By AZHARI KARIM                                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                      
THIS year, the Malaysian Institute of Management (MIM)                                                                                                
celebrates 35 years of continuous service to the management                                                                                           
community. Looking back, many of those that were around then                                                                                          
and are still around today can remember with pride that with                                                                                          
its inauguration on Jan 29, 1966, there was now a "formally                                                                                           
established professional body dedicated to spreading and                                                                                              
promoting education, training and research in management                                                                                              
skills "                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                      
To be the recognised national body for management, it had to                                                                                          
do two basic things: run programmes in management philosophy,                                                                                         
techniques and skills, and organise itself as the centre for                                                                                          
knowledge on the art and practice of management. The impetus                                                                                          
for this initial development came from the Governing Council,                                                                                         
whose members committed time and energy to ensure that the                                                                                            
institute carried out its functions.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                                      
MIM's official history, published in 1991, made mention of the                                                                                        
heroic roles played by such illustrious personages as Tun                                                                                             
Ismail Ali, Raja Tun Mohar, Lee Hee Seng, Sam Abishegam, Datuk                                                                                        
Paddy Bowie, Syed Adam, and Dr Tarcisius Chin in the                                                                                                  
pioneering years of the institute.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                                      
In 1991 - its 25th anniversary - the institute was able to                                                                                            
observe that "MIM's greatest contribution has been its actual                                                                                         
coming into being, introducing a continuing programme of                                                                                              
management courses, and other related activities on a regular                                                                                         
basis into the country for the first time, thereby meeting an                                                                                         
urgent national need."                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                      
The institute has not only grown in stature, but has also                                                                                             
earned itself the accolade of being the authoritative voice of                                                                                        
management in the country. MIM continues to be regarded as an                                                                                         
institution of quality, as well as a powerhouse of knowledge                                                                                          
both at home and abroad.                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                      
In the words of its present president, Raja Tun Mohar Raja                                                                                            
Badiozaman: "We believe we have done well in developing                                                                                               
professionals who are conscious of their social                                                                                                       
responsibilities and national aspirations."                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                                      
Its current chief executive, Dr Tarcisius Chin, elaborated on                                                                                         
this role, which is "to develop competent managers who have                                                                                           
the social skills and the emotional stability to achieve                                                                                              
results, and who are accountable for their actions. We believe                                                                                        
that the truly effective manager will have to draw support                                                                                            
from IQ, EQ (Emotional Intelligence) and SQ (Spiritual                                                                                                
Intelligence). The fusion of these three will help develop the                                                                                        
balanced manager to meet the challenges of responding to an                                                                                           
environment that is increasingly uncertain, ambiguous and                                                                                             
complex."                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                      
How has the institute fared in these times of rapid change?                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                                      
MIM has matured and is well prepared to survive and make                                                                                              
further progress in the coming years. One focus area is the                                                                                           
relationship between technology and human values in the                                                                                               
workplace.                                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                      
It has started to organise constructive dialogues on issues                                                                                           
relating to the promotion and enhancement of the highest                                                                                              
standard is of management practice.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                      
As knowledge has a premium in today's IT- based work                                                                                                  
environment, the institute has upgraded its infrastructure,                                                                                           
and several new services in the electronic mode have been                                                                                             
offered to members.                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                      
It continues to drive its membership activities, but with a                                                                                           
difference: IT will transform the range of services to include                                                                                        
a members' page, chapters and a hub, where managers can meet                                                                                          
other managers. Several new interest groups will be                                                                                                   
encouraged. Other networking facilities will be arranged.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                      
To meet the national challenge in driving the New Economy, the                                                                                        
institute has finalised a programme to enable managers to                                                                                             
obtain certification of their competencies.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                                      
More directly, it has embarked on a market- driven strategy to                                                                                        
offer products that are demanded by customers. Targeted                                                                                               
companies are the small and medium-sized industries.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                                      
Looking ahead, one can sense the new mood in the institute.                                                                                           
Change is certainly in the air. What form it will finally take                                                                                        
is still kept under wraps.  But the management is sticking to                                                                                         
several known facts:                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                                      
* IT is a nationally recognised body;                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                      
* IT wants to make leaders out of managers; and                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                      
* IT wants to be the change agent through its management                                                                                              
education programmes.                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                      
The critical success factors have to do with a change in the                                                                                          
"cradle to grave" attitude, a productive set-up, teamwork, an                                                                                         
industry- driven outlook, creating networking opportunities,                                                                                          
building intellectual capacity, and finally, adopting a                                                                                               
national focus.                                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                      
Let's all join hands to wish the national management                                                                                                  
organisation the very best for the future, and may all those                                                                                          
who have contributed in any way to its success feel proud of                                                                                          
their efforts and commitment.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                      
We recall the wise words of a few of those who have laboured                                                                                          
to put the institute where it is today:                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                      
"Managers are leaders who should be guided by their sense of                                                                                          
mission and purpose, their conscience, their loyalty and                                                                                              
integrity." - Tun Abdul Razak bin Hussein.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                      
"Good management is at the very heart of our survival." - Tan                                                                                         
Sri Osman S Cassim.