The essence of culture is not what is shallow, clearly visible on the surface; more important are the shared ways by which groups of people understand and interpret the world. This essential core of culture consists of traditional, that is historically derived, selected and learned basic assumptions (Kroeber & Kluckhohn, 1952; Trompenaars & Hampden-Turner, 2001). Culture comes in layers, like an onion, and to understand it you have to unpeel it layer by layer (Hofstede & Hofstede, 2005; Schein, 2004; Trompenaars & Hampden-Turner, 2001).
The metaphor of the onion (see Hofstede & Hofstede, 2005; Schein, 2004), as the one of the iceberg (Selfridge & Sokolik, 1975), plainly illustrates the layered structure of culture from the explicit, clearly visible outside/top of artefacts and products to the implicit, invisible, inside/bottom layers and elements of culture. On the outer layer, explicit culture is the observable reality of the language, food, buildings, houses, monuments, agriculture, shrines, markets, fashions and art. The middle layers encompass norms, values, and attitudes; they are not directly visible. Norms are the mutual sense a group has of what is right and wrong; they can develop on a formal level like written laws, and on an informal level like social control. Values determine the definition of good and bad, and are therefore closely related to the ideals shared by a group. While norms, consciously or subconsciously, give us a feeling of “this is how I normally should behave”, values give us a feeling of “this is how I aspire or desire to behave”. The core of culture consists of basic assumptions about existence referring to the basic question: why have different groups of people, consciously or subconsciously, chosen different definitions of good or bad, right or wrong? These assumptions are based on fundamental relationships of the human being with the (natural) environment. They signify the deepest meaning of life that has escaped from conscious questioning and has become self-evident, because it is a result of routine responses to the environment.

Recognizing and understanding differences in cultural patterns, across all layers of the onion metaphor, provides individuals with a framework for interpreting the goals, motivations, and behaviours of others. Intrapreneurship-supportive culture can be understood as a set of culture-bound patterns shared by a group of individuals. These patterns are shaped, changed or maintained through the interaction between individuals of the group or organization. These interaction processes are fed by each single individual’s “learned” cultural background. People are born in a national culture context, acquire a certain professional culture, in particular starting from the age of 18 or earlier depending on the educational level, and are then exposed to a corporate culture when entering a company to work with. Given the accumulated influence of these three culture types on intrapreneurship-supportive culture, national and professional culture types would represent more individual-related values (more invisible, implicit, the inner heart of the onion) and corporate culture would then refer to more organization-related norms and practices (more visible, explicit, the outer layers of the onion). Thus, conceptualizing intrapreneurship-supportive culture as an integration of national, professional and organizational culture types seems to be the logical step.

In this line, intrapreneurship-supportive culture would refer to the set of shared norms, values, attitudes, perceptions, and beliefs held by a group of individuals, like for instance the R&D department, new product teams, or new venture divisions. Determining the exact importance of national, professional, and corporate culture would be difficult. National culture certainly plays an important role, but we can not neglect other levels of culture (Fayolle et al., 2005). All group members have individual cultural backgrounds and hold passports for both the national culture in which they grew up, the occupations in which they were trained, and the organizations in which they work. Anyway, as Ulijn & Weggeman (2001) point out, these three culture types are most relevant for an individual’s education and working experience and can, therefore, be considered as constituents of intrapreneurship-supportive culture. Therefore, the following sections briefly introduce the concepts of national, professional, and corporate cultures.

From: Developing characteristics of an intrapreneurship-
supportive culture by H.C. Menzel, R.Krauss, J.M. Ulijn, M.Weggeman

Human communities have a variety of practices, beliefs, social roles, norms, expressions, forms of organization and conflicts (economic, political, legal, religious, expressive and artistic) that exhibit various sorts of internal coherence as well as cleavages within communities. These coherences and cleavages bear many close connections to the different historical experiences, physical and social environments in which people live. They include configurations of elements and characteristic ways of interrelating that are shared with neighboring and interacting groups, and shared among dispersed groups that have common historical experiences and similarities, including common origin, common membership in historical civilizations, and languages that are mutually understood or that derive common families. Lines of cleavage, conflict, and marginality, of course, are part of cultural phenomena.

Elements and relationships that individuals or communities have in common are shared in a variety of ways. Some, such as the more intensive patterns of interaction that derive from common residence, joint experience, and discourse in a common language or system of signs, are relatively well bounded. Other patterns of sharing or similarity derive from processes of dispersal: migration, diaspora, the trajectory of lives lived through spatial movements, social mobility, careers, distinctive histories. Interactions are by no means limited to localities, but to the trajectories of inhabitants who move through and between localities. Cultures consist of shared constructions that emerge out of social interactions of sets of individuals who inhabit overlapping social and physical spaces. Coherence may be viewed as an emergent property, but may be present or absent to varying degrees and along varying dimensions or trajectories.

From “Cross-Cultural Research: An Introduction for Students“ by Douglas R. White

Management research confirms that organizations that meet the innovation challenge out perform their competitors in terms of market share, profitability, growth and market capitalization (Tidd, Bessant, & Pavitt, 2005). Innovative organizations are better able to mobilize the knowledge, skills, and experiences of people, and successfully create new products, services and ways of getting things done faster, better and cheaper. Although creativity is innovation’s precursor, both are key issues for organizational survival and growth.

Innovation is increasingly seen as a key strategic priority due to its potential to create sustainable competitive advantage. Barsh, Capozzi, and Davidson (2008), for example, found that 70% of senior executives identified innovation as one of their top three drivers for improving organizational performance. So, if innovation is so important, what practices and knowledge do organizations apply to meet the challenge?

Many organizations apply a specific method, process or procedure to produce innovative outcomes. These run the gambit from project management and new product development methods to idea management and suggestion programs. Others focus their efforts on innovative outcomes – setting clear and stretch targets for revenue from new products and services. Some concentrate on the unique role that leaders play in sponsoring innovation or selecting and encouraging the “right” people to play on innovation initiatives. A few organizations focus on creating work environments that support creativity and innovation. Even fewer organizations address the challenge by taking a blend of both strategic and tactical reviews of best practices, and then customize their solutions to address their unique needs and situations. Given all the challenges organizations must face when managing for innovation, the most productive way forward is to consider the whole system of change and creativity, rather than only focusing on a single part (Isaksen & Tidd, 2006). In fact, there is emerging evidence that high-performing innovative organizations work on all the key elements, including: deliberately managing the innovation process; engaging in leadership practices that include and involve a diverse collection of skills, styles, and talents; and intentionally working to establish appropriate conditions to encourage and sustain creative efforts (Davis, 2000).

A practical way to systemically address the innovation challenge is to ask: What works for whom, under what circumstances (see Figure 1)? The “what works” part of the question refers to impact and effectiveness of the tools, techniques, processes, and methods of innovation. Those who lead and manage organizations have focused most of their attention on “what works.” Many of these efforts have produced disappointing results because the methods were simply transplanted or applied with little or no consideration for the people involved (“for whom”) or the specific and unique conditions or context (“under what circumstances”).

From “Creating More Innovative Workplaces” by Scott G. Isaksen, Wouter S. Aerts and Erik J. Isaksen at Creative Problem Solving Group,

Aside from symmetry, males in Western cultures generally prefer females with a small jaw, a small nose, large eyes, and defined cheekbones – features often described as “baby faced”, that resemble an infant’s. Females, however, have a preference for males who look more mature — generally heart-shaped, small-chinned faces with full lips and fair skin. But during menstruation, females prefer a soft-featured male to a masculine one. Indeed, researchers found that female perceptions of beauty actually change throughout the month.

When viewing profiles, both males and females prefer a face in which the forehead and jaw are in vertical alignment. Altogether, the preference for youthful and even infant-like, features, especially by menstruating women, suggest people with these features have more long-term potential as mates as well as an increased level of reproductive fitness.

Scientists have also found that the body’s proportions play an important role in perceptions of beauty as well. In general, men have a preference for women with low waist-to-hip ratios (WHRs), that is, more adipose is deposited on the hips and buttocks than on the waist. Research shows that women with high WHRs (whose bodies are more tube-shaped) are more likely to suffer from health maladies, including infertility and diabetes. However, as is often the case, there are exceptions to the rule.

From” Looking Good: The Psychology and Biology of Beauty” by Charles Feng

Before athletes go on to the field, they prepare their muscles for the activity they are about to participate. A pitcher will go through a series of warm up techniques that usually involve stretching before pitching. A gymnast will make sure her muscles are warm and pliable to avoid a strain that may keep her out of competition. An accountant, attorney, or anybody that tends to sits at a desk or computer terminal for a prolonged period may develop muscular tension and pain. Like an athlete, taking five or ten minutes to warm up through stretching will prepare the body for the day’s work. It is also helpful to learn to stretch spontaneously, throughout the day, stretching any particular area of the body that feels tense for a minute or two.

The answers of youth revealed the fact that they described their spiritual behaviour in terms of seven categories with regards to personal and social developments. They were categorized as: to have purpose; to have the bond of connections, including those to a higher power (typically God), people and nature; to have a foundation of well-being, including joy and fulfillment, energy and peace; to have conviction; to have self-confidence, and to have an impetus for virtue. The study found many youths who called themselves “spiritual”, but there is a disconnect between calling oneself as spiritual and defining what that entails. James said: “Although the assumption is that many people are “spiritual”, the term “spirituality” is not something that is easy to articulate and define. People have a hard time separating spirituality from religion, but the differences are important to understanding behaviour and development.”

Join the communities http://www.prayer4family.com ; http://www.church-prayer.com

On August 26, 2010, Americans celebrated the 90th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment, which granted women the right to vote and led to their increased participation in our political system. In 1984, Geraldine Ferraro shattered the political glass ceiling by becoming the first woman nominated to a national ticket and ushered in a new era of political leadership for women.

Over the last quarter century, women have become a powerful political force, both as voters and as elected leaders. Did that political benchmark have implications for women’s economic well-being? Data compiled by the Joint Economic Committee suggest that the answer is yes. Twenty-five years ago, America was recovering from the double-dip recession of the 1980s, and women’s role in the labor force was beginning a multi-decade-long period of expansion. Today, as our nation’s economy continues down the road to recovery from the Great Recession, women are poised to be the engine of future economic growth.

Women comprise half of all U.S. workers, and well over half of all American women are in the labor force. Women’s educational attainment outstrips that of men, and women’s share of union membership is growing rapidly. Families are increasingly dependent on working wives’ incomes in order to make ends meet. Despite a quarter-century of progress, however, challenges remain. While the pay gap has narrowed over the last 25 years, the average full-time working woman earns only 80 cents for every dollar earned by the average full-time working man. Certain industries remain heavily gender-segregated. In addition, millions of women are struggling to juggle work outside the home with family care-giving responsibilities.

In the last 25 years, women’s labor force participation has grown sharply. In 1984, 53.6 percent of women were in the labor market. By 2009, that number had grown to 59.2 percent. All of the growth in women’s labor force participation occurred prior to 2000. In contrast, over that same period, men’s labor force participation rates were falling. Since the late 1990s, women’s labor force participation rates have remained roughly flat while men’s labor force participation has continued to decline. Women’s share of payroll employment has grown over the last 25 years.

In 1984, women comprised just 44 percent of payroll employment. In 2009, women comprised nearly half (49.8 percent) of payroll employment. The recent gender parity in payroll employment is most likely explained by the disparate impact of the Great Recession on industries, such as construction and manufacturing, which employ greater concentrations of men than women. The number of women in the workforce has grown by 44.2 percent over the last 25 years, from 46 million in 1984 to 66 million in 2009. Yet the distribution of those working women’s work schedules has remained remarkably constant: about one-quarter work part-time, while the remaining three-quarters work full-time. Progress toward gender parity by industry has been varied over the last 25 years.

In 1984, women made up 50 percent or more of the workforce in three industries: government, education and health services, and financial activities. By 2009, women made up 50 percent or more of the workforce in 5 industries: government, leisure and hospitality, education and health services, financial activities, and other services. In some industries, little progress has been made. For instance, women comprised just over 13 percent of those employed in construction in 2009, compared to 12 percent in 1984. And in some industries, women have lost ground. While women comprised 49 percent of those employed in the information industry in 1984, they made up just 42 percent of the industry in 2009. Similarly, in 1984 women comprised 32 percent of the manufacturing industry.

In 2009, women were just 29 percent of the manufacturing workforce. Women’s educational attainment has edged out men’s in the last twenty-five years. In 2009, 87 percent of women had at least four years of high school or more education, as compared to 86 percent of men. In contrast, in 1984, 74 percent of men and 73 percent of women had at least four years of high school or more education.
From “Women and the Economy 2010″. Report by the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee, August 2010

Over the past few decades, the world stock markets have surged, and emerging markets haveaccounted for a large amount of this boom. In Africa, new stock markets have beenestablished in Ghana, Malawi, Swaziland, Uganda, and Zambia. Prior to 1989 there were justfive stock markets in sub-Saharan Africa and three in North Africa. Today there are 19 stockexchanges. Stock market development has been central to the domestic financialliberalization programs of most African countries. It seems any program of financialliberalization in Africa is incomplete without the establishment and development of stockmarkets.The drive towards the establishment of stock markets in African countries during the last few decades may be linked to other important developments in the global economy. The financialmarkets of many advanced countries have undergone tremendous changes and becomeincreasingly integrated. These changes have resulted from the operation of a number of interrelated factors (Cosh, Hughes, and Singh, 1992):
• the progressive deregulation of financial markets both internally and externally in leading
economies;
• the internationalization of these markets;
• the introduction of a number of financial products allowing riskier and bigger financial
investments; and
• the emergence and the increasing role of new actors in the financial markets particularly,institutional investors.These developments in the financial systems of advanced countries have led them to seekliberalization in the international trade and exchange of services in world trade negotiations.The establishment of stock markets in African countries and the liberalization of capital accounts can be seen as parts of this global liberalization trend.

The establishment of stock markets in Africa is expected to boost domestic savings and increase the quantity and quality of investment. More generally, stock markets are seen as enhancing the operations of the domestic financial system in general and the capital market in particular (Kenny and Moss, 1998). Critics, however, argue that the stock market might not perform efficiently in developing countries and that it may not be feasible for all Africanmarkets to promote stock markets given the huge costs and the poor financial structures (Singh, 1999).  By Charles Amo Yartey and Charles Komla Adjasi

For the first time in history, the city of London will host an event that will showcase fashion which is inspired from Africa.  The event is known as Africa Fashion Week London ;( AFWL) 2011. It will be held between 5th and 6th August 2011 at the Gibson Hall, 13 Bishopsgate London EC2N and will make history as the biggest platform ever dedicated to African inspired fashion in Europe. Africa Fashion Week London will showcase UK and non UK based fashion designers.
The Revelation shows within AFWL will give new and emerging fashion designers are opportunity to showcase to the UK and international press, buyers and stockiest of high street and independent stores. AFWL is open to members of the public who can come see the latest collections and buy from the numerous exhibitors from within the fashion industry who will be parading their wares for sale.

Africa fashion week London is a project designed to create a loud and wide exposure and propagation of style, beauty and fashion from an African perspective, in European environment, thereby creating an atmosphere for cultural exchange; a fusion of western and African cultures, through fashion. The event will:

•feature designers from the whole of Africa
•Offer those in the fashion industry a free platform on which to showcase their brands
•Act as an opportunity for fashion designers to network among each other
•Create a portal for new designers to enter into the market and integrate into the international fashion system
•Highlight the African Textile Industry to a global audience thereby enhancing development
•Enable African countries to showcase their national fabrics through their designers, thereby enabling them to carve a niche in the global market
•Make African textiles visible to the rest of the world by creating an interactive platform that will involve the Media, Manufacturers, Designers, Retailers and Consumers.

Africa Fashion Week London will be attended by fashion designers, milliners, fabric manufacturers and printers, jewelers, beauty range manufacturers, leather goods designers and manufacturers, perfumers, photographers, make-up artists, models, media houses, buyers, local and international press and indeed anyone that has any link with fashion, especially with an African interest. The event is open to all members of the public.

Participants include new/emerging designers under the Revelation label and renowned fashion designers. Categories accepted include fashion design, textile prints, accessories, bridals, jewelers, foot wears, milliners, lingerie and swimwear.

The event will host over 2000 members of the public. Africa Fashion Week London is organized by Ronke Ademiluyi of Rukkies Concept and produced by Mahogany Productions. For General Enquiries please

contact: ronke@africafashionweeklondon.com.
For Media Enquiries please contact: kamari@africafashionweeklondon.com.

www.africafashionweeklondon.com.

OVER 60 DESIGNERS FROM ALL OVER THE CONTINENT OF AFRICA, TO DISPLAY THEIR ORIGINAL AFRICAN FABRICS AND DESIGNS IN LONDON IN AUGUST 2011 (PRESS RELEASE FEBRUARY 15TH 2011)

ALGIERS, Jan 27, 2011 (IPS) – The lifting of the state of emergency that has
been in force in Algeria for nearly 20 years has emerged as a rallying point for
groups united for democratic change.

The capital, Algiers, Oran, Tizi-Ouzou, and many other Algerian cities
experienced unrest throughout January, particularly after the popular uprising
in Tunisia forced the departure of President Zine Abidine Ben Ali on Jan. 14.

Violent demonstrations across the country have led to five deaths, more than 800
wounded and a thousand arrests; as well as extensive damage to property,
according to a report from the Interior Minister, Daho Ould Kablia.

In an interview with the online newspaper Algérie-Focus on Jan. 10, Ould Kablia
asserted that the riots had their roots in “pessimism and nihilism” of Algerian
youth.

“These are the reasons [for protest] that we know of: a lack of leisure
activities, interrupted schooling, a disinterested family environment, the
influences of the street and foreign media… They love the things that they can
only get by theft, by contraband, by trafficking drugs.”

But Ahcène Bouzidi, a student in Algiers, rejected the minister’s view.
“Algerian youth are deprived of everything. In addition to problems of
unemployment, housing and poor living conditions, they are forbidden to express
themselves, even peacefully,” he said. “The state of emergency, which has lasted
19 years, is invoked every time the interests of those in power are threatened.”

Amar Zaidi, avocat et militant des droits de l’Homme en Kabylie, agrees. “In the
virtual absence of a suitable space for expression, thousands of young Algerians
from all regions of the country – marginalised, poor and without other options -
have braved the enforced confinement which has lasted for 19 years to spill
their bitterness in the street,” he told IPS.

“It’s really terrible; at the moment when the country has 155 million dollars of
foreign reserves, the socioeconomic vise tightens on society: all the
ingredients are in place for a social explosion,” said Zaidi.

A meeting in Algiers on Jan. 21 brought together independent trade unions,
organisations for human rights, youth and student associations, neighbourhood
committees, citizen collectives, associations of the disappeared, intellectuals
and political parties. They agreed on the creation of a National Coordination
Committee for Democratic Change, whose immediate objective is the lifting of the
state of emergency and the opening up of the political and media arenas.
The coalition plans to organise a national march to push for the lifting of the
state of emergency, and has called for collective action from all social actors
to prevent Algeria descending into chaos and to push seriously and definitively
for democratic change.

By Kaci Racelma