Innovation and Design

The lessons of business history have taught us that there is no        such thing as a static market. There are no guarantees of continued business success for companies regardless of their field of endeavor. The history of media and telecommunications is replete with examples of companies that were once high flyers (the best of the best) but who failed to plan for the future. Companies

with iconic names like Eastman Kodak, Blockbuster Video, Radio Shack and Blackberry wireless, to name only a few, have been  greatly reduced or are no more. Today, the international

business landscape has become ever more challenging.  Global competition has engendered a new competitive spirit that cuts across countries and companies alike. No company large

or small remains unaffected by the desire to increase profits and decrease costs.  Such companies are faced with the same basic question; namely, what are the best methods for staying competitive

over time?  In a word, innovation. 

​

In principle, there are two kinds of innovation; namely, sustaining technology versus disruptive technology. A sustaining technology  has to do with product improvement and performance. The goal is  to improve on an existing technology or service by adding new and enhanced feature elements. Such examples might include incremental improvements in Microsoft office software or the steady progressions made in the design of the Apple iPhone. In contrast,      a disruptive (or breakthrough) technology represents an altogether different approach to an existing product design and process.         
It redefines the playing field. Consider, for example, the impact that Zoom (and equivalent conferencing software technology) have had  

in redefining organizational workspace and remote working from home.