Innovation

The purpose of the online learning section is for you to develop your own learning. There are a number of tasks that you should complete before you undertake the next section. You can work through this section at your own pace.  It is expected that you would take up to 3 hours to complete this section. You must complete this section before you move to the next section.

 

Task 1

You need to read the article “What actually is innovation”. 

This article sets an outline for the notion of innovation.  It explains how innovation is structured as a concept.

 

What is innovation?

Defining anything today is a contentious undertaking.  Everyone seems to have their own idea on what something does or does not mean. One thing that we have established is that innovation is essentially changes in the way we do things, rather than changes in what we do.  Later on in this module you will discover that there are different levels of innovation; innovations that profoundly change the way everyone does something to innovations that just change the way one or two people do something.

In out definition we explain how innovation is a change in a set of variables of a system or object.  By this we mean that we change the components in such a way that we create something different.  Like the different levels of innovation there are different levels of changes.  The changes vary from slight modifications to drastic restructuring; and the changes vary from a change to a small part of the object or process to a major change in design and function.

What should be emerging is the notion that innovation is a complex process that is not always easy to define.  However, what is almost a paradox here is that we all engage in and embrace innovation to various degrees, yet at the same time most of us resist the changes innovation brings to our lives.

The occurrence of innovation also varies; from extremely frequent innovations to extremely rare innovations.  Sometimes it is quite obvious that we have created an innovation, at other times it is not so clear.  What’s more is that circumstances profoundly impact on innovation occurring.  All of the bits have to be in the right place at the right time, if just one component is missing that the innovation does not occur.

All of these factors are closely interlinked and this is what makes innovation such a complex concept.  

 

Task 2

Think about what innovation means to you and in your workbook  explain why you either think innovation is or is not important for you.

This activity helps you develop and understand the nature of innovation and its connection to you.

 

Task 3

You need to watch the video “Why Innovation Matters ”

This video explains why innovation is important

 

Task 4

What does this video tell you about your relationship with innovation?  How deeply do you think your life is affected by innovation? Do you think you are innovative?  Write your thoughts in your workbook .

This helps develop a deeper understanding of how you are connected to innovation

 

Task 5

You need to watch the video “Some Misconceptions About Innovation”.  Use your workbook  to record your response to this video.

This video explains some of the misconceptions about innovation and how innovation impacts on your life

 

Task 6

There are many myths about innovation that influence our view of what innovation is and isn’t.  Watch the video “Myths of Innovation ”.  Has this video changed your view of innovation?  Use your workbook  to record your response to this video.

This video helps create a more realistic idea of what innovation is and is not

Task 7

Watch the video “How the innovation framework works”.  Use your workbook  to record your response to this video.

This video explains how the framework we are using for this module works

 

Task 8

We have argued that we have not changed what we do, but the way we do it.  You need to watch the Slide/Video “Bank of England ”

This video shows that we are still doing the same things but more efficiently.

 

Task 9

In your workbook  identify an object that you use today that makes performing a task more effective and efficient.  What improvements do you think you could make that would make the performance of that task more effective and efficient?

This activity helps you explore how you can be innovative around the things you do or use every day.

 

Task 10

What am I?

Read the riddle below carefully and see if you can identify what I am.  Write your answer in your workbook. 

 

I was built by the richest nation on earth to carry bulk cargo across international trade routes.  I am the fastest method of transporting goods from one place to another.  There is nothing radical in my design.  Variations of me have been around for many years.  Some variations have been used for war.  I have low operating costs, very efficient, using automated control systems and a small crew.  The crew operate me from a small cabin above the cargo hold.

This activity is to develop your understanding of some historical perspectives about innovation.  Innovation is not something that has just recently started.

 

Task 11

Open the presentation “What am I?” and listen to the commentary

 

Task 12

Look at the list of everyday items below and in your workbook  write what you think the connection is.

• Insurance
• Gas (for heating and cooking)
• Raincoats
• Colourful clothing
• Bread
• Explosives
• Plastic

This activity is to develop your understanding about the connectivity between innovations.

 

Task 13

Open the presentation “Connections ” and listen to the commentary

Complete the activity  in your workbook 

This activity is intended to demonstrate how innovations are connected, both in the development of new innovations and in the replacement of older products or services.

 

Task 14

Watch video  – time lags

This activity develops your understanding that it sometimes take time for innovations to be accepted

 

Task 15

Go online and search for other innovations that have taken time to be adapted.  Write a list of at least 5 in your workbook .  Explain why you think innovations are slow to be accepted, or more often are rejected.

This activity develops your understanding of how innovations are not always utilised.

 

Task 16

You now need to complete the online quick quiz to assess your learning.  You will be given your result as soon as you complete the quiz.  The grade for this quiz does not count towards your final grade.

This quiz gives you feedback on your learning as you go.

 

You should undertake further reading on the topics in this section.  We recommend that you read the following:

Berkum, S. (2007), The Myths of Innovation, Sevastopol: O’ Reilly

Bessant, J. & Tidd, J. (2015), Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 3^rd  Ed, Chichester: John Wiley and Sons, Chapter 1

 

The next section is Unit 1 Section SDL 1