AS we commence the third millennium, the singular message that                                                                                        
can be learned from the closing years of the 20th century is                                                                                          
that we are both creators and victims of change.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                                      
Globalisation and competitiveness have nurtured an increasing                                                                                         
number of people whose role is to blaze new trails in                                                                                                 
virtually every field of human endeavour. Exciting                                                                                                    
possibilities are observed in fields as diverse as                                                                                                    
biotechnology, medical science and information and                                                                                                    
communication technology.                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                      
The creators of new knowledge will eventually change our way                                                                                          
of life. Like it or not, we can either respond positively or                                                                                          
lose out if we do not change with the times.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                      
That is why so many strong companies of yesteryears have gone                                                                                         
under, simply because of the failure to recognise that change                                                                                         
will render even the best of products and services obsolete in                                                                                        
a very short time.                                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                                      
To respond positively to change will require us to move                                                                                               
towards a knowledge society as the crucible of change is                                                                                              
knowledge. We have a high literacy rate, although there is the                                                                                        
need to develop thinking individuals rather than passive                                                                                              
absorbers of knowledge.                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                      
In a world of change, it is not so much what you know now but                                                                                         
how you can make use of current knowledge to be creators of                                                                                           
change ourselves.                                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                                      
A national concern is that we are not investing enough for the                                                                                        
future.  Our research and development effort is negligible,                                                                                           
and unable to produce breakthrough products and services that                                                                                         
can have a major world impact, on the lines of our                                                                                                    
internationally recognised rubber and oil palm research.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                      
A major obstacle is our diminishing spirit of enquiry as soon                                                                                         
as we complete formal education. For many who have just                                                                                               
obtained a degree qualification, it is as if they have arrived                                                                                        
and there is no further need to continue with study.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                                      
The reluctance to develop oneself on a continuing basis                                                                                               
throughout life is the greatest weakness in forging a                                                                                                 
knowledge society. Change will make obsolete the knowledge and                                                                                        
skills we acquired earlier in life, and the only real positive                                                                                        
response that we can have is to update and keep abreast of the                                                                                        
cutting edge developments of our professional fields.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                      
A knowledge society begins with the individual, not with the                                                                                          
setting up of research facilities.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                                      
In the field of management, there are many senior managers                                                                                            
whose management literacy may have been developed "through the                                                                                   
ranks." But with such rapid and significant change happening                                                                                     
around us, managers must understand the forces of change, the                                                                                         
response options available and the appropriate architecture to                                                                                        
exploit the opportunities that change provides.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                      
Learning from experience alone will no longer be a viable                                                                                             
option to develop competence. The old style transactional                                                                                             
manager will lose out to the new style transformational                                                                                               
manager.                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                      
The primary tools of the old manager are an existing ritual of                                                                                        
rules and regulations, patronage and cronyism, risk averse and                                                                                        
buck- passing. The primary tools of the new manager are the                                                                                           
confidence of knowledge and competencies, transparency and                                                                                            
integrity, and preparedness to invest for the future, backed                                                                                          
up by personal accountability.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                      
The transition from the old style to the new style manager is                                                                                         
not easy. But in a world that will increasingly be governed by                                                                                        
competitiveness, transparency and full disclosure, the only                                                                                           
real option is for our human resource talent to be taken to                                                                                           
world standards.                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                                      
It will mean that all businesses should be housed in learning                                                                                         
organisations and every individual be committed to continuing                                                                                         
education, raining and development. This has been, for a long                                                                                         
time, the voice of the Malaysian Institute of Management.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                      
MIM is probably the first professional body in the country                                                                                            
providing intensive and extensive opportunities for                                                                                                   
post-experience development through its numerous courses of                                                                                           
study. Of particular relevance is its Diploma in Management                                                                                           
Programme for practising managers, executives and supervisors.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                      
When first introduced in 1975, it was the only available                                                                                              
educational programme for working adults.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                      
Over the last 25 years, the world has changed substantially.                                                                                          
We have moved from protectionism to liberalisation, from the                                                                                          
Cold War to US dominance, from atoms to bits, and from thrift                                                                                         
to spendthrift.                                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                      
Our executives are now more mobile and more IT literate, but                                                                                          
also less loyal to one organisation and less committed to                                                                                             
rigid schedules. Amid turbulent change in the world around                                                                                            
them, today's executives are also personally beset by change                                                                                          
in their own lifestyles.                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                      
Recognising the need for continuing learning in a vastly                                                                                              
changed environment, MIM has embraced technology and has                                                                                              
restructured the delivery mechanism of the Diploma for two                                                                                            
principal categories of executives.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                      
The first is the executive in the more remote areas of the                                                                                            
country such as Cameron Highlands and Pulau Tioman where                                                                                              
traditional classroom interaction is not an option. The second                                                                                        
is the executive in towns whose work and other commitments                                                                                            
make it difficult to commit to a rigid schedule of classroom                                                                                          
attendance.                                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                                      
MIM's response has been to offer two variants. One is for                                                                                             
executives who are savvy with IT and the Internet. A diploma                                                                                          
delivered on-line was introduced last year in collaboration                                                                                           
with Mahirnet.                                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                      
In this mode, executives have total flexibility as lessons are                                                                                        
conducted over the Net without the need to come together. It                                                                                          
would be ideal for students located overseas and for those on                                                                                         
the move.                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                      
The second variant, which will be introduced next month, is                                                                                           
the Multimedia Diploma, designed to reduce classroom contact                                                                                          
but supported by CD-ROMs, workbooks and other study materials.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                      
This variant is particularly relevant for executives in remote                                                                                        
areas who can only come together for minimal periods and for                                                                                          
busy executives who cannot be locked into a prolonged and                                                                                             
rigid classroom schedule.                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                      
Given the availability of different modes of delivery, there                                                                                          
is no reason why managers, executives and supervisors cannot                                                                                          
pursue continuing education to upgrade their ability to meet                                                                                          
the challenge of change.