Leading Smart Transformation

In the turbulence of recent times, how we run corporations has been examined from every angle. Corporations have proved adept at change; governments have stuck to established rules. The challenge is to put in place machinery to provide services in a way that resists the growth of bureaucracy. The need for SMART government could not be starker.

Andrew Kakabadse is Professor of International Management Development, Doughty Centre, Cranfield University's School of Management in the UK. Andrew has held and also holds visiting appointments at the Centre for Creative Leadership and Thunderbird, the Garvin School of International Management, USA; at the University of Ulster, UK; and at Macquarie Graduate School of Management, Australia. He has consulted and lectured in every region of the world. His bestselling books include Leading the Board and Rice-Wine With the Minister.

Mohamed Omar Abdulla joined the Department of Economic Development (DED) as Undersecretary in March 2007. Before joining DED, he was the Director General of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry for 10 years. His areas of specialization include law, banking and economic development. Mr. Abdulla is a board member of several government owned organizations.

Rabih Abouchakra is the Managing Director of the Office of Strategic Affairs, at the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court. Previously, he was a Vice President and Partner of Booz & Company heading the "Organization and Strategy" practice in the Middle East and focusing on policy formulation and large-scale transformation. Prior to that Mr. Abouchakra worked for Bain & Company in Canada and the UK. He holds an MBA from INSEAD and a Master of Telecommunication Engineering from McGill University.

Dr Ali Qassim Jawad is a senior advisor to governments on strategy, organizational reform and leadership. He worked with Booz Allen & Hamilton on several projects and has led number of practice-based and policy-oriented research projects with Yale University, Oxford University, and INSEAD. Dr. Jawad is a Visiting Scholar at Yale University.