'Upgrading India’s Think Tanks' Roundtable by the IDSA on 11 Nov 2009 is timely. My take on the Issue is:
1.
'Think Tanks' approach which essentially is 'research, innovation and apps' should commence right from desk level upwards. Knowledge is widely distributed.
2.
'Knowledge Workers' can only deliver if they are at the
'Self-Actualisation' Stage of the Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. If they, or anyone of them, views it as a career / job option, their delivery will be restricted to the point of being average.
3.
'Thinking & Execution' can't be divorced. Monopoly of Paper Researchers, and Academicians in such institutions is counter-productive. No Policy Research generated by them would be acceptable to the 'Executive' unless it is actionable. Otherwise it is a work in 'isolation'. There is a need for 20: 80 approach in 'Thinking & Execution'.
4.
'Integration with the Customer' is applicable for any meaningful policy inputs. It should be further strengthened.
Customer is the King -- marketing dose!
5.
'Multi-disciplinary , and multi-nationality Teams' are needed in today's research due to complexity of issues, and the global reach now. Culture of individual achievements, like publishing papers, writing books, etc, encouraged in academic institutions need to be discouraged in 'professional research'.
6. We need
'focused research' relevant to the sponsoring organisation. Research subjects be selected in concert with the supported organisations to make them relevant.
7. There are too many Think Tanks. Need to aggregate them. Consolidation could be good mantra.
May be we revisit the term 'Think Tank' itself, smacks arrogance. In line executives should be developed as
'Thinking Executives'.
8.
'Thinking' and
'Passion to Deliver' are inborn. Can it really come through 'paid executives'? Think Tanks should just have 'knowledgeable Core Staff', say 20%, and deploy 80% researchers project-based on certain commercial terms. They would then deliver
'actionable policy & application research'. These set-ups should not be seen as career options, but
'Delivery Centres' with international infra for research, connectivity, presentation & seminar facilities,etc.
9.
Role of Private 'Think Tanks' needs to be recognised. Develop PPP Model.
10. In this Century, manifestation of
e-Business & Internet in every activity of ours in A & D can't be ignored. We need to address this squarely.
11. Govt-sponsored Think Tanks should be
'self-sustaining' financially. This is the real test of their delivery.
NO research can ever be meaningful unless the researcher is
'passioned and hungry for recognition', in addn to the comfort in metros. These are his motivators. He is to seek highest objectives. Institutions like IDSA can only present
'hygiene factors' to the researchers, it is they who have to deliver quality & relevant research. Fair mix of project-based freelance researchers may be the answer, not recruited ones.
Old wisdom that
'You can take a cattle to the pond but can't force her to drink' still holds good everywhere.
Brigadier(Retired) Sukhwindar Singh
http://www.svipja.com/(A Global Solution for Offsets)
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.
