Dr. Lwanga Martin Mwanje
With the coming of the lockdown which paralyzed most local businesses and subsequent closing of schools, Musa Ndeba Plastics (MNP), considered folding. Founded by Haji Musa two decades ago MNP had prospered by specializing in creating plastic works largely targeting the school market. The company was famed for molding plastic utensils of all hues: plates, mugs, tubs, jerry cans etc. However, the suspension of the school year meant that MNP was denied of her biggest market. Sales stagnated.
Haji Musa was not a man who easily gave up. After going without delivering sales for three straight months he finally sat down with his workers and sought ideas how to whither the business storm. “Since schools are closed and most of our customers are not buying much what can we do now!”
The MNP team was composed of five technicians, an accountant and two marketers. Occasionally it also had interns from various technical schools around MNP. One of the intern, Lumu, shot up his hand. “I am aware due to the declared SOPs all buildings will now require hand washing station points. We can come up with a device where a person can step on a lever and wash his hand with soap without touching anything to spread the virus!”
“It can’t be done!” One old technician protested.
“If you give me chance and materials I certainly can come up with this one stop center washing station,” the intern insisted.
Haji Musa recalled that when he was starting out he liked coming up with new things, which were usually resisted by much older folk only to be proved wrong. This is how he had founded MNP because his ideas were always being shot down at the government metal works factory. He therefore decided to give the young intern a chance. “If you come up with one in a week’s time you have all my support!”
Lumu quickly got to work. He looked up his notes and saw he could develop such an apparatus based on the latest technology. With the help of some of his schoolmates he worked on the new device, day and night. Shortly after a week he had a prototype ready for trials.
The old technician walked up to it full of skepticism. However, when he stepped on the lever and was able to wash his hands without touching anything, he nodded to Haji Musa
“Yes, It works!”
“But there is no money to spend on this new flimsy idea,” the accountant came up and poured cold water on the new invention.
“I shall go to the bank and raise what we need,” Haji Musa countered.
After the marketing team had tasted the invention and found demand they baptized the new device “Musa Fast Cleaner”! It proved to be a game changer, as it was marketed aggressively in institutions all over the country where it easily sold out like hot cakes. Once on a verge of closing MNP grew exponentially as many businesses were closing shop.
The salvation of MNP lies in one fact: innovation. If MNP had not innovated it would certainly have closed down, as many businesses have as a result of the pandemic. For business and organizations reeling from the effects of the pandemic, innovation is going to be the key to their survival, as we see here.
Organizations must create that atmosphere inducive to new ideas. They should encourage staff to come up with new proposals, even those considered radical. They must be willing to venture out in the unknown!
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