card that identified him as a journalist when he was assaulted. He also said that David Iyofo, the spokesman for the Rivers State governor, helped him recover his phone the next day.

"We condemn the assault on Bashir Abdullahi who was attacked just for doing his job," said CPJ Africa Advocacy Coordinator Mohamed Keita. "We call on the authorities to investigate the attack and hold to account the officials who were involved."

A spokesman for the task force told CPJ he was aware of the incident but that no immediate action could be taken since the alleged assault did not involve members of the military.

Source: Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)

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