Cut Your Product to the Market

Extremely Innovative Switzerland OR The Packaging Makes a Difference

The ability of any nation to progress and advance in the comity of nations lies in being adaptive and innovative. Switzerland has often proven its ability to move with the times, constantly adapting to new constellations and watershed moments of history. It is a fallacy to presume that this ability is in anyway cultural or woe betide seen as a genetic preponderance. It is the result of a collective effort that embodies the characteristics of a constant dialogue nurtured by openness, willingness to learn and a liberal spirit. None of these factors are unique to Switzerland, but the concentration in a small geographical area coupled with the intense exchange has been instrumental in amplifying the phenomenal results to date.

It is a lesser-known fact that the former US car maker Chevrolet’s grounders were Louis Chevrolet from La Chaux de Fonds, Switzerland, and William C. Durant of General Motors. The Huguenots from France brought watch making skills, besides the art of making chocolates. Both products are strongly associated with Switzerland and embody the myth of Swissness. Henri Nestlé’s exploits in the formative years of Nestlé are well documented just as Maggi soup, which nourished Helvetia’s soldiers, made Maggi a household name. Surprisingly, the Silk Road found its way to Switzerland with a thriving silk industry that later perished through competition.

Vladimir Ilyich Lenin spent many years in Switzerland in Berne and later in Zurich. Though shadowed by the Swiss secret service, he led an open life attending conferences and meeting with compatriots. His seminal work written in Zurich in 1916 ‘Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism’ may well provide nourishment to the theories of capitalistic monopolies that have, in the face of today’s financial debacles, many institutions in the dock today.

A Swiss society setup in 1950, The Pioneers, has taken upon itself to document the pioneers of Switzerland, including the lives of those who came from afar and played a remarkable role in shaping this country. It is at the end of the day the ability of a nation to recognize, acknowledge and respect the contributions of many and ensure that cross-fertilization (See my blog entry 'Human Phobia of Gene Therapy Requires a Review', which touches upon the need for cross-fertilization with/without procreation) is encouraged in future.

Corporates are not Patrons

The image of a corporate is important, be it for the general public or the customer. The unrelenting prospect of being shown in bad light haunts many firms. A controversial product, service or business practice is one among the many facets that determine the overall impression as Monsanto and Nespresso are learning (see my blog entry link Monsanto and Nespresso).

The social fabric that incoporates interaction with society, is woven out of the very same ingredients that determine success and failure. Corporates are not patrons, their largesse serves their own, at times, inimical interests. But can the sole purpose of the interaction with society be tinged only with narrow corporate goals?

As has been often misunderstood, it is not the be and do good that should drive decisions, but rather the greater dialogue of forces that determine success and failure of firms. The recent history of the US icecream company Ben and Jerry's takeover by Unilever is a case in point, the best intents cannot compete with shareholder value. Corporates can ensure that their corporate goals include important social responsibility metrics. Such score cards will help in securing an advantage both in customer markets and in corporate takeovers. See also CSR article on web site. See also blog entry link for CSR induced corporate prospects.

Next-gen cities along the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC)

Model cities has been a dream for architects and city planners for many decades. Oscar Niemeyer, the architect of the Brasilian capital, Brasilia, who was portrayed in a Times Magazine article in July of 1958 and Les Courbusier, the architect of Chandigarh, the joint capital of the states of Haryana and Punjab are two examples of those who had a shot at putting up a "dream" city. These were considered to be cities of the future. There are pros and cons in these modern concepts, but the one constant is that the never-ending change actually makes today's modern city an old and outdated one tomorrow. But we need to tackle the challenges that face us today

The 1500 km DMIC project with plans to set up 7 next-gen cities may well be an opportunity for city planners, architects, utility and mobility providers in coming up with solutions that may well be the new standard of sustainable cities with a low ecological footprint. Though the plan is to have a dedicated freight corridor that connects New Delhi and Mumbai with industrial parks aimed at converting a huge swathe of land alongside into deidcated industrial theme parks, this may be one attempt of city planning that has great opportunites, but also equally large risks of falling well short of expectations.