Getting to know John Benson
Professor John Benson
Name: John Benson
Title: Professor and Head of School
Faculty/Division: School of Business
Campus: Malaysia
How long have you worked at Monash?
Six months.
Where did you work prior to starting at the University?
University of South Australia / University of Melbourne.
What do you like best about your work?
Most of my day to day work is managing a rather interesting and quite complex school. Management to me is about leadership and being able to articulate a vision that others within the organisation can value and subscribe to. This raises a number of interesting questions concerning the way managers can transfer ownership of their vision to others, how change can best take place and what accommodations can (and should) be made to alternative views and strategies. Ultimately this process is about people, as it is people who will implement the vision. This will mean there are no right or wrong ways but rather multiple ways to achieve success. Managing this process makes leadership of the School of Business at Monash University Malaysia interesting and challenging. This is only part of my job, albeit a major part. I maintain my research activities as well as play an active role in the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia as Chair of Panel B (business disciplines) and a member of the Executive Committee.
Why did you choose your current career path?
From as long as I can remember I have always questioned the world around me. Questions that puzzled me early on were things like why some organisations succeed while others fail, why we do not learn from history, why war seemed to be the preferred approach by governments to settle disputes and so on. When I went to university the Vietnam War was at its peak and I joined the anti-war movement. Monash University was quite radical at that time and we thought we had all the answers. What was important though was not whether we were “right” or “wrong” but that we provided an alternative view of the war. This questioning trait meant that I knew I had to do something that allowed for freedom of opinion and the ability to challenge conventional wisdom. Academic research and writing seemed the ideal environment for me.
First job?
Paper boy – delivering newspapers (I was 11 years old).
Worst job?
I worked in many part-time and summer jobs as a student (road construction, supermarkets, petrol stations, furniture store and even a bottling company). At the risk of sounding boring I enjoyed them all and learned a lot about how people are critical to the success of organisations.
What research project are you currently working on and what does it involve?
One of the projects I am currently working on is exploring the reality of China’s socialist market economy. This study follows from, and builds on, an ARC-funded study on China which explored the impact of economic transition on employment, quality of working lives and family livelihood strategies. The results of that study were published by Routledge in 2010. This new study commenced in 2012 and is also funded by an ARC Discovery Grant. The study explores the new employment relations and labour markets that are developing in China and their influence on labour segmentation and inequality during a period of rapid social and economic transformation. The research is conducted jointly with Professor Ying Zhu (University of South Australia) and Professor Michael Webber (University of Melbourne).
What is your favourite place in the world and why?
Kyoto, Japan. This city was one of the few to survive intact after the war and has over 3,000 temples and shrines. I have spent a lot of time temple walking – walking around the surrounding mountains from temple to temple. This is an enlightening and spiritual experience. My favourite temple is Ryoanji Temple (“Temple of the Peaceful Dragon”) which has a walled rock garden. The garden consists of 5 simple rock clusters set in raked white sand. The significance of this garden can best be understood by contemplating quietly in the temple and looking out onto the garden. You slowly begin to relax and before long you feel completely detached from the modern world. Other wonderful temples in Kyoto include Kinkakuji (Temple of the Golden Pavilion), Tenryuji (Temple of the Heavenly Dragon), Ginkakuji (Temple of Shining Mercy - includes the Silver Pavilion) and Daitokuji Temple (Temple of Great Virtue).
What is your favourite place to eat and why?
The Baths Café in Brighton, Melbourne. The calamari is great and the views and location superb. I did read some negative reviews recently – perhaps I have eaten in too many university cafes and no longer have the ability to discriminate.
What is the best piece of advice you have received?
I was playing tennis in Japan 25 years ago, we were losing and my Japanese doubles partner kept saying to me ‘Ganbatte’, ‘Ganbatte’. It is difficult to find an exact English translation of this word but it essentially means ‘stick with it’, try harder’, ‘don’t give up’, ‘do your best’. Since that time I use it in many different contexts as it encapsulates my general life philosophy that hard work and endeavor are the sustainable foundations of success.
Tell us something about yourself that your colleagues would not know.
Growing up in a country town in Victoria I spend a lot of time in the bush catching rabbits, fishing and generally living a carefree life. My plan as a 15 year old was to become a dingo hunter – I suppose I imagined a life something like that later depicted in Crocodile Dundee. Nevertheless, my parents (and even a careers’ councilor) thought I could do better – hence my academic career. Recently, however, I read an article on the 5,600 km dingo fence from Queensland to South Australia and how it was falling into disrepair allowing dingoes to enter the pastoral land of NSW and SA. The article concluded that experienced dingo hunters were earning $250,000 and more per year. Perhaps I had foresight that no-one else had at the time or more likely killing animals for a living did not really appeal to me.