Moldovan Organizations: Promoters of Change?
According to the previous poll results, mentality and indifference of Moldovans are the major barriers in the way of the country’s development. Both have to do with the people’s attitude. How can these counter-productive attitudes be changed?
In my view, this change should start and last in institutions and organizations of all types: private, governmental and non-governmental. The reason why organizations are created is to allow people to join their efforts in achievement of a particular mission and objectives. Organizations are more powerful, effective efficient than individuals. Organizations, just like families, but at a different level, represent the foundation of a society. Organizations can tell you a lot about the society that nurtures them.
Do Moldovan organizations provide an appropriate ground for advancing change and reform? According to my own observation, not yet. People still perceive organizations merely as a means for achieving their own personal agendas, which, at the very first impression, does not seem to be a problem. However, to create a sustainable and long-lasting organization, the founders and managers of organizations need to have a vision which can transcend personal gains and interests. Once created, the organization needs to be allowed to develop by achieving successful results, incorporating innovative ideas and bringing about change. Very few organizations in Moldova have a vision powerful enough to attract like-minded people. Actually, I find it difficult to name even a couple. First that come to my mind are private corporations like Voxtel, Moldcell, SunCommunications, but I am not sure about them since I lack an insider’s view. If you can think of such an organization in Moldova, I’d appreciate your input.
Comments:
An organization doesn’t have to be a corporation, ngo, or government agency with employees and office buildings. This blog and the ones in the links on the left and all the readers and people commenting and discussing issues are an extended virtual “organization” that can influence attitudes. Maybe even more than people at a desk in an office can.
You are right about Voxtel and Moldcell. Both offer good motivational stimulus for promoting initiative, creativity and permanent search for new solutions.
Still, they are different. Voxtel's corporate culture is quite formal, while Moldcell encourages teamwork and tight connections between workers.
The change should start not from an institution and organization. It should start in families and at school. Mentality and indifference originate in upbringing and education...
Tom, if we take the case of Moldovan bloggers and their readers, we are talking about a handful of people that are already open-minded and firm supporters of change and reform...the challenge is to make a critical mass of people follow in their footsteps.
Mihai, what other organizations in Moldova can you think about in this context? I know you worked as a journalist, so maybe you have more information.
Alexei, families and schools are, without doubt, extremely important. People who enjoyed good upbringing and education need a medium where they, in their turn, can achieve results and perhaps exercise leadership and bring about change. Similarly, people who were less lucky with their families and schools, could make up for missed opportunities in coherent and strong organizations.
I think that one of the main strains of a leader is his ability to CREATE a medium he needs. :)
What regards those "less lucky" I often see young people who were raised in good families (by "good" I mean parents who really took care of their children) still having a "Soviet mentality" (or a "Moldovan mentality", ot a "Post-Soviet mentality", it's just a matter of definition, I think you understand what I'm talking about) and being indifferent...
And I almost sure that institutions and organizations won't be the main source of changes in Moldova. We need time (a lot of time, maybe even several generations) for that mentality to have been changed.
I think I understand what you mean by a "Soviet mentality" but I would be greatful if you could briefly describe it for me.
To name just a few, by "soviet mentality" I meant fear of initiative, lack of intellectual curiosity and creativity, weak critical skills, passivity, intolerance for alternative ways of thinking.
I would say any serious foreign company/organization with a branch in Moldova offers a medium of motivation and career growth. Specifically, such non-profit organizations as UN, OSCE, UNICEF, IREX, etc. For-profit foreign organizations such as consulting (Stas Marketing Partners - mld.stasmarketing.com), PR/advertising (McCann Ericsson) and law firms. Usually these firms are not publicly known due to their specific area of service.
Also, I believe there are at least several Moldovan NGOs that provide good opportunities and motivations (Contact, Independent Journalism Center, Helsinki Committee, etc.).
Mihai. Depends on you mean by "serious" organization/company. A lot of big companies and other institutions do not provide such a medium.
I respect those non-profit organizations that you've mentioned (like UNDP, UNICEF, etc.). And I also admit that many such organizations do great things generating effective results for community and providing great atmosthere and medium for personal development of their employees. However I have a strong negative attitude to MANY NGOs. IMHO, a very big number of non-governmental organizations in Moldova do useless work, lack the sense of reality and have as a primary goal (and sometimes the only one) getting grants from foreign and local sponsors. And in this respect their mentality is the same "Soviet" one (though many like to appear as open-minded, proactive, principles- and community-oriented).
Regarding for-profit organizations, I can speak only about law firms (by the way, there are no foreign law firms in Moldova, at least I don't know one). So, very few law firms can hardly be named "promoters of change". It doesn't mean that they have bad lawyers working for them. It just means that the principles of their work are still very old...
I tend to agree with Alexei regarding the current situation in Moldovan organizations. And this is exactly why I think organizations should improve and evolve. I think having lonely leaders is not very productive. One thing Moldovans should learns is to cooperate in achieving a common goal ...and organizations are an ideal tool for this purpose.
Alexei, you are right when you say "there are no foreign law firms in Moldova". I thought about Brodsky Uskov Looper Reed & Partners (www.bulr.com), but it is "a joint effort of the Moldovan and American law firm". As far as I know this firm is one of the best law firm in Moldova. Of course, you may know better. You have an insider's expertise.
Also, I agree with you when you say that "a very big number of non-governmental organizations in Moldova do useless work, lack the sense of reality and have as a primary goal (and sometimes the only one) getting grants from foreign and local sponsors". This is why I mentioned that there are (at least) several NGOs that pursue the change. I had the chance to work in some of them (IJC, PAFP, API, Impact) and this is what I observed. However, unfortunately the majority of Moldovan NGOs are focused on gaining grants and prosperity of the their leaders.
by the way, in france the spring officially starts the 21st of march.