Minister Tharman on what it will take to raise productivity in Singapore

"It's a bit of a puzzle as to why, with a very good education system, good schools system, first-class polytechnic and ITE (Institute of Technical Education) systems and one of the better-rated university systems in the world, why is that despite this, we're not achieving as much in the workforce in terms of skills, expertise and, therefore, productivity?

There is a gap. It requires a different motivation - Moving beyond paper qualifications towards wanting to become an expert at the job. More of us have to be like that. Regardless of what job you're in - wanting to be the best bartender, the best graphic artist, the best lawyer, the best machinist. Wanting to be on top of your game."

"It's a different motivation. Not just wanting to do something competently, being honest, diligent and working quite hard, but being very good. Being an expert at what you're doing.

The second question is: How do we get that different motivation brewing? Studies all around the world show that some companies do much better than others. Some groups of managers are able to get that different motivation going among their employees much better than others. You can see it in Singapore. Some companies have workforces that are completely whipped up, excited, always looking to do something better. And it's not just about incentives, not just the promise of bonuses.

Most studies show - and we don't need consultants to tell us this - that it's extremely important for employees to feel that they are individually contributing to something larger than themselves, than their immediate job, contributing to what's happening in their company as a whole, contributing to the way the industry is moving ahead. That motivation is important, that it really matters what they do. And secondly, they want to feel empowered. They want to be in charge of doing something better. And how managers get that sense of empowerment going is what distinguishes the really good companies from the average."

Source: Straits Times, 3 July, Prime News, Pg A6, "MOVING BEYOND PAPER QUALIFICATIONS".