OK, the President of the Philippines was there to give the visiting executive a warm welcome and to say thanks for allowing his company to put up a call center here (at the SM Mall of Asia).

GMA’s presence somehow ensured that there would be a swarm of reporters to greet Dell. But mind you, the stage which they shared only had GMA’s name in bold letters, with the American’s name conspicuously absent.

Dell, founder and chair of the world’s largest computer maker, was no fiery executive. Even during the presscon, the media failed to get "sound bytes" from him and was consistent in being "dull" the whole time. Perhaps, this perception may be attributed to his being low-key and letting his achievements do the talking.

I noticed though that Dell Computers seemed to have taken protocol a little too seriously. After the big boss wrapped up his short Q-and-A session, middle-level officials, including from the local office, were apprehensive in issuing clarification statements with most of them completely shunning the media like a plague.

I don’t know if it was the way the event was organized or the boring executives that gave me this impression. Or was I expecting too much from Michael Dell?

Whatever it is, image is the least of my concerns. At least, the company decided to invest in the country and that’s what matters most. — Melvin G. Calimag

Welcome the Titans

This March saw the birth of the TeleTech Titans, I believe the first call center to put up professional basketball team that is competing in the Philippine Basketball League.

Through basketball, one of the Philippine’s most visible global provider of customer management and transaction-based business process outsourcing (BPO) services demonstrates teamwork and strategy. These are two elements that make champions what they are.

The formation of the TeleTech Titans is actually both a unique brand marketing and employment approach on how to make the company stronger and have nationwide presence.

Asked why they formed a professional basketball team, TeleTech Holdings, Inc. EVP for Global Service Delivery Brian Delaney, replied that the company is committed to create a special culture where the employees remain loyal. He said he is impressed at how the Filipino employees enhance technology and how they leverage on it, How through teamwork they produce value-added results.

It is the belief of the company senior management that to become part of the Philippines, the company has to be part of the Filipino culture, and basketball is a start.

So do you want to play basketball or handle calls? Either way, if you get hired, you are considered a TeleTech employee and a member of the company’s talent pool. — Edison D. Ong

Endorsement

Normally, independent research companies even if hired by vendors to do some survey or research should not endorse a technology or a product. I find it ironic that a top executive of Financial Insights, an IDC company said that he would endorse EMC solutions in situations where a client would ask for an appropriate solution or technology.

Financial Insights was commissioned by EMC to conduct a study of the Philippine financial services institutions on the level of security measures instituted for business continuity. But Ronnie Latinazo, the country manager of EMC Phils. was quick to say that EMC’s intention was to align and support companies based on the gaps in the market.

Meanwhile, its heartening to note that the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. has cited five exemplary individuals and five outstanding institutions in the Visayas and Mindanao for their outstanding achievement under the 3rd Triennial Awards. For three years, it was a tough job for the search committee to select the unsung heroes in their chosen fields. This year’s awardee for the individual category is Ramon A. Piang Sr., the mayor of Upi in Maguindanao. Mayor Piang’s achievements have earned the admiration of his people and the Canadian International Development Agency, showcasing the true meaning of good and transparent governance. The other awardee in the institutional category is Lihok Pilipina Foundation, the protector of women and children. The foundation has helped many women who were victims of domestic violence and street children. — Edu H. Lopez