Ali Abdulla on March 8 at 1:14am

Dear Manoj,

Hope you have a nice day.

Regarding your session in Young Arab Leaders Forum, you mentioned that if there is a problem without solution, then there is no problem. I believe that. But in mathematics, there are some issues or formulas without a solution, or people didn’t find the solution yet. How we can apply the previous rule on mathematics issues?

I will appreciate if you can help me on this issue.

Regards,

Ali Abdulla

Manoj Sharma March 8 at 2:12am

Hi Ali,

Brilliant question. I love your perceptiveness.

As a fellow maths lover myself, I can appreciate where you are coming from.

There are many “problems” in mathematics that have yet to be solved. From the seemingly simple such as “Proof That 10 Is A Solitary Number” to the highly complex such as, “Finding An Euler Brick Whose Space Diagonal Is Also An Integer” to the forever elusive, such as forever “Searching For The Highest Prime Number”

Please let us again note what a problem is. Dictionary.com defines it as…

1) Any question or matter involving doubt, uncertainty, or difficulty.

2) A question proposed for solution or discussion.

3) In Mathematics, a statement requiring a solution, usually by means of a mathematical operation or geometric construction.

Let us look at all 3 definitions.

The first and second definitions are the classical non-mathematic ones… to apply it to our context we can paraphrase them as…

“I have a Problem / Issue / Difficulty / Obstacle / Challenge / Opportunity!”

Please note, the Problem / Issue / Difficulty / Obstacle / Challenge / Opportunity pre-supposes a Solution.

Which is why I have been using the acronym PIDOCOS for the last 7 years to describe them.

This is what I was talking about at the Young Arabs Leaders Forum in Bahrain.

The 3rd definition is a mathematical one.

“A statement requiring a solution, usually by means of a mathematical operation or geometric construction.”

Predominately the mathematical problems we speak of fall into this definition.

“Prove That 10 Is A Solitary Number”

“Find An Euler Brick Whose Space Diagonal Is Also An Integer”

“Search For The Highest Prime Number”

Whether we look for mathematical solutions or non-mathematical ones the principle that holds true can best be pointed to by paying attention to Einstein’s statement.

“Problems cannot be solved at the same level of thinking that created them.”

Therefore Einstein is suggesting that to solve any problem be it mathematical or non-mathematical, a higher level of thinking is needed.

Allow me to give you some practical examples.

1) Political / Religious / Social Example

I just saw a BBC program called Intelligence Squared. The debate was on “Is Europe Failing Its Muslims”. The unmentioned flip side of the premise has got to be “Or Are Muslims In Europe Failing Europe” While there is a solution at hand, this solution cannot be found at this level of thinking which is leading to a debate, not a dialogue.

Ali and everyone else… What do you think is the new level of un-polarized thinking that is required in this case?

2) Business Example

We hear this everyday in different shapes and forms.

“How do we get our customers to buy more of our products?”

That is one level of thinking.

Another is…

“How do we increase our profitability?”

That’s another level of thinking still.

Yet another is…

“How do we ensure our business is of greater service to people?”

That’s another level still.

Please note, in this business example, at every new level, the previous “problem” fades into the background. The problem is being solved at a higher level of thinking. Most businesses are at a low level of thinking. By the way, so is most of the world.

Yes, what I am also suggesting, which I never mentioned at our program is that some of the “problems” we are tackling on a daily basis are not being tackled at the most sustainable level.

Mathematically, it is the same. The problem needs to be addressed at a higher level of thinking. Not every mathematical problem can be solved in Newton’s Universe and not every mathematical problem can be solved in Einstein’s Universe. Which is why we are seeking the Theory Of Everything.

Shift the thinking at the level of Intention, and you shift the Context. The Content will merely follow the laws of nature and fill the Context.

I trust this has not just assisted, but also opened up new thinking.

Apply this to something you are experiencing on a daily basis be it mathematical or non-mathematical and write to me to let me know your success with it.

warmest regards,

Manoj Sharma

Ali Abdulla March 10 at 3:02am

Dear Manoj,

I appreciate your assistant in the previous question. I read the answer more than 3 times, just to change my thinking first, then to understand what you are trying to teach. and as you mentioned, now I opened up new thinking.

After your permission, I will keep my self in touch with you for any more assistant.

Regards,

Ali Abdulla

Why it is just not sustainable. (And thanks Andy, for sending it to me.)

Singaporeans faced the difficulties with resolution and fortitude. We were apprehensive, but did not panic. Instead, we calmly made a collective effort to find practical solutions, to keep companies viable and get workers properly skilled to hold on to jobs. Because we responded as one people, we prevailed.

However, we must remain vigilant in the Year of the Tiger. The Tiger is a force of nature, and this year holds some risks and uncertainties. Although economies have largely stabilised, there may still be surprises and close calls. For example, property values in Dubai have fallen sharply. Greece is in severe financial distress, and Spain and Portugal are under pressure too. This is troubling the whole of the Eurozone, and unsettling global financial markets.

Such events far away can hurt Singapore, because we are so open and globalised. The Government is therefore carefully monitoring the economy. Singaporeans should be psychologically prepared as well, and not let down our guard too soon.

The Tiger also symbolises bravery and strength. Singaporeans must be imbued with the spirit of the Tiger, ready to face the challenges and uncertainties, and stout-hearted in pushing ahead to create a brighter future.

The Economic Strategies Committee (ESC) has recommended moderating the inflow of foreign workers, and raising our productivity growth from the current 1% to 2-3%, in order to sustain GDP growth of 3-5% over the next decade. Beyond the numbers, this means a significant shift in our strategy, from merely expanding to upgrading the economy.

We are at a turning point in our economic development. We cannot continue importing foreign workers as liberally as before, because we will run up against space constraints. This means our total workforce will expand more slowly, which by itself would imply slower economic growth. To make up for this, and achieve the 3-5% growth target, we must raise productivity much faster, and do more with the resources that we have.

Importing fewer foreign workers does not mean less competition for Singaporeans, because our real competitors are out there in the world, and not here among us. Instead it means that our workers have to work harder to upgrade ourselves. Only when every citizen is well-trained, and is continually improving his skills and knowhow, will Singapore do well, and every citizen better his life.

Upgrading productivity is therefore a vital task. We must not fail, otherwise our economy will stagnate, our city will become less vibrant and our children will enjoy fewer opportunities.

By working smart and bringing about this economic transformation, we can exploit the abundant opportunities in Asia, and create more chances for ourselves.

Besides upgrading the economy, another challenge is maintaining and rejuvenating our population. We need enough babies to replace ourselves in the next generation. We also need to preserve a core of citizens who are born here and have grown up here, who will maintain and pass on the values and spirit of our nation.
Unfortunately, despite all our efforts we are producing far too few babies. Last year our resident TFR slid further to 1.23 from 1.28 the year before. This is the lowest we have ever experienced. It means last year we were short of at least 10,000 babies just to replace ourselves. For the Chinese, the TFR was even lower, going down from 1.14 to 1.09, equalling the previous lowest level for the Chinese (in 2003 and 2004). Probably the recession last year made couples hold back having babies. But it also reflects fundamental social changes that are affecting all East Asian societies.
I am worried about this year too. Some Chinese couples prefer not to have children during the Year of the Tiger. In each of the last three Tiger years (1998, 1986 and 1974), the number of births dipped by 7%. It is one thing to encourage ourselves with the traditional attributes of the zodiac animals. But it is another to cling on to superstitions against children born in the Year of the Tiger, who are really no different from children born under other animal signs.

Regardless of the zodiac sign, we must keep this a good place to have and bring up children. The Government will continue to support and encourage Singaporeans to have children. But more important is support from the family, which helps lessen the burden of raising the next generation. Many Singaporean working mothers have told me they depend on their families to help them juggle career and childcare. Certainly many women MPs could not have managed the demands of their public duties on top of their own careers without their families fully behind them.
Recently I met Ms Sophia Pang, who participated in the all-women Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition last year. The expedition took her away from home for more than two months. She told me that during her absence, her mother, mother-in-law, sister and husband all chipped in to look after her three young children. Without this strong family support, she could not have become the first Singaporean woman to ski to the South Pole.

Not everyone will aspire to travel to the ends of the earth. But family support will give many of our women the opportunity and confidence to pursue their careers and interests, and to build families. It does not mean they can completely avoid sacrifices and tradeoffs – that is not possible. But it is a tremendous reassurance for a young couple to be able to count on their parents to help care for their children. With state and family support, I hope young people will think seriously about getting married and starting families earlier.

The family is the basic unit of our society. During this Chinese New Year period, Chinese families will gather for their reunion dinners, and over the next few days visit relatives and friends all over the island. The other races have similar customs during their respective festivals. I am cheered to see the younger generation keeping alive this healthy tradition, for this means that Singapore families are in good shape.

In this age of globalisation, we need to make an extra effort to strengthen the family unit. Many Singapore families have members overseas, sometimes working in far flung places – helping to stabilise and reconstruct Afghanistan, keeping the Gulf of Aden safe from pirates, developing a port in Panama, or constructing a shipyard in Azerbaijan. Such separations can sometimes be hard on the family. Fortunately, with the internet, family members can continue to keep in touch from distant lands, through email, Skype, Facebook, etc. I hope families will make full use of these modern devices, to at least have a video chat over the festive period. Nowadays, the other side of the world is no longer so far away.
Let us recall how important our families are to us; rejoice that Singaporeans have united to overcome a very major challenge; and resolve to make the best of the year ahead.

I wish all Singaporeans a very happy Year of the Tiger.

In his traditional Lunar New Year message, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong addressed the challenges facing the country which include upgrading productivity and the declining birth rate in Singapore.

PM Lee said the Year of the Ox began on a challenging note, with Singapore facing its worst economic crisis since its independence.

“In the first quarter of 2009, our GDP plunged 10 per cent. But our economy pulled back up so that for the whole year GDP only declined 2.1 per cent. We kept unemployment low, bringing it down to just 2.1 per cent in December. In a recession year, we managed to increase employment by 39,000. Thankfully, our efforts produced a much better outcome than we had feared,” said PM Lee.

But Singaporeans made a collective effort to find practical solutions to tackle the crisis.

Mr Lee said it’s because Singaporeans responded as one people that the country prevailed from the economic crisis. But he warned that the people must remain vigilant in the Year of the Tiger. That is because though economies have stabilised there may still be surprises and close calls.

So, Singaporeans should be psychologically prepared and not let down their guard too soon.

The PM noted that the Economic Strategies Committee has recommended moderating the inflow of foreign workers and raising productivity growth.

But Singapore cannot continue importing foreign workers as liberally as before, because it will run up against space constraints.

So to make up for this, productivity levels have to go up much faster, and Mr Lee said upgrading productivity is therefore a vital task.

PM Lee said: “Importing fewer foreign workers does not mean less competition for Singaporeans, because our real competitors are out there in the world, and not here among us. Instead it means that our workers have to work harder to upgrade ourselves.

“Only when every citizen is well-trained, and is continually improving his skills and know-how, will Singapore do well, and every citizen better his life. Upgrading productivity is therefore a vital task.

“We must not fail, otherwise our economy will stagnate, our city will become less vibrant and our children will enjoy fewer opportunities. By working smart and bringing about this economic transformation, we can exploit the abundant opportunities in Asia, and create more chances for ourselves.”

Maintaining and rejuvenating the population is another challenge Singapore faces.

Despite all efforts, the PM said Singapore’s producing far too few babies.

Last year the resident total fertility rate (TFR) slid further to 1.23 from 1.28 the year before. This is the lowest Singapore has ever experienced.

For the Chinese, Mr Lee said the TFR was even lower, going down from 1.14 to 1.09.

The prime minister is worried about this year too, because some Chinese couples prefer not to have children during the Year of the Tiger due to superstitions against children born under this animal sign.

He said: “In each of the last three Tiger years (1998, 1986 and 1974), the number of births dipped by 7 per cent. It is one thing to encourage ourselves with the traditional attributes of the zodiac animals. But it is another to cling on to superstitions against children born in the Year of the Tiger, who are really no different from children born under other animal signs.”

Mr Lee feels regardless of the zodiac sign, Singapore must remain a good place to have and bring up children.

He added that the government will continue to support and encourage Singaporeans to have children.

Concluding, he hopes that Singaporeans will recall how important families are to them, rejoice that the people have united to overcome a very major challenge, and resolve to make the best of the year ahead.

The prime minister wishes all Singaporeans a very happy Year of the Tiger.

Singapore is considering ways to ensure its economy expands in a more sustained manner after three recessions in the past decade, with its most recent slump the deepest since independence in 1965.

A government-appointed panel this month outlined seven proposals to restructure the economy including raising productivity and relying less on foreign labor, a move that may increase costs for companies such as oil-rig builder SembCorp Marine Ltd.

“This year’s budget shows that Singapore is no longer in a crisis mode with the evolution of government spending to one that is supportive of long-term growth,” said Vishnu Varathan, a regional economist at Forecast Singapore Pte. “Productivity is the core theme as the government tries to enhance Singapore’s competitive edge.”

‘Major Challenge’

At last year’s budget announcement, the government cut corporate taxes and said it will tap the country’s reserves for the first time in part to fund S$20.5 billion in expenditure. Among the spending plans in 2009 was a S$4.5 billion program that gave employers cash grants to retain local workers.
Productivity growth of between 2 percent and 3 percent annually, while “a major challenge,” will help gross domestic product increase by 3 percent to 5 percent per annum in the next 10 years, Shanmugaratnam said. The rate averaged 1 percent in the last decade.
“We have to restructure our overall economy towards higher-value activities and exit from less efficient ones,” the minister said. “We will give significant tax benefits to businesses that invest in skills and innovation, thereby lowering their effective tax rates. We will also provide grants for customized, industry-based initiatives.”

Higher Productivity

The government has said it wants to boost productivity to make up for an anticipated slowdown in growth as the nation becomes more developed. Singapore’s productivity rate lags behind that of the U.S., Japan and other countries, the Economic Strategies Committee said this month. Productivity in manufacturing and services is about 55 percent to 65 percent of the levels in the U.S. and Japan, it said.
“Raising skills and productivity is the only viable way we can achieve higher wages, and is the best way to help citizens with low incomes,” Shanmugaratnam said. “If we achieve this goal, we can raise real incomes by one-third in 10 years. The scope to improve is clearly there, but the easy gains in productivity are over.”
An influx of foreign workers, currently accounting for one out of every three people in Singapore, has been blamed for the slowdown in productivity. Singapore will increase levies for companies hiring foreign workers as the country attempts to depend less on overseas labor, Shanmugaratnam said. Levies will be increased in a phased manner over the next three years, he said.

Foreign Workers

Construction companies have hired tens of thousands of workers in recent years amid a property boom in the city state and as companies such Genting Singapore Plc and Las Vegas Sands Corp. rushed to complete their casino resorts.
“We now need to take calibrated steps to manage our dependence on foreign workers,” Shanmugaratnam said. “They already comprise almost a third of the total workforce, and there are social and physical limits to how many more we can absorb.”

Singapore will introduce additional tax incentives for industries including legal services, finance, ship broking and maritime financing, Shanmugaratnam said today. The government will introduce a one-time tax allowance to help companies expand through mergers and acquisitions, he said.
The island will shift to a so-called progressive property tax regime from a flat rate for owner-occupied homes as a “means of redistribution” in Singapore which will help form a “fair system” of taxes in the nation, Shanmugaratnam said.

The government will spend S$1.8 billion of its budget this year on households, including the so-called Workfare Income Supplement plan, with lower and middle-income families benefitting most, he said.

Shanmugaratnam expects a budget deficit of S$3 billion in the year starting April 1, and forecasts a shortfall of S$2.9 billion in the current fiscal year ending March 31.

SINGAPORE: Singapore’s labour movement on Wednesday spelt out its strategy to work with the government and employers to enhance productivity levels in Singapore.

And that includes helping companies enhance levels of innovation and include all workers in the productivity journey.

NTUC Secretary General Lim Swee Say also stated the movement’s position on foreign workers on the second day of the Budget debate in Parliament.

“Job is the best welfare, full employment is the best protection for workers and productivity gain is the best driver for wage increase in the future,” he said.

Joining the debate, the labour movement chief spelt out some of the key priorities for the NTUC on how it can work together with both employers and the government to achieve the long term productivity growth objectives.

He said the first item on the agenda is to strive for total productivity.

“Not by loading more stress on the workers because if you keep doing that, one day the worker themselves may become the bottleneck but by helping the workers to break the bottleneck at the workplace,” Mr Lim said.

The next step is to help companies further innovate and also involve all workers; and finally, encouraging companies to put into practice the principle of gain sharing when there are savings as a result of productivity programmes.

“If we are not able to up the productivity of the entire workforce of both local and foreign workers, the Singapore economy (and) the growth will be slow,” he explained.

“So one day we may wake up and see Singapore having a slow GDP growth at the same time low productivity gain. And when that happens we think that will be a deadly combination for a small economy like Singapore. We must not allow that to happen.

“If we can rally all our workers, rally the entire 3.3 million workers in Singapore together, for every one per cent improvement in productivity, we will be able to produce equivalent to 30,000 workers. That is the power of productivity gain and teamwork.”

The NTUC Chief also disagreed with the opposition MP Low Thia Khiang’s observation that the labour movement had not done anything for low wage workers.

He reminded MPs that many programmes to help them upskill had been introduced over the past few years.

“Workfare Income Supplement – we recognise that it will help to supplement the wages of low wage workers, but we also recognise that that the best way to help low wage workers is to upgrade their skills and enhance their jobs,” Mr Lim said.

“Because of this strategy we succeeded in preventing many low wage workers and rank and file workers from becoming ‘no wage workers’.”

The labour movement also does not subscribe to a no foreign worker policy, with Mr Lim stressing that if this policy was implemented, Singapore’s workforce would actually shrink by 20 per cent in ten years’ time.

Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam has said the push for greater productivity will only yield results in the long term, and urged Singaporeans to play their part.

Wrapping up the Budget debate on Thursday, he said the Budget represents a major commitment to Singapore’s growth.

In the past week, some MPs had argued that low-income families had been hurt by what they saw as a “growth at all costs” policy – a criticism which the Finance Minister said is “wrong and misleading”.

Mr Tharman said: “Our growth strategy in the past decade was not wrong-headed. It illustrates the very real trade-offs we face in practice when deciding whether to allow the economy to grow rapidly and above its potential for a period.”

He said the economy was allowed to expand rapidly in the second half of the decade, because growth in the first half had been weak. This meant average incomes and employment could go up, but it could only be done by allowing businesses to bring in more foreign workers.

But the government knows this is not a sustainable solution, because Mr Tharman said it will reduce the incentive for employers to upgrade their operations and raise productivity levels. An indiscriminate increase in the foreign worker population would also put pressure on Singapore’s social and physical limits.

That is why the government is getting companies to reduce their dependence on cheap labour, by raising levy rates.

Mr Tharman said the move is not aimed at fattening government coffers. Instead, the money will be used on schemes to help companies boost productivity.

The Finance Minister said: “It is not like one of those slimming adverts where on the left hand side, it is someone who is sort of a little larger than normal, and then the right hand side is much slimmer. We are slim all the way. Because I do not take the money in and keep it, without giving it out.”

On concerns over rising inequality, Mr Tharman said the solution is not slower growth, as this will have the hardest impact on those at the bottom.

He said that slowing down the economy will lead to job losses and falling incomes for those at the lower end of the workforce; while at the top end, those with the talent and entrepreneurial ability will move to cities where opportunities are.

Instead, the approach must be to first grow the economy, by allowing those with higher skills and entrepreneurial abilities to do well.

Mr Tharman said: “Our ultimate aim, as MPs Josephine Teo, Muhammad Faishal, Ong Ah Heng and several others recognised, is to raise the incomes and sense of self-worth of our citizens, including those at the lower end of the income ladder.

“In order to achieve this, we have to make a sustained effort to grow skills, to innovate and to raise productivity. We must also ensure that all Singaporeans are included in growth and, as MP Jessica Tan put it, feel that they have a fair chance of success and that they can achieve more for themselves and their families through their own efforts, helped by the government.”

He said this will be a long-term process and he urged Singaporeans to play their part in the productivity push. – CNA/ms

I’m sure you are aware and have been watching from a distance the human toll that has taken and is still taking place in HAITI as a result of the recent earthquake.

If you are keen on making a contribution towards medical and relief efforts that will DIRECTLY & IMMEDIATELY GO TOWARDS THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT THE MOST, please do go to http://www.pih.org/ to make a donation.

PIH (Partners In Health) has been working in Haiti for nearly twenty-five years, and today is one of the largest non-governmental health care providers in the country. This is crucial as the money you donate will not go towards extraneous financial obligations (getting there, setting up shop, rallying channels of assistance, etc) but will fast get to the people who need it most urgently.

SO DO CONSIDER DONATING THROUGH PIH (Partners In Health) INSTEAD OF THE USUAL CHANNELS WHO WILL TAKE MORE TIME TO GET IT TO THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT THE MOST.

Thank You!

Manoj Sharma

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be,
For my unconquerable soul.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.