Talent-heavy public sector can free scholars
-
This will help Singapore raise new breed of entrepreneurs, says SM
THE public sector is too talent-heavy and up to half its scholars should be released into the private sector after six or seven years, said Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew.
They should be sent into the private sector to become entrepreneurs and not just managers, he added.
Right now, too many of Singapore's able are professionals when the country actually needs more business people.
While the system has worked well before with the Government retaining the best brains, the next phase of development must focus on producing more entrepreneurs, he said.
This way, they will not only have a solid knowledge of how government works but also 'the brain power and the drive' in the private sector.
He made these points in an interview with Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao, Channel U and Channel NewsAsia, broadcast last night.
He noted how in global competitive rankings, such as those by the well-regarded Institute for Management Development (IMD), Singapore scores very highly on its public sector systems, from its laws to services.
But it does not fare well on other criteria such as the level of entrepreneurship and venture capital.
'What does that mean? That means too much concentration of talent, drive and energy in the public sector,' the Senior Minister said.
It meant Singapore had the systems right, which was necessary at the beginning. But now, the Government could still provide youths with scholarships, but release them after they have worked for six or seven years.
'Let half go, let one third go and get them to be entrepreneurs, not just managers.'
Every year, the Public Service Commission awards 50 to 60 scholarships but there are also several hundred others given out by other government agencies and government-linked companies.
The idea of pushing scholarship holders back into the private sector has been raised before, most recently by sub-committees within the Economic Review Committee.
The sub-committees had debated whether it was time to change the scholarship system but no decision was taken, other than an affirmation that the public sector still needed its share of the top brains.
The subject of entrepreneurs emerged during the interview Mr Lee gave to talk about the 10th anniversary of the Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP). He is now in Suzhou for the celebrations tomorrow.
On Suzhou, he said one lesson learnt has been that there must be 'total alignment' of interests at the central, provincial and local levels before starting projects.
When the SIP started in 1994, Singapore controlled 65 per cent of the stakes, and China the rest. The idea was for Singapore to transfer its software and knowledge to the Chinese, using SIP as a model development.
But the park soon ran into problems, which were only solved after the controlling stakes were reversed.
Mr Lee said that if this had been done from the start, there could have been a higher level of software transfer. Still, he added: 'We never walked away from the project, we put our best efforts in and solved the problem. Therefore, I would say because we had all these difficulties, there is a deeper appreciation on both sides that we are long-term players. We are not fly-by-night operators. When we promise, we deliver, whatever the difficulties.'
He said the value of being involved in Suzhou is to have it now as an icon of the 'Singapore quality, integrity and capability'. He also revealed that China now wants Singapore to go into projects in the west and north-east. It is considering them but must not take on more than it can deliver, he added.
He also underscored how the Suzhou experience had forged relations at the top: 'If we have not had Suzhou, they would not have understood or they would not have been so convinced that we have something to offer. Just think of it, we're three, four million with the workers from abroad, and they're 1,300 million.
'So, why should they meet us at that high level? But I think that they have found that although we are small, we have systems which they can apply throughout many of their hundreds of cities.'
[/quote]
not so sure if this will work.. pushing ppl into private sector?
not all kinds of so called talents can thrive in the business world.. -
Im not a PSC scholar...
how how??!?!?!
Ahhhhhhhhhh..............
-
den wat he said does not affect u lor.. or mabbe it does. u will have scholars competing with u in the private sector soon.Originally posted by no_speeding:Im not a PSC scholar...
how how??!?!?!
Ahhhhhhhhhh.............. 
-
just my opinion..
looking beneath the layers...
1. Public sector shedding excess baggage? With all the cost cutting measures in place, manpower cost have got to come down somehow... in the private sector.. its called a retrenchment exercise.. In politics.. we have it as "freeing scholars"
So I guess those new ones who just enter "serving their bond" wont get to continue their nice honeymoon at the public sector anymore.. time to buck up?
2. Legitimizing of public sector going private. Can these scholars truly be "free". Depending on which level they are at, all the connections and "guan xi" with people higher up.. easier for them to tug a few strings to get things through... unfair advantage? -
i see point 2 as more valid than point 1. there is not necessarily going to be a downsizing of the public sector - just a higher turnover rate, congruent with what they announced recently - the retirement of the senior management to give way for the young.Originally posted by Ecxentrique:just my opinion..
looking beneath the layers...
1. Public sector shedding excess baggage? With all the cost cutting measures in place, manpower cost have got to come down somehow... in the private sector.. its called a retrenchment exercise.. In politics.. we have it as "freeing scholars" So I guess those new ones who just enter "serving their bond" wont get to continue their nice honeymoon at the public sector anymore.. time to buck up?
2. Legitimizing of public sector going private. Can these scholars truly be "free". Depending on which level they are at, all the connections and "guan xi" with people higher up.. easier for them to tug a few strings to get things through... unfair advantage?
and if they are indeed going to push some of these talents out to the private sector, i would imagine they would choose the better ones (if instead of leaving this to choice, they make it mandatory, although i doubt this will happen). the 2nd scenario may happen to a certain extent. but the advantage would not be in the form of connections - that would amount to corruption. rather its the knowledge of the workings and the avenues and channels available. -
The reality is that the scholars will end up in top management in pte. sector rather than being entrepreneurs. When u study too much, u lack the guts to try & do your own business.
Also parents who invested so much in their kids education will try & discourage cos too much risks at stake. Not all entrepreneurs can make money immediately. U also need a lot of money/backing to try & try again. Only those who poly education & lower will try cos they got less to lose. -
its not that when one studies too much one will become risk averse.Originally posted by gerrykoh:The reality is that the scholars will end up in top management in pte. sector rather than being entrepreneurs. When u study too much, u lack the guts to try & do your own business.
Also parents who invested so much in their kids education will try & discourage cos too much risks at stake. Not all entrepreneurs can make money immediately. U also need a lot of money/backing to try & try again. Only those who poly education & lower will try cos they got less to lose.
perhaps its more of when one has put in so much time and resources into his studies he would not want it all to go to waste.
but more importantly, most scholars are risk averse in the first place - why else did they go for the scholarship?? -
Yap, why risk, when the pay is so high and secured, and the workload is...uhm...equally high.
-
the scholars themselves willing to go onot?
somemore uncle lee stressed tt he wants these ppl to be entrepreneurs......
6~7 yrs in a bureaucratic environment, how u expect them to have entrepreneur mind? -
sighz....scholars again.....are scholars really that good?? anyone that work in GLC will know that... they got more chance than others and most of the time... are promoted as long as a bullet train as they career path have been planned......personally i know, talk or work with scholars b4... and.... their character usually s.u.c.ks.......sighz...and now more scholars in private sector??
-
not ALL scholars are superb. not ALL scholars get fast tracked career paths. and not ALL scholars have lousy character and personality.Originally posted by I-like-flings(m):sighz....scholars again.....are scholars really that good?? anyone that work in GLC will know that... they got more chance than others and most of the time... are promoted as long as a bullet train as they career path have been planned......personally i know, talk or work with scholars b4... and.... their character usually s.u.c.ks.......sighz...and now more scholars in public sector??
and btw, the news did not mention having more scholars in the public sector. -
i know..not all.. that is why i never say ALL... and... the news never say directly.. but u know what they mean lah... they will be just set up alot of new company in the private sector that are linked and back my GLC....but they are so called private...Originally posted by wuming78:not ALL scholars are superb. not ALL scholars get fast tracked career paths. and not ALL scholars have lousy character and personality.
and btw, the news did not mention having more scholars in the public sector. -
Maybe its a plan to invade the private sector?!?!?!?Originally posted by no_speeding:Im not a PSC scholar...
how how??!?!?!
Ahhhhhhhhhh..............
HAhahaha....
Waaaoooo...
How to apply for PSC scholarship?!?!? -
p.s. sorry edited all the public to private.. paiseh..Originally posted by I-like-flings(m):sighz....scholars again.....are scholars really that good?? anyone that work in GLC will know that... they got more chance than others and most of the time... are promoted as long as a bullet train as they career path have been planned......personally i know, talk or work with scholars b4... and.... their character usually s.u.c.ks.......sighz...and now more scholars in private sector?? -
SME association to set up attachment scheme for government scholars
SINGAPORE : The Association of Small And Medium Enterprises is setting up a "surrogate scheme" that will allow government scholars to do attachments at one of its 1,000 member companies here.
Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew's radical idea to release up to half the Government's scholars to become entrepreneurs has found support.
The Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, which is made up mostly of entrepreneurs, says it is a good idea, especially since scholars are bright, can add value and know how the government works.
"These scholars should then be taught entrepreneurial skills to enable them to move into entrepreneurship, to transit smoothly into entrepreneurship. This takes time and it's a challenge for scholars as most of them are actually fresh from university into the public sector and the mechanics of the private sector needs to be made known to the scholars," said ASME's Aloysius Tan.
So the group will set up a "surrogate scheme" in about a year for government-sponsored scholars to spend time at blue-chip SMEs.
Other entrepreneurs Channel NewsAsia spoke to feel that the irony is that a high paying position of a top scholar is a deterrent to entrepreneurship.
They feel that if a scholar is already making good money, there is less incentive to take the risk, come out and make his own money.
Multi-award winning entrepreneur Kenny Yap says a scholar first needs to have the passion and drive to make it on his own.
He is no scholar, but now heads Qian Hu, a multi-million dollar, publicly-listed ornamental fish firm.
"I think you have to ask those scholars who want to become businessmen, do you really want to become businessmen, rather than the question of, hey it's time for you to become an entrepreneur, let you become an entrepreneur," said Mr Yap.
"II think for entrepreneurship, you cannot further structure it; you should provide the environment, you should provide the freedom for people to act, to think, to choose." - CNA
[/quote]
wow. super fast response! or was it all pre-planned?? -
that's LKY style what....he dun say things for fun one... when he said it.. he mean it.... and always have everything planned...Originally posted by wuming78:wow. super fast response! or was it all pre-planned?? that is why he can be at the top for so long.. we just have to admit it.. he is damn good -
Most entrepreneurs I know don't have University education. They have only "O' level or less. I feel that it is inborn, they must have the drive & willingness to take risks & suffer cos first few years very difficult. Some companies start as small 1-man business, & they have to sacrifice by having very low pay & doing everything themselves from delivery, accounting to marketing
-
I think even if they free up scholars also not able to really turn the tables on the non-entrepreneural culture in Singapore...
I have come acrossed them many time in my job. As some of the projects that i am involved with are quite high tech and so involve a need to be adventurous. They have certain working mentalities which is a MAJOR stumbling block if they are to become entrepreneurs.. esp those junior ones and maybe mid-mgt..
1. I was involve in many meetings involving stat board pple.. Those in the junior and mid-mgt positions follow the leader. Thye have this unique ability to sense the tune that the "top-most" civil servant is singing and then everyone will jump aboard to criticise and sink the idea or to add comments on how good the proposal/ idea is. So far, i have not seen someone who is adventurous enough to sing a different tune.. He will just be shot down by those who followed the crowd. Such a mentality is crippling to the growth of the individual. i.e. the scholars in this case. So if u bring them out after they finish their bond, they will need time to readjust and think on a totally different mindset and really dare to take risk and be different. Those who can really be different and voice opinions are those at the top. I wonder if they really release scholars.. Which level they will release at.. So maybe its still too early to tell
2. They dun take risk. Cos its such a comfy position up there and secure. So even those at the lower echelons will take the "sure-safe" route and dig their heels deep into the organization. Many ideas are thrown out cos they dun see beyond the value of how it can add security to their position in the stat boards. They stick to all the rules and "get back to their superiors". They are no decision makers or risk-takers. At least, the culture in the civil service do not allow them to.. so i ponder if they can really make a big impact when thrown into the big open seas.. -
How can you teach someone to become an entrepreneur? Part of it is to be streetwise and have a knack for wheeling-and-dealing. If the scholar dont have these qualities by now, what are the chances that they will pick it up? Not to mention the opportunity cost for them to go thru the transformation process.
-
How can you teach someone to become an entrepreneur? Part of it is to be streetwise and have a knack for wheeling-and-dealing. If the scholar dont have these qualities by now, what are the chances that they will pick it up? Not to mention the opportunity cost for them to go thru the transformation process.
-
you're dead right actually...
i wonder about Lau Lee's statement...
release these mollycoddled scholars into the private sector? to be entrepreneurs??
i have experience with these scholars... they are the very idiots who STIFLE all individual and innovative thoughts in the public sector...
if they aren't they're destroying the morale of the people with their self-serving ways and their rush to pad their CVs before they are rotated out of their current organisation...
these are the ones who will give a boost to the "entrepreneur spirit" of singapore?
maybe what another writer said was right... maybe the civil service has had enough of the antics of these guys and are shedding them in the "polite way"..
for from experience, the "dead wood" these people talk most about are themselves.. they could disappear from their organisations and the organisations would be better for it...Originally posted by Xprobe:How can you teach someone to become an entrepreneur? Part of it is to be streetwise and have a knack for wheeling-and-dealing. If the scholar dont have these qualities by now, what are the chances that they will pick it up? Not to mention the opportunity cost for them to go thru the transformation process. -
hmmm...... what can I say? I don't quite think the world of scholars but I suppose there are ppl meant to be scholars and ppl meant to be those who dare to try. think they should keep their scholars n not try to make things worse. Let us who dare to try, try, and scholars, go do their thang.
-
you dont learn to become entrepreneural, you grow into it...
-
oh.....to add....i dun like the way they put "talent" and "scholar" together.......they are not always synonymous
-
If they really want to promote entreprenuership, my opinions are:
- create demand. (No demand -> no fund -> no continuity of businesses)
=> when there are demands and opportunities, we will see more entrepreneurs.
=> There should be more small-scale demands/opportunites for entreprenuers with little fund to establish themselves. Those potential ones will evolve.
=> do not set bureacratic rules that requires entrepreneurs or their businesses to have certain financial assets, etc to those small scale demands/opportunities.
- create knowledge/business thru' networking.
=> Create opportunities for big & small businesses or entreprenuers to learn from each others/'indirect internship'.
- encourage/promotes/publishes/advertise outstanding products/services created/produced by these entrepreneurs/businesses (create awareness or branding)
- time to take more risks
=> do not reject a potential person because of certain criterias:
E.g
he/she do not know how to write a business plan;
he/she does not guranteed to meet certain criterias, etc.
=> instead, listen to the potential person: his/her dream, his/her idealogy, his/her plan, his/her products/services, his/her personal attributes (drive, personality, mentality, his working/networking background, etc), his/her analysis of the business, his/her lacking in the business (financial, skillset, network, etc).