Is it Time to Stop Innovating?
——————————————————
Over the past several weeks, a television commercial has been promoting a TV with no edges. At first, I didn’t give it much thought, but then I became interested in the idea behind this “innovation”.
Samsung is scheduled to roll out a new TV model multiple times a year. The time came and they were to release a new and improved product to consumers. While a TV with no edges seems like an interesting idea, are the two inch borders on most sets really that distracting? Every television I have watched has had borders along the side. Have I been deprived of the joy that comes from an edgeless television set for the past twenty plus years? Or are industries today so infatuated with the idea of innovating that it is often done simply for the sake of “innovation”?
For the most part, the word innovation within an organization is viewed very positively. Firms like Apple, Google, and Facebook are said to be revolutionary and innovative. The executives at these industry giants pride themselves on being some of the most innovative people of this era. I can guarantee Steve Jobs would never release a mediocre product simply to meet a schedule. The delayed launch of the iPhone 5 is a perfect example of this philosophy. Apple is clearly in a position to produce a slightly upgraded iPhone, but an innovator like Jobs could not stand the thought of half-hearted innovation. The iPhone 5 will launch several months “late”, but will no doubt continue to revolutionize the way mobile devices operate.
Most firms love the thought of innovation, but can’t depart from their structured, bureaucratic ways. The biggest waste of human capital is having employees that are incapable of using their creativity to change a company or even the world. To be a true innovator, we must be willing to adjust with the market in an effort to provide the consumer with a product they don’t even know they need yet.
So maybe we are just heading towards more edgeless televisions and pointless innovation, but I would like to believe true innovators are still creating value and changing corporate cultures across the globe. It’s time to stop settling for worthless innovation to meet a quota — let’s innovate to change the world.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
