I totally agree that this is the time where we need to re-evaluate, define our path and look for examples of good practice.

However the elephant in the room is the question of whether 'growth' is actually good - and I think Haque should have addressed that during the talk rather than waiting for a question. I totally agree with first questioner from the audience. And I don't think that Haque answers the point fully enough.

Haque's 5 principles are interesting, and I think they're on target. But I think that most of the examples he uses to illustrate points are terrible!

Apple & Nike
I don't believe in holding Apple & Nike up as an example of companies that embody the principles of renewal, peace, equity, meaning and democracy. I don't think anyone who is present in the room when a consumer product like an iPod is developed would ever believe so.
When discussing 'perceived value' - isn't Apple the ultimate 'perceived value' brand? Is there a real value to having a new iPod vs the previous one?

Walker's
I disagree that Walker's asking people to vote on a crisp flavour is really democracy in action. Choosing the right 'fade' of jeans is perhaps interaction but at what meaningful level? I really, really like Etsy. But it's an example of a culture that previously existed in markets and craft fairs, brought online.

I think there are many more interesting examples out there that could have been used. One is the RepRap, a 3D-printing tool that is designed to be able to replicate itself, putting the power of manufacture in the hands of individuals. Another is the open-source chip design system Arduino. I think there are others that are genuine examples of new business structures rather than good branding.

Google's "don't be evil" pledge
CSR is not a new thing. Google is not the only company with a brand statement.

Why don't big corporations do the cool things that startups do?
It's unreasonable to take the example of a startup like Tata and ask 'Why didn't a big company do that?' because *most* startups fail. If all big companies acted like startups you would see far more randomness, unpredictable behaviour and non-sustainable activity in the market than you do now.

Please don't pick the recent survivors of what can be a random process as examples of future 'good behaviour'.

Nike+
Nike+ is not anti-marketing. It was designed specifically to create more user-hours with Nike. If you have ever worked in the marketing industry you will see that instantly! That's not to say it's a 'bad' idea - it's a very good one. But it's not an example of anti-marketing.

Overall I was both inspired and infuriated by this talk.

The questions that the talk could have covered:
What is it that fosters innovation?
What is an innovative model that can truly improve our society?
Is innovation possible without rampant competition?
Is growth that makes our lives more interesting possible without producing chaotic economies and harming the planet?
You cannot create new markets or have innovation without technological change.
If there is no technological shift in your market you cannot necessarily improve it.
So what should you do?

@Robert Laing. Agreed. I made a relevant comment over here.

tinyurl.com/df8skw

"Girls play videogames now too, because of the Nintendo Wii"...?

Really good talk, but that bit was just insulting.

@Robert Laing:
(although you replied more than a year ago...)
The RepRap is not a good example as it is not so much a company bringing in democracy as it is a product on its own. And with your comparison between Etsy and the traditional market, I think the same can be said of RepRap. But than again, Haque should not try to find something new, or invent the wheel all over again, as perhaps this traditional market is very close to what our economy should look like. I do not see a problem in this.

I also think technological changes are not needed for markets to change. Twitter for example was not dependent on technological advances, as it could have be done years earlier. It is acting on current trends, which are not solely formed by technological development, as well as economical and social developments.

I do agree some of those companies are not that good of examples, but Haque did say that Apple only embodied two of the five principles, and not all of them like you've stated.