Gaining competitiveness through innovation

Abstract

Innovation has always been at the centerpiece of competitiveness. Experimentation, exploration and a drive to maximize resources is as essential for companies as it is for nations and our whole species. Many of the lessons for how to best innovate can be drawn from nature herself. The Cambrian explosion provides a good blueprint for how innovations occur. It shows us that true innovation often occurs in sudden dynamic shifts. It is not one of continual or gradual improvements but rather “lumpy” improvements. It is these sudden competitive changing innovations that open up and close out vast areas of commerce. Unfortunately, we never know where these competitive changing innovations will occur, so it is best to be ever vigilant and explore not only main lines of inquiry but also by‐products. Often, it is these by‐products that turn out to be the competitive shifting innovations.

Citation

Denton, D.K. (1999), "Gaining competitiveness through innovation", European Journal of Innovation Management, Vol. 2 No. 2, pp. 82-85. https://doi.org/10.1108/14601069910269790