Agree wholeheartedly: it seems the efforts to define and monitor innovation have missed the point of innovation entirely. Proof of how constraining linear thinking can be. You say, "Why policymakers still default to these linear models is beyond me." I think it is that we (policy analysts and bureaucrats) are discouraged from lateral and creative thinking. We do not know what other options to look for without external guidance. Worse here is that externally, collectively, our ideas about what constitutes invention, innovation, and progress are limiting, linear, and thus constraining.
That experience lines up with some of the academic literature on Canadian policymaking I wrote about a few weeks back. That found it to be very insular with limited engagement with external experts (and those that did engage tended to be "supportive or sycophantic" towards government. That needs to change before other policy outcomes will improve.
Great insight Tom and I agree…I finish every frustrating discussion these days with “what makes them think doing the same thing over and over again is going to get different results”. We all need to say that louder so we can unlock the creative thinking that needs to happen to actually create an ecosystem that is going to unlock economic, social and environmental impacts!
Agree wholeheartedly - I repeat this often. And there are excellent models from more innovative economies out there, and we look at them, nod in admiration, and keep the same model going...
The ISED graphic shown is dated, 2019. There is an update, I think it addresses several of the legitimate points that you raise, particularly that people & skills, and policy & regulation (ease of doing business) occur across the spectrum. If you send me your email I will send you a copy.
One of the big challenges is that this inspires funding competitions designed to plug one specific stage in the process. The trouble is that it is assumed that the previous stage has been completed in a nice, neat, “tied in a bow“ fashion.
As a result, if you can describe fill in the form, you’ve already defined your innovation and don’t need funding.
Agree wholeheartedly: it seems the efforts to define and monitor innovation have missed the point of innovation entirely. Proof of how constraining linear thinking can be. You say, "Why policymakers still default to these linear models is beyond me." I think it is that we (policy analysts and bureaucrats) are discouraged from lateral and creative thinking. We do not know what other options to look for without external guidance. Worse here is that externally, collectively, our ideas about what constitutes invention, innovation, and progress are limiting, linear, and thus constraining.
That experience lines up with some of the academic literature on Canadian policymaking I wrote about a few weeks back. That found it to be very insular with limited engagement with external experts (and those that did engage tended to be "supportive or sycophantic" towards government. That needs to change before other policy outcomes will improve.
Once again out of the park. Please everyone pay attention!
Thanks Robin!
Great insight Tom and I agree…I finish every frustrating discussion these days with “what makes them think doing the same thing over and over again is going to get different results”. We all need to say that louder so we can unlock the creative thinking that needs to happen to actually create an ecosystem that is going to unlock economic, social and environmental impacts!
Agree wholeheartedly - I repeat this often. And there are excellent models from more innovative economies out there, and we look at them, nod in admiration, and keep the same model going...
The ISED graphic shown is dated, 2019. There is an update, I think it addresses several of the legitimate points that you raise, particularly that people & skills, and policy & regulation (ease of doing business) occur across the spectrum. If you send me your email I will send you a copy.
Thanks RogerLeo, I'd love to see it. My email is tom@orbitpolicy.com
One of the big challenges is that this inspires funding competitions designed to plug one specific stage in the process. The trouble is that it is assumed that the previous stage has been completed in a nice, neat, “tied in a bow“ fashion.
As a result, if you can describe fill in the form, you’ve already defined your innovation and don’t need funding.