Necessity is the mother of invention — what this means is that the primary driving force for most inventions, from the biggest to the smallest, is a need. This also applies to ideas, for, are not ideas also born out of need?
In London, a company has loaned two buses to the National Health Service (NHS). These buses have been converted into ambulances by having most of their seats taken out. Each now can transport four patients at a time and both are equipped with various medical equipment. The move is apparently in order to relieve the intense pressure on hospitals and the London ambulance service.
Pivotal moments like wars or pandemics tend to speed up change and leave a lasting impression on us. They bring about change as people begin to think outside the box to solve problems that arise. Covid-19 has done just that. The pandemic has reshaped many things.
The first to change were our behaviours. We have had to live with new norms such as wearing face masks everywhere we go, carrying bottles of hand sanitiser with us and doing almost everything online, whether its shopping, meeting, learning or even watching plays.
The world has certainly become more digital thanks to Covid-19. Businesses have to adapt to this if they want to stay afloat. They have had to embrace online strategies, and create and promote online vehicles or face extinction. Brick-and-mortar retail shops are slowly disappearing, metaphorically.
Adapting to change and thinking of out-of-the-box solutions to survive, despite the odds, is the way forward. And, it need not be complicated solutions. It is just like the example of the NHS buses in London being turned into ambulances. That was a simple and practical solution to a huge problem.
With our healthcare services on the brink of collapse with the number of Covid-19 infections and the infectivity still being so high, we could do with solutions like that. Our Health Ministry may want to consider something like this.
School buses are not being used now because schools are closed to all but those who will be sitting for their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia 2020 examinations soon. So, why not use these buses? The bus drivers could also earn some money to tide them over while the Movement Control Order (MCO) is in effect. During times of national crises — and, indeed, this is a global one — we need to think out of the box and innovative ideas like that can help us manage Covid-19 better.
This is just one idea, there are many others. We should explore, be brave. Equally as important is that the authorities should listen to those who are making suggestions and not just dismiss the ideas right off the bat.
Economists say that thinking outside the box is required to endure a prolonged crisis. In fact, Malaysia Global Business Forum founding chairman Nordin Abdullah says innovation and resilience from all stakeholders are required to shape a positive and sustainable future.
A good reason, then, for us to look to innovate as much as possible.