Surviving the change: competing successfully in a liberalised environment

by Franco Aloisio

"Surviving the change: competing successfully in a liberalised environment" is the theme of a conference to be held on 24 March at the Corinthia San Gorg and organised by Economic and Management Consultancy Services Ltd (EMCS), in collaboration with The Malta Business Weekly.

"This will not be yet another conference on restructuring," EMCS chairman and managing director John C. Grech told The Malta Business Weekly.

"We want to create the necessary awareness and environment where people can talk and discuss this subject. The theme of the conference is linked to the current situation in the country. At present there is a certain amount of apprehension being shown by a number of organisations on the future and how they fit in future scenarios. The conference will address these issues," said Dr Grech.

He added that it would be incorrect to tie this challenge to Malta's application to join the European Union, although the country needs to know how it will position itself in the Union.

But the major challenge is related to the tightening up of Malta's economy to become part of the global economy, Dr Grech said.

"Whether one is in favour or against, it is a fact that the global village is indeed happening. It involves all countries. And although we are starting to hear some commentators describing the overall negative impact of globalisation and the wishful thinking of some countries to opt out of it, this is not an option. The world economy is developing into a fast-moving and global one as a result of technological advancements."

He said that the first issue that any organisation has to ask itself is: "Will I survive?" The conference will discuss the raison d'être of a commercial activity. It will focus on the value chain, that is, the entire sequence of events which takes place in the commercialisation process - from the suppliers down to the customers.

Any corporation internally controls its core competencies, but also to relate with all its suppliers and intermediaries. Different companies are placed in various sectors of this value chain. All of them are part of it and all have to ask what they can or cannot control within this chain.

Dr Grech said the discussion will centre on how one goes about managing the value chain.

"The future does no longer lie with trying to survive on an element of imperfection in the system, but lies more on the ability of an organisation to innovate and to be creative. Moreover, networking is also an important function which will

guarantee the survival of many organisations." The conference will also highlight the recent experience of a study carried out by EMCS and an Italian consultancy firm CAST Consulting Srl. on the repositioning of the Maltese furniture industry in the light of economic restructuring. This study was the first to have ever been commissioned by IPSE.

A very systematic methodology was adopted in this study, said Dr Grech. CAST Srl. has offices in Italy, Germany, US and China and has wide expertise, including the furniture industry. The company has undertaken various research assignments.

"We have benefited tremendously from this alliance with CAST."

The study has already been presented to IPSE. A partner of CAST Srl., Dr Federico Provinciali, will be addressing the conference, during which the findings of this report will also be discussed.

At the conference EMCS chairman John C. Grech will speak on how to manage continuity and change for successful business development. He will be followed by Dr Provinciali who will discuss sectorial restructuring and how to prepare for competition in a liberalised environment.

The study on the furniture industry in Malta by Dr Provinciali and EMCS consultant Stefano Mallia will then be presented. Competitive positioning in the EU market will be the subject of the speech by Peter McKieran, professor of management at the University of St Andrews and professor of strategic management at Warwick Business school.

IPSE chief executive Joe Vella Bonnici will discuss how companies can beat foreign competition at home and beyond. Dr Bill Donaldson, the director of marketing at the University of Strathclyde, will speak on strategic market relationship and how companies can cooperate to compete.

The afternoon sessions will be dedicated to experiences of local entrepreneurs who managed to compete successfully in the international market.

Information on the EMCS conference can be obtained by phoning 341848/9, fax: 318677 or e-mail: info@emcs.com.mt