Reflective Journal II

1. Reflect on some of the class discussions in the Google case study up to this point.

It is certainly interesting to hear different views and opinions about Google's management and some insightful remarks have made us view the Google case study on a more objective perspective when we consider the alternative viewpoints.

On one side, we have some of the class's pupils making Google their choice of preference of an ideal working environment. Most reasoned that Google, being a flexible working environment, will give them more freedom to innovate and work with accordance to their own style and time management. Some bluntly admitted that the reason was the paradise-like environment Google has created for its workers. Overall, the people mainly see Google management effective because of its level of openness that provides the workers with much flexibility to pusue their own innovations and contribute to Google while benefitting from the incentives Google provide them, thus both sides will be satisfied in this win-win situation.

On the other hand, some pupils that Google's management is flawed based on the same factor: Google management's flexibility. There is concern that people will not have the discipline to work in this flexible environemnt. Instead, these people will only waste the company's resources as they are more accustomed to a structured company with a "boss" sending orders down.
Thus, it is obvious that the basis of the contrasting views is Google's flexibility in its management: the advantages and disadvantages of a flexible working environment.

2. Does Confucian have a role to play in modern China or is it just enjoying a temporary revival?

This greatly depends on the feasibility of Confucian ideology as China's governing ideology and if it is worth the effort to convert Confucian ideology into China's governing ideology. So let's look in depth into this.

Once calling Confucianism a stumbling block of China's development, the Chinese Communist Party now encourages the revival of Confucianism in the hope that it will fill the ideological vacuum left by the virtual abandonment orthodox Marxism and Leninism. Communism used to be attractive because of its ideology of equal treatment for all. However, this widens the gap between the rich and poor and protests have beein occuring frequently, causing social unrest. Thus the government is looking into Confucianism as an ideal ideology that will pave the way for economic reform and opening up as Confuicianism preaches harmony to pull people togther.

On the other hand, this could be seen as China government's political motivation as Confucianism also also introduces respect for its authority. Yet, this ideas in Confucianism are helpful in maintaining social order and harmony, such as respect for elders and teachers. China's government certainly wants a revival of such values to help maintain social stability.

However, it would take much difficulty to promote Confucian ideology as a governing ideology. There are internal problems that make it hard to modernize Confucianism. Confucianism emereged 2,500 years agoand was enriched throughout the country's dynastic history to become an ideology in justifying and safeguarding the hierachical structure of political and social systems. As such, many of its ideas are considered outdated and some of these values are in conflict with modernity and cannot be converted into acceptable standards to people today.

Thus, while I think Confucian has a significant role to play in modern China, it will also take much effort to convert some of the Confucian ideologies into governing ideologies of China.

Refletive Journal 1

1. What are your general thoughts on the elective so far (good and bad) after hearing the opening address from Ms Yeo and Mr Corr and having particpated in one seminar so far.

I personally feel that this elective is refreshing as it expects us to go in depth when exploring the different cultures of the East and the West and hence, compare and contrast the styles and ideas in the East and West societies from different cultural viewpoints. It is interesting to note that this elective is taught by two teachers (1 from the East and 1 from the West). Perhaps this way of teaching might aid us in understanding the concerns and way of thinking of the East and West by providing us personal insights that are only known to people with first-hand experiences. The presence of these two teachers can also help to point out and explain the cause of the very real and exisitng sterotypes more easily.

I think the elective is going to be very enriching as it helps develop our young minds and give us a different perception of both East and West as we look beyond mere superficialities to see the reality, but I feel that we might lack some first hand experience of what students from the West think about the East and I could see that most personal opinions of what we think the West is thinking of the East are generally derived from perhaps rumuors or even controversies? Although Mr. Corr is already sharing with us his personal opinions but I think they would still be insufficient enough for us to interpret the true meanings of some ideas of the West at times but since this is only the start and more await me, I shall observe first before making a conclusion.

2. What are your feelings about life in the Google office? What would be the positives and negatives of working in such an environemnt?

Having read about the life in the Google office, I feel that the working life it provides for its workers is very effective in its own way, especially if in the Western societies. Why so?

In the Google office, one would perceive it as a 'paradise' from the variety of food to the facilities it provide. In addition to this, there is 2 main unqiue policies of its own: 1. The 20 percent plicy 2.Peer reviews. The image Google projects is that it is a place of freedom for innovation where transperency is a key aspect of the company with the belief that having more space and freedom will welcome innovations. This can also be related to our school's win-win situation where both sides benefit: Google providing incentives such as a environment compared to a paradies and the 2o per cent policy while expecting workers to produce high-quality innovations.

However, I have yet to address these words, "especially if in the Western societies". I personally feel that in the Western culture, people are more open and they love to given the freedom to research and innovate themselves. This probably can explain why Western companies can be seen proudly calling many products their own unique innovations such as microsoft. From my perspective, this can be boiled down to the style of education in Western countries. Western education emphasizes more on self-study, independent learning and researching, thus Western people are generally more used to having the freedom to do their own research.

In Eastern countries such as China, students are more used to taking down the exploding load of information being thrown at them and memorising them. They do not seem to have the desire to call something their own innovation and are not as open as Western people which also explains the censorship imposed on the people by China government, hence shutting out the freedom of speech which are generally the root of a great innovation. Hence, Google, an innovation machine, does not suit the style of the Eastern culture, which may explain the recent conflict between China and Google.

In conclusion, Google can have its own unique style of management but it might not suit all. Even though it emerges one of the leading giants of technology in today's world, it still cannot fit in nicely in China, a rapidly growing market, who is on its way to become one of the world's most influential countries.