Knowledge Management in Multinational Subsidiary in Indonesia: A lesson learned

Last year, among the students I was supervising, was a brilliant student from Indonesia who finally got her MSc with distinction: Mirta Amalia. Her dissertation explored and investigated the ways in which a multinational company susbsidiary devised and implemented the knowledge management strategy. It was a very interesting dissertation. She found fascinating empirical data on the importance of “enabling session” which was arguably vital in the process of tacit knowledge transfer within the company. However, she noted that this scheme was at large at risk as there had been no clear prioritisation.

I can keep on and on and on talking about her dissertation, but I’d better stop here. Contact her directly if you want to read her intriguing dissertation. What I want to say is that the way she formulated and wrote the dissertation was quite sophisticated and I thought the dissertation should not stop there. So I encouraged her to build on that work and write papers.

Microfinance and Innovation: Are we reinventing the Wheel?

I had an opportunity to co-author with my ex supervisor Professor Ian Miles to write an opinion in the world magazine MicrofinanceInsights. The piece appears in the latest edition (Vol 15, Nov/Dec 2009). I quote the editorial’s comment:

Innovation: Are we Reinventing the Wheel?

In this issue, we look at different innovations—product, technology, and financial—that are adding value and efficiency to the sector. In our Commentary, Ian Miles and Yanuar Nugroho of the University of Manchester, argue that microfinance is now poised to bridge the gap between the privileged and the bottom of the pyramid, with the help of innovations that bear no resemblance to the Wall Street machinations that helped bring the global economy to its knees. In our cover story, Stephen Hodgson of Redport International and Yana Watson of Dalberg Global Development Advisors, question the nature of innovation that has taken place in microfinance to date; cite examples from the annals of financial history that could work well when applied to microfinance; and conclude that the sector might be better served if it adopts models that have been tried and tested in other spheres of finance. The issue brims with examples of innovations that work—from mobile technology in India to financial education for Mongolian teenagers to ATM-style kiosks in Georgia—and ones that don’t, such as the Business Correspondent system, which has faltered in India. In this issue’s Survey, our team polled 180 microfinance institutions about how Information & Communication Technology has influenced their work. You will also find the results of a Reader Survey we conducted in September to gauge what our audience thinks of Microfinance Insights so we can tailor the content to suit their preferences.

Corporate governance: Towards bonum commune?

Perspective is about bringing together things that seem to have no relation to each other so that they could be more easily understood in a context. It sounds simple. But it helps scrutinising the relationship between noble idea of good governance and hullabaloo of corporate responsibility. Why these two? Firstly, because discourse about good governance today cannot but touch upon the issue of corporate governance. And secondly, because corporate responsibility has become the issue of corporate governance.

It has been admitted that corporations are playing vital role in developments as they create employment, produce goods and services, bring investments and thus economic growth. As no one would disagree that good governance is necessary for development, neither do they contradict the idea that good governance should be applied to corporate world. Even, it flowers a thought that business should be allowed to regulate themselves.

Dilema Tanggung Jawab Korporasi

Media Indonesia – OPINI – 23 Agustus 2005

Yanuar Nugroho

SESUDAH berbagai gebrakan melawan korupsi, kabinet SBY-JK tampaknya kini mencecar tanggung jawab korporasi. Menindaklanjuti hasil Program Penilaian Peringkat Perusahaan (Proper) 2005 yang dilansir awal bulan ini, KLH sudah mengeluarkan ancaman dini. Ia akan menggugat perusahaan berperingkat hitam dengan dakwaan pencemaran lingkungan (Media Indonesia, 9/8).

Social accountability more than just being responsible

Opinion and Editorial – THE JAKARTA POST, November 09, 2004

Yanuar Nugroho

The world-famous business strategy consultant, Peter F. Drucker, in a recent interview in Joel Bakan’s new book, The Corporation (2004), says “If you find an executive who wants to take on social responsibilities, fire him. Fast.”

Those who believe, or are in favor of, corporate social responsibility (CSR) may be shocked. But, bravery is indeed needed to scrutinize the very heart of business practice, without which we may be misled when addressing the role of business and corporations in our lives today.

Social economic rights need more understanding

Headlines – The Jakarta Post, Thursday, December 04, 2003

Yanuar Nugroho

Look at this time-series data on evictions in Jakarta, compiled and processed by the Jakarta Social Institute (ISJ) and the Jakarta Residents’ Forum (Fakta). First, during 2001, the Jakarta municipality, in the name of law and order, evicted the urban poor 99 times.

Freeing up services: Delayed, not canceled

OPINION & EDITORIAL – The Jakarta Post, 24 September 2003

Yanuar Nugroho

Rejoicing and lamentation greeted the collapse of the world trade talks in Cancun last week. Those who lamented represented the developed countries, which have had their pursuit of profit slowed down. Those celebrating included representatives of developing countries, which prematurely thought that it was a victory of the poor world against large corporations.

Health issue: The art of playing God?

OPINION & EDITORIAL – The Jakarta Post, 12 September 2003
Yanuar Nugroho

Having less money means less opportunity to survive — to keep alive. We are in a world in which death and life are no longer “natural,” but “manufactured.

The association of pharmaceutical industries in the United States, PhRMA, quoting last year’s World Health Organization report, describes how diseases quickly and harshly kill people — 4 million people die annually due to respiratory infection, 2.2 million from typhus-cholera-dysentery, 1.7 million from tuberculosis, 1 million from malaria, 900,000 from blood-fever and 3 million from AIDS-related diseases.

Political economics behind efforts to eliminate piracy

The Jakarta Post, OPINION & EDITORIAL – Tuesday, August 12, 2003
Yanuar Nugroho,

Recently my old laptop was seriously attacked by a worm virus called W.32Yaha@mm. The computer became slow and the virus started sending unauthorized emails, spreading the virus to all the people in my address book.

Almost instantly, I activated the “update” of my Anti-Virus software to prevent further damage and to destroy the virus. My attempt failed. An error-message was displayed on my screen stating, “Your Anti-Virus has expired”.

Trade: A market fundamentalism (Part 2 of 2)

The Jakarta Post – OPINION & EDITORIAL – Friday, July 25, 2003
by Yanuar Nugroho,

There is series of issues called the “Singapore Issues” or “New Issues” to be launched at Cancun, that consist of the issues of investment policy, competition policy, transparency in government procurement and trade facilitation.

Actually, investment policy will be the only new issue at Cancun. How important is this issue?

Trade between nations needs to be regulated (Part 1 of 2)

The Jakarta Post – OPINION & EDITORIAL – Thursday, July 24, 2003

Yanuar Nugroho,

This is a true story, cited from a good book, The Little Earth Book (2002). Tatu Museyni grows coffee in Tanzania. The price she gets for her coffee has halved from 1980 to 2000. It halved again in the last two years. Her income is down to US$30 for the whole year. Her children no longer go to school and the family faces starvation.

Kekuasaan Bisnis – Target Baru Demokrasi

TEROPONG – Mingguan Hidup, Juni 2003

oleh Yanuar Nugroho

Ketika kita mendengar para investor, pengusaha, direktur dan manajer berkata, “… tugas kami bagi bangsa ini adalah menciptakan lapangan kerja,” kita perlu waspada. Rasanya, ungkapan itu salah kaprah. Mengapa? Karena mencampuradukkan antara ‘akibat’ dan ‘tujuan’. Lebih jelasnya: tak ada pemodal yang berbisnis untuk menciptakan lapangan kerja. Ia berbisnis untuk mengejar laba dan menumpuk uang. Itulah motif utama, itulah ‘tujuannya’. Nah, bahwa untuk mengejar tujuan itu ratusan bahkan ribuan lapangan kerja dibuka, itu adalah ‘akibat’, bukan tujuan.

Life on Earth: Who wins, the corporations or people?

The Jakarta Post, 5 June 2003 – HEADLINES

Yanuar Nugroho,

“Control your destiny, or someone else will,” is the famous phrase of business consultant Welch (1992) when explaining how strategic management in industry would very much affect the progress of corporations. The saying might be right.

The inner sanctus of trade, stopping unfair practices

The Jakarta Post, Saturday 17 May 2003, OPINION & EDITORIAL

by Yanuar Nugroho

Business nowadays is no different than what it was before, except that it is now so widespread and is such a powerful force. And what lies at the heart of business? Trade.

Defending global essentials: Notes from Kyoto

The Jakarta Post, Tuesday, 1 April 2003, OPINION & EDITORIAL
Yanuar Nugroho

While 1.1 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water and almost 2.4 billion do not have adequate sanitation, according to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), only 1.6 percent of development assistance is spent on providing water and sanitation services. Over 2.3 billion people suffer from water-related diseases, and it is the leading cause of death in the world.

All the best, Lin Che Wei!

The Jakarta Post : Opinion & Editorial, Saturday, March 01, 2003

by Yanuar Nugroho

A short message service (SMS) on the morning of Feb. 25 read, “Please help invite as many economists, stock and market analysts and other professionals as possible, to come to the Attorney General’s Office this Tuesday, March 4 at 1 p.m. to support Lin Che Wei.” Being aware of what business would likely do to protect its interests, I spontaneously circulated the message among my inner circles and colleagues.

Understanding the coupling between technology, business

The Jakarta Post, 7 October 2002 – OPINION & EDITORIAL

Let us consider these three facts. First, Nokia has just released its newest type of mobile: The 7650. It is not only a mobile phone, but also has a built-in camera, an internet interface and a personal digital assistant. Amazing and sophisticated. Some (if not many) people will fall over heels to get their hands on this latest product.

‘There are casualties in successful businesses’

The Jakarta Post, 23 September 2002, OPINION & EDITORIAL

The head of The Indonesian Control Body for Stock Market (Bapepam) Herwidayatmo last month stated that the number of public investors in Indonesia now number only 55,000, down from 1995 when there were more than two million investors.

Herwidayatmo said this is caused by three main factors: The economy, lack of good corporate governance and investor disappointment with stock market services. Are these reasons valid? Let’s look at some other facts.

Addiction to mobile phones amid neoliberalism

The Jakarta Post, 12 August 2002 : Opinion

by Yanuar Nugroho

Read this. “The number of mobile phones was estimated to be near 77 million, with more than 37,500 people signing up for wireless phone service each day. And these users are talking more than ever before. There is too much traffic on the phone network.” (New York Times, Aug. 19 2000).

Privatizing public goods: Our lives up for sale

THE JAKARTA POST – Opinion & Editorial, Monday, 15 July 2002

by Yanuar Nugroho

Beware. In the coming years, we in Indonesia may have to pay more not only for our drinking water, but also for bathing and watering flowers at home. We may also have to pay for permission to dig a well in our backyards.

Worse, farmers and villagers may no longer be able to access water from rivers or springs, for corporations will already have been given the right to access all water resources.