Issue 2
LEAP INTO THE
FUTURE
There are no old roads to new directions - The Boston Consulting Group -
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Sarawak Leadership Bulletin - ISSUE 2
[ CONTENTS ]
EDITORIAL Page 4 ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION Page 6 ABANG JO SINCE BECOMING CHIEF MINISTER Page 8-9 THE INSTITUTE TRANSFORMATION Page 12-13 TALK ABOUT : COMMUNICATIONS IN THE DIGITAL ERA Page 16-17 LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE TRAINING PROGRAMMES THUS FAR FOR 2017 Page 22-27
EDITORIAL TEAM Page 5 QUOTES ON LEADERSHIP Page 7 FEATURE ARTICLE - LEADERSHIP Page 10-11 MISCOMMUNICATION Page 14-15 A LEXICON OF THE DIGITAL ECONOMY Page 18-21
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Editorial by Dr. Simon Botley
There is a saying that change is not compulsory, but neither is survival. This means that change is so important and so urgent that we cannot survive without it. Presumably, if we try to stay still, stay the same while the world changes all around us, we will quickly die out as a species. This is thought-provoking and slightly uncomfortable to dwell on, but if we really think about it, change should not bring fear. It should be understood, and embraced, especially if you are a leader. As leaders, we have to embrace change because the economic, social and political conditions that we work in are always in flux. We live in a fast-moving, dynamic world system which doesn’t stop just for us. Examples of this are all around us. When I first came to Sarawak back in 1998, most of the road junctions from Tabuan Jaya to Mile 7 were roundabouts, and the traffic jams were unbelievable! Now, most road junctions are controlled by traffic lights, and the vehicles move through town much more smoothly. There is even talk of an LRT system being planned for Kuching! Twenty years ago, I could not have dreamed that I would be able to access almost the sum total of human knowledge using a small electronic device that I can keep in my pocket. Since the last issue of this Bulletin, which was published last December, there have been two major changes in Sarawak which go well beyond the transport system. Firstly, there has been a change of leadership at the top of the Sarawak Government, which has led to many new changes for the State. Since the tragic demise of the previous Chief Minister, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem (Tok Nan), a new CM has stepped up to the plate, in the form of Datuk Amar Abang Johari bin Tun Openg. Although the new man in charge has continued the visionary policies introduced by his predecessor, ‘Abang Jo’ has firmly placed Sarawak on the road towards a digital economy in which all commercial and government activities will be conducted online using digital technology. From now on, disruptive technologies, e-commerce and a massive expansion in digital infrastructure will be the order of the day. These changes have not been compulsory – but they are necessary if Sarawak is to develop into a social, political and economic powerhouse in the 21st Century. This is why the theme of change is very important in this, the second edition of the newly-rebooted Sarawak Leadership Journal. We firmly support the State’s drive towards a digital future, because the way things have been done in the past cannot continue, therefore we all need to learn how to live with change, with constant newness. As George Bernard Shaw said: “Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.”
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Sarawak Leadership Bulletin - ISSUE 2
Datu Dr. Sabariah Putit Advisor
Dr. Simon Botley Chief Editor
Mohamad b. Abd. Rahman Editor & Contributor
Zosen Newrin Contributor
Diana Marie Capel Contributor
editorial team
Samson Tan Editor & Contributor
Awang Ismail Artwork & Design
Abdul Rani Photographer
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About this
PUBLICATION In December 2016, the Sarawak Leadership Bulletin was launched as a magazine briefing on the Sarawak Civil Service (SCS), with a close leaning to the mandate of its leaders. The idea of this magazine came about after realising that the public sector in Sarawak has undergone many phases of transformation and the need to document learning experiences and best practices ought to be highlighted.
Our commitment is to ensure that all aspects of leadership within the civil service can become an invaluable lesson to our readers in the public sector to understand what it takes to uphold the right attitude and mind set to continue to deliver excellent services to the public. This also is a great avenue for effective leaders within the public sector to share their experiences and some tips on how they have been able to be effective in their agencies or department; capturing everything that is related to good leadership and exemplary human resource management within the civil service. Sarawak Leadership Bulletin can continue to grow because of the simple belief that there will always be a place for a print brand that is committed to telling fresh stories, that knows the success of a good civil service is all down to everyone’s eagerness to embrace good leadership and to make sure that continues for the long haul. This publication is produced by the Leadership Institute of Sarawak Civil Service to complement its efforts in promoting learning development within the SCS. The Bulletin is published twice a year and would not be possible without your continuous support and cooperation. Sarawak Leadership Bulletin – capturing moments of good governance.
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Sarawak Leadership Bulletin - ISSUE 2
“
“ “
A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.
“
- John C. Maxwell -
People ask the difference between a leader and a boss. The leader leads, and the boss drives.
“
“
- Theodore Roosevelt -
I think one of the keys to leadership is recognizing that everybody has gifts and talents. A good leader will learn how to harness those gifts toward the same goal.
“
“
- Ben Carson -
If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader. - John Quincy Adams -
Sarawak Leadership Bulletin - ISSUE 2
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abang jo SINCE BECOMING CHIEF MNISTER
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Sarawak Leadership Bulletin - ISSUE 2
Acquisition of Bakun Hydroelectric Dam from the Federal Goverment
DIGITAL BASED STATE ECONOMY THROUGH ICT INFRASTRUCTURE
DEVELOPMENT BANK OF SARAWAK
LIGHT RAIL TRANSPORT (lrt) system connecting kuching, samarahan and serian
revolutionise local agriculture sector through farming enterprises and creation of food basket in rural areas, towards global products distribution
down-streaming activities related to oil and gas
Sarawak Leadership Bulletin - ISSUE 3
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LEADERSHIP IS A MANY SPLENDOURED THING
A wise old hermit, living in one of our local caves, was once asked, “O Wise One, how do I become a leader?” His response was,” If I know the answer, why would I be sitting on this big hard rock for the past fifty years?” So if you ask me what leadership is, I will probably give you an ambiguous response too. In the case of our State Civil Service, the leadership training is well-defined and developed to develop world-class leaders. No issue of ambiguity here. In this article, i will talk about leadership from a more humanistic perspective. As we understand it, a number of management theories on leadership classify leaders into three categories: people-oriented, task-oriented and situational-oriented. Task oriented leadership is a behavioural approach in which the leader focusses on the tasks that need to be performed in order to meet certain objectives or performance standards. On the other hand, relationship-oriented leadership is a behavioural approach in which the leader focusses on satisfaction, motivation and the general well-being of team members. Situational leadership theory argues that leaders should engage in a healthy dose of both task-oriented and relationship-oriented leadership to fit the situation and the people being led. My exposure with leadership started at an early age of 27 when I was appointed as a principal of a large secondary school in Kuching after a very short stint as a teacher. In later years more leadership positions were entrusted upon me, the last being the CEO of Swinburne Sarawak. However, the complexities of leadership still intrique me, but I have accepted the fact that leadership is a many splendoured thing, similar to the title of a song. 10
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In this article, I will try to summarise leadership from a humanistic perspective in six (6) statements of beliefs: 1. Leadership is about people. If you get your people right, then you are on the right track. Leading the people, both as teams and individuals, is pivotal to success. In other words, people management is important to organisational success. In this respect, emotional intelligence or EQ also plays a very important role. We often hear of horror stories where smart leaders fail in their leadership assignments because they fail to engage effectively with their stakeholders and subordinates. A well-quoted maxim says it all: people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. 2. Leadership is about common sense and thinking through. Common sense refers to the ability to judge people and situations in the real light. Common sense is a basic ability to perceive, understand, and judge things that are shared by nearly all people, without much debate. However, in many cases, it is seldom used well. As Voltaire famously exclaimed, “Common sense is not so common”. It is often used to assess situations and solve human problems by leaders with a management bias towards practical solutions. It is also closely connected to the golden rule or the law of reciprocity, that is, the principle of treating others as one would wish to be treated. 3. Leadership involves mentoring and motivation. Great leaders develop people and build them up to be leaders. “Leaders don’t create followers, they create more leaders” (Tom Peters). This leadership development is nurtured through mentoring and coaching. Mentorship is a relationship that involves a more experienced or knowledgeable person helping and guiding another person with less experience or
knowledge. The mentor may be older or younger than the mentee, but he or she must have a certain area of expertise. It is a learning and development partnership between the mentor and the mentee in which both parties gain to benefit from this relationship. 4. Leadership is synonymous with communication. Communication is an important component of leadership. Effective leaders are good at communicating their vision, corporate values and culture. In fact, to become an effective leader, he or she has to acquire excellent communication skills. It is only through communication through various means that a leader can get the message across. Knowing what you want to be done may seem clear in your head, but if you try to explain it to other people and they look rather puzzled, then you know there is a problem. If this happens, then you may want to focus on improving your communication skills. Being able to describe clearly and succinctly what you want done is extremely important. If you cannot explain your vision to your team, then not all the team members will be able to work towards the same goal. Training new members and creating a productive work environment all depend on healthy lines of communication. This may involve an open door policy to your office or making it a habit to talk to your staff on a daily basis. Making yourself available to discuss work issues is important. Your people will learn to trust and depend on you, and will be more motivated to work harder. 5. Self-confidence is essential for leadership. Selfconfidence is all about having a belief in yourself and the ability to accomplish the tasks assigned to you in spite of certain limitations or shortcomings. Self-confidence
is closely related to self-esteem which is an evaluation of one’s worth. For example, when I was appointed as the Divisional Education Officer at the age of 28, it was my self-confidence which carried me through. Sometimes you just have to act confident although you may have butterflies flying in your stomach. 6. A sense of humour helps in the leadership journey. Many leaders are afraid to show their humorous side to their subordinates for fear of being taken advantage of or losing respect This is a mere misconception as I found that my colleagues and subordinates will easily warm up to me if light and relevant humour is used at the appropriate time. It breaks the ice in a discussion or meeting, especially if the attendees are new or unfamiliar to each other. It can also carry the leader through in a difficult or tense situation. However, I must agree that a sense of humour does need a certain amount of practice and experience because, for some people, it does not come naturally. As indicated at the beginning, I am looking at leadership purely from a humanistic perspective. Of course, other competency skills which are task-oriented in nature are no less important in developing leaders. However, it is my belief that if you can manage the people in the organisation well, you will find the challenges of leadership less daunting. Jim Rohn sums up the characteristics of leadership by stating that ”the challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind , but not weak; be bold, but not bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humour, but without folly”.
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THE INSTITUTE TRANSFORMATION The Institute was registered on 1st July 2016 through a change in name from the former Centre for Modern Management. It was officially launched on the 9th December 2016 during the Civil Service Day. With the tagline “Building Leaders of Excellence� this transformed entity is tasked with primarily developing leadership within the State Civil Service and the public service at large.
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With strong support from the State through Board representations as well as distinguished advisory panelists from UNIMAS, UiTM, Shell, Singapore Institute of Management, as well as Public Governance International, the Institute is well positioned to meet the challenge of its time. Furthermore, it has an excellent network of partners through the various MOUs to ensure it can deliver contemporary and worldclass training programs. During its launching, the Leadership Institute publicly announced their strategic partnership with 10 organisations, namely universities, institutes and learning organisations that have a strong track record in human capital development to further enhance its training programs for the civil service. These are compatible with its Vision and Mission ie Building Leaders to Make a Difference to our Society and Country, and Producing Highly Competent and Talented Civil Servants, capable of providing world-class service respectively. The Leadership Institute is a human capital investment initiative by the State Government to build and nurture a world class SCS talent pool. The Right Honorable Chief Minister stated that it is necessary to develop future capable leaders within the state civil service. During the launching ceremony, State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Morshidi Abdul Ghani clarified that the Leadership Institute was created because the
government strongly believes that it must invest in people. The Institute will be the place for civil servants to get trained and developed to become leaders who can greatly enhance the government’s service delivery, in line with the aspirations of becoming a world class civil service. The State Secretary further reiterated that the investment through the Leadership Institute can spur the necessary changes in the civil service of Sarawak through equiping them with the necessary knowledge, skills and competencies to carry out their jobs effectively and strategically. The Institute has launched the High Performing Leaders (HPL) Program which is its flagship program during the Civil Service Day 2015. The HPL program is designed to train future leaders for the SCS with a focus on seven subjects namely, leadership, financial management, project management, legal and statutory compliance; event management; macroeconomics and sectorial planning and parliamentary training. The Leadership Institute, under its previous name Centre for Modern Management (CMM), has trained over 140,000 civil service officers to date.
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Miscommunication Firstly, one of the basic sources of communication difficulty is
As we all know, human beings are not like ants.
noise. Noise refers to any unwanted interference that hinders the Apart from the obvious differences in size, and in shape, people and
communication process. Obvious examples are loud construction
ants differ widely in the way they communicate. I am sure that you
works outside a classroom while a lesson is going on, constant
have watched columns of little ants crawling purposefully up and
telephone ringing in a busy office or loud conversations in the
down your walls at home, maybe carrying bits of dismembered spider
background while trying to speak to someone on the phone. Noise is
or grains of sugar stolen from your sugar bowl. Sometimes, you might
everywhere, and always brings about distraction which will affect how
see two different columns travelling towards one another, meeting
a message is understood.
somewhere in the middle. When two columns of ants meet each other, the ants do an elaborate dance that involves frantic rubbing and touching each other with their antennae or legs. Once this is over, the ants part, and progress busily on their separate ways.
But miscommunication can still happen in a noise-free environment. Often, a message can be misunderstood because the intended recipient does not understand the intentions of the person doing the communicating. When we communicate with someone else, we have
According to scientists, when the ants meet, they are passing chemical
an intention in mind – seduction, or entertainment, or giving orders
messages to each other. Because they don’t use speech or sign language
or information. People, being people, can sometimes fail to “get” these
to communicate, they simply touch each other and pass on complex
intentions.
messages using chemicals, rather than sound. They might be saying: “hey, we are carrying all this lovely sugar back to the nest. You’d better follow these instructions to get some yourself”. This message is passed on to every ant in the column, so that they all know where to go and what to do when they get there. The point I am trying to make is that ants communicate directly and seemingly without any difficulties in understanding each other. You never see ants running off in different directions, or going round in confused circles. Unfortunately, this is not the case with us humans.
Let me give you an example. If I walk into the room during a meeting and announce “it’s very cold in here”, what is my intended message? Think about it for a few seconds. There are several possibilities, such as: •
I am simply stating that it is cold in the room
•
I am being sarcastic – it is really very hot in the room!
•
I am asking for someone to switch off the airconditioning.
Human
communication is fraught with difficulties that lead to what we call
How the people in the room interpret this utterance depends on a
miscommunication. People frequently send the wrong message, or
number of factors, but one of them will be culture. Some cultures
don’t clearly understand each other, which can lead to a great many
tolerate indirect statements to a high degree, whereas others do not,
problems. Indeed it was Dale Carnegie who stated “90 percent of all
leading to confusion when someone uses indirect language like this. In
management problems are caused by miscommunication.”
my own experience, people from Asian cultures tend to think in very
So, what gives rise to miscommunication, and what can we do about it?
‘straight’ ways, and will get confused if you communicate indirectly like in the example above. People from the UK, Australia, New Zealand and to a lesser extent, the US, are more tolerant of indirect
There are many reasons why we often fail to get our message across
communication, meaning that irony and sarcasm are frequently used
clearly. Let’s look at some of the most important ones.
in these cultures. This can of course lead to many problems if you are
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not ‘tuned in’ to the fact that someone is not saying exactly what they
but how will we know unless we ask for clarification? It is extremely
mean.
important to avoid making dangerous assumptions, by asking
Another very powerful cause of miscommunication is simple ignorance or lack of information. This can often take the form of a
questions to gain a clear understanding of what is being expected from us.
lack of vocabulary, where a non-native speaker of English does not
Finally, miscommunication can be caused by emotional factors such
understand a message in English because he or she has not learned
as office romances and personality clashes between workers. Public
the words, or perhaps has an incomplete knowledge of the meanings.
displays of affection such as air kisses or hand holding are body
Ignorance is frequently caused by unclear or fuzzy communication. This happens a great deal in the business world where a boss gives instructions to a subordinate, and they don’t get carried out fully because the boss has failed to communicate clearly and unambiguously.
language signals that cause discomfort in co-workers, especially where the love birds are in a supervisor-subordinate relationship. Similarly, people who do not get on and frequently show it create difficult atmospheres in which it is easy to misunderstand intentions.
One example I saw on the web site http://www.moneycrashers.com,
Also, the human tendency to point fingers and back-stab others in the
was where a father asked his son to mow the lawn before he left to go
office can lead to distrust and a lack of respect for others, which can
to work. He said to his son: “If you have time, try to mow the lawn this
affect communication negatively.
afternoon,” Even though the teenage son grunted “Uh-huh,” the lawn was not touched when the father returned home. The son simply explained his inaction by saying “You said ‘if I had time,’ and I was at the shopping mall all day.” Here, the boy did not understand his dad (intentionally or not) because his father’s instructions were too
Now
that
we
have
discussed
some
common
sources
of
miscommunication, let’s look at ways in which we can deal with it. According to the website www.speedupcareer.com, we can adopt several strategies to avoid miscommunication.
vague and perhaps too polite. Perhaps the father should have been
Firstly, it is vital to communicate, because miscommunication is in
more direct: “I want you to mow the lawn before you go to the mall”
the end the failure to communicate. We should avoid vague or unclear
or something similar.
language by making our messages crystal clear at all times. We should
Confusion can also spring from the uncontrolled use of jargon, business-speak or government speak in a message, which might not be understood by someone not “in the know”. Let us look at these examples, which are real extracts from WhatsApp messages exchanged
Basically in summary HPL clusters are still in infancy. All the modules have yet to be fully developed by respective SCS hod. Engagement with them is priority.
•
•
words. Instructions should be clear. We should leave no room for alternative interpretations, as people will often make sense of a message according to their own prejudices or convenience. It is also very important to select the right medium for the message,
within a major government department here in Sarawak: •
use plain language, and avoid jargon and difficult or uncommon
if we want to avoid communication failure. All media have their faults as well as their strengths, and the trick is to find the right medium that will enable our message to be understood by everyone. Think of which medium suits the message most. Should you use a press conference? A meeting? A mail shot via email? Social media?
Of course the fundamental things now is to get the lab
Telephone call? Or face-to-face.
results from the dictionary review led by [X] and the
Many communication experts agree that the best way to get a message
CAE team.
across clearly is to do it face-to-face, because the recipient will be able
There
will
be
a
need
to
cascade
the
latest
transformational KFAs without having to park them under the Scorecard
to read the body language and voice intonation of the speaker, as well as understand the actual words uttered. Most information that we communicate is transmitted using body language and tone of voice, so much information can be lost if we use emails or even telephone
These examples are written in a language with some arcane,
calls to send important messages to co-workers, especially bad news
government-based vocabulary which, presumably, is perfectly
or complex instructions.
meaningful to those in the know, but to the rest of us, may as well be Martian! What on earth are ‘transformational KFAs’, or ‘HPL clusters’? Clearly, if we use acronyms and jargon like this all the time, we are in danger of triggering failures in communication.
One more miscommunication killer is to stick to the point and avoid ‘beating around the bush’ and discussing irrelevant topics in meetings or other situations. Make your message brief and clear – follow the KISS principle: Keep It Short and Simple!! Otherwise, you are in
One more reason why communication sometimes fails is simply due
danger of creating confusion. This is especially important in meetings
to faulty
where the point of the meeting can easily be lost in unnecessary
assumptions. Work experience tells us that when we make
assumptions without asking questions, we will run into trouble. It is
chatter.
easy to assume that the boss told us to do X, when in fact she told us to do Y and Z. This might be due to unclear instructions by the boss, Sarawak Leadership Bulletin - ISSUE 2
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TALK ABOUT : COMMUNICATIONS IN THE DIGITAL ERA
“There is great potential in the digital economy and youths must take advantage of the opportunity to make something of themselves” . Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Abang Openg, IDECS 2017
In his inaugural mandate to the Sarawak Civil Service the Chief Minister of Sarawak shared his new direction and this very much touched on Sarawak’s leap frog from traditional economy to one of which is a Digital Economy model. Closely related the whole idea of Digital Economy and all the technology that comes with it is about communications. Be it for relationships, for money and business, digital technology has indeed made the world smaller, in the words of Don Tapscott, all you need is a computer and internet connectivity. The reality is that, the nature of globalization and innovation are impacting our lives. We need new thinking and new approaches as the increased economic pressures, globalization, humanity, education, ecommerce rules, rapidly diversifying employee and customer bases are challenging us to embrace this change. E-Language: Communications in the Digital Sense The online 2017 English Oxford Living Dictionary describes communications as “imparting or exchanging of information by speaking, writing, or using some other medium”. Communications now comes with the use of all technology derived from the revolution of the internet. Mobile apps such as Facebook, WhatsApp & i-message allow users to see the messages, when they are received and being read, 16
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making an immediate exchange of communications, this makes the delivery and reception of digital messages increasingly synchronised. There are social cues specific to digital formats that enable us to shape communication, from emoticons to caps lock to abbreviations and slang. Photos, video, or other multimedia representations of ourselves, allow us to convey friendliness, build intimacy, or express strong emotions. Other factors that affect digital communication include social norms such as race, gender, or culture. The world is changing fast and we cannot afford not to. Digital technologies seem to have shrunk the traditional boundaries by which we have understood communication. The distinctions between communicating with one and communicating with many are lost, the strict sense of privacy and publicity is blurred. The ability to extend communication across borders of space and time in new ways shapes the forms of communication in the digital media. It is essential for us to learn the means of strategic communications in the digital era and take that opportunity as urged by our Chief Minister. Here are some best practices gathered for effective online communications. 1. Communicate Visually and Limit Text Make it Visual. No one wants to read too much text because dense paragraphs are time consuming. A smart infographic can often tell a story more efficiently than a 1,200-word article. Let audiences create their own pathways to the information they want most. 2. Make Your Content Digestible Short, crisp and to the point is how digital users like their information to be. Reduce complex content to its simplest form. When elaboration is necessary, the audience could be given the option to a link to a more detailed report. 3. Engage Your Audiences In A Conversation, Do Not Preach Social media enables us to engage in conversation, if not debate. This is more appealing than reading an edict written in stone. Interactive applications engage the reader in a way that feels more customized.
4. Always be Transparent Information seekers today believe in transparency. Be truthful and forthcoming. Do not present yourself as something you are not. Everything you do as an organizational brand or personal brand is potentially in the public domain, courtesy of the power of the Internet. 5. Be Aware of Your Facial Expressions When participating in video conferencing, remember that you are on camera and the person or people on the other side can see all your reactions. You want to make sure your expression is engaged and pleasant. Sometimes, you might want to try and moderate some of your expressions and reactions. This can be especially helpful when dealing with people from other cultures. 6. Take a Minute Before Responding One way to make communication clearer is to pause briefly instead of responding immediately. This gives you more time to absorb information and then respond more thoughtfully and minimize misunderstanding. 7. Be Mindful Be aware and respectful of the other person's time on your call and not get distracted. When on a video call, the other person can see if you are not paying attention, which can cause potential issues in a business or personal relationships. 8. Soundbite Have a short and memorable corporate sound bite (a short extract from a recorded interview), that describes exactly what it is that the organization does. Your sound bite should attract constituents who like what you do, and maybe even repel people who don’t. Use this sound bite across your Internet presence. 9. Social Media Use social media to highlight what you want to do to improve things for your audience, and express how you want to do it with them. 10. Embrace technology and think ten years ahead The way we do business, the way we communicate and the way we work, will all change dramatically in the next 10 years. Think ahead and vision the future.
Book Review: The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness, Steve R. Covey Introduction: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
BE PROACTIVE FORECAST COMPLETION
BE ACCOUNTABLE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT COMMUNICATE OFTEN
PRIORITIZE CRITICAL PATH
COLLABORATE
Habits are the building blocks of change. Stephen Covey regarded that real greatness is the result of the development of character; our daily habits of thinking and acting. The 7 Habits promises a life revolution as the result of thousands of small changes in our habits. The 8th Habit is the ability to find your voice and help others to find theirs. Stephen Covey believed that our outward success was not success at all, until it becomes the manifestation of inner mastery. He describes in his book that, ‘private victory’ must go before ‘public victory.’ Some may say that Covey’s seven habits are merely common sense, yet the challenges and complexity we all face in our relationships, families, professional lives, and communities are of an entirely other order of magnitude. Rising into the higher level of human motivation requires a new mind-set, a new skill-set and a new habit. FOCUS
THE 8TH HABIT FIND YOUR VOICE AND INSPIRE OTHERS TO FIND THEIRS
INSPIRE OTHERS TO FIND THEIRS VOICE
FIND YOUR VOICE
* expend your influence * be trustworthy * build thrust * blend others voices * create a common vision
EXECUTION
* align goals and system * empower others
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A Lexicon of the Digital Economy
You cannot escape the Digital Economy! It is all around us, it is the future, and it forms the basis of Sarawak’s future development. We all need to be ready for it, and all State Civil Servants need to be able to work within it. But what is the Digital Economy, actually? In this article, we give you the low-down on the most important concepts in the Digital Economy, so that you no longer have an excuse for not knowing the difference between block chains and bitcoin!! Firstly, let’s get a handle on the meaning of Digital Economy. Essentially, a digital economy is where all business transactions are carried out digitally, using Internet technology. This means that finance and banking, business operations, the production of goods and services and even government, can be conducted entirely on the Internet without relying heavily on physical processes and resources. Companies can operate globally without owning any physical assets, as is the case with ride-sharing service Uber, which provides cheap taxi services on the Internet but does not own any cars. However, to understand the Digital Economy better, we need to grasp the key terms in digital technology and business which have entered the English language over the last twenty years. Here goes…
Concept
Definition
APPLICATION (APP)
A computer application, typically a small, specialized program downloaded onto mobile devices: “the best GPS apps for your iPhone.” (Dictionary.com)
ALGORITHM
An algorithm is a procedure or formula for solving a problem, based on conducting a sequence of specified actions. A computer programme can be viewed as an elaborate algorithm. In mathematics and computer science, an algorithm usually means a small procedure that solves a recurrent problem.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
AI is the simulation of human thought and knowledge using computer software. Applications of AI include expert systems, reasoning, natural language understanding and robotics.
AUGMENTED REALITY
Augmented reality (AR) is the integration of various kinds of digital data with real world perception. Unlike Virtual Reality, which creates an artificial environment inside a computer system, AR overlays new digital information on top of the existing environment.
BIG DATA
Big data is an evolving term that describes any very large amount of structured, semi-structured and unstructured data that has the potential to be mined for information or patterns to be used in making forecasts.
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BITCOIN
A digital currency which can be exchanged for goods and services online. With bitcoin, the encryption techniques used regulate the generation of ‘coins’ and function to verify fund transfers independently of a central bank.
BLOCK CHAIN
A distributed, dynamic digital ledger where transactions in digital currency are recorded publicly in chronological order. As new records are made, new blocks are added to the database in a linear manner (chain).
BROADBAND
A high-capacity transmission technique using a wide range of frequencies, which enables a large number of messages to be communicated simultaneously.
CLOUD COMPUTING
The practice of using a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet to store, manage, and process data, rather than a local server or a personal computer.
CYBERCRIME
Cybercrime, also called computer crime, is any illegal activity that involves a computer or network-connected device, such as a mobile phone. The US Department of Justice divides cybercrime into three categories: crimes in which a computer is the target, for example, to gain network access; crimes in which the computer is used as a weapon, for example, to launch a denial of service (DoS) attack; and crimes in which the computer is used as an accessory to a crime, for example, using a computer to store illegally-obtained data, such as sexually-explicit images.
CYBER PHYSICAL SYSTEMS
Mechanisms controlled or monitored by computer algorithms, closely integrated with the internet and its users. Often used in manufacturing.
CYBERSECURITY
Cybersecurity is the body of technologies, processes and practices designed to protect networks, computers, programs and data from attack, damage or unauthorized access (hacking).
DATA OR DATABASE
A database is a collection of information that is organised so that it can be easily accessed, managed and updated on a computer.
DATA ARTIST
A data artist is a business analytics specialist who creates graphs, charts, infographics and other visual tools that help people understand complex data.
DATA GOVERNANCE
Data governance refers to the overall management of the availability, usability, integrity, and security of the data employed in an enterprise. A sound data governance program includes a governing body or council, a defined set of procedures, and a plan to execute those procedures.
DATA MINING
The process of sorting through large data sets to identify various types of patterns, in order to solve problems using data analysis. Used in areas such as forecasting, clustering and path analysis.
DATA SCIENTIST
An employee or business intelligence consultant who excels at analysing data, particularly large amounts of data, to help a business gain a competitive edge.
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DATA STEWARDSHIP
Data stewardship is the management and oversight of an organization’s data assets to help provide business users with high-quality data that is easily accessible in a consistent manner. Data stewardship focuses on tactical coordination and implementation. A data steward carries out data usage and security policies in an organization.
DIGITAL CURRENCY
See Bitcoin
DIGITAL NATIVE
A person born and brought up during the digital age, and therefore very familiar with digital technology and culture.
DIGITAL TOURIST
A person who was not born during the digital age, and therefore not familiar with digital technology and culture.
DISRUPTIVE
An innovation or technology which creates a new market or way of doing business, or which disrupts existing markets and ways of doing business. Examples are Uber (taxi cabs) and AirBnB (accommodation).
E-COMMERCE
All business transactions that are carried out primarily online using Internet technology as opposed to using bricks-and-mortar business premises. Online business.
E-ECONOMY
Also Digital Economy. An economy that is based on digital computer technology such as the Internet, block chains, etc.
E-GOVERNMENT
The use of digital technology to transform or improve the activities of public sector organisations in providing services to citizens.
E-READINESS
The readiness of citizens, businesses, NGOs and governments for participating in the electronic world. Can be measured using a Network Readiness Index estimating the level of progress in developing ICT infrastructure, e-skills and relevant regulations.
IMAGE RECOGNITION
In machine vision, the use of software to identify objects, places, people, writing and actions in images. Machine vision technologies are used in combination with a camera and artificial intelligence software. IR is used to label the content of images with meta-tags, to perform image content searches, as well as guiding autonomous robots, self-driving cars and in accident avoidance systems.
INDUSTRY 4.0
New technology of automation and data exchange in manufacturing. It includes cyber-physical systems, the Internet of things and cloud computing.
INTERNET OF THINGS (IOT)
The Internet of Things refers to devices other than computers that are connected to the Internet and can send and receive data. IoT is seen as enabling organisations to collect and analyse data from sensors on manufacturing equipment, pipelines, weather stations, smart meters, delivery trucks, refrigerators and other types of machinery.
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MACHINE LEARNING
A type of artificial intelligence that provides computers with the ability to learn without being explicitly programmed. ML computer programs can change when exposed to new data, being able to find patterns in data to adjust the actions of the program. ML algorithms can be supervised (applying what has been learned in the past to new data) or unsupervised (able to draw inferences from datasets).
PREDICTIVE ANALYTICS
Predictive analytics is a form of advanced analytics that uses both new and historical data to forecast future activity, behaviour and trends. It applies statistical analysis techniques, analytical queries and automated machine learning algorithms to data sets to make predictions based on the numerical likelihood of a particular event happening, e.g. stock market price fluctuations or earthquakes.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Various websites and computer applications that allow users to share and create digital content or participate in online social networking. Examples are Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
UBIQUITOUS COMPUTING
The situation where computers become more numerous and fade into the background, providing information to human users and embedding intelligence and computing capabilities in seemingly everyday objects.
VIRTUAL REALITY
The use of computer hardware and software to create realistic representations of external environments for users. Used frequently in games applications.
VOICE RECOGNITION
The use of computer software and hardware to recognise human speech patterns with a view to building applications that can be controlled with the human voice. Examples include Apple’s SIRI personal assistant.
WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY
Any computer hardware that can be worn on the human body, such as spectacles, watches, goggles or ear pieces.
WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY
Computer networks based on the transmission of data signals using radio waves rather than cables or wires. Aka WiFi.
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LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE Training Programmes thus far for 2017
The Sarawak Civil Service (SCS) recognises the importance for everyone in the SCS to be equipped with the necessary skills, knowledge and know-how to perform their work better. Every level of professional ought to be trained in the areas that are relevant for Sarawak to become digital-economy-ready. Leadership Institute has been actively doing its part in helping the civil service workforce prepare themselves; whether it is through High Performance Leadership (HPL) programmes for Grade 41 and other training programmes such as the Support Skill Development (SSD), Competency for Career Development (CFCD), Bite-size programmes among others. As calendared programmes come thick and fast, there have been other major flagship training programmes that have helped to expand the knowledge of our civil service. The Institute also had a role as co-organiser of the inaugural International ICT Infrastructure and Digital Economy Conference Sarawak (IDECS) 2017 as one of the major programmes, that has helped spur Sarawak to become a leader in the digital domain.
INTERNATIONAL ICT INFRASTRUCTURE DIGITAL ECONOMY CONFERENCE SARAWAK (IDECS 2017) 22
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MANAGING TROUBLE PROJECT WORKSHOP
STRATEGIC PLANNING & THINKING FOR LEADERS
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PROJECTS
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17-20 LAB
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RESIDENT & DISTRICT OFFICERS LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
R&DO DIGITAL LAB 26
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ON-BOARDING 30
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Leadership Institute of Sarawak Civil Service KM20, Jalan Kuching Serian, Semenggok, 93250 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. Telephone : +6082-625166 Fax : +6082-625966 E-mail : info@leadinstitute.com.my