Bulletin Autumn‧Winter 1990

The APIB began its operation with some start-up funds from the University. In the future, it will be primarily supported by private endowments. The income generated fro m conducting management development programmes and consultation work will also be a source of operating revenue. Since its directors are on concurrent appointments and only one executive officer and one general clerk have been budgeted, its administrative expenses are being kept at a low level. However, we do anticipate a period of rapid growth within the next few years. • Can you give a brief account of the tasks so far accomplished by the APIB and talk about its future plans? • Since its establishment, the APIB has launched several management development programmes. One which is worth mentioning is the programme designed for the China branch of Procter and Gamble. Procter and Gamble is the world's largest manufacturer and distributor of sundry and personal care products. It has an ambitious plan to develop a market for its products in China. A branch office has been set up in Guangzhou and a training programme for locally-recruited management staff is required. The services of the APIB have been contracted for this project because of ou r knowledge of both the business world and of Chinese culture. Procter and Gamble can be certain that the content of our management development programm e will suit the needs and the temperament of the trainees . The APIB has been fortunat e to secure a contract of this nature given the keen competition from institutions locally and abroad. The academics involved in this project will have the opportunity to study the operational requirements of a multinational corporation and the experience they gain will enhance their effectiveness in the classroom. Another project which is underway is a consultancy project for the US Meat Export Federation. Through the analysis of survey data, the APIB will provide the federation and its meat producers with a full picture of the preferences of the Hong Kong consumer. The research findings will serve as significant pointers for their marketing strategies. Looking ahead, our aim is to serve the business community of the region, with an emphasis on matching the needs of the market and our business faculty. We see our efforts in management development, consultation, and research as necessary extensions of our commitment t o quality business education in Hong Kong. • Dr. Robert Terpstra Director of Research Development Dr. Terpstra joined the Faculty of Business Administration at CUHK as a senior lecturer in 1987. H e teaches courses in financial management and is currently pursuing research on the pricing of securities in the Hong Kong capital markets. Dr. Terpstra has been the recipient of numerous research grants on topics ranging from the pricing of shared appreciation mortgages on behalf of the Federal House Loan Bank to the rates of return on timber sales for the US Forest Service. He has had extensive teaching experience in the United States, Canada and Europe. In addition, he has conducted investment appraisa l workshops in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. He has also been retained as a consultant t o both business and government and has served as an ‘expert witness' in litigation involving economic losses. Dr. Poon Wai-Keung Director of Management Development Dr. Poon is a senior lecturer in the University's Department of Organization and Management. Educated and trained in Canada and UK, he has been heavily involved in the field of human resources. He was chairman of the Institute of Training and Development (Hong Kong Branch) in 1985 and 1986 and a board member of the International Federation of Training and Development Organizations Ltd. from 1985 to 1989. He has helped to launch the first Diploma in Training Management course in Hong Kong which is now in its ninth year and which has been well received by the local community. He ha s also had extensive experience of running training and development programmes for a wide rang e of companies. Asia-Pacific Institute of Business 13