KUCHING: The state civil service has been undergoing transformation over the past several years through a number of initiatives and programmes – all sought to bring both efficiency and new levels of service to the people.
Many of the programmes have focused on new technology and digitisation, but there is also an emphasis on reforming government agencies, delivering better results, improving user’s satisfaction and happiness, and also creating government
entities that are able to speed up all processes and create a faster pace of decision-making and change.
State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani said such implementation did not only require digital transformation, but also the transformation of the people particularly those at leadership level – the human factor, he said, is key to bringing forth a successful change.
“SCS has no choice but to be an overcomer in this disruptive age. I firmly believe that if we’re instilled with the right vision, right purpose and right values, leadership would be the driving force that ensures success and sustainability in all our government transformation initiatives for the ‘rakyat’ (people),” he said at the opening of a seminar on ‘Open Source Leadership’ at a hotel here on Saturday.
Morshidi pointed out that while it is crucial to adapt to changes posed by rapid technological advancement and the fast emergence of digital economy, the leaders in the government need to be adaptable to market conditions – the keenness to be ahead of that curve is of paramount importance.
“There is a need for government leaders to thrive and overcome. Leaders must value growth, learning and experience. Growth mindset is key, as opposed to fixed mindset. They say great leaders are great learners. (Therefore) the journey of learning and growth never ends,” he remarked, adding that ‘hyperawareness, informed decision-making, agile integration, speed and value’ also ought to be the hallmarks of a good and effective leader in the civil service.
The two-day seminar – a High Performance Leadership (HPL) programme – was jointly run by the Human Resources Unit of Chief Minister’s Department and Leadership Institute of Sarawak Civil Service, for those in the leadership level of the state civil service.
It gathered 100 senior civil servants of Grade 52 and above. The seminar was themed ‘Open Source Leadership: Reinventing Management When There’s No More Business as Usual’.
The attendees listened to a talk by Iclif Leadership and Governance Centre chief executive officer Rajeev Peshawaria, as well as took part in a breakout session with facilitators Michael E Kossler and Muhammad Sabri Rawi to explore innovative approaches to succession planning in the ‘Open Source’ era and also a deeper understanding of personal leadership.