How ideas affect an organisation or a country?

I was recently reading about the scarcity of ideas in the modern society. Are ideas truly scarce? Where do ideas come from? What is the impact of ideas in a system or a company? Contemplating the "scarcity" and origin of ideas, their societal impact.

Before we proceed, I want to establish the meaning of idea here. An Idea is a thought which is executable or actionable. It solves a problem - philosophical, social, religious or scientific. A thought is the seed of an idea. 🌱

Distinguishing thoughts from ideas is crucial. A statement like "I'll take you to the moon" in the 1800s is a profound thought but lacks the context to be an idea. When situated within a backdrop of political will and technological progress, it evolves into a true idea.

Each society carries a unique tapestry of ideas, frequently woven through the threads of religion and culture. It is important that not all societies birth identical ideas. Of course, the outcome can align. Ex - the contrasting approaches to moon missions by NASA and ISRO.

Ideas often emerge from moments of profound stillness, the quiet interludes of contemplation. Many societies, Armies, or Companies deliberately separate the thinkers of ideas from those engaged in action. The ones who do spirited discourse invariably bloom and thrive.

A perpetual idea-generating system faces immense pressure, inducing chaos. Ideas disrupt. We cannot have constant disruption in the market or society.

A perpetual state of disruption in the market or society leads to a live-lock, leaving us perpetually stagnant. We will keep solving the same problem as a society. India doesn't need the freedom-struggle ideas right now to become a super-power. We need to think differently.

We require calm intervals too, not just idea surges. These are the moments of execution. The transition from 0 to 1 demands an entirely distinct idea-generating engine. To ensure seamless ops and executions every day, a vastly different kind of CEO is necessary - 100 to 1000.

Ideas vary in quality and not all innovations drive economic prosperity or environmental sustainability. The scarcity of ideas simultaneously improving our mental peace and reducing our environmental impact, yet it creates fertile ground for the next gen of budding ideas.

Idea-generating communities are often prone to migration, posing challenges to societies in retaining talent. America or Nalanda University( many such examples ) in India, exemplify the historical significance of diverse minds in idea generation.

Certain steps can attract idea-generating communities. For instance, ISRO's establishment in Bengaluru. We can see the surge in change in population in 1970s.

The IT boom that paralleled Infosys' founding in Bengaluru. The IT sector's GDP contribution in India increased from 1.2% in 1998 to 10% in 2019. We can correlate it with change in population from 1999.

In every subject or field of interest or a department in an Organisation, there's a phase with a surge in experts and overallocation of talent.

In my view, Math, Finance, and Computer Science witness an excessive talent concentration, which can impede progress in other domains.

However, number of researchers often don't correspond to major break-throughs in that field.

Lifecycle of an Idea System -

1. A major break-through/volcanic surge of ideas.
2. Flourishing system.
3. Plateau.
4. In the absence of new ideas or robust discourse, the field, company, or nation falters.
5. In the presence of superior ideas, resurgence or replacement.

In the context of machine learning:

1. Breakthrough: AI beats Garry Kasparov.
2. Flourishing Period: The widespread use of conventional algorithms and methods in AI.
3. Plateau: AI progress stalls.
4. Resurgence: Neural networks and deep learning reinvigorates AI innovation.

Ideas require thinkers.

Following are some examples -

1. Linear Thinkers - structured. They can execute brilliantly.
2. Non-Linear Thinkers - innovative. They think in terms of patterns and networks.
3. Lateral Thinkers: they approach problems from unique angles.
4. etc.

An organisation's success is forged when we align diverse thinkers in their ideal roles, but the task is far from simple. Identifying each one is the real challenge.

Risks foster ideas.

Hence, Capitalism is able to generate ideas at such massive scale. Interestingly the economic cycles of capitalism also inherently affect the idea generating nature of any society/company.

In conclusion,

Ideas are born from diversity, and true originality blossoms when one has the audacity to deviate from convention. Thinking, is not inherent, is a skill honed through practice. The art lies in nurturing a solitary thought until it matures into an idea.

To construct a thriving organisation or system, embrace both the eruptions of innovative ideas and the moments of scarcity of them. Beware of the drought of thoughts!