...Innovation

...read HBR blog about why big companies can't innovate...big corporation's success is measured by its profit and dividend it pays to the shareholders...start-up company's success, on the other hand, is gauged by how well it identifies a problem in the market...venture capitalist will fund the start-ups if they think entrepreneurs have identified a big problem with an interesting solution ...if the solution matches well with the problem, it'll see growth in revenues and ultimately profitability...if fails, it will continue to innovate and search for better solution...or identifies a new problem and its matching solution...however, when corporation reaches maturity, the measure of success is very different...it's profit...and more profit...without acknowledging the limits of the organization...it focuses on different issues...efficiencies, leveraging existing assests and distribution channels, and listen to their (often) best customers...as the structure of big corporations are becoming more complex, more procedures, rules and regulations are established for standardization...with multiple layers of decision making processes...it requires more efforts to achieve efficienc....the types and scale of innovation is given less priority... ...while achieving efficiencies is important but it should not be done not at the expense of innovation… no wonder some entrepreneurs would prefer to let go (sell) of their businesses when they reach a certain level...a level where there is less room for innovation…and then use their innovative thinking to start a new business...and the cycle goes on and on...lessons learned...when companies grow bigger and becoming more complex...centralization may not be the best option...top management needs to recognize the limits of their organization in making profit...to inculcate the innovation culture, top management should allow and empower certain groups to function with different goals and operational metrics...ok that's about company...let's now think how innovation works in an academic institution or business school in particular...let's have a look at the world top 100 b-schools...what make them top b-schools, how do they differ from the average b-schools...what are their characteristics...are they big or small...are they a comprehensive or a very focused school...how some schools get into the list in a short period of time (less than 10 years)...take SP Jain School of Global Management and Indian School of Business as examples...they are small and very focused…then look at Sasin, a model different from SP Jain or ISB…while remains under the umbrella of Chulalongkorn University…it is given a high degree of autonomy which enables it to innovate and do things differently…HBS is the same…while there are no definite answers to the questions...but if getting into the world rank matters most to your institution...then acknowledging various models of successful b-schools is crucial...

Sent from my Blackberry

...new year new hope new challenge

...2012 gonna leave us soon...yet there are many whys we still long for answers...some of the burning questions we simply can't understand and find answers no matter how hard we try...but that is life...so instead of wasting time trying to change things we can't even understand...sometimes it is better to simply forget and move forward...we can't change the world anyway...but as an individual we can start with our innerself...have we done enough as a human being and a servant to the Almighty...the journey we have been through...the good, the bad and the ugly...all are valuable lessons...look forward to 2013...another year another hope another challenge...to continue to dream the impossible and to believe the unbelievable...in our quest to be a better human being and a better servant to the God Almighty...the Most Gracious and the Most Merciful...remember someone saying this (sorry i don't remember the name as age often fails my memory now), 'in the end, it's not going to matter how many breaths you took, but how many moments took your breath away'...nite guys
Sent from my Blackberry

...reflections

...sometimes I wonder why we're so busy...look around us...our friends/colleagues, our bosses, our subordinates...they're all stressed, pity us all...everything seems to be very urgent...like there is no tomorrow...right from the top to the lowest level...it's all about KPI KPI KPI...outcome outcome outcome...then the 'why' question...why we do not achieve this...why we do not achieve that...how about 'how', 'what', 'when', 'where' and the 'other side of why'...because of the underachievement, rather than having a 'sincere' debate about the 'real' issue, management quickly pushed the panic button and started to find the 'quick wins' bla bla bla...those with big money will hire consultant, often from outside, and paid hefty amount of consulting fees to a team that do not even understand the local issues...rather than making full use of their expertise, our local team simply listened and swallowed all the recommendations without trying to challenge and adapt to the local environment...that is one extreme, the other extreme is the local team would simply add the new rules to the existing ones...so we then end up with more rules and procedures without questioning or realizing that they may not related to the 'real' issues...simple things are becoming more complicated...it is like a football game played using a combination of football, hockey and rugby rules...but everyone was told they are very important procedures, hence need to be adopted and implemented quickly...failure to comply with the new procedures would jeopardise your institution...comes the threat...to make things worst, teams at the institutional level also simply take note of the newly established procedures and 'threat'...panic panic panic everyone is panic now...being a 'good' worker we should follow the new rules and procedures...failure to do so would jeopardise our institution...comes the threat and also the blaming game...that manager/HOD are not committed/serious...we will report that to the top management bla bla bla...no one dare to challenge it...it is not in our culture to challenge and say NO...not even at the management level...'periuk nasi mau jaga maaa'...if we're given a KPI then we should strive for it...why waste time questioning whether it is the right KPI or whether it is the right procedure...when we're young we're told not to challenge and speak up our mind...it's simply rude ain't it...so the cycle goes on and on and on...problem, panick, new rules, new procedures, very urgent, new threat, new game but things remain almost the same...if there's improvement it's not worth the effort and threat...so what's wrong...I don't know honestly but I guess all we need is to take a break, pause and reflect...ask ourselves are we doing the right things...and are we doing the things right...have we set the right KPI/Target...does it align with our vision/mission...is it about outputs/outcomes or is it about processes or is it about inputs...how about classifying our KPIs to high, moderate, low or non value added...so we can prioritize things...is our fundamental/foundation is right/solid...I don't believe in quick wins...without a solid foundation and right fundamental...we simply cannot win...I like this quote...'the shame is not to fail but to not challenge and try it'...let us ponder what it means...that's my 2 cents...I might be wrong...but how about yours...cheers
Sent from my Blackberry

...bad day, bad mood

...had 3 important meetings at 3 different places yesterday...the first was at Putrajaya which ended around 1.30pm...happy with the meeting as I was able to speak up my mind and concerns...I guess I was right on my arguments as I get supports from majoirty of the members...my concern was simple, first please do the right things, and second please do the things right...whatever the decision is, it shouldn't be made to please anyone especially the politician...not in education...period...then rushed to KL for a meeting with secretary general PPIBM at 2.30pm...very good meeting, we discussed about everything especially issues concerning bumiputera entrepreneurs...about innovation and taking opportunities...glad that PPIBM agreed to collaborate for a training project...then took a taxi to KL Sentral for another meeting with CFO SHIREE at 4.30pm...SHIREE is an agency that coordinates projects via NGOs to eradicate extreme poverty in Bangladesh...we share the same passion, hence very good intellectual discussions...learned a lot from a very experienced social worker...truly respect his passions in helping the poors...took KLIA express at 6.30pm...fell asleep all the way to the airport...arrived home at 10pm...simply exhausted...flight delayed the night before, arrived hotel around 1am, fall asleep around 2am to wake up at 6.30am...that was yesterday...woke up early today ready for another 3 meetings and 2 appointments with students...the first morning meeting started 30 minutes late...rushed back to office after the meeting to chair a meeting with admin staff at 12pm to find nobody was there...where's everyone? Ohhh we thought you gonna be late bla bla bla then wasted 30 minutes waiting for everyone to be presence...no sense of guilty...it was a quick meeting I'm in no mood just said what I wanna say...was invited for lunch at 1.30pm to celebrate a student who just completed his DBA...gave a short speech congratulating him bla bla bla...then have a quick zohor prayer before rushing for another meeting at 2.30pm...2 deputies, 4 coordinators, 5 officers and 2 supporting staffs are supposed to be there plus 2 invited members...only 1/3 were there...where's everyone? This fella is on leave, that fella said she will come a bit late, the other fella said he's on the way, another fella said he has something to settle first, another cannot be traced bla bla bla...waited for 15 minutes, picked up my file and left...I have another appointment at 4pm which I then cancelled...feeling sick...this is no joke man...what's the point of fixing a meeting if members do not respect it...almost always late...it has not just become a norm but a thick culture now...no feeling of guilt whatsoever...yes everyone is busy with so many things...no doubt about it...but a meeting is fixed at a certain date & time for a reason...if one cannot make it please inform...secretariat should play its role too in ensuring that everyone is informed and ready for the meeting....we can postpone the meeting if we do not have enough quorum...so nobody waste their valuable time...just take an airline for example...if one flight delay, not only the connecting but the whole flight chains of the day will also delay...this is fundamental...if the fundamental is not right how can we move forward...very frustrating...how can we inculcate the value @ spirit of serving something larger than oneself?...gotta go guys...still in no mood...
Sent from my Blackberry

...indiepreneurs II

...albert einstein once said "the intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant...we have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift"...what a powerful quote that is...he also said "we can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them"...i guess we are now living in a more complicated world...lots of challenges with very limited resources...but instead of crying for more resources, we need to be more innovative in achieving our agenda within the limited resources that we have...there is no perfect place...innovation means, among others, new ways of doing things, new processes, new products...and that requires new ways of thinking...willingness to challenge the norms...and do things differently...why afraid of making mistakes...because we all learn from mistakes anyway...apple polishing won't last long...play safe approach won't help your organization...that is irresponsible...don't be afraid of voicing your opinion...just speak up...we need more crazy ideas to innovate...read HBR blog about the skills that make an entrepreneur...the first trait is persuasion...ability to convince others to change the way they think, believe or behave...second is leadership...those having compelling vision for the future...third is personal accountability...initiative, self-confidence, resiliency and willingness to take responsibility for personal action...fourth is goal orientation....energetically focusing efforts on meeting a goal, mission or objective...last is interpersonal skills...the glue that holds the four skills together...but changing a culture is never easy...it sometimes require force...force will create norm...and norm becomes a new culture...that's one of the lessons we can learn from China...looks where China is now compared to India...we had a meeting yesterday...discussing about the students' low participation rate in the assessment exercise...we have to create awareness...about almost everything...awareness about research, awareness about publication...awareness about bla bla bla...that's always the favorite suggestion...i have heard that many times since many years ago...but things remain the same...the question is how much longer we have to wait...after 28 years we are still talking about creating awareness without realizing that many others are already far ahead of us...it's time for us to move forward and do things differently...how can we leapfrog to another level...i might be wrong but that's my opinion...how about yours...

...Indiepreneurs

...MOHE organized a forum on strategic approaches in transforming higher education financing in malaysia yesterday...I was one of the invited speakers...given a topic on way forward of financing public universities in malaysia...I was actually a bit reluctant to take up the assignment when contacted by the secretariat last week...was in beijing at the time and don't think that I'm gonna have enough time to make good preparation for the event...but it was a rare opportunity...opportunity to speak up my mind...as I think MOHE can do better in its approach...so I just said yes and think about preparation later...if I don't have the time then I'll just speak up from my heart...I have done that many times before...the program started early in the morning and I was the first speaker...never easy being a first speaker...managed to prepare only few slides the night before so my speech was a bit spontaneous...I missed few important points but overall I think I have said what I wanna say...it was a simple speech which I divided into 4 categories...understanding the sources of income...understanding the expenses...understanding the costs of activities, products and services...and finally about entrepreneurial university, as a public university how far should one go...the first 3 are crucial because without a solid undertanding of the income, expenses and costs, one cannot plan...a sound financial management system must be there...which is a problem in most public universities...fix that first and then talk about the rest...actually many studies have been conducted and many approaches have been suggested but none are working...because the fundamental is not fixed...I also suggested few critical suggestions...received mixed reactions which are expected and which I don't really care...but one interesting that I wanna share is...during the Q&A session, one participant, a senior guy whom I know quite well, talked about theories and norms at government agencies...so he said why change and its gonna be difficult even if we wanna change...my answer is simple...theory(ies) is/are there for us to challenge, and systems are there for us to break if we wanna move to next level...be independent (indie)...look beyond the norms...that's what successful businesses do, airasia for example...and that's what few groups of youngsters do...they called themselves indiepreneurs...interesting concept huh...and that's what professors should do...instead of teaching theories...should together with students challenge the theory...and innovate...I think university should look beyond research...as research only transforms ideas into knowledge but innovation transforms knowledge into new products and/processes...otherwise we'll remain irrelevant in the eyes of the industry people...nite guys
Sent from my Blackberry

...loyalty

...general election is coming soon...and it's gonna be interesting as usual...many talked about their loyalty to party...despite their dream to be selected as party candidates...many 'YB to be' said no matter who're chosen they will give their full support...that's what they said and that's what their leaders are hoping for or would like to hear...but we all know...loyalty isn't something that is common in politics nowadays...we have seen politicians jump from one party to another for survival and/or personal gains...that's the reality...normally those who shout the loudest about their loyalty are often the ones who run away the fastest when they are not selected...and that does not happen only in politics...it also happens in organizations be it public or private...I have seen that many times...ok let's not talk about politics...I am neither a politician nor a political analyst, in fact I hate (or dislike) politics...what I really wanna share is about loyalty in organization...let say our leader steps down for whatever reason...what do we do, steps down and follow him?...what if we are not selected as expected...are we going to remain loyal?...I attended a forum about the issue of innovation in beijing recently...which is attributed, among others, to the different leadership style and employee loyalty...comparisons between China and the West, EU to be exact...panellists are reps from China-based MNCs and local Chinese companies...interesting to note what one of the speakers said...in China, employees, in general, are more loyal to their leaders compared to employees in Europe, which are more loyal to their organization...interesting issue for an HR manager ain't it...how about Malaysia...few years ago I held a mid-level position...my boss, third in the management rank, was somehow advised to step down by the new, no 1 boss...so he came to me and asked me to step down as well...he's the one who's appointed me...it's tough because he's my good friend too...I asked for advice from several senior staff...hmm their advice was...to stay...we're not working for an individual, organization comes first...and that's what I did...luckily my former boss is still my good friend....
Sent from my Blackberry