...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
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