THE way we are taught science, mathematics and other soft subjects such as history at school actually impedes innovation.

Throughout school and engineering college, I recall the following method of teaching: provide a theory or a lesson and then ask questions for which the answers have to fit the theory! So you learn about Newton's laws and then go about solving hundreds of problems based on these laws. Often, learning is about application of a theory or a lesson rather than discovery.

Even in debates and discussion, we want to be more scientific, rejecting anything that does not conform to accepted norms.

Ironically, most scientific discoveries, right from Galileo, were made fighting the then existing notion of science. The point is, while innovation and invention happen when we do not take things for granted, we are bred in environments that demand exact answers, predictable outcomes and conformation.

Business and predictability don't go hand-in-hand
Very little is predictable in business. Business, I believe, is about getting your odds right.

Success comes out of making sure that a lot of things are done to favour the odds on your side rather than following a simple laid-out formula. Success in business requires innovation and improvisation at all levels.

The other day, I heard an anecdote narrated by an insurance agent. The customer was against buying insurance. During their conversation, the customer revealed it was his wife's birthday the next day.

The agent asked, "Would insurance not be a good gift for the birthday? The customer bought it.

The moment, the impulse and improvisation helped in making this happen. Could this have been predicted in advance? Absolutely not.

Can you write a theory on this? Sure. But can this theory by made to work every time as in science? Absolutely not.

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e-mail: Balaji Pasumarthy

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