Human Capital

The November 2008 Monthly Quality Assembly for MBPJ saw the Department of Management Services launched the Campaign of Human Capital: Quality and Not Liability. The phrase is well said and structured. It is a wake up call to all employees after being told that the excellence service ranking of MBPJ amongst fellow local authorities in Selangor is dropping. The Campaign relates the work quality and service as a God alike action. It is a commitment to our God. It relates to one's integrity, sincerity, passion, loving, caring, true self and etc. As the success is related to individuals believe and value for work ethic, leadership by example from the top management can be a contributing factor.

Human capital is the asset to any organisation. The asset is the pillar to determine how good an organisation to perform and to serve their stakeholders. Some said "garbage in, garbage out" referring to the processing in computer. Similarly to the organisation, it is what you will get is depending on what you are giving. Logically, when we smile at someone, reciprocally we will receive a smile from the opponent and when we work hard and wholeheartedly for our clients, they will response with a Big thank you. This is the law of nature.

The question is how to recruit good staff force and importantly to sustain the eagerness and commitment of the new recruits until the last day of their service with MBPJ? Some believe on the incentives and penalties system. By rewarding someone, he/she will be motivated to perform better. Similarly, penalty will prevent someone from committing an error again and again. This system is effective provided that the organisation can innovate the system from time to time as people can be bored and greedy for more over time.

Perhaps inculcating a norm and value amongst staffs for working with sincere and truly should be a step forward. The staffs have to realise that earning the right way through right work ethic and attitude is the only right thing to do, and a minimum that request by MBPJ. For ensuring that the system is workable, a mechanism of monitoring, check and balance should also be institutionalised. Get other stakeholders such as Councillors and other accredited agencies or even the community members to evaluate the performance of individual, departments and MBPJ.

We have to work as a team or else the ranking of MBPJ might not be able to improve next year.