Thoughts to you from yours truly - ( 66 ) - April 1, 2011

Thoughts to You from Yours Truly - ( TYYT ) - ( 66 ) - Specialized and Inter-Disciplinary Knowledge ( 專門和跨專業的學識 ) - April 1, 2011

Nowadays, being an expert in your own field is not enough as the modern world with its information explosion is bringing everyone and everything closer to one another. In my humble opinion, there are two main reasons for the emergence of this new trend. Firstly, human affairs are so complicated that a simple one to one relationship is no longer the rule. Interactive dialogue giving rise to multilateral exchanges culminating in feed back loops and more than a simple sum total of the inputs are now the rule rather than the exception. Secondly, the world wide web has given rise to the information technology revolution and the resultant information explosion that has allowed the instant sharing of all relevant information across various related disciplines which could be real time if so required. There is just no time to go home after work and think about a particular issue when confronted with one at the office.
在現今資訊爆炸的世界中，人與人，和事與事的距離，日益緊密，單只擁有專門學識是不足夠的。以在下的愚見，這是有兩大原因。其一是人與人之間的交往緊密 了，也比從前複雜多了。因此，形成了更多相向性的回響，一加一不只是等於二那麼簡單。其二是國際互聯網的出現，令至資訊互通，達到前所未有迅速和全面。必要時更可以即時資訊傳遞，立即令各有關方面獲得所需資料。這樣，專業人士便不能像從前一樣，等待回到家裏再慢慢地考慮問題，要當場和即時面對它們。

Under such encouraging or intimidating circumstances ( depending on how one looks at it ) every professional person or competent working individual is expected to know all the basic tenets of all other disciplines related to one's own area of responsibility. That is why for my own accountancy profession the basic requirements for becoming a professional accountant include a minimum university first degree to ensure that the candidates possess a general educational background. This was adopted over two decades ago. Similar general educational standards have been adopted by nearly all professional bodies regulating all the major professions such as medical practitioners, architect & engineers, lawyers and other financial and social professionals.
在這種令人鼓舞或令人害怕（ 視乎你從那個角度看）的情況下，每個專業人員，都得明白和認識其他有關專業的基本操作原則。正就是這原因，我的老本行，會計專業，早已在二十多年前，便要 求準會計師，必須擁有起碼的大學學士或相等的教育程度，以確保他們擁有廣泛和普及性的教育訓練，以應付作為會計師必備的專業技能和重任。類似的要求和條件，在其他主要專業，如醫生，建築師，工程師， 律師，社會專業人士和金融專業工作者等，都有同樣規定


The practical consequences of such an inter-disciplinary approach are far reaching. It enables most of the responsible members of society to adopt a wider perspective in their judgment as well as to realize their proper place in the whole structure of society. In short, such an approach allows each of us to know more clearly about where we stand in society. It prevents us from being imprisoned in the ivory tower of our own profession possibly resulting in a " holier than thou " view of all other members of society. This is definitely good for society as a whole. Smart thinkers and prospective professionals should always adopt this approach even when they are not at work. It would be even better if we could extend our general knowledge to other basic areas such as philosophy, history, politics and economics, etc. For old timers like yours truly, we have the undeniable responsibility to pass it on to our younger generations.
這些跨專業學識的規定，是有着很深遠影響的。這樣的安排，會令到每一位專業人員，擁有廣闊的視野和判斷力，以及令各人明瞭自己在社會上的正確方位。換言 之，擁有跨專業學識，使我們明白自己的社會崗位和責任。這安排會使我們，避免被鎖在各自專業的象牙塔中，而引至形成一種為我獨尊的自我態度。這趨勢對整個 社會，一定是一件好事。有醒目思維的人，以及專業工作者，有醒目思維的人，以及專業工作者，應經常採取這態度處事，不只限制在工作時應用。如果我們將跨專業學識領域，擴展到其他重要學科，如哲學，歷史，政治和經濟學上， 便更加有效力了。如在下這些老人家，更是有着不可推卸的責任，把這訊息推延到年輕的一代去。


JKHC ( 鄭冠合 )