Inside Asian Gaming

January 2016 inside asian gaming 7 Cover Story Professor Dr Brian To is a global strategist and senior practice professor with over six advanced degrees in business, management, policy, Chinese business and managing change. He consults to several Asian governments and militaries, Fortune 500 corporations and ultra-high net worth individuals and their family-owned businesses in Asia and North America. Exclusive to IAG , Dr To outlined his vision for transforming Macau. By Professor Dr Brian To | bto@post.harvard.edu R ecent decisions and the general direction of the central government in China on unethical behavior have undoubtedly been felt by all the gaming operations in Macau and in other gaming locations in the region. Whilst a knee-jerk management reaction may well be to manage cost downwards, this is actually very short sighted. Such cost cutting typically highlights an organization’s service delivery gaps, unnecessarily declines staff morale and productivity and creates opportunities for employee dissatisfaction leading to perpetual grumbling. No business professor would argue against the notion that downsizing (often euphemistically referred to as “right sizing”) brings about change with its concomitant uncertainty for employees, when what is actually needed is leadership that reinforces trust and productivity. Downsizing and rationalizing gaming and hospitality operations is an obvious first choice for those lacking in wisdom and innovative capability. A case in point is Genting’s Resorts World New York. A recent skirmish between management and employees has resulted in a number of dining outlets in the property closing, including the all-important in-house buffet. Those familiar with F&B operations in North American casinos will immediately recognize the stupidity of this decision, regardless of the nature of the underlying dispute. HARDWARE WIN, SOFTWARE CHALLENGE The growth of Asian gaming has been widespread over the last decade. Despite a rocky road over the last 18 months the long- term prognosis is for continued proliferation. Extension of the worldwide gaming expansion even further afield to Russia, central Europe and perhaps North Africa doesn’t seem so distant now. Even Macau operators are sharpening their pencils in pursuit of growth plans, revenue expansion and increased global market “Clearly much deliberation, analysis and design has been invested in creating new integrated resorts and other gaming operations in Macau and elsewhere in southeast Asia. Whilst it’s difficult to challenge the speed and impressiveness of many of these new physical giants, it is more difficult to agree that the range of software within these mammoth structures has made an equally impressive impression on our minds.”