The Workplace Archives

The Domesticated Intellectual: How Professors Become Decorated Slaves

Leave a Comment / Higher Education, Kenya, Opinion, Strategic Leadership, Strategic Management, The Workplace / Mary Mugo

Intellectuals become slaves when they surrender their independence in pursuit of proximity to power. The Fall of the Free Mind Professors used to be the university’s conscience; they were courageous intellectuals who fought for what was right and challenged authority. Many intellectuals nowadays are tamed, refined, obedient, and reliant on the very structures they […]

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Public Universities: Centres of Enlightenment Now Theatres of Internal Warfare

Leave a Comment / Higher Education, Kenya, Opinion, Strategic Leadership, Strategic Management, The Workplace / Mary Mugo

Once strongholds of moral authority and intelligence, many of our public universities are today resounding with strikes, distrust, and silence. This article examines how internal power struggles, politics, and mistrust are transforming enlightened hubs into battlegrounds and what it means for higher education going forward. From Beacons of Knowledge to Battlegrounds of Power Historically, public

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Educated to Death: The Silent Poverty of Kenya’s University Workers

2 Comments / Higher Education, Kenya, Opinion, Strategic Leadership, Strategic Management, The Workplace / Mary Mugo

They produce business moguls, judges, engineers, presidents, and CEOs, but they end up dying poor. It is a national failure rather than a case of laziness—the suffering of the enlightened wounds the nation’s conscience. When the people who train business moguls, judges, engineers, presidents, and CEOs end up in poverty, we know something is severely

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Tokenism in the Workplace: When Appearances Replace Action

Leave a Comment / Business, Opinion, Strategic Human Resource Management, Strategic Leadership, Strategic Management, The Workplace / Mary Mugo

We have already discussed the politics of survival, SILENCE, and sycophancy. However, another issue frequently follows closely behind.: tokenism. You understand what I mean, right? The vibrant integrity posters, the never-ending talks about innovation, the glossy reports that are released, the new committees that are established, and the wall-mounted slogans.. However, if you take a

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The Culture of Silence in Institutions: When Speaking Up Becomes Dangerous

2 Comments / Higher Education, Kenya, Opinion, Strategic Leadership, The Workplace / Mary Mugo

In our previous article, we discussed how institutions appear to favor sycophancy when leaders advance by appeasing those in positions of authority rather than standing with their peers. But sycophancy is only part of the story. The other half is silent. Let’s continue the discussion. If sycophancy is one aspect of our institutions, then silence

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Should TVET Institutions Stick to STEM Courses and Do Away With Business Courses?

12 Comments / Kenya, Opinion, The Workplace / Mary Mugo

The CS education has written a letter to TVET institutions on the way forward for STEM and Business courses. This letter has elicited varied reactions on whether business courses should be done away with in TVET institutions. This reminded me of a previous debate on some courses and degree programs in our universities that were

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These are the sycophants’ in your team and you must deal with them to be effective as a leader. Stop being a sycophant and if you are a leader discourage sycophancy around you.

Leave a Comment / Opinion, Strategic Leadership, The Workplace / Mary Mugo

We all want to be told good things and we enjoy flattery once in a while but a great leader must be able to know the sycophants in their team to be effective and efficient. I am certain you have come across many people who praise their leaders or powerful people when they deserve a

These are the sycophants’ in your team and you must deal with them to be effective as a leader. Stop being a sycophant and if you are a leader discourage sycophancy around you. Read More »

Why Experience Is Not Necessarily Expertise. Should Organizations Look for Experience or Expertise?

2 Comments / Opinion, Strategic Management, The Workplace / Mary Mugo

I have read the requirements for some advertised positions and most require experience of over 5 years. Whereas experience is important I could not avoid thinking about whether experience and expertise are the same. Experience is measured by the number of years you have been doing something. For example, if you have been a manager

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Why The Dogs Are Barking and Their Owners. Who Are The Dogs Barking For?

4 Comments / Kenya, Opinion, Strategic Leadership, The Workplace / Mary Mugo

We are a few weeks to the elections and the barking is becoming louder by the day. There is a saying that when you see a dog barking, find out the owner behind the barking. Ordinarily barking is one of the languages dogs use to communicate. The barking changes depending on the situation. At times

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This Is What Public University Managers Must Do Before They Declare Staff Redundant. The Article Most Top Managers In Public Universities Will Read But Pretend Not To Have Seen Or read.

Leave a Comment / Higher Education, Kenya, Opinion, The Workplace / Mary Mugo

Public Universities have been in crisis for quite some time and to remain afloat they must make hard unpopular decisions. The question is whether the decisions they make are in the best interest of the university and will help them remain afloat. The other question is whether they are willing to make those hard unpopular

This Is What Public University Managers Must Do Before They Declare Staff Redundant. The Article Most Top Managers In Public Universities Will Read But Pretend Not To Have Seen Or read. Read More »

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