Organisations urged to focus on fostering 'human connection'

Addressing top executives and entrepreneurs in the GCC on the final day of the forum, Plouffe listed consistency in communication and engagement as the essential traits that define success of an enterprise in the modern times.

Held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the Leaders in Dubai 2009 Business Forum hosts an exclusive panel of leadership strategists and management experts. The forum is expected to show the way forward for enterprises in the region in the wake of the global economic downturn.

Terming Obama's campaign as the 'first in the American history in which people played the central role' Plouffe said the success of the campaign was proof that there is nothing more important than a human being talking to another human being.

Although information technology was extremely useful in bringing the campaign to people in real time, it was people-to-people communication and involvement that ultimately crafted its success, Plouffe said.

"There were 30 million volunteers in the campaign but all our communication was aligned. We also had our metrics, which we constantly monitored but all the volunteers knew that their performance was being judged in the same way,"

stated Plouffe.

Plouffe said even when there were hiccups along the campaign, the decision-makers, including President Obama, maintained a cool head. "That filtered down to the whole team. The culture of an organisation has a great say in its ultimate success," he said.

Jack Perkowski, one of the first foreign entrepreneurs in China, briefed the audience on the importance of local knowledge in building businesses and relations overseas.

"Developing local management is highly important from the cost and competition point. Your manager has to have the same cost perspective as your customer and competitor," Perkowski, dubbed 'Mr China' for his remarkable success in the world's third largest economy, said. ASIMCO, the business conglomerate which Perkowski founded in China was twice named among the 'ten best employers in China'.

Steve Farber, leadership strategist, spoke on how to deliver the organisational message with conviction and passion, citing the importance of the message in building relations within and beyond the organisation.

Nobel laureate and former Vice President of the United States Al Gore is scheduled to address the concluding session of the forum today.

The Leaders in Dubai 2009 Business Forum, is sponsored by Philips, Noor Islamic Bank, Noor Takaful, The Monarch Hotel, Saxo Bank, Dubai Bank, Dubai World Trade Centre, Canon, Cadillac, Al Arabiya and BBC World.