Africa is in the process of resolving a scarcity of talent and restricted data portability. As far back as November 2010 Mobility Magazine predicted that market expansion would combine with skill shortages to stimulate data mobility across the continent. It expected that the main driver would be indigenous talent returning home, with sophisticated expectations for western-style communication technology.
On January 28 2013 Business Day looked back at Multi-Choice’s success with indigenizing decentralized management teams. It had secured its future by re-importing local talent lost to the diaspora, in order to meet the twin imperatives of maintaining ethnicity while adapting to local culture. Today Multi-Choice management is almost entirely local, and better tuned-in to the minds of customers.
Getting top native talent back into Africa is not easy. While African expatriates accustomed to London and New York may tolerate a South African soft landing, it’s another matter convincing them to touch down in what they may regard as rough areas. Simultaneously many western expatriates are moving on to other pastures to avoid the issue of increasing demands for ethnic quotas.
Multinationals find themselves in chicken and egg situations in which a critical mass of indigenous managers is needed to spearhead the culture and opportunities the returning diaspora expects. Longevity of new hires is low as head hunters tempt them elsewhere. Ring-fencing staff with money does not always sit well with other priorities. Time is needed to develop raw talent to full potential.
The new generation of African managers brings fresh expectations with it. This includes being able to base their families in world-class cities and only moving into rural areas during working weeks. Whether talent is chasing multinationals or the other way around, ICT technology remains the key to success.
Implementing Pan-African ICT policy is complex in a culture of diverse business hours, religions, cultures and political stand-offs between countries. There are 2000 different dialects and over 50 nations, some of which have rigid cultural and business norms.
Mobility in the Enterprise is the key to igniting the talent in the diaspora, but needs secure communication channels and data integrity to make this happen. Without these, the challenge of rolling out business initiatives in remote, relatively inaccessible areas will be more difficult, and the African Renaissance may take a little longer to flower. Vodafone is at the heart of the solution.
REFERENCES
http://www.worldwideerc.org/Resources/MOBILITYarticles/Pages/1110-Fender.aspx
http://www.africaatwork.co.za/?p=479
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