Institutes, organizations, and business leaders constantly place emphasis on competitiveness of individual countries in the global village.
In the world Competitiveness Report 2000 issued on April 19, 2000, Thailand ranks 33 from the total of 47 countries, and scored 29.31 out of 100. During the last 5 years, Thailand ranked 33, 34, 39, 29 and 30 (year 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997 and 1996 respectively).
If we take a look at this matter closely, academically, and beneficially, we would have not trouble realizing that business organizations and government agencies that are in change of the country’s science, technology, management, and human resources play a critical role in putting the country on a more competitive edge in the world forum.
Accordingly, we will address this point again at the end of the article, and explore how to improve both of them, with the help of a excerpt from Meenakshi Chellam’s “Knowledge,” an article from Asia 21 (Sep, 1999, P.15-19).
What is KBE?
KBE, or Knowledge-Based Economy, is an increasingly well-know concept of the 21st century in an interview-based column form Forbes (May 2000 issue), Peter Drucker, gives a rough idea on a society that operates on knowledge and the concept of “webducation,” which would result in knowledge warehousing and e-learning.
Knowledge refers to information input. The core of modem business model is knowledge. However, organizations and countries should not only focus on knowledge, but also on knowledge management. These days, the world is just a click away. The world of knowledge becomes boundary-less. Every individual will be capable of sourcing and being educated. As a result, knowledge sharing becomes an issue of great significance.
K-Economy is the establishment of power by knowledge sharing. Countries and organizations that are successful in systematically carrying out knowledge establishment will become leaders. Nevertheless, knowledge establishment is not the same thing as information overload. A substantial pile of knowledge is of no value at all if it functions as a warehouse and not the source.
Singapore geared towards KBE
Since our country and organizations still have a long way to go, we should take a look at countries that have gracefully achieved the goal. Singapore has been the world’s no.2 competitive country for over 5 years. Currently, it is ready for KBE, and its people are becoming “technopreneurs.” Singapore’s National Employers Federal (SNFF) Managing Director says technology would enable people to effectively share information. He also says we will be more excited than ever when we talk about organizational knowledge injection. In the future, giving a billion people an exposure to certain pieces of information is no longer beyond our ability.
So, the most important thing is to prepare people with the ability to absorb and digest information. In Singapore, the sentence “Sorry, I don’t have access to computers.” Would never be heard. In stead, Singaporeans can walk to the nearest national library or community center and use the IT facilities there. Singapore perfectly adapts itself to the new model of economy. That means it would be easier for them to develop and get ready for the competition. Several western countries have tried various models, and all of them failed. Singapore learned from their mistakes, and stepped over their dead bodies.
Major elements of KBE is the preparation to professions with innovation and initiatives. Singapore follows this principle, and thus, is getting closer and closer to perfection. The country is now reconsidering its taxation system, bankruptcy and copyright laws in order to make sure that they would facilitate innovations. Singapore begins with the most fundamental issue, education. The government makes sure that every citizen gets access to computer, and be computer literate.At the end of each day, Singapore keeps repeating to its people that it is not trying to build digital economy, but equal opportunities. Singapore’s government is now revolutionalising its education system. Learning communities are set up in order to share and promote information. This is one of the factors that make Singapore a KBE prototype for other Asian countries. Singapore’s national computer committee believes the country is beading towards the right direction.
Vision for the new millennium
If Thailand and its people want to join the competition in the new millennium and want to have KBE, public and private sectors have to rapidly and urgently prepare themselves for it. The sooner, the better. This is why none of the reports on Thailand’s competitiveness raking matters at all. The only thing we need is solution and vision, the exact directions on what we should do, a concrete answer.
KBE will result from the mechanism of innovation.
……Innovation will enable us to improve existing matters, and discover new ones.
……Different and unconventional thinking is the most desirable thing.
……The New generation would not say “We’ll stick to this methodology.” In stead, they would say “I don’t know how to do this, but I’ll try.” This attitude is the beginning of innovations. The core concept of KBE is that we can make something out of nothing. If we handle information effectively, and make timely change, innovation is what we will get.
The new form of entrepreneurship
Because schools in the United States have already included these latest theories in their business administration course syllabus:
…….Technology is the promoting, accelerating, and spreading tool.
…….Technology is what everybody should be equipped with. However, in this case, “technology” does not refer to degree in Engineering.
……We have to learn how to benefit from the internet, so that we will be able to discover innovations, new business opportunities, and spark the growth of the net.
…….We have to learn how to make money from the net.
The most important thing of KBE is the enhancement of business by knowledge, and not only simple infrastructure.
Countries and business leaders have to change their point of view, and also the education system. They have to do everything there is to do, and never stay idle. Also, they have to be disciplined and focused on human resources restructuring as well as IT revolution, e-commerce promotion, technopreneurship, law and norm revolution, and desertion of conventional ideas.
And that is all that our country, businesses, and communities need.
Dr.Danai Thieanphut
Managing Director
DNT Consultants Co.,Ltd
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