Economics Of Innovation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Economics Of Innovation - Essay Example The essence of innovation is commercialized change. Its commercial nature warrants special emphasis, in that innovation pertains directly and exclusively, to observable market activities and outcomes – to the scope of good and services that are offered to consumers, or to technological and organizational advances that facilitates the flow of these goods and services. Innovation is about more than ideas, it is about how the economic system transforms ideas into outcomes, outcomes that continually shapes its evolution. Considerable economic research has been devoted to establishing whether small and large firms differ with regard to the rate of innovation or their R & D activity. In the recent literature on industrial innovation, the main issue is not whether small or large firms are more innovative, but the role each plays in the innovation process. The growth in the number of small firms during the 1980s is not seen as an independent process, but is attributed to the decentral ization strategies of large firms (Albert and Patrick, 1992).The outsourcing of entrepreneurial functions by larger firms ha increased their flexibility, allowing them to react more quickly to changing market conditions. Small firms are a major source for new product and processes, but due to their limited financial resources they are often confined to the first phase of the innovation process.

Intelligence Failure and Politicization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Intelligence Failure and Politicization - Essay Example Intelligence failure in the US context is defined by Stephen Marrin as something that has a negative impact on the country’s national security as well as an unpredicted international incident that previously escaped intelligence gathering and came about as a surprise to the international community. An example of this, according to Marrin is the India nuclear weapon test. As can be gleaned, the concept of surprise is allied to the concept of intelligence failure because surprise can only occur as a result of the latter (2004 p. 657). Robert Gates, former CIA head, defined politicization in the context of intelligence operations as involving intentionally distorted analysis or judgment leaning and favouring a certain line of thinking despite insufficient evidence to support it (1992 p. 5). 2.0 Vietnam and the Tet OffensiveThe Vietnam War was a battle between the once French-ruled south and the Communist north. The US’ engagement in the Vietnam War was considered one of th e most controversial ever in its history marked by relentless protests at home and the mind-boggling defeat of its forces in the battlefield. Three of the articles examined by this paper dealt with, amongst others, the US engagement in the Vietnam War and the controversies surrounding the seeming failure of its intelligence units in predicting the extent of the strength of the North Vietnamese forces.James Wirtz’s article â€Å"Intelligence to Please? The Order of Battle Controversy during the War,† dealt with the issue of the controversy.... As can be gleaned, the concept of surprise is allied to the concept of intelligence failure because surprise can only occur as a result of the latter (2004 p. 657). Robert Gates, former CIA head, defined politicization in the context of intelligence operations as involving intentionally distorted analysis or judgment leaning and favouring a certain line of thinking despite insufficient evidence to support it (1992 p. 5). 2.0 Vietnam and the Tet Offensive The Vietnam War was a battle between the once French-ruled south and the Communist north. The US’ engagement in the Vietnam War was considered one of the most controversial ever in its history marked by relentless protests at home and the mind-boggling defeat of its forces in the battlefield. Three of the articles examined by this paper dealt with, amongst others, the US engagement in the Vietnam War and the controversies surrounding the seeming failure of its intelligence units in predicting the extent of the strength of the North Vietnamese forces. James Wirtz’s article â€Å"Intelligence to Please? The Order of Battle Controversy during the War,† dealt with the issue of the controversy of the disparity between the figures cited by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) in the Order of Battle and the ensuing clash between their respective analysts. The most controversial aspect of this controversy was the charge by Sam Adams, a junior CIA analyst, of the existence of â€Å"a conspiracy at the highest levels of American military intelligence† (1991 p. 239), an allegation that became highly publicised and was featured in magazines, television and in a subsequent Senate hearing for that issue. This allegation stemmed