THE people I met during the one-month programme at Akademie                                                                                           
Klausenhof generally seemed to have a good sense of history.                                                                                          
This was apparent in their knowledge about their community,                                                                                           
municipality, federal state or country.  Likewise, much effort                                                                                        
was made to preserve old buildings and relics for posterity.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                      
Rhede, a small town where one of the academy's branches is                                                                                            
located, was the centre for our programme. This small town of                                                                                         
17,000 people has a town hall, an imposing church, a museum                                                                                           
and a library.                                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                      
The town of Bocholt some 6km away has all these facilities                                                                                            
plus an outstanding museum about textiles and a historical                                                                                            
town hall among other things. The community at large -                                                                                                
government officials, private sector and concerned groups like                                                                                        
the German Arts council (which has more than 190 independent                                                                                          
associations and institutions in matters related to art, music                                                                                        
and theatre design) - makes sure the facilities are kept                                                                                              
going.                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                      
This sort of effort and care for history and culture is                                                                                               
admirable.  Each town, big or small seems to preserve                                                                                                 
something unique about it. When entering these towns one is                                                                                           
comforted by information booths that display maps and mention                                                                                         
historical relics. Even small villages have detailed, enlarged                                                                                        
maps.                                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                      
Infrastructures German roads railways and waterways are                                                                                               
top-class, befitting a world economic power. After so much                                                                                            
travelling on their expressways, I don't recall coming across                                                                                         
any pothole.  The ride was always smooth, with special lanes                                                                                          
for bicycles and trees lining the roads.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                      
Buildings of two to four storeys do not seem to have lifts or                                                                                         
at least our guests always led us by the stairs. Toilets are                                                                                          
clean, with recycled paper to wipe your hands with. This was                                                                                          
also the case at the three municipal (public) toilets we                                                                                              
entered.                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                      
The doors, furniture layout, including that of the Akademie                                                                                           
Klausenhof, are of the highest quality, with much thought                                                                                             
given to their usage and aesthetic value. In keeping with                                                                                             
German tradition, they are made to last.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                      
Water from taps is drinkable, even those in toilets. It's                                                                                             
amazing how much care is taken to keep water clean. Landfills                                                                                         
(dump-sites) are required by law to have a layer of plastic of                                                                                        
about 1cm thick, followed by gravel, sand and other porous                                                                                            
materials before the land is filled to ensure that ground                                                                                             
water is not polluted.                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                      
To maintain quality, surface runoff (rainwater) is collected                                                                                          
and treated, especially in areas where drinking water is                                                                                              
sourced.                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                      
Environmental awareness. The Germans have set very high                                                                                               
standards in this. Huge factories have to clean (treat) their                                                                                         
own waste water before it flows into the river. Smaller                                                                                               
factories channel waste water to treatment plants.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                                      
Supermarkets do not provide plastic bags (non-degradable) for                                                                                         
goods purchased. Most customers bring their own bags. Waste                                                                                           
from homes is sorted and categorised according to food, paper                                                                                         
and garden waste.                                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                                      
Specific agencies monitor air quality from high-tech stations                                                                                         
all over the country.                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                      
Although most of the original forests have been destroyed many                                                                                        
secondary forests have been developed through painstaking                                                                                             
efforts. In some cases, 50% of plants and animal life has been                                                                                        
"re-created."                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                      
The Rhine (river), which was biologically dead a few decades                                                                                          
ago, now has fish in it (there is a campaign to have salmon in                                                                                        
the Rhine by the year 2000).                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                      
Environmental awareness is taught to schoolchildren. Often                                                                                            
children Visit treatment plants and picnic and play in the                                                                                            
forests.  They are effectively used to influence their parents                                                                                        
on environmental management, especially waste disposal.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                      
Water wells for the town of Rhede are located about 4km from                                                                                          
the town centre. The water is checked constantly and the                                                                                              
"catchment" areas are well-protected with panes encircling                                                                                  
them.                                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                      
Some of their methods are simple, but in our case it would                                                                                            
call for a mindset shift. This is the area Malaysia is lagging                                                                                        
behind the most. Concerted effort is needed from the                                                                                                  
Government, industries and the general public to maintain a                                                                                           
sustainable environment.                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                      
Pubes awareness. Germans know their rights and roles. The                                                                                             
community is active in the development of its town. The                                                                                               
municipality has special sessions with the community before a                                                                                         
plan is approved, for example, before the building of houses                                                                                          
or removing of trees.                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                      
Companies that are "guilty" of selling shoddy products are                                                                                  
boy- cotted. A German friend said that if plantation companies                                                                                        
(in Germany) had been found to be involved in slash and burn                                                                                          
(as in Indonesia and Malaysia), their product would have been                                                                                         
boycotted.                                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                      
We as citizens and managers are forgiving at timed, ready to                                                                                          
live with sub-standard products and services. We muff know and                                                                                        
exercise our rightly while learning to respect those of                                                                                               
others.                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                      
Children. With Germany having an ageing population, one does                                                                                          
not see too many children in shopping malls, towns and along                                                                                          
the roads.                                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                      
The few I saw were neatly dressed and, if they were cycling,                                                                                          
wore protective gear. Most bicycles had plastic covers going                                                                                          
down to about five inches around the wheels to protect the                                                                                            
rider's clothes from getting dirty.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                      
Playgrounds seem to have the latest equipment - very strong                                                                                           
and well-made. Every small cluster of houses has a playground.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                      
Both economics and a sense of freedom seem to limit family                                                                                            
sizes or the prospect of childbearing. This fact, plus the                                                                                            
high life expectancy (76), sees many past 60 years of age                                                                                             
still working.                                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                      
Hobbles. Everywhere I went, there were people cycling, riding                                                                                         
motorbikes, hiking and generally indulging in outdoor                                                                                                 
activities.                                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                                      
Games, gardening (they seem to take pride in growing flowers),                                                                                        
reading and music are some of the other pastimes. They work                                                                                           
very hard during the week, some of them enjoy a mug of beer or                                                                                        
a cup of coffee on the pavement.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                                      
Seemingly carefree, they enjoy the "simple things" in life                                                                                  
during weekends. We may not be able to do the same but hard                                                                                           
work and relaxation can be practised.  Sometimes some of us                                                                                           
want to enjoy the latter more than contributing to the former.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                      
There are very many things we can learn from the Germans, as                                                                                          
management practitioners or as a country. It is a country that                                                                                        
has much to offer to managers and ordinary people alike, an                                                                                           
excellent model for discipline, work ethics, environmental                                                                                            
awareness and management in general.