Gawain ng Tunay na Manager: Mag book review (Ed Chua)

“The book made me THINK about how we as Canadians are preparing, on NOT preparing, for the inevitable....It was one of the best books I have read lately to help explain why the War for Talent is imminent.”–Canadian Career Information Association

“In this thought-provoking book, Gordon lays out the critical situation employers will face - do face - in finding and holding employees who have the education and training to get the job done....Recommended for business leaders, educators, human resource professionals, politicians, and enlightened citizens who are dedicated to making a difference for the generations that will follow us.”–Midwest Book Review

“Ed Gordon's latest book, The 2010 Meltdown, builds off his earlier success, Skill Wars, and makes a convincing case that organizations failing to be proactive to help create a skilled labor pool may very well face their own demise in the long term.”–The City Line

“A must-read for community leaders looking to understand this paradigm shift. The author makes a convincing case that those organization failing in the foresight and fight necessary to make the shift will begin to disappear along with low-skilled jobs.”–Michael Metzler President/CEO Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce

"Maganda sya!" -Ed Chua

Reading the book has been fun since it made me view countries, such as the United States, India, Canada, etc. as organizational units that can and must be managed like any other business organization. With the looming jobs crisis that is said to be experienced by the countries and the world, application of the things that we have learned throughout our stay in the institution can possibly provide solutions. Let’s take for example the case of China: Gordon argued that with the level of education that it provides its citizens, the job requirements that its businesses have for its potential employees, and the it’s focus on massive and low-cost manufacturing, even though that it will be an economic force to be reckoned with, labor development issues such as the utilization of advanced technologies that requires a high tech workforce. Though, for now, we can say that the competitive advantage that China has against the other countries, in terms of manufacturing, is unparalleled, but with the consideration of the rate of technological advances, the constantly changing environment, and the seemingly unclear strategic position of China in terms of the development of its people, their future may not be as bright as what we had previously believed… not unless they decide to secretly mass produce weapons and war machines and take over the world.

Now, the case of China may be considered as unique, but further reading enlightens us with the truth and the realization that the countries that are currently facing a jobs and economic crises and the countries that are in the process of rapid development have one thing in common: their not so strategic ways. Take the case of the United States: Gordon cited its educational system and the attitude of the students towards it. Young Americans nowadays are more likely to pursue high paying careers instead of pursuing professions that they are more accustomed to. This mindset has led to massive numbers of students dropping out of college and taking low-skill jobs instead. It’s Vegas or bust. Moreover, when coupled with the slow evolution of its education system and the lack of effective intervention efforts by its government, we can safely say that the US is in deep sh…trouble.

Given these, and with further reading of Gordon’s book, it is evident that the scrutinized countries employed quick fixes and seemingly disregarded the future impact of these quick fixes and the environmental factors that would affect their future. So, I would like to suggest now that the future leaders of these countries should be more adept at managing the developmental changes that they impose on their country. The leaders should be able to predict the future that is, by and large, in the process of being weaved by their current policies and ways. Leaders need not be clairvoyant, leaders need only be strategic.