My friend visited me in Midview City. He said that he could not find its way as the site was big and the signage was inadequate.
I agreed with his observation. I have observed that signage in Singapore is generally inadequate. I have got lost many times, due to the poor signage. Quite often, the signage led me astray.
Why is this the case? I suspect that our education system makes our students see issues from their perspective and fail to teach them on seeing matters from the perspective of other people. I observe this weakness in other areas, such as the design of our websites, forms and processes. This is too much focus on the needs of the "authority" and too little attention on the needs of the customers.
Generally, societies that are more democratic are more responsible and considerate of the needs of the people. We have to move towards that direction.
I agreed with his observation. I have observed that signage in Singapore is generally inadequate. I have got lost many times, due to the poor signage. Quite often, the signage led me astray.
Why is this the case? I suspect that our education system makes our students see issues from their perspective and fail to teach them on seeing matters from the perspective of other people. I observe this weakness in other areas, such as the design of our websites, forms and processes. This is too much focus on the needs of the "authority" and too little attention on the needs of the customers.
Generally, societies that are more democratic are more responsible and considerate of the needs of the people. We have to move towards that direction.
While I generally find the signage in Singapore to be perfectly adequate - in fact, as good as anywhere else in the world - I do agree with the general point that you're making. One of the worst places for dead ends is NUS, where staff have an incredible inability to ever see things from the perspective of the students. Administration is carried out in a very rigid, top-down way with no room to maneuvre. The students fall into line, and respond to administrative hurdles with pessimism and by saying "that's just how it is."
ReplyDeleteWe need to understand that nothing in the society *needs* to be as it is. Everything should be open for change, or at least for debate. Everyone needs to be willing to take on criticism, so they can improve the work they're doing.
These days I'm scared to tell a manager if I get poor service, as I know if anything happens it all it will just be the staff member getting criticised, put on notice or even sacked. It'd be much nicer to know that I could give my feedback to people who would take it on board in a spirit of positive co-operation and use it to change things for the better.
"This is too much focus on the needs of the "authority" and too little attention on the needs of the customers."
ReplyDeleteTan Kin Lian
Why not when you have "captive customers"?
Or in an election, even "captive voters"?
Too much focus on needs of authority? Well it all started when kids are trained in school on how to answer questions to please teachers.
ReplyDeleteEducation system is designed to churn out compliant workers working to please 'authorities'.
These compliant workers are taught from young that pleasing authorities would give them job security only to find out in disgust it is to the contrary.
Read on papers how the Insurers reported weighted premiums, Profits, and today on Income. Revenue for the company has priority over good policy, care for the customers etc.
ReplyDeleteTime for the illustration for the 'Reach' policy to change. 'Save 10 yrs for 70k to buy your dream car' to "Save 10 yrs for 70K to buy a right to own a car"