Professional "Think-Tanks"

[TheOne]

Why shouldn't there be specialized professional "Think-Tanks" for various subjects and topics instead of numerous useless Committees at ICAP or ICMAP?... You must have heard that "A Committee is a group of people, which wastes weeks, months and years (and in Pakistan decades)but preserves 'Minutes'." (Please don't propose to re-name those committees as think-tanks....}. I'm talking about real "Thinkers" to come out of silent majority area and start an ending of this Gup-Shup culture and guide & lead us to "Way Forward".

Edited by - TheOne on May 21 2003 110342 PM

[Cricketer]

Hi One

This topic of yours is an extension of the 'Research'-themed topic you started a few days back. I guess that the answer to this issue is also the same as of that one. Think-tanks are specialised institutions where full time research work is performed and theories and policies are formulated. Nobody in Pakistan and especially in our accounting community thinks much for research and instead rely on the work of our past 'aqaas'!

On a lighter note, isn't this forum a sort of a think-tank too? <img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle> A think tank is a super-collider of grey matter and ideas, and so is this place... although in an informal sort of a way.

[TheOne]

Hello
Neither our system & people are alien to me nor I'm in search of any professional utopia here. You're quite right that this forum is also a sort of think-tank if we look at it that way but... haven't we all been sinking in the same culture of Gup-Shup here at this forum too??

[Malhi]

The one, I quite agree with you on the "think tanks" issue. Committees in Pakistan are totally pointless. Its just one of those GTs where people have nothing else to do except for enjoying the cup of tea which in many cases is the only incentive to attend a meeting.

Committees dont even work effectively in other parts of the world let alone Pakistan, not that goras are the ideal but still, the stereotypes attached to their perfection go back a very long way. We need to approach issues considering our setup in Pakistan and the way people deal with things here.

[agshaheryar]

AOA
Yeah, i agree with the idea. We'll have to put a great effort to institutionalize it. If we are successful in making this happen, beleive me it'll be a great service to the profession on one hand and to the community on the other hand. We need commitment. We need to come with new ideas. We need to share them. We need to discuss them and come to a conclusion.

shaheryar

[TheOne]

Hi Shaheryar,
This is in fact the approach we need. All long journeys were started with a small & single step. Why can't we do it? I'm not talking about creating a great business or professional empire!!?.. It's simply Brain-Storming, Thought-Process or a sort of "Catharsis" which is already there scattered form and just has to be streamlined and purified through a managed activity. There are numerous examples even within Pakistan, let alone the world that individuals had made a difference to rest of the society...
I'm quite interested and very much keen to listen further from you guys. I've something in mind which can be proposed for further thought process and discussions. But before that there must be a small group of like minded people to join hands. Please give your further feedback and be in touch.
One thing more... "Research & Development" and "Thinking Process" are totally two different things. Thinking is all about "What & Why" whereas R&D is all about "How & When". What do you guys think??

Edited by - TheOne on May 29 2003 73804 PM

[TheOne]

(Reposted with addition.)
Probably I don't need to give any comments upon topic. Just open the URL given in the bottom to verify by yourself the actual Vision & Strategy of ICAP. It must also be appreciated very much that current issue of "Pakistan Accountant" which has given review of new website of ICAP mentions nothing about it....
I don't see it as any delay in updating of the webpage, actually I take it as ACTUAL and REAL VISION & STRATEGY OF ICAP. It reads like this
Vision & Strategy
The Sub-Committee is in the process of final deliberations to prepare the Road-map of the ICAP for the next decade in the light of the responses received from all the stakeholders. The Sub-Committee will present its final recommendations to the Task Force by the mid of January 2003. It is expected that the Task Force will be presenting the report in the ensuing Council meeting to be held in the last week of January 2003.
http//www.icap.org.pk/new/Institute/VISION.htm

This is latest proof of performance of our Committees & Sub-Committees. This online reality doesn't require any comments but I can't stop myself saying that "Parrots are never Visionary and Strategists"... how could their flock define any vision or strategy in such a short period???? That's why I'm making such hue and cry that there must be a thinking process from outside this salt mine.