Management awards

Management awards

From Bisnis Indonesia

On Sept. 24 I was among hundreds of guests attending the
ceremony of the "Management Awards of Asia" at the Jakarta Hilton
Hotel. The organizers were the reputed Asian Institute Management in
cooperation with the Far Eastern Economic Review and because of
this I expected the occasion to be magnificent. What happened was
the opposite.

On arrival the guests had to register and submit their name
cards for verification. In return they received a small piece of
paper with a table number. But the seats at the indicated tables
were occupied. Most guests had to take seats at random.

There was a quarter of an hour delay. After Asian Institute
Management chief Rachmat Saleh's speech, dinner was served until
8:30 p.m. and recorded music was played. Some tables did not get
the initial courses. Hotel personnel said the food was finished.

When State Minister of National Development Planning Ginandjar
Kartasasmita arrived, not one of the organizers welcomed him. The
minister was standing by himself for a while before somebody
(apparently another guest) came forward to shake hands with him.

After dinner Ginandjar, Rachmat Saleh, Haroen Al Rasjid and
two people from Asian Institute Management were invited up on
stage to present the awards.

Because each recipient was asked to give a speech after
receiving an award, the high officials had to stand on the stage
for 30 minutes.

Hardly seated, Ginandjar was asked to give a speech. It was
past 9:30 p.m.. After the speech Ginandjar was heading toward his
seat when he was asked up on stage again to receive a plaque from
an Asian Institute Management official. When the minister was on
his way back to his seat he was called again, this time to have
his photo taken with the award recipients.

I would like to suggest that Indonesian high officials
practice prudence in supporting foreign institutes which make
examples of Indonesian businesspeople. Apart from the uncertainty
as to the benefits, the cost pertaining to the awards is
eventually borne by the awardees.

Name and address

known to the editor