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The roots of resistance to new technologies, why such resistance is not always futile and how 600 years of economic history show how the balance of winners and losers shapes technological controversies
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The key lesson I have learned from looking at 600 years of technological controversies is that human history is a footnote on the tensions between innovation and incumbency.
— Calestous JumaHarvard Professor of International Development & Innovation Policy Expert
The idea that education can reduce resistance to innovation is often informed by the misguided view that people oppose new technologies because of ignorance. This is not the case.
— Calestous JumaHarvard Professor of International Development & Innovation Policy Expert
I tend to go with scholarship that argues that there no people called entrepreneurs but people perform entrepreneurial functions at different times. Edison performed great entrepreneurial acts. But he was also fierce opponent of innovation when it threatened his business interests.
— Calestous JumaHarvard Professor of International Development & Innovation Policy Expert
I would even say that people really don't oppose new technologies but they question the way they are used so the challenges are more social than they are technological.
— Calestous JumaHarvard Professor of International Development & Innovation Policy Expert
It is natural that a society would want to keep what they think works, the status quo. We are also acutely aware that technological changes alters society in unpredictable ways. It is the uncertainty associated with change—especially the fear of losing what we value—that leads to resistance to change.
— Calestous JumaHarvard Professor of International Development & Innovation Policy Expert
We are born creative and often seek to transform our surroundings to suit our existence. Everything around us constantly changes and so creative options for adapting to this change become the only guarantee we have for a meaningful existence.
— Calestous JumaHarvard Professor of International Development & Innovation Policy Expert
The fear of loss is real because it is based on perceptions of reality. It cannot be wished away by education. The idea that education can reduce resistance to innovation is often informed by the misguided view that people oppose new technologies because of ignorance. This is not the case.
— Professor Calestous JumaLeading African innovation and development scholar at Harvard Kennedy School
There are no people called entrepreneurs but people perform entrepreneurial functions at different times. Edison performed great entrepreneurial acts. But he was also fierce opponent of innovation when it threatened his business interests.
— Professor Calestous JumaLeading African innovation and development scholar at Harvard Kennedy School
People really don't oppose new technologies but they question the way they are used so the challenges are more social than they are technological.
— Professor Calestous JumaLeading African innovation and development scholar at Harvard Kennedy School
It is natural that a society would want to keep what they think works, the status quo. We are also acutely aware that technological changes alters society in unpredictable ways. It is the uncertainty associated with change—especially the fear of losing what we value—that leads to resistance to change.
— Professor Calestous JumaLeading African innovation and development scholar at Harvard Kennedy School
We are born creative and often seek to transform our surroundings to suit our existence. Everything around us constantly changes and so creative options for adapting to this change become the only guarantee we have for a meaningful existence.
— Professor Calestous JumaLeading African innovation and development scholar at Harvard Kennedy School
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