What is An Innovation?

The easy answer to this question is “anything new”.   But even with that broad definition the word “new” is misleading.   Does this mean “new” relative to a person or team, i.e., that it is new to them?   Does it mean “new” relative to all of humanity across all time, i.e., that it never existed before?   Does “innovation” mean something that is patentable, such as a "new" process, machine, improvement, or composition that did not exist before?  At best this is unclear.

The word “new” really creates some confusion about the definition of "innovation". In order to reduce this confusion, let’s take a different approach to thinking about what an “innovation” might be.

First, an innovation is not limited to a technical or scientific advancement. While such advancements are likely to result in innovations, people invent every day in regards to business strategies, marketing plans, financial and tax structures, creative content, hiring and succession implementations, analysis techniques, customer feedback uses, risk reduction approaches, and many other things that are not technology based. Just because you created something that is not based on technology, don’t assume that there isn’t an innovation here.

Second, there is always some element of creating, designing, exploring or producing by thinking and exercise of the imagination in an innovation.  This may result from short term or long term study, experimentation, testing, and feedback and exists at the individual and at the team level.  While they are not the only ones that should be involved, this same individual or team also play a key role in making sure that they recognize the innovation.

Third, sometimes an innovation is what only becomes clear once a problem, challenge or gap is truly understood. Don’t underestimate or fail to recognize your innovation or the value of your innovation just because it now seems obvious in light of the new and often difficult to achieve understanding.

Fourth, sometimes an innovation lies in what is no longer there or what is no longer needed.  For example, removing a step or component in a manufacturing process, analysis technique, product or service offering, etc., may be the foundation of the resulting innovation.  Less certainly can be more, so think about and recognize your innovation in terms of any additions, changes, AND/OR absences.

Fifth, yes, it’s a fact there is always some element of “newness” involved in an innovation. This may be in the mind of the inventor(s) only, or may be true across a business, market segment, country, history, etc.  However, don’t get hung up on the concept of “newness” when thinking about your innovation, as doing so will undermine strategic thinking based on the innovation. Often an innovation is a new way of combining or using old things and ideas. 

It also is common for people to say “there is nothing new here,” “there is no innovation here,” or “this can’t be patentable” without fully recognizing the innovations they created.  Making premature judgments about an innovation without exploring its depth, breadth and applicability undermines the later intellectual property and commercial strategy decisions that get made based on the innovation.  Recognize your innovations first, then make decisions based on their value, strategic importance and how best to utilize them in an intellectual property strategy in support of your commercial strategy.

Finally, innovation is the power and the ability to create, not just the result of creative thinking.  When you say that “her powers of innovation are tremendous,” you are referring to this creative ability.  Don’t then fail to recognize the resulting innovation, whatever it might be and where ever it might take you.