>> MIM Speaks
WISDOM THROUGH LECTURE SERIES
MARCH 11, 2001 -
THE STAR
By DR TARCISIUS CHIN
THIRTY years ago in October 1970, the first president of the
Asian Institute of Management and former vice-president of
General Motors, Prof Stephen Fuller, addressed several hundred
managers at the Lake Club on the subject "Planning and
Implementing a Strategy."
It was a significant event organised by the Malaysian
Institute of Management because it gave birth to the Tunku
Abdul Rahman Lecture series. Inaugurated on the eve of Tunku's
retirement as the country's first Prime Minister and held in
his name in recognition of his great services to the nation,
the lecture series has been a most useful benchmark of
contemporary management thought over the years.
Twenty lectures have been convened so far. They have been
addressed by a head of state, a prime minister, a governor,
three chief ministers, a vice-chancellor, an economic advisor,
two distinguished statesmen and 10 corporate achievers.
They had been specially invited to speak because they were
distinguished persons renowned for the teaching and/or
practice of management. The expectation was that they could
share their knowledge, insights and wisdom with all Malaysians
who subscribe to the unrelenting search for management
excellence.
The 70s was a period of high expectations, new challenges and
a growing concern for social justice. It was also the
beginning of management education in many parts of Asia as
business schools were set up in Manila (AIM), Bangkok (NIDA),
Kuala Lumpur (UM-FEA), Ahmedabad (11M), Singapore (NUS) and
else-where.
Management as a teachable and learnable subject was then
essentially borrowed from Western models, Fuller's thoughts on
strategy were followed by consultant Lt-Col Lyndall Urwick's
address on "The Importance of Formal Organisation to Managers"
(1973), Prof Reginald Revan's passion for "Action Learning in
a Developing Country" (1976), and British Industrial Society
John Garnett's "Creation of Wealth through People" (1978).
But local thinkers were also invited to speak on "University
Development and Management" (Prof Ungku Aziz, 1971) and "The
Making of a Malaysian Manager" (Tun Tan Siew Sin, 1977).
Towards the end of the decade, concerns over social justice in
many parts of Asia became topical. Indonesia was particularly
vulnerable to social tensions and Dr Soedjatmoko, then
chairman of the National Planning Board of Indonesia, spoke
eloquently on "Social Transformation in Asia" (1979).
Then came the 80s with its renewed faith in management as the
key driver of change and of economic growth. Consultant John
Argenti discoursed on "Planning the Future, and the Future of
Planning" (1981), followed in 1983 by James Hayes. of the
American Management Association on "Managerial Competence and
Effective Job Performance."
We were a confident nation with a new prime minister making
things happen. Penang was a showcase state as Governor Tun Dr
Hj Awang Hassan highlighted its success in his address "From
Entrepot to Industrial Sector: Lessons in Development" (1985),
followed in 1987 by Chief Minister Dr Lim Chong Eu's address
on "Management Strategies for the Service Sector."
Tun Hussein Onn, then advisor to Petronas, reflected on "The
Management of Energy Resources in Malaysia" (1982). In the
headlong rush towards economic development, Malaysians were
reminded by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan AzIan Shah on
"The Supremacy of the Law" (1984).
The 90s was a period of accelerated growth, and management
literature expanded enormously offering new. insights and new
tools. It was a period in which customer well-being was
reviewed as the reason for any company's business.
Mrs Sonia Bata appropriately spoke on "Customer Orientation in
the Global Enterprise" (1993). It was also a period of
reengineering. Hence Dr William Byham addressed the 1994 TAR
Lecture on "Reengineering Organisational Leadership."
Penang's success in the 80s had been well recorded. In the
90s, it was Johor that set the new pace for development and
Mentri Besar Tan Sri Muhyiddin spoke in 1995 on "Managing the
Johor Economy: 1986-1995 " followed two years later by Datuk
Ab&I Mani -on "ManAging the Transformation Process in Johor."
The rapid advance of technology in the 90s was also an issue
for management. Hence, Tun Daim Zainuddin, then Economic
Advisor to the Government, spoke on "Managing Technology for
Growth" in 1996.
The recent Asian financial crisis was the focus of attention
in the 1998 lecture when consultant Dr Washington SyCip spoke
on "The Managerial Challenge and Response to the 1997/98 Asian
Economic Crisis."
Subsequent to the crisis, many felt that, perhaps, it was the
Asian management style that had contributed to the crisis as
much as it had contributed to the boom of earlier years.
Dr David Li, chairman of the Bank of East Asia in Hong Kong,
believed so and articulated his thoughts in "Managing the
Future: Business Practices in the New Asia" at the 1999
lecture as the 20th Speaker of the series.
As we move into the new millennium, an increasing managerial
concern is transparency and integrity. We lament the weakness
in corporate governance and the lack of accountability.
Hence, appropriately, the 21st TAR Lecture this year on April
17 will be on the subject "Transparency, Accountability and
Governance in Asian Markets." The speaker will be Andrew
Sheng, chairman of the Hong Kong Securities and Futures
Commission.
His previous experience as Assistant Governor of Bank Negara,
senior manager in the World Bank and deputy chief executive of
the Hong Kong Monetary Authority will provide him the breadth
of knowledge and understanding to comment on the subject.
The 21st TAR Lecture is jointly organised by the Malaysian
Institute of Management and the Kuala Lumpur Society for
Transparency & Integrity.
For enquiries and registration, contact Vivian Tan or Salinah
Saadon (0321654611/216452S5, fax 03-2449319, e-mail:
actreg@mim.edu).
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