All Sri Lankans were waiting for a drastic change and to achieve that goal, the new President Gotabaya Rajapaksa (GR) was appointed with a huge majority on November 17, 2019. Almost a month has passed since coming into power of the new President and there are many changes happening in all areas such as, political, administrative and economic systems.
In Management, we have two types of changes: incremental and drastic, and what is happening in Sri Lanka today is a drastic change. In a drastic change, people who are used to thinking traditionally do not understand and are not willing to accept those changes at once. As a result, they may get frustrated and react negatively and criticize openly and secretly. Since they are used to an old system they are not willing to accept the changes nowhappening in the country in a positive and proactive manner. To overcome this negative effect there is a ‘prerequisite’ to be applied. It is called shifting paradigms. In other words, for an incremental change, attitude and value change may suffice. But for a drastic change, the pre-requisite is to shift the paradigm and mindsets of the target audience, together with attitudes and values. If any leader tries to do a drastic change without understanding the value, gravity and importance of shifting the mindset and paradigm he or she may face resistance, obstacles and delays and thereby end as a failure.
Albert Einstein said, “No problem can be solved by the same kind of thinking that created it.” In other words, if you want to resolve the present chronic problems and issues in the country, it has to be resolved with new thinking. Same thinking will give the same old results. “Change your thinking, change your mindset and paradigm.” Hence, “drastic change is not possible, without shifting mindsets or paradigms effectively.” Now we see many changes happening at the top since the new top management of the country follows “new mindsets and paradigms” but those in the old-system will not accept those changes at once.
In short, ‘paradigm/mindset shift’ has been defined as “a time when the usual and accepted way of doing or thinking about something changes completely.’’ For example, people thought earlier that the ‘world is flat’ and later found that the ‘world is round and moving around the sun.’ It’s called paradigm shift. The new President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is doing exactly that and showing that the country has to be managed “in a totally new and different way”. The general public is happy but a few segments who believe the old system at the top-middle and bottom levels, may get frustrated and respond negatively. Especially, traditional politicians and administrative members of the prevailing public admin system may get frustrated.
For example, not being permitted to use VIP facilities at the airport and if any one uses it, should pay $1,000; small Cabinet of 15 Ministers; no photos on Ministry walls; no family members to be in their personal staff; no appointments as chairmen and DGs to those who supported the Presidential campaign if they contest the next election; appointing top board members and chairmen from professionals who are honest and pragmatic; are the good changes for the country but not for those used to the old system. Hence, some frustration and negative reactions are seen in the latter group. To minimize such frustration the best remedy is to change their mindset and paradigm so that they understand the logic behind the new changes and accept them. The objective of this article is to explain that process briefly to support the change. The main paradigm shifts needed at this juncture are as follows:
In Japan, when they take decisions as politicians, administrators, businessmen, and the general public they give priority in the “K-K-K-B” order, i.e.:
Kuni - Country - first
Kaisha - Organization / Party - second
Kasoku - Family - third
Boku - Self - last
But in Sri Lanka, we give the highest priority to Self (Boku) first and family second, etc. in the reverse order.
This new President’s, country first paradigm and self last should be accepted by all segments of society so that every one can easily accept and be positive towards most of the changes introduced by him proactively. Most of the changes the President has done are based on this paradigm.
On the other-hand when we do a drastic change we should expect a roller-coaster effect when implementing them. Roller-coaster first drops drastically on a “U” shaped curve and after reaching the ‘bottom’ it would climb the ‘hill’ smoothly. Every change should pass these three segments of change (drop, bottom, hill) and if we implement the change knowing these three stages well, we will not be afraid and stop the changes at an early stage as some ex-Presidents did. For example, the Norochcholai power project and upper-Kotmale housing projects were started during President Chandrika’s time but when the projects were initiated various parties responded negatively and she stopped the projects; but President Mahinda Rajapaksa managed to implement them successfully. At the tail end of the war the same thing happened but President MR did not stop the war.
In Sri Lanka today, the new changes have just begun and while the general public and the parties who follow the country first paradigm support these changes, people who follow the ‘old paradigm’ (self-first) may be offended and react negatively. But after passing the ‘bottom’ they also may join the masses, understanding and accepting the value of this new thinking and mindset.
All these changes by GR can be summarised under two main subjects as “Gota-nomics” and/or “Gota-ism” Since it is totally new to us, I will try to explain the major concepts and principles which I gathered from the practice of Gotabaya Rajapaksa before and after the election.
I define Gota-nomics/Gota-ism, as the new thinking and way of doing things, principles and policies the President is following to run the country. Those related to the economy, administration and management I call Gota-nomics, while changes related to political system and administration is Gota-ism.
The main principles of Gota-nomics and Gota-ism are as follows:
1. People do not want politicians such as President, PM, Ministers, secretaries, chairman/DGs or organisations like ministries, departments or corporations but they need “effective, efficient, speedy and cost effective solutions” to their burning issues at the national, regional, organizational and even personal level.
The politicians who resolve those issues are popular while others are not. We had several ex-Presidents but we respect only a few. Why MR or GR are respected by the people, is because they ended the war and developed infrastructure and facilities for the public. Most politicians do not understand that and see the world and act based on a “people want politicians” mindset and paradigm. The new President has clearly understood the fact and is working on the new paradigm, that is, “people do not want politicians or organizations but effective and speedy solutions to their problems”. The main reason why the Yahapalana government was defeated was that they still believe people need politicians and not solutions.
2. In an election getting votes as a loan, not as a gift. When Candidates get votes and/or preferences from the voters as a loan, once we come to power we have to settle that loan by fulfilling the promises and giving solutions to their issues. If we don’t settle those loans, you will not get the votes again. Most politicians do not think that way. They think of the vote as a gift and not as a loan. But GR believes and follows it from the very first day.
3. Most politicians find solutions in a reactivemanner, while GR is proactive to resolve burning issues such as, poverty and education. That’s why he has taken action to increase national schools from 353 to 1,000 and recruit 100,000 uneducated youth from poor families to reduce poverty. That means we get ready proactively to face the problem in a positive manner.
4. We normally do incremental changes, expecting quick results. But GR is introducing drastic or radical changes to the system to improve effectiveness and efficiency. Example: no VIP gates for politicians; no family members in the private staff of Ministers; no road blockage for President, PM or Ministers; no adhoc appointments to top-posts in corporations and public entities but from honest, pragmatic, professionals; all students with A/Ls can obtain a degree; all teachers to be converted as graduates; all technical colleges and “vidya-peeta” to be converted as degree awarding institutes.
5. “Input based management” vs “outcome based planning and management”. The public sector usually allocates the money and only thereafter check how the funds have been spent. But GR is focusing on both “input as well as output/outcome/results” of the respective organization or Ministry. By spending that money and other resources what are the results or outcomes we have/should have achieved? Like how many families have graduated from poverty, how many farmers have increased their monthly income and by how much?
6. “Donkey democracy” vs “Disciplined democracy.” We are used to enjoying democracy without any limitation or responsibility. But we need well disciplined democracy to develop the nation. Under the name of democracy, no one should tarnish the name of the country and its future or spread false and misleading stories. President GR is following the disciplined democracy paradigm.
7. “Isolated approach” vs ‘Integrated approach”. With the traditional way of doing things we had a government dominant development approach through promoting “dependency syndrome”. We thought the country should develop under external experts’ (WB, IMF, ADB, US-Aid, etc) guidance, help, funding and advice. The new paradigm is “Yes we can” and based on our core-competencies we have developed the “National Development Strategic Plan” (NDSP), using our own expertise and based on that any friendly nation, donor agency or investor can support to implement our NDSP. Dr P.B. Jayasundara, President’s Secretary is an expert on this subject and knows how to develop our own plan and obtain others’ support. In my view, President GR’s stance is a new integrated approach with “4Ps” the details of which are as follows:
a. If the economy is like a vehicle it has four main components: the engine, gear-box, wheels and the driver with a good vision. The new President is using this vehicle concept to drive the economy forward in the correct speed, synergizing all 4 sectors like, private, public, people and political sectors.
b. In our economic vehicle:
i. Private sector is the engine but it is a motorcycle engine, not powerful enough and has to be converted as a powerful Turbo-engine to take the nation forward with more innovative approaches to win the global market. All companies should work associally responsible corporate citizens to achieve the national goal with a new visionary leadership while making reasonable profits and expanding their operations locally and globally. President GR has clearly understood the value of the engine and the importance of making them empowered.
ii. Public sector is the gear-box. Sri Lanka has a huge gear-box but it is not functioning well to take the vehicle forward. The present gear-box is not coupled well with the engine. Isolated and independent operation of both engine and gear-box is not meaningful. Now we can see both engine and gear-box working towards alignment.
The public sector should create a conducive environment for the smooth running of the private sector and up-comming entrepreneurs by providing better, consistent and non-conflicting policies and incentives, simple rules and regulations, tax systems as well as quick decisions.
For example, under the new President many tax concessions are given to the private sector. Also, the public sector will be revamped to make it effective and efficient to deliver results speedily. Each Ministry will be given clear goals and objectives to be achieved, and results will be continuously monitored.
iii. People sector is the wheels of the economy. It is not that positive and supporting towards national development yet and expect too much from the Government and is a “dependency syndrome.” But we need a “positive”and “independent” as well as “development oriented” people sector who think “Yes We Can” to achieve our vision.
Their mindset has to be shifted towards new directions. Under President GR’s leadership it is happening among the youth, already. For example - nation-wide painting campaign, tree planting movements and paddy cultivation are good starts even without any guidance or instructions. Now it’s time to change the total mindset of the nation towards our new vision.
iv. Political sector is the visionary leader and the driver of the vehicle. A country without a vision is like a ship without a rudder. After independence very few leaders had a vision for the country. During 2005-2015 former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had a vision for Sri Lanka: “to be the miracle of Asia”. But from 2015 our country didn’t have a clear visionary leadership and hence the ship floated without a clear vision, destination and long-term direction. Now the new President has published an inspiring vision in his manifesto:“Surakshitha Hetak, Saubhagyamath Ratak” and the other three sectors are working towards achieving that common vision.This new shared vision should be adopted and inculcated among the PM’s office and other ministries.
In addition, “media including social media as well as the opinion leaders” of society should operate as“social auditors” or the signal lights and the traffic police of the vehicle on the development road.
8. “Ad-hoc, emotional decision making” vs “Professional and scientific decision making. The traditional decision making method was unscientific and emotional, and hear-say based decision making method was adopted.
But now we can see more “evidence based”, “data driven” and “scientific and logical” decision making system followed under President GR, for example: 15 member Cabinet, subject allocation and distribution of institutions, process to appoint the heads of government institution, and the 1,000 national school proposal.
9. “Non-strategic” vs “strategic thinking and management” approach. During the past 5 years, we experienced the first mindset based situation and now we can see more and more strategic thinking and management process based approaches adopted by the President and his team. We can see a clear vision, mission, goals and objectives of the Government with innovative and pragmatic strategies to resolve issues of the economy, systems, people, society and the various sectors. Firstly, a national level plan has been formulated and it should be distributed among the Ministries with clear goals and specific SMART objectives and KPIs. The respective minister and secretary should be responsible to achieve those goals and objectives.
10. “Not who is correct” but “What is correct”
Especially, in the Political sector and in the Public sector our decisions were made based on “who is correct” paradigm. Which means if the President, Minister or Secretary say something it is accepted and implemented blindly without questioning. The Yahapalana government decisions are good examples. They were based on emotions or hear-say and without much scientific analysis.
We can now see the new President work on the “what is correct” paradigm, i.e. first he decides the vision, mission, goals, and objectives as well as the policy framework. Then with the support of data, scientific approach and analysis and expert advice and participation they select the most appropriate alternative solution to achieve the goals. For example: recruiting 100,000 youth from poor families from the villages in the country to reduce poverty. The objective here is “poverty reduction” and the strategy is “recruiting 100,000 youth from poor families” only. Expand the national schools from 353 to 1,000 is another good example.
Hence, it’s clear that Sri Lankan political culture is changing drastically based on new paradigms and mindsets. There are many more novel approaches and viewpoints to add but due to space issue I would like to conclude with the following remarks.
Sri Lanka was waiting for a drastic change. After 71 years that process has been started under the first non-political president or technocratic president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa. He gives the highest priority to the “Country and People” and he has clearly understood that people don’t want politicians or organizations but effective, efficient, speedy and cost-effective solutions to the problems. He has a “Vision with a national plan” and is set to achieve his vision through - Private, Public, People and Political sector’s integrated participation.
For that all parties in the system should understand and accept his philosophy, policies and principles based on his new world view. He sees the things and the world in a completely different and novel way, briefly, Mindset and Paradigm. The biggest challenge he faces is to shift all other Mindsets and Paradigms to this novel approach. For that we need a special project called shifting Paradigms.
The writer is the former Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education