Management education in a pluralistic world needs to consider new approaches and curriculum changes, if its graduates are to provide effective leadership in a multicultural, multinational global economy.

Recently, the Asian Academy of Management was established in the Chinese University in Hong Kong because of the long felt dissatisfaction among both academics and managers in Asia that western models of management are inadequate in Asian cultures.

Everyone aspires to be somebody, and no one wants to be a nobody. From the depth of our souls, there is a persistent cry for personal significance. This universal search for meaning manifests itself in a variety of ways, from self-seeking to self-sacrifice. It seems that we are prepared to do anything to convince ourselves, if not the rest of the world, that we really matter and that our lives are worthwhile.

Unfortunately, most people are frustrated in their quest for significance. The present system of elitism and rankism only allows a select few to fulfill their aspirations. For example, many students are competing for admissions into prestigious professions, such as medicine, law and psychology, but only a small percentage are successful.

Often intuition is the deciding factor between failure and success. Even though we don’t know precisely what intuition is, at the gut level we all know that it is there and that it can be summoned to our aid whenever we feel overwhelmed.

We have all experienced situations where we have to make a major decision in the absence of sufficient information. We still need to act in spite of uncertainty and ambiguity, but a wrong turn could have tragic consequences.

To whom would you turn when you are facing a crisis all alone? Imagine that you are a Marine serving in Iraq. Often you only have a split second to make a snap decision: if you are trigger-happy, you may kill a civilian; if you hesitate, you may get killed. How do you react to such situations? What kind of recourse do you have other than letting your intuition take over?

The recent Enron collapse has sent shockwaves all over the financial world and raised serious questions regarding corporate governance: How could America's seventh largest corporation suddenly descend to bankruptcy? What has contributed to its sudden implosion? Currently, there are more than 10 separate committees investigating possible wrong doings and illegal activities, such as fraud and insider trading.

Available information suggests that Enron made its money with smoke and mirrors. With a set of off-the books, unregulated private partnerships to take on debts, hide losses and kick off inflated revenues, Enron executives were able to keep bond-rating agencies happy. They were able to sustain this shell game through persistent refusal to disclose to analysts, who questioned where the money came from. Arthur Anderson, the auditing firm, turned a blind eye to questionable accounting practices because they did not want to lose the lucrative consulting fees.

We all have experienced complex and difficult situations, which baffle the mind and defy rational solutions. All the scientific knowledge and technology in the world are of little help in the face of an urgent but ill-defined problem. Even the well-established principles in psychology and ethics fail to show us the right path.

Just imagine yourself stranded in a strange land, struggling through the jungle without a compass, with danger lurking everywhere. A single misstep can lead to a death trap. You have no one to turn to for help. That is when you desperately need special wisdom or divine guidance.

Devastated and traumatized, Tim buries his head in his hands. The harsh words of the Vice-President still ring in his ears: "We are going to fire you for insubordination!" Replaying the scenes leading up to this dramatic encounter, Tim knows that he would not have done it differently. The choice is clear: Either follow order against his own conscience or question the ethics and legality of the administration's decision. He chooses integrity, knowing full well that there would be negative fallouts!

Still, it's unthinkable that his years of sacrificial and faithful service should come to this! Tim's presumptive world is shaken at its foundation, and he is on the verge of giving up his calling.

Much has been written about organizational leadership and management. Numerous MBA and Leadership programs continue to improve their curriculum. But are the graduates from these programs adequately prepared for today’s turbulent and volatile world? Are we raising the right kind of leaders for a complex and uncertain future?

The nature of both work and the workplace has changed drastically (Billett, 2006). The recent state of corporate scandals (Wong, 2002a), the increasing diversity of the workforce, and the quickening pace of social and technological change require a fundamental rethinking in leadership and management.

A healthy dosage of spirituality and meaning at the workplace is good for business, because it improves morale and productivity. This view is gaining currency among management consultants, human resources professionals and mainstream business schools.

The movement to bring spirit and soul to business is no passing fad; it continues to grow and with no signs of abating. Clearly, something significant and enduring is stirring the corporate world.

The courageous voice of a true champion is contagious. It can turn despair to hope, and defeat to victory. For instance, the reassuring, roaring voice of Winston Churchill in the darkest days of England during World War II is widely credited as playing a major role in changing the fortunes of the war in Europe.

"Be strong and courageous," was the repeated charge from God to Joshua after the death of Moses. "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them" (Joshua 1:6).

No other human power can match that of determination. It has the potential to create heaven or hell not just for oneself, but also for the world. It is the ultimate terminator, unstoppable and invincible; nothing can stand in its way - not obstacles, not dangers, not even death. Nations rise and fall on the backs of a few determined souls. The most glorious as well as the most heinous pages of human history belong to individuals, who are totally resolute and fearless in their single-minded pursuit, regardless of the costs.

Thus, the very thought of resolute determination at once fills my heart with terror and hope. The same spirit of uncompromising tenacity has given the world both Adolph Hitler and Mahatma Gandhi, Saddam Hussein and Pope John Paul II.

Human achievements cannot be measured simply in terms of wealth, power or fame. Such accomplishments belong to a small group of elites who are blessed with special talents and good fortunes. Basking in the glory of success and wielding immense influence, they are idolized, envied or feared, but not trusted.

According to Viktor Frankl, great human achievements can also come from great suffering. Ordinary people can become extraordinary heroes when they maintain their spiritual freedom, human dignity, and compassionate heart in the midst of unimaginable horrors. They witness to us that the defiant human spirit and character strength can carry us through impossible circumstances. They achieve greatness not through talents but through perseverance. Overcomers like Dr. Frankl evoke our affection and trust, because they inspire us to live with greater courage and optimism.

If your future employer were to ask you: “Are you a great worker?” What would your answer be? Chances are, you would say something like: “Well, I think I am, because I am very good in what I do and I am passionate about my work.”

But that sounds like the stock answer in a formal job interview. The real great workers possess some special qualities that set them apart from the merely good ones. The challenge is how to identify these illusive attributes.

In today’s knowledge economy, human resources are the most important assets, because great people make great companies. Employers and human resources are always looking for great employees to gain a competitive advantage. Unfortunately, most bosses may not even recognize such valuable workers in their employ, because they are misguided by myths.