Wednesday, March 3, 2010
New Asia Republic
I introduce you to a new website, New Asia Republic. Visit it. There is a link on the right panel. I have written an article on taxation here.
Puzzleman
REVISED LINK:
Here are some interesting puzzles for you and your family. Download the PDF and print it out. You can do the puzzles in your free time. You can also pass them to your family members and friends. They can test their problem solving skills.
Many people were surprised that it was possible to make 100 shapes from the 4 plastic pieces. Many of the shapes are challenging and could not be done easily. When they learned the solution, there were surprised that it was simple and ingenuous. They also learn to have a flexible mind and see "out of the box". The Shape Quiz book is available at $6 and the mini-pak at $2. Each comes with 4 plastic pieces in a zip lock bag.
Click here
Here are some interesting puzzles for you and your family. Download the PDF and print it out. You can do the puzzles in your free time. You can also pass them to your family members and friends. They can test their problem solving skills.
Many people were surprised that it was possible to make 100 shapes from the 4 plastic pieces. Many of the shapes are challenging and could not be done easily. When they learned the solution, there were surprised that it was simple and ingenuous. They also learn to have a flexible mind and see "out of the box". The Shape Quiz book is available at $6 and the mini-pak at $2. Each comes with 4 plastic pieces in a zip lock bag.
Click here
Increasing productivity in Singapore
There is now a strategic thrust to improve productivity in Singapore, to become less dependent on low cost foreign workers. Some people are sceptical. They say that this slogan is nice to say, but difficult to achieve. In some respect, they are right. The productivity campaign was first launched in Singapore three decades ago. Why has it not made much progress during this time?
I want to give a honest view, although some people may not like to hear it. We have a culture in Singapore of saying nice things, but not addressing the root of the problem. This is why we were not able to improve the birth rate, in spite of top level priority and massive effort expended for more than two decades. Improving productivity is another challenge that has not been overcome.
What is the root of the problem? We tend to take a theoretically approach towards solving our problems. We can say nice things and adopt strategies crafted by consultants, who do not really know the problem. Their solutions come from the text books, but are not practical. Some people say that this is the price to pay for letting scholars run the country.
We need to look at the root of the problem, before we can understand and find lasting solution. To improve productivity, we have to overcome the risk adverse mindset of Singaporeans.
Many people feel safe in keeping the status quo and are quite good in identifying reasons to keep the status quo. They will not make a change, unless the decision is made by someone at the top. Singaporeans are generally good at identify problems, including imaginary problems, rather than implementing change and improvements .
Singapore is also a wasteful society. We spend a lot of money on technology and management consultants, instead of implementing simple and practical improvements. Many people do not want to take the responsibility, so they pass the buck to the consultants, who take the big fees and also do not find any solution.
Can this mindset be changed? Yes, it can. The best way is to require a change to be done and to give a small budget for the change. You will be surprised how resourceful people can be, if they have limited budget and the responsible to solve the problem. i.e. no excuse accepted.
Tan Kin Lian
I want to give a honest view, although some people may not like to hear it. We have a culture in Singapore of saying nice things, but not addressing the root of the problem. This is why we were not able to improve the birth rate, in spite of top level priority and massive effort expended for more than two decades. Improving productivity is another challenge that has not been overcome.
What is the root of the problem? We tend to take a theoretically approach towards solving our problems. We can say nice things and adopt strategies crafted by consultants, who do not really know the problem. Their solutions come from the text books, but are not practical. Some people say that this is the price to pay for letting scholars run the country.
We need to look at the root of the problem, before we can understand and find lasting solution. To improve productivity, we have to overcome the risk adverse mindset of Singaporeans.
Many people feel safe in keeping the status quo and are quite good in identifying reasons to keep the status quo. They will not make a change, unless the decision is made by someone at the top. Singaporeans are generally good at identify problems, including imaginary problems, rather than implementing change and improvements .
Singapore is also a wasteful society. We spend a lot of money on technology and management consultants, instead of implementing simple and practical improvements. Many people do not want to take the responsibility, so they pass the buck to the consultants, who take the big fees and also do not find any solution.
Can this mindset be changed? Yes, it can. The best way is to require a change to be done and to give a small budget for the change. You will be surprised how resourceful people can be, if they have limited budget and the responsible to solve the problem. i.e. no excuse accepted.
Tan Kin Lian
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)