<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" http-equiv=Content-Type>
<META name=GENERATOR content="MSHTML 8.00.6001.18702">
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Zvi, Jonathon, </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>I agree with the points you both make, although
these are applicable more in the Asian culture and rather less in the American
culture. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>In addition, I would suggest another aspect
- employer and client confidentiality. Those in the best position to
highlight new issues and to explain decision-taking, apparent paradoxes, or
to illustrate points by specific examples can often only do so by sharing
information that is not in the public domain. In many cases this would mean
breaking confidences of our organisation, employer, client or network. Perhaps
this is just another aspect of fear of punishment or fear of loss of face.
However, I think for many it is just contrary to our training, where we
temper opportunities to make ourselves look knowledgeable (at least in our own
eyes!) against what we consider to be our
responsibilities. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>It is ironic that on matters about which we know
least we can be free, contentious and indulge in hyperbole; whereas on the
matters we know most we are cautious, inhibited and often silent.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>That said, I agree with Paul and others that the
Sustran community should be more participative, and that we would all get
more out of it by contribution, dialogue and respectful debate than
when we are just silent readers. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>With best wishes, </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Brendan.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2
face=Arial>_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________<BR>Brendan
Finn e-mail : </FONT><A
href="mailto:etts@indigo.ie"><FONT size=2
face=Arial>etts@indigo.ie</FONT></A><FONT size=2
face=Arial> tel :
+353.87.2530286</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>----- Original Message ----- </FONT>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>From: "Jonathan E. D. Richmond" <</FONT><A
href="mailto:richmond@alum.mit.edu"><FONT size=2
face=Arial>richmond@alum.mit.edu</FONT></A><FONT size=2
face=Arial>></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>To: "Zvi Leve" <</FONT><A
href="mailto:zvi@inro.ca"><FONT size=2 face=Arial>zvi@inro.ca</FONT></A><FONT
size=2 face=Arial>></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Cc: "Paul Barter" <</FONT><A
href="mailto:paulbarter@nus.edu.sg"><FONT size=2
face=Arial>paulbarter@nus.edu.sg</FONT></A><FONT size=2 face=Arial>>;
<</FONT><A href="mailto:Sustran-discuss@list.jca.apc.org"><FONT size=2
face=Arial>Sustran-discuss@list.jca.apc.org</FONT></A><FONT size=2
face=Arial>></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Sent: Saturday, June 06, 2009 5:21 PM</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Subject: [sustran] Re: Regional focus for
sustran-discuss: Asia or the globalSouth?</FONT></DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><BR><FONT size=2></FONT></FONT></DIV><FONT size=2
face=Arial>> <BR>> <BR>> Even with face to face contact, junior
employees will often not express <BR>> opinions in front of their
bosses.<BR>> <BR>> And punishments, ranging from humiliation to loss of
promotion and status <BR>> are very real.<BR>> <BR>> In Thailand, for
example, the situation is best understood in terms of the <BR>> concept of
"greng jai," the requirement to make your boss look good -- <BR>> part of
which involves demonstrating that you are inferior to your boss <BR>> and
have little of value to contribute compared to him or her. <BR>> Having good
ideas or being creqtive can be seen as an insult to <BR>> your boss.
Jonathan!<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> On Sat, 6 Jun 2009, Zvi Leve
wrote:<BR>> <BR>>> I do not think that it is exactly "fear of
punishment" that inhibits<BR>>> people from certain cultures from
participating in such 'public'<BR>>> exchanges - it is more a "fear of
losing face". That is, they are worried<BR>>> about how they will be
perceived by others.... When interacting with<BR>>> people directly it is
easier to understand the social cues, so more<BR>>> people would be
inclined to actively participate.<BR>>> <BR>>> Not sure what can be
done about this. If one desires, it is not difficult<BR>>> to hide one's
true identity from the forum (generic email address, no<BR>>> full name,
etc.), but this does not seem to make much of a difference.<BR>>>
<BR>>> Anyway....<BR>>> <BR>>> Zvi<BR>>> <BR>>>
<BR>>> <BR>>> 2009/6/6 Jonathan E. D. Richmond <</FONT><A
href="mailto:richmond@alum.mit.edu"><FONT size=2
face=Arial>richmond@alum.mit.edu</FONT></A><FONT size=2
face=Arial>><BR>>>
<BR>>><BR>>> I do not think the
issue is fear of lack of knowledge
but<BR>>> fear of
punishment.<BR>>><BR>>> In many
Asian countries there is a taboo about
expressing<BR>>> opinions, an activity
often felt to be reserved for<BR>>>
politicians and the most senior officers --Jonathan!<BR>>>
<BR></FONT></BODY></HTML>