Communication and Technology

Victoria University, Wellington

Thank you for inviting me to speak to you this afternoon at the closing of your 1997 WISE conference on communication and technology.

I sat down to write this speech armed with an array of information

on the opportunities technology is opening up for self employed women
and the importance of communication and awareness of new developments in a rapidly changing business world.
But I became uncomfortably aware it all sounded a bit like I was teaching dolphins how to swim.

You have just spent the weekend listening and talking to a formidable group of professionals and experts in communications and technology.

As I looked through your conference programme, the words Web and Internet caught my eye several times. So I decided to investigate.... I went surfing.

I'm reasonably new to the world of the Internet, so I decided it was logical to do a net search for women and business. It was a little overwhelming to find I had 1,065,573 options to sift through.

And to my bemusement one of the first things that turned up on my screen was Xena - Warrior Princess. It seems there is no limit to what that character does!

The next was a quote from Murial Rukeyser - ``I am in the world to change the world''

Now that is gender neutral, but was obviously appropriated be a very wise woman.

I looked through dozens of women's business networks, read advice for setting up a business and tips for businesswomen at home.

I also learned that a Wise woman is not just a member of your organisation, but could also belong to an educational programme called ``Women in Science and Engineering'' at the University of Stony Brook in New York, or belong to an organisation for Women's Issues and Social Empowerment'' in Australia.

I read that a Wise woman buildeth her house - that from Proverbs - while Hamilton Girls High School informed me that a Wise woman shapes her own destiny.

An hour later I picked up a Wall Street Journal article titled ``A Tool for Women, a Plaything for Men''. My attention having been immediately seized, I then discovered that Wise women use computers, while men are ensnared by them.

It was a mind-boggling trip into an electronic universe.

Like many others I am familiar with the idea that technology has opened up a whole new world of opportunities, particularly for women in self employment. But this brought it home to me with a new vividness.

No wonder such a large proportion of this conference has been devoted to the web.

The Internet has become a fact of life. New Zealand is among those countries actively competing for tourists on the net.

The sheer volume of information and pictures that can be shown on the Net dwarfs any number of glossy brochures, for a minimal comparative cost.

I was interested to see your conference question whether there will even be a place for traditional advertising in five years time.

The rapid changes in technology mean people who don't adapt will soon be cut off from the information medium and mainstream business life.

Fortunately Kiwis love new techno toys. We are generally seen as being keen adopters of the latest technology .

About one in five Kiwis have ready access to the Internet and one third of adult New Zealanders have a personal computer in their home.

Yesterday I opened a multi-media center at one of my local primary schools.

The 5 to 12 year olds were handling the Net without appreciation of the huge changes in the technology even in the last 5 years.

They conversed on-line with school friends from Peru they had met once, while we looked on.

None of this was even conceivable 10 years ago, except in the most farsighted Sci-Fi novels.

But it is here.

The Net is being used increasingly in business by women.

I read today of Lyn Richardson's brand new business in selling Boat Books, as she has told you.

It appears women's approach to technology is different to that of men.

According to author Margaret Wylie women want to accomplish specific tasks when they sit down at their computer. They are looking to save time, not play around.

Consequently more women than men perceive computer technology as enhancing business performance.

It is obvious from the focus of your conference you are very aware of new technology and of the need to use it to provide a competitive advantage as global economic rivalry intensifies.

Gaining and keeping a competitive edge is an issue for all New Zealand businesses.

Once upon a time, not so long ago, most New Zealand businesses operated in a localised environment.

As you know, today's business world is on another planet altogether.

Businesses are operating in an increasingly globalised environment. They are having to compete against large chains using up-to-date practices from overseas.

Even small businesses are finding they are obliged to be more outward looking and to judge their ways of doing things by the yardstick of the best in the world.

They are finding they need to strive for on-going productivity gains through more efficient use of resources, innovative ways to add value to resources and strong consumer focus.

New Zealand is predominantly an economy of small firms.

83 per cent of enterprises employ five or fewer people.

Over 90 per cent employ fewer than 10 people.

Small and medium sized firms employ an increasing proportion of New Zealand's workforce - currently around one quarter of the workforce.

So it is crucial - to businesses, to the economy and all New Zealanders - that Kiwi business managers have the skills to operate in this constantly changing environment.

As a new Business Development Minister, it is my priority to improve the competitiveness of New Zealand businesses.

On a wider scale, the Government can do that by creating a stable environment for economic growth and keeping costs for businesses low. It can also help keep businesses well informed about economic conditions which affect their performance.

More specifically, the Government can play a role in enhancing management capabilities, through education and training.

However, it is important that Government assistance to small and medium sized business goes where it will enhance business competitiveness in the most effective way possible.

The Government currently spends about $26 million a year on SMEs, but I have my doubts whether we are spending such a large sum where it is doing the most good, or whether it is focussed on the real needs of small business.

Improving management skills is critical for improving a business' growth prospects and the country's competitiveness.

Although New Zealand management practices and styles have improved in recent years, further progress is needed, and quickly.

Research shows many NZ managers have yet to gain the skills which would enhance their ability to operate effectively in an open, increasingly competitive market.

Many are "self-made" people who have learned through experience rather than formal training.

Often they operate in an isolated situation and do not have access to international best practice and quality management principles which are linked to better performance.

Furthermore, they may not have the management expertise to adopt benchmarking practices.

In the same way managers may also lack the skills to adopt new technology.

Rapid changes brought about by the information revolution mean the ability and the opportunity to retrain and acquire new skills is increasingly important.

The Government's Business Development Programme seeks to help New Zealand businesses get the information and skills they need to compete effectively.

With the changes in the business environment it is equally important that the Government does not stand still.

In this context, I have commissioned a comprehensive re-assessment of the Business Development Programme to ensure that it is effectively contributing to enhancing business performance.

It is also good to see business organisations and academic institutions - for example the Computer Science Department at this university - adapting their services to meet the needs of businesswomen.

The Government likewise has a responsibility to ensure that its programmes are relevant to women.

For this reason, I would welcome your comments on the Business Development Programme, and how it might be reshaped to better meet your needs as businesspeople.

At present, there are still twice as many men running small businesses or self-employed, but the number of women-owned businesses is growing three times faster than male owned businesses.

There are more than 90,000 businesses owned by women, an increase of more than 18,000 in the past seven years. Clearly, women play an important part in the New Zealand economy and are strongly contributing to the establishment of small businesses.

You also bring new perspectives and fresh approaches to business.

It is excellent to see powerful business networks like your own flourishing.

I cannot see how this event could have been anything, but of enormous benefit to your businesses and consequently to the New Zealand economy as a whole.

Just before I conclude, I should say I surfed the Net for Wise Men.

There were 2,442,109 references to Wise Men, thereby suggesting Wise Women have some way to go.But I wouldn't worry.

The first reference was to the ``Life of Brian'', and it seemed to go downhill from there!

I wish you well in your enterprises - that you succeed is vital to the success and future of your friends, your families, and the country.