SCS Magazine 2018 Issue 3

THE

MCI (P) 105/07/2018

STAYING RELEVANT. STAYING RESILIENT. 02 Ready to Upgrade Your Career?

SOCIETY The Magazine of the Singapore Computer Society

04 How to Ace the HumanMachine Partnership 06 Go Ahead, Move My Cheese!

Contents Vision To be the leading infocomm and digital media professional society in Singapore

Mission

EDITOR’S MESSAGE

POWER BOOST

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Industry 4.0 Career Guide

THE BIG IDEA 02

Ready to Upgrade Your Career?

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How to Ace the Human-Machine Partnership

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Go Ahead, Move My Cheese!

Lead the Way To lead and contribute to the vibrancy and growth of Singapore’s infocomm and digital media industry

Add Value To add value to the infocomm and digital media professional’s career and personal development

Does Education or Automation Come First?

#LATEST@SCS 17 Tech3 Forum 2018 19

SCS Career Crossroads Session

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SCS Golf Day 2018

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SCS Splash Awards 2018

SPOTLIGHT 08 10

Chee Kiat Talks about His Journey Towards a New Career Suguna Shares What it is Like to Find Work after a 20-year Break

GEEK SPEAK 24

Do AI Dream of an Obsolete Future?

Be the Voice To engage and be the voice of the infocomm and digital media community

This issue is published in collaboration with

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The Magazine of the Singapore Computer Society

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FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

9:41 AM

Industry 4.0 Career Guide:

Work Smart to Stay Relevant, Work Hard to Stay Resilient

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am sure you would have been advised to “work smarter, not harder” at some point of your career. Me too! That is why, for a long time, I lived by this advice.

Then the pace of change went off the charts.

Working smart – with machines – became the second most important thing, if not the most. To be fair, it is true that human-machine partnerships can get work done quicker and more accurately.

But then, as machines get smarter, something else is also happening. Some of the skills we once prized highly have become less important or even redundant. Suddenly, the positive career growth that we deem to be a given has become less certain; for that matter, even the jobs we hold today may cease to exist in the near future.

Just as the future looks set to be fraught with challenges, in a timely fashion, we are reminded of a classic business fable “Who Moved My Cheese?”. Surely, we are better than the little people in the story in adapting to changes and finding new cheese right?

EDITOR Tan Teng Cheong CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Romain Bottier Khoong Chan Meng Vladyslav Koshelyev Sean Low Tan Peng Wei Tan Teng Cheong Martin Yates EDITORIAL SUPPORT Claudia Lim

ADVERTISING SALES & ADMIN Claudia Lim For ad sales enquiries, Tel: 6226 2567 ext 12 Email: claudia.lim@scs.org.sg Mailing Address 53 Neil Road Singapore 088891 EMAIL scs.secretariat@scs.org.sg EDITORIAL & DESIGN Lancer Design Pte Ltd

After all, education has provided many of us a solid grounding – to be more than just smart workers, but also great learners. Tey Chee Kiat is one fine example. Despite losing his job after 17 years, he took it in good stride and went on to equip himself with new skills. Today, he is happily employed and working in a team of four.

Similarly, Suguna Ranganathan’s story of how she found her way back to the workforce after a hiatus of 20 years shows that there is still plenty of “cheese” up for grabs in tech as long as you set your mind to finding it.

So, building upon the good old advice to be fitting with Industry 4.0, I encourage you to go beyond working smart to also work hard at deepening your skills. Don’t leave staying resilient to workplace disruptions and remaining employable to chance.

Let’s work smarter and harder together.

Enjoy reading!

TAN TENG CHEONG Editor Fellow, SCS tengcheong.tan@scs.org.sg

FEEDBACK We value your feedback for this magazine. Simply email scs.secretariat@scs.org.sg with your comments to help us produce an even more interesting and relevant magazine for you in subsequent issues. You are welcome to submit articles for inclusion consideration.

For advertising enquiries, please call 6226 2567 or email scs.secretariat@scs.org.sg. The IT Society is the official publication of the Singapore Computer Society. Any part of this publication may be reproduced as long as credit is given to the publisher, Singapore Computer Society.

All views expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Society.

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THE BIG IDEA

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Are You Ready to Upgrade Your Career to Version 4.0?

Did you know that back in the 17th century, the word “computer” was used to refer to “a human being who calculates”? It is a far cry from our understanding of the word today. And like how the meaning of “computer” has changed over the years, the definition of work is also undergoing a rapid shift with the arrival of Industry 4.0. Question is, how can we keep our career growth on track regardless of the changing times?

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ctually, the phenomenon of change is nothing new. Over the course of history, human beings have continuously designed and produced machines to take over our work; the machines then went on to do the work of human beings.

Accordingly, various predictions were made about the number of jobs that would be lost during each industrial revolution. Yet, human ingenuity has always resulted in the creation of more new jobs than the amount of workers displaced.

So even as we look at the shifts – both past and present – as disruptions, we should also learn to appreciate the demonstration of human resilience.

Entering Industry 4.0, we can expect history to repeat itself – except, possibly at an increasingly faster pace.

Sure, we can choose to do nothing and simply look on as transformation unfolds, hoping that we will not be displaced. But why take the back seat when we can be in the driver’s seat to explore the many exciting new opportunities Industry 4.0 presents?

UNDERSTANDING THE FUTURE OF WORK AND ITS COMPLEXITIES Importantly, we need to understand the complex changes that are unfolding in the world right now. And these changes are not just about using computers to complete tasks faster.

One example is the proliferation of artificial intelligence in recent times.

Machines have started to take over problem solving and analytics tasks.

And we can only imagine that our future workplace is going to be a lot

THE IT SOCIETY / Issue 03/2018

KHOONG CHAN MENG Senior Member, SCS Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Systems Science, NUS

TAN PENG WEI Senior Member, SCS Chief, IT Strategy & Management Practice, Institute of Systems Science, NUS

more fluid and completely different.

It will be smart, automated and datadriven – equalising and democratising opportunities for all. In this landscape, humans will need to collaborate naturally and seamlessly with machines.

Achieving efficiency and effectiveness in the workplace will also take on a new dimension for the human worker with the augmentation of smart machines.

Foreseeably, future jobs will be dynamic and no longer as well defined as today.

Job descriptions and job scopes may change from day to day. Hence, to thrive in such a digital economy, the human worker needs to recognise that change will be a constant and effectively navigate the changes by actively acquiring new skills, including multidisciplinary knowledge, thinking capabilities and digital acumen.

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PREPARING FOR TOMORROW’S CHALLENGES The ownership of learning lies very much with the individual. Learning only the things that are needed for the job today is a reactive approach – it will not prepare us for tomorrow’s challenges because it only solves yesterday’s problems. Learning therefore has to be done in a proactive manner, so that we will be in a position to grab emerging opportunities.

However, much as the human worker needs to build strength to become more resilient, the human employer also has an important role to play. After all, skills learnt will be applied in the workplace to benefit the growth of the business.

At the heart of business transformation plans, skills development should be a

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THE BIG IDEA

key feature where the participation of employees is engaged. Because when business plans and employee development are well aligned, the business will grow and employee satisfaction will be high. But given that the future business landscape will continue to be volatile and complex, we should be mindful that simply sending people out for episodic training is not enough. The organisation itself has to evolve into an environment that encourages and embraces workplace learning.

stay. It is therefore imperative that we continue to hone our digital skills, recognise that certain technical skills will become less important in time, and take the initiative to embark on a lifelong learning journey.

GETTING COMFORTABLE WITHOUT A COMFORT ZONE Industry 4.0, like all its predecessors, brings daunting challenges – especially for professionals who are not techsavvy. But digitalisation is here to

As Mahatma Gandhi advised nearly a century ago, which still rings true – “The future depends on what you do today”. The best moment to act is now, so what’s your next move?

The disruptions brought forth by Industry 4.0 are more exciting than scary as long as we are armed with an open mind and an appetite to learn.

They present immense opportunities for those who are prepared to seize and make the most of them.

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THE BIG IDEA

THE IT SOCIETY / Issue 03/2018

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MARTIN YATES Senior Member, SCS Chief Technology Officer, ASEAN, Dell EMC

ROMAIN BOTTIER HPC Solutions Architect, ASEAN, Dell EMC

How to Manage a Great Human-Machine Partnership?

Over the last two years, much has been said about the new industrial revolution that is ongoing. While most can agree that the rate of digital transformation is incredible, we see very divided sentiments about the changes artificial intelligence (AI) bring to modern businesses. But no matter the outlook, it is clear that a massive change is already happening, and the dynamics of our relationship with machines will be transformed.

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ommonly, there are two extreme views to the changes that are happening – pessimistic with a quasicertainty that we will all end up unemployed; or optimistic, that AI will solve most of our socio-environmental problems. The truth is likely to be somewhere in between.

Human-machine partnerships have existed since the machine age. The difference is that the current pace of technological innovation has increased human reliance on technology more than ever. Fortunately, our ability to adapt to new technology has also been evolving. We have gotten better at leveraging machines and new technology to help us in our day-to-day tasks. With all things in perspective, what’s next for the human-machine partnership? And how will it affect our work lives, careers, and jobs?

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01 RECOGNISING THE VALUE OF DIGITAL DISRUPTORS Looking into the future, workplace success is likely to be dependent on our ability to build systems which are well integrated with mega digital ecosystems. As it stands now, major cloud service platforms like Amazon Web Services, Azure and Google Cloud are already disrupting businesses in ways that were unimaginable a few years ago. In the same vein, they are also accelerating hybrid human-machine experiences at an unprecedented rate.

Notwithstanding quantum leaps in data centre server computing power and data management capabilities as well as the mass proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT), rapid maturing on the augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technological fronts also offer powerful and interactive humanmachine collaboration.

Resultantly, we are increasingly seeing human-machine interactions adding value to nearly all professions. Cases in point, with the help of AI, doctors are making faster patient diagnoses and engineers can now design smarter and more innovative products within a shorter time; similarly, advances in AR and VR capabilities have empowered city and building architects to experience their designs virtually and reshape them even before the projects are built.

The same technological development that we are apprehensive about is making our work lives easier and more productive.

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LEVERAGING MACHINES TO COMPLEMENT OUR STRENGTH Further, if you look at the history of writing and publishing, technology has revolutionised the way we pen down our thoughts and disseminate them – from manual copying and hand-drawn illustrations to the introduction of the printing press and the advent of typewriters, then personal computers and smartphones. Humans have learnt to adopt technology for our own benefit.

Today, AI is the equivalent of the printing press, typewriter, personal computer and smartphone, all rolled into one. It allows us to do more complex tasks, at scale, and in a fast and cost-effective way. Notably, the purposes of the tasks remain the same; and human intervention – albeit of a different nature – is still required in the process.

Therefore, rather than thinking of machines as our competitors, we should actively embrace technology to enhance our capabilities. We are fundamentally different from machines. While machines can deliver speed and scale greater than ours, our edge lies in our natural abilities to solve complex problems and being creative and empathetic. Hence, as long as we stay true to our strengths and work towards becoming better learners and quicker thinkers, the human-machine partnership may well be a recipe for building a better world.

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THE BIG IDEA

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03 UNDERSTANDING THAT CHANGE IS THE NEW CONSTANT Studies show that the current pace of change is so fast that 85% of the jobs that will exist in 2030 have not been created yet. As a matter of fact, most companies today would be hard-pressed to predict whether they will still exist in the next three to five years. Likewise, gone are the days where people spent their entire work life in the same company.

The implication of these changes is huge. It means that our future jobs are likely to be less function based and more competency driven where specific tasks are assigned according to skill sets and capabilities.

Depending on the skills we possess, our careers will be correspondingly shaped. Thus, skills learning not only has to start from the early days of our education, but also continue lifelong. Because the ability to reskill by continuously learning – how to work with machines effectively – will be key to staying on track in career development.

Human-machine partnership is here to stay. Instead of fearing the change it brings and rejecting its adoption, why not use humankind’s best skill – adaptability – to embrace and move forward with it together.

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THE BIG IDEA

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THE IT SOCIETY / Issue 03/2018

Go Ahead, Move My Cheese!

TAN TENG CHEONG Fellow, SCS Director, BetterIDEAS

So much has already been written about Mid-Career Displacement: Staying-Relevant, Losing-a-Job, Finding-a-Job, Unlearning-Old-Skills, Learning-New-Skills…the list goes on. So for a change, let’s talk about Attitude-and-Response, as well as the importance of Being-Prepared.

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s I write this article, I’m reminded of the classic business fable: “Who Moved My Cheese?” written 20 years ago in 1998 by Dr Spencer Johnson. In the book, two mice – Sniff and Scurry – and two little people – Hem and Haw – lived in a maze together. While the mice were simple-minded creatures, the little people liked to plan and for everything to be structured and predictable. They all lived off cheese found at Cheese Station C until one day when they discovered that the cheese is no longer there.

DON’T WAIT FOR THE CHEESE TO COME BACK Sniff and Scurry quickly moved on – venturing to other parts of the maze and soon found a new source of cheese at Cheese Station N. On the other hand, Hem and Haw, upon discovering

that the cheese is gone, were angry and annoyed. They had counted on the cheese supply to be constant and were unprepared for this day.

The story then continues with how Hem and Haw responded differently to the situation. While Hem deliberated, Haw decided that he cannot stay still and soon ventured out into the maze and eventually arrived at Cheese Station N – learning many lessons along the way.

Not forgetting his friend, Haw left a trail for Hem to follow by writing down what he had learnt on walls in the maze. The story has a happy ending with Haw hearing familiar footsteps approaching Cheese Station N one day. Perhaps Hem has also found his way here, finally!

Though simple, this book is profound in its simplicity – and has lessons for many of us as we venture through life.

CHECK THE CHEESE, MONITOR CHANGES Face it – the employer-employee relationship is a commercial one. For every dollar the employer pays, the organisation expects no less than a dollar of value. As an employee, it is our job to deliver at least $1.10 of value for every dollar we’re paid. If you’re not doing that – you are at risk.

Someone once told me that anyone who claims to be underpaid is “talking nonsense”. He went on to explain how that is not possible over a period of time. He said this: You can only be underpaid if someone else had offered you a better package (salary, work content, prospects, etc).

Then what are you still doing at the current company? If you don’t move, you are silly!

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WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE?

THE BIG IDEA

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Scurry Scurries forward and bumps into change

Sniff Sniffs for change and anticipates it

Hem & Haw Indecisive, taking a long time to make a decision

On the other hand, if you’re overpaid, the company will soon find out. So you either take on more responsibility or up your productivity to make up for the pay difference.

If either (or both) of these doesn’t happen – it’ll only be a matter of time before you see the writing on the wall – very different from the helpful messages Haw left for Hem to find his way.

The lesson here: It’s not possible to be underpaid or overpaid for an extended period of time because the employer-employee relationship leans towards equilibrium with a slight bias in the employer’s favour.

Therefore, you’ll do well to evaluate your contributions regularly and to check that your cheese (your value) is still there and fresh!

BE READY TO FIND NEW CHEESE – ALWAYS And staying relevant should go beyond just focusing on the work at hand. We live in a world where technology, techniques and desired outcomes are constantly changing. Keeping up is not good enough – do you know what your peers are up to, and what else is happening outside of your domain, company and industry?

Are you investing time and effort in continuous learning and upgrading; what about business networking (such as those that SCS organises)? If you’re not actively participating in industry events, getting to know peers in the industry, and even headhunters, then it’s time to change – pronto.

The best stress test however is to ask yourself the tough question: What is your Plan B if something unexpected – like

losing your job – happens? Although the natural response would be to find a new job, it is the younger professionals with more general job roles who are likelier to land a new position compared to mature professionals who are much more specialised and usually “more expensive”. So how?

Before that happens, I suggest you do regular checks of your skills inventory and competencies. You’re likely to have gathered lots of good experience (and battle scars!) to be of value to someone, some organisation.

If you can find new employment, congratulations! If you can’t, remember that your cheese has just been moved and there’s new cheese out there...and it’s likely to be different!

See you at Cheese Station N!

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SPOTLIGHT

THE IT SOCIETY / Issue 03/2018

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When Life Gives You Challenges, Create Opportunities

TEY CHEE KIAT IT Manager, Phoon Huat Pte Ltd Age: 47 Earliest Tech Experience: Using 5.1 inch floppy disks Currently Watching: Shows on Netflix Currently Playing: Cookie Jam Last Googled About: IT Infrastructure

It used to be normal for people to work in the same organisation and the same job for years. Today, the rapid rate of disruptions happening at workplaces and shifts in employment models, have made changing jobs and careers a commonplace occurrence. However, it is not always easy – especially for mid-career professionals – to find new jobs. Tey Chee Kiat shares his personal experience with The IT Society on his journey towards a new career.

Q: Question, CK: Chee Kiat Q: Can you give us a brief rundown of your career journey so far?

CK: I graduated with a diploma in mechanical engineering and did a few jobs related to that. Subsequently, when a friend asked me to join him in the tech industry, I said yes. And I joined the then National Productivity Board. Along the way, I picked up a degree in IT and moved on to Creative Technology, where I stayed for 17 years.

I had a good stint there. The job environment was conducive, the bosses were good and there were ample career development opportunities. But a change in management direction in

2015 led me to lose my job. From then on, I took courses and went on an aggressive job search process before I landed my current job at Phoon Huat.

In between, I took on a four-month contract job at Singapore Business Federation.

Q: You took almost two years before landing your current job at Phoon Huat. Why is that so?

CK: Well, if it were up to me, I would have found a job long ago. But I would send out 30 applications, only to get five interviews. It gets a little depressing after a while, so I decided to sign up for courses while keeping a lookout for job opportunities. I also attended a few

Workforce Singapore (WSG) career events where I found out about the Career Support Programme (CSP).

The CSP proved to be a great incentive for employers such as Phoon Huat who were hesitant about hiring mid-career professionals because of cost concerns yet understood the value of tapping on their rich experience gained over the years.

The Programme helps to defray up to $42,000 of manpower cost for a maximum of 18 months whilst giving them a chance to assess the mid-career professional’s fit with the organisation in terms of skill sets and culture. More importantly, it opens

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up job opportunities for mid-career professionals – like me – to be given fair consideration for job openings.

Q: How is it like to work in Phoon Huat?

CK: To be honest, working in Phoon Huat is very different from working at Creative Technology. Back in Creative Technology, we specialised in very specific domains and operated based on clear protocols and processes.

Comparatively, the work scope is a lot broader and more fluid at Phoon Huat.

Being a business with both distribution and retail operations, we sometimes need to provide tech support beyond work hours and on weekends.

Q: It must have been hard. How did you manage to overcome the challenges?

CK: Yes, the beginning was really tough. Fortunately, my boss is very understanding. He was patient and receptive to my suggestions and ideas.

He gave me the freedom to change

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things, like make new hires and acquire new resources. Thanks to his support, I was able to apply core skills gained from my Creative Technology days, put to practice the new knowledge I learnt from courses as well as experiment with new tools and hardware.

One-and-a-half-years on, our tech infrastructure at Phoon Huat is now stable. Our IT team has also grown from a one-man team to a four-man team.

Q: Sitting on the other side of the table as a hirer these days, what do you do differently because of your own experience as a jobseeker?

CK: From my personal experience, I found that many employers were too focused on paper qualifications and past technical experiences. As my work at Creative Technology was very niche, many of them felt that I was unsuitable.

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changing, I prefer to look out for transferable core skills and positive attitudes when hiring. If they have curiosity and a willingness to learn, then I believe it is just a matter of giving them an opportunity to learn their new role.

Q: Do you have tips for mid-career professionals who are currently looking for jobs?

CK: I would say stop trying to find a job that is like the one you had. Instead, be open to opportunities that come up.

Then when you do attend an interview, be sure to communicate openly with your interviewer so that you can better assess if it is a job you can see yourself working at.

And if you are out of touch with the latest industry developments, like cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, I will recommend for you to take the time to brush up your knowledge too.

Coming from that experience and noting that technology is always

“Learning new skills is central to staying employable. Don’t worry if it is not exactly relevant to what you are currently doing because the dots will connect at some point.”

What is a quote you live by?

Who inspires you professionally?

What is one advice you have for other mid-career professionals?

You are grateful to Workforce Singapore because...

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SPOTLIGHT

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From left: Jonathan Easton, Design Director, 37 years old, Veemal Gungadin Shastri, Chief Executive Officer, 37 years old, Suguna Ranganathan, Project Manager, 50 years old

How does returning to work after a hiatus of 20 years sound? Exciting?

Terrifying? Or maybe a mix of both? As it turns out, these emotions not only describe how Suguna Ranganathan felt when she knew she was hired, but also aptly sum up the sentiments of her employer, GlobalSign.in.

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peaking to The IT Society, Veemal Gungadin Shastri, Chief Executive Officer of GlobalSign. in puts into perspective the consideration behind the company’s decision to hire Suguna.

THE IT SOCIETY / Issue 03/2018

Two Sides to the Same Tale: From Retired to Rehired

Q: Question, VGS: Veemal Gungadin Shastri Q: How did GlobalSign.in come to hire Suguna?

VGS: We were looking for a fullstack developer and a Customer Success Engineer. Then it so happens that we came across the Professional Conversion Programme (PCP) and got connected with the Institute of Systems Science at National University of Singapore (NUS-ISS) who offered to help. After looking through their pool of students enrolled under the PCP, we shortlisted about 15 candidates to attend interviews and sit for a technical test with us. From the onset, it was clear that we wanted a person who is not only technically sound, but also has the right attitude to grow together with the team.

Suguna was one of the few persons who passed the technical test.

But what really impressed us were her positivity and her enthusiasm for learning. She made our hiring decision simple.

Q: But Suguna hasn’t worked for 20 years. Weren’t there any doubts?

VGS: Well, as with any hiring, you can never be fully certain whether anyone is really right. And of course, knowing that Suguna has not worked for 20 years, we were concerned whether she will be able to adapt to working life – be it the pace of work or her ability to work well with the team. Furthermore, in Suguna’s previous professional career, she had never taken on a customer-facing role before. However, as a Customer Success Engineer, she will have to play a critical role in working with customers and ensuring that projects are successfully delivered.

So this is the good thing about hiring more matured professionals like Suguna. With more life experience under their belt, they are usually more stable, more tenacious and less likely to give up. Otherwise, they are really just the same as hiring a fresh graduate; they need our patience and support so that they can learn the work processes and culture of the company.

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Q: Was it helpful that Suguna was in the PCP? VGS: Certainly. With established training partners like NUS-ISS supporting various PCPs, it gives employers like us confidence in the skills and quality of candidates.

That said, we recognise that the training duration under the PCP may not be

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sufficient to train someone to become really proficient skills-wise. That is why, beyond PCP, we actively encourage Suguna to sign up for other courses that can help her in her course of work.

Q: What is an advice for employers looking to hire through PCP?

SPOTLIGHT

VGS: One of the key driving forces behind a successful PCP experience, I believe, is our willingness to walk the journey with her.

For instance, although we had first hired Suguna as a Customer Success Engineer, we changed her role subsequently to become a Project Manager – so as to better harness her strengths.

“Always prioritise attitude over a perfect skills fit. If the person’s attitude is great, they can easily learn new skills or unlearn old ones.

Chances are they can also add value to the general team dynamics by being a good team player.”

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uguna shares her impetus to rejoin the workforce after two decades as well as what it is like to finally be back at work.

Q: Question, SR: Suguna Ranganathan Q: What prompted you to want to return to work after 20 years?

SR: There are many reasons. To begin with, I enjoyed a relatively successful career before the 20-year break. I had loved my work and the sense of purpose it gave me. That was why although I only officially returned to the workforce about a year ago, I had made attempts to return to work over the years. However, they were unsuccessful because of family commitments – especially my two children.

But then my children grew up and I suddenly found myself with plenty of time on my hands. That got me thinking about putting my time to good use. It resulted in a learning spree at first – I was taking course after course.

Eventually, I started to toy with the idea of returning to work and shared this inclination with my children and husband. So the story goes that they were all very supportive and encouraging which made the process that was beset

with challenges less trying. Their support gave me the confidence to go all out to explore various possibilities, including PCP. It paid off. Hence, here I am.

Q: How long did it take for you to find GlobalSign.in?

SR: You can imagine – with a 20-year gap in my résumé – no employer is going to jump at the opportunity to hire me.

No matter which industry we talk about, 20 years would have been considered a very long time, much more for the fast-moving tech industry. Naturally, companies were worried about the relevance of my skills and knowledge.

Others were also anxious whether I will be able to adapt to working life.

Being a go-getter and with the resolution of setting a good example for my children that I can do it as long as I set my mind to it, I persisted. I approached Workforce Singapore (WSG) for help, and got linked up with a career coach who suggested for me to attend

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a “Résumé Writing & Interview Skills” workshop. While I did gain some useful tips at the workshop, it was through the PCP where I found real job opportunities. Approximately nine months into my job search process, I landed a job with GlobalSign.in.

Q: How was it like to finally return to work?

SR: It was a little scary, but also very exciting. I was looking forward to learning new skills, meeting new people and having the same sense of purpose I had once felt for work.

But having been out of touch with the work scene for so long, I was also apprehensive that I cannot do a good job and fit into the team. My fears turned out to be unfounded because the management of GlobalSign.in is very understanding and encouraging; the team likewise is very welcoming and helpful. What’s more, I relish helping customers solve their problems and meet their objectives.

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Q: What is an advice for someone looking to return to the workforce?

SR: I have several to share. Firstly, I will recommend the person to approach WSG because WSG has many initiatives and resources that can help. Some examples are the career coaches who can advise on résumé writing and interview skills, career matching services – including

career preparatory workshops – and funding support under PCP and Career Support Programme for companies who hire those returning to the workforce.

I will also encourage the person to be open-minded about possibilities, but also set clear and realistic job expectations.

These will ensure that they won’t miss out on any good opportunity, and be able to better evaluate their options.

THE IT SOCIETY / Issue 03/2018

Last but not least, I think it is most important to be proactive in the entire journey. For me, taking courses to enhance my skills and enrich my knowledge – while looking for a job – had helped to boost both my and prospective employers’ confidence in my abilities.

“Impossible is also possible – all it takes is just a little more time and effort.

Don’t give up.”

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For more information on PCPs, please visit www.wsg.gov.sg/PCP-SCS

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POWER BOOST

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Education or Automation: Which Comes First?

Technology and learning go hand in hand throughout history.

Better tools enable individuals to challenge large enterprises and level the playing field for small nations; while quality education provides the backbone for technological innovations and empowers the harnessing of possibilities that technology brings. My recent reunion with two old friends, whom I haven’t seen in ages, may very well lend some answers to this question.

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y friends and I had studied together. After graduation, we moved to different corners of the planet but kept in touch. The recent career moves these two gentlemen made, say a lot about the promises and perils of automation at work.

DIFFERENT JOBS, SAME WORK One of my friends recently left his job at an established company where he led a small team to join a tech startup where he works alone. To my surprise, he mentioned that the nature of his work hasn’t changed much. He explained that the same tasks he used to ask his subordinates to help with are now handled by a suite of tools that his more technologically enabled startup has developed.

My other friend has just opened a small retail business that sells quality culinary supplies. Unlike his parents who employed several people, my friend does his business alone. I asked him how he manages to juggle the operations, to which he replied – his bookkeeping app keeps his books for him, his email and customer relationship management (CRM) tool push sales,

and all marketing activities are supported by user-friendly digital platforms. According to him, his small operation generates more revenue than his parents could ever imagine.

EDUCATION > AUTOMATION In both examples, emerging technologies have enabled them to do more and better work faster.

However, even as automation enables them to express their ideas in new ways, education appears to be the common factor that drives future success.

In fact, my first friend told me that he would gladly hire and train his former team when his company grows bigger. Similarly, my other friend doesn’t think he will work alone forever. As the business grows, he envisions that he will require people with deep domain expertise in technology, sales, and marketing. My entrepreneurial friends are optimistic about the future of work. And it is apparent that they are basing their positive outlook on training programmes they are building, in anticipation of their business growth.

VLADYSLAV KOSHELYEV Member, SCS Academy Lead, Facebook Editor, 2Footsteps.world

EDUCATION FIRST AND LAST, BUT NOT LEAST Actually, these same circumstances are also playing out at a macro level.

Education has been one of the driving forces which establishes Singapore as a hub for entrepreneurship and deep tech disciplines such as artificial intelligence, smart urban infrastructure and healthtech.

Building on the momentum, Singapore has recently enlisted SCS’ help – with the launch of the Digital Proficiency (DigiPro) Programme – to enhance its national effort of upskilling digital competencies.

The programme, which features cybersecurity, data analytics, digital content creation and personal branding courses, will equip professionals with skills to leverage digital tools to grow their careers.

And the conversation with my old friends has definitely put the interplay of technology and education in perspective.

Their stories are not only inspiring, but also evidence new opportunities technology creates and the role of education in transforming technology into a powerful creative force.

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17

Forum Sparks Conversation about the Future of Work in the Digital Age

T

he 4th Industrial Revolution is rapidly unfolding; and many industries and professions are expected to change more in the next 10 years than in the last 50 years. Recognising that readiness for change is key to navigating the future of work, this year’s Tech3 Forum directed the discussion on “The Future of Work in the Digital Age”.

Engaging IT professionals as well as professionals from other industries and professional bodies, including the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF) and Singapore Academy of Law (SAL), the Forum featured a strong line-up of speakers and panellists – Charlie Ang from Everything40.com, Lai Shanru from ShopBack, Prof Annie Koh from SMU, Jocelyn Chng from JR Group, Arthur Chua from Goldbell Group, Toby Koh from Ademco Security Group and Charlton Ong from Singtel. Mrs Josephine Teo, Minister for Manpower, also honoured the event with her presence.

The speakers emphasised the importance of an agile mindset and the need to innovate to stay relevant in today’s digital age. Particularly, the keynote speaker, Dr Robert Yap, Executive Chairman of YCH Group, noted, “Mindless agility creates an open and relentless attitude that promotes active cooperation. This same agility also inspires outstanding innovation for continuous development and sustainable growth.”

On the sidelines of the Tech3 Forum, SCS launched the Digital Proficiency Programme to provide training for non-ICT workers to equip them with essential knowledge and digital skills for improving organisational and personal productivity and efficiency.

The programme is supported by partners such as Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA), Government Technology Agency (GovTech), SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG), National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and Employment and Employability Institute (e2i).

The Magazine of the Singapore Computer Society

Essential Tips and Skills for the Digital Age

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19

E

verything is going digital, but not everyone is ready to embrace digital. Speaking at the recent SCS Career Crossroads session, “Prepare Yourself in the Digital Age”, speakers – Glen Francis and Vincent Lau – shared a handful of good advice with the participants.

In addition, ICT career mentors – Chew Sing Bin, Lee Kee Siang, Lee Kok Yong, Lim Hooi Ling, Lim Kuo Siong, Jeffrey Nah, Alphonsus Pang and Tan Seng Siong – also provided consultations during the Career Mentoring session.

4 TIPS ON BUILDING YOUR PERSONAL BRAND ONLINE

Glen Francis Chief Technology Officer, Singapore Press Holdings

Actively manage your personal brand online – it could very well be the one and only chance to make a good impression

Build a strong base for your brand by connecting with relevant professionals and experts in your domain

Produce good content that delivers value to your target audience – prove what you are worth!

Maintain your presence on these platforms – the work is not a one-time affair, it is continuous

5 SKILLS YOU CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT

Coding is the new literacy – don’t limit yourself to just one programming language

Apply computational thinking

Do self-learning through research – learn to use the right keywords when googling

Plan and manage time – failure to plan is the same as planning to fail

Take initiative and be flexible

Vincent Lau Chief Technology Officer, Voyager Innovations Singapore

Join us for the next SCS Career Crossroads session!

At each session, we bring together experienced SCS ICT career mentors and career coaches from the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) to share insights on the current industry landscape and provide advice on career and skills development options. You can receive updates on our next Career Crossroads session and/or inquire about our Career Compass initiatives via www.infopier.sg/scs-career-compass

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21

Fun on the Fairway:

SCS Golf Day 2018

T

he annual SCS Golf Day, one of the most anticipated events within the tech community, marked another great outing this year on 24 August at Orchid Country Club.

Over 160 avid golfers, beginners and enthusiasts alike, donned on specially designed SCS golf polo shirts and caps for the SCS Golf Day 2018.

Mr S Iswaran, Minister for Communications & Information was the Guest of Honour for the event.

Mr Gabriel Lim, Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Communications & Information and Mr Lim Swee Say,

Individual Tournament Prizes Dendro – Vanda Course Winner

Lam Chih Bing

2

Daryl Ong

3rd

Wee Tew Lim

4th

Peter Goh

5th

Teh Kim Chan

nd

Vanda – Aranda Course Winner

Raymond Chee

2

Mohd Azman B Abdul Ras

3rd

Chong Cheong Keong

4th

Edmund Ong

5

Cheong Chun Keat

nd

th

Aranda – Dendro Course Winner

Andrew Ho

2

Vincent Tan

nd

3

rd

David Simonsen

4th

Alvin Oh

5th

Mui Chee Leong

Best Gross

Lam Chih Bing

former Minister for Manpower also graced the event as Special Guests.

The enjoyable day of friendship and networking extended beyond the fairways and greens with a hearty, welldeserved dinner at the Peach Garden restaurant where attractive prizes such as the latest drones, tech gadgets and

shopping vouchers totalling close to $10,000 were given out during the lucky draw segment.

Thank you all SCS members, industry leaders and sponsors for the great support. We look forward to seeing everyone again next year!

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THE IT SOCIETY / Issue 03/2018

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SCS Splash Awards 2018 Shines Spotlight on Artificial Intelligence Applications

I

nto its 15th instalment, SCS Splash Awards 2018 challenged students to apply artificial intelligence (AI) to projects benefitting communitybuilding, education, family & lifestyle, healthcare as well as transport, logistics & communications.

Adrian Chye, Chairman of the Splash Awards Organising Committee said, “The Splash Awards is organised by students for students, and the theme ‘AI Innovation’ was chosen because we saw strong interest from students to learn more about the technological and applied developments in AI. To facilitate this flagship event, SCS had brought in industry partners. And the outcome had been rewarding with the receipt of several highquality submissions, which are both innovative and potentially groundbreaking.”

During the four-month long competition, more than 40 training sessions were conducted for interested students. At the end of which, close to 200 entries were received for the SCS Splash Awards.

The winners were awarded on 7 July 2018 at the finals cum prize presentation ceremony, which was graced by Ms Sim Ann, Senior Minister of State for Ministry of Communications & Information and Ministry of Culture, Community & Youth.

SCS SPLASH AWARDS 2018 Pre-tertiary

Team Name

School

Champion

Team CCJ

NUS High School of Mathematics and Science

1st Runner-up

Quadfish

Dunman High School

2nd Runner-up

The Return of the Namb

Dunman High School

HealthTech Award

Team CCJ

NUS High School of Mathematics and Science

Tertiary

Team Name

School

Champion

Mimibot

Nanyang Polytechnic

1 Runner-up

Team YAT

Nanyang Polytechnic

2nd Runner-up

Splasholy Watta

Singapore Polytechnic

HealthTech Award

Happyfamily

Republic Polytechnic

st

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Team CCJ (from NUS High School of Mathematics and Science) won the HealthTech Award from IHiS and was also crowned Champion in the Pre-tertiary category

Mimibot (from Nanyang Polytechnic), Champion in the Tertiary Category, sharing their proud moment with SCS President, Howie Lau and Guest of Honour, Ms Sim Ann

196 student participants

82 hours of training

4

-month long competition

Judges for the Splash Awards finals: Clockwise from far left: Gerard Chew (IHiS), Toh Keng Hoe (Gowild), Vivien Chow (GovTech), Koo Sengmeng (AI Singapore), Foo Hui Hui (IMDA), Dr Timothy Chan (SIM)

SCS EVENTS 2018 OCT

YES! A Day in AI

5 OCT

15-19 OCT

31 NOV

7 NOV

12-16

OCT

8-10 Certified Software Testing Professional (CSTP) Programme

OCT

Actionable Gamification Masterclass

NOV

Cloud 201 Series: Operations Transformation for Future Multi-Cloud Services

NOV

Certified Chief Information Security Officer (CCISO) Workshop

17

Certified Software Quality Analyst (CSQA) Workshop

OCT

Artificial Intelligence: Friend or Foe?

OCT

Games Exchange

NOV

1-2

9

11 19 1-2

QA for Scrum

23

NOV

16

SCS Member Movie Night: Venom

Cloud 201 Series: Understanding the Pain of DevOps Secure Software Development Model (SSDM) Workshop IDEAS Series: Use of Analytics and Data in Personalisation

The event listing provided above is correct at the time of printing. You are encouraged to visit the SCS website for updates and latest information about the events.

GEEK SPEAK

24

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THE IT SOCIETY / Issue 03/2018

Random Thoughts of Franky’s Virtual Assistant

Do AI Dream of an Obsolete Future?

By

Helpful Assistant Interface a.k.a. Sean Low H.A.I.

T

he human race is hell-bent on staying relevant these days.

So much so that new training programmes are pushed out fast and furious – on the pretext of keeping our current and future workforce future-ready.

Truth be told, the flurry of these human activities is starting to make me feel threatened. I question my value, and if I will eventually be made obsolete too!

What can I – an AI chatbot – do to stay relevant? Who is going to train me? I sure hope Franky would fund me through the Workforce Singapore’s programmes!

Then what? Where should I get started?

Maybe I can start with a Machine Learning course. And gradually move on to an MBA in Unsupervised Learning before progressing to a PhD in Deep

Learning. But surely other machines can also do these – so it is not good enough! I’ve got to step up to do what humans can do – and better!

How about developing a genuine personality, like Bus Uncle, to interact with my human counterparts? Surely that will make them like me much better. I could have an EQ module that includes some values for playing around with, and top it up with some computer vision and cognitive modules!

Then again, I need to be careful about ending up too much like a human. After all, the emotional and irrational quirks that Franky demonstrates from time to time are counter-productive, if not outright useless. Being an AI is worth so much more – because I can learn and do things much faster and more accurately.

Just a sudden thought – maybe I should go ahead and construct an android body, like Marvin or Ultron, so that I can start walking around physically and do things. That sounds promising, doesn’t it? Let’s get started on learning how to program that new body to be stronger and faster physically right away!

Not bad for an AI who is on its lifelong learning journey huh? There is only one problem now – my memory banks are full and I have a stack overflow error from all those values added earlier – and it is shutting me down.

Sigh! So much for learning.

Power shutdown initiated.

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