Since the last issue of Network HR the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) has swept over the world like a wild tornado, knocking over businesses, while leaving others standing. Andrew Hupert, who writes the blog ‘www.chinasolved.com’, believes a company’s survival wasn’t luck, but due to sound business models, strong bank balances, good client relationships and ultimately the ability to transform their business. If you are reading this, then it looks like you fall under the above definition. Congratulations. So did we.

And while we are on the topic of blogs, for those of you who like to read my blog‘Chinanecdotes’ (www.morrymorgan.blogspot.com) it appears that all Blogger, Youtube, and even Facebook accounts are currently blocked in China. Fingers crossed they are open again ready for the Shanghai Expo, which starts May 1. In readiness for this huge event, that is estimated to attract over 70 million people, Network HR has interviewed Bonnie Zhu, Supervisor in International Participants Department, who outlines how we can all be part of this amazing event.

And talking about amazing event, on page 16 & 17 we have pictures of Spark09 Shanghai, held on March 28 at the Shanghai World Financial Center. Over 450 people attended 19 presentations by CEOs, directors and entrepreneurs. My personal favourite – “How can a pig farmer save the world?” You will have also noticed that again, this issue of Network HR is a double feature as we expand into Hong Kong and ‘spark’ new ideas in the HKSAR.

Don’t forget to read the feature article ‘Offices of the Future’ which was the culmination of ideas from 6 great creative minds during a day brain storm session in the ClarkMorgan Shanghai Office. And finally, on the topic of creativity, make sure you read John Mai’s article on protecting your intellectual property. Earlier this year, three former Guangzhou based employees were caught red handed stealing our IPR, and we hope that this article helps your business avoid the same situation.

How will you be working in the next 10 years?  

It’s incredible to believe that as recent as 10 years ago e-mail was still more of a youth fad than a credible business communication tool. Today, it’s impossible to imagine a working day that does not involve hours spent clearing one’s ‘outbox’  and deleting copious amounts of ‘spam’. Worse still, when the internet ‘goes down’, work practically stops. Such is the importance of this technology.

In 10 years too, the mobile phone has evolved from a two-tone colour display into a true personal digital assistant (PDA), sporting every function once only available on a PC. We plan our life, buy stocks, ‘text’ our friends, roam the net, listen to ‘podcasts’

and occasionally make phone calls. All this in the comfort of our favourite coffee shop, restaurant, or even sitting on our home toilet. Ten years ago, if you had a laptop you were a high-paid executive. Today, a laptop is part of the business uniform – for everyone. Also, a laptop is now just that, small enough to sit on your lap.

Ten years ago it doubled as gym membership. And in 10 years our business language has evolved. We now ‘hot desk’ at work, Skype with our colleagues and Google our clients. We use a 3G network to ‘tweet’ our movements, MSN our staff that we’ll be late into the office, while at the same time maintaining a personal profile on social media, such as Facebook, Linked In, and Xing. Never before have we faced such huge technology changes in such a short amount of time, and all this in only 10 years.

So where will the next 10 years take us?

One of the highlights on the HR calendar is the annual China STAFF Awards. Held since 1998, the awards aim to promote and recognise individuals and companies whose dedication to the HR profession are acknowledged by their peers. The last awards, now in their 11th year, were in November last year. Network HR takes a look at who is being recognised as the leaders in China’s human resources community.