A management teacher’s take on the presidential elections

As soon as I arrived last Saturday morning to my periodontist’s clinic, the staff on reception duty asked me: “Ma’am, sinong iboboto ‘nyo?” (Madam, for whom will you vote?) Considering that my vote has no real significant influence on hers and she might just be initiating an informal conversation, I replied, “I am still thinking about it. Are you already decided?” She declared her top two candidates.

This article is not about my vote. I do not assume I have a big following in social media to influence anyone with my chosen candidates. Hence, enumerating and justifying my candidates here would be irrelevant to many readers. This article rather tackles the future after May 9 from my management viewpoint.

One of my favorite topics when giving classes to managers is the six-step problem-solving framework. From it, I learned that all decision analysis must end with a choice. In this regard, if a voter did not spend time to analyze the alternatives, he is not obliged to make a choice. But if a voter has been spending time reflecting on each candidate with due diligence and how each candidate meets the voter’s criteria (i.e. performance track record, integrity, etc.), arriving at a choice regardless of imperfect knowledge will improve the voter’s decisiveness, risk-taking, self-confidence and positive attitude towards the country’s future.

The choice, however, is not the end of any decision-making process. Action plans have to be drawn to make the decision workable. In this regard, May 10 onwards is the beginning not only for the elected president (although officially unknown yet on this date) but for all citizens whose civic-mindedness has been awakened, influenced or heightened by the national elections.

On May 10, the action begins. The die is cast. My single vote cannot control the outcome, but my decision criteria persist. And these criteria refer to the values I will continue to live with regardless of the elected president. I propose what I can do if a particular candidate was elected. I tackle each one by order of popularity in the Pulse Asia survey.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte

1. I would suggest that he diversifies his cabinet by having a 50-50 representation of men and women. This proportion of women does not only mirror the Philippine population (all ages) but it could significantly minimize all doubts whether he respects women or not.

2. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks but if he is willing to run a country without national government experience, he could perhaps still learn to mend unacceptable ways. Much will depend on his collaborators. I am not sure if the presence in his cabinet of more women (who will not laugh at offensive remarks) could help him watch his language. Hence, I would suggest further that he gets a consensus from his team what would give him a strong signal when, in his words, "my mouth can get better of me." The gesture of disapproval can be turning one’s back, keeping heads down, folding arms over the chest, etc.

3. The president “personifies the nation” in the words of Apolinario Mabini. I would endorse a training on etiquette, diplomacy and protocols even as the president will have already appointed the best foreign affairs secretary from among those with praiseworthy expertise in laws, governments and history. I hope no follower of the mayor will take this personally as campaign time would have ended after May 9. Irreverent name-calling and unethical behavior will not do any service to the newly-elected president. Take my suggested action plan as a manifestation of my utmost reverence for the highest position in the motherland, regardless of the position-holder. If Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) undergo education, licensure examination and continuing development, why require less for the president of the Philippines?

Sen. Grace Poe-Llamanzares                                                       

1. I would share with her my local research on manager-subordinate trust which has revealed a cultural tendency not to trust young and inexperienced managers. The highest executive function of the government is one of decisions and actions, unlike the legislative function where she recently gained experience. (Raise your hand if you think it was an easy ride for former President Cory Aquino and for the outgoing president to earn public trust in their executive leadership capabilities.) Hence, I would shorten the time to build trust by appointing older, more experienced men and women in public administration.

2. The citizenship on paper or by heart would always be questioned. I would think that it would be better to err on the excess of patriotic decisions, like vacationing in the local tourist spots than going abroad, being cautious to be seen using foreign brands much more than local products, and re-examining if ideologies imbibed from her US education and residency actually have local, extensive resonance.

3. From my work-family balance advocacy, I would suggest that integrity as the president of the country would find its application in every decision when she asks herself, “Have I retained my integrity as a wife first, mother second, and country leader, third?” I am not imposing a priority in values. I would only be reminding her the sequence of commitments she has taken in life. 

Vice President Jejomar Binay

1. I would point out the good practices in corporate governance, considering that the biggest threat to Binay to get the presidency is the corruption charges towards him and his family members. For instance, transparent disclosure of net worth every quarter would sound exaggeratedly strict, but it would be no sweat if there is a regular dutiful accounting of increases and decreases of wealth while in public service.

2. And since I uphold family values, I would endorse several ghost writers for him to author his mother’s biography. His words might have been misquoted by the media, but it has certainly left an example of utilizing one’s parent whenever convenient (i.e. to deny allegations of ill-gotten wealth or to give the raison d'être of his promised health services for the poor).  May the new president leave the legacy to our young people of rendering truth and justice at all times to a mother’s good name.

Liberal Party standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II

1. I would suggest to the new president to order putting up tracking counters (digital and physical) in the Office of the President and in various government agencies. It would show when the public issue started (e.g. tanim-bala in airports), the targeted resolution date, and how many days remaining to resolution.  The statistics of those reached by government service should also be complemented by individual stories with photos, to minimize doubts and public dissatisfaction that glowing statistics do not reflect reality.

2. From my work-family balance viewpoint, I highly commend his substantial leadership in the expansion of the Information Technology-Business Process Outsourcing (IT-BPO) industry. In fact, I always mention in my seminars how the progress in this industry could separate the family members not anymore by enormous physical distance but only by schedules or shifts. Nonetheless, I would propose to the new president an equally vigorous push towards intellectual and moral education. Promoting an English-speaking populace is not sustainable; a courteous and respectful English-speaking people in all medium of communication will thrust the Philippines and his administration to a glorious global future ahead.

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago

I particularly commend Santiago’s fighting spirit. I can declare right now that she had my vote in the 1992 presidential elections. I would recommend when she wins that she focus on the minimum required tasks of the new president, specify the working arrangement with the new vice president and take a break to recover from the taxing campaign period, looking at the next six years ahead in the presidency. During that break, I could ask for an audience to share my recent layman’s learnings on oxidative stress and cellular nutrition.

May the best candidate win. And if the best does not come out, think ACTION PLANS.

Dr. Avic Caparas is an Associate Professor at the School of Management-University of Asia and the Pacific, Ortigas Business Center, Pasig City. The opinions expressed are solely those of the author. For comments, questions, or feedback, you may email her at [email protected].