Solidarity with Ukraine
Ukraine Flag
Ukrainian Flag in Berlin, Brandenburg Gate
Ukrainian Flag in Paris, City Hall
Dear Mayor Breed and dear Supervisor Mandelman,
As we are all searching for ways to express our solidarity – I think we can take inspiration from the Mayor’s offices in Berlin and Paris. Please authorize the illumination of San Francisco City Hall for the next few days in the Blue and Yellow of the Ukrainian flag. San Francisco may inspire other cities to do the same and this certainly will send a sign of comfort and support.
Thank you
Hans Kolbe, Celantra Systems
3722-21st Street, San Francisco 94114
Rome - Colosseum
Ukraine Solidarity - NYC Empire State Building
July 21st 12 PM ET - Webinar: "Responding to Uncertainty – How Do We Organize Collaboration and Integration”
Covid Dog
Webinar: "Responding to Uncertainty – How Do We Organize Collaboration and Integration”
Business leaders discuss the “Transition”
How did Cummins, a global manufacturing organization work with vendors and customers to strengthen their supply chain and remain resilient as the crisis swept across our world? Hans Kramer, transformation leader and business process architect will tell us about his engagement in the last few months, followed by panel discussion and Q&A.
While great uncertainty is holding us in its grip, how do we as business leaders respond? What can we do within the Oracle and IT worlds? We will hear different perspectives as the panelists report how they adjust to the changing situations and challenges in their businesses.
The panelists are:
- Cummins – an American Fortune 500 corporation that designs, manufactures, and distributes engines, filtration, and power generation products across all continents. End to End Business Process Architect: Hans Kramer
- Munchkin Inc., a California based consumer products manufacturer & distributor, with on-line and large retail store sales channels, customers in Americas, Europe, and Asia, and a China impacted international supply chain. IT Director: Balacz Francisci
Doesn’t Fit
- GE Healthcare – Integrated supply chain with multiple business units. Production facilities and worldwide supply chain and sales distribution network, covering Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Key production facilities in US, China, Korea, and Europe. IT Director: Nanda Kumar
- Immi Inc., a Midwestern manufacturing company supplying the commercial automotive industry, employing a local industrial workforce., with China supply chain impact. IT Director: Apparao Kandru
- Ciena, a Baltimore based high-tech network systems manufacturer, with international MFG sites and distribution to Europe, North America, and Asia. Ciena has seen spiked demand and challenging distribution pressures that demand quick adaptations in their business operations. Senior Director: Kunal Kumar
This might work
The panel also will be joined by Hans Kolbe, president of Celantra Systems and chairperson of the multi-national Special Interest Group. Moderator will be David Norris, London, a Chartered Accountant and experienced leader in business and system transformation.
#Uncertainty #Celantra #Confronting Crisis #ERP
Tuesday, July 21 9 am PT, 12 noon ET, 17:00 UK, 18:00 CE
Father’s Day! Thoughts While Looking in the Mirror
Son of Man - Rene Magritte
Thank you for wishing me a happy Father’s Day. Yes, I am proud of my children and glad that I have been able to do my part in providing. I feel I have been lucky to be working in this field for a long time. IT technology, global supply chain integrations, social network applications have been the magicians and transformation agents of the last few decades. However, at the moment I am grappling with the question what I must do now, how to contribute ? In our current crisis our technology may not give us the solutions.
Technology will help come up with medications to reduce the pain of Covid-19, and eventually Biotech will develop a vaccine. We will even develop the production capacity and supply chain for global distribution. But, will this bring more social equity, less racial injustice, stronger bonds within and across our communities, more empathy, less fear, more cooperation, less tribalism – so we can address our global problems, among them climate change most pressing? To play a meaningful and positive role we will have look at the characteristics of our own community and correct a misunderstanding of technology’s role.
A significant part of our IT community shares a strong tendency to prefer interaction with machines to interaction with other people. Isn’t this exactly the definition of a “Techie”, to be socially awkward, but be a genius with numbers and formulas? I suggest that we treat this tendency more as a “professional disease” of our community than just a charming quirk.
Our community shares an inherent and systemic bias towards technology as the go-to answer to all challenges and problems. Thus, we avoid confronting the emotional, social, and historical wounds and are unable to mobilize the human potential and aspirations needed. Maybe we need to pay much more attention to the quality of relationships - within our organizations, towards our customers, and within the communities that use our technologies. Do we help to strengthen mutual recognition, resilience, and social bonds?
“The most important relationship in therapy is the relationship between the client and the therapist,” my wife mentioned this morning. This got me thinking all day long. Is this the same in my profession, as IT professional? Is the relationship to our clients and customers THE critical piece? Only that way we can empower our clients and customers? Give them the tools, the data, the automation to be self-sufficient and reach their goals.
What do you think?
Is It True That Waves Come in Sets of Three? →
We conquered Wave 1: Infections down, stock market up. We are now gliding along the “V” recovery side. Feeling pretty good, except….
Unemployment, and will there be a second wave? There are infections in new areas and secondary economic and medical impacts we did not anticipate. How about Wave 3 following?
And, most importantly, are we even looking in the right direction?
Sailing Downwind - Things are Good !
Growing up sailing on the Baltic Sea I learnt that waves come in sets of three. This was especially important when we were sailing at night, in thick fog, or in the rain. We needed to be ready for Wave 2 and 3, while in the midst of dealing with Wave 1. To forget about 2 and 3 could have really bad consequences, capsizing, getting hurt or worse, losing someone overboard.
Hard to Predict What’s Coming at Us
Doesn’t it feel like sailing in the dark right now? Every week, every day the forecasts are changing, sometimes quite dramatically. On some days I am so sure what will happen next. Only to be proven completely wrong a few days later. Are we overlooking a powerful groundswell that has been there all along, possibly a critical factor shaping these waves? Could it be the disparity, the oppression, and the splits in our country’s political and social structure that have always been there? But I am told they have widened to an extent not seen since the “Golden 1920 s”. How will that impact our ability to deal with Wave 2 and 3?
I’m going to make two other points working with this metaphor.
One: We need networks and connections to see better. We take advantage of being in different locations and dealing with different aspects of the waves. Together we can make better sense of what’s going on. That’s why we organize conversations and panels of different business and IT leaders, all with different viewpoints. Please join us - see below.
Two: Waves crashing and slamming into our ship lay open the stress points and weaknesses of its construction and rigging: small things like water dripping into the sleeping quarters; big things, the shrouds holding the mast may be not be tight enough or the rudder seems to be a little loose.
These things must be attended too – immediately and with focus while we evaluate our course and pay attention to the waves. We need to deal with the weaknesses of our companies and our political structures. Our careful attention and focus are demanded.
Our panelists will discuss how they navigate through this uncertainty, with suppliers and customers, with their business processes and their IT systems. Can we use this crisis to make worthy changes and progress in fixing systemic problems in our companies and our country?
Lots to Pay Attention to
The panelists are:
· Munchkin Inc. - California based consumer products manufacturer & distributor, with on-line and large retail store sales channels, customers in Americas, Europe, and Asia, and a China impacted international supply chain. IT Director: Balazs Franciszti
· GE Healthcare – Integrated Supply Chain; international production facilities and worldwide supply chain and sales distribution network, covering Europe, Asia, Lat Am and Africa. Key production facilities in Asia and Europe. IT Director: Nanda Kumar Rajagopal
· Ciena - Baltimore based high-tech network systems manufacturer, with international MFG sites and distribution to Europe, North America, and Asia. Senior Director: Kunal Kumar
· Immi - Midwestern manufacturing company supplying the commercial automotive industry, employing a local industrial workforce with China supply chain impact. IT Director: Apparao Kandru
· TailorMade – Manufacturer and Distributor of golf clubs, bags and accessories based in Carlsbad, California. International office location in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. IT Director: Didier Chabert
Covid-19: Transitions - Facing the ‘New Normal’ together”
Session 1 June 16 9 am PT, 12 noon ET, 17:00 UK, 18:00 CE
Transitions – Focus on business, financial and operational challenges
Session 2 Tue July 21, 9 am PT, 12 PM ET, 17:00 UK, 18:00 CE
Responding to Uncertainty – How Do We Organize Collaboration and Integration
Updated Transitions Series - From the Pandemic to the ‘New Normal’? Jun 16 and 23
How do we respond to the social crisis impact and our Covid-19 recovery plans? What did we learn in the last three months? What changes are we making? Join the Conversations in the User Group Community.
Despite of all our efforts the crisis is not over! In fact, the Covet-19 crisis in the US has connected with our country’s race and social pains. The situation has morphed from a merely medical and economic into a severe political and social crisis. How should we react to that? Racism and social justice are the key concerns at the moment. Your/our reactions and thoughts are vital to the resolution. To what degree can we discuss these issues as business leaders, professionals, and employees? How about just promoting a conversation about the role of business and IT leaders? Let’s talk. When we planned the sessions, we knew things would change, but we did not foresee these events. We also want to discuss the changes in the Covid-19 crisis, and we went what we learnt.
During the last three months we had to accept the dangers of the epidemic and the severity of the business shutdowns. The initial surprise and shock have been taken in, adjustments have been made or had to be absorbed. We have entered a transition phase with lots of uncertainty, high hopes, and contradictory information, even more than we thought two weeks ago. Many of the changes we are making now will last long into the future, some of them for the better. Our work in information technology and enterprise resource systems will continue to play a critical role in the success or failure of the needed transformations.
How can we help each other to adapt, gain flexibility and resilience, and become stronger in the process? Our panel of business leaders and consulting organizations from different industries and geographies will discuss these questions and our professional opportunities.
The panelists are:
Munchkin Inc. - California based consumer products manufacturer & distributor, with on-line and large retail store sales channels, customers in Americas, Europe, and Asia, and a China impacted international supply chain. IT Director: Balacz Francisci
GE Healthcare – Integrated Supply Chain; international production facilities and worldwide supply chain and sales distribution network, covering Europe, Asia, Lat Am and Africa. Key production facilities in Asia and Europe. IT Director: Nanda Kumar Rajagopal
Ciena - Baltimore based high-tech network systems manufacturer, with international MFG sites and distribution to Europe, North America, and Asia. Senior Director: Kunal Kumar
Immi - Midwestern manufacturing company supplying the commercial automotive industry, employing a local industrial workforce with China supply chain impact. IT Director: Apparao Kandru
Session 1 Transition from Pandemic to ‘New Normal’
Tuesday, June 16 9 am PT, 12 noon ET, 17:00 UK, 18:00 CE
8 minutes and 46 seconds
I am an immigrant from Germany. I became a citizen 10 years ago. I felt responsible for and ashamed of a lot of things my birth country has done, the holocaust against Jews and the aggression of two world wars at the top. But I did not feel responsible for the legacy of slavery and the continued racism in my new country. In fact, I somewhat resent to be put in the same box of “white” people who may need to deal with their racism. That defense may be getting brittle now. My daughter, now working in the HR area of the IT industry, has impacted me with her emotional response and call to action.
Our country is in trouble on many fronts. Let’s just name four major areas:
- 100,000 deaths and climbing through Covid-19 -> fear and isolation
- Racial and economic disparity -> anger and defensiveness
- Depression style recession and unemployment -> despair and anxiety
- Political and cultural divide -> inability for collective action
I believe we need to get involved and the key may be found in unlocking the dialogue. As we recognize each other’s humanity and uniqueness we can organize actions bridging the divide. If we can listen and talk to each other, if we can find commonalities and respect differences – then we can start solving all other problems.
Do you think that we should stick with only personal and private responses? Is the risk of creating friction within the organization or alienating customers too high? Many companies seem to be willing to take that risk, see Nike, Wells Fargo, Best Buy, Allianz…… I believe that we as business and IT professionals should accept a shared responsibility to take constructive action together, and also do this within our professional organizations. What do you think? Please let me know.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drcO2V2m7lw
For once I can’t do it, I cannot look away. Can you?
"Transitions – Facing the ‘New Normal’ together” - Updated panelists! Focus on business, financial, and operational challenges
"Transitions – Facing the ‘New Normal’ together” - Update panelists! Focus on business, financial, and operational challenges
Read moreCovid-19 Transitions – What did we learn in the last three months? User Discussion Jun 16 and Jun 23, 2020
Covid-19
Transitions – Facing the ‘New Normal’ together. what did we learn in the last three months? What changes are we making? Join the Conversations in the User Group Community.
Despite of all our efforts the crisis is not over! During the last three months we had to accept the dangers of the epidemic and the severity of the business shutdowns. The initial surprise and shock have been taken in, adjustments have been made or had to be absorbed. We have entered a transition phase with lots of uncertainty, high hopes, and contradictory information. At the same time, we know that many of the changes we are making now will last long into the future, some of them for the better. Our work in information technology and enterprise resource systems will continue to play a critical role in the success or failure of the needed transformations. What actions should we take to be part of a responsible leadership? How can we help each other to adapt, gain flexibility and resilience, and become stronger in the process? Our panel of business leaders and consulting organizations from different industries and geographies will discuss these questions and our professional opportunities.
Join us in the status update organized by OATUG user groups and supporting companies, following up on User Group Events in March/April 2020.
Session 1 - Transitions – Focus on business, financial and operational challenges
Tuesday, June 16 9 am PT, 12 noon ET, 17:00 UK, 18:00 CE
How have you responded? What have you changed? Operations, finance, supply chain? Which of these changes will you keep into the future? Have you revisited your ERP strategy, stopped some projects, started new ones? How about the use of emerging technologies in your business? A panel with industry representatives will discuss these questions. Participants from GE Healthcare and other multi-nationals. Audience participation is encouraged, and follow-on small group conversations will be organized.
Session 2 Transitions – Focus on systems, tools, reporting, and management structures
Tuesday, June 23 9 am PT, 12 noon ET, 17:00 UK, 18:00 CE
“Working from Home” is evolving into “The Distributed Office”. How are you addressing the changing requirements for IT infrastructure, security, people relationships, and projects? What tools are you using? How do you adapt to the additional flexibility and skills needed on both management and staff side? Most of us believe that the “new normal” will continue to present surprises. It will demand quick responses to business, regulatory, and taxation changes. The old world of monolithic systems and costly multi-year upgrade projects will not be appropriate any longer. What are your solutions? How does this impact your teams’ skill sets and training, your vendor relationships, and your strategy? Did you start working towards a flexible, composable architecture with focus on system integrations versus replacements? Can we transform our departments into agile operations?
Let me know what do you think? hanskolbe@celantrasystems.com