The following question appeared on a Linkedin Forum that I follow:
Complete this sentence: The ONE factor that is MOST important to innovation is… and here’s why…
I have said this in a few blog posts and I’ll say it again here: The current definition for “innovation” may be the single most disastrous eliminator of innovation.
Innovation Suicide:
Yeah, it kills itself. Really, look it up – it’s a horrible cacophony of buzz bits and weasel speak that amount to nothing more than “Ya know it when ya see it”.
Any definition is supposed to give the reader enough information to duplicate, recognize, and identify instances of the subject – Preferably before the event has ended. Think about it – if the definition for Innovation were clear, nobody would be asking this question.
I am always amazed at how simple the answers to complex questions – and how complex the answer to simple questions – can often be.
Question: THE ONE: Complete this sentence: The ONE factor that is MOST important to innovation is… and here’s why…
My Answer: The Definition of Innovation
Here is why:
Information, knowledge, and innovation are obviously related to each other.
1. You can’t have one without the other two.
2. If you cannot measure one, you cannot measure the other two.
3. where all three are integrated, the system becomes efficient.
Yet, the definitions of each term do not include the other two. Therefore, the current definition of innovation is insufficient to describe the condition. That is why this is the ONE most important factor.
Let me prescribe the following analogy; distance, velocity, and acceleration are obviously related.
1. You cannot have one without the other two.
2. If you cannot measure one, you cannot measure the other two.
3. where all three are integrated, the system is efficient.
This is because distance is the point between two facts, velocity is the rate at which the distance between two points changes. Acceleration is the rate at which the velocity of travel between two points changes.
Therefore let’s re-define innovation as follows:
Information are facts and data. Knowledge is defined by rate of change of information. Finally, innovation is defined by the rate of change of knowledge in a community.
If we can accept this definition, everything changes. Seriously, everything changes.
Now, that’s Innovation!!!
* note: If you are familiar with differential Calculus you may see how a new economic paradigm may arise from this algorithm.
