"Middle - aged school boys" to "Lifelong learner" (1995-2008)

中年學童

歲末，把年前經濟學人出版的《1995年的世界》拿來溫習一下，發覺其中管理學名家談的，都是可以令人深思的主題。Tom Perers十來年前的《追求卓越》，曾經風行全球，而他卻早已否定有所謂「卓越」，轉而倡導《亂中求繁榮》、《解放管理》。現在他談的是《追求狂野(In

Search of Craziness)》，鼓動超越「效率」而追求創新及想像力，不要被經典、習慣所困，例如以往研究發展等等活動，都局限在「溫室」方式，反而應到野草叢生處去發掘最有活力、野氣的繁花。

最令人感動的則是Charles Handy的《中年學童(Middle - aged school boys)》。他力陳人生應追求多重事業，不斷學習。Handy先生是組織學的名家，曾擔任過某大石油公司主管多年，轉業為教授，出版的《非理性時代》、《了解組織》都曾洛陽紙貴，可惜他用希臘諸神來譬喻不同組織形態的佳作，最近才有美國版本。他教授之餘，也轉業為神職人員，之後，再成為自由作家。台灣有他的名著《覺醒的年代》譯本，是本好書，以後有機會再詳談。現在我們介紹他的「中年學童」說法，我認為台灣十年內就會到達此境界--終生教育學習，人生事業群組構成人生四季之美等前景。

現在的「組織人」，應把學習機會看成是個人的「權利」。因為以後社會、經濟情勢的演變，會使一般人前途的唯一安全憑藉，在於能賣得出去的技能，而且它必須常常更新。所以有遠見的洋公司，己要求其成員投資一定的金錢(通常公司出錢)及時間「充電」或做各種「志工」、「義工」，而在公司內部，也以「平行調職方式豐富化工作」，不再強調升遷。

Handy先生引以為憂的是，大部分組織內的上班族，尚未意識到公司的工作，不再有終生保障，公司也不再能凡事妥善照顧員工。值得警惕的是，「學習」必須由「學習者」自行覺悟，自發有此不斷學習的需求才能開始。所以，現代政治的最大挑戰，是在於喚醒眾人的危機意識，因為社會上永遠會「人浮於事(工作)」，然而社會對於許多尚未被創造出的產品及服務，卻仍是需求孔殷。換句話說，要不斷創新，才談得上工作或事業的「供需暫時平衡」，而大眾要徹底轉變以「工作」為主導的事業規劃，而要以「顧客」為主導，從而學習發展出服務顧客的「技能」與「訣竅。」

Handy先生認為世界性的工作革命，必須由供給面來領導，而學校必須是這種大轉型的充電站。換句話說，學習性社會要由學者自行決定其命運，而腦力的開發，固然價值高，然而也更加困難。不管怎樣，人生不再一戰決勝負，而有多重機會、選擇，這些都是美事。
在這種脈絡下，人人不要以成為「學子」是「小朋友」上學的事，能夠儘早脫離苦海為妙。學校的新角色，也很值得我們深思。
----台灣立報1995 .12.8.----

Lifelong learner would impress literary giant

2008/7/23

The other day, I wrote in this column that novelist Natsume Soseki (1867-1916) declined a government offer to award him a doctorate. A detailed account of how Soseki felt about the title is given in the memoirs "Soseki no Omoide" (My memories of Soseki) written by his wife, Kyoko.

"The doctorate is a very dishonorable title that declares that the person may know somewhat about what they study, but knows nothing outside of his realm," he was quoted as having said.

Perhaps the wry remark was typical Soseki cynicism. Maybe there were many people who shared such views in the old days.

But a doctor who even Soseki, if he were alive, would approve of appeared on The Asahi Shimbun's "Hito" (newsmaker) column the other day. He is Sokichi Kametaka, former president of Kobe Steel Ltd., who received a doctorate in pharmacology at the age of 82. Kametaka had majored in economics and was an amateur in science. But after he retired, he spent 10 years on his studies to earn the degree. I am very impressed.

The businessman, who weathered oil shocks and recession in the steel industry, must also have a broad knowledge of "things outside his realm."

He lost his former wife to leukemia. His current wife was felled by a subarachnoid hemorrhage and suffered from the side effects of medication. The experience made him want to make better drugs and served as the driving force for his studies, Kametaka said.

Not many people go so far as to earn a doctor's degree but a growing number of people are eager to pursue "lifelong learning."

According to a recent survey by the Cabinet Office, the trend is particularly noticeable among people in their 60s. Apparently, this is because "baby boomers" who reached retirement age are enthusiastic about acquiring new knowledge. Learning is fun. The nourishment brought by knowledge and culture also makes life more profound.

Who was it that made the following remark? "I will ceaselessly keep on reading the one and only book called my life." In it, "reading" appears to mean "relishing." In other words, we should write our own life stories and relish them.

Wouldn't it be great if "students of advanced age" who retired from work came to write stories one after another that would impress even master Soseki?

--The Asahi Shimbun, July 22(IHT/Asahi: July 23,2008)