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“Soccer and lessons in
teamwork”
(Insight Column for The Jakarta Post 14 June
2006)
“Teamwork is integral to Asian values
and managers can learn a lot about teamwork from
society at large. For example, in Indonesia there
are enshrined values about showing mutual grace,
developing trust, not bragging about achievements,
showing respect to elders, supporting the young
and newcomers, and bonding together in times
of crisis. Donald Trump’s “You’re
Fired” type of very direct and abrupt approach
might make for entertaining TV but it will not
work in most Asian countries, where even weak
performers are provided a face saving exit. In
the ancient cultures of Japan, China, Korea,
India, Thailand and Indonesia there has traditionally
been an emphasis on reaching out, respect for
each contribution no matter how small and working
toward a collective rather than individualistic
goal.
“The Indonesia corporate
scene is currently seeing an interesting cultural
clash – between the old bapak-bapak guard
(conservative, low profile, relationship oriented)
and the ambisius newcomers (risk takers, flashy,
transaction driven). Companies also have a fair
sprinkling of expatriates who complicate the
dynamics by seeking to demonstrate their usefulness,
at times outlived.
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