Looking into the past at some older management articles about Singapore sometimes bring up startling insights that seem to hold true even in today’s context. In this article, of which only a summarised version is presented, discusses the lack of good managers available in Singapore.

Even though it was written in 1991, the landscape in 2008 doesn’t seem all that too unfamiliar with the same kind of issues kicking around many companies.

With growing concerns on the increasing amount of foreign talent or ‘taken jobs away form Singaporeans’ (perceived or otherwise – and is not the heart of the debate in this article). One wonders has enough been done to groom local managers to think more creatively, empathise more with a global workforce and simple have enough foresight to look beyond the daily operations.

Here is an extract of the article from 17 years ago.

YOU CAN’T GROW IF YOU CAN’T MANAGE Businesses in Asia are expanding so fast that they are running out of people to lead them. Some are taking unusual steps to develop a whole new generation of executives.

(FORTUNE Magazine) – WHEN THEY COME to compete against you, the Asians sometimes seem ten feet tall. They appear to have everything: brains, drive, determination, and capital. But, increasingly, they lack one crucial element for success. Take the case of Ng Pock Too. He certainly appears to have all he needs to fulfil his dream of transforming his Singapore shipyard and construction company into a diversified multinational corporation. Like other chief executives in Asia, he can count on an abundance of financial resources and business opportunities. From his years as a top government official, he also has that most valuable asset — connections. What he lacks is what much of Asia’s newly industrializing world beyond Japan is also looking for: managers. ”It’s the greatest restraint I face,” says Ng, chief executive of the Sembawang Group. Not just any managers, but flexible, creative professionals at home in an increasingly competitive and sophisticated market. While the nature and severity of the shortage vary from place to place and from industry to industry, no company doing business in Asia can afford to ignore it. The bottleneck both stymies Asia’s ability to compete in global markets and limits the growth opportunities of foreign companies in Asia. 

It would be interesting to note if these views were still the same or the landscape had changed?

Source:
Fortune magazine, 1991
By Ford S. Worthy REPORTER ASSOCIATE John Labate
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1991/06/03/75092/index.htm