Search results for: 'Public'

How to make an effective contribution to a closely-knit board run by a longtime and rigid chair, and how to do so as the only woman? This is the predicament this fictional case study presents Jane Pruitt, a 54-year-old CFO coming in from another company under shareholder pressure. She is striving to make a much-needed impact on a privately-held formerly family-run metalworking machinery and equipment manufacturer overseen by five male board members (and financially interconnected friends) all about 70 years of age.
Jane begins to suspect that the intellectual, generational and gender diversity she was hired to provide was brought on board only for public show.

The case raises important questions about the value of diversity in a team environment and will engage any student who has been an outsider on an insular, club-like team.

This case presents several challenges that are relevant for organizations today. First, it explores a newcomer’s perspective on being an outsider in an insider-dominated setting. Second, the case presents a number of common board/team practices that undercut effectiveness. Finally, it gives students the opportunity to think and talk about board diversity, its merits and challenges, and possible paths forward to success.

Within that setting, several instructional objectives can be met:

• Diversity: The experience of the outsider, and the deep frustrations of not fitting in.
• Board Process: Board effectiveness requires both the right board composition and the right board process.
• Leadership: The next leader is often already at the table but may not match the stereotype of the old one.

The case describes the story of a city, Donostia-San Sebastián, which has the political and institutional goal to become a city of innovation and entrepreneurship. To achieve this, there are different dilemmas related to the size of the city, the shortage of talent in certain specialties, cannibalization of talent, internationally competitive salaries and the effects of the brain drain. In this case study, we meet a local public institution, Fomento San Sebastián (FSS), which acts as the instrument of the city to promote an intelligent, sustainable and inclusive local economic development. FSS plays a fundamental role within the local ecosystem of innovation and takes the lead to endow talent with human capital in the city.

Through the context of the city of Donostia-San Sebastián and the different programs and decisions taken by FSS, the student will be able to understand the innovation ecosystem and to analyze how talent and human capital develops in a city.

This case is useful for a wide audience:

1. Students of universities, MBA or MIR interested in innovation in cities.
2. University students of science, technology, engineering and mathematics interested in the topic.
3. Students participating in courses such as Urban Innovation, Public Policy, Sustainable Cities, Human Resources, Innovation and Entrepreneurship. 
4. It is suitable for "In Company" courses for employees of highly innovative companies and employees of public agencies whose work is related to innovation or research.

The case describes the story of a city, Donostia-San Sebastián, which has the political and institutional goal to become a city of innovation and entrepreneurship. To achieve this, there are different dilemmas related to the size of the city, the shortage of talent in certain specialties, cannibalization of talent, internationally competitive salaries and the effects of the brain drain. In this case study, we meet a local public institution, Fomento San Sebastián (FSS), which acts as the instrument of the city to promote an intelligent, sustainable and inclusive local economic development. FSS plays a fundamental role within the local ecosystem of innovation and takes the lead to endow talent with human capital in the city.

Through the context of the city of Donostia-San Sebastián and the different programs and decisions taken by FSS, the student will be able to understand the innovation ecosystem and to analyze how talent and human capital develops in a city.

This case is useful for a wide audience:

1. Students of universities, MBA or MIR interested in innovation in cities.
2. University students of science, technology, engineering and mathematics interested in the topic.
3. Students participating in courses such as Urban Innovation, Public Policy, Sustainable Cities, Human Resources, Innovation and Entrepreneurship. 
4. It is suitable for "In Company" courses for employees of highly innovative companies and employees of public agencies whose work is related to innovation or research.

Is it possible for a public, inter-governmental, and technical cooperation organization to implement institutional change while maintaining normal performance in different contexts and while achieving objectives established by the member governments, without labor conflicts or a significant overall increase in financial resources?

This case documents and comparatively analyzes two experiences (Costa Rica and Nicaragua) to answer the question posed above, as these countries provide two different situations in terms of national demand profiles and institutional resources.