The practices of strategy and budgeting are often confused and completed out of sequence. In essence, strategic thinking is focused on how we wish to position the organization in the future - our purpose, in which markets we wish to play and how we plan to be successful in these markets. Budgeting, on the other hand, is the process by which we allocate resources in order to achieve this strategy
As can be seen, the sequence is important. It makes sense to decide what you plan to do before allocating resources in oder to do so.
The other important factor here is to be clear why you are in business - the purpose of business. The purpose is NOT to make a profit. The purpose is to meet the needs and add value to your customers. If you do this well, you will make a profit. Profit, therefore, is the OUTCOME of business, not the purpose.
Is this an important distinction? We believe it is. Because it focuses the attention of the business on the critical drivers of profitability, rather than just the outcome.

• 2019-10-15 | 15:30 - 18:00
• European Chamber Shanghai Office

The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China is pleased to invite you to an event where we bring together sustainability and environmental voices to discuss practical and innovative solutions to tackle the growing plastic pollution crisis. Join us and take part in a seminar with different stakeholders from the supply chain, where speakers will share their views on the plastic circular economy and how businesses can reduce their plastic consumption, find a more sustainable alternative of bio-based materials and create a more circular economy throughout the supply chain.

• 2019-10-15 | 08:30 - 10:55
• European Chamber Shanghai Office, Unit 2204

The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China is delighted to welcome you to a session were Ph.D. Eveline Goodman and Ms. Mira Lioleva will challenge your idea of talent development utilizing the methods of neuroscience and the "Action Control" scientific model to enhance your brains from intention to action.

• 2019-09-25 | 15:00 - 17:30
• European Chamber Shanghai Office, Unit 2204

随着人工智能、大数据等新技术的发展，智能制造已成为制造业企业的主要发力方向。而数字化工厂作为迈向智能工厂的基础，能够迅速根据客户需求定制产品，快速应对不断变化的需求和趋势。尽管现阶段数字化工厂的实现仍处于初始阶段，但这并不妨碍我们通过了解一些在数字化发展前沿的制造业公司案例，发现转型过程中存在的问题和数字化转型后工厂所拥有的潜在优势。 Given the quickening development of high technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data, intelligent manufacturing has become a main focus for growing manufacturing enterprises. Intelligent factories can quickly customize products according to customer demand, quicken response time to changing needs and trends, and lead to a comprehensive increase in factory performance. Despite the fact that this Andritz factory is still in its initial stages, this in no way hinders how we can use it as an example of the vast frontier of digital factories, and discover the potential strengths and weaknesses of the digitization process.

• 2019-09-19 | 09:00 - 17:00
• Andritz China Headquarters, Building No.13 Conference Room

企业内部高效绩效管理架构及员工福利成本控制 - 中国平安集团人力资源分享会（中文）

• 2019-09-18 | 13:30 - 17:00
• Meeting Room (Amber), 1F, Shangeri-La Hotel

The London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) is one of the world's leading international arbitration institutions. With English law continuing to be a predominant choice of law for many international contracts, the LCIA has seen a record number of arbitration cases referred to the LCIA under the LCIA Rules in the past years.

In the Far East, the Shanghai International Arbitration Court (SHIAC 上海国际仲裁中心) (formerly known as the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission Shanghai Commission) is strategically poised as an arbitration centre located in mainland China to service both Chinese parties and an increasing number of foreign parties in the resolution of commercial disputes.

Different markets and regulatory regimes give rise to different needs and requirements for arbitration users. Through the past decades, the LCIA and SHIAC have both shown a tailored approach to address these market demands while striving to achieve the common goal of offering efficient, impartial and effective dispute resolution services at an international standard.

• 2019-09-16 | 14:30 - 16:00
• Houston Meeting Room, ATLAS Workplace, 3F, Shanghai | Agile International Plaza, , 寰图办公空间，休斯顿会议室 ，雅居乐国际广场三楼

The European Union and Vietnam signed a Trade Agreement and an Investment Protection Agreement on 30th June 2019, paving the way for tariff reductions on 99% of goods between the 28-member block and Vietnam. The European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), will help increase the competitiveness of Vietnam and will boost the country's exports to the European market.
The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China is pleased to invite you to a seminar where the European Chamber of Commerce Vietnam, JLL Vietnam, DEEP C Industrial Zones and D'Andrea & Partners Vietnam will give you an overview of how companies can benefit from the EVFTA and how complementing Chinese operations with production in Vietnam can benefit your business.

• 2019-09-16 | 09:25 - 12:00
• JLL Office

The energy transition is a pathway toward transformation of the energy sector from fossil-based to a low-carbon economy. Decarbonisation of the energy sector requires urgent action on a global scale, and while we are in the midst of an industrial revolution that is shaking up the energy industry and will disrupt other sectors as well, such as transportation, further action is needed to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change. The European Union Chamber of Commerce welcomes you to the first event of the Energize your Autumn Series. Join us on 11th September and hear about the efforts that companies can make to catalyse further decarbonisation efforts.

• 2019-09-11 | 09:00 - 10:30
• The Executive Centre - The Center, Level 20

We are currently at an inflection point in US-China-EU relations, with the world’s two largest economies imposing duties on billions of dollars worth of one another’s goods. In this very uncertain global strategic environment, a further escalation in the trade dispute would create renewed uncertainty for businesses and consumers, hurting the world economy.
The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China is pleased to welcome John Holden, Senior Director & Head of China Practice at Washington-based global consultancy McLarty Associates to offer his insight on the long term trends that will shape US-China-EU relations going forward and share some of the commercial and policy implications

• 2019-09-11 | 16:00 - 17:10
• European Chamber Shanghai Office, Shui On Plaza, Unit 2204

This highly practical seminar enables people leaders to engage, motivate and lead their teams more effectively to achieve higher performance, by introducing them to the essential managerial psychology principles and how to apply them to work.
In this seminar, participants will learn about the psychological factors influencing how individuals work, such as personality, motivation, beliefs and values – they will also be exposed to practical ways to apply these theories to drive performance.
A particular focus of this seminar is on Resilience, which relates to “an individual’s capacity to adapt to pressure, setbacks, challenges and change, in order to achieve and sustain peak personal effectiveness”. Resilience is an essential personality disposition for every successful leader and talent in this ultra-fast-paced age of change and transformation. In this seminar, we will discuss Resilience in detail and how managers can develop their team on it.

• 2019-09-10 | 09:00 - 11:30
• European Chamber Shanghai Office, Unit 2204