Employer Branding: Strategy & Perennial Business Philosophy

CMC EB 1

Text © CM Cordeiro, Sweden 2015

The professional sphere increasingly views talent as a primary competitive enabler of a business. As more companies expand globally and shift their focus to high-growth regions, they face a growing skills and talent gaps for a variety of reasons [1]. People, are increasingly seen as a source of competitive advantage, where without the appropriate talent pool, the business might just not be a success [2,3].

Many employers therefore adopt various strategies to maintain a healthy talent pool. One such strategy, employer branding or EB, is a critical tool for talent acquisition, development and retention [4-7] in which companies begin first to focus on building an employer brand. Continue reading ”Employer Branding: Strategy & Perennial Business Philosophy”

Systemic functional linguistics (SFL) in All Quadrants All Levels (AQAL) model

Cheryl Marie Cordeiro SFL AQAL 2015

Figure 1. A representation of Halliday’s (1994) systemic functional linguistics as a language system in Wilber’s (2006) All Quadrant All Levels (AQAL) model. This SFL AQAL model places the metafunctions of SFL into the eight primordial perspectives of the eight methodologies, rendering a sixteen dialogic perspective of language theory and structure situated in a four-quadrant model.
Text & Photo © JE Nilsson, CM Cordeiro, Sweden 2015

I love modeling. That is, fitting pieces of concepts that build a collage of sorts with neat corners. I have been contemplating if I could fit Halliday’s systemic functional linguistics (SFL) as a language system into Wilber’s All Quadrant All Levels (AQAL) model. Models derived from general theories are not always practical, but as Hjemslev (1970:105) argues of creating a general theory of linguistic structure:

”we must start with some definition of language of the kind we have been considering, because the establishment of such a theory is not simply, or even principally, a matter of experience, but rather of calculation. Experience is no adequate basis for a theory of linguistic structure: it would be impossible to go through all existing linguistic texts, and, moreover, it would be futile, since the theory must be valid not only for the texts that have been written or spoken up to now, but also for those that will be written or spoken in the future. Continue reading ”Systemic functional linguistics (SFL) in All Quadrants All Levels (AQAL) model”

Reconnaissant Renaissance

Cheryl Marie Cordeiro, Stockholms stadsbibliotek

At the rotunda of the Stockholm Public Library, Sweden
Text & Photo © JE Nilsson, CM Cordeiro, Sweden 2015

The advancements made in the field of information communication technologies (ICTs) in the past few decades that has redefined our relationship towards information, has in the same process redefined the status and role of the city library in our midst. With all things quick and digital, why even bother visiting a concrete building that houses dusty shelves of well worn books?

I had the opportunity to visit the visually striking Stockholm Public Library. With its tall bordered entrance modeled after the entrance of an Egyptian tomb that promises (and delivers) the fiery treasures of knowledge as you ascend the stairs to Enlightenment, the architecture of the building, designed by Erik Gunnar Asplund, contains in itself ideas and symbolisms from various cultures spanning the globe. Continue reading ”Reconnaissant Renaissance”

The metafunctions of semiotics, bridging natural and social sciences

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In the science of quantum living, the possession of an authentic piece of historic artefact in effect traps a piece of history (what is past) in the present with you (generic) where you are always prisoner. These Spanish pieces of eight from 1752, materially share spacetime with these pineapple tarts made in the last days of 2014. And while one may be trapped forever in the present, a kindness gesture to the future self can be laid, shown here by the making of these pineapple tarts. In the making of these tarts, the past self manages to put in place some nice delicacies for the consumption of the future self. In this, integrity / authenticity of the artefact matters. If the coins were not of the time period, if short-cuts were taken to make those tarts or lousy ingredients used, then what worth is the conversation? Continue reading ”The metafunctions of semiotics, bridging natural and social sciences”

Uppsala, Sweden

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Domkyrkan, Uppsala, Sweden.
Text & Photo © JE Nilsson, CM Cordeiro, Sweden 2014

$1: Uppsala is a beautiful city isn’t it? It’s the first time that I’m here. I’ve always heard about it being a university-city, because of its history and how it’s really the true capital of Sweden, housing the first of the Swedish universities, where Roman Catholicism had a role to play in it being so educationally forward.

$2: Oh yes. Uppsala has so much history to it. You can see it everywhere today, from the streets to the walls of the buildings, down by the river too, there are just so many beautiful buildings lining the riverside, all from hundreds of years ago. < pause > And yes it’s absolutely beautiful here. So beautiful!

With the meeting of so many people at the conference, it is usual that there are many more visitors to the city of Uppsala than residents participating at the event. Continue reading ”Uppsala, Sweden”

The Blue Train – Sweden’s business commuters choice

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At the restaurant and bar on west Sweden’s Blå Tåget that commutes between Gothenburg and Uppsala.
Text & Photo © JE Nilsson, CM Cordeiro, Sweden 2014

My first observation in finding my aisle seat on west Sweden’s Blå Tåget was that the passenger with the window seat could come and go without much bother to the one seated along the aisle. Like large parlour armchairs, the seats on the train are generous in depth and width.

The Blue Train opened in December of 2011, as a comfortable, efficient way to travel between the cities of Gothenburg and Uppsala. The interiors of the vintage train were refurbished in deep velvet blue upholstery set against the original dark wood of the cabins in the style of the 1960s. Modern touches were added to the cabins to accommodate free wi-fi onboard. And in each carriage, bottled sparkling water placed with a wicker basket of fruit and chocolate stands on a coffee table next to the cabinet for coats. Continue reading ”The Blue Train – Sweden’s business commuters choice”

Sustainable luxury in Singapore 2014

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View from the Marina Boulevard paseo, Singapore.
Text & Photo © JE Nilsson, CM Cordeiro, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore 2014

If there was a favourite place to withdraw when in Singapore, it would for the moment be the expansive Marina Bay area overlooking the waters, marked by an urban space that lacks a crowd during office hours. The slowly undulating movements of the river water taxis navigating the bay lends a different rhythm to the adrenaline rush of the skyscrapers. This difference in bio-rhythms is a contrast in symbiotic urban city living that I find interesting.

In asking for directions to get from Raffles Place (steps away from Collyer Quay) to Marina Bay Sands (MBS), I was advised by more than one person encountered, to take a taxi. I smiled and nodded and proceeded to find my way on foot, to the Marina Boulevard paseo. Continue reading ”Sustainable luxury in Singapore 2014”

PS Café at Ann Siang Hill, Singapore. Knowledge intensive service industry with a cherry on top.

Cheryl Marie Cordeiro 08112014a

A CIBS ”selfie of the day” at Amoy Street, Singapore.
Text & Photo © P Ström, JE Nilsson, CM Cordeiro 2014

I recently found myself navigating a number of historical streets in and around the central business district of Singapore. If this somehow is an epigenetic memory or not, I don’t know, but I do find myself very much at home around here, it being the very place in Singapore as to where I want to bring my friends.

In Singapore together for this study visit were colleagues from the Centre for International Business Studies (CIBS) of the School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Continue reading ”PS Café at Ann Siang Hill, Singapore. Knowledge intensive service industry with a cherry on top.”

Across the outdoor patio seating of Ristorante Da Valentino in Singapore, 2014

Cheryl Marie Cordeiro

Visiting Valentino’s in Singapore have by and by become a meeting with the Valtulina family. It is pleasant beyond description to be welcomed by familiar faces and even better having your own guests treated as if you were just a big family having waited much too long to finally see each other again.
Text & Photo © JE Nilsson, CM Cordeiro 2014

Across the outdoor patio seating of Ristorante Da Valentino in Singapore is a small spice garden. The restaurant is the venture of the Valtulina family. A place I have over time come to regard as a little home away from home, and a place I am always happy to revisit as occasions occur.

Regarding the little garden. We had actually talked ourselves into this little gem mainly in the care of Gianpiero Valtulina, or Papa Gianni, by showing a genuine interest. And while excusing himself for ”its many shortcomings”, he showed us around, showed us what were to be and complained – as all true farmers at heart – about the soil, the weather, the sun, the rain and the climate in general, with a smile. Continue reading ”Across the outdoor patio seating of Ristorante Da Valentino in Singapore, 2014”