Management of
Innovation

When a technology goes through a major transformation phase and yields a successful innovation, it becomes a great learning experience, not only for the parent industry but other industries as well. Big innovations are generally the outcome of intra- and interdisciplinary networking among technological sectors, along with combination of implicit and explicit knowledge. Networking is required, but network integration is the key to success for complex innovation. Social economic zones, technology corridors, free trade agreements, and technology clusters are some of the ways to encourage organizational networking and cross-functional innovations.

Innovation management is complex. it implies the mastery of different concepts and techniques: type of innovation, methods, continuous technological watch...

According to Theodore Levitt, a brilliant American economist the Creativity is thinking about new things but Innovation is doing new things.

Within a company, innovation can be illustrated in different ways depending on its maturity to manage it. We have Seven Levels of Innovation.

This representation allows:

• highlight the different degrees (or levels) of innovation
• classify them:
  • classify the problems to be solved and the challenges to be overcome
  • prioritize the proposals for ideas
• organize objectives and projects
• Allowing everyone to choose their mission (s) in order to earn the title of innovator

There are four methods of innovation:

• Continuous innovation:
  • Design Thinking, Deming Wheel, Ishikawa diagram, etc.
• Revolutionary innovation:
  • Classic model (interdisciplinarity, mix of knowledge and practices, leadership, paradigm shift, etc.)
  • Open innovation (innovation market)
  • Hybrid model
• Disruptive innovation:
  • Lean, Ocean Blue, Osterwalder business model Canvas, etc.
• Foundational research:
  • University / research laboratory
  • Cluster / Technology Park
  • Attend conferences and organize seminars
  • Access to scientific articles

Known also as technology intelligence, technological survey, technology monitoring, technological surveillance.

Technology watch seeks to strengthen the capacity for innovation in terms of products, organization and management methods, and to identify industrial opportunities. It concerns fundamental research, scientific and technological achievements resulting from research, products or services, designs, manufacturing processes, materials and sectors, patents and standards, information systems, and the provision of services. It also consists of following technological trends that may influence the future of a company, as well as of its competitors, suppliers, customers or business partners, in order to give oneself the possibility of avoiding perverse effects.