1. Michele Vincenti Ph.D., MBA, M.A. (HOS), CIM, FCSI, STI, CMC,
C.I.M., F.CIM, CMgr (UK), F.CMI (UK)
Competitiveness and Innovation
on the 21st Century
25/03/2015
2. What are the barriers to competitiveness?
Barrier I: Skills shortages
Barrier II: Barriers to success in global markets
Barrier III: Internal barriers to trade
Barrier IV: A complex and costly tax system
Barrier V: Lack of clear sustainability policies
Barrier VI: Shortage of economic development tools
Barrier VII: Inconsistent regulatory policies with other countries
Barrier VIII: Insufficient support for innovation
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3. Definition:
com·pet·i·tive
• adjective kəm-ˈpe-tə-tiv: of or relating to a situation in
which people or groups are trying to win a contest or be more
successful than others : relating to or involving competition
• : having a strong desire to win or be the best at something
• : as good as or better than others of the same kind : able to
compete successfully with others
Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/competitive
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4. Titulo
Question:
Is the definition universally correct?
Answer: NOT
Females define “Power” differently than males.
Females define it as collaboration, working together, non-
hierarchical, consensus building (Brunner and Duncan, 1998,
p.54)
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5. Titulo
The problems is the equilibrium!
"An issue is held in balance by the interaction of two opposing
sets of forces - those seeking to promote change (driving forces)
and those attempting to maintain the status quo (restraining
forces)“ (Kurt Lewin).
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7. Titulo
The Synergistic Model
The Complexity Theory
The key to achieve competitive
advantage is not reacting to
chaos but in producing
that chaos (McCracken, 2003).
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8. Titulo
Systems become brittle as managers strive to create some sort of
mythical equilibrium.
Systems that are allowed to experience e periodic shocks are
likely to evolve into greater stability over time (Holling & United
Nations Environment Programme, 1978)
Diversely skilled and adaptive employees become more resilient
and adaptive to change
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10. Titulo
Why is it NOT happening?
Because we conform, we are trained to do things to please the
system in equilibrium! TAXONOMY
The “Conformity” problem
The Strangest Secret - Earl Nightingale
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYHbLS5s2Ks
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11. Titulo
Innovation
Definition:
“Innovation is the process of making improvements by
introducing something new and it also represents the capability
of continuously realizing a desired future state”
John Kao, The Innovation Manifesto, 2005
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12. Titulo
Why Innovation is difficult?
Innovation doesn’t happen without preparation, collaboration,
processes, and adding value!
What can we do?
“Change happen when people experience disconfirmation (through
crises) and respond realistically to it” (Hendry, 1996)
Collaboration drives creativity because innovation always emerges
from a series of sparks, never a single flash of insight (Sawyer 2007).
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13. Titulo
The connectionistic approach
Connectionism says that representations aren’t centralized in
specific nodes but the representation exist only in a pattern of
activation of an entire network of neurons (McClelland, 1999).
“Our brain develops mental bridging to keep continuity between
the past and the future and it generates iconic representations
of the past to resemble it.
Basically we tend to reproduce the past through imitation
creating symbolic links to the past.” (Zerubavel, 2003)
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14. Titulo
The solution
Terms like creativity, feedback, change, socialization, and
learning are associated to innovation (Michele Vincenti 2007).
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15. Titulo
The circle for innovation
FEEDBACK: “Immediate feedback prevents the arousal of boredom and anxiety and helps
the individual remain engrossed in the tasks for longer periods of time” (Mainemelis, 2001)
CREATIVITY: “Creativity depends on the intensity of direct encounter of people with their
work” (Mainemelis, 2001)
CHANGE: “Working, learning and innovating are closely related forms of human activity and
innovation happen when members engage in talk to make sense to a non routine (change)”
(Hendry, 1996)
SOCIALIZATION: “In order to reduce acculturation, organizations should promote cultural
diversity in the workforce. Organizations can benefit from diversity and conflict”(Whetten &
Cameron, 1983)
LEARNING: the activity or process of gaining knowledge or skill by studying, practicing,
being taught, or experiencing something
(Vincenti, 2007)
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16. Titulo
An opportunity for businesses
Collectivist societies
Positive attitude and a tendency towards optimism
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