Leyte Normal University

Tacloban City
October 19, 2014
1. Question: In theory and practice, schools of management have evolved in
space and time, and in process; discuss your position on these in relations to
concepts,

principles,

theories,

models,

perspectives,

approaches,

frameworks and methodologies. What then are your thoughts on this

matter?
****
From the

past

several

decades,

universities

and

colleges

offering

management studies evidently changed its position as well as its approach to

its course. If we track down in our history, these schools were mainly for the
privileged and fortunate- a stigma that it is only for those company
successors and that it is just an expense for those who were not since the
studies in management were a few in the country and other seek from
abroad. The topics on its course outline were basically narrow and have
been focusing on gaining and maintaining power over people and other
competitor. But coming to the 90s there was a promising boom in the Asian
markets, including the Philippines- by then we were once called the Tiger
market in Asia. In this era, businesses are coming and the country opened
its doors to globalization. In this way, new knowledge was incorporated to
the leaders and that it also caused improvements on the study in
management. The schools widen the scope of the topics but importantly it
brought the importance of studying management.

It basically became an

avenue or an institution for an individual to be fit to the global market and

no longer a close club for the rich kids and company heirs. The drawback
was that topics were focusing on American scenarios and no longer on the
Filipino setting. We were into Wall Street and American economy, that we
patented our actions as to how American will do it given a situation. It is
evident on the topics and other case studies given during studies in
management on these times. Luckily, the latest decade (from the year 2000)
we noticed that there a shift of preference favourably to Asian way of
management. China was closing in terms of marketing power over US
(lately, China became number one). In this matter, the studies also shifted to

adapt on the said change. If we could notice in our course outline, topics are
already a mix of eastern and western knowledge, an opportunity for a
Filipino student for we are adaptable to any environment. We are no longer
focusing on western tycoons but also to eastern way of handling business.
We became focus to people and our social obligation, a trait from eastern
cultures. In addition, the studies in management became a supplementary
requirement for an individual to move up in the corporate/organizational
ladder or be an effective entrepreneur. It became an option rather a
privilege to a Filipino aspiring to succeed. Sooner, I believe a Filipino
studying management will realize the importance of going back to its rootsinvesting on the local market and focusing on how we incorporate our
Filipino values in enhancing our management skills. But overall, I do believe
on what I presented on how studying management and the schools offering
the studies in management evolved through time.
2. Question: When you analyse a Philippine management problem ( any aspect
of sociology, psychology, philosophy, or management and cultural reality),
are you going to claim that yours would be the correct explanation, or are
you going to see your explanation as one valid narrative in relation to the
other narratives that have been written about the same material?
****
In analysing a Philippine management problem, my point of view is always
derived from what I basically see and framed on the lessons I have learned
in the past. Results of collective observations and personal experiences are
key elements of my explanations. I see to it that my interpretation on what
the problem is, why it occurred and how will it be solved or remedied is
within the scope of the problem and the time being it is being discussed. I
live in the code that every individual is unique, every situation is somehow
different from one another and that change is constant. With this code, the
explanation to a management problem is a valid narrative in relation to
other relatives given with same scenario.

It is like a research that the

results are only true to the subjects and the population it represents, with
the time frame and methodology it used. My explanation, in simpler words,
is my interpretation and point of view. It may be useful for the others but I

sincerely believe it needs a thorough study to elaborate further my point and

also to have a clearer picture with the conclusion.
But in a situation when an immediate explanation is needed, it is my instinct
to rely on the action plans that was used before and had a favourable result.
Gut feel. In this time, I will see my explanation as correct and applicable.
May there be consequences; I know there will also be an answer.

Lucky Louise D. Abillar

Masters in Management