The master of management, Peter Drucker named 7 opportunities of source of innovation, which are:
The unexpected, incongruities, process needs, industry and market structure, demographics, changes in perception and new knowledge.
I can't think of many examples of the unexpected innovations. However, one unexpected example is a really successful innovation of product and a legacy to the world, Coca-cola. It was supposed to be a medicine while Dr. Pemberton eventually made a Soda Drink. However, I don't think this fantastic unexpected result would often happen, most of them turn out to be not-so-good ones.
Incongruity or conflict makes some special needs able to be solved. Many architects use different fully designed furniture to enlarge using space in a limited sized room.
Process needs may discovered more by workers or supervisors who actually participate into a process. They are always the ones who first come up with problems. Also, this may come with the appearance of emerging technology. The cutting edge technology will have the opportunity to change process work, and may be foundation of new innovations.
Changing of industry and market structure can also lead to innovation, so can changes perception. In the mobile phone industry, OS provider start to come up, instead of OEMs have their own decision of how to use and fit the OSs. Also, customers in this industry now change their taste from the design of phone to the design of systems. Therefore, no matter what the innovation is, almost all innovations of smartphone products are made by OS markers.
Demographic is another source of innovation, which can be seen from a huge migration from one city to another, stimulate the innovation for the new prospering city.
New knowledge, I think is the most important source of innovation, and is the most case of where innovation comes from.
Your example of Coca-Cola is great, I had no idea that was how Coke was invented. Very interesting.
ReplyDeleteIt's an interesting topic when you mention about "Process needs may discovered more by workers or supervisors who actually participate into a process", this is a disadvantage for early-entry participants in an emerging market.
ReplyDeleteActually I don't necessarily think they are at a disadvantage. Sometimes a fresh pair of eyes looking at a process is the best way to identify a new or better way to do things rather than keeping things the way it's always been done. Also, people with different backgrounds can offer a new perspective the current team may not have been able to see.
DeleteTrue observation - There are lot of unsung hero in innovation path, where they were almost 99% in there way towards greater break through but for various reasons research work is left to hands of followers to bear the torch and win the laurels. Unexpected Innovations comes are very less I could think of.
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