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Singapore: The Missing T in Creativity

This is a nicely written piece by Stephen McElhinney reflecting on the challenges faced by Singapore in its attempts to become more creative as a nation.

The “Missing T” refers to Richard Florida’s three T’s required to jump start a creative economy: Technology, Talent and Tolerance. McElhinney argues that Singapore’s key challenge is the historical suppression of the last T.

On the subject of tolerance, here’s a nice quote from Max DePree, former CEO of Herman Miller Inc.:

“If you want the best things to happen in corporate life, you have to find ways to be hospitable to the unusual person. You don’t get innovation as a democratic process.”