Subject: Systemic approach in Finland National Innovation Strategy

Posted by Jack Harich on 3/11/2009
In Reply To:Systemic approach in Finland National Innovation Strategy Posted by Shakir Alshareef on 3/10/2009

Message:

Thanks. This is an interesting and ambitious read. But I couldn't help but to notice this in the first paragraph:

"Broad-based innovation policy facilitates the development and renewal of competence based competitiveness of industry, economy and the regions."

If Finland is attempting to improve their situation by being more competitive, that's a zero sum game. As one industry, economy, region, corporation, or person becomes more competitive, another or a collection or other agents become less competitive. This is because they are all competing for the same total payoff.

Thus if Finland becomes more competitive, others are going to become less so. Finland's gain is their loss. This is not a constructive way for the world to move forward in harmony.

This approach is much like an arms race. As one country becomes more competitive, others are forced to match it or they fall behind.

One could argue that competitiveness is improving productivity and that increases the total payoff, because the same amount of input gives a larger output. But in a world of environmental, economic, and social limits, increasing the payoff beyond sustainable limits creates more problems than it solves. We seem to have reached these limits several decades ago. Finland, while a leader in environmental sustainability, has its head in the sand if it's goal of becoming more competitive has a higher priority than sustainability.

Skimming the document, sustainable development is mentioned briefly as a driver of change, and thereafter receives no priority. The Ten Key Sets of Measures do not mention sustainability, etc.

Overall, the document has the telltale signs of being very pro-business and written by business interests, rather than a citizen and quality of life perspective where the role of business is to enhance quality of life. Perhaps this is due to panic caused by the meltdown of 2008.

Seems to me this Innovation Strategy is going to do help Finland to do a better job of doing the wrong thing. This is a common pattern.

Jack

Follow Ups:

Systemic approach in Finland National Innovation Strategy - Michael Round 3/11/2009 
Systemic approach in Finland National Innovation Strategy - Bill Rathborne 3/11/2009
Systemic approach in Finland National Innovation Strategy - Kathy Arizmendi 3/11/2009
Systemic approach in Finland National Innovation Strategy - George Richardson 3/11/2009
Systemic approach in Finland National Innovation Strategy - Bill Rathborne 3/11/2009
Systemic approach in Finland National Innovation Strategy - Kathy Arizmendi 3/11/2009