TWC - Week 04

This week, the lesson is to equip us with:
1) a conceptual framework for intelligently considering the potential economic, social and commercial impact and significance of technology innovation
2) a solid foundation for considering issues of development, technology policy, change management, and the management of technology.

The lesson start off with a very interesting video "Who Moved My Cheese?". Base on the video, there are 2 group; the mini people and the mice. Both groups tried to find cheese. However, once they found the cheese, the mini people assumed that the cheese will always be there. But the mice has noticed the change in supply every day and ran off to look for more cheese.

The video shows how most people can't accept the fact that situations do change, and that if they don't change according to the situation, the good old situation will never come back and live will never move on!

I feel that this video alone can relates to many situation in our daily life, for example relationships. We know that in life many thing keeps changing. Including relationships with people. We can not always stay with one group of people and stay within our own comfort zone. People around you meets new people and move on with life without you if you always stay on the same spot. If we choose to live in self denial and assume that nothing will change, one day you will look around and find that no one is left.

Another interesting video shown to us was "First Follower: Leadership Lessons from Dancing Guy". This video shows how a lone nut, who has the gut to stand alone and look ridiculous, dancing weirdly and eventually became a leader when the first follower follow that lone nut.

First point to take note is, you have to be easy to follow. The lone nut will never become a leader until the first follower showed up. If you find that the lone nut is doing something great, be courageous and follow the lone nut. The whole situation changes when the first follower appears for the lone nut. The first follower transform the lone nut into a leader. It is crucial for the leader to embrace the first follower as an equal. And once there is a second follower, it is the turning point. It proves that the first has done well. Now that three is a crowd, more people will join in the momentum, and now they have the movement. People who choose to join now knows that they won't stand out or be ridiculed and that they will be part of the in-crowd if they hurry. Now, the rest of the people will join because they don't want to be out of the crowd.

I guess this video really reflect about the Bubble Tea craze that happened about eight years ago. Someone brought in the creation of bubble tea, it was easy to replicate and sell. Slowly more people joined in. Then everyone starts to sell bubble tea. However in the business world, too many is a crowd and of course, bubble tea business busted.

I guess it really is very important to become the first leader. And being the first and second follower is very crucial to get the trend started. However, you have to be smart and think through the consequences of following blindly. The first few followers and the leader might know what they are in for. But for people who joined in just to be "in-the-crowd", i find that it is rather stupid and that they won't get much out of the whole situation.

I really love all these videos that were shown in class. Because it is easier for me to understand and learn these interesting perspectives. I will rate the lesson 8/10.