Thoughts on Korean Business by Don Southerton

  Balli balli: a De Facto Korean Core Value and More Than Meets the Eye By Don Southerton, May 6, 2023 Many of us are familiar with the Korean term balli balli. It translates as hurry-hurry. Actually, balli means hurry, but the word is always used in tandem, adding to the need to move fast.  I first recall hearing the word in a 1970s martial arts class; my Korean instructor commanded that we move faster in executing kicking drills.  Although we often hear that it was once a common expression and expectation—and that today many in Korea associate it with the past...for many Korean firms, balli balli is still a de facto core value— from immediately responding to requests for data to launching significant projects. More to the point, it means things need to get done today and now, not tomorrow.  For Westerners, moving fast can often be a concern, conflicting with the Western business model of careful, meticulous study and planning before implementation. More so, if it i...

As you know, I have deeply explored the Energy, Mobility, and Electrification government-related programs in the past weeks. I cover the details—subtle and apparent.                                                                           Questions?  Just Ask U.S. Government Energy Incentives—Funding and Tax Rebates Unwrapped   By Don Southerton May 4, 2023 In the past weeks, I have done a deep dive into Energy related incentive programs. Many are funded by the Inflation Reduction Act and channeled into government loans, grants, incentives, and tax rebates. Most of the programs seek to drive innovation, assist in funding innovative startups, and support the energy industry to invest in new technologies, for example, implementing carbon reduction platforms. ...