Final Reflectoins ? Israel is som much more than history and religion ...

My Changing Definition of Israel

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What do you think of when you think of Israel? Until taking Business, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship in Israel, I simply thought of Israel as the ?homeland??a place full of sacred sights, artifacts, and history surrounding my religion. I also saw Israel as a place constantly at odds with its neighbors; thus, constantly marred by images of violence and conflict. This semester I learned Israel represents more than the ?homeland,? and definitely more than a central area of conflict. Israel is a breeding ground for innovation. The cell phone, microprocessors for powering computers, windows XP, the Pill Cam and other products either governing or bettering our everyday lives come from Israel.

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The history behind these high levels of innovation proves incredibly interesting to me. The overall ability to create stems from the changes in the economy, government initiatives, requirements of military service, and high levels of education. This ability comes from the evolution of Israeli society as a whole, not just one small piece of it. As I worked to prove in my paper, innovation in the high tech sector in Israel creates a domino effect. In addition to stimulating the economy, this innovation spurs investment my companies in other industry sectors, such as consumer packaged goods, foods, and retail. Israel?s ?comparative advantage?? according to Saul Singer, the ability to solve world problems and create start-ups out of the solution?put Israel on the economic map. This advantage makes Israel a necessary place for companies to invest or do business with.

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Going Beyond Israel and the Classroom

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The value of this class goes beyond altering my view of Israel and giving me knowledge of the evolution of innovation in Israel. The class provided me an opportunity to see concepts I learned in other classes come to life. For example, at Google and Intel I saw how a working environment stimulates creativity. Harold Wiener from CleanTech took Maslow?s Hierarchy of Needs from the textbook to the real business world. I believe I am better prepared to apply class concepts to actual work having now seen others do the same.

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Overcoming Israel?s Image

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Lastly, I want to highlight the concept of the class that has resonated the most with me: public perception. How can Israel overcome the negative way in which the media generally portrays it? Can Israel ever overcome this image? When doing research for my briefing book, I read an article discussing the need for the government, companies, and Israelis in general to move away from the image of violence and conflict by forming a clear and coordinated message regarding Israel?s economic successes. In my mind, however, this clear message already exists. Every company and governmental institution our class traveled to in Israel mentioned the breadth of innovation within the country?s boarders.

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I personally believe that Israel will never fully be able to negate the effects of geopolitical conflict on its public image. Israel is at odds with closed nations?ones in which the rulers have control over what information flows through the media. The level of control these rulers have and failure of international media to search deeper into stories regarding conflicts will leave Israel in a negative media light. I do believe that government, companies, and Israeli people can make strides in reducing the effect of such reporting. Making these strides involves focusing methods through which the rest of the world hears the message of Israel?s economic successes.

No Longer Just the Homeland

?I will always think of Israel as the ?homeland? and reminisce on the sense of belonging that grasps me when I visit. Israel, however, will to me also be a place where the dominos fall?a place where one industry stimulates investment in other industries as well. Israel represents a place of business necessity not just opportunity. I now view Israel in terms of the ?clear message? described above constantly ponder how the country will ever fully overcome its negative image.

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Jen ? Olin Business School ? Sophomore ? Pennsylvania

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