The service Body of IBM begins implementation of socially important projects in Russia

The visit of a command of IBM to Kazan is the first visit of the Service body of IBM to Russia. All participants of group underwent multi-stage selection and special training in IBM taking into account experience of implementation of similar projects in other countries. Operation of the Service body of IBM in Russia is a part of a global initiative of IBM within which since the middle of 2008 51 missions of the Service Body of IBM helped public organizations with 47 countries of the world, including India, China, Brazil, Romania, etc.

One of priority tasks of National Museum of the Republic of Tatarstan is expansion of museum audience which could get acquainted with the rich archaeological, ethnographic, culturological, historical and literary heritage of the people of the Volga region and Cisural area. The management of National Museum of the Republic of Tatarstan, having got acquainted with an initiative of IBM, put forward a problem of increase in attendance of the museum as the project idea. Four participants of the service body of IBM – Patty Rowell, the head of internal communications, the USA, Emily Hall, the head on providing with material resources, Australia, Sujata Mukerjee, the head of service division, India, and Mitchell Linnik (Mitchell Linnick), the adviser, the USA work on the project. The employee group of IBM will develop three years' marketing strategy of the museum, including recommendations which will help the museum to expand the international audience and to attract in the museum of guests of the World Universiade 2013. The command of the Service body will also acquaint the staff of the museum with stages and implementation process of marketing strategy.

By estimates of IBM, implementation of the action program developed by the Service body will allow the museum to increase the number of visitors up to 350 thousand people in 2011, up to 500 thousand people in 2012 and up to 650 thousand people in 2013.

One of the main tasks of development facing Kazan Federal University is involvement of gifted entrants. The management of the University, having emphasized the high level of complexity and priority of this task, delivered development of the program for involvement of talented graduates of schools the purpose of operation of the service body of IBM. Steven Lyons, the head of service division, the USA, Manoj Agarwal, the business consultant, India, Olga Mattos, the head of service projects, Uruguay, Amit Anand, the developer, India, Tsuoshi Okawa, the head of service division, Japan take part in the program. Participants of the Service body of IBM will develop recommendations about increase in efficiency of the existing strategy of KFU in involvement of talented entrants and recommendations will help the staff of the university to include in the program of development of social and educational network of the university. During the work on the project the command of IBM gets necessary organizational and methodical support from administration of the university.

"With finding of the status of university of federal importance by the Kazan university for which among others the task actively is set to promote achievement of qualitatively new level of the general education, process of identification of the most gifted school students in scales of all Volga Federal District for the purpose of preparation of their receipt in Kazan Federal University became for us priority activity, - Ilshat Gafurov, the rector of Kazan Federal University told. – And in this regard the international experience of IBM which staff will help us with creation of the social and educational network expected future entrants of the university is very important and interesting to us".

For the staff of IBM participation in the program is the new experience submerging them in the unfamiliar cultural and social environment. In the modern world the business leader should have such qualities as understanding and respect of social values, knowledge of the social, educational and environmental challenges defining business development in 21 centuries; capability work and perform leadership in multicultural commands; knowledge of global standards of responsible business and following to these standards. Moreover, results of the new research IBM Global Chief Human Resource Officer Study 2010 show that success of the company is provided by the HR policy staking on development of "creative leadership", flexibility and efficiency of employees and exchange of experience and knowledge through collective work between different employee groups worldwide. The program of the Service Body of IBM helps to create these qualities and skills.

Work on projects will last from October 4 to October 29, 2010. On October 29 in Kazan the presentation of results of projects, including the presentations of operation of the Service body of IBM will take place.

About the Service body of IBM

The service Body of IBM which is often called "the corporate version of the Body of the World", - the global initiative of IBM created in response to calls which face business at the beginning of the 21st century - the dynamic markets, multi-national commands, cultural diversification, intersection of different business functions, high standards of corporate social liability. Creation of the Service Body of IBM is caused by the aspiration of the company to make the contribution to the solution of social, economic and environmental problems in the countries with the growing economy.

Since the declaration of this initiative in July, 2008 more than 500 employees of IBM as a part of 51 mulnatsionatsionalny commands took part in project implementation in 47 countries of the world, including China, Brazil, India, Poland and other countries. Clients of projects are business of association, non-profit organizations, small businesses, the educational organizations and public institutions. The subject of projects is on intersection of business, technologies and societies.

Work on each separate project takes about 6 months. Preparatory work over the project takes three months. Then project teams come out to places on a 4 weeks task. The work on the project is completed after return of participants to the countries by summing up and preparation of the final report.