Editor, RE: “When businesses don’t innovate they collapse...” (The New Times, May 5). Thank you for this article. It is well researched and for those who will understand the concept behind it will most certainly benefit from it. With that said, I think the author failed to mention the role that monopoly plays in business growth. I believe that if no other company had challenged Nokia, those Symbian plastic phones would probably still be a good option as a phone. Apple started a very long time ago; they built trust in people so when they launched technology that seemed a bit futuristic, people gave them a shot and, most importantly, they delivered on their promise and the rest is history. In Rwanda, we are so ready for improvement (change too) but, unfortunately, no one delivers, old or new. The older businesses are clearly too comfortable to be bothered with innovation while the new ones most of the time fail because they simply don’t fit in. Some of the new ideas are copied from other regions and pasted in Rwanda without any consideration for cultural or social individuality of the people. Products and services should follow people’s needs, not the other way around. Caz *********************** This is by far one of the most important pieces published by this paper—well done! Innovation, like the author stated, tends to be the difference between staying relevant and becoming obsolete. Some businesses in Rwanda should take this article very seriously as it offers a reality check for those who believe that they already made it and need no further effort in pleasing, serving or improving the lives of consumers. Also, at a time when we are promoting ‘Made-in-Rwanda’, both domestically and overseas, innovation will be key to ensure that we offer the world what they don’t already have. And like the author observed, innovation can be about a new idea on an existing product. So while we are on that, let’s find ways to distinguish our coffee from that of Kenya when they both arrive on international markets. We curved a niche in gorilla tourism by introducing Kwita Izina...no one else does it. So let’s find something for our coffee and everything else too. Overall, an absolute pleasure to read this article, thank you. Freddy G.
