tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353471140255363906.post466363865742869301..comments2023-08-18T03:14:38.921-07:00Comments on JuJubax: Why Not ? By Barry Nalebuff and Ian AyresJujubaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06189263813465023517noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353471140255363906.post-83245272414157012192011-02-11T02:51:49.091-08:002011-02-11T02:51:49.091-08:00Good read Madhu-sanGood read Madhu-sanUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07959739491445726025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353471140255363906.post-63972459282393185542011-01-30T18:34:14.744-08:002011-01-30T18:34:14.744-08:00Hi All,
Taking it from Google BUZZ
as it was publi...Hi All,<br />Taking it from Google BUZZ<br />as it was public.<br />regards<br />madhu<br /><br />Ramamurthy E S - Sikshana - Public<br />A Crazy Idea<br />Every good idea which is ahead of its time from one appears crazy to others; History is replete with instances. I was just reading a book " Why Not" by Barry Nalebuff and Ian Ayres. You should do it too; that will make it easy for you to understand what follows.<br /><br />The State spends on a conservative estimate Rs 10,000 plus on every child in school at the primary level. We have now a plethora of problems facing us notwithstanding this munificent gesture. The State feels the kids ought to be thankful to it; but what do they do? They drop out of schools and / or fail their examinations, adding to the woes of the teachers. Those who are a bit better do even worse; they 'run away' to a private school! As for parents, all freebies notwithstanding, it does cost them money to educate a kid well even if it is in a Government school; starting from a few hundred rupees at the primary level, it goes up to a couple of thousands at the High School. This is behind many of the ills today.<br /><br />With RTE around the corner, private schools are shuddering at the thought of having to admit the 'unwashed' among their midst; worse still with pretty little in terms of compensation.<br /><br />I have an idea which will rid the System of all these. The State could learn to live with Rs 8800 instead of 10,000 ( if it is only that) and place Rs 100 in the hands of the kid every month - or Rs 4 per day of attendance- as long as he is in a State run school. That is not a tough thing to do. The amount may be deemed to be a stipend - so there is no stigma attached to it. Let us look at all the positive things this will achieve:<br /><br />Dropouts and absenteeism will drastically come down ; the teachers will not have to visit the homes of the absentee kids any longer.<br />The enrollment figures in public schools will stop declining. The State may no longer have to worry about closing schools and relocating teachers; both have started happening at an alarming rate and are very unpopular measures to deal with.<br />The private schools could continue to do they are good at- whatever that is- without fear of the unknown arising from RTE.<br />Who knows , if the amount is linked to MLL's ( minimum learning levels) and a pass in an examination , we may even have spectacular increases in these areas too<br />The reason why I quoted the above book is simply this: it is often about the Why Not rather than the Why. Why should we always plan on the basis of children having to pay for education? Why cannot the State pay them for getting educated in their schools? After all, are they not spending a fortune already with pretty little to show? Could this not be taken as an investment for the future? Some may say that this is corrupting the young and education should not be had for such benefits; but then dont scholaships and mid-day meals fall under this category too?<br /><br />This will naturally be resisted by those who are going to be affected when the budgeted 10k becomes 8.8 k. I am confident about one thing; these guys are smart enough to find 11.2 k when it comes to the crux. That will leave everyone happy.<br /><br />A Post Script: There is no sanctity about the figure of 100. The results are bound to be even more dramatic if you double it.<br /><br />E S RamamurthyJujubaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06189263813465023517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353471140255363906.post-24224286441311098022011-01-11T20:30:12.559-08:002011-01-11T20:30:12.559-08:00Madhu,
I felt this was the most thought provoking...Madhu,<br /><br />I felt this was the most thought provoking book that you have commented on here. Well this feeling is reading just the review and not the book, so you can take it with a good measure of Dandi salt :-)<br /><br />The side question on the points discussed here is "how free should the free market be". Many (like this author) seem to think that we need very complex regulation to control the market.<br /><br />And as always, very interesting summary by you - thanks for that.Mohanakrishnan Gopalakrishnanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05436053298341669840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353471140255363906.post-80655600271282968682011-01-11T17:49:58.244-08:002011-01-11T17:49:58.244-08:00The Penguin story reminded me of a talk I had seen...The Penguin story reminded me of a talk I had seen in TED which talked of how important it is not only to be a leader but how important it is to be the first follower and how the leader should treat the first follower etc.Harihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02252279770064888710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353471140255363906.post-45791122069830893992011-01-08T04:36:52.301-08:002011-01-08T04:36:52.301-08:00Interesting, Madhu! Is the book mostly about parad...Interesting, Madhu! Is the book mostly about paradoxical thinking (which some of your examples reflect) or out-of-the-box in general?<br />BTW, did you read The Upside of Irrationality? <br />Looking forward to discovering more such great books through your reviews.Nimmyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11227810353203036224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353471140255363906.post-4115115844849981562011-01-07T10:16:11.501-08:002011-01-07T10:16:11.501-08:00Madhu - Your review brings an interesting peek int...Madhu - Your review brings an interesting peek into the book, as always. Looking at problems in different perspective , call it out of the box - is not a new thinking in the realm of innovation.But the book emphasizes the why not or try anything aspect differently. Like the picture in the book cover. A boy trying to fly with a caper and goggles. The metaphor of audacity, sense of abundance or open mind, creativity captured in that picture. It is good picture that can be used both to introduce the book and the spirit of Why not thinking, when you want to trigger fresh perspective if not great innovation among the teams. Would recommend browsing whynot.net as well. Interesting collection of everyday problems thrown open with equally ingenious solutions.Srini Krishnanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10160213351740286409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353471140255363906.post-31133641911138020482011-01-07T06:46:48.118-08:002011-01-07T06:46:48.118-08:00Hi Mukund:
You have asked a tough question.
Let me...Hi Mukund:<br />You have asked a tough question.<br />Let me attempt it.<br /><br />Veron W ruttan, in his magnum opus work (induced innovation perspective)gives a crisp 2X2 matrix.<br /><br />1 Quad: Edison quadrant: (intersection of market & technology)<br />It is called Industry sponsored technology research quad.<br />2 Quad : Pasteur quadrant <br />(intersection of market & scientific activities)<br />It is called use inspired basic research.<br />3: Quad : Bohr quadrant.<br />(intersection of scientific activities & Govt)<br />curious inspired basic research.<br />4: Quad : Rickover Quadrant.<br />Govt sponsored applied research.<br /><br />Most of the books are in Edison's quad and hence we get that impression. As Prof Ruttan says, they are not self contained one leads to other. Hence, as a mind set, it can be curiosity, use inspiration, application mind or the safest one market driven.<br /><br />Science was previously aristocratic, speculative and intellectual - and understanding nature. Technology is experimental action oriented -and controlling nature.<br />Now that difference has almost disappeared.<br />Now, it is all "applied".<br />Hence, any one of the four mindsets with focus would see it thru.<br /><br />regards,<br />madhuJujubaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06189263813465023517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353471140255363906.post-36728685330807183412011-01-07T06:12:27.254-08:002011-01-07T06:12:27.254-08:00Hi Suresh:
1. You have taken advantage of the &quo...Hi Suresh:<br />1. You have taken advantage of the "vacuum" :-)<br />2. Thanks for the serious conclusion.<br />It is true one may feel "incomplete" or "inadequate" but, even if modicum of those concepts gets applied in real life in a direct or obtuse manner, still it may be well worth it......I see hope!<br />regards,<br />madhuJujubaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06189263813465023517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353471140255363906.post-57965253837507172592011-01-07T03:51:00.274-08:002011-01-07T03:51:00.274-08:00interesting read Madhu san,
I am reminded of a pi...interesting read Madhu san,<br /><br />I am reminded of a piece I read long back.<br /><br />"Embrace the unexpected"<br /><br />When the British had all the power, ammunition, army and were ready to counter a physical war of independence, Mahatma Gandhi resorted to Ahimsa.GNhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04816119363755913416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353471140255363906.post-56305133031935613682011-01-07T01:49:42.419-08:002011-01-07T01:49:42.419-08:00Interesting, and definitely thought provoking. My ...Interesting, and definitely thought provoking. My take is that the quantum of innovation circa Edison days and now, is a wide one - ranging from an invention then, to just doing a routine task, more efficiently, in the current era. So, how does one effectively factor the thought process to account for this change in mindset?Mukund Srinivasanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00551305404001053987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353471140255363906.post-17261881138645517232011-01-07T00:56:07.089-08:002011-01-07T00:56:07.089-08:00Madhu,
Well written article. The problem I find w...Madhu,<br /><br />Well written article. The problem I find with such books is not that the idea is bad. It is just that 'flipping', 'non linear', 'out-of-the-box' seem to assume that you work in vacuum. (Which incidentally is good for Edison's lamp.) The major problems encountered are due to people's inability to dream up good solutions but due to various cultural and ego issues. That is the reason why I always get a feeling of incompleteness when I read these books.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09976036705292689841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353471140255363906.post-62249175270939189142011-01-06T05:56:33.191-08:002011-01-06T05:56:33.191-08:00Madhu,
Interesting and thought provoking post. ...Madhu,<br /> Interesting and thought provoking post. Will borrow it from you once I get around to completing my current stack :)Ramesh N Raghavanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14569860708530040461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353471140255363906.post-36211800755905902572011-01-06T03:24:16.509-08:002011-01-06T03:24:16.509-08:00Madhu-san, It was a good read.
(The phrase 'P...Madhu-san, It was a good read.<br /><br />(The phrase 'Pay the polluter' sounded quite counter-logical until I read it in full.)cvivisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14839693428854844592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5353471140255363906.post-20234422565919586412011-01-06T02:36:29.329-08:002011-01-06T02:36:29.329-08:00"In short, first make it possible, and then m..."In short, first make it possible, and then make it easy and affordable"<br /><br />- I liked this. Keep writing.mguruhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02410579047412345088noreply@blogger.com