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Stories from ordinary people achieving extraordinary things
The digital network revolution and the reality of globalisation are creating a far deeper integration of technology, business and society than the world has ever seen.
This brings with it new possibilities and new responsibilities. As corporations we need to step up to help solve national issues and support important community groups. As individuals, we need to re-evaluate how we can contribute.
For IBM in Australia, this means: • Tackling skills shortages with education programs.
• Lending our expertise to support local communities.
• Embedding sustainability into our industries with energy efficient IT.
It also means caring for our own employees and helping them achieve their best both professionally and personally.
Ultimately, it is people who make organisations live up to their own standards. As the stories in this booklet show, IBM is fortunate enough to employ some extremely caring, courageous and community-minded individuals.
Glen BorehamGeneral ManagerIBM Australia and New Zealand
They represent thousands of IBMers who last year poured their time, skills and energies into making a difference to the world.
Australia is currently enjoying a resources
‘boom’, however, it’s unlikely that this will
deliver the sustainable economic growth we
need to maintain our quality of life –
but science will.
We need to create a science ‘boom’ that will
ensure a pipeline of talent for decades to
come. This is why IBM is bringing TryScience
to Australian schools, to spark the interest of
future generations.
Leah Montgomery:
Sparking interest in science
The Western English Language School
(WELS) in Braybrook, Victoria, which teaches
English and cultural understanding to refugee
and migrant children from over 50 different
countries, is using the TryScience program.
Run by IBM volunteers, the program involves
students in innovative science experiments
from IBM’s TryScience website (www.tryscience.org).
For many it’s their first experience of practical
science and the
lessons have created wonder and excitement.
In addition to the volunteers, WELS has
taken advantage of IBM’s Community Grants
program, receiving six laptops to support
its technology programs.
Sustainability Victoria had a vision –
they wanted to create a model,
energy-efficient office.
“When we spoke to IBM, they got the idea
straight away,” explains Sustainability Victoria
CEO, Geoff Mabbett.
Patrick Lee:
Designing a green data centre
The team questioned using a single server
for each application, whether servers need
to run full bore 24 hours a day, and the
practice of keeping the server room at
20 degrees Celsius.
The result: data centre energy use,
accounting for over half the total office
power bill, fell by over 60%.
Sustainability Victoria’s new office now
has a five-star Australian Business
Greenhouse rating and a six-star data
centre energy rating.
Meanwhile, IBM continues to invest
US$1 billion every year to develop green
technologies that will allow companies to
increase computing power, without
expanding their carbon footprint.
Sangeetha Jaganathan:
Putting art centre stageIn 2007, Queensland Ballet General Manager,
Judith Anderson, was in a Catch 22 situation.
She knew they weren’t using IT effectively, but
“couldn’t afford an IT specialist.”
Enter stage left, Senior IT Consultant –
Sangeetha Jaganathan – a volunteer from IBM’s
On Demand Community (ODC).
The ODC channels IBM’s volunteers into
disadvantaged communities. Over four years,
3,000 IBMers have donated 207,000 hours of
volunteer service. It also matches employees’
schedules, locations and skills with
appropriate community projects.
Sangeetha, for example, is an expert in
applications development but had never
audited an IT system. With ODC’s technology
planning tools she had the confidence to help.
The audit revealed some major issues, with
staff IT training a priority. Again, the ODC
came to the rescue with a $1,600 grant for
IT training.
Today, Queensland Ballet is making IT work
behind the scenes and creating magic for
the people of Queensland.
Melanie Youngson:
Building IT skills for the futureDespite advances in gender equality, women
only make up a fifth of Australia’s IT
professionals. With a shortage of talent and
a declining workforce, it’s a situation that
can’t continue.
IBM’s EX.I.T.E. (Exploring Interests in
Technology and Engineering) camps are
inspiring high school girls to make a
difference through science and technology.
In 2000, Melanie Youngson was a typical
smart year 10 young woman, but she’d never
considered a career in IT. EX.I.T.E. changed
all that. It gave Melanie a feel for the career
opportunities available and the confidence to
think she might be a success.
Two years later, Melanie saw an IT course
that included an internship at IBM. She
jumped at the chance to enter the profession and
is now working with IBM as an Associate
IT Specialist.
Melanie now volunteers her time in EX.I.T.E.
camps – encouraging the next generation of
smart young women to support Australia’s
IT future.
Peter Farrell:
Supporting our courageous colleaguesAt 60, Peter Farrell has a wonderful wife, a
fulfilling job at IBM and friendly, supportive
colleagues. He is also a quadriplegic.
Peter was involved in a car accident in 2005
that broke his neck, and yet, 18 months after
his accident, Peter was back working about
40 hours a week.
Of course his work environment needed a few
modifications. IBM built him a dedicated work
console including a mouth-operated mouse.
This, together with voice recognition software,
gives Peter full use of his laptop.
IBM paid Peter’s salary in full for the 11 months
whilst he was in intensive care and then funded
a graduated return to work program, managed
closely by the Global Well-being Services team.
But it’s also down to Peter’s determination and
inner strength. Peter Farrell is living proof that
happiness is a choice. IBM is lucky to have him.
Corporate responsibility in the 21st century
For every one of us, the digital network revolution and
global integration make new forms of work, innovation
and personal fulfillment possible.
For IBM, these historic and disruptive shifts are
creating a new social and economic relationship
among individuals, organisations and civil society.
A relationship that creates new responsibilities for
corporations in the 21st century.
Corporate responsibility in the 21st century
Never before have corporations carried so much
of the responsibility for solving the world’s issues. And
yet we accept that responsibility gladly because we
believe true corporate citizenship confers a
triple benefit:
Corporate responsibility in the 21st century
For IBMers, we enable them to acquire new skills
by working collaboratively and seamlessly across borders,
improve the communities where their
children, families and neighbours live, and take
personal control of their own destinies.For communities and society at large, we bring our
talent and technology to bear on tackling large,
difficult societal problems - like skills shortages
and national competitiveness.
For IBM, we establish a stronger brand with longer-
lasting shareholder value and become more attractive
as a responsible company to clients, investors and
prospective employees.
Corporate responsibility in the 21st century
The criteria that determine how we fulfil these
responsibilities are the same ones that shape
IBM’s business actions and relationships, the
values of IBMers:• Dedication to every client’s success.
• Innovation that matters – for our company and for
the world.
• Trust and personal responsibility in all relationships.