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| Science And Technology |
It is widely known that Nigeria has major issues to tackle in the coming years. Search for any article on Nigeria, or any African country for that matter, and you are bound to find a long list of problems phrased as either deficiencies or opportunities, depending on the author’s orientation. Without rehashing the list here, it is sufficient to state that Nigeria has issues. The lists of issues will, sometimes come with proposed solutions ranging from “divide the country!” to “privatise everything!”. To entertain these possibilities, even in theory, is to admit defeat, on the one hand of forming a national identity or on the other hand of inspiring human cooperation. Defeat is not an option in this author’s mind so neither of these proposals will be entertained at this juncture.
Instead, let us entertain another proposed solution to Nigeria’s many challenges: science and technology. Several ministers, most recently and not surprisingly the Minister for the Ministry of Science and Technology, have lauded the potential for science and technology to raise Nigeria to new unimagined heights. What a lofty goal to put on the shoulders of science and technology!
Science and technology to the rescue?
The Minister is not alone in his thinking that science and technology can elevate Nigeria. Around the world, science and technology have been applied to solve all types of problems; and time after time they have delivered results that have propelled humanity forward. From the combustible engine to vaccines, from electricity to the internet – science and technology have a proven track record for delivering the previously unimaginable. And while we can debate the long-term impacts of these innovations to human evolution and the environment, one thing is certain: science and technology are part of the human arsenal to be used for better or for worse. As such, science and technology are not conscientious saviours of humanity but rather agnostic tools that, like any other tool, need a purpose or mission driven by committed and thoughtful leaders through transparent processes. The makings of a technologically advanced Nigeria, therefore, are similar to the principles that drive progress in the private sector: clear organisational mission, sound strategies, committed people, and transparent processes.
Organisations that do not set and adhere to a clear mission often find themselves spending millions of dollars, not to mention thousands of hours of employee time, on technologies that are implemented with great zeal only to be thrown out with disgust before realising the full return on investment. More often than not, failed technologies introduce process complexities or require specialised skills that organisations do not have. A clear organisational mission defines the goal or goals to which all activities and technologies are subservient.
Having this clarity at the outset will help organisations to determine whether they need technology to achieve the goal and if so, to identify requirements for that technology. A clear mission on agriculture, for example, may lead an organisation to explore genetically modified crops as a supporting technology. Will genetically modified technology work with the current agricultural process? Are there specialised skills required to work with genetically modified crops? Will the technology yield crops that will be acceptable to the consuming public? These and several other important questions about this technology will help an organisation determine if the technology will, in the end, support the organisation’s goal.
A clear mission also helps organisations identify opportunities for economies of scale. A mission on counterterrorism, for example, is shared across a nation and can be best served with a common surveillance technology. Not only does this translate into cost savings but more integrated information can mean easier identification of rogue elements.
An organisation’s technology strategy should align with the organisation’s mission. Misalignment of technology strategy and mission often means that stakeholders are not committed to the mission and may be acting out of self-interest. When this happens, investments are made in silos with little to no economies of scale and the broader mission is exchanged for more narrow achievements at the local or personal level.
A sound technology strategy should, whenever possible, leverage existing data on the technology’s efficacy; it should also identify key dependencies for the technology’s success and a plan to encourage adoption. A mission to reduce the child mortality rate, for example, may identify a strategy for technologies that boost maternal health. This strategy should consider historic data on similar technologies and identify necessary conditions for success.
Engaging in this exercise will reveal if a proposed strategy is poised to advance the mission or simply a red herring.
The importance of organisation-wide commitment to the success of a technology strategy cannot be overstated. Nothing will stall or inhibit technological progress faster than lack of commitment to the strategy and overall mission. Widespread commitment requires the suspension of disbelief – while remaining critical – and trust that everyone throughout the ranks is striving, first and foremost, to achieve the agreed-upon goal. A sure sign that an organisation is not committed to the mission or strategy is its willingness to jump from one technology to another as a distraction from facing and tackling the real issues.
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