Krisztina Holly: A Plea to Save Innovation from “Innovation”
My friend Ellen sent me this article in the San Jose Mercury News from vice provost and executive director of the USC Stevens Institute for Innovation, Krisztina Holly. The article was such a breath of fresh air I couldn’t sleep without posting it.
For the hyperlink-averse, here’s the gist: The word ‘Innovation’ is being way overused. She suggests a more rigorous understanding of the word – “true innovation is the process of translating new ideas into tangible societal impact.” This fits so well with what thethreepercent is all about that I’m half tempted to replace our standing definition: “Innovation occurs when someone uses an invention – or uses existing tools in a new way – to change how the world works, how people organize themselves, and how they conduct their lives.”
Same idea – fewer words.
One of the best definitions I have seen for innovation comes from James Brian Quinn in his book “Intelligent Enterprise.”
Innovation is the first reduction to practice of an idea in a culture.
James Brian Quinn
In an article entitled “Software based innovation” in MIT Sloan Management Review in 1996 he expands on his earlier conceptualization
Innovation consists of the technological, managerial, and social processes through which a new idea or concept is first reduced to practice in a culture. Discovery is the initial observation of a new phenomenon. Invention provides the first verification that a real problem can be solved in a particular way. Diffusion spreads proved innovation broadly within an enterprise or society. All are necessary to create new value.
Sean, that is hands-down the best, most succinct articulation of the idea I have heard to date, imo.
Thank you for that.
What makes it work for me is the addition of the last three words in the definition: “in a culture.”
Hi your article is amazing.
I like your blog..
See ya
[...] what Krisztina “Z” Holly, the USC Stevens Institute for Innovation executive director, has to say about…well just about anything – from business innovation to one-handed space [...]