Ooi has worked for IBM in management positions in Asia. Her book discusses the competition for talent in Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Managers and human resources professionals with Asian assignments will want to read her thoughts, presented in an easy-reading and brief style.
The first 40 pages set the stage for specific case histories by providing a brief overview of economic growth in Japan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, India, and Vietnam, followed by the challenge of talent shortage, and the way that a firm may embrace innovation. Ooi identifies the talents in short supply for the multinational company, specifically Asian professionals and managers with a command of the English language and information technology (IT) skills. Asian talent is lacking due to increasing mobility that creates a brain drain. “In many cases, innovation constitutes an improved version of an existing idea.” Innovation involves a culture of trust. “Operational innovation seems the likely solution to addressing the shortage of talent currently facing Asia.”
The most interesting discussion involves case histories for eight firms: IBM, Domino’s Pizza (India), Three on the Bund (China), Marriott Hotels (India), SEEK Limited (Australia and New Zealand), Nanfand Lee Kum Kee Co. Ltd. (China), DiGi.com Berhad (Malaysia), and Aditua Birla Group (India). These stories, with a focus on talent management, are told by company executives in brief presentations of five-to-ten pages.
Ooi presents a brief chapter on Asian culture, a chapter entitled “Innovate with Find-Grow-Keep,” and a chapter of “Final Thoughts” that ends with a commentary concerning employee benefits as an investment.
The simplicity and brevity of the text, coupled with references and an index, are positive features. On the other hand, although Ooi has a legal background, the index contains no listing for the words “law,” “legal,” “regulatory,” “contract,” or “court.” Consequently, one wonders if these constraints on innovation do not deserve some mention. Nevertheless, I found helpful examples and worthwhile messages in this book.
