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.

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.

Martabat buruh, kinerja modal dan penyelenggaraan publik

Oleh Yanuar Nugroho
CSR Review 13 Januari 2008

“Globalisasi produksi kini tengah membentuk kembali lansekap ekonomi internasional. Dengan itu, pengetahuan lama yang mengatakan bahwa negara maju adalah eksportir modal dan teknologi dan negara berkembang sebagai importirnya pelan-pelan harus minggir dan memberikan tempat bagi relasi keduanya yang lebih kompleks… Tren saat ini mempunyai implikasi yang penting bagi pembagian kerja di dunia. Pandangan tradisional bahwa aktivitas produksi yang lebih kompleks dilakukan di Utara dan yang sederhana di Selatan makin tidak mencerminkan realitas. Perusahaan kini melihat bahwa negara berkembang menjadi penting bukan hanya karena buruh murah, tetapi terutama pertumbuhan, ketrampilan dan teknologi.”

Setelah demo masif para buruh menolak revisi UU No. 13/2003 yang sarat dengan pengabaian hak-hak pekerja, pemerintah akhirnya mengambil sikap untuk mengevaluasi pelaksanaan UU tersebut sebelum merevisinya.  Tentu sikap ini disambut baik oleh buruh. Namun, pengusaha menunjukkan gelagat lain: mereka ngotot minta revisi segera dilakukan dengan tetap menggunakan draft yang sudah ditolak tersebut. Alasannya, revisi itu perlu untuk memikat investasi.  Jika saja kita mau sedikit lebih jeli melihat problematika ketenagakerjaan itu, disana ada tegangan mendasar: martabat manusia dan kuasa modal.

Commodum toti populo – The benefit is for the whole society

An Indonesian business magazine, Investor, just interviewed me via email. The interview was about CSR/corporate social responsibility. From the long question list that I reviewed, the magazine seems to be genuinely seeking for more comprehensive understanding about the topic. So, albeit my tight schedule and deadlines for my PhD writing up and preparing a talk among Indonesian students in the UK on ‘privatisation’ this weekend, I spent nearly 90 minutes completing the interview.

On regulating business

I almost could not believe what I have just heard today from CORE Coalition, UK: EU Parliament demands environmental and social regulation for business by passing a resolution earlier today (13/3/06) (Here is the news). This is truly a good news for me, and I believe, also for many people who want to see the corporate world acts more justly, responsibly and accountably.

Tanggung jawab dan Keberlanjutan

CSR Review, Edisi 1, Business Watch Indonesia, Oktober 2005

Yanuar Nugroho*
Direktur Eksekutif – The Business Watch Indonesia

Dengan nilai penjualan tekstil berbahan katun mencapai 2,1 trilyun dollar AS tahun 2000 dan diperkirakan omzetnya akan melejit ke 10 trilyun dollar AS tahun 2010 nanti, pantas jika para pelaku industri tekstil Indonesia waswas menanti diakhirinya kuota global tekstil akhir tahun ini. Mengapa? Karena jika tidak menjadi ‘pelaku yang baik’ di dalam global supply chain industri tekstil dunia, mereka akan ditinggalkan pasar[1]. Dan apa itu pelaku bisnis yang baik? Washington menjawab dengan tegas: produsen tekstil di Indonesia harus memperhatikan soal tanggung jawab sosial korporasi (Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR) seperti kesejahteraan pekerja dan perlindungan lingkungan jika ingin mengakses pasar tekstil AS[2].

Tatakelola bisnis: Menuju bonum commune?

Media Indonesia, 25 September 2005
Yanuar Nugroho
Direktur Eksekutif, The Business Watch Indonesia

Perspektif membantu kita memahami hal-hal yang nampaknya tak berkaitan, atau sebaliknya mempertanyakan hubungan sesuatu yang nampaknya jelas dan sudah diterima luas. Misalnya, gagasan mulia good governance (tatakelola yang baik) dan corporate social responsibility (CSR, tanggung jawab sosial korporasi).

Mengapa dua hal ini? Pertama, karena menggagas tatakelola tidak bisa tidak menyentuh tatakelola korporasi dan bisnis. Dan kedua, karena CSR nampaknya sedang menjadi pusat perhatian dalam tatakelola korporasi dan bisnis.

Bisnis Pun Ada di Simpang Jalan

Opini Kompas, 22 September 2005, h.38

http://www.kompas.com/kompas-cetak/0509/22/opini/2068215.htm

Mungkin hanya kebetulan bahwa Forum Asia untuk Tanggung Jawab Sosial Perusahaan (Asian Forum for Corporate Social Responsibility/AFCSR) dan Forum Resistensi Lokal (Local Resistance Forum/LRF) diadakan di tempat dan waktu yang sama, Jakarta, 8-9 September 2005.

Forum tersebut menghadirkan jaringan lokal, regional, dan internasional. Keduanya membicarakan tantangan zaman ini: implikasi globalisasi dan ekonomi neoliberal. Pertemuan tersebut juga menempatkan keprihatinan atas nasib Bumi dan penghuninya.

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.

Akuntabilitas

TEROPONG – Mingguan Hidup, November 2004

Yanuar Nugroho

Sampai hari ini, masih ramai soal Teluk Buyat. Konon kabarnya, dari tambang emas yang dikelola oleh PT. Newmont Minahasa Raya itu, dibuang ke laut lebih dari 2.000 ton tailing atau limbah tambang yang mengandung logam berat setiap harinya. Akibatnya, lebih dari 100 warga Buyat, Ratatotok, Kabupaten Minahasa Selatan, Provinsi Sulawesi Utara, menderita penyakit Minamata, yaitu kerusakan saraf. Mereka menderita gatal-gatal dan kejang pada tubuh, kemudian muncul benjolan. Benjolan yang muncul dalam banyak varian pada sejumlah penderita, yakni di tangan, kaki, tengkuk, pantat, kepala atau payudara ini diduga sebagai akibat kontaminasi logam berat arsen dan merkuri yang mencemari Teluk Buyat dari PT NMR .

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.

Fear and loathing of agrarian modernization

The Jakarta Post, 27 October 2003 : opinion & editorial

Yanuar Nugroho

During the international trade talks last month in Cancun, Mexico, South Korean leader of its farmers’ and fishers’ union, Lee Kyung-hae, 54, stabbed himself at a violent protest. The former lawmaker, who later died, had earlier climbed a high security fence and waved a banner that read “WTO kills farmers”.

With regard to the controversy upon his death, he may have been correct in addressing that concern.

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.

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 power of corporations towards good governance

The Jakarta Post, Wednesday, 18-12-02

by Yanuar Nugroho,

For those who are aware of what globalization is really all about, the case of Sony, which decided to abandon Indonesia and lay off more than one thousand people several weeks ago, will be very easy to understand. Indeed, capital is free to move anywhere for it does not comprehend such concepts as “nationalism” and “patriotism”.

Fair trade today: When business undermines life

The Jakarta Post, 6 November 2002, Opinion & Editorial

Despite apparent global growth and steadily increasing per capita income, the gap both within and between rich and poor countries seems to be widening. The United Nations reported that in 1960, the richest fifth of the world’s population received 70 percent of global income compared to 2.3 percent of the world’s poorest 20 percent. By 1989, the richest 20 percent had increased their share to 82.7 percent while the bottom fifth’s share of global income shrank from 2.3 percent to 1.4 percent (UN Development Report, 1992).

Business after the tragedy

The Jakarta Post, Opinion & Editorial, 21 October 2002

The world is shocked. Bali and Manado, two areas known for their calmness and peacefulness, were brutally disrupted by deadly explosions. Hundreds are dead and badly wounded. Most of them were overseas tourists — and a shocked world is now an angry world.

‘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.