Title: MANAGING INNOVATION
1MANAGING INNOVATION
2MANAGING INNOVATION
- Introduction
- What is invention and innovation
- Different types of innovations
- Models of innovation
3THE IMPORTANCE OF INNOVATION
Corporations must be able to change, adapt and evolve if they wish to survive By 1994-95, 275 books published in US had the word innovation in their titles .. not to innovate is to die - Christopher Freeman Though the term is now embedded in our language What is meant by innovation? Do we fully understand the concept? To what extend is this understanding shared? Is a scientists view of innovation the same or different from that of an accountant in the same company? Why are some business more innovative than the others? Is innovation at the heart of all companies activities?
4THE IMPORTANCE OF INNOVATION
Certain companies that have established themselves as technical and market leaders have demonstrated an ability to develop successful new products and to innovate MARKET LEADERS
Industry Market leaders ?
Aerospace Airbus, Boeing
Pharmaceuticals Pfizer, GSK, Novartis
Motor cars Toyota, BMW
Computers software development Microsoft, SAP, Intel
5THE IMPORTANCE OF INNOVATION
IMPORTANT TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS
YEAR NEW PRODUCT COMPANY
1930s PE ICI
1945 Ballpoint pen Reynolds Intl Pen
1950s Float glass -manufacturing process Pilkington
1970/80s Zantac GlaxoSmithKline
1970/80s Photocopying Xerox
1980s PC Apple Computer
1980/90s Windows 95 Microsoft
1995 Viagra Pfizer
2000s Cell phones Nokia
6THE IMPORTANCE OF INNOVATION
QUESTION Not all firms develop innovative new products, but they still seem to survive. Do they thrive?
7THE IMPORTANCE OF INNOVATION
How a number of different disciplines contribute to our understanding of the innovation process.
8DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Creativity
Creativity is the key to making change Creativity is not a gift for a chosen few. Virtually everyone is borne with creativity and uses it extensively during childhood While we dont all have the same amount or type of creativity, we use substantial more than a friction, perhaps 10, of their natural creativity every day Creativity has little connection to IQ, sex, age or any other demographic factors Most people can tap into more of their natural creativity by learning a few basic process skills and by using these skills deliberately to uncondition themselves.
9DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Creativity
How our attitudes suppress Creativity 1/2
- We try too hard to get along with others instead
of trying to introduce fresh facts and points of
view. - We feel a need to account for all our actions
instead of visualizing the future or playing with
ideas. - Wishing to be seen as practical and economical,
we often judge less than perfect ideas too
quickly. - We worry about expressing doubt or ignorance or
asking Why about things that everyone accepts
we try to be polite and not placing others on the
defensive. - We favour the adversarial approach to making
decisions and resolving issues like the
adversarial nature of the courtroom and the
political arena. Developing a good solution
becomes secondary, we think how to win at all
costs.
10DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Creativity
How our attitudes suppress Creativity2/2
- We desire the safety of the known and familiar
instead of venturing new ideas. - Because we know too much about our work, we often
squelch open-minded consideration of new ideas. - Reluctant to admit that others ideas are better
than our own, we reject attempts to improve our
ideas. Accepting an improvement would be like
admitting that our original idea was wrong. - We are unable to built on imperfect ideas trying
to have the perfect idea otherwise we wont go
ahead.
11DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Creativity
How our behaviors suppress Creativity1/2
- Because we fear appearing foolish, we do anything
to avoid making mistakes and looking bad. - Our distrust of others motives makes us hesitant
about sharing information or venturing new ideas. - Rather than solve the real problem, we go with
the first available solution and fail to uncover
better possibilities. - Believing there is one right answer to any
problem, we are content to stop with a workable
solution.
12DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Creativity
How our behaviors suppress Creativity2/2
- We try to solve a problem immediately we lack
the confidence to let the problem incubate for a
time. We feel that, if we dont solve the problem
immediately, we have somehow failed. - We feel compelled to solve a problem directly
instead of taking apparently off-course detours. - After finding a workable solution, we fail to
drive the problem solving process through to
implementation. - We are too quick to assume that something cannot
be done or that a problem cannot be solved. Avoid
negative attitudes toward problems at all costs.
13DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Creativity
How our thought processes suppress Creativity1/2
- When evaluating a new idea, we often rely too
heavily on our mental processes instead of
physically trying out the idea. try it, youll
like it - Rather than strive for a clear interpretation of
the facts, we often make assumptions based on
preconceived ideas, or categorize based on our
experience and hearsay. Better to leave aside
assumptions and start with the facts. - We are inflexible and rely too much in our biased
view of the world. A mental rigidity which
kills creativity. - During problem solving we are unable to separate
the underlying key facts from the apparent
symptoms, or separate cause from effect. We
assume that we already know the real problem.
14DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Creativity
How our thought processes suppress Creativity2/2
- We discuss problems in language that we assume
others will understand we use jargon and
ambiguous terminology. - We take on enormous problems without separating
them into smaller components. - Hung upon the smaller components of a problem, we
lose sight of the large challenge. we lose
sight of the forest for the tree. - If information lacks a clear connection to
everyday activities, we prematurely discard it as
irrelevant. Gee, I cant see what this new
information has to do with my work. - Believing that problem solving is complicated, we
fail to see the obvious. Children are excellent
problem solvers because they are see nothing as
being too obvious.
15DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Creativity
What happens without a Creative process1/4
- Getting bogged down (ßa?t?????)
- Inter-functional teams formed to tackle a common
problem often bog down, for various reasons - Trusting myself and my colleagues, e.g.
- I fear asking for help as it might be seen as
incompetence - I dont dare mention my real problem before my
fellow managers. That would be displaying
weakness - I dont think the groups members trust one
another enough to share what is really going on - What if the solution doesnt work?
- This is too radical-what will headquarters say
16DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Creativity
What happens without a Creative process2/4
- Parlor discussion, which shows up as as the
following - Whats the point of having a good solution if you
are unwilling to implement it? - Talking about it is one thing doing it is
another - Wanting a new management style, but.. which
shows up as - Afraid of straying into unfamiliar territory
- Preference of the relative safety of the firms
admittedly poor but more customary approach
17DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Creativity
What happens without a Creative process3/4
- Change fearful or fearless, which appears as
follows - We need more participatory management at all
levels of the company - We want employees to feel that they are also
owners of the company - How do we train senior management in this applied
creative process and get them to use it on a
daily basis? - I want employee involvement. But if I allow too
much leeway (pa?????s?) for self-management and
creativity, I dont know where employees will
take it - Deep down, we fear getting involved. We fear the
unknown. We might not be ready for more
innovation. - Id rather stick with the unacceptable solution
weve accepted for the last 5 years than take the
risk of trying a new idea even though it looks
good.
18DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Creativity
What happens without a Creative process4/4
- Sharing the risk, which shows up as
- Im afraid to report to my manager without having
everything pinned down - My manager talks a good game about not killing
ideas, but he challenges almost everything I say
as soon as Ive said it. I find myself choosing
my words carefully every time we speak and
getting ready to defend myself. - We have taken the problem as far as we can, but
will senior management be happy with our results? - How might we get senior management to share the
risk with us? - Good ideas and projects languish (µa?a??????) in
this system because people feel they have to
perfect their idea before they will share their
project. - I dont want to be told I didnt do my homework
- Unless a senor manager is willing to visibly use
this creative thinking process, no one else will.
19DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Creativity
Summary Creativity is a continuous process of discovering good problems, solving these problems, and implementing solution Adaptability requires creativity Everyone is borne with creativity, but its suppressed as we mature in 3 main ways Our attitudes Our behaviors Our thought processes By learning skills to unleash your innate creativity, you can dramatically improve your performance and make valuable change
20What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20
- Every problem is an opportunity for a creative
solution - The harder I work, the luckier I get!
- Find the intersection between your interests,
your skills, and the market - Try lots of things and keep what works.
- Dont wait to be anointed. Just do it!
- It is a very small world Dont burn bridges!
- It is the little things that matter most.
- Creativity is allowing yourself to make
mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.
Scott Adams
21THE IMPORTANCE OF INNOVATION
QUESTION Describe the role of individual in the innovation process? ANSWER Individuals play a key role in the innovation process They are define the problems, have ideas and perform creative linkages and associations that lead to innovations Their role as managers make them decide what activities should be undertaken the amount of resources to be deployed and how they should be carried out.
22DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY
Arguments and debates happen with all fields of management, so innovation management is not an exception This is particular true, when innovation is viewed as a single event rather than a process. BUT
23DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY
24DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Idea vs. Concept
What is an idea What is a concept Idea ? concept (i.e. concept generation)
25DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Idea vs. Concept
CONCEPT GENERATION
Ideas for new product or service concept can come
from sources within the organization, such as
staff, RD, and from sources outside the
organization, such as customers or competitors.
26DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Idea vs. Concept
CONCEPT GENERATION
Ideas for new product or service concept can come
from sources within the organization, such as
staff, RD, and from sources outside the
organization, such as customers or competitors.
27DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Idea vs. Concept
CONCEPT GENERATION
Ideas from Staff
Ideas from R D
Ideas from Competitors
Ideas from Customers
28DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Idea vs. Concept
CONCEPT GENERATION
Research to develop new knowledge and ideas in
order to solve a particular problem or to grasp
an opportunity. Development is the attempt to try
to utilize operationalize the ideas that come
from research Although Development sounds less
exciting than Research, it often requires as much
creativity and even more persistence
Ideas from R D
29DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Idea vs. Concept
CONCEPT GENERATION
Ideas from Competitors
Reverse Engineering
30DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Idea vs. Concept
- Reverse Engineering refers to carefully
dismantling and - inspecting a competitors product
- to understand how the competitor has made it
- to look for design features that can be
incorporated into your - own product
- Examples
- Product Ford used this approach successfully in
the Taurus - model, assessing 400 features of competitors
products and - copying, adapting or enhancing more than 300 of
them including Audis accelerator pedal, Toyotas
fuel-gauge accuracy, and BMWs tire and jack
storage - Service Maybe difficult to reverse engineering
(especially back-office services) as they are
less transparent to competitors. Some use
consumer testing, e.g. supermarkets investigate
new services such as delivery, telephone ordering.
31DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Idea vs. Concept
CONCEPT GENERATION
Ideas from Competitors
Reverse Engineering
- Focus groups
- Listening to the customers
Ideas from Customers
32DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Idea vs. Concept
- Focus group
- It typically comprises 7-10 participants who are
unfamiliar with each other - They have been selected because they have certain
characteristics in common that relate to the
particular topic - Participants are invited to discuss or share
ideas with others - The concept researcher tries to create an
environment that nurtures different perceptions
and points of view without pressurizing
participants - The group discussion is conducted several times
with similar types of participants in order to
identify trends and patterns in perceptions.
33DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Idea vs. Concept
Ideas from Customers Listening to the customers
34DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Idea vs. Concept
Transforming an idea into a concept may involve
including details of the form, function,
purpose and benefit of the product/ service
35DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Idea vs. Concept
Transforming an idea into a concept may involve
including details of the form, function,
purpose and benefit of the product/service
36DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Idea vs. Concept
QUESTION What is the difference between idea and
concept?
37DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Idea vs. Concept
QUESTION What is the difference between idea and
concept?
ANSWER Ideas need to be transformed into
concepts so that they can be evaluated and then
operationalized by the organization. Concepts,
on the other hand, are clear statements that both
encapsulate the ideas and indicate the overall
form, function, purpose and benefits of the idea.
38DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Idea vs. Concept
Examples
39DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Innovation
What is invention and innovation
40DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Innovation
Inventions are new discoveries or new ways of doing things Products are the outputs from the invention Innovation has to be viewed as a process from new discovery to eventual product
41DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Innovation
Inventions are new discoveries or new ways of doing things Products are the outputs from the invention Innovation has to be viewed as a process from new discovery to eventual product
Is education an event or a process?
42DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Innovation
Inventions are new discoveries or new ways of doing things Products are the outputs from the invention Innovation has to be viewed as a process from new discovery to eventual product
Is education an event or a process?
Definitely a process with output being the
qualifications.
43DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Innovation Invention
Terms that are the first cousins but they are not identical twins that can be interchanged, so very important to establish a clear meaning for them. Innovation is not a single action but a total process of interrelated sub process. It is not just the conception of a new idea, nor the invention of a new device, nor the development of a new market. The process is all these things in an integrated fashion Myers Marquis, 1969
44DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Innovation Invention
Innovation Theoretical conception Technical Invention Commercial Exploitation
45DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Innovation Invention
Innovation Theoretical conception Technical Invention Commercial Exploitation
46DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Innovation Invention
Scientists and development engineers working for months developed a new lavatory cleaning product. They had developed a liquid that when sprayed into the toilet pan, on contact with water, would fizz and sparkle. The effect was to give the impression of a tough, active cleaning product. The company applied for a patent and further development and market research were planned. However, initial research both from technical and market specialist led to the abandonment of the project. The preliminary market feedback suggested a fear of such a product on the part of consumers. This was because the fizz and sparkle looked too dramatic and frightening. Furthermore, additional technical research revealed a short shelf-life for the mixture. QUESTION Is this a new idea, creativity, discovery, success, invention or innovation?
47DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Innovation Invention
48DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Innovation Invention
Clive Sinclair is the individual behind the development of a small, electrically driven tricycle or car, the famous Sinclair C5 which it was not commercially successful. QUESTION Is this an invention or innovation?
49DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Innovation Invention
ANSWER Using the definition below, the fact that
the product progress from the drawing board into
the marketplace makes it an innovation, BUT an
unsuccessful one so be careful not to confuse
innovation from commercial success
Innovation Theoretical conception
Technical Invention
Commercial Exploitation
with
but without
Commercial Success
50DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Innovation Invention
In 2003 the BBC run a series of TV programmes exploring the innovation route from idea to retail shelf. Viewers were asked to cast their vote on a selection of innovative prototype products the winning three products would receive financial and technical backing to develop and market their idea. Some of the winning ideas were revolutionary winning goggles a new type of ink pen a collapsing waste basket. QUESTION Which of these are inventions and which are innovations?
51DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Innovation Invention
ANSWER None as all ideas would be financed for
development marketing.
Innovation Theoretical conception
Technical Invention
Commercial Exploitation
without
52DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Innovation
QUESTION Is it true that technological innovations may result substantial managerial organizational changes? Any example to support it?
53DEFINITIONS VOCABULARY Innovation
ANSWER Yes indeed. Technological innovations may
result substantial organizational changes in the
functions of manufacturing, marketing and
sales An example is the introduction of a new ERP
(e.g. SAP) system, which brings a lot of
organizational and managerial changes
54DIFFERENT TYPES OF INNOVATIONS
Type of innovation Example
Product innovation The development of a new product
Process innovation The development of a new manufacturing process, e.g. Pilkingtons float glass process
Organizational innovation - A new venture division - A new accounting procedure
Management innovation - TQM systems - BPR systems - SAP R/3
Production innovation - Quality circles - JIT - MRP II or a new inspection system
Commercial / marketing innovation - CRM - Direct marketing
Service innovation Internet-based financial services
55DIFFERENT TYPES OF INNOVATIONS
- The above table widens the definition of
innovation to include virtually any
organizational or managerial change. - Innovation may also defined as the application of
knowledge.
56THE IMPORTANCE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE IN
INNOVATION
- Science and Technology play an important role in
innovation - Science can be defined as systematic and
formulated knowledge - Technology is often seen as the application of
science - It is important to remember that technology is
not an accident of nature but a product of
deliberate action by human beings - Technology is knowledge applied to products or
production processes - Technology, like education, cannot be purchased
off the shelf (like a can of tomatoes). It is
embedded in knowledge and skills.
57THE IMPORTANCE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE IN
INNOVATION
- QUESTION
- Explain how technology differs from science, yet
still does not equal innovation - ANSWER
- Science is the systematic and formulated
knowledge - Technology is often seen as the application of
science (i.e. the application of systematic and
formulated knowledge) to products or production
processes - Innovation Theoretical conception
- Technical Invention
- Commercial Exploitation
58MODELS OF INNOVATION
59MODELS OF INNOVATION
- LINEAR MODEL
- SIMULTANEOUS COUPLING MODEL
- INTERACTIVE MODEL
60MODELS OF INNOVATION - LINEAR MODELS
Innovation process has traditionally been viewed
as a sequence of separable stages of activities.
There are two basic variations of this model for
product innovation.
- A. The technology-driven model, often referred
to as technology - push - The market-driven model, often referred to as
market-pull.
61MODELS OF INNOVATION - LINEAR MODELS
- Characteristics
- Scientists make unexpected discoveries,
technologists apply them to develop product ideas
and engineers and designers turn them into
prototypes for testing. Manufacturing devise ways
to produce the products efficiently and
marketing and sales promote the product to the
potential customer. - In this model, the marketplace is a passive
recipient for the fruits of RD.
62MODELS OF INNOVATION - LINEAR MODELS
- The market-driven model, often referred to as
market-pull.
- Here the role of marketplace is influential
- The customer-driven model emphasizes the role of
marketing as an initiator of new ideas resulting
from close interactions with customers. These, in
turn, are conveyed to RD for design and
engineering and then to manufacturing for
production - The role of market and the customer remains
powerful and very influential.
63MODELS OF INNOVATION - LINEAR MODELS
QUESTION In which industries do you think
that a. The push model is applicable, and b. The
pull model is applicable?
ANSWER a. Push model ? Pharmaceutical b. Pull
model ? Food industry
Note that for most industries and organizations
innovations are the result of a mixture of the
two.
64MODELS OF INNOVATION- SIMULTANEOUS COUPLING MODEL
- The linear models are only able to offer an
explanation of where the initial stimulus for
innovation was born, i.e. where the trigger for
the idea or need was initiated. They concentrate
on what is driving the downstrean efforts AND NOT
on how innovations occur. - The simultaneous coupling model, below, suggests
that it is the result of the simultaneous
coupling of the knowledge within all 3 functions
that will foster innovation. - Furthermore, the point of commencement for
innovation is not known in advance.
65MODELS OF INNOVATION - INTERACTIVE MODEL
- Here the technology-push is linked together with
the market-pull models - There is no explicit starting point, like the
simultaneous coupling model. - It emphasizes that innovation occurs as the
result of the interaction of the needs in society
and the marketplace, the latest science and
technology advances in society together with the
organization capabilities
66MODELS OF INNOVATION - INTERACTIVE MODEL
- At the centre of the model are the organizational
functions of RD, Manufacturing and Marketing - Though it appears as a linear model it is not
necessarily. - The linkage with science/technology and the
market place occur between all function, not just
with RD or manufacturing or marketing - Finally the generation of ideas is shown to
depend on inputs from 3 basic components - see
figure below - organizational capabilities, needs
of the marketplace and the science and technology
base.
67MODELS OF INNOVATION - INTERACTIVE MODEL
68MODELS OF INNOVATION CHRONOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT
Date Model Characteristics
1950/60s Linear model Technology push Simple linear sequential process Emphasis on RD The markets is a recipient of the fruits of RD
1970s Linear model Market pull Simple linear sequential process Emphasis on marketing The market is the source for directing RD RD has a reactive role
1980s Coupling model Emphasis on integrating RD, marketing manufacturing
1980/90s Interactive Combinations of push and pull
2000s Network model Emphasis on knowledge accumulation and external linkages
69MODELS OF INNOVATION
QUESTION Surely all innovations start with an
idea and end with a product, does that not make
it a linear process?
70MODELS OF INNOVATION - INTERACTIVE MODEL
71MODELS OF INNOVATION
- Its only by understanding what the customers
wants that we can identify the innovative
opportunities. Then we see if theres technology
that we can bring to bear on the opportunities
that exist. Being innovative is relatively easy
the hard part is ensuring your ideas become
commercial viable.
-
..Managing director of McCain Foods - QUESTION
- What is the message from the above statement
- Which model of innovation does he support push
- or pull?
72MODELS OF INNOVATION
- Its only by understanding what the customers
wants that we can identify the innovative
opportunities. Then we see if theres technology
that we can bring to bear on the opportunities
that exist. Being innovative is relatively easy
the hard part is ensuring your ideas become
commercial viable. ..Managing director of McCain
Foods - QUESTION
- What is the message from the above statement
- Which model of innovation does he support push
or pull? - ANSWER
- That invention is easy but innovation is
difficult - Pull, arguing that knowing your customer is
crucial to - turning innovation into profits
73INNOVATION AS A MANAGEMENT PROCESS
74INNOVATION AS A MANAGEMENT PROCESS
- External inputs
- Macro factors Competition
- Profit Growth Diversification
- Costs and input prices
- Political influences
Finance and business leadership
- External inputs
- Societal needs
- Competitors
- Supplier partnerships
- Distributors
- Customers
- Strategic alliances
- External inputs
- Scientific
- technological
- development
- Competitors
- Suppliers
- Customers
- Universities
Marketing
R Technology
75INNOVATION AS A MANAGEMENT PROCESS
- Practically, this means that while there will
always be an interaction amongst the various
function in the organization, like manufacturing,
marketing, etc, there are also interactions
between - RD with fellow scientists in universities and
other firms about scientific and technological
developments - marketing with customers, distributors,
competitors, suppliers, etc to ensure that
day-to-day activities of understanding customer
needs - Senior management with a wide variety of firms
and other external institutions, such as
government departments, suppliers, customers, etc.
76INNOVATION AS A MANAGEMENT PROCESS
- The functions inside the orghanization can be
many, although three are presented in the figure
RTechnology, marketing and finance, as
traditionally are considered as the most
influential. - Which function is more influential than the
other, it is a matter of the nature of the
business, but at the end it does not make any
difference. The point is to examine the
interaction of these internal functions and the
flow of knowledge between them, as well as their
effective communication with the external
environment.
77INNOVATION AS A MANAGEMENT PROCESS
ORGANIATIONAL HERITAGE
- The centre of the framework is represented as
organizational heritage or organizational
knowledge base. - This does not mean the culture of the
organization but a combination of - the organizations knowledge base (established
and built up over the years of operating) and - the organizations unique architecture
- This organizational heritage represents for many
firms a powerful competitive advantage that
enables them to compete with other firms.
78INNOVATION AS A MANAGEMENT PROCESS
QUESTION Explain how organizational heritage influences the innovation process
79INNOVATION AS A MANAGEMENT PROCESS
QUESTION Explain how organizational heritage influences the innovation process
ANSWER The organizational heritage of the firm
will influence its future decisions regarding the
market in which it will operate. The point here
is that firms do not have a completely free
choice. What they do in the future will depend to
some extent in what they have done in the past.
80INNOVATION AS A MANAGEMENT PROCESS
ORGANIATIONAL HERITAGE
- Examples
- Tesco its distribution efficiencies and
customer service, developed and built up over
decades - Siemens its continual investment over almost
100 years in science and technology and the high
profile to science and technology within its
business - Unilever its brand name skills and know-how
developed over the years - Dell -
81INNOVATION MANAGEMENT INTRODUCTION
QUESTION Not all firms develop innovative new products, but they still seem to survive. Do they thrive?
82INNOVATION MANAGEMENT INTRODUCTION
QUESTION If two different firms, similar in size, operating in the same industry spend the same RD, will their level of innovation be the same?
83INNOVATION MANAGEMENT INTRODUCTION
QUESTION What is wrong with the popular view of innovation in which eccentric scientists develop new products? ANSWER This view contributes to a misleading image of the innovation process because a complex phenomenon is simplified thus causing an immense harm to the understanding of science and technology
84INNOVATION MANAGEMENT INTRODUCTION
QUESTION Many innovations today are associated with companies as opposed to individuals. Why is this, and what does it tell us?
- ANSWER
- invention needs money
- innovation requires money to materialize the
invention and only big companies can affort
85INNOVATION MANAGEMENT SUMMARY
Why Innovation is Important?
We define innovation as the successful
exploitation of new ideas. Often it involves new
technologies or technological applications.
Innovation matters because it can deliver better
products and services, new, cleaner and more
efficient production processes and improved
business models. For consumers, innovation means
higher quality and better value goods, more
efficient services (both private and public) and
higher standards of living. For businesses,
innovation means sustained or improved growth.
The innovative company or organisation delivers
higher profits for its owners and investors. For
employees, innovation means new and more
interesting work, better skills and higher wages.
Equally, an absence of innovation can lead to
business stagnation and a loss of jobs.
86INNOVATION MANAGEMENT SUMMARY
Why Innovation is Important? (continued)
For the economy as a whole innovation is the key
to higher productivity and greater prosperity for
all. Innovation will also be essential for
meeting the environmental challenges of the
future including moving to a low carbon economy
and reducing waste. We need to find new ways to
break the link between economic growth and
resource depletion and environmental degradation.
It is important to every sector of our economy,
in both manufacturing and services. To hold our
own in modern manufacturing we will need to
innovate strongly, creating new high-tech
manufacturing industries such as biotechnology
and upgrading traditional sectors such as steel
and textiles.
87INNOVATION MANAGEMENT
- CASE STUDY
-
- Unilever Grabage Bags
88INNOVATION MANAGEMENT
- CASE STUDY
-
- An Analysis of 3M, the Innovation Company