6/27/2008

Human failures unavoidable

Toh Yong Chuan from Home Affairs tried to explain that we have all the best systems, but no system can avoid human failures. That is definitely true. But there must be ways to make sure that we get the best people into the system. The best system to emulate is how to entice the best to join the govt. Pay them well, very well. That could be an easy way to avoid human failures. For since we have such a policy, we don't see any human failures at the top. All the human failures are at the bottom. The front line soldiers and staff. These little people have not benefitted from a high pay high quality policy. And the high cost of living is getting into them. I think if we pay the well, the equivalent of well at the top, we may also see lesser human problems. How come never think of that? We could be getting a clear and simple message coming from the rank and file, that they need to be paid well as well. No excuses, pay them well and if they still bungle, fire them. Then we will have the best people manning the best system. It is a sign of going downhill if we keep trying to explain away our problems. Action, the carrot and the stick always work, especially at the lower end. At the upper end I am not sure.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

'The best system to emulate is how to entice the best to join the Govt. Pay them well, very well. That could be an easy way to avoid human failures'

Enron & Bear Stearns etc I am quite sure have paid their top CEOs very well, but what has happened? No human failures? Oh, you are quite right, the humans don't fail, the business failed. Why? Because after years of getting top dough and accummulating substantial reserves, motivation to do well, responsibility to shareholders and peak performance is no longer important. Moreover, fear of job losses are secondary when they are guaranteed payment of tens of millions in job-loss compensation packages.

That is the malaise infesting the American investment banking and fund management houses. Could this also be true of people who have been in public service for too long? Think about it.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

we are following the american formula to the very commas and fullstops and even more.