INNOVATION

and Innovation Frameworks

What is Innovation?

This question has become more important and urgent over time, as the problems faced by humanity have become increasingly complex and dangerous. How do we design innovative, impactful solutions?

There are many definitions of innovation as viewed from different perspectives. The common elements across all definitions produce this general definition:

Innovation is a new, original idea that provides recognized value to humanity.

Examples of innovation across all of human history include fire, the wheel, the printing press, optics, electricity, the internal combustion engine, vaccines, the computer, the Internet, the Web, self-driving cars, Kickstarter, virtual reality, GenAI, etc.

Technology fuels innovation. Accelerating change is the observed exponential nature of the rate of technological change in recent history. It has created an increasingly complex life for humanity which can be problematic for society. However, advances in Tech also provides solutions to humanity’s challenges.

From “Thank You for Being Late,” Thomas L. Friedmann

Essential Ingredients for Innovation

  • Individual Contribution

    The most important ingredient for innovation is what you bring to the table.

    - Unique perspective
    - Unique skill-set and knowledge
    - Creativity
    - Passion
    - Empathy

  • Collaborative Engagement

    The synergy between individuals is where the innovative magic happens when the proper skills are applied.

    - Interdisciplinary Perspectives
    - Emotional Intelligence
    - Leadership and Facilitation
    - Project Management
    - Effective Communication

  • Innovation Framework

    The Innovative process benefits from an organized approach.

    - Design Thinking
    - Systems Thinking
    - Other assorted methods

  • Emerging Technologies

    Technologies enhance our ability for creative innovation with new technologies opening doors to new innovations.

    - Digital Fabrication
    - Immersive Media
    - Artificial Intelligence
    - Robotics
    - Blockchain
    - Other emerging tech

Innovation Frameworks

Innovation pays.

Innovation within a business or organization provides new valuable products and services, streamlines production processes, and addresses societal challenges. It has become the driver for competitive advantage, and a crucial activity in saving the world from any number of disasters.

Because of its value, many methods and frameworks have been developed to organize and streamline the process of innovation for guaranteed results in minimum time and investment. Some frameworks have different areas of focus, different goals, different subjects (customer, competitors, markets) or are designed to impact different stages of the product development process. Each of the frameworks shown here in gold boxes can be Googled to learn about them.

At the Innovation Hub, we teach and promote Design Thinking and Systems Thinking as frameworks for interdisciplinary innovation and problem solving across all industries and needs. Systems Thinking as a type of Design Thinking for improving the functioning of systems such as education, food production, environmental, government and economic.

We partner with the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship for innovations that can lead to commercial opportunities.

Innovation Activities

Check your understanding of Innovation

  1. What is innovation?

  2. How does “accelerating change” impact innovation?

  3. What are the four essential ingredients for innovation?

  4. What is the most important ingredient for innovation?

  5. What ingredient provides the magic?

  6. What opportunities do emerging technologies provide for innovation?

  7. Why are frameworks useful for innovation?

  8. Which innovation frameworks are taught in the FSU Innovation Hub?