What innovation is not?

In the West it is endearing to be critical of new products especially if doing so makes one a contrarian. We should do the same in the Philippines; but where we need to focus our efforts . . . is in understanding innovation.

There’s no perfection in this world – thus trying to give the presumptive president the perfect agenda is an exercise in futility? In innovation, the mantra is: ‘perfection is anathema to excellence’. Or why marketers are periodically out with new variants of old products – not in pursuit of perfection . . . but excellence . . . and creative destruction . . . or the next generation of products. Thus they are guided by the 80-20 rule: don’t shoot for 100%, only 20% that gives 80% of the desired outcome! And that demands a lot of discipline in thought process – especially for our culture where ‘kuro-kuro’ is a national pastime or why we can’t get off our carousel?

Down by the corner of the street where the writer lives is a pair of massive pillars meant to be the archway to a publishing giant and American icon – and the titles of their popular periodicals are still etched. The physical facility has moved to another state and in its old place is a boutique hotel. The business is audaciously dealing with the modern phenomenon called the internet: at least a dozen of their once popular magazines are now extinct – yet they keep developing new products and maintaining a healthy portfolio.

Everyone with an internet connection can access whatever periodicals one desires. Of course, there are computer viruses to deal with, phishing or spam mails, etc. When the Ford Model T came out people protested because they predicted a rise in road mishaps. And in Eastern Europe, this has indeed become reality. The once walled off region is now home to an exponentially growing motorists. And the same is happening in Vietnam and Cambodia; and obviously, China and India. (The cure: they have to develop safety consciousness; which the writer shared with his Indian friends many years ago when he saw the chaos on the road between his hotel and the company facility. And unsurprisingly, that is exactly what the EU has mandated for its new member countries.)

We can’t afford not to focus on understanding and pursuing innovation, or we shall be stuck in neutral – and unfortunately, we’re on an uphill climb so gravity will pull us down?

The writer has raised the issue of hierarchy, especially our hierarchical culture – he is a critic of hierarchy when transparency is taken for granted. The sun, as they say, is the best disinfectant. And transparency invites critical thinking. Ideas are generated when the mind is encouraged and nurtured to be dynamic, inquisitive and forward-looking. And in the 21^st century where competitiveness is underpinned by ideas, we need a truly mind-nurturing environment. (And here is where education reform can come in?)

As Catholics we don’t question the Trinity and Papal Infallibility; but there are things around us that we must question, for example: why haven’t we developed something after the jeepney; why are we economic laggards; why is politics the way to wealth when it’s meant to be a public service. Or why is there sex abuse in the church? (Disclosure: In the writer’s archdiocese, the Archbishop demonstrated how to handle this problem: ‘Bishop Lori signaled a welcomed change to his predecessor's handling of clergy sexual abuse of minors and acknowledged that abuse took place, apologized, offered counseling and offered to meet with other victims. Bishop Lori dealt with these claims in a candid and open manner which helped us in going forward with the mediation process,’ said the lawyer of the victims.)

Until we develop a dynamic, inquisitive and forward-looking mindset we will witness our continuing decline and thus our inability to provide justice to a third of us that are hungry? And to tolerate such enormous poverty is to tolerate injustice?