Week 3- Caring for my world, making change happen

This week, prof started of with a brief summary of the past few weeks,after which we saw the video of “The story of stuff”, which was a very interestingly composed video of the processes of which goes behind making of a product.It is interesting to know the hidden cost not reflected in the price tag and how it can cost the environment sand the people in the other countries so much. We then discussed the 3 readings. Karishma followed by sharing an article on how companies are killing off the ocean's habitat when they are use their cooling system. I was mentally scarred by this presentation I cannot help thinking of the poor fishes being sucked through the system of the cooling system. A fellow student suggested using a filtering system for the cooling plant which scared my cortex even more with the image of a fish permanently stuck to the wire mess of the systems struggling till it dies. Anyway, the second half of the lesson was focused on the Integrated Policy Planning (IPP) for Sustainable Industrial Development. Looking at what the European Union had proposed seemed quite promising. We went on to talk about the process of translating an idea to reality, going through the nightmare stages. We also had the opportunity to see prof's cute drawing of the valleys and the hills. Lastly, it ended with a presentation by Daniel on electronic cigarettes.

A few interesting ideas in this lesson. First was the Value creation pipeline and RDA translation process. From idea to product or service out in the marketplace, consumers do not really see the process which goes on behind the scene. We'll at least the most of the hidden cost through the process is reflected in the price tag especially in the bio medical industry paying so much for a pill. I thought the perspective from dream to nightmare to reality is super funny for an entrepreneur. I totally agree that the diamond shaping and polishing process is a nightmare. A thought that sparked in my head was the question of why are the so many good ideas but only a small fraction of them are implemented. I thought about it for a while, and felt that an inexperienced entrepreneur can hardly survive on his own. He needs a effective team and a mentor who has been there and done that. this will make the Nightmare less scary. A team of not just someone who is good at knowing the piece of technology, business people are also required, so are people who can market and IS people. Kind of like what our project groups are like.

The key take home message for me will be that fact that there is a nightmarish developmental stage before a project is out in the marketplace.

The issue that I will like to further discuss will be the evolution of entrepreneurs. Form the past where there is little inventions and innovations till this generation where entrepreneurs are all using the internet, how different really is it? Is there a change in mindset?

I will personally rate this lesson a 8 out of 10. Although it was on a Saturday, and I was a bit grumpy because of that, it really opened my eyes to especially on the part of the innovation process.