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Charles Buttigieg: Born to Lead. Malta Institute of Management, 2013. 189 pp.
This commemorative book, with its distinctive steel blue and gold cover, dressed in a black and red sleeve, makes great reading for managers of firms and corporations.
It is also ideal for those involved in a management role who wish to know more about the Malta Institute of Management, and what it can do for them.
It is profusely illustrated – I counted over 50 photos – printed in large type and it also makes a lovely coffee-table book.
The publication traces the story of the Malta Institute of Management (MIM) through the eyes and voices of its leaders and members.
Its author is perhaps better known as a journalist, and his journalistic background is reflected in the very readable way he knits together the story. The latter is peppered with references to the Institute Journal, and interviews and snapshots of past presidents, councillors and members.
The book relates Malta’s early experiences in the area of professional management, and how the MIM was founded in 1964, on the initiative of Chris Calascione. The book also delves into the ways the institution contributed to the development and progress of managers in Malta in the past 50 years. As several new enterprises gradually increased and multiplied over the years, the MIM gained in importance as a point of reference. In a seminal interview, Calascione reflects on his 14-year connection to it, eight of them as president. He also covers the need of management training in the Church.
Reuben Buttigieg, MIM’s president since June 2011, delivers his Golden Anniversary Message with verve and passion. He emphasises his belief in the institute, and its importance as a representative body of the managerial class in the general economy of the country.
A must-read not only for MIM members, but even for University students reading management
Since several years, the institute also looks and comments on government budgets and national events that affect its members in any way. Already at age 21, Buttigieg had approached MIM to become a member.
Here, he refers to the work of the institute’s subsidiary MIM Training and Development Services of which he was director and chairman for some years. He also refers to various initiatives taken by MIM over the years.
The book contains a fascinating look at the huge amount of activity the institute fostered over these years, such as its contract with the Maastricht School of Management for the MBA programme; the Taxation Conference; the Advanced Diploma in International Business; the National Economic Forum; the Mothers in Management Conference; the Islamic Banking Seminars; co-operation agreements with various professional and educational bodies and more.
The brief interviews with several past MIM presidents make fine reading and viewing, thanks to some excellent photos showing MIM’s diversified activities.
The book also looks at the 25th, 30th and 40th anniversaries through the lens of those who had been directly involved at the time. This makes fascinating reading, for it traces – in flashbacks – the excellent hard work of the MIM councillors and staff to make MIM an ever-growing voluntary entity.
This is true not only vis-a-vis management education but with respect to providing a support and lobby group in the interest of managers across both islands.
The book ends with a very useful copy of the statute and by-laws of the institute. This publication should be in every home or office of any manager worth his salt. A must-read not only for MIM members, but even for University students reading management.