Sunday, April 14, 2013

User groups – the prequel


I have always been adamant about the value of sharing experience, of discussing how things happen, should happen, may happen or may fail. In support of such sharing, I have had the privilege of working (if one can call such fun “working”) at the makings of HRGUG. I have also avidly participated at ASUG, and most recently I have added a new star in my firmament – HERUG.

What do these barbaric-sounding acronyms stand for?

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

The little blog that could.

Proud to say that my previous posts on Human Capital Sustainability have been highlighted in SCN welcome page during the week from April 5th to April 12th.

The blog, a consolidation of my three pieces:

  • Social Accountability in Human Capital Management
  • Global Cost (or Value) of a Human Being
  • Human Capital as an Investment
can be read in its entirety here.



It is also going to be published on the SAP Innovation blogs on the 17th of April!


Saturday, April 6, 2013

Where is the picture????

This isn't meant to be a travel blog, so I am refraining from nostalgic waxing over locations where I have been or I want to go, but having been asked several times where is the blog's forefront picture taken, I realize that I have been inflicting on you a picture without sharing a location.

It was a stunning day in the Lavaux, overlooking lake Geneva. Niched up on the corniche, there is a little wine bar (locally known as a "caveau"), dedicated to Corto Maltese - the cartoon creation by Hugo Pratt.

What is remarquable of this place? so many things. The view of course; the approach to the wine bar, more a community of small wine producers getting together to give a better access to little-known wines, helping each other in the process. The sense of a community you get, when after a handful of times you stop by, you are on a first-name basis with everybody. Looking at the picture, I feel home. Priceless.

Here is another picture from the same area - the Swiss Lavaux is an amazing source of stunning pictures.



For more information
It is in French, but if you ask me nicely, I'll be happy to translate it for you!

...and if you ever head out to the area, drop me a note...


Thursday, April 4, 2013

The Meaning of Being an Employer of Choice

It must be the season.

No, I am not thinking of baby lambs, kittens, nor of planting the garden... I am talking about the lists I am seeing touting "a Great Place To Work" or " Employer of Choice" top 10, 25, 100 lists. And seeing all this I cannot but wonder about 1. if such ranking have an interest whatsoever, 2. if so, how are the criteria used differently in each case, 3. is there any standardized approach?, 4. how to best leverage this information.

Monday, April 1, 2013

Winery visit

Easter week-end provides often a welcome opportunity for a short break. So we headed north, to the Napa Valley, where we had booked a blending session at a well-known winery - Monticello Vinyards. The incredible part of visiting a family-run vinyard is the passion that is the common trait of all the family members involved in the business.



While the wine-maker was leading us through the process of blending the 2011 single-varietal wines into a balanced product, that could then age gracefully (next step - taste before bottling, in some 9 months), he was also sharing his approach to creativity, and said one sentence that stuck with me.

"Art cannot be done by committee".