Competition among developed and developing countries is getting more intense. Every nation aspires to introduce innovations that will drive the global economy.
As a developing country, Indonesia must still catch up with this progress. This issue is reflected in the “ASEAN Journal of CI-EL and Applied Philosophy,” officially released by the UGM Faculty of Philosophy on Tuesday (5/9).
CI-EL, which stands for Creativity, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Leadership, is one of the methods for enhancing entrepreneurial competitiveness. The government has set a target of 4 million entrepreneurs by 2024 as the backbone of Indonesia’s economy.
Various efforts are being made to stimulate the growth of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Unfortunately, the competitiveness and resilience of MSMEs remain problematic.
“If we only focus on industrialization but do not carry out industrialization at the village or micro level, we will fail to compete. When it comes to business, if we are not creative and innovative and do not become leaders, we are not smart enough to compete,” said Hermawan Kertajaya, Founder and President of MCorp.
“So, CI-EL needs to be emphasized so businesses care about the welfare of society and the environment, not just the business itself.”
Kertajaya emphasized that the CI-EL concept will coexist with PI-PM (Productivity, Improvement, Professionalism, and Management) as the technological foundation. One example is the development of AI.
Considering the debates about AI potentially replacing human work, humans should be able to position themselves as AI users. Indonesia’s work culture currently focuses on workers as executors rather than initiators. However, technological developments will always strive to replace workers as executors.
“This is what the CI-EL concept brings. So, if you are someone with extraordinary abilities but only play a small part in a company without taking the initiative, the company will fall. Companies that can survive in this era are not only those with creative leaders, but also anyone working under them must have a high level of initiative,” he added.
Professor Lasiyo, a UGM Faculty of Philosophy lecturer, also discussed Indonesia’s challenges in competing in the business world.
“To achieve maximum results in business, several things are often overlooked. Inequality, injustice, job security, and abuse of power mostly hinder the creative process of workers,” said Professor Lasiyo.
“If we compare ourselves to China, they have a work culture based on five pillars: humanity, justice, courtesy, knowledge, and integrity. This culture leads them to build businesses emphasizing attitudes and relationships to strengthen business.”
Moreover, the professor explained that the main foundation of China’s economy is households or families. China started with small units, such as families, to initiate change and implement integrity.
As a result, the cultivation of culture occurs intimately and takes root firmly until a person matures. This process continues, forming workers’ loyal souls, having integrity, and striving to innovate with high competitiveness.
The ASEAN Journal of CI-EL and Applied Philosophy covers potential steps ASEAN countries can take to enhance global entrepreneurial competitiveness. Furthermore, collaboration between academics and corporations is crucial to support and complement each other.
It is hoped that this collaboration can contribute as a basis for strengthening entrepreneurship at the national level.
Author: Tasya