Managing Innovation, 6th Edition

CHAPTER 15 Capturing Learning from Innovation

One of the common metaphors used to describe innovation is that of a journey – a complex, fitful travel through uncertain territory involving false starts, wrong directions, blind alleys, and unexpected problems. Successful innovation implies the completion of this risky adventure and – through widespread adoption and diffusion of the new idea as a product, service, or process – a happy ending with valuable returns on the original investment. But it also provides an opportunity to reflect on the journey and to take stock of the knowledge acquired through an often difficult experience. It’s worth doing this because the knowledge gained through such reflection can provide a powerful resource to help with the next innovation journey.

Not all innovation is, of course, successful – but the opportunities for learning from failure are also considerable. Understanding what doesn’t work on a technological level, or recognizing the difficulties in a particular marketplace, which led to nonadoption, is useful information to take stock of and use when planning the next expedition. Experience is an excellent teacher – but its lessons will only be of value if there is a systematic and committed attempt to learn them.

This chapter reviews the ways in which learning can be captured from the innovation experience.

15.1 What We Have Learned ...