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Managing beyond crisis

By Brendan John Worrell (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-04-13 11:04

Now more than ever improved communication between leaders and the general public is required to abate anxiety over the economy.

On one hand the community needs to have faith and trust in their leaders. On the other, leaders, officials and top company executives need to adopt best public relations practice to communicate the actions they are taking to navigate through these troubled times.

In part this can be achieved with greater foresight and transparency via the utilization of modern media.

Live webcasts, running websites, free to download podcasts of speeches and discussions, and PowerPoint presentations of programs to be implemented, are all forms that can generate an element of community consultation that has great sway among the populace.

That said it is still rare for the general public to be able to feast on a lot of the 'real meat' that is on offer at the various conferences and summits that are usually taking place around the world today and that's a shame and a waste.

One surprise in terms of coverage was seen at this year's Davos Forum. Here the public could log on and view plenary debates, listen to live speeches and acquire an understanding of the key issues and concrete steps leaders were taking.

The recent G20 Leaders Summit in London was also another example where those who were interested could log onto the G20 website, read through publications or watch videos of the various presentations.

Now of course this didn't stop people from protesting and it was never going to however, it did allow us all the benefit of hindsight to adopt the hypothetical, "well if I was in the Prime Minister's shoes what would I, or what could I be doing?"

Sometimes just this recognition of capability or incapability is enough to placate people into accepting or supporting authority. Unless we can do a better job then we don't really have an argument but unless we actually know what job is being done then there will always be skepticism and criticism, especially in a downturn.

The drama that eventuated at Pattaya, Thailand over the weekend at the 14th ASEAN summit was unfortunate because the rural poor, who the red shirt supporters of former Thai PM Thaksin claim to represent, are arguably going to be the beneficiaries of the agreements that were to have been carried out.

The China-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement and the flow on for rural communities, in terms of greater markets for rural produce, increased job opportunities and better infrastructure may need greater clarification.

Similarly this weekend April 17-19, the 8th Boao Forum takes place under the theme Asia-Managing Beyond Crisis and though we can virtually be guaranteed that proceedings will run according to plan, even though former US President GW Bush will be in attendance as well as 10 other heads of state, the general public may also feel a little ostracized.

Entrance for those who can afford it runs at US$3,800 provided you registered before March 1 and US$4,500 if you registered thereafter. This price tag doesn't include accommodation and of course is not aimed at the neighboring local Qionghai or Wenchang residents who doesn't make that much in a year, let alone in two or three.

Nevertheless proceedings at Boao do have and will have far-reaching implications for such folk yet are they being effectively communicated? Critical knowledge that is to be divested over the weekend, concerns such relevant topics as 'the role of emerging markets', 'lowering trade barriers', 'SME's achieving growth', 'China's real estate market', 'tapping into Asia's creative industry potential', and the 'internet driving growth through innovation'.

Of the approximate 1,300 official delegates in attendance at Boao, top corporate executives account for 55%, government officials 20%, scholars/experts 5% and media 20%. Assuming the majority of participants will not be paying out of their own pocket it can be argued that there is a responsibility and duty that they do their best to bequeath what they have learnt to the rest of us or their shareholders.

Likewise, the forums organizers could look to other models currently being adopted like that at Davos or the G20 if they seek to provide maximum coverage and more far-reaching positive impact into the communities their proceedings will involve, beyond the usual staged photo shoots, excerpts of one or two speeches and an interview with a key delegate in some off to the side meeting room.

While it has been mentioned that this year's Boao will not hold an entertainment party and fireworks performance in appreciation of the current economic situation this doesn't appear to have eliminated the customary round of golf that will take place in the morning, the poolside cocktails planned nor the buffet cancellation over looking lovely Jade beach.

Managing beyond crisis who knows? If we cannot see, hear or read what has been taking place over the 3 day forum in any real detail it may just seem like another junket.

Recently local Chinese papers have been running stories of officials who have been taking junkets paid for by the tax payer, often abroad, often funded by private companies, arousing much despondency among the community.