vn newsletter 26

7/30/2019 VN Newsletter 26

1/11

In this issue:

The 26th Dutch Vietnam

Management Supporter

This magazine was first

published in March 2007. It is

digitally distributed among

my Vietnamese and Dutch

business & private associates.

Purpose: to keep them

informed about my activities

in Vietnam and overseas

This amazingly attractive andenergetic country has rapidly

conquered my soul, and

become my home away

from home.

Loek Hopstaken

P r o f . L o e k H o p s t a k e n

E m a i l :l o e k @ h o p s t a k e n . c o mM o b i l e :090 888 9450

February 5, 2013

7th year, no. 1

Why Learning?

Activities Feb.-March

1

2

Why Learning?

Why to develop

Critical Thinking Skills?

3

4

5

Going Public @Royal

40 Years Diplomacy

Pioneering HRM

6

7

8

Dutch Vietnamese

Hopstaken Services

Contact information

9

10

11

Learn.

Learn.

Learn.V.I. Ulanov

Why learning?You will have heard this quote: You can take a horse to

water, but you cannot make it drink.*) When a CEO

sends his management team to do a training course, there

is no guarantee all managers will jump up & shout: HOO-

RAY! Usually, a few will appreciate the opportunity to

learn. The majority will say: Ok, why not. And there

may be one or two who think: If I had a choice, Id ratherdo my work. Learning is a waste of time.

Obviously, not everyone is motivated to do a training

course. Reasons range from disliking to learn or disagree-

ment with the course, to disbelief in its intended result.

Even CEOs often see a training course as something that

costs moneynot as an investment.

When you think your team needs a boost by getting

trained, how do you makeyour decision their decision?

Continued on page 3

*) William Shakespeare

Chc Mng Nm Mi!


2/11

27th year, no. 1



"

Are you afraid of snakes?

If so, you are not alone. Most people do not

like them. Their image: causes quick or

slow death by either poison or suffocation.

Nevertheless, Im not so afraid of snakes.

Many years ago my group of travellers

missed the ferry across the Ganges river in

India. To save money, we camped out on the

river bank. Shortly before sunrise some of

us woke up, hearing a soft, hard-to-identify

sound. While the morning sun was slowly

rising, we discovered the sound was made

by 2 meter long cobra snakes, crawling

through the sand. Instant fear, no: terror.

Now & then they would lift their heads, dis-

playing their glasses. Once we realized these animals were just taking their morning sunbath &

not in the least interested in us, our initial fear slowly lessened. Still, with just our heads sticking

out of our sleeping bags following the snakes motions, we whispered to each other: Dont move!

Dont look in their eyes! The scene lasted maybe an hour. One by one the cobras disappeared. We

got out of our sleeping bags, rolled them up, and continued our journeydestination Nepal.

As a result of this mini-adventure, my attitude toward snakes has changed. From terror to slight

fear*). Perhaps this is why I think I understand why Asians paint a more balanced picture of

these reptiles. They have their good sides! So, welcome in the Year of the Snake! Loek

*) I make an exception for Nagini, the killer-snake in the Harry Potter movies. But thats horror.

Activities in February & March:

Ongoing: executive coaching

Management Development program

theme: Dave Ulrichs Leadership Code Sales Course for Sales Reps

Course for Sales Managers

Public course (Royal): Career Planning &

Training (March 18-22)

Instructional & consultative coaching to

support implementation of various HRM

tools (job descriptions, KPIs, etc.)

Preparing a PR campaign for a client who

is planning a come back

The 2013 edition of my catalog (pdf) will be yours aftersending a request to [email protected].

Right: Raymond Wiranatakusuma with his

beautiful bride. As co-Director of SPECTRA

he is one of my first business friends in VN.

King Cobra

ChcMngNm

Mi!


3/11

37th year, no. 1



Continued from page 1

You must sell it.

Right: get your teams full agreement that your decision to have them do a training course

is a solution. How? Sales people know, that selling never starts with a solution. In busi-

ness it starts with a recognized problem: where the customer is concerned, something that

needs to change, whether it is lack of know-how (1), skills (2), a behavioural issue (3) or a

combination of 1, 2 and 3 (4).

This sequence of steps will help you to get your point across and win your team to agree

with and follow up on your decision:

1. Name the problem.2. Explain the problem, using facts & figures.

3. Tell what you expect will happen if the problem will not be solved.

4. Conclude that the problem is a real problem that needs to be solved as soon as possi-

ble.

5. Handle any questions and doubts.

6. Get your teams agreement about 1-4.

7. Tell them your solution: a training program.

8. Get your teams agreement about your solution.

Preparation is 90%Of course you can prepare your sales talk by looking for a provider you deem fit to

deliver the training. A provider who offers good value for your money. Dont go for cheap.

In training, cheap means low quality. Low quality in training means: no return on invest-

ment. A quality trainer will want to know your objectives, will ask you questions about

the problem you are facing, what has been done sofar to handle it, and: how your company

will be after this problem is solved. He may suggest intake interviews with the partici-

pants, to find out if they are aware of the problem, and if yes, how it affects their work.

Dont believe everything

I have noticed again and again that some purchasers of training programs omit checking

if the know-how provided by a training company is relevant, up-to-date, and last-but-not-

least, a cost-effective aid to help you solve your problem. Ask questions, check. Develop

critical thinking. See the next two pages ...

Why learning?

Babies: the fastest learners.


4/11



7th year, no. 1 4

Why to develop Critical Thinking Skills?When a foreign trainer or teacher with a non-Asian background first starts deliver-

ing training courses in Vietnam, he / she observes that students believe everything he / she

says. At exams many display their ability to copy the course content as provided in the

course materials. A result of memorization, and sure: some cheat. Those that cheat dont

show understanding, those that have memorized usually do. Their understanding however is

based solely on the book, and on their teachers slides & lectures. This teacher notices the

almost complete absence of students examining the content to see if it makes sense, to see

how it can be applied, and to analyze its elements. Students seldom ask questions; they care-

fully hide any disagreement they might have. The best student appears to be the one who

has an excellent memory and basic understanding. One explanation is the old Confucian ruleto never question your teacher (parent, manager, etc.). But there is more to this.

Vietnam gladly imitates discoveries made abroad. Major development of new products

or services is rare. Vietnamese rather copy them from foreign examples. Innovation is neces-

sary, but apart from imported innovations, Vietnamese innovations are hard to find. There

are patents on Vietnamese inventions. But as soon as these would have consequences for a

protected status quo, they are left unused. Scientific research in Vietnam is very limited.

When in 2011 Dr. Ngo Bao Chau won the Field Medal, he made clear to his Vietnamese au-

dience that from the age of 15 his education took place in France and after that, in the USA.

He is working in the

USA as a scientist & pro-fessor, because there he

has the facilities to do his

work, and undoubtedly,

colleagues who have a

brilliant mind similar to

his. Any scientist needs

like minds to discuss &

get feedback from.

To do what Dr. Chau

does, requires mastering

all levels of learning

from collecting data to

in-depth analysis to im-

agination of the highest

order.

Why is Vietnam lagging behind? My answer: the educational system does not in-

clude development of critical thinking skills.

Nowadays most educational systems in the USA, Europe and Australia applyoften without

them being aware of itBlooms Taxonomy. This is one of educations most insightful &

practical tools. Its purpose: to help educators to set learning objectives. See the next page.


5/11



7th year, no. 1 5

Why to develop Critical Thinking Skills?60 years ago, Benjamin Bloom & his col-

leagues defined three domains: cognitive

(knowing/head), affective (feeling/heart), and

psychomotor (doing/hands). For each domain

different levels were identified. Over the

years, Blooms Taxonomy has been revised,

incorporating the latest findings. Look at the

levels of learning in the cognitive domain

(left): from low to high order thinking skills,

with each higher level building on the lowerones: 1. Remembering. 2. Understanding

(describe in own words; explain). 3. Applying.

4. Analysing. 5. Evaluating. 6. Creating*).

Critical Thinking comes in at level 4

(asking questions) and is core to level 5. Only

when mastering level 5, you can fully pick its

fruits at level 6. However, being successful at

5 supposes proficiency in 1-4. In other words,

the ability to create has a firm basis in 1-5.

When you would ask me to briefly tell the

difference between Bachelor and Master

levels, I usually say that Bachelors need to

excel at analysis (level 4; this includes re-

search) and display basic skills at levels 5 &

6. Masters on the other hand need to excel at

level 5 & 6. They must have well developed critical thinking skills to enable them to properly

evaluate and to be creative. True Masters can make something out of nothing and dont back

off when a mission impossible crosses their path. Sure, intelligence helps.

Its interesting to note that Vietnamese who have successfully completed their Mastersabroad, have picked up critical thinking skills along the way. As a matter of fact, they would

not have passed their exams or earn high grades if they hadnt.

So how can we help Vietnamese to become more innovative, to establish serious scientific

research, to develop new products, and shake off its image of copy & paste country? Right:

move Vietnamese students up to higher levels of learning and thinking. The result will be

that Vietnam will be stronger and more successful as a nation, gain more self-respect, and

gain more respect from other nations.

*) Full descriptions of each domain & its various levels you can find on the internet. Just

google Blooms Taxonomy Revised.

Parrots mimic their owners. Their owners consider that a sign of intelligence.Marty Rubin


6/11



7th year, no. 1 6

The final course of 2012attracted participants from many different organizations, all

eager to improve their presentation skills. The idea is to practice as much as you can, as

delivering a presentation is a matter of just doing it. Those who were the most fearful made

the most significant progress, some made a breakthrough. We witnessed several outstanding

performances. From moving key note speeches to hilarious storytelling. Each participant

received personal feedback on strengths & opportunities for improvement.

In 2013 sofar two workshops are scheduled:

* Career Planning & Training (March 18-22)

* Human Resource Strategies & Planning

(June 10-14).

There will also be weekend seminars on various

topics, which are now being discussed and

prepared. These will be announced in the next

DVMS.

Left: Prof. David Snyder (USA) is a frequent

visitor to Vietnam, and has been lecturing at

Royal Business School for many years. Before the

final course evening of the Presentation Skills

class we joined Royal Business Schools Christmas

party.

My Public Courses @ Royal

I am still learning.Michelangelo Buonarotti (aged 87)


7/11



7th year, no. 1 7

A clever yet aesthetic logo design can express what words can not. To celebrate 40 years of

DutchVietnamese diplomatic relations the Dutch Ambassador, Mr. J.W. Scheffers,

revealed the logo for this event. The Dutch tulip & the Vietnamese lotus, linked to form one

flower, with the initials NL and VN forming a unity. The occasion: the combined New

Years Reception & Farewell Party of the amicable Dutch Consul General in Ho Chi Minh

City, Mr. Jos Schellaars. His successor is Mr. Simon van der Burg. For 4 years Mr.

Schellaars supported the

Dutch & actively promoted

Dutch-Vietnamese relations.

Practically all Dutch expats

in southern Vietnam came to

bid Mr. Jos & his wife Heleen

farewell. As a gift he received

a specially commissioned

painting, displaying himself

seated behind his laptop, and

his wife driving the car.

We will miss Mr. Jos, andwarmly welcome Mr. Simon.

40 years of DutchVietnamese

diplomatic relations

There is no end to education. It is not that you read a book, pass an examination, andfinish with education. The whole of life, from the moment you are born to the moment

you die, is a process of learning. Jiddu Krishnamurti

Mr. & Ms. Schellaars enjoyed their life in

Vietnam. Mr. Jos will always be remembered for

his support of the Dutch in southern Vietnam,

and for his organization of:

* Holland Village (2010)

* Economic Mission Vietnam with Crown Prince

Willem Alexander & Princess Maxima (2011)

* The Dutch Open Golf Tournament (2011).

He is now Dutch Ambassador in Estonia.

left: Mr. Simon van der Burgright: Mr. J.W. Scheffers


8/11



7th year, no. 1 8

HRM in Vietnam is

all too often a mix-

ture of traditional

personnel admin-

istration and copy/

paste jobs of primar-

ily American HRM

tools. The average

HR department fo-

cuses on recruit-

ment, legal affairs,and salaries. Howev-

er, the average Viet-

namese CEO expects

much more. HR staff

is expected to be ex-

perts in Performance

Evaluation, making

job descriptions, re-

designing the organizational structure, handling difficult staff, and career planning. As

there is no formal education in HRMthat is, offering a range of HRM-topics from an up-to-date viewpointHR staff often turns to internet to look for tools, to get tips and or to find

advice. Recently many Vietnamese HR staff have discovered the treasury offered by

LinkedIn, where the Vietnamese HR community is one of the largest Vietnamese groups. Its

members discuss many current HR issues. On a more local basis HR staff exchange ideas

and cases, and stimulate professional intervision. Still, there is no quality standard for HR,

like there is for accountancy. In short, HRM in Vietnam is in its early development stage.

This proves that there is a

need for a sound HRM edu-

cation. Meanwhile, HRM is

part of educational efforts,like MBA programs. My

contribution is to introduce

professionalsCEOs, sen-

ior managers, specialists

to the many facets of mod-

ern HRM, and see how it

can benefit Vietnamese

organizations.

Like I did early January in

Hai Phong, for the PGSM-

MBA students.

Pioneering the New HRM in Hai Phong

That is what learning is. You suddenly understand something you've understood all your life, but

in a new way. Doris Lessing

MBA students after 4 days of HRM.

Location: the Hai Phong College for

Maritime Engineering. Bottom left:

Dr. Khoa, my worthy interpreter.

Best pho in Hai Phong:

with buffalo beef


9/11



7th year, no. 1 9

People do not like to think. If one thinks, one must reach conclusions.Conclusions are not always pleasant. Helen Keller

Royal visitors to Vietnam soon to be King & Queen

Our Dutch Vietnamese relations

January 27, 2013: Dutch Queen Beatrix announced that she will hand over her

responsibilities as Head of State to her eldest son, Prince Willem Alexander. April 30 he

will be crowned King. His wife, Princess Maxima, will be crowned Queen.

March 2011 the Prince & Princess spent 5 days in Vietnam, accompanying the Dutch Economic

Mission to Vietnam. Besides representatives of the Vietnamese government, the business &

education fields, they met Dutch entrepreneurs in Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh City and visited their

companies in the region. The final evening they hosted a reception for the Dutch in southern

Vietnam at the Reunification Palace in Ho Chi Minh City. To be continued.

Dutch baby inspecting Vietnamese Tet head gear

Vietnamese toasting with Dutch beer


10/11

Major Services + Client List + Mini Catalog

107th year, no. 1

The following services are in high demand:

1. Management Development programspurpose: to train

managers to qualify for higher positions, to develop soft

skills, and to increase their value to their organizations

2. Seminars & Lectures in the fields of Human Resource

Management, Leadership, Strategy, Public Relations and

Business Communications

3. Business courses: HRM; Efficiency; Presentation Skills

4. Personal Coaching of entrepreneurs

5. Business Consultancy (Management & Leadership; HRM

systems; PR; Strategy; internal communications)

In Vietnam: a.o. business field

Tan Thuan IPC (HCMC) Industrial development

HCMC University of Technology Master of BA program

RMIT (HCMC campus) Communication program

Royal Business School (public courses) Courses & seminars

Vietnam Airlines (RBS; ISM) International airline

Vietnam Singapore I.P. (SPECTRA) Industrial park

Petronas Vung Tau (SPECTRA) Chemical factory

Nike (Tae Kwang Vina) (SPECTRA) Shoe factory

Le & Associates Training & consultancy Training House Vietnam (Sacombank) Training & consultancy

Ministry of L.I.S.A. (RBS) Civil Servants

SONY Vietnam (RBS) Consumer electronics

CapitaLand Vietnam (SPECTRA) Real estate

Institute for Potential Leaders / PACE Courses & seminars

Dalat Hasfarm (Agrivina) Pot plants, cut flowers

Hoanggia Media Group Key to Success TV Show

Fresh Green Earth Hi-tech agriculture

Unique Design Interior Design

ERC Institute Vietnam Vocational training

Golden Alliance Vocational training Schoeller Bleckmann Vietnam Oilfield Equipment

De Heus Vietnam Animal food

Centre for Tropical MedicineOxford Uni. Clinical research

Khue Van Academy Courses & seminars

Training House Vietnam Courses & seminars

Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) Business consultancy

In The Netherlands, a.o.

ING Bank Financial services

Philips Electronics

Heineken Brewery

Yamaha Musical instruments Voerman International International relocations

Damen Shipyards Ship repair wharfs

Wittenborg University of Applied Sc. IBABBA, MBA

MINI CATALOG

WORKSHOPSA workshop is a 2-4 day group

activity with a defined purpose,

where theory, practical exercise

and exchange of experiences are the

main ingredients. Areas: HRM, PR,

Communication, and Management.

Team Engineering

Interpersonal Communication

Commercial Communication

Public Relations

Presentation Skills

Organizational Design

Cross-cultural Communication

Time Management / Efficiency

Recruitment Skills

CONSULTING

Consulting is any specified expert

activity to help solve a defined

problem. This can take the form of

coaching, but also, conducting a

research. By definition, it is tailor

made. Areas: HRM, Strategy, PR.

Personal Coach

Business Coach

Moderator Mediation

Executive Selection

In- & External Surveys (such as

360 Feedback)

SEMINARS

A seminar is a 3-4 hour interactive

transference of core know-how,

including practical assignments.

People Management

Emotions in the Workplace

Strategic Thinking

Business Ethics

The Allround Manager

The Allround Communicator

The Soft Skills Program

On demand

Investments (ex. 10% VAT / 25% PIT)

Workshops: US$ 1,200 per team / day.

Consulting / Coaching: US$ 100 / hour.

Seminars: US$ 550 850 per seminar

(except for the Allround programs).

Lecture: US$ 250 per lecture.

Train the Trainer: US$ 1,200 per day.

Prices may change due to inflation.

Contact me for longterm cooperation:

[email protected] or

[email protected]

The 26th Dutch Vietnam Management

Clients & Associates

Loek Hopstakens 5 major services


11/11

The DVM Supporter is published by Loek Hopstaken.

Email: [email protected] or

[email protected]

Mobile: 090 888 9450

Assistant: Ms. Vo Ngoc Lien Huong

Email: [email protected]

Mobile: 090 888 9451

Profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/loekhopstaken

Who is Loek Hopstaken?

1951: born in Haarlem, The Netherlands

1971-1972: travels: Europe & Asia

1972-1975: Amsterdam City University

1976-1977: travels: North & South America

1977-1993: career in banking: NCB,

Postgiro, Postbank, NMB Postbank Group,

ING Group, ING Bank

1979-1982: Business Administr. studies

1983-1988: Project Manager

privatization process Postgiro to

Postbank (field: P&O / HRM)

1989-1993: Project Manager merger

Postbank & NMB Bank followed by merger

with NN becoming ING Group (fields: PR,

Marketing, Total Quality Management)

1991: founding Hopstaken Bedrijfsadvies

1991-present time: career in training and

consultancy, coaching & mediation

1993: left ING Bank

1996-2000: Business Club MC (50 meetings)2003-present time: combining training,

coaching & consultancy with teaching at

international business schools (IBA/MBA)

2005 + 2007: Professor appointments

2007-2008: visits to Vietnam: lecturing,

consulting, surveying, delivering courses,

workshops & seminars

November 2008: establishment in Saigon

2008-present time: delivering lectures,

seminars, coaching, workshops & training

courses, mediation; overseas business trips

2010: Examiner VTV1 Key to Success Show2011: Chairman Advisory Board ERC VN

2012: Chairman Academic Board ERC VN

Full CV: mail [email protected]

11



7th year, no. 1

The intelligent desire self-control;children want candy.

Rumi

January 14 our lovely daughter Lara Lien

celebrated her first birthday. Many family

members and friends joined the party.

Although she will never recall it, the

pictures will show her that she was the

shining center of a truly Vietnamese

Dutch event.

vn newsletter 26

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