Agenda
28 October 2011, Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre
Click here for more information about the Venue
08:00-09:00 Registration and Coffee
Registration, Coffee & Snacks in the lobby of the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre
09:00-09:05 Welcome Address
Short introduction to the day and welcome address with the patron of the SMCC and the managing team
09:05-09:50 Opening Keynote: Opening Keynote: Knowing, When We Don't Know
The world is radically uncertain, in the sense that we not only do not know what will happen, but have limited capacity to describe the events which might happen. Managers, and even more the consultants who advise them, frequently deal with volatility and uncertainty by claiming a knowledge that they not only do not possess, but could not possess. How can businesses win in a volatile world? And how can consultants provide a foundation for profitability under uncertainty? In this keynote, Prof. John Kay will talk about the implications of recognizing that there is inevitably a great deal that we do not, and cannot, know and how strategy consultants can deal with that to drive corporate success.
09:50-10:45 Panel discussion: Value Strategy for Central Government - Unlocking Public Potential
An unprecedented financial and monetary crisis led to unprecedented fiscal challenges in Ireland and on the continent. With the UK going through the most severe fiscal cuts ever since the war, not only governments, but also private companies are increasingly struggling to cope with the new demands of fiscal austerity. The focus of this panel discussion will be on how professional service providers can help public bodies improve the ways in which they deliver services, given the developments e.g. the Big Society and increasing pressures to hold governments to the account. What are the ethical and political dilemmas as well as issues of agency that arise when public authorities are more and more relying on external expertise to improve their operations? Can the public administrations learn from the private sector?
10:45-11:00 Coffee Break
Coffee & Snacks in the Mountbatten Lounge
11:00-11:45 Keynote: Management Innovation in the 21st Century
Developing and implementing a strategy is the central task of a leader, whether the CEO at a Fortune 100 company, an entrepreneur, a church pastor, the head of a school, or a government official. In this keynote, Professor Richard Rumelt will show that there has been a growing and unfortunate tendency to equate Mom-and-apple-pie values, fluffy packages of buzzwords, motivational slogans, and financial goals with “strategy.” He debunks these elements of “bad strategy” and awakens an understanding of the power of a “good strategy, by focusing on the key areas of true leadership and action-oriented business administration, as well as highlighting pragmatic tools for future decision-makers.
11:45-12:45 Panel discussion: Leadership in a volatile World
A distinguished panel of senior leaders will share the challenges they faced in their journey toward their current leadership roles. The discussion will focus particularly on the need to embrace diversity in order for organisations to succeed in a volatile world.
12:45-13:30 Keynote: Delivering Financial Services in Africa
Speaker: Christian Wessels | More information shortly
13:30-14:15 Lunch Break
Finger buffet & Drinks in the Mountbatten Lounge
14:15-15:15 Panel discussion: The Dark Side of the Cloud and Pathologies of Big Data
Low total cost of ownership, high flexibility and little or no IT infrastructure to maintain –cloud computing seems to be a no-brainer. Nevertheless, the question remains how the vulnerability of the cloud to brute force attacks, the pathologies of big data and their high energy consumption can be dealt with. Additionally, organisations increasingly realise that poor cloud service quality can lead to business loss through downtimes and that the implementation of cloud computing solutions is only the start of a continued commitment to strategic infrastructure development. This panel discussion is going to centre on the question how business leaders can use the cloud and big data applications to drive business strategy while avoiding their pitfalls.
15:15-16:15 Panel discussion: Preparing for the Rise of the Digital Consumer
In the digital age, consumers are engaging with brands in fundamentally different ways: the traditional “purchase funnel” metaphor no longer reflects the reality of how consumers decide what to buy. The consumer decision journey provides a more nuanced and relevant view, recognizing that the path to purchase and loyalty is now complex, iterative and dynamic. Consumer-driven marketing—word of mouth, online forums, and print reviews—matters more in the evaluation and purchase stages than traditional, company-driven advertising. We have brought together business consultants, consumer good experts and brand marketing strategists in a panel discussion on what drives the digitalisation of consumer worlds and how companies can take advantage of this trend.
16:15-16:30 Coffee Break
Coffee & Snacks in the Mountbatten Lounge
16:30-17:15 Oliver Wyman Keynote
Speaker: Jamie Whyte | More information shortly
17:15-18:00 Keynote: The Agony and Ecstasy of Entrepreneurship
Speaker: Luke Johnson | More information shortly
18:00-18:15 Closing Ceremony
More information shortly
18:15-21:00 Networking Reception and Careers Fair with Companies and Business Schools
During this interactive networking fair the conference participants will have the opportunity to meet their future employers, speak to recruiters and meet other like-minded students from all around the world. Drinks and canapés will be provided.
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The students are encouraged but not obliged to participate in LSE SU Consultancy Day on Satuday 29th October 2011, which is externally organised for LSE students by the LSE SU Consultancy Society. Klick here for more information.
