Topic 5: Innovation and design

Act of insight

(innovation

strategies)

Often referred to as the “eureka moment”, a sudden image of a

potential solution is formed in the mind, usually after a period of

thinking about a problem.

Adaptation

(innovation

strategies)

A solution to a problem in one field is used to provide a new idea for

a design problem in another.

Analogy

(innovation

strategies)

An idea from one context is used to stimulate ideas for solving a

problem in another context.

Architectural

innovation

The technology of the components stays the same, but the

configuration of the components is changed to produce a new

design.

Chance (innovation

strategies)

An unexpected discovery leads to a new idea.

Competition Any company or product that can fulfil similar functions for a similar

market.

Configurational

innovation

A change is made in both technology and organization.

ownership for its use and distribution. Usually for a limited time and

within geographical boundaries, copyright allows the creator to

receive compensation for their intellectual effort.

Design protection A simple and cost-effective way to protect an innovative shape,

appearance or ornamentation.

Design specification A list of requirements, constraints and considerations that a yet-to-

be-designed product must fulfil.

Diffusion (Markets) The wide acceptance (and sale) of a product.

Disruptive

innovation

A product or type of technology that challenges existing companies

to ignore or embrace technical change

Drivers for

invention

These include personal motivation to express creativity/for personal

interest, scientific or technical curiosity, constructive discontent,

desire to make money, desire to help others.

Early adopters The second fastest category to adopt an innovation.

Early majority The third fastest group to adopt an innovation, tends to take more

time to consider adopting new innovations and is inclined to draw

from feedback from early adopters before taking the risk of

purchasing new products/systems.

Entrepreneur An influential individual who can take an invention to market, often

by financing the development, production and diffusion of a

product into the marketplace.

First to market The first product of its type to be released on the market.

Functional Over time, products wear out and break down. If parts are no longer

obsolescence available, the product can no longer work in the way it originally did.

Also, if a service vital to its functioning is no longer available, it can

become obsolete.

Innovation The business of putting an invention in the marketplace and making

it a success.

Innovators The first individuals to adopt an innovation. They are willing to take

risks.

Intellectual

Property (IP)

A legal term for intangible property such as "creations of the mind"

such as inventions and designs that are used in a commercial

setting. Intellectual property is protected by law.

Invention The process of discovering a principle. A technical advance in a

particular field often resulting in a novel product.

Laggards The last to adopt an innovation. They tend to prefer traditions and

are unwilling to take risks.

Late majority The fourth fastest group to adopt an innovation. They do so after it

has been established in the marketplace and are seldom willing to

take risks with new innovation.

Lone inventor An individual working outside or inside an organization who is

committed to the invention of a novel product and often becomes

isolated because he or she is engrossed with ideas that imply

change and are resisted by others.

Market analysis An appraisal of economic viability of the proposed design from a

market perspective, taking into account fixed and variable costs and

pricing. It is typically a summary about potential users and the

market.

Market pull

(innovation

strategies)

A new idea is needed as a result of demand from the marketplace.

Modular innovation The basic configuration stays the same, but one or more key

components are changed.

Multi-disciplinary

approach

On occasion, the inventor is also the product champion and/or

entrepreneur. This requires specific skill sets and actions to fulfil

these roles and the reason inventors often take on multiple roles.

Effective design draws from multiple areas of expertise, and this can

be utilised at different stages of product development.

Patent An agreement from a government office to give someone the right

to make or sell a new invention for a certain number of years.

Patent pending An indication that an application for a patent has been applied for

but has not yet been processed. The marking serves to notify those

copying the invention that they may be liable for damages

(including back-dated royalties), once a patent is issued.

Planned

obsolescence

A product becomes outdated as a conscious act either to ensure a

continuing market or to ensure that safety factors and new

technologies can be incorporated into later versions of the product.

Process innovation An improvement in the organization and/or method of manufacture

that often leads to reduced costs or benefits to consumers.

Product champion An influential individual, usually working within an organization,

who develops an enthusiasm for a particular idea or invention and

“champions” it within that organization.

Product

generations

A business practice in which a company releases a new group of

products that have advanced features compared to an earlier group.

Product life cycle A tool for mapping out the four stages of a product's commercial

life: Launch; Growth; Maturity; Decline.

Product versioning A business practice in which a company produces different models

of the same product, and then charges different prices for each

model.

Radical innovation A high risk innovation strategy that introduces a new idea, system or

product that is very different from the existing paradigm.

research methods A thorough analysis of competing designs is required to establish

the market need. Methods include user research, user trial, literature

search, expert appraisal, performance test.

Rogers’

characteristics of

innovation and

consumers

Five characteristics identified by Rogers that impact on consumer

adoption of an innovation: Relative advantage; Compatibility;

Complexity; Observability; Trial-ability.

Service Mark (SM) A trademark used to identify a service rather than a product.

Shelved technology Technology that is shelved for various reasons. Sometimes shelved

technologies will be rediscovered or taken off the shelf.

Social roots of

consumerism

Consumerism is concerned with protecting customers from all

organisations where there is an exchange relationship. The roots of

consumerism can be traces through: disillusionment with the

system; the performance gap; the consumer information gap;

antagonism toward advertising; impersonal and unresponsive

marketing institutions; intrusions of privacy; declining living

standards; special problems of the disadvantaged; different views of

the marketplace.

Style (fashion)

obsolescence

Fashions and trends change over time, which can result in a product

no longer being desirable. However, as evidenced by the concept of

retro styling and the cyclic nature of fashion, products can become

desirable again.

Suppression

(Markets)

A process where a new idea or adoption of a product by the market

is actively slowed.

Sustaining

innovation

A new or improved product that meets the needs of consumers and

sustains manufacturers

Target audience A specific group of people within the target market at which a

product or the marketing message of a product is aimed at.

Target market When determining the target market, market sectors and segments

need to be identified.

Technological

obsolescence

When a new technology supersedes an existing technology, the

existing technology quickly falls out of use and is no longer

incorporated into new products. Consumers instead opt for the

newer, more efficient technology in their products.

Technology push

(innovation

strategies)

Scientific research leads to advances in technology that underpin

new ideas.

Technology transfer

(innovation

strategies)

Technological advances that form the basis of new designs may be

applied to the development of different types of products/systems,

for example, laser technology.

Trademark ® or TM A trademark is a symbol, word, or words legally registered or

established by use as representing a company or product.

User need The essential requirements that a product must satisfy in relation to

the user.