The “Accelerate Your Innovation Quotient” workshop, spanning three days, i.e., 10th – 12th August, convened an esteemed assembly of government officials from various departments, including Food Processing, Fisheries, Horticulture, DCIC, and related domains. The program’s distinguished Guest of Honour, Isawanda Laloo, Executive Director of MBMA, lent her expertise and insights to this collaborative endeavour. Her presence underscored the workshop’s importance in driving innovative thinking within government departments.
In her opening remarks, Isawanda Laloo articulated the workshop’s significance. She stressed the imperative for government personnel to gain a comprehensive understanding of grassroots-level issues. By delving into the concerns of local communities, departments can better serve their needs. For instance, she highlighted the necessity of developing improved packaging solutions—ones that are not only cost-effective but also visually appealing and environmentally sustainable. This served as a poignant example of how a deeper understanding of community needs can drive innovative solutions. She also championed the idea of inter-departmental collaboration. She emphasized the need for participants to work harmoniously across departments, fostering a shared vision and a unified approach. This cooperative mindset, she believed, would yield holistic solutions that spanned various domains.
The first half of the workshop centered on foundational aspects. Team building, cross-learning and sharing experiences were stated as key elements of empathy and effective communication. By participating in these activities, participants developed a strong basis for productive teamwork and collaboration, ensuring that the ideas generated would be influenced by a diversity of perspectives.
Analysing an entrepreneur’s journey and their startup was a pivotal exercise within the workshop. This exercise provided practical insights into the challenges and triumphs faced by real-world entrepreneurs. By scrutinizing these experiences, participants gleaned valuable lessons in problem-solving and innovative thinking.
As the workshop progressed, participants were divided into teams to foster collaboration. Their task was to brainstorm various ideas and transform them into tangible prototypes aimed at addressing and improving their respective workspaces. This exercise not only fuelled creativity but also allowed participants to experience firsthand the power of teamwork in ideation and problem-solving.
The culmination of the workshop involved each team presenting their prototypes to their peers. This platform facilitated the exchange of ideas, knowledge, and feedback among participants. This active discourse not only enhanced the quality of the prototypes but also encouraged open-mindedness and a willingness to learn from one another.
