“Fire and Ice” Leading Business Transformation in Reykjavík, Iceland
October 8, 2024 at Reykjavík, Iceland (2 days)
- “Fire and Ice” Business Transformation Labs, with Peter Fisk
- Additional Resources from Peter Fisk
The Sagas of the Icelanders, written in the 12th and 13th centuries and telling the stories of the early settlers of Iceland from the 10th century, are an amazing treasure trove of historical knowledge about the early years of settlement in Iceland. Better yet, they’re also impressive examples of literary excellence that still hold their own when it comes to enthralling storytelling.
While reading the sagas shouldn’t exactly be compared to reading modern day thrillers; their gripping subjects and epic storytelling might still surprise you. Woven in with long chapters about genealogy and a host of stories about people who all seem to be named Þórólfur are grand stories about love, honour, friendship, and fate. They’re funny, sad, thrilling, and everything in between.
The sagas are an exercise in subtlety. Modern stories might have lines like “He couldn’t even hear the last part of the insult before the anger consumed him. It felt like his blood was boiling as a mixture of humiliation and fury tore him apart from the inside.” The sagas will have lines conveying the same sentiment in words like “he said nothing and for a moment, his cheeks turned red.” While reading, you have to pay close attention to descriptions and you really can’t skip chapters, because…
When reading the sagas, a lot of the first chapters might seem superfluous. The thing is, if they were, they wouldn’t have been written down. The manuscripts were made of calfskin and were very expensive. Everything they could skip, they did. The early setup may feel unimportant at first, (sometimes even happening years before the main characters were born) but it’s all a part of the chain of events that eventually set the stage for the plot of the saga to progress.
Honour was the basis of society in those days. In a country without law enforcement, people lived highly moral (according to their values) lives or faced the consequences. Family was everything and if someone wronged a cousin of yours, you were not only expected, but required to avenge him, either by money or blood. Last but not least, there was also a strong belief in fatalism, dreams in the sagas are often prophetic and wise men could see the future.
The stories supposedly happened in the 10th century but weren’t written down until a couple of hundred years later. There’s reason to believe some events might have been poetically adjusted in the meantime. While we’re pretty sure most (at the very least, some) of these people lived in Iceland at some point, we’re pretty sure the stories have at least been somewhat exaggerated. Still, they’re the cornerstone of Icelandic culture and self-value as we know them.
Who is TÜV NORD?
As a knowledge company, we have our sights firmly set on the digital future. Whether engineers, IT security experts or specialists for the mobility of the future: We ensure that our customers become even more successful in the networked world worldwide.
The TÜV NORD GROUP has been active in the TICCET (Testing, Inspection, Certification, Consulting, Engineering, Training) market for over 150 years.
The inspection, consulting and training business is off ered in six operating business units; thanks to the services in the Engineering and Natural Resources as well as Aerospace business units, the Group has a unique selling proposition compared to its competitors in the sector. In addition to its operating business units, the Group’s internal services are also grouped together in the Holding / Services division.
TÜV NORD Group is positioning itself for sustainable solutions for the energy and mobility transition, pushing innovation and digital services, secure applications for AI and the quantum age.
Mobility: Intermodally linked transport
Cars, lorries, buses and trains – the various modes of transport are becoming increasingly interlinked in the market. And the focus remains on electromobility. TÜV NORD is bundling its intermodal expertise in the new Mobility Business Unit. This includes periodic inspections and driving tests as well as providing support for new vehicle approvals and the safe interlinking of vehicles and infrastructure on road and on rail.
Industry: Safety for the digitalised industry
The digital industry requires both knowledge of traditional plant safety and expertise in networked systems. In the industrial sector, TÜV NORD focuses on testing and inspection activities in process technology, manufacturing technology and buildings. The internationally active test laboratories for food, environmental analyses and technical assessments are also bundled here.
Energy & Resources: driving forward the energy transition
The energy world is transforming into a decentralised interplay of different energy sources – fossil, nuclear and, in future, even more renewable. This requires comprehensive expertise for the ramp-up of the hydrogen economy and knowledge about the sustainable use of raw materials. TÜV NORD and DMT therefore support customers worldwide with integrated services in the new Energy & Resources Business Unit.
Certification: Certifications build trust
In an increasingly complex world, orientation and transparency are required. This is provided by independent, verifiable certifications, for example for sustainability, cybersecurity, management systems or social standards. In future, TÜV NORD will bundle certification services worldwide in the Certification business unit. Around three quarters of the employees in this business unit already live and work outside Germany.
Digital & Semiconductor: Essential technologies for a digital world
All areas of life and the economy are already heavily influenced by digitalization. Semiconductor technologies are an important key factor and the basis of most of the existing technologies that characterize our modern and networked world. The security and reliability of sensitive data, electronic components and systems are also essential. The new Digital & Semiconductor business unit brings together ALTER and TÜVIT‘s expertise in semiconductors, IT security and communication technologies. Knowledge of artificial intelligence, quantum and nanotechnologies and new space will also be pooled here.
People & Empowerment: empowering and strengthening people
What do people need to be able to move safely in an increasingly technological world? With this focus on competences, TÜV NORD bundles diagnostics, consulting and further development in the new People & Empowerment business unit. It encompasses the large area of further training for professionals and executives, occupational health services and driving licence renewal.