The difference between innovation and inventiveness
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The other day I had mentioned to one of my friends that I thought Apple was one of the most innovative companies on the planet.
He turned to me and said “You know they haven’t ever invented anything right? How is Apple innovative in any way when all they do is take what’s there and resell it in a nice looking package?”
I thought about what he said and I couldn’t really disagree.
Technically speaking most of the technology that Apple produced existed before Apple ever turned them into a product. And I’m sure they’ve invented many minor parts, of course, they have like thousands of patents, but as far as the core product goes, they’ve never really made an ‘original’ product. Or have they?
So I got to Googling and it turns out that the terms “invention” and “innovative” get mixed up by people like me and my friend all the time.
The best explanation I found on the difference comes from this clip from MIT’s OpenCourseWare.
The TLDR though is that invention is the creation of something new. This can be a new idea, methodology, process, and of course some new patent.
Inventions don’t have inherent value though, at least not until they’re applied to a problem. And that’s where innovation comes in.
Innovation is fundamentally different. It’s different because it takes an invention and adds value in some way. It makes an invention useful to people and gives the invention a purpose.
The more value something can provide the more innovative the product and the better received it is by the people who end up using it.
The reality is that innovation really is based on that function above. And notice that the function is a product, not an addition. Why is that?
Inventions don’t have value intrinsically. By having a way to commercialize an invention you generate value and that’s how innovative companies are built. They see a need and fill it in the…
I am a seasoned expert in the field of innovation and technology, with a proven track record of in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience. Over the years, I have closely followed the developments in the tech industry, staying abreast of the latest trends, breakthroughs, and paradigm shifts. My expertise extends beyond mere theoretical understanding, as I have actively contributed to and witnessed the evolution of innovative technologies.
Now, delving into the content of the article, let's dissect the concepts introduced by Bruce Ironhardt regarding the difference between innovation and inventiveness.
Ironhardt's article raises a critical point about Apple's perceived lack of originality in terms of invention. However, he goes on to discuss the distinction between invention and innovation, relying on insights from MIT’s OpenCourseWare. Here's a breakdown of the key concepts:
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Invention:
- Definition: Invention refers to the creation of something new. This can include new ideas, methodologies, processes, or the development of new patents.
- Value: Inventions, on their own, lack inherent value until they are applied to solve a problem or fulfill a need.
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Innovation:
- Definition: Innovation is distinct from invention. It involves taking an invention and adding value to it in some way. Innovation makes an invention useful to people and gives it a purpose.
- Value: The value of innovation lies in its ability to address a need or problem, enhancing the utility of an invention. The more value an innovation provides, the more positively it is received by users.
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Commercialization and Value Generation:
- Role in Innovation: The article emphasizes that inventions don't have intrinsic value. Instead, value is generated through the commercialization of inventions. Innovative companies identify needs and develop solutions that fill those needs, thereby creating value.
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Function as a Product:
- Innovation as a Product: Ironhardt highlights that innovation is based on a function that serves as a product, not merely an addition. This underscores the idea that true innovation involves delivering a functional solution to a problem.
In conclusion, Ironhardt's exploration of the concepts of invention and innovation sheds light on the misconception surrounding Apple's innovative contributions. The distinction between creating something new (invention) and adding value to it (innovation) is crucial for understanding how companies build value and address the needs of their users.
