Good Research @ Good Research Great Return Making a Difference - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

KEYNOTE ADDRESS 3 KEYNOTE ADDRESS 3

“ “Good Research Good Research @

@ Great Return

Great Return” ”

• Making a Difference to the

Making a Difference to the Management of Technology Management of Technology in Malaysia in Malaysia

Han Chun Han Chun Kwong Kwong

Professor of e Professor of e-

• Business,

Business, Universiti Universiti Putra Putra Malaysia Malaysia

strategic intent towards strategic intent towards “ “Professor of Bio Professor of Bio-

• Business

Business” ” senior professor = Senior Citizen = Being Critical senior professor = Senior Citizen = Being Critical

Honorary Professor, Honorary Professor, Universiti Universiti Tunku Tunku Abdul Abdul Rahman Rahman President, Association of Asian Pacific OR Societies President, Association of Asian Pacific OR Societies Founding President, Management Sciences @ Malaysia Founding President, Management Sciences @ Malaysia Founding President, Founding President, 1999 1999-

• 2004

2004, Customer Relationship , Customer Relationship Management and Contact Centre Association of Malaysia Management and Contact Centre Association of Malaysia

Han Chun Han Chun Kwong Kwong

Outline Outline

A World of Knowledge A World of Knowledge-

• based, Innovation &

based, Innovation & Dream Economies in Developing Countries Dream Economies in Developing Countries Reflections on a World of Complexity : Reflections on a World of Complexity : Empirical Cases from Empirical Cases from ANT ANT-

• Complexity

Complexity-

• Structurational

Structurational Lens Lens Making a Difference : Making a Difference : Best Practices Best Practices vis

vis-

• à

à-

• vis

vis

Great Practices from Good Research Great Practices from Good Research

K K-

• based Economy Master Plan 9 September 02

based Economy Master Plan 9 September 02

Innovation Economy Innovation Economy

• Malaysia = going into Innovation

Malaysia = going into Innovation-

• led Economy,

led Economy, Market Market-

• & Technology driven

& Technology driven

ICT ICT – – MSC Malaysia MSC Malaysia Health Care Health Care – – Local products Local products eg eg Tongkat Tongkat Ali Ali Business & Finance Business & Finance – – Venture Capital Venture Capital Materials & Manufactured Products Materials & Manufactured Products – – Biotechnology Biotechnology

Return on Investment Return on Investment Return on Innov Return on Innovation ation

Dream Economy Dream Economy

PRACTICAL and FUNCTIONAL VALUE of things is eclipsed by PRACTICAL and FUNCTIONAL VALUE of things is eclipsed by their ability to serve as conduits for meaning; to stand as their ability to serve as conduits for meaning; to stand as representative signs or symbols for things of the imagination representative signs or symbols for things of the imagination = = ideas, hopes, aspirations and dreams

ideas, hopes, aspirations and dreams.

.

Value of a pair of shoes Value of a pair of shoes =

= comfort, fit or durability

comfort, fit or durability but rather in the names such as Nike, but rather in the names such as Nike, + + PRADA

PRADA

and in the ability of those names to serve in consumer culture a and in the ability of those names to serve in consumer culture as s signs of wealth, exclusivity, athleticism, achievement, and so o signs of wealth, exclusivity, athleticism, achievement, and so on. n.

Complexity in World Today Complexity in World Today

• MBA and scientific training focus on the

MBA and scientific training focus on the formal formal description description rather than the real world rather than the real world

• The real world is complex

The real world is complex

Mikulecky Mikulecky 2001 2001

“ “Managers Not MBAs Managers Not MBAs” ”

Mintzberg Mintzberg 2004 2004

“ “From Higher Aims to Hired Hands From Higher Aims to Hired Hands… …. . … …Unfulfilled Promise of Management as a Profession Unfulfilled Promise of Management as a Profession” ” Khurana Khurana 2007 2007

K K-

• ICT Blueprint

ICT Blueprint 2001 2001-

• 2007

2007 Structurational Structurational Analysis Analysis

STATE K-ICT

THAT STATE,

The State,

STRUCTURATION ~ Way of Seeing and Knowing STRUCTURATION ~ Way of Seeing and Knowing

Legitimation Legitimation Signification Signification Domination Domination

STRUCTURE STRUCTURE CONTEXTS CONTEXTS

Interpretative Interpretative Schemes Schemes Resources Resources Norms Norms

Modality Modality

Communication Communication

ACTION ACTION PROCESSES PROCESSES

Power Power Sanction Sanction

Malaysia Malaysia’ ’s s Multimedia Super Corridor Multimedia Super Corridor 1997 1997-

• 2007

2007 Complexity Analysis Complexity Analysis

Multimedia Super Corridor ~ Multimedia Super Corridor ~ “ “A Gift to the World A Gift to the World” ”

MDeC will continue to be a cost centre with strategic intent on socio-economics and digital divide, development of local industry, and attracting foreign investments

Complexity Theory - Essential Features

• Large numbers of elements

Large numbers of elements

• Local Interactions

Local Interactions

• Emergence

Emergence – – global from local global from local

• Feedback

Feedback

• Self

Self-

• organization
• rganization

Key idea Key idea – – often over

• ften over-
• hyped

hyped

• Importance of the environment

Importance of the environment Often overlooked Often overlooked

Complexity Theory

Complex Systems Large number of independent relatively dumb elements interact according to a small set

• f rules

Self-organizing – order emerges Local rules, local interactions – global order emerges Definition by Example Ant Colonies – clear tunnels with no idea of how to clear a tunnel Neighborhoods – create a structure with no central planning

MSC Decision Making from Complexity Analysis MSC Decision Making from Complexity Analysis

Based on their backgrounds, practices and culture, Based on their backgrounds, practices and culture, MSC decision makers assumed, during MSC MSC decision makers assumed, during MSC inception, inception,

• Change initiatives should start from the top

Change initiatives should start from the top

• Certainty and predictable stages of development

Certainty and predictable stages of development

• Implicit belief on national development

Implicit belief on national development

• Applying Complexity Advantage

Applying Complexity Advantage to the MSC Malaysia to the MSC Malaysia

BIMP BIMP-

• EAGA

EAGA Knowledge Centre Knowledge Centre ANT Analysis ANT Analysis

ANT Analytics ANT Analytics

BIMP BIMP-

• EAGA

EAGA Case Case

Public The Unemployed

ICT Players Ministry

• f

K+ICT

Knowledge Centre

Social Context Technological Context

Human actors Non-human actors

Strategic Alignment A C T O R N E T W R O K

A World of Difference A World of Difference

Developing and Developed Countries Developing and Developed Countries

Approaches & Ideas in the West are entirely different from the Approaches & Ideas in the West are entirely different from the East East

But we use the textbooks of the West for our MBA But we use the textbooks of the West for our MBA

Henry Henry Mintzberg Mintzberg 2004 2004 “ “Managers Not MBAs Managers Not MBAs” ” are of are of GREATER RELEVANCE to Developing Countries GREATER RELEVANCE to Developing Countries

A Hard Look = Successful Execution in Developing A Hard Look = Successful Execution in Developing Countries does not need an MBA Countries does not need an MBA Customer Centricity is simply a jargon and catch Customer Centricity is simply a jargon and catch phrase learnt from MBA; indeed phrase learnt from MBA; indeed

Super Super-

• Normal Profit is the Strategic Intent,

Normal Profit is the Strategic Intent, Unwritten Rule, Unwritten Rule, “ “Higher Aim Higher Aim” ”

Structuration Structuration Complexity Complexity Actor Network Actor Network Lens Lens & &

Being Critical Being Critical

Wisdom is a Sophisticated Model Wisdom is a Sophisticated Model

… … at best hollow replicas of the real Silicon Valley, mere real

at best hollow replicas of the real Silicon Valley, mere real-

• estate

estate developments developments… ….high .high-

• technology

technology-

• related sweatshops

related sweatshops… ….where cheap .where cheap labour labour does simple programming or call processing for does simple programming or call processing for foreigners foreigners… ….but there .but there’ ’s no sign that any Asian country is s no sign that any Asian country is rethinking rethinking… …

AN ANCIENT WISDOM : Newsweek, Dec 02 AN ANCIENT WISDOM : Newsweek, Dec 02-

• Feb03 Special Edition on Issues 2003

Feb03 Special Edition on Issues 2003

Such a simplistic and superficial analysis fails to consider the Such a simplistic and superficial analysis fails to consider the reflexive reflexive monitoring of policies and their implications done by skilful monitoring of policies and their implications done by skilful actants actants and and players as they constantly rethink, reinvent and recreate their players as they constantly rethink, reinvent and recreate their strategies and strategies and projects. projects.

More sophisticated methodologies are needed to More sophisticated methodologies are needed to generate better insights generate better insights Wisdom comes by illumination from using a Wisdom comes by illumination from using a sophisticated model sophisticated model

A Prescription for Practice A Prescription for Practice

...I reproduce below a piece of written prescription for policy ...I reproduce below a piece of written prescription for policy makers makers from a practicing from a practicing technopreneur technopreneur: : “ “So, Malaysian policy makers, take heed. Efforts of leapfrogging So, Malaysian policy makers, take heed. Efforts of leapfrogging to to a k a k-

• based economy does not involve tinkering with only a few parts

based economy does not involve tinkering with only a few parts

• f the national development system, derived from a short
• f the national development system, derived from a short-
• sighted

sighted emulation of American technological hubs and funding systems. emulation of American technological hubs and funding systems. …… ……Therefore, the players must consist of people who are Therefore, the players must consist of people who are collaborative in nature and unafraid to conduct frank, open collaborative in nature and unafraid to conduct frank, open dialogues, debates and analysis, dialogues, debates and analysis, … ….. Turf wars and personal .. Turf wars and personal agendas should be eliminated and observance of the Asian concept agendas should be eliminated and observance of the Asian concept

• f face be reduced, lest we lose our heads in the process.
• f face be reduced, lest we lose our heads in the process.”

” This prescription has been based on presumptions of a world wher This prescription has been based on presumptions of a world where e diverse interpretive schemes, asymmetrical relations of powe diverse interpretive schemes, asymmetrical relations of power, r, divergent values, actor networks, uncertainty, contradictio divergent values, actor networks, uncertainty, contradictions and ns and conflicts in human relations are conflicts in human relations are non

non-

• significant

significant. .

Where is the Government Expertise ? Where is the Government Expertise ?

The Edge Malaysia, 15 January 2007, pp. 68, 72 The Edge Malaysia, 15 January 2007, pp. 68, 72

Tun Tun Dr Dr Mahathir Mahathir Mohamed Mohamed’ ’s recent disclosure: s recent disclosure:

“ “The Cabinet is not made up of experts The Cabinet is not made up of experts… …Cabinet merely passes on the Cabinet merely passes on the basis of principle. They do not really study the implications of basis of principle. They do not really study the implications of some some passages in the agreement passages in the agreement… … and usually the small print is not there and usually the small print is not there…” …”

Civil Service to make definitive, fair and unbiased Civil Service to make definitive, fair and unbiased decisions on implementation. decisions on implementation. Government expertise should not be Government expertise should not be “ “systematically systematically marginalised marginalised” ”. . Suggestion : Expert Committees, disclosure of decision Suggestion : Expert Committees, disclosure of decision rules and intended agreements, public scrutiny for rules and intended agreements, public scrutiny for transparency transparency… …

so that serious mistakes of the past will not be repeated (The E so that serious mistakes of the past will not be repeated (The Edge dge’ ’s view) s view)

Han : Han : DISAGREES DISAGREES to to “ “stupidity stupidity” ”, , “ “lack of expertise lack of expertise” ”, , “ “stupid ministers stupid ministers” ”, , “ “incompetent incompetent” ”

“ “WORLD WORLD-

• CLASS SKILLFUL ACTORS

CLASS SKILLFUL ACTORS” ”

by the Ant by the Ant-

• Complexity

Complexity-

• Structurational

Structurational definition definition

Best Practices Best Practices versus versus Great Practices Great Practices from Good Critical from Good Critical Research Research

Best Practices Best Practices

Best Approach and Methodology that work in Best Approach and Methodology that work in real real-

• life experiences in organization in that

life experiences in organization in that industry industry Could be partially developed from Prescription Could be partially developed from Prescription

• r Explicit Models such as Blue Ocean Strategy;
• r Explicit Models such as Blue Ocean Strategy;

Porter Porter’ ’s Value Chain; Six Sigma; s Value Chain; Six Sigma; Tapscott Tapscott’ ’s s Wikinomics Wikinomics; Triple Helix on Innovation; ; Triple Helix on Innovation; Practitioners align to their specific organizational Practitioners align to their specific organizational interests and contexts and interests and contexts and Implicit Theories Implicit Theories from their life from their life-

• long practical

long practical experiences experiences

Good Research Good Research

GOOD, indeed Very Good Research GOOD, indeed Very Good Research versus EXCELLENT RESEARCH versus EXCELLENT RESEARCH { academic ?!? } { academic ?!? } is about Description and Prescription is about Description and Prescription in the trenches in organizations in the trenches in organizations “ “in in-

• organization
• rganization”

” empirical data collection using empirical data collection using reflexive methodology, mixed theory method, reflexive methodology, mixed theory method, interpretive and post interpretive and post-

• positivist approaches

positivist approaches Rather than primary or secondary data analysis based Rather than primary or secondary data analysis based

• n quantitative models and algorithmic knowledge
• n quantitative models and algorithmic knowledge

Conventional Management Sciences and Economics Conventional Management Sciences and Economics increasingly capture a part of the sophistication. increasingly capture a part of the sophistication.

Necessary but not sufficient Necessary but not sufficient

Being Critical Being Critical

I INSIGHTS NSIGHTS : In : In-

• depth Investigations at local levels

depth Investigations at local levels through interpretive, through interpretive, contextualist contextualist, hermeneutic , hermeneutic and ethnographic approaches and ethnographic approaches CRITICAL OUTLOOK CRITICAL OUTLOOK : Critique of taken : Critique of taken-

• for

for-

• granted assumptions underpinning

granted assumptions underpinning

• rganizational, managerial and technological
• rganizational, managerial and technological

practices practices TRANSFORMATION TRANSFORMATION : Development of knowledge : Development of knowledge for action and practical understanding that for action and practical understanding that enable ICT enable ICT-

• related organizational change,

related organizational change, diversity, and re diversity, and re-

• constructing new ways of

constructing new ways of working and living. working and living.

Good Research @ Great Return Good Research @ Great Return

Good research comes from sophistication Good research comes from sophistication and simplicity, using scientific approaches and simplicity, using scientific approaches such as a combination of ANT, Complexity, such as a combination of ANT, Complexity, Structuration Structuration theoretical frameworks that theoretical frameworks that provide greater insights = WISDOM provide greater insights = WISDOM

Research Research-

• based

based “ “Wisdom Wisdom” ” is pivotal to is pivotal to implementable implementable and and doable practice doable practice = GREAT RETURN = GREAT RETURN = TRANSFORMATION = TRANSFORMATION

Ribuan Ribuan Terima Terima Kasih Kasih Thank You Very Much Thank You Very Much

Each and everyone of you for your kind presence this morning Each and everyone of you for your kind presence this morning ! !

Good Research @ Great Practice Good Research @ Great Practice

Professor Professor vis

vis-

• à

à-

• vis

vis Practitioner

Practitioner