THE MIND'S KNOWING ESSENCE - MORE EARLY MORNING TWEETS

The Lee Kuan Yew school is - potentially - one of the world’s highest leverage institutions.  How can it fully realize that potential?

The primal delusion that mobilizes the forces of greed and anger is always cunningly concealed in the deepest resources of the heart. MCK

The mind’s knowing essence is a vast awareness; an unobstructed inner space that contains everything but retains nothing. MCK

Easter Morning Query: God has given me gifts for which I am thankful.  Am I fully using them in the service of God’s purposes? 

New early morning reading.  HH Dalai Lama, ETHICS FOR THE NEW MILLENIUM. Reference: ENM

The contemporary rhetoric of growth and economic development reinforces people's tendency toward competitiveness and envy. ENM

“Carew” birds early morning calls. Memories of the quiet Sri Lankan garden view, writing Paradise Poisoned. 

Four Priciples that May be Helpful to Those Seeking to Build and Use Dynamics Systems Models as Policy Aids

For the second Spring term in succession I am teaching “Dynamic Modeling of Public Policy Systems” at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore.   This is a course in system dynamics modeling.  It is an approach to addressing problems of public policy (and other problems too) by simulating them.  Much to my surprise there are 37 students registered for the course, with an additional seven auditors.  The other night, as I was thinking about the course, principles came to me that, if followed, would be helpful to those seeking to build, use and communicate about these models.  The principles are these. 

1. Not all problems lend themselves to system dynamics modeling.
2. Not all problems that lend themselves to system dynamics modeling should be undertaken by students as their first independent modeling project.
3. It is easier to make a simple model more complex than to simplify a complex one
4. In working with policy makers, communicating lessons learned from the model is more important than communicating about the model.

An End-of-Semester Reflection on Grades and Grading

At the conclusion of each semester, after having corrected final projects, assigned grades and reviewed class members’ feedback, I often share a concluding reflection.  The following is an excerpt from a reflection that I emailed to students who studied system dynamics modeling with me and two colleagues this spring term, in a course offered by the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. 

Dear Class Members,

A few class members expressed a concern that their grades were lower than expected and did not adequately reflect the amount of time they devoted to the course. I could write a lengthy discourse on grading (in fact I have published such a discourse), but the way I feel about the matter is summed up in a passage from one of my favourite books, Kitchen Table Wisdom, written by Oncologist, Dr. Naomi Remen. The passage is this:

As a child, when I brought home a ninety-eight on an exam, my father always asked, “What happened to the other two points.?”  My childhood became focused on the pursuit of those two points.  It took years to discover that those points don’t really matter.  That they don’t make you lovable.  Or whole.  That they are not the secret of living a life worth remembering.

Grading standards are rigorous at the Lee Kuan Yew School and the National University of Singapore.  They are intended both  to evaluate student performance and to provide validation to external reference groups that may be hiring students or assessing institutional reputations.   These are necessary funtions.  But when, in a course such as this, students have toiled for many hours, perhaps far more than in some other courses, I wish there were additional venues for  publicly acknowledging that effort and achievement.  It is in the nature of the modelling process that the outcome of assignments/projects, which provide the basis for grades, may not fully reflect the hours spent or, indeed, the amount learned.

My concluding take-away is this:  The course we shared was a demanding one.  Every one of you took it seriously and made it a high priority in very full schedules with competing priorities, both academic and personal.   I respect this and consider it a privilege to have worked with you. I can think of no class member who was not putting out a high level of  effort.   This will be one of those special classes, comprising an engaging, creative and intelligent  group of committed, dedicated members that I will not soon forget.

I am grateful for this opportunity to have shared system dynamics modeling with you and would welcome opportunities to be of help to you in the future. 

Respectfully and with my best wishes,

Dormgrandpop

Solve for X - a message to my system dynamics modeling students

Teaching system dynamics modeling at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Policy in Singapore is exciting and challenging. 42 students enrolled in my class - a large number to present a technically complex subject at a graduate level. But the engagement of the students is infectious, and even inspiring.

This morning, I saw a posting on Google’s new Solve for X initiative, something that is definitely worth checking out. The link is: http://www.wesolveforx.com

Here is what I wrote to my students and a few friends.

Dear Class Members,

Probably you are already familiar with this initiative, which crossed my field of vision this afternoon. Think about it. The Limits to Growth and to a lesser degree some other modeling work helped change the way human beings thought about sustainability. But the challenge of achieving sustainability in a world that is humane and resilient is yet to be accomplished. Very likely the breakthroughs will first be achieved in Asia. System dynamics modeling could contribute, as it has in the past. As I read it this is the sort of breakthrough thinking that the Solve for X initiative seeks to catalyze. Check out the initiative's website at:

http://www.wesolveforx.com

Any takers...?

viewing the past year - post holiday newsletter

18 January. Written over the Pacific enroute from Tokyo to DC

Dear Family and Friends,

This was a year of travels and the beginning of transitions. If I am to keep to my self- imposed 1 page length, I can do little more than recount events, with few reflections. As some may recall, I stepped down officially as Director, Center for Teaching Excellence and began a one-year sabbatical in July 2009. In early January, I loaded up books, electronic equipment and other necessaries for a 7-month stay in Singapore as of Visiting Professor, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. The environment was welcoming. The Lee Kuan Yew School, located adjacent to Singapore’s Botanical Gardens occupies buildings on the site of what was once “Raffles College,” where the late Mrs. Lee Kuan Yew, Choo Kwa, ranked first in her class and “Minister Mentor” Lee ranked second as secondary school students. I moved into a spacious two-bedroom 10th floor apartment in National University of Singapore subsidized housing. Each day, I could view Singapore awakening from my balcony.

My principal projects were completing a paper drawing lessons from Singapore’s post independence history that would be relevant to global sustainability issues, deepening my knowledge of Singapore’s political economy and promoting the use of System Dynamics computer modeling as a planning tool to Singapore government officials. I pursued these while my wife, her horses and our cats were coping with mountains of snow in the worst winter Washington DC had encountered in years. My Singapore sojourn offered the advantage of easy, inexpensive access to Sri Lanka, where the project to translate Paradise Poisoned: Learning about Conflict, Development and Terrorism into 16 pamphlet sized booklets (8 in Sinhala, 8 in Tamil) continued to progress. The second two were “launched” in January 2011, just a day or so ago. The summer concluded with presentation of a paper at the Annual System Dynamics Society Meeting in Seoul entitled “The Relevance of Urban Dynamics to Singapore’s Development: Lessons for Moving Beyond the Crisis.” This was co-authored with Lee Kuan Yew School graduate student colleague new friend, Elizabeth Ong Ling Lee.

Full time teaching was the fall semester’s principal agenda, including an undergraduate class “International Development” that was my first attempt and a graduate class “Quantitative Research Methods” that I can taught many times, but not for 10 years. Both classes were relatively large – 25 in the graduate class; 33 in the undergraduate. I had forgotten how long correcting papers can take, especially if one provides fairly extensive comments. Fortunately my students were both bright – and patient – which made things easier.

For Christmas, I drove to Kentucky to spend three days with our four grandchildren, my son, and other family members. Once retirement transition is settled, I intend to spend more time “grand parenting,” Its fun. Wife E… continues to live an intense and interesting life dividing full days and evenings between teaching, riding, caring for her horses and spending time with friends. She won the prize for “most helpful member” at the Old Dominion Endurance Riding Association’s annual banquet. Daughter H…. divides full days between her landscaping, restaurant serving and a new practice – mosaic murals, including an awesomely large and beautiful production in Tarpon Springs Florida. With friends, she has purchased property in Panama that she hopes to develop as a resort. Son J…’s broodmare nurturing business in Kentucky appears to be doing well; he continues to pursue a vocation he loves in some of the most beautiful country in the US. Son B…’s work as President of Shaklee International appears to be thriving. I attended events in Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and was impressed with his charismatic platform presence before what appeared enthusiastic cadres of salesperson-representatives… That’s all the news one page will allow – my love and best wishes to all in the New Year. Dormgrandpop.

Confucian guidelines for those revising American University's new Faculty Manual

American University’s faculty members and senior administrators - the Provost, Deans and their staffs - are presently engaged in an arduous and time consuming process of revising the The Faculty Manual. This is a set of rules that seek to govern the behavior of faculty members. The challenge of such an exercise is to produce a document with the longevity, clarity and resilience of the US Constitution, perhaps the best set of rules ever drafted. The danger is that the outcome will be a turgid, convoluted tome that more resembles the proposed US health care legislation or the Constitution of the State of California.

Singapore is a society many have described as having been shaped by Confucian principles and rules, though some now say Confucianism is dismissed by most Singaporeans as irrelevant. Seeking to judge for myself, I have been studying a compilation of Confucian teachings known as the Lun Yu, the Analects. Confucius‘ observations on the relationship been rules and principles, which I read earlier this morning, seemed relevant to the Faculty Manual drafting process. What follows is from D.C. Lau’s commentary on the Analects (Penguin Classics, 1979, p. 49-50). The passage is a bit long for a blog posting but, I think, worth the time it will take to read it.

...why should a rule which had been found right in the past be subjected to fresh scrutiny. ...First, a rule once formulated in precise terms cannot adapt itself to changing circumstances. What was right in a previous age need not continue to be right in a subsequent age. ...Second, circumstances may arise where one rule comes into conflict with another. Such a conflict can only be resolved by appealing to basic moral principle. Third, even with a rule which may be satisfactory in itself, there are occasions when the observance of it conflicts with the spirit behind the rule.

Equally important, principle cannot do with rules which give it effect. ...principles need to be put into effect, and any act that puts a moral principle into effect will, in fact, be an exemplification of some rule or other. Thus, while a rule can remain right only if it is constantly measured against the demands of principles, a principle cannot do without rules if it is to be put into effect. This dialogue between rule and principle constitutes the essence of Confucius’ morel thinking.

...All moral rules have implicit in them some principle or principles. A rule can thus always be judged by its success in realizing those principles. In other words, moral rules have built-in standards by which they can be judged. If they are found wanting, this points to the way of their improvement. On the other hand, the implicit principles are ideals which become clearer to us as they are used as standards to criticize the rules. We gain , greater insight into a moral principle by discovering the inadequacies of the rules that give it effect.

Sharing news of an exciting initiative and postdoctoral fellowship opportunity at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore

As regular readers know, I will be spending the spring term in Singapore. I have been working with my new colleagues at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy to recruit a postdoctoral research fellow who would focus on System Dynamics modeling, systems thinking and public policy. I have written to a number of friends and colleagues about this new position and I decided I would share the information in this venue as well. My ltter follows.

Dear Dormgrandpop Readers,

I wanted to share news of an exciting postdoctoral fellowship opportunity that has recently been announced at the Institute of Water Policy of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore. You may have seen the position posted on the System Dynamics Society’s “Career Link” page, but I also wanted to write to you separately. Filling this position is a top priority for the Institute of Water Policy. The Institute is lead by Dr. K.E. Seetharam, who is on leave from a long-term affiliation with the Asian Development Bank, focusing on sustainable urban development and water resources issues. Recently, he was also named to head the newly created Global Asia Institute at the National University of Singapore. His MA studies included work in System Dynamics modeling with Khalid Saeed. I had the opportunity to work with Dr. Seetharam during a two week stay in Singapore this October and was greatly impressed by his vision, leadership ability and commitment to systems thinking. The postdoctoral fellow will play a key role in initiatives that are intended to ramp up both teaching and research, emphasizing systems thinking and system Dynamics Modeling applied to sustainable development issues, at the Lee Kuan Yew School.

That one of the top public policy schools in the world, located at a hub of Asian Development, is taking such an initiative at this time should be good news for all members of the System Dynamics modeling community and for those concerned with broadening the impact of systems thinking more generally. However I also have a personal interest. I have been offered and have accepted a six month Visiting Professorship, beginning in January. The position will provide me an opportunity to help move this initiative forward, under Dr. Seetharam’s leadership. Playing a role in identifying candidates for the postdoctoral fellowship which, for an outstanding candidate, could be upgraded to a Visiting Assistant Professorship, is one way that I am seeking to help. I will also be seeking to draw lessons about sustainable development and sustainable poverty alleviation from Singapore’s long-term development experience, using System Dynamics modeling.

The fellow to be hired will be collaborating with me on this work and there will be additional support from graduate students, working part-time. I anticipate that the project will extend over a longer term than the upcoming six month period that I will be in residence. Eventually we hope to apply the lessons learned throughout Asia and, if appropriate, more widely. I full well realize, of course, that there are many, including yourself, who might well be better qualified to play this role. Fortunately for me, however it would appear that Seetharam and others saw my interest in deepening understanding of Singapore’s development, using System Dynamics modeling, during a sabbatical year, as a serendipitous target of opportunity.

The position description follows. I have also attached a copy as a separate document.

My best wishes to you and your families for the holidays.

John

Research Fellow (Systems Thinking for Public Policy) at the Institute of Water Policy (IWP), Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy

The position provides an excellent opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research in the application of systems thinking and dynamic modeling of public policy, with an emphasis on urban development, particularly in Asia. The fellow is expected to play a key role in a project that will use System Dynamics modeling to learn from urban development success stories, especially Singapore. Drawing, in particular, on work of the Asian Development Bank, urbanization in Asia is seen as a Yin Yang dynamic. While urban growth and especially the growth of megacities is viewed as problematic, it is also in cities that the economic future of Asia will inevitably be shaped. Cities must, be the engines of economic growth, creativity innovation and revitalization if looming development challenges now on the horizon are to be dealt with effectively. The project’s goal is to design development trajectories and public policies leading to urban communities that are beautiful, livable, sustainable, resilient and that interact symbiotically with their environments. In addition to participating in the research program of the Institute, the fellow will also have some opportunity to pursue independent research so long as the contributions to knowledge and delivered outputs are of a high standard. The candidate will also be expected to participate in some of the teaching and outreach programs of the Institute in the area of system dynamics modeling.

Duration

The position will be full-time for 1 year, with possibility of renewal depending on the quality of work. Compensation is negotiable and will be competitive, based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience and track record. Housing and round-trip transportation to Singapore may be provided.

General Requirements

The successful candidate will be an accomplished researcher. He/She should have a strong background in systems thinking and system dynamics modeling. Added assets are experience with seeking and managing research grants, publications in peer-reviewed journals, and experience in research collaboration where currently employed.

Essential Qualifications & Requirements

PhD in a relevant discipline with a strong background and competency in system dynamics

High level of competency in one of the three following system dynamics modeling software: STELLA/iThink or Vensim or Powersim.

Reasonable background and skills in quantitative modeling, statistical/econometric analysis

Broad understanding of public policy issues of one or more Asian economies and background. Background in urban development and environmental sustainability, with a particular emphasis on water resource management and policy will be a desirable qualification but is not absolutely essential.

Publications in reputed journals, presentations at international conferences, and experience in seeking and managing research grants

Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills

Application Procedure

Please submit the following documents electronically to Bernard Tan at bernard.tan@nus.edu.sg .

Curriculum vita and a one page professional resume

Statement of qualifications covering the areas listed below.

A 250 word note presenting your views on urban development issues and the role you would see yourself playing at the Lee Kuan Yew School.

Questions about the position should be addressed to Bernard Tan as well. He will forward them to the appropriate individual for a response.

STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

RESEARCH FELLOW (SYSTEMS THINKING FOR PUBLIC POLICY)

The listing that follows describes the qualifications and experience we are seeking in applicants for this position and the documentation we ask that candidates provide in support of their applications.

PHD degree - Please provide your dissertation title, the year your degree was awarded, the institution from which it was received and the name of your supervisor.

Evidence of skills in quantitative modeling, especially System Dynamics modeling, plus reasonable knowledge of and skills in other quantitative/modeling methods such as statistics, econometrics, and/or mathematical programming – provide information on courses completed, practical work and publications, if any.

Knowledge of a range of policy areas and related disciplines including, for example water, energy, agriculture, environment, applied economics, population and urban development – provide information on courses completed, practical work and publications, if any.

Broad understanding of public policy issues in one or more Asian economies – provide information on courses completed, practical work and publications, if any.

Publications – please provide a listing, with complete citations of published work covering at least the period from 2006-2009. Feel free to include earlier works if you wish.

Experience in seeking and managing research grants – please provide details including dates, the size of the grant, the scope of work, a description of your role and the results produced.

Experience in research collaboration within or outside of the institution at which you are currently employed – please provide details of the collaborations, the names of collaborators and results produced.

Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills – if you wish, you may provide further evidence of such skills to the degree that you feel they are not adequately addressed in the materials provided above.

Kishore Mahbubani’s The New Asian Hemisphere: A book that every AU student - and every American - should read.

I have just finished reading one of those special books that provides a new lens through which to view the world and crystalizes thoughts previously held, but not crisply structured. It is intended for general readers and refreshingly devoid of international-relations academic jargon. Its author, a long-serving Singapore diplomat is founding Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. Regular Dormgrandpop readers will know that my recent international travels included a two week stay in Singapore and that Singapore will be my home for this coming Spring semester of my Sabbatical year.

The New Asian Hemisphere is subtitled, ‘The Irresistible Shift of Global Power to the East.‘ Chapters address the ‘rise’ of Asian nations (especially China, India and many ASEAN members), the relative decline of “Western” dominance and the the degree to which hypocritical, self-serving and ineffectual Western policies have alienated many of the 88 per-cent of the World’s population who do not identify themselves with ‘the West.‘ In a concluding chapter, Mahbubani calls for a new practice of global leadership, based on ‘principles, partnership and pragmatism.’

Perhaps I found The New Asian Hemisphere particularly engaging because the author’s no-punches pulled-critique of ‘The West” and “Western pundits” highlights observations I have reached independently and in some instances written about in my blog and elsewhere. He characterizes the invasion of Iraq as ‘a seismic error, one of the greatest acts of folly of our age.’ He scores the hypocrisy of agricultural subsidy programs, disadvantaging global south producers, that are ten times greater than often ineffectual foreign assistance programs intended to assist them. His critique of US opposition to regulatory regimes intended to mitigate global warming reminds us that when addressing problems arising in the ‘global commons,’ “it is natural to expect the wealthier members of the global community to take greater responsibility. Those of us who pioneered the field of “Global Modeling” have been arguing this position, often to deaf ears, for more than 30 years. He notes that widely documented hostility of many Muslims toward America should not be surprising, since America seems to have a double standard, vis a vis the Muslim world, when it comes to promoting democracy, controlling nuclear proliferation, human rights and the value of life itself.

Yet despite the critical tone of some chapters, I found the New Asia Hemisphere’s message to be empowering and hopeful, not only for people living in Asia but for those living in the West. The future world Mahbubani envisions is rich, diverse, multipolar and resilient. The development trajectory leading to that world is one that should be embraced, not feared by the West. He ‘writes, “The end result of the powerful processes of de-Westernization should, therefore, be the world moving toward a positive destination in which many rich ancient civilizations are reborn, adding to the cultural wealth of the world and unleashing new instincts of cultural tolerance and understanding. The unpeeling of the layers of Western influence from around the globe could well lead us to a happier universe where we will have, for the first time in human history, several different civilizations at the same time, with simultaneous explosions of knowledge and wisdom. All this could lift the human condition to a higher level than experienced in any previous century.”

This is an important book for Americans to read, and especially for students at American University. You should buy it (or take it from the library) read it, discuss it and ponder its message.

If you want to realize your hopes and dreams...

Lee Kuan Yew, who was independent Singapore’s first Prime Minister and served for many years is regarded by many as a key architect of Singapore’s ‘success story.‘ A new colleague at the Lee Kuan Yew School told me, ‘the greatest development challenge is to find leaders of Lee Kuan Yew’s caliber.' Lee is also a controversial figure, viewed by some as an autocrat whose authoritarian ways have limited democracy in Singapore. I number myself among Lee’s admirers, and this was true long before joining the staff of the school that bears his name was even an idea.

Each morning during my Singapore stay, I walked through the beautiful entrance hall of the Lee Kuan Yew School and passed by a large picture with one of Lee’s aphorisms inscribed. I have noticed it in several other settings around the school as well. Along with Lee’s picture (he still serves in the cabinet as “Minister Mentor) I now have it posted in my kitchen. The aphorism is this:

IF YOU WANT TO REALIZE YOUR HOPES AND DREAMS

YOU CANNOT DO IT WITHOUT DISCIPLINE