LOC02: FROM 'THE MODEL EXPRESSWAY GROUP' TO 'TO BE A PREMIER GLOBAL EXPRESSWAY GROUP'

The new top box or vision was unveiled last week for PLUS. We were told that a premier global expressway will have to be:

Efficient - fulfills requirement as the lowest possible cost. PLUS like everyone else in the world is currently facing a headwind. With fuel price increase, people will reduce their travelling thus revenue will be affected. Central banks in order to contain inflation, will likely increase interest rates. This will increase borrowing costs. With the possibility of decreasing revenue and potential increase in cost, efficiency will be a major priority.

Safe - From the customer survey conducted recently, their safety is the most important attributes when they use the expressway.

Enhances Quality of Life - Expressway enhances quality of life by making travelling faster, convenient and enjoyable.

A Premier Global means one of the best in the world. Hence the benchmark of our services will be other major expressway companies namely Transroute or Autostrade. Thus if we were to bring up an idea to the management, either in new product or transformation of existing process, it must fit into those objectives. A challenging change indeed. Proponents would argue that being a premier will provide a return to stakeholders and will realise Malaysia's Vision 2020. Resistors concern will be the huge amount of investment required. The first step is to keep focussed on the change objectives and move forward.

LOC02: The major factor of failure in change management

According to wikipedia - Change Management is a structured approach to transitioning individuals, teams, and organizations from a current state to a desired future state. The current definition of Change Management includes both organizational change management processes and individual change management models, which together are used to manage the people side of change.

So why bother to change? Change is important to either an individual or organization in order to bring us to another level. For an organization, change can improve efficiency, make it attractive for investors, improve customer satisfaction and thus bring more revenues.

In bringing change to an organization, we need to ensure it is easily accepted with least hesitation which will then translate into smooth execution by all employees.

According to John Jones, DeAnne Aguirre and Mathew Calderone in 10 Principles of Change Management, one of the failure to bring change is due to failure to address the “human side” systematically. Any significant transformation creates “people issues.” New leaders will be asked to step up, jobs will be changed, new skills and capabilities must be developed, and employees will be uncertain and resistant. Dealing with these issues on a reactive, case-by-case basis puts speed, morale, and results at risk.

In summary, a good leader is vital to ensure change is adapted with no/least resistant and therefore smooth transformation is achieved.

Here we go again. A few days ago a a senior politician from major component of the ruling coalition calls for abolishment of toll collection by expressways. I hope it will not happen. But if it does thousands of jobs will be lost since the services that the jobs provide will be no more required and redundant. Collectively this thousands of citizens will have to undergo a drastic and transformational change. Consider Ahmad, a single parent with 2 children. As a traffic assistant, he traverse the expressway in a provided vehicle and provide assistance when a customer's vehicles breakdown or involve in accident. His primary function is to ensure the safety of the distressed customer and prevention of secondary accident since oncoming vehicles comes at a speed. Over the years he has improved on his knowledge and with experience he has truly master his role for this society. Upon reading about the threat to his job a dejected Ahmad said "With job market so bad now how am I going to feed my 2 children?"

"I have committed and improve myself to serving people for years and and now it looks like I have to change and do something else in order for my kids to have decent food. May be I go back to my village, plant vegetables and raise chickens, if that is what I have to do."

Ahmad is one of thousands whose future looks uncertain. But the impact to society is a lot greater. Thousands of jobs eliminated means millions worth of products and services is lost. This will start a vicious cycle of more jobs lost.

Why do I need to change?

Recently I attended a course titled 'Leading Organisational Change' and among the first items in the lecture by Cliff Chalon that I learn is that I must be the first to change. The reasons?

To live I must survive and thrive. Seeking knowledge after attaining high school certificate to a university degree in applied science has enabled me to survive better. To remain relevant I must continue to acquire new knowledge from time to time. My first computer in 1987 has 8088 whatever. Now I carry around 2 gb memory stick that can be plugged into any computer. That is one of the changes.

My First Entry

Well this is my first ever blog entry. yay.