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Wharton Global Alumni Forum
Three of the major executives from the technology sector in Spain and two important entrepreneurs of the growing and disparate African continent, moderated by Alberto Durán, founder and CEO of Mundivox Communications, based at Rio de Janeiro, met during the second day of the Wharton Global Alumni Forum in Madrid, with a panel entitled: “Technology and Innovation: ¿Panacea or Fallacy?
According to María Garaña, President of Microsoft Ibérica, today the debate about technology and innovation should be focused on the practical application of technology for companies, and how it is helping to increase productivity and competitiveness. “The one who invests the most money on technology is not the most efficient, the one who uses it to be most productive is”, she said. “On occasions, it is enough to take advantage from the tools one already disposes of. Actually, it is about carrying out a deep analysis about the possibilities one has of being more productive, and productivity can be achieved through producing more or reducing costs”. However, she continued, “technology is a source of savings for businesses. One must abandon the technological message, the most technical terms, and make of computer systems relevant tools for companies and for people”.
The panel discussion also included Eric Kacou, managing director of OTF Group, a strategy and competitiveness firm based in Rwanda, and Eva Muraya, co-founder and CEO of the Nairobi firm Color Creations Group. They both exemplify this entrepreneurial startup taking place in Africa, and they both exposed the particular situation of their countries. “There are many, and increasing, success stories which can be shown of African entrepreneurs”, Muraya said.
In brief, “if there is something positive which can be drawn from this economic crisis is the ability to ponder, to re-discuss the foundations of things. Innovation is no longer considered an expense for many companies, but rather a necessary lever for productivity”, concluded the President of Microsoft España.
Source: wharton.universia.net
