Here are the trees, here are the forests

Author: Xu Mulan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-01-01
Features: The book elaborates on the pros and cons of MBA, the trends of management education in the 21st century, the civilized diseases of the business society, the mysteries of communication, the strategies of seeking external solutions, and the management art of Japan.
Preface: Management science is an interdisciplinary study that encompasses both "hard" and "soft" knowledge. The "hard" knowledge includes material and production management, the design and operation of simulation decision systems or operations research. The "soft" knowledge, on the other hand, covers organizational behavior, industrial psychology, or the principles and applications of employee behavior management. While "hard" knowledge has been at the forefront, "soft" knowledge has recently made significant strides, striving to compete with "hard" knowledge within the of management.
After completing my studies in the U.S. in late August 1978, I began to cultivate and contemplate the field of "soft" management knowledge. To become a highly productive gardener in this field, I volunteered to absorb new knowledge and disseminate progressive ideas in my spare time between teaching and research. For years, guided by the spirit of introducing innovative and progressive management concepts as the warp and practical operational principles and steps as the weft, I have written numerous "soft" management articles. Especially after taking over the "Art of Business" column in the Tianxia magazine, the joint pressure from Editor-in-Chief Yin Yunpeng and Deputy Editor-in-Chief Wang Lixing, like a life sentence, persisted month after month. Now, they have actually forced me to compile these into a book.
Reading through these old works, the time-consuming data collection and arduous writing process have all become beautiful memories. The more than forty articles in this book include explanations of management techniques and tools, interpretations of new management concepts, extensions of management research findings, and reviews of management classics. In terms of language, I have strived for simplicity and conciseness, minimizing the use of complex technical terms. In terms of content, I have aimed for both breadth and depth in the "T" shape to align with the call for management upgrades.
If a first-class thinker must hold two opposing ideas in mind to function effectively, then a first-class manager must possess both micro-perspective (seeing the trees) and macro-perspective (seeing the forest) to achieve effective management. Only then can one reach an effective management realm. Whether working in for-profit or non-profit organizations, whether at the beginning (as a subordinate), middle (middle and), or top (senior management) of the career ladder, I hope this book will provide readers with positive insights.
Lastly, I would like to thank my husband, Professor Zheng Ruicheng, for his indulgence, support, and encouragement, which allowed these "soft" articles to step out of the study without any "internal" worries. I also want to thank Professor Gao Xijun and the young friends at Tianxia magazine for their hard work on this book.
February 1983, Management College, National Taiwan University of Technology