Archive for Don Southerton

Korea Facing Secrets: Hierarchy in the Workplace

By Don Southerton, Editor

We’ve received some great feedback on the 3 Korea Facing hierarchy articles…. hope you enjoy, too.

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Don
This is really interesting stuff and is helping to give me a valuable insight into the working culture of my Korean colleagues.

Thank you.

 


…love your Korea Facing educational newsletters, it is really a great and easy way to get the basics so that you want to know more….


Great pieces!

 

Hi Don,

This information is very timely



Aloha Don,
Again, great points! I liked Part 3.

Like today’s organizations in America, Korean organizations are also presented with the internal challenge of bringing multi-generational employees together to create harmony and cohesiveness.  Individuals from each generation, such as traditionalist, baby boomer, generation X, or generation Y, bring divergent values, beliefs, attitudes, and expectations based on their pivotal experiences and events that portrait both personal and societal backgrounds.  These multi-generational terms may be not used exactly the same in Korea, but the challenges that Korean organizations face at the moment caused by the gap between different generations are virtually the same. 


Individuals of each generation group were born and grew up in the same time period which allows them to witness/participate in common historical events such as political and economic changes.  For this reason, individuals with shared experience have an easier time building bonds and working together in harmony rather than working with individuals from different generation groups.  The particular characteristics of each generation group deeply influence how employees think about many aspects of organizational behavior such as motivation, satisfaction, creativity, innovation, loyalty, commitment, and team work.  This accentuates the importance of understanding those distinctive characteristics of each generation group in order to engender successful outcomes while working with the multi-generational workforce in an organization. 


In my opinion, this type of issue should be dealt at the top management level rather than middle or lower level management for more satisfying outcomes.  As the middle managers noted, they are fearful of losing opportunities to get promoted or even losing jobs by provoking their superiors and subordinates in a negative way.   Expecting them to make a difference in their views and behaviors without getting full support from top management may have a very little bearing on acquiring successful outcomes.


Change is not easy, but feasible as long as transformative leadership is practiced by every single member of an organization from top to bottom.


Thank you for sharing and allowing me to contribute my two cents!


Jennie  


Chunghea  (Jennie) Oliver shares that she grew up during the wild days as South Korea sought to shed its image as the Hermit Kingdom and to engage the hyper-modern world of global business as an engine of technologic wonder and manufacturing excellence. She travelled to the Philippines and to America to study, work, and discover a life for herself.


Along the way, Chunghea has earned degrees in both business and education, which culminated in her successful defense of an interdisciplinary dissertation looking at the question of cultural competence and second language acquisition in order to complete the Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership offered by Argosy University/Hawaii. 

Korea Facing Newsletter Now Available

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Korea Facing: Success Secrets for Korean Global Business

PRLog (Press Release) – Sep 04, 2012 –
Denver, Colorado. Global Korean business consultant and CEO Don Southerton has announced that with the ever-growing number of people employed by Korean-based companies outside South Korea now more than ever a strategy is needed to succeed.

Likewise, if your firm provides services or products to a South Korean overseas subsidiary or operations a Korea-facing strategy will be beneficial and offer tactics to strengthen and maintain the relationship. Finally, if your company has significant business in Korea, but leadership and headquarters is located in the West, key management need suggestions on how best to deal with pressing issues and challenges that surface

Southerton notes “Korea Facing is the title not only for my latest book in progress, but also for related seminars, coaching, and workshops we are offering Fall 2012 and into 2013.” Topics include:

1. K-Lobization—The outreach of Korea’s unique management style and corporate culture across international markets, especially among subsidiaries and branch offices.

2. Ju Jae Won—Another name for the Korean expats assigned to a host country to support their overseas operations.

3. Hierarchy– rank and title within the mother and subsidiary organization and its impact on day-to-day business operations.

4. Culture Shock–the cross-cultural acclimatizing that occurs when an individual is assigned to a different geographic location.

5. Generations– South Korea’s age groups influence their business culture, so knowing the differences in the mindset and values of recent Korean generations is valuable.

6. Planning and Decision-making— In a hierarchical system orders come from senior management, plus their requests override other plans and thus schedules are often revised at short notice.

7. Protocols and Culture—Korean culture has norms that dictate social interactions—especially during initial introductions and meet & greets. Cultural differences also impact communications style, decision-making, discussions, and presentation style.

8. Expectations—Most often the issues that surface include managing expectations. Usually each side has legitimate demands. For example, Korean side needs answers and information ASAP, US/ western side procedures take days to compile and approve, often from number of sources.

About Bridging Culture Worldwide
When Fortune 500 companies, top Korean Groups, leading international law firms, and elite consultancies, such as Bain and Monitor, look for Korean-facing business strategy, coaching, and advice—they turn to Bridging Culture Worldwide and Don Southerton.

With over 35 years’ experience, Don Southerton is the definitive authority on Korean-facing global business–from automotive, golf, and QSR sectors to New Urbanism and Green technology. When problems and challenges surface in development, launch, or fulfillment, we provide sound solutions and comprehensive strategies.

New eBooks Share Korea History: Past and Recent

In case you missed,… we’ve recently released 2 new eBooks.

The first eBook provides a concise history of early Hyundai and Kia Motors car production. Models discussed range from Hyundai and Kia’s first production cars to those developed under 2000-1 restructuring.

A second eBook is our latest work on early US and Korea entrepreneurial ties and the accomplishments of Henry Collbran.

Both new eBooks are also now available through Amazon, Google, Kindle, and Apple.
Personally, I like the Apple iBook versions.
The Hyundai Kia eBook
http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/hyundai-kia-motors-early-years/id538393175?ls=1

The Henry Collbran early Korean entrepreneurialism eBook
http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/colorados-henry-collbran-roots/id549027445?mt=11

BTW  We have limited number complimentary PDF versions available upon request.
Request a Copy Link

New Book–Henry Collbran and the Roots of Early Korean Entrepreneurialism

For Immediate Release

August 4, 20102 Belamar /Denver, Colorado and Seoul, South Korea. Author Don Southerton has announced the release of a new publication Colorado’s Henry Collbran and the Roots of Early Korean Entrepreneurialism. The eBook explores the business efforts of British-born Henry Collbran who brought modern technology and innovation to the Korean peninsula.

Stepping back in time Southerton’s latest work tells the fascinating story of Henry Collbran who left Colorado in 1896 and traveled to Korea with hopes of a lucrative gold mining opportunity. Seeing little potential in mining, Collbran successfully constructed the nation’s first railway from Incheon to Seoul. Collbran then secured the franchise from the Korean monarch Kojong to build a modern electric streetcar system. Over the next several years, the entrepreneur added additional business ventures, including the first telephone system, a modern waterworks, a bank, a coin mint, and even a movie theater.

During his later years in Korea and with financial support of Colorado beer baron Adolph Coors and other investors, Collbran turned his effort to highly lucrative gold and copper mining operations before eventually retiring to a life of leisure in London.
Author Don Southerton points out, “Westerners like Collbran provided Korea with capital, technology, and know-how. These efforts contributed to the early development and economic growth of the region, which in turn provided the foundation for Korea’s impressive late twentieth century industrial accomplishments.”

The eBook will be available through Amazon, Google,Kindle, iBook, and most digital media services.

About the Author 

Don Southerton has held a life-long interest in Korea and the rich culture of the country. His previous books center on culture, entrepreneurialism, and early U.S.-Korean business ventures. Southerton also extensively writes and comments on modern Korean business culture and its impact on global organizations. His firm, Bridging Culture Worldwide, provides consulting, training, and strategy on Korea-facing global business.

Author Don Southerton Releases New Publication on Hyundai and Kia Motors

For Immediate Release

Belmar  Lakewood, Colorado June 21, 2012 Author Don Southerton has announced the release of a new publication Hyundai and Kia Motors: The Early Years and Product Development. The eBook provides deep insights into the rise of the South Korean car industry. Southerton’s latest writing weaves  first-hand accounts of the challenges experienced by Korean management during the first years of Korean car production with the development of specific models,  such as Kia’s Brisa, Pride, Sephia, Sportage and Rio plus Hyundai’s Pony, Excel, and Santa Fe

Southerton notes, “Today we are witnessing a remarkable transformation in Hyundai and Kia Motors’ brand image and sales are at record pace. This accomplishment was decades in the making. Hyundai and Kia Motors: The Early Years and Product Development shares the story behind this success.”

The eBook will be available through Amazon, Kindle, iBook, and most digital media services.

Apple link–http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/hyundai-kia-motors-early-years/id538393175?ls=1

About the Author
Don Southerton has held a life-long interest in Korea and the rich culture of the country. His previous books center on culture, entrepreneurialism, and early U.S.-Korean business ventures. Southerton also extensively writes and comments on modern Korean business culture and its impact on global organizations. His firm, Bridging Culture Worldwide, provides consulting, training, and strategy on Korea-facing global business.

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Special Korea Business Event–World Trade Center San Diego

By Don Southerton, Editor
I’ll be guest speaker on Wednesday May 9, 2012 at the World Trade Center San Diego Asia Desk Business Series: Korea. Also speaking at the event will be Moonsung Kang, Ph.D, from Korea University’s Division of International Studies.

I’ll be sharing insights into how to benefit from the U.S–Korean Free Trade Agreement, including finding the right Korean partner, structuring your market entry strategy, and ways to avoid common pitfalls.

For more information, see http://www.wtcsd.org/events/wtcsd-calendar?eventId=471806&EventViewMode=EventDetails

About Don Southerton

When Fortune 500 companies, top Korean Groups, leading international law firms, and elite consultancies, such as Bain and Monitor, look for Korean-facing business strategy, coaching, and advice—they turn to Bridging Culture Worldwide and Don Southerton. With over 35 years’ experience, Don Southerton is the definitive authority on Korean-facing global business–from automotive, golf, and QSR sectors to New Urbanism and Green technology. When problems and challenges surface in development, launch, or fulfillment, we provide sound solutions and comprehensive strategies.

Initial Consultation
Dsoutherton@ bridgingculture.com
+1-310-866-3777

New Urbanism: Smart Growth?

By Don Southerton, Editor

New Urbanism: Smart, Sustainable Growth — Fantasy Vs. Reality

Guest Post By Don Southerton

As mentioned in a previous Forbes guest article, I live in Belmar, a new urbanism community in Colorado. With today’s global and often virtual workplace, about half my day centers on Korea. Between trips to Seoul and being highly involved in Korea-facing business I’ve long observed Korean trends toward quality of living, green and sustainability. For example, trendy Korean Starbucks asks patrons to separate their trash from hot liquids—not trashing unused coffee with the paper waste—soggy paper is hard to re-cycle.

I also support Korean manufacturers like Hyundai and Kia Motors. I see them striving to produce the next generation of green and sustainable cars: Outside the hybrids, eCars, and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV), the materials now used in the assembly of the vehicles are increasingly eco-friendly along with a bold program for the recycling of obsolete cars and trucks.

On a broader scale, I’ve been involved in new urban communities like South Korea’s Songdo International Business District—envisioned as a “city of the future” and intended to meet strict environmental building standards amid providing world-class amenities.

My days are also impacted by life in Belmar. The vision of Continuum Partners LLC., a Denver-based real estate development company, for Belmar was born from the belief that there is a connection between long-term, sustained property value, high-quality urban design, and the principles of smart-growth. At its core Belmar strives to offer a balance between a Live, Work, and Play lifestyle.

Between my Korea experiences with projects like Songdo IBD and those in America like Belmar, I see new urban communities—looking to link quality of living and sustainability—facing a number of challenges. Beyond huge development costs, the vision for these communities not only centers on providing a high quality of living amid green tech rooftop solar arrays and LEED-certified buildings that pass US energy-efficiency standards, but for the developers and businesses financial considerations matter, too.

With groundbreaking in October 2002 and most of the construction completed by 2008, Belmar developer Continuum CEO Mark Falcone has sought to maintain a balance between promised deliverables to the public and local governing bodies, and fiscal realities. As Falcone notes, “The key factor which allowed us to manage through all the changing dynamics of the market was the zoning and a highly responsive City [Lakewood, Colorado]. Those factors gave us the flexibility to respond to evolving market realities as they emerged without altering the essential character of the place.”

When questioned on how Belmar adapted, the Denver developer further explained: “As the economy eroded we had to shift to less ambitious development phases. We focused on heavily pre-leased developments and sacrificed density to keep things moving. We also sold land directly to users or other builders. A land sale to Target in early 2010 and KB Home in early 2011, for example.”

That said, I’m drawn to a question—Have high profile new urbanism communities like Belmar met their early vision and expectations? Several key areas deserve reviewing. They include:

Green—Plan to reality. Beyond core values of ecological sustainability, Belmar relied partially on a $200 million green bond for funding the development. (Belmar only ended up using only $8 million of the bond allocation.) Still, Belmar had an incentive to ensure its renewable energy program was implemented and green building practices were followed. Two key programs stand out in Belmar—Solar and LEEDs.  According to Belmar officials, the roof top solar farm and sustainability gets the most attention—renewable energy being a popular topic.
That said, the developers are perhaps prouder of their LEED’s initiative. In 2002-2003, with construction underway for one of America’s first LEED Silver Certification buildings, Belmar gained national attention. In particular, Belmar was unique since it was a mixed-use structure. Sitting in a conference room on the second floor of the three-story LEED building, I found the heat/AC vents of interest—their floor location similar to a water drain, but pushing out warm air on a chilly Denver morning.

Over the next few years of new construction, retailer Target exceeded expectations and met Silver LEEDs standards. Along with the Whole Foods building and interior, in all, four of Belmar’s structures are LEEDs certified.

Housing—Plan to reality. Belmar apartments are currently divided into two groups. The first grouping are those more near the core of the project and spread out into about seven buildings. Currently, these units are over 95% occupied. A 300 unit building to the south of the project is approximately 97% occupied. Belmar upscale condominium units are 100% sold.

Commercial Leasing—Plan to reality As of the end of October 2011, Belmar office space is 96.4 % occupied and 100% leased. The key tenant is The Integer Group, one of the world’s largest promotional, retail, and shopper marketing agencies, and a member of Omnicom Group Inc. Their Belmar offices alone employ over 500 people.

Retail—Plan to reality. As of the end of October 2011, Belmar retail space was 91% occupied and 92.3% leased. Key tenants include: Target, Whole Foods, Best Buy, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Nordstrom Rack, along with a mix of national and local stores, shops, and services. In particular, the Ohio Center for Broadcasting, Denver and Paul Mitchell, the School adds to the community’s diverse appeal.

Services, Amenities and Community events—Plan to reality. Many in the Denver area find Belmar’s restaurants (PF Chang’s, Ted’s, The Rock, Baker Street) trendy, with shopping and parking convenient. The ice skating rink is a seasonal highlight. (I’m fond of the “skating with Santa” holiday promotion on Saturdays leading up to Christmas.) Furthermore, Summer Sundays also see a thriving Farmer’s Market, and a flourishing local art scene. I have also heard there is interest among locals for a community garden. Count me in on the latter.

Overall, Belmar has made good on its promises and pledges. Still, sustaining the vision over time, like building a sustainable community, will require the embrace and support of local residents, merchants, commercial tenants, and consumers. I see the local art scene and plans for the community garden as very encouraging.  Moreover, it seems that visitors to Belmar appreciate the community’s new urbanism focus and in some cases envy a life style where one can live and walk to work.

Meanwhile, I’ll continue to share my impressions of Korea, Songdo, and Belmar—and wait for the day when in America I will not have to dump my excess coffee in with the recyclables or maybe take a spin around the local community in a EV.

Don Southerton is a consultant, marketing strategist, and researcher for top Korean-based corporations with global business, along with major western firms that have ventures in Korea and Asia Pacific.


Southerton frequently comments in the media on topics including the Korean car market, Green technology, and global business.

Belmar Solar Array Fact Sheet

The Belmar Solar Array began operating in late summer 2008.

The Belmar Solar Array consists of approximately 8,370 panels and is 125,000 square feet in area.

The Belmar Solar Array is a 1.75 mega watt system generating approximately 2.3 million kilowatt hours of electrical energy per year.

The Solar Array power lights in the three structured parking garages on which the panels are mounted. (Technically, the power generated by the solar arrays is routed back to the local XCEL Energy grid, and XCEL sells power back to the Belmar project at a reduced rate.)

Source: Belmar

Cisco, Songdo, and Smart Communities

By Don Southerton, Editor

Cisco has partnered with Sondgo, a city of the future on the west coast of South Korea. Together they share a vision for smart communities.  This video series highlights that vision.



For a history of Songdo check out
Chemulpo to Songdo IBD.

Forbes–New Urbanism Songdo to Belmar

By Don Southerton, Songdo IBD CityTalk Editor,

My article in Forbes…  In a follow-up article,  I plan to look at expectations and reality, plus why Green cars have a role in new urbanism.

New Urbanism: Comparing Songdo, South Korea to Belmar, USA

Songdo, South Korea Master Plan
Guest Post By Don Southerton
I’m a baby boomer. I grew up in a small town of 6,000 in northeastern Pennsylvania—a county seat surrounded by dairy farms. We walked to the elementary school, the neighborhood store for a loaf of bread and maybe a soda, and weekly shopping trips downtown–3 blocks from home. Most backyards displayed gardens with long rows of vegetables, some yards cultivated grape vines, raspberry bushes, or an apple tree. Seasonally, we ate tomatoes, cucumbers and green beans in the summer, then squash, sweet corn, and apples in the fall. Fresh eggs and milk came from local producers. People canned goods for the winter, and most home menus followed the seasons. Long before sustainability, environmentalism, and new urbanism, small town America was rooted in comparable notions.
…Jump forward a few decades; I now live in Belmar, a new urbanism community on the outskirts of Denver, Colorado. New urbanism represents a design movement that promotes walkable neighborhoods where residents live, work, dine, and shop. The communities embrace energy-efficient buildings, smart growth, transit-oriented development, sustainability, and quality of living.
…For Belmar, the developers converted a former 1960s era dying mall into a mixed-use community of 23 city blocks. The community incorporates LEED’s green standards, along with solar farms on the roofs of parking structures, and outdoor street lighting that conforms to the International Dark-Sky Association and limits light pollution. Retail stores like Belmar’s Target were built to meet LEED certification, while corporations including The Integer Group, an international advertising agency, embrace the community’s sustainability and green policies.
What perhaps is most interesting is that my desire to live in Belmar was highly influenced by another high profile new urbanism project—this one on the western coast of South Korea—Songdo International Business District (IBD), a joint venture of New York-based real estate developer Gale International and the engineering and construction arm of South Korea’s steel producer Pohang Iron and Steel Company (POSCO). The urban development is a master planned mixed-use community that set out and conform to rigid international standards for design, sustainability, and, most importantly, an unparalleled quality of life.
…A model for new urbanism, the developer’s vision for Songdo IBD went beyond Green, sustainability, and quality of life with western-style amenities to attract international visitors, residents, and business firms to South Korea. This in turn would pave the way for Koreans to interact more closely with foreigners, and create good jobs for the Korean people.
In both cases the developers set out to transform and reshape communities. For Songdo IBD, the city-size project is built upon reclaimed land and mudflats. For Belmar, it was a greyfield transformation of an aged and dated mall. In both cases, we find extensive master planning, large scale construction, mixed-use development, cultural amenities, and a pedestrian and transit oriented lifestyle with less dependency on automobiles—although I’d like to see the Belmar add some clean energy LPG or electric recharging stations.
….That said, living in Belmar my task at hand is now to look deeper into how closely the developers’ goals and visions for the respective U.S and Korean communities manifests over time. I plan to share my cultural research in future writings. Meanwhile, frequent visits to South Korea and Songdo IBD, along with daily strolls through Belmar will provide first hand impressions of 21st century new urbanism—amid memories on my youth growing up in small town America.
Don Southerton is a consultant, marketing strategist, and researcher for top Korean-based corporations with global business, along with major western firms that have ventures in Korea and Asia Pacific.
Southerton frequently comments in the media on topics including the Korean car market, Green technology, and global business. His work, Chemulpo to Songdo IBD, Korea’s International Gateway was released in August 2009 at the gala opening of the Songdo IBD and the Incheon Global Fair.