What is innovation?

What is innovation?

The history of Mankind, our history, is a history based on innovation. Innovation is a process which leads to improved engineering, technology, methods, state of mind and organization. If you look at it that way, we are constantly involved with innovation as human beings. We have no choice other than to carry on learning and improving ourselves. Innovation means venturing away from familiar ground into uncharted territory. With the aim of somehow discovering something better in the uncharted territory than on the familiar ground.

Why is innovation essential?
Today our memory is primarily driven by the laws of the free market. So a supplier needs to churn out innovations constantly, otherwise the competition will leave him standing.

If a company comes up with little or no innovation, there are no short-term consequences, there may even be a positive effect on profits. Developing innovation always entails provision of resources as well, and making a long-term investment in the company's future.

How does innovation happen?
Because innovation is so important, innovation must be one of the core processes of every company. In reality this is not always the case.
Management, development/production and marketing/sales must all contribute towards the innovation process and experience it together. If this is the case, all those involved will get together to pool their requirements. Each party must understand the concerns of the others, while at the same time promote their own. Only with the courage to deal with this chaos will the ultimate result be a success, creating something innovative.