Innovation is certainly a complex and dynamic process that involves many factors and actors and I certainly feel it has been shifting in its focus. I have been thinking of where we have been placing the emphasis over the past ten years.
I decided to ask GPT-4 what major shifts have occurred in how we approached innovation ten years ago and today. It was suggested that these were the following.
Do you agree, what do you feel is missing? I like the broad shifts indicated but what has been missed?
- From linear to systemic: Innovation used to be seen as a linear process where ideas were generated, tested, and implemented in a sequential manner. Today, innovation is recognized as a systemic phenomenon, where multiple actors interact and collaborate across different domains and levels1. Innovation ecosystems are networks of organizations and individuals that co-create value through innovation2.
- From closed to open: Innovation used to be seen as a closed process, where organizations relied on their own resources and capabilities to innovate. Today, innovation is seen as an open process, where organizations leverage external sources of knowledge, ideas, and feedback to enhance their innovation performance1. Open innovation is the practice of sharing and using external and internal ideas to create value2.
- From incremental to radical: Innovation used to be seen as an incremental process where organizations improved their existing products, services, or processes by making small changes. Today, innovation is seen as a radical process, where organizations create new products, services, or processes that disrupt the market or create new markets1. Disruptive innovation is the creation of a new value proposition that displaces existing ones2.
- From product to service: Innovation used to be seen as a product-oriented process, where organizations focused on developing new or improved physical goods. Today, innovation is seen as a service-oriented process, where organizations focus on developing new or improved intangible offerings that solve customer problems or create customer value1. Service innovation is the creation of new or improved ways of delivering value to customers through services2.
These changes have also influenced the way we structure, visualize, and use tools for innovation. Some examples are:
- From hierarchical to networked: Innovation structures used to be hierarchical, where organizations had centralized and formalized units or departments dedicated to innovation. Today, innovation structures are networked, where organizations have decentralized and informal teams or communities that work on innovation projects across boundaries1. Innovation networks are groups of people who collaborate on innovation activities across organizational or geographical boundaries2.
- From static to dynamic: Innovation visualizations used to be static, where organizations used charts, diagrams, or models to represent the current state of their innovation processes or outcomes. Today, innovation visualizations are dynamic, where organizations use interactive dashboards, simulations, or scenarios to explore the future state of their innovation processes or outcomes1. Innovation foresight is the use of methods and tools to anticipate and shape the future of innovation2.
- From analytical to generative: Innovation tools used to be analytical, where organizations used data, metrics, or indicators to measure and evaluate their innovation performance or impact. Today, innovation tools are generative, where organizations use artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), or natural language processing (NLP) to generate and inspire new ideas or solutions for innovation1. Generative AI is the use of AI techniques to create novel content or artifacts that can stimulate human creativity2.
So these were suggested as the major changes in how we approached innovation ten years ago and today.
I see technology as highly significant, connected software to aid in search and communication across teams and the emergence of platforms, relationships and ecosystems in thinking and design for innovation.
Does anybody have any thoughts to add to this suggested list provided?
References
1. oecd.org2. oecd-opsi.org3. weforum.org4. forbes.com5. zdnet.com
