Is Wozniak right--Is our obsession with grades killing our ability to be innovative?
Dr. Shalini Lal
I help leaders build future-readiness for themselves and their teams. I lead Unqbe, a Think-tank and Consulting Firm Focused on the Future of Work, and Leadership. I also write a popular newsletter and host a podcast.
Last month the big guy- Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, was in India.
He was asked about his views on the chances of a Global Technology company emerging out of India. His response was rather frank and very perceptive.
"The culture here is one of success based upon academic excellence, studying, learning, practising and having a good job and a great life. You study, study, work hard and you get an MBA, you get a Mercedes, but where is the creativity? The creativity gets left out when your behaviour is too predictable and structured, everyone is similar."
Personally, I thought his comments hit the nail bang on.
While things are beginning to change, the dominant route to success is still one where you do very well on the straight and narrow path through extreme hard work and diligence. Then once you get there--you enjoy the good life and then push your kids to do the same all over again.
While I am not sure this is the only reason why Indian businesses have struggled with remaining consistently innovative, it certainly points to a key weakness in our culture.
If we look at the values that are most admired in students--obedience, diligence, hard work--each of these are great at making you a good worker on someone else's problems, but they do nothing to help you pick the big problems or find great solutions to these.
And while I do see several individuals being able to move past their student conditioning and be inventive, we don't do as well as organizations.
Don't get me wrong--Indian Organizations are great at episodic innovations. There are so many oft-cited examples--ISRO, Nano, Aravind Eye Hospital etc.
We are also very resourceful, and our ability for Jugaad, or inventiveness with the minimum of resources is brilliant.
But are we really building products that are changing the world and leading the way? Not occasionally but consistently? I am not so sure.
The next few decades will be a time of change, unlike anything we have experienced before. All over the world organizations and industries will be disrupted in ways that are unpredictable and once change begins in an industry, its impact will be swift and all too fast.
When faced with this rate of change, will Indian organizations be able to dig deep and develop skills of continuous innovation? Will we be able to develop a new found respect for questioning status-quo and inventiveness?
While I am very tempted to say we will find a way, I think we have a very steep learning curve.
Of course as Indians we are good at steep learning curves, but this time it will mean we will need to overcome a key cultural barrier--our love for the straight and narrow path, our love for the obedient, albeit diligent hard-worker, and of course our love for the yes-man or woman--particularly once we are in power!
What do you think?
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6 年So relevant, your thoughts, Shalini. We do cramp the natural thought flow.
Congratulations Neha
Director at STE Fashion Pvt Ltd ( Garment & Corporate Uniform Manufacturer ) | Founder at KINGSUN & STUDYSTORE.in
6 年We Indians needs to think about future rather than stick to past. Mostly we are doing by following past , rather then see the future or accept something new. If you think future, then only you start creating. No matter what world thinks about us. Developed nations not only start thinking for future but also started act in future direction such as work on environment at large level. In INDIA Multi-culture is more like adjustment rather than acceptance and respect. Same way Intelligence. Entire society start appreciate if you get good marks , then money and then lifestyle. So where is you ? Your importance is based on what you have at results, Our Society is such that , it does not easily accept the change. Many People do creativity in study,business ,services & products but no appreciation, no respect. If you failed as start-up or in job , People come for advice not for actual help & make you feel shame on your creativity with their own set of exam !! Most Indian investors are traditional one, look at the investment stories, very few creative got at the top. Our society look at the final results, not you. So creativity does not have place until you proven by traditional results - money. For example, startup - no money generation, then forget investors :( nothing to do with creativity at first place. Definition of intelligence needs to change from final result to based on process. Sorry to say but from childhood, we push new generation to follow tradition only, if they don't follow, they have to shame. Creativity needs respect , Open mind to accept it. Creativity is not free , it is like flower needs care for years., Need to Do : Respect individual intelligence , If you think you are creative , Keep on doing . No matter what world thinks :)