Elimination Strategy of New Zealand: A road map for a Startup Model?
There is a whole chatter revolving around the quarantine being responsible for driving major changes across the geographies. Priorities have been set straight, the real cracks in the system have been exposed. With the realization of the dependency on the healthcare sectors, or the understanding the difference sensitization can make over 80 odd days, it seems like we have exhausted all the possible think piece angles to this pandemic situation.
Or have we?
While one can list numerous takeaways from the entire COVID-19 situation, there has been a sector that remains relatively untapped. The mitigation strategies of the different geographies. There is an underlying road map in terms of mitigation strategies when it comes to dealing with the pandemic. While the pandemic as a whole has been a wide awakening, let’s take a look at one of the strategies that seem to fit the bill in terms of adoption, even a world beyond the pandemic, specifically the startup ecosystem.
Elimination strategy
Elimination strategy in epidemiological terms means bringing cases down to zero or near zero in a geographical location. There still will be cases, but the ones which can be traced back to the origins thereby, containing the epidemic.
New Zealand now appears to be the only “western” nation following an articulated elimination strategy. While the world struggles to find footing while navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, the country on its surface seems to have successfully managed to map out a plan for the world to follow.
With operations open within the country, flagging a 4 day work week, educational institutions open for operations, New Zealand seems to have recovered effectively from a pandemic which continues to wreak havoc across the geographies.
The Parallels
Many might argue that the New Zealand Government’s approach towards the pandemic was in sync with a startup model. Here’s how
- Problem identification
While the origins of the virus are still unknown, the elimination strategy thrives on the concept of going back to the origin and addressing the root cause of the problem.
Much like a startup business model, where the innovation lies in the identification of the problem statement and driving solutions based on those observations. This strategy in its core resonates directly with the startup ecosystem.
- Digital transformation
New Zealand’s effective use of technology for the development of NZ COVID has helped the citizens and government alike to protect themselves and the community by enabling faster contact tracing. NZ COVID Tracer supports this by creating a digital diary of the places you visit. Fast and effective contact tracing is essential to stop any further spread of COVID-19 in New Zealand.
Parallelly, the future of the startup ecosystem’s lies in the digitization of the resources available. Right from enabling operational efficiency through effective tools, keeping up with the technological capabilities across the geographies,, digital transformation is key to the effective and integrated ecosystem.
- Dynamic Leadership
The driver of this pandemic response strategy lies with high-quality political leadership. The decisive and humane leadership of Ardern was instrumental in New Zealand’s rapid change in direction with its response to Covid-19 and the remarkably efficient.
Much like startups, where while the success lies in the mobilization of the entire unit, it’s predominantly set by the visionary at the helm of the organization. From being a representative of the brand that is your company to emulating the same loyalty within your pers, the leadership of a workplace tends to decode the dynamics of the functioning of the environment.
- Plan
The strategies being adopted by the New Zealand Government in terms of Relief packages, Testing kits and set a road map not only to combat the present-day trials of the endemic but also a survival plan for the future.
Similarly, while hitting the problem at the head with solution-based innovation sets the tone of the startup, it’s the sustainability model that makes it successful in the long run. Considering the cash flow, product vision, brand management, investment management, corporate development, and coming up with a robust yet dynamic plan holds the key to a promising venture.
Transparency and commitment to the cause are primary drivers behind the elimination strategy working out for the geography, which is New Zealand, which does not steer too far away from the landscape that startups operate in.
There is always a silver lining, where you choose to look, which is what makes the difference.
As with all future scenarios, optimism must be balanced with caution and the world as well as the startup ecosystem will almost certainly need new tools such as vaccines and antivirals for the pandemic and innovative solutions for the startups as a long term solution.
For now, these are deductions being made from the strategies in place.
