Inculcating ‘values’ the need of the hour!

Major Rohitha Amarapala - Vice President, IPM Sri Lanka

With the end of terrorism and restoration of peace, there is continuous emphasis on the importance and need for national development in the country.

During the last Presidential Election there was much emphasis on this aspect by those aspiring to the high office of the President of this country enunciating their strategies to ensure accelerated national development. In the print and electronic media with monotonous regularity politicians, religious leaders and social reformers endeavour to exhort the public on strategies that need to be devised and implemented to ensure sustainable national development in this country.

Relevance of ‘value formation’

While it is widely accepted that value formation is an essential pre-requisite in nation building, regrettably, adequate, priority has not been given to this important aspect of ‘value formation’ when addressing issues relating to national development. With the degeneration of ethical values and the tragic deterioration of standards of our social, economic and political life, the need for a new model of values which will provide a basis and firm foundation for national development has emerged dominantly.

The need of the hour therefore is to effectively address the problem discouraging behaviour that is detrimental to the country as a whole by instilling a set of values that can lead to creating the ‘right’ mindset in people spread across Sri Lanka which is an essential prerequisite in building our nation.

Loss of ethical values

Presently a whole generation is in the danger of becoming trapped within a false value system chasing after a ‘materialistic world.’ Becoming rich fast and amassing wealth seem to be the ‘core’ of all things. In the pursuit of ‘material success’, ethics and values have been relegated to the list of forgotten things. ‘Rich’ by hook or crook has become the order of the day.

Lust has overcome love, selfishness has superseded generosity, apathy for sympathy, negative and destructive thought for positive constructive thought. It is in deed ironical that politicians, social reformers while preaching righteousness to the public engage in some of the most unethical practices which are detrimental for the very functioning of a civilized society.

The quote by the great philosopher Aristotle who said ‘He who is unable to live in society or who has no need because he is sufficient for himself, must be either a beast or god’ seem to be an apt remark to elaborate this viewpoint.

The corporate community

It is all too common to witness as to how even some respected members of the corporate community violate environment safeguards, deprive even statutory entitlements to the workers and bribe authorities to evade possible prosecution. Corruption in the business sector has increased to alarming proportions in recent years and there is a steep decline in ethical values within the business circles. The increasing trend towards contracting out of public services to private firms has also triggered an increase in corrupt practices.

The alarming increase in the crime rate, incidence of violence and the abuses against women and children has even baffled law makers and law enforcing authorities.

Escalation of crime in a country occurs due to numerous factors, one of the chief and the most basic being the lack of religious, cultural and moral values in a society and the other is the lack of education. The positive transformation of society as a whole is therefore an essential prerequisite to national development and this can only be achieved by appropriate value formation.

The essence in value formation is restoring a sense of appreciation for the right and wrong and choosing right from wrong. In this regard the onus would fall squarely on the Government which will be called upon to come up with sustainable and appealing strategies to achieve this all important task.

The importance of education to defend the cultural and historical values and to make our children inheritors of a secure future on the other hand cannot be overemphasized.

We have to formulate strategies to build up a corporate culture with a genuine desire to educate our workforces and the public in general. Shared values define the fundamental character of the nation and certainly help to accelerate national development, integration and reconciliation.

The role of education

All Government and business enterprises today have recognized the important role of education and value formation in the process of national development. Values are the bedrock of any culture whether national, community or corporate. Education is the primary conduit for value formation; this is why the primacy of education is enshrined in the basic laws of the land.

The type of education that is imparted in our schools and through our university system would be the factor that would eventually influence value formation within our society and hence its critical importance cannot be over emphasized. Unfortunately under the present system of our education, very little consideration and attention has been paid towards instilling and development of social values among our young generation thus leading to the deterioration of values in the long run.

While preparation for examinations is afforded priority, value formation, character building, and focusing on building ethnical standards in children regrettably are not given adequate emphasis in our school curriculums.

Often when we observe acts of vandalism, damage to public property, unruly behaviour of students and undergraduates, disregard for authority, disrespect to teachers and parents, addiction to drugs etc. and irresponsible and destructive behaviour of workers we only lament and carry on regardless.

When the walls of the halls of learning of our universities - our premier educational institutions are plastered with posters and slogans sprayed with aerosol cans our response is lukewarm. When public telephones installed for the use of the public are damaged without any rhyme or reason and wanton damage caused to machinery and property by workers when they go on strike are accepted as a ‘norm’, getting out of this situation would undoubtedly become a complex option.

It is difficult indeed for the older generation to relate to the attitudes of today’s students and workers and at times even of professionals and corporate heads who cause such irreparable damage to public property and national economy.

In such circumstances all what we hear is people talking about the importance of values and statements to the effect that this would not have happened if they knew their values or it never happened during our times etc. It is the persons in authority on whom the blame should fall for this sorry state of affairs confronted in today’s society.

However, there is still hope for us Sri Lankans. A well planned and coherent education system with effective training strategies, we will be able to instill values among our younger generation until it becomes second nature in our children. Value formation as a determinant of behaviour is an important phenomenon that cannot be ignored. The education system as a whole should therefore be restructured and re-orientated to include this critically important subject of ‘value formation.’

The role of discipline

The importance of discipline must be gradually instilled. Discipline is the means by which an individual co-operates for the benefit of a society as a whole.

Why is there a need for discipline? An individual has within him a very basic instant-self preservation and it is this instinct that causes an individual to fail in its duty towards the society in which he lives, consequently leading to greed, selfishness, theft, murder etc.

The devastating effect of all these ‘failing’ causes a disruptive effect on the society and the ability to work for the common good. National development is not possible in such an environment. These disruptive forces have to be discouraged and effectively curtailed and prevented. Discipline management does just this. Education and inculcation of values also help instill discipline.

Value formation in human resources development

Certain organizations have in the past and probably without being consciously aware of; it have used the concept of education and value formation for their own sake; not so much with a view to developing the staff.

This they perhaps did without any clear purpose of ensuring that it would be beneficial for managing human resources towards achievable and determinable goals in productivity, efficiency, discipline and group effectiveness.

The average worker believes in values only to the extent it serves his personal interests and needs. The moment these values come in conflict with his behaviour the worker tends to disregard the very values he once embraced. If individual and corporate values are inconsistent, the organization must intensify training discreetly emphasizing the positive aspects of Sri Lankan values.

An attempt must be made to create a corporate culture of excellence that can provide a high moral environment for the employees to realize their potential as individuals and as employees.

We have moved a long way from the Harrod Domar Model of considering finances as the only tangible investment.

Now we are investing in human resources and technology. It takes only the guts of the Management to implement value formation in an enterprise because this can be incorporated in the existing training programs. Appreciation, Understanding and Willingness on the part of the Management are the only key requirements in implementing a lasting and acceptable value system in any origination.

Trade Unions

In the context of the spate of wild cat strikes we have experienced from time to time with paralyzing effect on essential services, causing considerable inconvenience and hardship to the public and the irreparable damage to the national economy, there is an urgent need to restore an appreciation of what’s right and wrong among our workers. In this respect Trade Unions have a great and grave responsibility not only by the particular organization but also by the country.

Corporate values and human resources development

In a corporate environment values provide a sense of direction for all employees as well as guidelines for their behaviour. Shared values define the fundamental character of an organization. It is one of the Human Resources Managers’ roles to help, shape, and enhance such values in a manner that influences the corporate and national destiny.

It is the Human Resources Managers enviable task to be the nerve centre of the Company’s value system and to be one of the prime movers in the quest for driving excellence. Regrettably many Human Resources Managers and Union Leaders assume their positions with little or no preparation in the field of labour management.

Training if ever must therefore be heavily tilted towards overcoming confrontation and destruct between the employer and employee and this type of education seriously influences value formation. When one party in a relationship is made to believe that the other party can do no good, and therefore must learn how to fight the evil, then it is not surprising that we end up with confrontational labour management relationship climate in this country.

When people are virtually trained to fight back they would always look to fight. Unfortunately under the present system of formal education, very little is being devoted towards development of proper social values to enable parties in a labour management relationship to live in harmony. What is now needed on a macro level is to examine on a national level what value systems are and values that should be developed and inculcated in the minds of the employees to attain clear and concise national goals.

On a micro level, corporate, industrial and agricultural enterprises must pursue with prolonged and consistent education and training in order to implant these value systems until they are embraced by the workforce. This should be complemented and practised in schools, vocational institutions, civic and social organizations as well. The Trade Unions too can be effectively made use for this purpose.

Need for change

Values and attitudes needs a change and a sense of appreciation for the right and wrong has to be restored if there is to be meaningful national development, reconciliation and integration. Corruption, graft and nepotism have to be eradicated and there must be honesty and transparency in all transactions especially with regard to the public funds. Can the Government bring about this change? If so how? Yes it is possible by effective strategies formulated and directed to build “values” and promote ethnical behaviours and conduct. When Japan was brought down to ashes during the Second World War and when everything seemed impossible and doomed, as a nation Japan overcame this herculean task through the forming of a value driven society for which they are being admired by the whole world as a courageous nation. In 1945 Tokyo was completely devastated and robbery, begging, prostitution, demoralization and the lack of public service, confronted the Japanese. They began to live under General McArthur’s occupation. Yet today Tokyo is among the most affluent, progressive, safe and orderly cities in the world.

How did they graft new values to their traditional culture? They placed faith in their people who they considered to date to be their most valuable asset. The humiliating and ignominious defeat in the war and the economic consequences placed Japan in an unenviable political and economic predicament. In its efforts to rebuild their nation, the concept of four Ds - Diligence, Dexterity, Discipline and Dedication, were deep rooted in the Japanese mind. The significance and relevance of such a concept and its effect can only be visualized in the context of our own current, social, political, religious and economic environment.

The challenge

Political ethics and democratic behaviour are concepts alien to most political parties operating in our country today. Sadly enough those concepts have not even found a place in their theory, leave alone the practice. The norms of responsibility and decency must be manifestly and abundantly demonstrated by action, upholding the principles of integrity and transparency. This is the biggest challenge for our leaders today.

Walter Lippman maintained “Leaders are the custodians of a nation’s ideals permanent hopes of faith which make a nation out of mere aggregation of individuals” while John Gardner asserted that “Leaders have a significant role in creating the state of mind that is society.”

What is required is action

We should minimize and cut down on the ‘talk’ of values and ethics. It is in fact time we act like the Singaporeans and Japanese did during critical stages of their countries. This requires dynamic and honest leadership giving effect to the practice rather than mere preaching.

Values must be reinforced by various means foremost among them being one’s ability to be a living example. This is especially applicable for those in positions of leadership. Effective leaders are tough, firm and possess uncompromising qualities as far as their principles and values are concerned and set high standards for emulation which gradually become infectious and contagious. The importance of value formation has never been so crucial as at present when the country is attempting to reconstruct and rehabilitate and embark on an accelerated program of national development integration and reconciliation.

With a host of progressive and visionary initiatives already in place to restore and strengthen peace, harmony and stability in the country, this is undoubtedly the most opportune time to foster a value driven culture in our motherland in preparing our nation to emerge as a ‘Newly Industrialized Nation’ in the forceable future.

(The writer counts over 15 years experience in the field of Human Resource Management in Government and Mercantile sector organizations including Multinationals. He is presently employed at Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Ltd.)