The 42nd Dutch Vietnam

Management Supporter
HR Vietnam on the road to
Strategic HRM
Whe e e I oss Die Bie Phu St. to tu i to Ma Di h Chi t.,
I o se e the i i u
u e of oto ikes efe i el pushi g
a ig i to the DBP t ai to ake it gi e a . Peak hou i i u
is , othe ise . This slo l o i g ass of steel, u e ,
plasi & hu a odies a
eak th ough the o goi g st ea of
oto ikes, ta is & a s. Buses, t u ks e ui e to
ikes.
You ill e fa ilia ith resista e to ha ge. You k o the
ph ase: se se of urge . Whe you feel that se se, you ill ot
esist a i iiai e fo ha geas lo g as ou elie e this ha ge
ill elie e ou se se of u ge . This is h I assu e the
DBP t ai at so e poi t gi es a : o o e a ts to get hu t,
ph si all , i a iall . Those fe
ho a e i de ial o plai
stu o do so at thei o
isk & pe il. But i the e d the too
feel this se se of u ge , a d elu ta tl slo do o stop to
allo the ossi g t ai to d i e i to Ma Di h Chi t.
HR p ofessio als a e i
e sed i the issues of the da . Filli g
last- i ute a a ies, i alizi g la o o t a ts & ha dli g othe
pape o k. Whe the CEO has a e uest, the d op e e thi g &
do hate e s he a ts. o e HR p os o plai the o ga ize
t ai i g fo thei olleagues. Yet the do t ha e oppo tu iies to
get t ai ed the sel es. I a t, ut a t. No i e, o udget.
Its i e to uplit Hu a Resou e Ma age e t i Viet a .
The su e i DVM o. p odu ed i te esi g esults. All HR
p os a e fa ilia ith a. % of the list of HR topi s. The
e og ize the % as ele a t & feel a se se of u ge
to ha ge
& ealize the o ly ay to a hie e St ategi HRM is to lear .
Thei o. 1 uesio : ho do I o i e y de isio
akers to
i est i professio alizi g our HR depart e t? Co ta t e.

Spend more time smiling than frowning,

and more time praising than criticizing.
Richard Branson

Prof. Loek Hopstaken

Email:
loek.hopstaken@gmail.
com
Cell: 090 888 9450

10th year, no. 2

May 8, 2016
This magazine was first
published in March 2007. It is
distributed among my
Vietnamese & Dutch, both
business & private
associates.
Purpose: to keep you
informed about my activities
in Vietnam & overseas.
This attractive and energetic
country has conquered my
soul. It has become my
home away from home.
Loek Hopstaken

In this issue:
On the road to SHRM 1
VN: Global Partner
2
Silly job titles
3
4
The benefits of
general knowledge
How to increase your 5
general knowledge
Are you checked in?
Dont believe
everything you think

Contact info

10th year, no. 2

The 42nd Dutch Vietnam

Management Supporter

Vietnam: Global Business Partner

Ma
o ds ha e ee said & ite a out Viet a e te i g the Age of F ee T ade
Ag ee e ts. AEC, EVFTA, TPP. Co t o e s : ill it e as e ei ial as the egoiato s tell
us? Wh so se ei e? What a e the do sides? Ho
ill it afe t the la ou a ket? Who
ill gai / lose? Whats i it fo e? Whats i it fo
ou t ? A d: hats ot i it?
Its ot
dis ussio . I hope the egoiato s f o all
sides ha e ee ise e ough to o side the o seue es. The egoiaio s took pla e ehi d losed
doo s. Histo
ill hold the egoiato s a ou ta le fo
the esults. I
o e pe t, ut k o i g o e a out
the
akes e hesita t to e do se FTAs.
I k o a fe thi gs a out o
u i aio , ho e e .
Global Business Partner
O e aspe t of these ag ee e ts: the fa ilitate t ade
ope i g ore o
u i aio ha els a d de reasi g paper ork & red tape. I like
that, so do ou I suppose. The o e & o l a t ade a lou ish, is st aight, di e t t oa o
u i aio . Ope li es & lea p oto ols ill ake o
u i aio the o. e ale fo utuall e ei ial, lasi g t ade elaio s. I ha e al a s lea ed that fai t ade =
ho est t ade. T a spa e t; o hidde age das. No po e ga e; ala e. Is that also FTA?
VIETNAM

FTA?

Quesio s e ai : Whos i o t ol? Co po aio s?

Go e
e t? Does the FTA p o ide fo legal p ote io fo s all o pa ies? Ho a out the e i o e t? T a spa e ? Co po ate go e a e? Ho
f ee is f ee ? Whose i te p etaio of fair o peiio p e ails? Quesio s like these eed to ha e lea
a s e s. Glo al pa t e ship has a p i e. Is i olu tar
sa rii e of s all lo al usi ess, i reased po ert a d
ajor astes of Viet a s atural heritage orth it?

I fo
ou self, use ou ii al thi ki g skills, ide if the p os & o s. Get a s ers. As
fathe al a s a ed e: e e u a pig i a poke.

Maybe if we start telling people the brain is an app,

theyll start using it.
Morgan Freeman

10th year, no. 2

The 42nd Dutch Vietnam

Management Supporter

Whats in a job title?

What is a Jo Title?
You jo itle la iies ou posiio o the o ga izaio al ha t. It su
a izes ou jo
o te t. o he ou a e a Ma age P odu io Pla i g , Tea Leade ales o
Mai te a e Oi e ou jo itle tells us a if ou ha e a leade ship o a spe ialist
posiio , a d
ou o e dut . You jo itle is ou jo ID . It fa ilitates o
u i aio
ith i te al & e te al usto e s, supplie s a d othe stakeholde s.
Pe so al status ID
Vice President ???
Fo a people status is se io to jo .
Ma age i plies: I a i po ta t . It ote o es ith e eits, f o high sala to
o pa
a , f o de isio
aki g autho it & ei g the depa t e ts fa e , to i itaio s to e lusi e eei gs. People lo e status. Whe I o ked ith a e io Co sulta t of
the A e i a Ju a I situte I oi ed his usi ess a d stated: Vi e Preside t. Whe I
asked hat this ea t, he eplied: You get this itle he ou ha e o ked ith the I situte fo se e al ea s, a d al a s ith g eat esults. We o ha e VPs. Vi e P eside t:
a ho orar itle. O the usi ess a d it as elo his a e, a o e his jo itle.
The Viet a ese E e ui es
Sales Executive ???
O e of the i st thi gs I oi ed o Vieta ese usi ess a ds as that a displa ed E e ui e . I the est of the o ld
E e ui e is a te used to ide if top a age s, like i Chief E e ui e Oi e .
A o pa s top a age s a e e e ui es, o e e s. Belo thei le el, a age s o
e e s. E e ate
ea s Viet a I a ot get used to ales E e ui e he the pe so
lea l is a ales Assista t, ith litle o o de isio
aki g autho it . O HR E e ui e :
a ope aio al spe ialist ea i g o hats ithi the ield of Hu a Resou e Ma agee t. Whe I politel suggest to epla e E e ui e
Oi e , pe ialist o
Assista t , I a step o so eo es toes. Its so status-se sii e! Ho a I e plai
f ie ds & fa il I
o lo ge a e e ui e? Jo itles ust la if , ot o fuse.
Wel o e to the glo al jo
a ket!
HR Business Partner ???
Most fo eig e s ill ot add ess
a k a d jo itles. I polite. But Viet a ese hose ai is a i te aio al a ee :
e are. Fo eig e uite s ill ot tell ou this. But ague jo itles & o e -the-top status
lai s o a esu e ill e i te p eted as false PR. A sill ate pt to o e state i po ta e.
Result: o hi e. HR Busi ess Part er? It prete ds professio alis
use of usi ess jargo .
You guessed it: I st o gl e o
e d e isi g those jo itles & usi ess a ds.

10th year, no. 2

The 42nd Dutch Vietnam

Management Supporter

The benefits (& joys!) of general knowledge

Ge e al k o ledge: k o i g a out & ha i g i sights i to a a ge of dife e t su je ts.
Those ho ha e ge e al k o ledge i d it easie to pa i ipate i o e saio . tud *
sho s that people ho are highl k o ledgea le i a pari ular do ai te d to e k o ledgea le i
a . A d: Ge eral k o ledge is a i porta t o po e t of r stallized i tellige e a d is stro gl asso iated ith ge eral i tellige e, a d ith ope ess to e perie e. U fo tu atel , ou fo al edu aio does t si ulate a ui i g ge e al k o ledge.
He e, a people ha e o lue hats goi g o i the o ld, f o polii s to spo ts,
f o ultu e to atu e. The Leade s heli opte ie
o ks o l he the pilot u de sta ds hat he o se es. The o ept of glo al iize is ea i gless he this pe so
has litle o o fa tual k o ledge a out hat goes o i the o ld, a d a ki ds histo
& ultu al he itage. Fo get k o i g all. But let e assu e ou: a oad i te est e i hes
ou life. You u de sta d he othe s a e lueless. You a o e t dots. You ete u de sta d. You ha e a lue. * fo efe e es see Wikipedia e t Ge e al K o ledge .
You

ust re e

er this ...

Life is best filled with learning as much as you can about

as much as you can.
Tim Minchin

10th year, no. 2

The 42nd Dutch Vietnam

Management Supporter

How to increase your general knowledge

If ou a t to e pa d ou ge e al k o ledge, you eed t o ajo ualii aio s: . a oad i te est, .
good at E glish. Realize that a ui i g ge e al k o ledge e e stops. Its a lifei e i est e t. If ou
ish to gai ge e al k o ledge ake it a p io it to lea
he e e ou ha e i e o ou ha ds. I this
I fo aio Age e ha e ea l u li ited & eas a ess to k o ledge. The i te et also ofe s fast
a ess to e perts ho a e illi g to sha e k o ledge. So ho to p o eed?
De ide: I a i te ested. I a t to i ease
GK.

A haeolog

Lite atu e spe if

Go o e the list o the let & sele t the ields ou e

A t / Cultu e

Ma kei g / Sales
i te ested i . No lo ate i te et po tals li ki g to

Biolog / Natu e

Medi i e / Health
ajo k o ledge sites & logs. Joi Kha A ade .

Busi ess Ma age e t

Media / Ad e isi g
Wat h TEDX p ese taio s. Quo a. o : sele t you

Co
u i aio s

Musi spe if

Edu aio

Philosoph
p efe e es. Choose e s p o ide s fo e a ple,

E te tai e t

Polii s spe if
Gua dia UK, Hui gto Post US, a d o e o t o

Fashio

Ps holog
elia le aio al o es . Make usi g Wikipedia a

Fil

Religio / Spi itualit

ha it. Ha e fu diggi g up k o ledge. Co e t dots.

Fi a e / E o o

S ie e spe if
E jo o e ts of e lighte e t. Get high o GK.

Food & Be e ages

Spa e E plo aio

I po ta t: he k / e if sou es, de elop rii al

Geog aph

Spo ts / Ga es
thi ki g skills, a d e a a e of you o
iases.

Histo spe if

Te h olog / IT
If ou eed a help, let e k o . Get a GK Me tor.

Thats Dooley Wilson singing As Time Goes By,

in Casablanca Correct! 10 points!

Not su p isi gl , Viet a ese

k o a lot a out Viet a .
K o i g a out the o ld outside Viet a ho e e is a
dife e t sto .
You g Viet a ese ho aste E glish ote displa a
oad i te est. O i te et
the lea a out hat else is
goi g o i the o ld. The
use so ial edia to e plo e
Ea th & ake i te aio al
f ie ds. The soo dis o e
the eed fo rii al thi ki g
skills to efe i el su f the
e . If the ha e a ha e,
the t a eli the eal o ld.

You cant teach an old dog new tricks.

English proverb

You cant teach an old dogma new tricks.

Dorothy Parker

10th year, no. 2

The 42nd Dutch Vietnam

Management Supporter

Are you checked in?

When smart people are checked out they do stupid things.

Most traffic accidents are caused by people who are checked out.
At work most mistakes & wrong decisions are made by competent but
checked out managers & staff.
Attention is the taking possession by the mind, in
clear and vivid form, of one out of what seem several
simultaneously possible objects or trains of thought,
localization, concentration, of consciousness are of
its essence. It implies withdrawal from some things in
order to deal effectively with others, and is a
condition which has a real opposite in the confused,
dazed, scatter-brained state which in French is
called distraction.
William James (19th C. philosopher, psychologist)

10th year, no. 2

The 42nd Dutch Vietnam

Management Supporter

Dont believe everything you think.

Education is not the learning

of facts, but training the mind
to think.
Albert Einstein

No amount of
belief makes
something a
fact.
James Randi

You can neither win nor

lose if you dont run the
race.
David Bowie

A mind is like a parachute. It doesnt work if its not open.

Frank Zappa
Its hard to win an argument with a smart person.
But its damn near impossible to win an argument with a
stupid person.
Bill Murray
Every advantage has a disadvantage.
Johan Cruyff 19472016
A strong spirit transcends rules.
Prince Rogers Nelson 19582016

10th year, no. 2

The 42nd Dutch Vietnam Management Supporter

Loek Hopstakens Clients

In Vietnam: a.o.

Tan Thuan IPC

HCMC University of Technology

RMIT (HCMC campus)

Royal Business School

Int. Business & Law Academy (IBLA)

Vietnam Airlines (RBS; ISM)

Vietnam Singapore I.P. (SPECTRA)

Petronas Vung Tau (SPECTRA)

Petronas Carigali (PACE)

Nike (Tae Kwang Vina) (SPECTRA)

Le & Associates

Sacombank (Training House)

Ministry of L.I.S.A. (RBS)

SONY Vietnam (RBS)

CapitaLand Vietnam (SPECTRA)

Institute for Potential Leaders / PACE

Dalat Hasfarm (Agrivina)

Hoanggia Media Group

Fresh Green Earth

Unique Design

ERC Institute Vietnam

Schoeller Bleckmann Vietnam

Robert Bosch Vietnam (PACE)

De Heus Vietnam

Control Union Vietnam (SPECTRA)

Centre for Tropical Med.Oxford Uni.

VIP Search

CARE Vietnam (AIT)

Asian Institute of Technology (AIT)

HFIC (AIT)

Academy of Finance

ITEQ Vietnam

Vietnam Breweries Ltd (Heineken)

VietJet Air (ISM)

In The Netherlands, a.o.

ING Bank

Philips

Heineken

Yamaha

business field
Industrial development
intern. MBA program
Pro Comm faculty
Courses & seminars
Training & consultancy
International airline
Industrial park
Chemical factory
Oil & gas
Shoe factory
Training & consultancy
Training & consultancy
Civil Servants
Consumer electronics
Real estate
Courses & seminars
Pot plants, cut flowers
Key to Success TV Show
Hi-tech agriculture
Interior Design/archit.
Business school
Oilfield Equipment
Electronics
Animal food
Quality inspections
Clinical research
Recruitment
NGO
Training & consultancy
Investments (SOE)
MBA (Un. of Gloucester)
Mono-parts/assemblies
Brewery
Airline
Financial services
Electronics
Brewery
Musical instruments

The DVM Supporter is published by

Prof. Loek Hopstaken
Email: loek.hopstaken@gmail.com
Cell Vietnam: (84) 090 888 9450
Cell The Netherlands: 06 510 97328
Assistant: Ms. Vo Ngoc Lien Huong
Email: jane.hopstaken@gmail.com
Cell: (84) 090 888 9451
Profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/loekhopstaken

Wisecracks
To understand
yourself is the
beginning of
wisdom.
Jiddu
Krishnamurti
Train people
well enough so
they can leave.
Treat them well
enough so they
dont want to.
Richard Branson
Attention
without feeling
is only a report.
Mary Oliver
Everything you
want is on the
other side of
fear.
Jack Canfield