A scary thought - The road ahead

Read an article on the failure of DRDO,(click here) well this one takes a very skeptical view of the organization going to the extent of labeling the scientist as nothing more than glorified farmers producing hybrid veggies and some stupid unusable missile system. But the key point to be noted out here is that most the failures are attributed by the author to a lack of foreign collaborative process. This is where the hammer struck the nail I guess. As many of the textbook spewing "experts" will say at the drop of their hat, a collaborative process of sharing is a recipe for success. For some reasons, weird as they may be, we are shying away from this 'adage'. Its not an isolated issue with a single organization but a collective failure at every level in our country's highly intelligent organizations which are present at the public as well as the private sector.

Some weird reasons for the same include bloated ego-centrisms, lack of intent, lack of accountability, fear of losing out, Problems with security and secrecy issues and espionage among others. Some are justified but the rest are as baseless as a …..

“Am the best, f*** the rest” goes the mantra. A build all from scratch may yield significant benefits in terms of costs, when timelines are stringent its of very little consequence. A very small example – if there is a small part in the big scheme of things- available from a vendor at a reasonable price, it makes better sense to buy it from that vendor and use it. An investment has to be incurred but the time and the resource investment to develop that part internally can be better utilized for better things. This very idea of trying to develop everything from scratch is a commendable feat but it’s important to evaluate the practical feasibility of the same. . There is no way one can soothe bloated egos

This is the same way in our higher education institutions. Researches happen people come out with doctorate degrees but what good did that research serve other than adorning the annals of the library. 5 years and a few hundred thousand rupees later what we have is a few booklets. Plain living and high thinking! Patents anyone? And commercially viable research - zilch? The whole effort looses sheen if the intent is wrong. Out here the intent is to get the degree not patent the research for a good venture. Google was borne out of a research paper on “BackRub” – we are eons away. A dissertation can frame one's entire academic career – this very concept is alien. People still have the time,energy to dissect Shakespeare but not solve the energy problems or shortage of potable water in this country.

There is also a serious lack of accountability in these institutions. Timelines are meant to be broken, budget overruns are the norm and the end-product is in many ways a half baked cake but a chocolate truffle. Point a finger and a serious blame game ensues. Its an interesting game with 2 variables. The main resources required in any research work are
Money and people (tangible)
Time (intangible)
It seems there always a battle amongst them with one component lacking leading to a serious problem. Either its paucity of funds or its lack of skilled workforce or its time and sometimes a combination of them. 3! = 6 different reasons not to finish the task.
The main reason for failure can be attributed to a missing fourth requirement and that is “INTENT”. Its just not there.

The most important reason for lack of a collaborative framework happens to the childish idea that the other party might gain more from the deal. Organic growth plagues most of the private sector no matter how time-constraining the process – inorganic growth is both time saving and with massive cash chests the most prudent thing to do.

Well if we are not getting our act together pretty soon we will lose out a lot on the big picture…..And that’s a scary thought.