Sustainability and Innovation Management

During the development, people face trade-offs. In the past, people use surrounding resources to survive. They hunt animals for food, cut tress to have enough land for agriculture. Nowadays, with the emergence of industrial development, people exploit more natural resources, destroy nature to build houses, factories… People are facing trade-offs between economic development and environmental well-being. Do we have to face this trade-off? We can only have either economic development or environmental well being or is there any approach that gives us the best of both worlds? That is the topic we discussed in our TWC class this week.

We are introduced to concepts of linear models and cyclical models. Linear models represent movements of products from the beginning point, which is natural resources, to production, distribution, consumption and to disposal. The model is simple and logical but it is the system in crisis regarding the beginning and ending point. Since the system is linear, the beginning point is not sustainable. We use resources for production but have no solution for the reduction and exhaustion of natural resources. Moreover, the system stops at disposal, which may lead to environmental problems.

If the world continue to use this model as its production model, its next generations may have to face with pollution and natural resources exhaustion. That is the main reason for people to consider more sustainable production and consumption methods. Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. To be sustainable, we need to change the linear model into cyclical model, which balances all factors and maximize value without taking all natural resources or turn the world into a place of pollution.

So how can technology help people to achieve sustainability? Technology has enabled people to have alternative energy sources such as solar and wind energy. Although these sources are not sufficient but they still make people more independent of fossil fuel, the traditional energy source. One of the presentations in class is about the production of palm oil. Although palm oil is potential, it still needs more considerations on the cost and efficiency.

As technology have an important part in sustainable development, innovations are more and more essential. The reading “Environment fact sheet: industrial development” puts emphasis on technology innovation stimulation in order to drive progress towards sustainable industrial practices. Innovation refers to the creation of more effective products or ideas that are accepted by markets and society. It means that creative ideas are innovations only when they can be applied. “The R-D-A Translation Process” demonstrates three steps of an innovation. Through researches, people get new ideas and insights about problems and try to translate understandings into practical solutions and finally apply solutions in reality.

The most interesting point in this topic is the concept of “advantages of backwardness.” “Advantages of backwardness” means that countries, companies and individuals can learn from those who went before. They can reuse, reapply technology and innovations which others spent a lot of time and money to think about. Therefore, countries, companies or individuals can shorten their research process and simultaneously can also their own innovations. Moreover, they also avoid making unnecessary mistakes. Therefore, the concept of “Advantages of backwardness” is worth considerations, especially for developing countries so that they have better opportunities to catch up with the rest of the world.

Around topics of this week’s lessons, I have one issue for further discussion. How can developing countries can use the advantages of backwardness effectively to develop as fast as possible? And for this week class, I rate it 8.5 out of 10.