Patrick Kim Cheng Low

Father leadership: the Singapore case study

Purpose – To show and analyse the concept, practice, problems and prospects of father leadership in Singapore. The study also proposes such practices in Asian countries.Design/methodology/approach – The focus group participants, were mostly of experienced corporate and business leaders, and did not represent a cross‐section of the population; they were made of business people because of the peculiarities of Singapores history and economy.Findings – The Singapore Government leads the way and father leadership is widely practiced. An analysis is also made of the management approach, problems and prospects of father leadership as practised in Singapore with its practices proposed in other Asian countries.Research limitations/implications – Limitations include time and costs constraints; otherwise more focus group sessions can be held and the focus group participants, mostly of experienced corporate and business leaders, did not represent a cross‐section of the population; they were made of business people b...

Asian Leadership Wisdom: The Relevance of Kautilyan and Confucian Values for Leadership Development

This paper is on comparative leadership philosophy. It explores the ancient Asian wisdom for leadership development from the Kautilyan and Confucian perspectives. Every now and then, there is a need for us to look and re-look at ancient wisdoms to be applied effectively in the modern context. In this paper, the authors provide an inside-out leadership development approach. This has practical implications and lessons for contemporary leadership development from an Indian and Chinese cultural perspective. It is also becoming highly relevant due to the growth of both the Indian and Chinese economy. The reference in the Indian context is made from the Arthashastra by Kautilya, while reference in the Chinese context is made from the teachings of Confucius.

Organisational development and the Hindu trinity: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva on leadership, culture and change

This paper uses the metaphors of the Hindu trinity &ndash Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, and its relevance to organisational development (OD). It explores roles on leadership, corporate culture and change for increasing organisational growth and effectiveness. By employing hermeneutics, a qualitative methodology in interpretations, the parallel roles of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are drawn to show key strategies and ways of creating, maintaining and eliminating (changing) the organisational culture and organisational leadership renewal. This paper is expected to provide a new dimension in studying OD from the Indian philosophy and cultural perspectives.

The Essential Leadership Wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita, a part of the Mahabharata composed more than 5,000 years ago by Vyasa, is a timeless leadership classic and its wisdom is highly relevant to leaders of today. Here, in this paper, the authors examine the various tenets of the Bhagavad Gita and provides its wisdom to contemporary leadership. Some of these teachings will certainly inspire the leaders to change from within and transform their leadership from transactional to transformational and towards transcendental. In presenting this wisdom, the authors have employed hermeneutics, which is a method to interpret ancient texts combined with some qualitative inputs received from leadership seminar participants. This paper is significant for both leadership theory and practice.

Process Versus Content

Skilled negotiators study the process of negotiation, and they rely more on the process to be successful. But what is the process of negotiation?

Preparation and Planning

We need to always bear in mind Winston Churchill’s words, “Let our advance worrying become advance thinking and planning.” Do your homework. To paraphrase, Ogilvy’s phrase, you can’t stand a tinker’s chance of getting successful negotiation outcomes unless you start by doing your homework. Yes, it can be tedious, but there is no substitute for it. Indeed, the power to win is nothing unless we have the power to prepare.

Chinese Strategies and Tactical Ways

To paraphrase Sun Tzu, the art of negotiation is of vital importance to the state, business and organisation. It is a matter of life and death, comfort, profits or losses. Hence we enter into an enquiry which can on no account be neglected.

What Is Negotiation

Negotiation is an everyday occurrence. I am always negotiating and so are you. “You have been negotiating ever since you were old enough to disagree with your parents about whether or not you should eat your cabbage. We all negotiate every day, with our workmates, partners, children, friends and acquaintances. Most of the time we might not even be aware that we are doing it because it is such an everyday event” (Hodgson 1994, p. 1).

Indian Negotiation Strategies and Tactical Ways

Let us look at the Indian history, religion and culture, and apply some analogies and from here derive and understand the various Indian negotiation strategies and tactical ways.

Negotiation and the Martial Arts, Mastering the Art of Effective Persuasion: The Asian Perspective

In this chapter, we will discuss negotiation in the light of the various martial arts as practised in Asia.