Innovation Paradox: Irrelevancy of Argument

Some criticisms being put forth against the introduction of Computing Professionals Bill 2011 (“the Bill”) is that the Bill, by way of establishing Board of Computing Professionals Malaysia (BCPM), will restrain innovation among ICT knowledge workers. They further pointed out the success story of Bill Gate and Mark Zuckerberg, and argued that if the duo has to be registered under the Bill, the world will not enjoy the innovative products of Microsoft and Facebook.

This is a grave misconception of what ICT knowledge workers do is entirely in associations with the value of innovation. Indeed, innovation exists in everywhere and anywhere; it is certainly not proprietary nor privilege to IT and/or high-tech domain. From how a plumber connects water pipeline to how drug trafficking performs global delivery; from how a judge decides a landmark verdict to how a hawker cooks asam laksa, we can see certain elements of innovation and creativity. Hence, if we overly and blindly emphasize, which is the present state of paradox, the importance of innovation to ICT domain, our broader vision and strategic thinking ability are blocked by self-stupidity of arrogance.

One may be a super genius in innovating software solutions, but this must not be the case for accusing the establishment of BCPM could restrain him continues to be genius and outperformed. The thinking process of national development and economic growth must not be mixed with personal growth and individual skills development. Without such conscious deviation in mind, one will not be able to comprehend the rationales behind the proposed establishment of BCPM, no matter how genius one is. The innovation paradox, in this context, has its undividable root in inability to divide the two distinct mindsets.

 

In his media interview, YB Tony Pua commented that, there is no such law exists in the world attempting to regulate ICT knowledge workers. If this saying stands and is of correct, couldn’t we be INNOVATIVE enough to create an effective, efficient and productive mechanism to regular ICT knowledge workers? Should we be the innovator or follower in the context, YB Tony Pua?