- to establish, explain and assess reasonable goals.
- to state goals positively.
- to ensure goals are realistic, achievable and have some stretch to them. (Achievement builds confidence.) Specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound.
- to negotiate all goals; win commitment.
- to write down goals; convert dreams to tangible targets.
- to align goals with the corporate mission. (Requires regular review to prevent goal conflicts.)
- to FOCUS time and effort on the important but not urgent issues that have long-term impact; the issues which make the big difference.
Industry doesn’t need “pure” research, nor does it need “applied” research.
Industry needs research that will answer its’ questions. What industry needs is research that is appropriate to solve the problem at hand, or exploit the opportunity recognised.
Much is written about the divide between industry and academia, especially when it comes to investment of public funds. Should funding should be provided for pure research, or for applied research?
This is a common, ongoing dichotomy in many debates over research, particularly that funded from the public purse. The reality, however, is that this debate is based on the erroneous assumption that industry benefits only from applied research, and that research directed at assisting industry must be applied.
The Dynamics of Discovery
From Archimedes to Edison, attempts to improve quality of life have dictated a need for advances in science and technology. These advances are now widely understood as the key enablers of increasingly prosperous societies.
Despite this long history, the process of managing the expanding frontiers of new knowledge in a way that will benefit society is a work in progress. This is largely due to the unpredictable nature of scientific discovery most famously illustrated by Archimedes, when, upon stepping into the bath, he suddenly realised that the volume of water displaced was equal to the volume of the submerged portion of his body.
His discovery provided the solution to the previously intractable problem of measuring the volume of irregular objects and led to further advances in assessing the density and purity of precious metals among other things.
In the modern world little has changed in how new knowledge is acquired. However, in an attempt to get the best value for their limited investments, governments have devised processes to manage its discovery, often with sub-optimal effect.
Continue reading “The Dynamics of Discovery”A Thought on Trust And Leadership
“If you aspire to be a highly effective leader, people must trust your judgement and ethics and have confidence in your leadership abilities, believing that you are worthy of authority. In the absence of trust and confidence, nothing else follows. The first task of every aspiring leader, therefore, is to earn the trust of those they seek to lead.“
Leanne S (2009) Say it like Obama. The power of speaking with purpose and vision. McGraw-Hill, New York. ISBN 978 –07– 165589 –1. Page 21