Quality Alchemist (品質煉金術師): HSMC Seminar on Entrepreneurial Spirit and Sustainable Development Mindset

The seminar named “Entrepreneurial Spirit and Sustainable Development Mindset for Sustainable Development Goals with Design Thinking / Technology” was organized by Centre for Corporate Sustainability and Innovations (CCSI) under Hang Seng Management College (HSMC) and United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) on 5^th May 2016. The objective of this event is to provide a platform to learn more on ideas regarding to the relationship between Design Thinking and Sustainable Development Mindset. The topic included

1. Developing sustainable mindset

2. Linking up technology to sustainable development, and

3. Being a responsible entrepreneur.

Before the seminar, I took a photo with Mr. Denis Nkala (Regional Representative (Asia-Pacific), UNOSSC) and Dr. Shirley Yeung (Director, Centre for Corporate Sustainability and Innovations, HSMC).

In the beginning, Dr. Shirley Yeung gave an opening speech and she mentioned to integrate the Design Thinking and Sustainable Development Mindset via education. Then she introduced today’s guest speakers.

Ir. Allen Yeung Tak Bun (Government Chief Information Officer, OGCIO, HKSAR) was the first guest speaker and his topic entitled “Innovation into Action”. Firstly, he explained “Innovation is translating an idea or invention into a good or service that creates value or for which customers will pay.” Then he compared the Sustaining Innovation and Disruptive Innovation.

For Sustaining Innovation, it could be:

- “Do it Better” by new technologies

- To fuel short-term growth

For Disruptive Innovation, it would be

- Playing the game differently

- To create a new market

- To replace current market

Some disruptive innovation created new business models such as O2O (Online to Offline) Platform (e.g. Alibaba, Tencent, Amazon, etc.), Online Marketplace for Loding Rentals (e.g. Airbnb), P2P (Peer to Peer) Lending (e.g. LendingClub, OnDeck and WeLab, etc.). Moreover, its technology trends were introduced such as Genomic, Autonomous Vehicles, Advanced Robotics, etc.

Then Ir. Allen Yeung mentioned technological innovations were speeding up much more than 100 years ago! He discussed some cases such as Xiaomi and WhatsApp. After that he briefed some new technologies for disruptive innovation included Big Data, Cloud Computing, Internet of Things, Blockchain (e.g. Bitcoin) and Machine Learning (e.g. AlphaGo).

He said Startup disruptive is by default because of their repeatable and scalable business model.

Ir. Allen Yeung gave some tips for Startup to be more innovative such as Dream Big and put technology at the heart of the new business model. Moreover, he told us many big business (large companies) were establishing corporate innovation groups and were looking for new ways to innovate internally and in the market such as “Sustaining innovation project team”, “Accelerators and incubator program” and “Start-up acquisitions and alliances”.

Finally, Ir. Allen Yeung concluded his talk by introducing Hong Kong qualities which had four key areas included Vibrant Innovation and Technology (I&T) Place, ICT hub, Melting pot of East & West, and I&T Nurturing Nest.

Since some audients are F2 student, organizer summarized speakers’ key points into Chinese.

The second guest speaker was Mr. Denis Nkala (Regional Coordinator, UNOSSC, Asia Pacific) and he shared his experience on sustainability. He said “Sustainability is about Today and Tomorrow” and then he pointed out some environmental issues such as Climate Change and Global Warming.

Mr. Denis Nkala briefed that both developing and developed countries employed technology but in different stage. He asked how to link up technology between developing and developed countries so as to achieve sustainable development and protecting our planet. (The Chinese version was translated to students as following diagram.)

The third guest speaker was Assoc. Prof. Eunice Mareth Querol-Areola (Dean, College of Business Administration and Accountancy and Graduate School, Philippines) and her topic named “Design Thinking in Action for Knowledge Creation and Innovation in Teaching and Learning Institutions (TLIs)”. It was pity that she was still in Taiwan trip and not available to present her topic. Dr. Shirley Yeung briefed the key points to us.

The new direction for universities was mentioned from “Creation of New Knowledge-based Industries” to “Attraction of Right Talents” to “Efficient Leadership and Governance”.

Then the role comparison of teaching and learning institution between traditional and innovative were discussed. Entrepreneurship is the first important new role.

The following process demonstrated how entrepreneurial mind set applied in the university.

The Chinese transition key points were briefed at the end.

During the student sharing section, Mr. Samson Chan who was winner of World Plaza Engineering Innovative Sustainable Community Award 2015 shared his project – SoSoap. Through his project, he knew the Design Thinking in Education that User oriented, Critical thinking and Problem-solving skills more practical. The most important in Design Thinking is Empathy!