Desmond Kuek - Leadership Failure

[Thick Face Black Heart]

It is a small issue. Trains break down the world over. Even the Swiss who are famous for the clockwork precision of their railway system have problems from time to time.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4121072.stm
http://genevalunch.com/blog/tag/breakdown/

If you think you're such a smart ass, why don't you apply for the job. Talk is cheap.

The issue is bigger than that. Ask yourself why has our national infrastructure (public transport, housing, roads, trains, etc) failed to keep pace with the escalating population size. Its government incompetency, plain and simple.

Also ask yourself why basic emergency procedure were ignored during the major train breakdown in dec last year. People could have been killed in that tunnel, suffocated from lack of oxygen. Its no laughing matter.

And finally, ask yourself which engineer in his right mind uses cable ties to secure bulkheads as large as the ones we have.

Maintenance regimes were not properly managed. Cost cutting measures resulted in poor maintenance and development of faults over time. We should not tolerate any of these.

 

[Hans168]

Re: Desmond Quek's failure highlights SMRT Board's defective selection criteria

When the breakdowns happened, the board indicated that as the Malaysian Saw was retail based (never mind she made tons of money for them and Temasek) there was a need to replace her with a technical person, preferably someone with engineering background. That Lucky Sperm Desmond was swimming around and was caught after a global search. Desmond is an insult to people like the engineer-CEO of Capitaland.

So, now that there are human capital issues, should Desmond be fired and the brief for the next global search for CEO should have experience in human resources?

And if, 6 months down the line, Muddy Waters decide that SMRT's finances are flawed, we look for someone with finance background?

The board should realise, LEADERSHIP is leadership, no ifs and buts.

But then again, the board itself has not demonstrated leadership either in the past week.

So how, so how?

Very simple to put right the problems .... get someone who understands Abraham Maslow Hierarchy of Needs & know how to apply Herzberg's 2-factor theory. Hygiene factor in SMRT stinks! Pay is one of the many hygiene factors while motivators do not exist at all. In fact I doubt DK or EVP Teo understands Maslow or Herzberg or anything closely resemble Behavioural Science ........... want to earn big money but knows fuckall!! What has sg evolved into? NO need to know anything but the right persons???

 

[kingrant]

My guess is right at the very top, his absence was sanctioned. They had to keep every little crumb they can find after scraping the barrel. If they pushed him to the fore, and the public bays again for his blood, then he is finished and then Loon has to find another replacement. It is also not coincident that Lui and Zorro Lim kept behind in the background. To be out of sight is to be out of mind - the public's mind. either that or their faces have become ad nauseam and the butt of jokes. Let the younger Ministers like Jo and TCJ expose or fumble themselves; keep the older Ministers as silver bullets. They will be needed to bring more in the next GE on their coat-tails, so they cant be risked being toasted.

Desmond shld have himself come out with guns blazing. Yes, he could have carved out a tough guy image that will reinforce industrial relations up a notch. But he must be able to do it well, with finesse and lots of backing from the top. But I think his hands were tied as the action has not been termed an illegal strike yet. If he jumps the gun, can imagine Ah Loon or Lui having to fight a rear guard battle until their other cronies in the NTUC are ready? If this had happened with local drivers, I am pretty sure DK will have the sanction of the top becos bullying locals is always easier and plainer to go by the rule book.

 

[Hans168]

In other words, they are overpaid, too much time on their hands, complacent & incompetent. Do we need incident like this, that place the public in grave danger of a sabotage to wake them up? Isn't this frightening!

One chief even engage in forbidden sex as leisure or outlet...... without paying a dime despite his big fat pay.

 

[kingrant]

It is also possible why they never got him to bear the cross. It would mean admitting that they chose a dud so soon after getting rid of one.

Another reason: always waiting for orders from the top, or clearance first. Typical Admin Service scholars mindset. Play safe.

 

[OverTheCounter]

That desmond guy should be sacked. He watched as Rome burned. I don't think he was deliberately kept in the shadows. He is a fool and a bumbling twat.

Desmond shld have himself come out with guns blazing. Yes, he could have carved out a tough guy image that will reinforce industrial relations up a notch. But he must be able to do it well, with finesse and lots of backing from the top. But I think his hands were tied as the action has not been termed an illegal strike yet. If he jumps the gun, can imagine Ah Loon or Lui having to fight a rear guard battle until their other cronies in the NTUC are ready? If this had happened with local drivers, I am pretty sure DK will have the sanction of the top becos bullying locals is always easier and plainer to go by the rule book.

 

[watchman8]

That desmond guy should be sacked. He watched as Rome burned. I don't think he was deliberately kept in the shadows. He is a fool and a bumbling twat.

I agree. This chap was probably unreachable for the first 2 days or simply refused to cut short his holidays because he thought the issue is too small and beneath his pay grade.

 

[RoyMcFarland]

How did we end up with such "leaders"? I think every thinking person in this forum has an idea how we reached this point. But, I'll move on from DK's ability or inabilty or even SMRT's missmanagement.

Singapore workers, including our foreign friends have been completely mismanaged by the general HR culture in most of our GLCs and the biggest employer of them all, the Civil Service. In collusion with the NTUC, the management of these companies and the Civil Service have kept these workers in line. Using words like "tripartite" and "open feedback channels" over many years have sanitised the general public into thinking everything is fine. We should not think that this is only a foreign worker problem. This HR mismanagement affects us as well. Don't get me wrong. The PRC drivers were completely wrong in refusing to work, especially as it was an essential service. But, obviously the "tripartite" culture and feedback channels have not worked. Do you really believe these drivers did not go through the proper channel? Our local workers are so "conditioned" that when the proper channels don't work, they just shrug their shoulders and carry on working as they need the job to survive. The foreigners brought up in a different culture, react differently. So, the message to every company, local, foreign, govt owned or the Civil Service is clear. Treat workers fairly. Lines of communication goes both ways.

 

[Semaj2357]

The Tripartite system has shown that there are some kinks in the mechanism which the SNEF has touted as the mainstay of why MNC's are here. Wonder what has Stephen Lee got to say about this.

 

[Narong Wongwan]

That desmond guy should be sacked. He watched as Rome burned. I don't think he was deliberately kept in the shadows. He is a fool and a bumbling twat.

If we go to war, will this reservist general be recalled? I wouldn't want to be under command of such a 'leader'

 

[enterprise2]

Two months, not two days into the job. And this is not OjT, and his title is not CEO for nothing.

First question, why go on a long overseas holiday when only two months into CEO of a critical company that is widely known to have been badly managed? Shouldn't he thoroughly go through the issues, implement and see through the solutions before taking off? At least hold that holiday till after first year in office. Any commander worth his salt would know this basic.

Second, he should have al least gave a phone interview with the media within first day of strike to give public impression that as CEO, he is taking charge. Don't tell me can't even do Skype video?

Yeah !! What happened to the first 100 days KPI for any new incoming CEO?? This fella first 100 days is to go Hawaii to jia hong???

 

[Leongsam]

So, the message to every company, local, foreign, govt owned or the Civil Service is clear. Treat workers fairly. Lines of communication goes both ways.

How about workers treating the organisation they work for fairly too. These Tiongs SIGNED AN AGREEMENT which specified what they would be paid. You can't renege on a contract just because you find out later that other employees hired under different circumstances are being employed on different terms.

When I first started working life, I was paid $500 less than my peers who were doing exactly the same job. I didn't "refuse to go to work". I sat down and planned how to get on the fast track to the next pay scale. 18 months later, I had overtaken the rest.

 

[Kuailan]

Because he's busy counting his salary in the million!

"So sorry the million were in $50.00 notes when I got my salary
so have to count them correctly before I give some money to my wife!!!"

 

[RoyMcFarland]

How about workers treating the organisation they work for fairly too. These Tiongs SIGNED AN AGREEMENT which specified what they would be paid. You can't renege on a contract just because you find out later that other employees hired under different circumstances are being employed on different terms.

When I first started working life, I was paid $500 less than my peers who were doing exactly the same job. I didn't "refuse to go to work". I sat down and planned how to get on the fast track to the next pay scale. 18 months later, I had overtaken the rest.

Of course, a contract is a contract. But that doesnt mean that they shouldnt be unhappy that others are paid more for the same work and effort. In this case, maybe even more work. I reinterate, it was wrong of them to break the contract and strike, but I doubt that even if they had "sat down and planned how to get on the fast track to the next pay scale", they would have succeded.

The point is, they have no choice on pay. Did our 1st world management have the skill set to manage their grievances? Did they get the clear message across on why the Malaysians were paid more? Did they explain the consequences of not coming to work? Did they try to soften them by addressing the other issues like their living conditions?

 

[mojito]

The point is, they have no choice on pay. Did our 1st world management have the skill set to manage their grievances? Did they get the clear message across on why the Malaysians were paid more? Did they explain the consequences of not coming to work? Did they try to soften them by addressing the other issues like their living conditions?

If they were not happy with the terms of their contract, they could have resigned en-massed giving their usual notice period. It would not have been called a strike, just a failure of management to plan for contingencies.

 

[RoyMcFarland]

If they were not happy with the terms of their contract, they could have resigned en-massed giving their usual notice period. It would not have been called a strike, just a failure of management to plan for contingencies.

Yes, agreed. However, they probably have no other job options back home. The SMRT management should not have allowed it to develop into this mess....

 

[Kinana]

Cannot blame him la. SMRT is under so much cost pressure and its not his fault. they govt don't allow fare increases which is the root of the problem.
The govt should just stop interfering with market forces and allow the company to decide its own fares.

 

[laksaboy]

If we go to war, will this reservist general be recalled? I wouldn't want to be under command of such a 'leader'

You mean you'll actually turn up? I'll desert without hesitation. There is nothing to fight for, and I sure don't want to be expendable cannon fodder for the elites.

 

[winnipegjets]

Finish up your trips to China asap before the visa-free admission is placed on a hiatus.

 

[scroobal]

Just to get everyone back on track. There are couple of issues and themes;

1) first strike since the 80s
2) strike impacting essential services
3) first strike totally by foreigners
4) poor management
5) missing leadership
6) involves a company with a string of recent mishaps
7) company board had 2 senior labour chiefs

Credit to PS, MHA who is not a scholar, schooled locally, rose thru the ranks, and did the right thing.

Desmond Kuek needs to reflect on what he failed to do. Inquiry on why 2 labour chiefs were on the board if they had nothing to offer. Both report directly to the Minister without Portfolio and the Labour chief of this country.