IBM continues to invest in its workforce, creating opportunities to equip IBMers for success as global professionals and citizens, providing skills training, collaborative global experiences, as well as health and wellness programmes.
The IBM Corporate Service Corps is part of IBM's Global Citizen's Portfolio, a suite of investments and programmes focussed on global integration and leadership development within the 21st century context for doing business. Emerging leaders need to be global citizens to navigate the complex networks of overlapping cultures, sophisticated non-governmental organisations, diverse policy environments, changing societal expectations of business, and the business realities in emerging markets.
Launched in July 2007, the Corporate Service Corps is an innovative programme that offers high-potential employees from around the world a chance to develop their leadership skills while they undertake valuable community service projects in developing countries. These projects will address some of the world's toughest issues, including economic development, environmental problems and access to education.
More than 5,000 employees from around the world applied in the first round and only 100 were selected, making this one of the most competitive employee programmes ever created by IBM. Since the programme launch, several hundred more employees from different countries and business units to participate in the Corporate Service Corps. Seven IBM New Zealand employees have participated in the programme to date.
As part of the programme, teams of employees work with small and medium enterprises, non-governmental organisations, universities and governmental agencies to work in emerging markets for one month. While the full-time, in-country experience lasts for four weeks, the entire Corporate Service Corps experience is approximately six months, involving extensive preparatory work and a post-service connection back to the business. Participants gain valuable global teaming experience, accomplished through skills sharing, new ideas and experiences that enrich their understanding.