Strategic Pragmatism: The Culture of Singapore's Economics Development Board

Book Description

foreword by Lester Thurow

Per capita income in Singapore has gone from $500 to more than $20,000 in a little over twenty-five years. Edgar Schein, a social psychologist with a long and celebrated research interest in organizational studies, examines the cultural history of the key intstitution that spawned this economic miracle. Through interviews and full access to Singapore's Economic Development Board (EDB), Schein shows how economic development was successfully promoted. He delves into the individual relationships and the overall structure that contributed to the EDB's effectiveness in propelling Singapore, one of Asia's "little dragons" into the modern era. In his foreword, Lester Thurrow locates Schein's organizational and case-specific account within a larger economic and comparative framework.

Over a period of two years, Schein studied how the EDB was created, the kind of leadership it provided, the management structure it used, the human resource policies it pursued, and how it influenced other organizations within the Singapore government. Schein sat in on EDB meetings and extensively interviewed current and former members of the board, Singapore's leaders who created the board, and businesspeople who have dealt with the board. His book intertwines the perspective of the board's members and its investor clients in an analysis that uses both organization and cross-cultural theory.

Although there are currently studies of comparable Japanese and Korean organizations, this is the first detailed analysis of the internal structure and functioning of the economic development body of Singapore, a key player in the Asian and world markets.

Customer Reviews:

The revelation for the first time how Singapore's leaders pick top brains to run the various government bodies, like the EDB!.......2006-10-25

STRATEGIC PRAGMATISM: THE CULTURE OF SINGAPORE'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD
by Dr Edgar Schein

This book documents the culture of Singapore's Economic Development Board (EDB), a quasi-government body set up in the early sixties to spearhead the country's attraction for foreign investment. It sheds light on how Singapore within the space of thirty-five years could be transformed from a fairly improverished under-developed country with per capita of US$500 into a modern city state that today stays at the forefront of the world's most competitive economies. Today, Singapore's per capita income exceeds US$25,000.

More precisely, this book tracks the creation & development of the EDB, its leadership & management structure, its human resource policies & its influences over other organisations within the Singapore government. The book also intertwines the many perspectives of Singapore's leaders who created the board, the current & former EDB board members, business-people who have dealt with the board, & more importantly, the major investor clients from North America, Europe & elsewhere.

What strikes me most about this book, at the time when I read it during the mid-nineties, is the revelation for the first time how Singapore's leaders, specifically Lee Kuan Yew (Singapore's Prime Minister from the early sixties to early nineties) pick top brains to run the various government ministries as well as statutory bodies, like the EDB. EDB's top brains include the late Hon Sui Sen (whom Lee Kuan Yew reluctantly lent to Dr Goh Keng Swee to develop & run the EDB in the early years), I F Tang, Chan Chin Bok, Ngiam Tong Dow, P Y Hwang & Philip Yeo. (Philip Yeo masterminded the US$4 billion Jurong Island complex, in which seven offshore islands were linked with imported landfill to form a huge new industrial area. Currently, as chairman of Singapore's National Science & Technology Board, he is positioning Singapore to excel at what he believes is the next big thing: life sciences & bioengineering.)

From the book, I learned that Lee Kuan Yew (at the time the book was researched & written, he was Senior Minister in the Singapore cabinet; currently, he is Minister Mentor to the Singapore cabinet) has used the H-A-I-R module to pick his candidates. He has adopted this human resource module from the Royal Dutch-Shell Group, a global energy & petrochemical company that has also pioneered the application of scenario planning in long-term strategy formulation. (Shell is the world's second largest oil company after ExxonMobil & owns the first oil refinery in Singapore. Today, Shell is acknowledged as Singapore' first 'Distinguished Partner in Progress'.)

For the benefit of readers, here is the H-A-I-R module (Lee Kuan Yew has specifically pointed out that he has wanted all four qualities in the people who he selected, as follows):

H = Helicopter ability: the ability to rise above the immediate scene & see it from a total & overall perspective;

A = Analytical ability;

I = Imagination: the ability to see things from new & creative perspectives;

R = Realism: having one's feet firmly placed on the ground;

Furthermore, from the book, I also learned that Lee Kuan Yew has mandated that the entire civil service in Singapore adopt the HAIR module & distribute the booklet describing the system in detail to every. He has even asked Shell to train people in the use of the system. Though EDB does not use the system explicitly, these qualities are sought in the recruits.

The other interesting revelation by the book is the fact that EDB has embraced readily the concept of itself as a 'learning organisation' during the mid-nineties, drawing much inspiration from Peter Senge's systems thinking perspectives.

On the whole, 'Strategic Pragmatism', has been an interesting & inspirational read for me.

[Readers who are interested to find out more about how EDB picked their 'road warriors' - EDB's international centre directors, who roamed the entire globe, more specifically North America & Europe, to scout, cajole & attract foreign investors to Singapore, & their 'war stories' - should read Chan Chin Bok (former EDB Chairman)'s 'Heart Work: Singapore Economic Development Board & EDB Society'. Another interesting & inspirational read!]

A case study by a world authority on organizational culture.......1999-12-07

A detailed case study of a unique experiment in development cooperation between a nation state and business, focused on the body at the centre of the development strategy. Written by a leading expert on organisational culture. It is of interest both to students of organisational culture and for its relevance to globalisation.

Two groups of readers who will be interested in this 1997 study of Singapore's Economic Development Board (EDB). T EDB has been Singapore's chosen instrument for development and implementation of its policies to become a very successful player in a globalised world. Its strategies and practices are of more than passing interest to anyone interested in dealing successfully with globalisation. Both the discussion of the factors in the EDB's success and the discussion of the problems and issues that it - and by extension Singapore - faces make an extremely illuminating case study that, by virtue of EDB's role, incorporates national, governmental and enterprise perspectives. The book also makes an interesting case study of other criteria for successful globalisation identified by both Thurow: Building Wealth and Friedman: The Lexus and the Olive Tree.

Second, students of organisational culture are offered a thorough and lucid account of how the person who is arguably the world's foremost authority on organisational culture went about studying a major organisation in the context of a wider societal culture with which he was not wholly familiar.

Average customer rating:
Strategic Pragmatism (The Culture of Singapore's Economic Development Board)
Edgar H Schein
Manufacturer: MIT Press/Toppan Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OQJ2HC

Book Description

Two themes have become epicenters of new management thinking in the late 1990s: knowledge management and competence-based approaches to strategic management. These two themes share a common interest in identifying imporatant froms of organizational knowledge and in understanding processes through which knowledge can be transformed into organizational capabilities and competences. Knowledge Management and Organisational Competence draws on the latest research by a number of noted management scholars. It presents new insights into various kinds of knowledge that are of value to organizations, organizational interactions that can create strategically useful knowledge, alternative processes for managing knowledge, and approaches to integrating key forms of knowledge into organizational processes of competence building and leveraging. The papers in the volume collectively define a powerful conceptual framework for understanding organizational knowledge and its central role in building and leveraging competences. They present well articulated, logically consistent conceptualizations that will provide new theoretical impetus for management researchers, while at the same time providing case studies and examples of practical applications that suggest useful new methods and tools for maangement practitioners.

Average customer rating:

Competence in the Learning Society

Manufacturer: Peter Lang Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

MIS | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 0820451649

Book Description

Despite the accuracy of the critiques of the international "competence education and testing movement," which promote narrow approaches to education based on delivering and testing prepackaged knowledge in simplistic and practically ineffective models of competence, Competence in the Learning Society shows that the development of a better framework for thinking about the nature, development, release, and assessment of competence is vital. It explores the kinds of competence that are needed if our society is to survive the impending environmental and social collapse. Competence in the Learning Society makes a case for a renewed understanding of competence which is not only about doing a job effectively, but ensuring the job is making an effective contribution by going beyond its boundaries and influencing the system in which it operates. This book also describes the kind of educational and societal systems that are needed to develop and nurture high-level competence.

Book Description

This second volume of Research in Competence-Based Management (RCBM) continues the launch of a long-awaited outlet for peer-reviewed research papers contributing to advancement of competence-based management theory.

Book Description

Summary

The fifth volume in the Advances in Developing Human Resources series.

The book starts by looking at human capital from a theoretical perspective and finishes from a perspective of application. The first and second chapters support the development of a foundational understanding of the elements of human capital management. The third and fourth chapters examine the two theoretical components of intellectual capital and knowledge management. The fifth and sixth chapters discuss applications of human capital management theory from two different theoretical perspectives. The seventh and final chapter pulls all the concepts together as it examines organizational knowledge, competence and expertise from the context of strategic planning and discusses some of the implications this holds for organizations.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Description

"This book represents a mere dipping of toes into the ocean that metaphorically represents the little that is known and the much that is unknown about organizational knowledge, competence and expertise. It provides a glimpse into a much larger world that is waiting to be explored-a world where organizational strategy represents a process focused on the creation and flow of valuable information, developing the core competencies that make the organization unique, and keeping the entire organization expertise-rich.

The book starts by looking at human capital from a theoretical perspective and finishes from a perspective of application. The first and second chapters support the development of a foundational understanding of the elements of human capital management. Chapter 1 examines the roles and relationships that knowledge, competence, and expertise take on when human capital management is seen as part of an organization's strategic positioning. Chapter 2 specifically looks at the nature and characteristics of human expertise.

The third and fourth chapters examine the two theoretical components of intellectual capital and knowledge management. The existing theories and concepts of intellectual capital are presented in Chapter 3, which focuses on the dynamic impact that intellectual capital can have on the organization. Springboarding off this, Chapter 4 begins with the premise that knowledge is a complex and intangible asset with unique cultural and technical dimensions. It then draws on existing theory and recent empirical studies to develop a theory of knowledge management.

The fifth and sixth chapters discuss applications of human capital management theory from two different perspectives. Chapter 5 takes the training and development perspective in demonstrating how the economic theories of gaming and human capital provide a conceptual model for forecasting the strategic potential of a training initiative. Chapter 6, presenting an organization development perspective, highlights the shortcomings of financial-based techniques for assessing the value of human capital and outlines a new, strategic approach to human resource management.

The seventh and final chapter pulls all the concepts together as it examines organizational knowledge, competence, and expertise from the context of strategic planning and discusses some ofthe implications this holds for the organization." - from the Preface

Average customer rating:
IS outsourcing management competence dimensions: instrument development and relationship exploration [An article from: Information & Management]
Z. Shi , A.S. Kunnathur , and T.S. Ragu-Nathan
Manufacturer: Elsevier
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Management | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Management | Business & Investing | Subjects | e-Docs | Formats | Books
ASIN: B000RR6NCA

Book Description

This digital document is a journal article from Information & Management, published by Elsevier in . The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Description:
In this paper, we discuss our investigation of IS outsourcing management competences, their relationships and measurement. First, three theoretical perspectives were applied to explain the nature of the IS outsourcing phenomenon. Second, IS outsourcing management competence dimensions and their measures were generated, based on the literature. Third, data was then gathered to refine measures empirically and test proposed competences and their relationships. The theoretical development and empirical testing filled the gap in IS outsourcing management competence research resulting in important implications for IS outsourcing practitioners.

Book Description

Functional dairy products have been the focus of intense research and product development over the last two decades. At last, this valuable information has been compiled into one resource that reveals key advances in functional dairy ingredients and products and identifies directions for marketing and product development. Handbook of Functional Dairy Products explores the product development process and the market dynamics driving product innovation. Chapters examine specific ingredients and products, safety and technology issues, the impact of biotechnology, the regulatory environment, and the communication of health benefits. Emphasis is placed on the potential contribution of functional dairy products in the maintenance of health and prevention of disease, and includes in-depth discussions of the selection, production, and benefits of probiotics, dairy-derived carbohydrates and prebiotics, bioactive peptides, the immune modulating effects of dairy ingredients, the health effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), and calcium and iron fortification. With a wealth of new research findings and insightful guidance for food product developers, this comprehensive reference is a must for everyone involved in the science, development, and marketing of functional dairy products.

Average customer rating:

Handbook of Functional Dairy Products
Colette Shortt
Manufacturer: CRC PRESS INC @
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000N64570

Book Description

For more than a hundred million years, sea turtles have been swimming in the world's oceans. These magnificent, long-lived creatures spend their lives in the water, coming ashore to lay their eggs. Upon hatching, the baby turtles leave the nest and enter a dangerous world of storms and predators. The females will return to the same beach to lay their own eggs when they reach maturity a decade later. Today, there are seven species of sea turtle: the grass--eating green turtle; the sea sponge--eating hawksbill; the olive ridley; the Kemp's ridley, which is the smallest species; the loggerhead; the flatback of Australia; and the giant leatherback. Having escaped the mass extinction that wiped out the dinosaurs, these ancient reptiles today face new dangers that threaten their survival: pollution, hunting, and the destruction of their nesting grounds. Will this century be the last to witness their majesty? Will succeeding generations live in a world devoid of their graceful presence?

Marine biologist James R. Spotila has spent much of his life unraveling the mysteries of these graceful creatures and working to ensure their survival. In Sea Turtles, he offers a comprehensive and compelling account of their history and life cycle based on the most recent scientific data -- and suggests what we can do now to save them. From the Kemp's ridley, which nests on a single beach on Mexico's Gulf Coast, to the nomadic leatherback, which can weigh up to a ton and is in the most imminent danger of extinction, Spotila offers a vivid description of their diets and mating habits, and the conservation efforts being made on their behalf. Illustrated with stunning color photographs by the world's leading nature photographers, Sea Turtles will inform and inspire readers of all ages everywhere.

Customer Reviews:

EVERYTHING You need to know about Sea Turtles.......2007-05-23

I purchased this book for my High School Freshman as a Honors Lit non-fiction book project. She made a beautiful powerpoint presentation and Website with quizzes. This book was fabulous. At first I thought it would be a tough kind of informational book to read, but it was not! It was written in layman terms and easy to read. The pictures are nothing less than gorgeous. There is so much information packed in this book it was hard to decide what to leave out! Also this book would be a beautiful coffee table book because the quality and pictures are wonderful. There was plenty of information about conservation and even though my daughter has always loved turtles now she is an activist and has joined a save the sea turtles foundation. This book was a godsend and a pleasure to read.

Superb book.......2006-11-05

This book is full of fantastic photos and a wealth of detailed information. A must for anybody interested in sea turtles.

Beautiful and educational.......2006-07-30

This book is beautiful. From one of the top sea turtle conservationists. It covers almost everything there is to know about sea turtles. The diagrams of turtle anatomy really help to understand these creatures. It is also great that Spotila profiles some of the dedicated conservationists working to protect the turtles. The pictures are stunning. The books large pages do the pictures and the turtles justice. After reading the book, you feel as if you have been initiated into the world of sea turtles. And, an added bonus, a portion of the royalties will be donated to Leatherback Trust. In short, if you like sea turtles, buy this book.

Sea Turtles.......2006-02-22

I am a biologist and found this book filled with inspiration because it offered so many ways we all can help with saving the sea turtles. I plan to do my part, how about you?

Sea Turtle Lovers: Your Book Has Arrived!.......2005-09-10

James Spotila has produced one of those "labor of love" books that belongs on the shelf or coffee table of anyone who has ever enjoyed viewing a sea turtle.

Up to now these poorly understood gentile reptiles have been exploited to near extinction. Hopefully now the new understanding that these are wonderful sea creatures that deserve protection and respect is here to stay. Mr. Spotila's book will make a turtle lover out of anyone and I hope that it is widely read and becomes that classic natural history book on the 7 species of sea turtle that it should be.

Sea Turtles A Complete Guide To Their Biology, Behavior and Conservation

Average customer rating:

Sea Turtles A Complete Guide To Their Biology, Behavior and Conservation
Spotila James R.
Manufacturer: Johns Hopkins UP
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UI84GO

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books