Monday, September 17, 2012

The 7 Sources of Innovation


 Steve Jobs Demoing the Apple Macintosh, a Computer that Changed the World.



Inspiration for innovation comes in many different forms. From Eli Whitney inventing the cotton gin to Lee Iacocca being fired from Ford and turning Chrysler into a successful company, there has been innovation all around us for centuries. So let's take a look at what causes the wheels to spin; here are the 7 sources of inspiration


1. The Unexpected.

Losing your job, or getting an inheritance are just two of the many unexpected events that can spark your next creative idea.


2. Incongruity.

Sometimes the distinction between reality and fantasy isn't always clear. This paradox can easily lead to an idea that makes us all exclaim, "why didn't I think of that?"


3. Process Need.

Sometimes production just need to speed up. For example, Isaac Newton invented Calculus to complete physics problems at a faster speed.


4. Changes in Industry Structure.

Industries are extremely mercurial, one day you're sitting in IBM headquarters at the top of the world, and the next day Apple releases the first mass production consumer computer. Sometimes you need a couple of hippies in a garage to beat you to make you want to work harder.


5. Demographics.

Demographics (like industries) change very quickly. In the 60s, the rising African-American population played a huge part in how companies marketed their products.


6. Changes in Perception, Mood, and Meaning.

The world's a different place, Ike's America is no more, and gone are the days of Bing Crosby and TV Dinners. Companies and people must change with the times.


7. New Knowledge.

We like to think that we know a lot, but the truth is we've barely scratched the surface. For example, take a look at this quote:

Everything that can be invented, has been invented.  
-Charles H. Duell, Commissioner, U.S. patent office, 1899

Anyway, that's all for this week. I hope you're able to find inspiration, you've just got to know where to look!


2 comments:

  1. Imagine being Steve Jobs at that specific moment. You are introducing an unprecedented, groundbreaking, bold idea, and the public is going craaazy. I would be so happy; all the hard work is paying off.
    Awesome way to simplify the sources, by the way :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I like the way you wove business philosophy into your examples.

    Btw, I love Bing Crosby movies. And we ate a lot of tv dinners in the 1960's :-)

    ReplyDelete