IRREVERENCE AND INNOVATION [power-point presentation. ]
This was a meeting with a large number of Indian participants and a few participants. Idea of the meet is to promote innovation in Indian industries and laboratories and also other systems.
Many good speakers were addressing specific narrow specicalities. There were also exhortations to be innovation. Statistics of other countries. Some case study and so on.
I therefore decided to address a crucial issue – Indian socio – psychological issue. (Probably applics to many developing countries).
Slide – 1 : Topic
Slide – 2
First bullet is a good part of our culture.
Second bullet, often used in different Indian languages in many ways with a lot of body language is the root of our slarish mentality.
When you talk of a change or a new success or a new form of organisation which has done well etc – the interest is knowing the real processes is so low. They are often dismissed wiwth third & fourth bullet – say one sentence ! etc.
For new ideas from anybody in Industry, Lab, or Academic institution, two great sayings : fifth & sixth bullet will dismiss new thoughts.
We literally peck at fellows who try to think differently.
Slide – 3
I asked the questions in the slide ?
This is the reality of most medium and big companies in India, though the CEO’s and other spokesmen will do a great PR as to how they are in front line of innovation !
Slide – 4
The realities with most SME’s.
Slide – 5
How most banks play safe. How most scientists are totally selfish vis-Ã -vis their own funding and not on useful results.
How “science policy†people live in macro world !
Slide – 6
Most Industry people think about Innovation as a simple process ?
Hear talks of great NRIs and American professors etc.
Slide – 7
Realities about Innovation. Remember the three bullets.
Fourth bullet – so much I learnt from Mrs Rina Priodor who was the key person to make Israeli Venture Capital (starting with jews immigrating from their Soviet Union and later to all Israelis) operated from the Office of Chief Scientist to work in the 1980’s. It is a great success story. Nobody perhaps may write about her. She is full of actual stories – successes and failures. How much more is to be done beyond the written down formats and reported aspects of each of those enterprises which has made Israel great Hi-Tech Nation.
One quote I have given here. Don’t think that innovators are bright intelligent source persons. There are many ugly faces. How many of us are willing to nurture even those who “torture†you with such ugly faces ? Funders, programme managers etc. have to learn to do it. Then only innovation can be nurtured.
Fifth bullet is my own creation :
Hope you know how sheep behave; how goats do. Most of Indians like to be sheep.
Slide – 8
Some real realities Read, think.
Slide – 9
Those who swear by innovation – in an SME, Medium & Small industry, employee, entrepreneurs, lab person, facilitators, bankers etc.
Are you ready to do what is told there in the slide ?
Slide – 10
How to structure yourselves.
These are crucial capabilities, attitudes needed.
I was / am very happy that Prof Shoji Shiba, a great practitioner and exponent of Innovation liked this slide and told me after the talk. He quoted it next day too ! (He is much older to me !). He particularly liked
Be Confident
Not Arrogant
Slide – 11
We talked of simple aspects of thoughts.
It is a poem from me.
Read it again and again.
You can raise your mind.