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B.K. NARAYANA SWAMY
Distance Education Unit, Directorate of Extension, UAS, Hebbal, Bangalore-560024, Karnataka.
Biotechnology is emerging as a millennium tool in Agriculture. The trends for adoption of emerged scientific revolutions in biotechnology needs to be focused for effective development, dissemination and utilization of technologies pertaining to biotechnology. Market feasibility, market stability, cost, profit consistency, compatibility, visibility, trial ability and demonstrability have to be considered while developing the appropriate technologies. Capacity building, skill development, effective communication skills, training, human resource development, effective programme planning needs to be strengthened among the biotechnology professionals by utilizing the seven orchestrated, concerted comprehensive Narayana’s wheel model.
New plant breeding techniques, biotechnology adoption, Narayana’s wheel model.
The nineteenth century as an era of industrial revolution, 20th century is golden age of electronics and 21st century emerged as biotechnological revolution. However, five Scientific Revolutions have emerged in the world during this millennium like (1) Genetic Engineering and ability to use this understanding to develop new process and products in biotechnology. (2) Eco-technology and blending of best traditional knowledge with frontier technologies in biotechnology. (3) Information technology and its rapid growth in the systematic assimilation and timely dissemination to the concerned professional. (4) Motivation techniques for efficient utilization of available biotechnology innovations by ultimate users. (5) Need for appropriate policies to biotechnology development, technology dissemination and technology utilization. Hence, it is desirable to know the details of trends for adoption of emerged scientific revolutions in biotechnology.
Techniques for introduction of novel traits more precisely in plants often without introduction of foreign genetic materials known as new plant breeding techniques is also not properly addressed by the biotechnology plant scientists. However, the several research and evaluation studies conducted in India revealed that utilization of new plant breeding techniques in plant science is far from satisfactory in different parts of the country. However,
Narayana’s Innovation Attributes Lotus Model (Fig.1) explains four attributes with seven sub components under each for appropriateness of new plant breeding techniques in plant science to adopt like Relative advantage, Compatibility, Practibility and Complexity for livelihood security in the emerging global order. (A) Relative Advantage: Is the degree to which an innovation of new plant breeding techniques is superior to the idea it supersedes. It can be explained with seven sub items like.
(1) Market feasibility: as the extent of market demand for the product derived out of new plant breeding techniques innovation and also the extent of scope for marketing product. (2) Market stability: as the consistency of market price and demand of product derived out of new plant breeding techniques Innovation. (3) Cost: is of two types, initial cost and continuing cost. Initial cost represents the capital investment required for adoption of new plant breeding techniques innovation. Further, the cash or inputs required for subsequent years use of new plant breeding techniques innovation is termed as continuing cost. (4) Net Profit: as the quantum of monetary benefit obtained by an individual through adoption of new plant breeding techniques innovation. (5) Profit consistency: denotes the regularity of net returns obtained by an individual or group of individuals over a period of time by adoption of a new plant breeding techniques innovation. (6) Utility potential: as the degree to which the multiple use potential of a new plant breeding techniques innovation to an individual or group of individuals through adoption of new plant breeding techniques innovations. (7) Time saving: Indicates the best efficiency of a new plant breeding techniques innovation in terms of saving time in different aspects. (B) Compatibility: a new plant breeding techniques innovation is consistent with past experiences, existing values, and future plans of the adopters of plant science technologies. Compatibility is divided into seven sub groups like (1) Cultural compatibility: a new plant breeding techniques innovation is consistent with the values and norms of the society. (2) Social compatibility: denotes prestige gain or esteem by individual in the society through adoption of a new plant breeding techniques innovation. (3) Physical compatibility: a new plant breeding techniques innovation is consistent and should fit into the needs and interests of the adopters. (4) Psychological compatibility: New plant breeding techniques innovation usefulness as perceived by the members of social system. (5) Situational compatibility: denotes consistency and harmony of the new plant breeding techniques innovation with previous practices followed by adopters. (6) Relational compatibility: a new plant breeding techniques innovation can be adopted independently by the adopters just like other practices. (7) Anticipated compatibility: A new plant breeding techniques innovation should be consistent with the future ideas of the adopter over a period of time. (C) Practibility: a new plant breeding techniques innovation of plant science can be easily communicated, tested, demonstrated and practiced. (1) Point of origin: Indicates the credibility of the source from where the new plant breeding techniques innovation originated. (2) Access to advice: For implementation of new plant breeding techniques innovation, its extent of availability of original and detailed information for guidance and clearing doubts that arise while implementing it. (3) Visibility: the results of a new plant breeding techniques innovation are visible.
(4) Trialability: The degree to which new plant breeding techniques innovation can be tried on a small scale. (5) Mastery: The practice of a new plant breeding techniques innovation could be learned or mastered in a short period of time. (6) Demonstrability: a new plant breeding techniques innovation can be demonstrated to members of social system easily. (7) Communicability: The information about the new plant breeding techniques innovation can be diffused to members of the social system easily and speedily. (D) Complexity: a new plant breeding techniques innovation of plant science is relatively difficult to understand and use. (1) Failure probability: a new plant breeding techniques innovation chances of failure and uncertainity of results after its adoption. (2)
Discomfort saving: Represents avoidance of physical discomfort may be derived by adoption of a new plant breeding techniques innovation. (3) Resource complexity: difficulty in getting the necessary inputs and other resources for the application of a new plant breeding techniques innovation. (4) Reversibility: degree of ease with which the new plant breeding techniques innovation can be replaced in case of its failure. (5) Work efficiency: the adoption of new plant breeding techniques innovation saves labour or increase the available labour efficiency.
(6) Cognitive complexity: an extent of relative difficulty in understanding a new plant breeding techniques innovation. (7) Application complexity: relative difficulty of a new plant breeding techniques innovations use and application on the farm.
Capacity building among biotechnology plant scientists is too complex phenomenon to be explained by a single factor. However, Narayana’s Wheel Model (Fig.2) explains combination of seven components for capacity building among biotechnology plant scientists viz. Innovativeness, Decision making ability, Achievement motivation, Information seeking ability, Risk taking ability, Coordinating ability and Leadership ability. The combined contribution of the above seven factors to an individual behavior is being expressed in terms of capacity building among biotechnology professionals, so far attention given is limited.
(1) Innovativeness: Considered as socio-psychological orientation of a biotechnology plant scientists closely associated with change, adopting new ideas and practices. An individual biotechnology plant scientist adopts new ideas relatively earlier than others in his/her organization. However, innovativeness in professionals is very essential to motivate others for adoption of new plant breeding techniques in plant science. (2) Decision making ability: Considered as the nature of decision making either individually or consulting with others while performing new plant breeding techniques in plant science activities. It is the degree to which an individual justifies his selection of most efficient means from among the available alternatives on the basis of scientific criteria for achieving maximum profits. Hence, decision making ability is very important among biotechnology plant scientists to motivate professional for adoption of new plant breeding techniques in plant science. (3) Achievement motivation:
Every biotechnology plant scientist has a desire to achieve certain things in life. Achievement motivation is considered as the extent to which an individual is oriented towards maximizing profits. Achievement motivation as a social value that emphasizes a desire for excellence in order for biotechnology plant scientists to attain a sense of personal accomplishment. So achievement motivation increases efficiency of biotechnology professionals in use of new plant breeding techniques in plant science. (4) Information seeking ability: It refers to the frequency of contact by biotechnology plant scientist with various information sources. This is the pattern by which a biotechnology plant scientist gets his/ her information either on his/her own seeking or as a consequence of his/ her being a part of the network. This component is important for use of new plant breeding techniques in plant science by professionals. (5) Risk taking ability: Some biotechnology plant scientists take more risk, some others take moderate risk and many biotechnology plant scientists hesitate to take risk. Risk taking ability considered as individual orientation towards risk and uncertainity in adopting new ideas and courage to face the problems. Use of new plant breeding techniques in plant science demands ability to take risk by professionals.
(6) Coordinating ability: In order to complete the required work in stipulated period, a biotechnology plant scientist has to harmonize and synchronize the various activities for better profit. It is an individual co-ordinates action in a time dimension. This ability helps to increase the efficiency of professional in motivating biotechnology plant scientists for adoption of new plant breeding techniques in plant science. (7) Leadership ability: To get things done properly, a plant scientist has to initiate the action, motivate the followers and decision should be taken. It is an individual initiates or motivates the action of the other fellows. Hence, leadership ability is an important component in biotechnology professional to motivate plant scientists for adoption of new plant breeding techniques in plant science.
To meet the requirement of emerged scientific revolutions the biotechnology plant scientists concerned should be trained properly. To train biotechnology plant scientists specific skills are required for conducting an effective training. The skill as ability to do things, to effectively apply knowledge and personal aptitudes and attitudes in work situation. However, the concept of skill
concerns the ability to use ones knowledge effectively and rapidly in execution of performance and more generally it is an acquired power of doing something competently. Further, skills notably professional skills are becoming increasingly important. Biotechnology today calls for professional skills in its application. Seven skills are identified for effectiveness among biotechnology plant scientists. However, Narayana’s Wheel Model (Fig.3) describes seven orchestrated, concerted comprehensible skills required among biotechnology plant scientists for efficiency like (1) Technical Skill is the ability of the biotechnology plant scientist to use any technique or method or equipment or product or process as a tool in the context of new plant breeding techniques in plant science. (2) Human Skill is the ability of biotechnology plant scientists in motivating other professional involved in new plant breeding techniques in plant science with thorough understanding while working with them as a team. (3) Conceptual Skill is the ability of biotechnology plant scientists coordinating and integrating all the activities of new plant breeding techniques with visionary outlook. (4) Managerial Skill is the ability of biotechnology plant scientists in planning, organizing, directing, leading, reporting and budgeting and reviewing the work of other professional involved in new plant breeding techniques in plant science. (5) Design Skill is the ability of biotechnology plant scientists in finding out a workable solution to problems through new plant breeding techniques requires deliberate efforts to develop solution. (6) Creative Skill is the ability of biotechnology plant scientists in generating new ideas or in doing things already done in a new way through new plant breeding techniques in plant science. (7) Communicative Skill is the ability of the biotechnology plant scientists to adopt technologies at different levels using series of new plant breeding techniques over a period of time.
Good communication does not consist merely of giving orders but of creating understanding. It does not consist merely of imparting of knowledge but to help biotechnology plant scientists to gain a clear view of the meaning of knowledge. It is therefore, the responsibility of professionals involved in generation of new plant breeding techniques in plant science to familiarize themselves to become effective communicators. However, Narayana’s Wheel Model (Fig.4) explains seven orchestrated concerted comprehensible in the system for
effective communication. (1) Credibility: Climate of belief, earnest desire of new plant breeding techniques in plant science. (2) Context: Realities of the situation must provide for participation and playback for new plant breeding techniques in plant science. (3) Content: The new plant breeding techniques message must have meaning for the biotechnology plant Scientist and the content determines the plant scientist. (Vice-versa). (4) Clarity: The new plant breeding techniques message must be put in simple term, words must mean the same thing to the biotechnology plant scientist as they do to the other professional. (5) Channels: Established channels of communication which biotechnology plant scientists respects must be used for promotion of new plant breeding techniques in plant science. (6) Consistency: Communication is an unending process for biotechnology plant scientists. However, it requires repetition of new plant breeding techniques in plant science to achieve penetration, it should be consistent. (7) Capability: This refers to availability, habit, ability and Knowledge of biotechnology plant scientist. Much misunderstanding results from faulty communication. Too many biotechnology plant scientists saying the wrong things at the wrong time, in the wrong ways, to the wrong professional slows progress. What is needed is more biotechnology plant scientists saying right things, at the right time, in the right ways to the right professional. This is a formula for good and effective communication. The new plant breeding techniques in plant science promoter is actually a motivator, needs devotion and full identification with the biotechnology plant scientists, which are pre-requisites for success.
Training is a planned and systematic effort to increase biotechnology professional competency. Further, to enable the biotechnology plant scientists to increase knowledge, to improve skills, to inculcate appropriate attitude and develop appropriate attributes to serve better. Several training models are used by the organizations to influence the biotechnology professional to make desirable changes in their behaviour to achieve the objectives of the organization. Further, observed that training is a building process, to reflect this, a good course is organized in ascending order of complexity. However, understanding of modern biotechnology and deliver it to users in a usuable form along with monitoring of activities needed to implement and evaluate its usefulness are urgently needed. The information has to be integrated with
available communication methods to suit the resource positions of institutions and time following the integration. Further, good linkages have to be established with inter and intra system of biotechnology plant scientists in organizations. However, experience gained in training so far indicates that mere development of conceptual understanding and an operational plan based on it may not be adequate. Training has to be made to work. This can happen only when all the three parties involved in training like organization, trainer and trainee – join in their effort and make it to work. An important issue facing us is commitment to training. This is required and it is seldom well realized. Hence, there is a need for knowledge of training models to train biotechnology professionals in plant science. The Narayana’s Model of training process (Fig.5) for training biotechnology plant scientists, explains training process may be a temporary system but the trainer and trainee both learn through various opportunities available for checking their effectiveness. This also explains training as an interdependent and interrelated process. Here lot of opportunity is given for independent and intervening variables to become dependent variables. Hence, this model helps to increase the efficiency of biotechnology professionals in plant science and to develop competency among biotechnology plant scientists. The process of training must start by questioning the basic assumption which has governed our training approach. So an analysis of SWOT i.e. , Strength Weakness and Other Things called for to enable as to have new conceptualization. The training of biotechnology plant scientists during the millennium must take in to account the needs of broad based plant science to introduce greater professional competence.
During the last five decades of development, growth of developing countries is directly related to their human resource bases. The countries which have given good performance are the countries which have made significant investments in Human Resource Development (HRD) of biotechnology professional. There is an over whelming evidence that human capital is one of the key factors for adoption of new plant breeding techniques in plant science in Developed countries. Further, HRD is widely regarded as the single most important resource for faster adoption being attempted in the developing countries. Hence, there is need for training to develop human resource at various levels in biotechnology
institutions for efficient use of new plant breeding techniques in plant science. Hence, Human resources are assuming increasing significance during the millennium. However, experience in the past has indicated that HRD among biotechnology professional is lacking in our country as revealed by large number of research and evaluation studies. How it should be done is explained in Narayana’s Algebraic Model of HRD (Fig. 6) among professionals. HRD = HRS + HRT + HRU i.e., HRD = HR (S+T+U) i.e., Selection of Human Resource, Training of Human Resource and using of Human Resource profitably are urgently needed for adoption of emerging new plant breeding techniques. This is a challenge that needs to be tackled immediately.
Biotechnology plant scientists should have effective programme planning and execution for adoption of emerging new plant breeding techniques in plant science. However, Narayana’s Wheel Model (Fig.7) explains seven important steps in programme planning through (1) Analyzing the situation, (2) Identifying problems, (3) Finding solutions, (4) Deciding objectives, (5) Plan of work, (6) Execution of plan and (7) Evaluate the
Fig. 4. Seven Orchestrated, Concerted, Comprehen-sible shown on the Wheel
effectiveness of new plant breeding techniques in plant science programmes concurrently at the end of a year. The strong and weak points identified may be considered in revising the subsequent programmes to promote new plant breeding techniques in plant science. The evaluation report prepared must reach large number of biotechnology plant scientists and organizations in the locality and in similar outside locations. However, the experience in the past has revealed that for effectiveness it should answer to local plant scientist needs. To achieve this aim a process of extensive consultation with the concerned target group of biotechnology plant scientists is required.
A dynamic trend needs to be provided to cater the needs of different categories of biotechnology plant scientists. The country needs to be mapped out for immediate growth potential areas in new plant breeding techniques and future growth potential areas in biotechnologies. Governmental system need to be reoriented with proper POSDCORB (Planning, Organizing, Staffing, Directing, Coordinating, Reporting And Budgeting) individual biotechnology plant scientist need to be educated to use the available technology in a planned way for maximization of profit.
