Overcoming our indifference to innovation
June 25th, 2008
John Kao, a guest on the P.I. Podcast back in March, published an excellent entry on The Huffington Post on Monday, in which he questions five “false arguments” against a national innovation agenda for the United States. Among the arguments John challenges is the belief that our country faces more important issues than our degrading innovation capabilities. Here is his counterpoint:
The indifference of the American public to the innovation agenda is one of the mysteries of the 2008 election in my book. Sure we’ve got immediate economic and national security issues. But the big issues of day — energy policy, health care reform, education — are the kind of wicked problems that desperately require innovation at a time when the skills of large-scale innovation and collaboration are lacking both in government and society at-large. Innovation isn’t just about iPods; it’s about our future.
Unfortunately, much of the association community exhibits a similar lack of interest in making innovation a true strategic priority, despite the need to confront its own “wicked problems.” So what will it take for us to change this dynamic? Please share your thoughts.
Entry Filed under: Principled Innovation Blog, What's New?, Social Media, PI Interviews, Audioblogs & Podcasts, Innovation, Associations, Extreme Makeover, The Association Innovator, Simplicity, We Have Always Done It That Way, PI Services, Garage Memes, Governing for Innovation
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