Invention and innovation: An introduction

This course introduces the innovation process, exploring key concepts such as inventors, designs, and types of innovation. It covers the motivation behind invention, the process of invention, and overcoming obstacles to innovation. The course also delves into the diffusion of innovations, sustaining versus disruptive innovation, and the phases and waves of innovation. The teaching method includes self-assessment questions and key point summaries. This course is intended for individuals interested in understanding the principles and practices of invention and innovation.

• Introduction
• Learning outcomes
• 1 Part 1 Investigating the innovation process
• 1 Part 1 Investigating the innovation process
• 2 Part 1: 1 Living with innovation
• 2 Part 1: 1 Living with innovation
• 2.1 Everyday life
• 2.2 The inventive drive
• 3 Part 1: 2 Exploring innovation
• 3 Part 1: 2 Exploring innovation
• 3.1 Your experience of innovation
• 4 Part 1: 3 Inventing the telephone and living with the innovation
• 4 Part 1: 3 Inventing the telephone and living with the innovation
• 4.1 An explanation
• 4.2 When and where was the telephone invented?
• 4.3 Who invented the telephone?
• 4.4 What was innovative about the telephone?
• 4.5 Was the telephone invented in response to a need or because of developments in technology?
• 4.6 Was the telephone an immediate success?
• 4.7 Has telephone design changed over time?
• 4.8 Has the telephone led to any related or spin-off products?
• 4.9 A consumer's experience of innovation
• 4.10 What has been learnt from the history of the telephone?
• 5 Part 1: 4 Key concepts
• 5 Part 1: 4 Key concepts
• 5.1 Introduction to key concepts
• 5.2 Inventors and inventions
• 5.3 Designs
• 5.4 Product champion
• 5.5 Entrepreneur
• 5.6 Improver
• 5.7 Innovation
• 5.8 Dominant design
• 5.9 Robust design and lean design
• 5.10 Radical innovation and incremental innovation
• 5.11 Sustaining innovation and disruptive innovation
• 5.12 Process innovation
• 5.13 Diffusion and suppression
• 5.14 Compact fluorescents and new developments
• 5.15 Intellectual property and patents
• 6 Part 1: 5 Dead certs and dead ends
• 6 Part 1: 5 Dead certs and dead ends
• 6.1 Evolutionary development
• 6.2 Are cylinder ships a dead-end invention?
• 7 Part 1: 6 Self-assessment questions
• 7 Part 1: 6 Self-assessment questions
• 8 Part 1: 7 Key points of Part 1
• 8 Part 1: 7 Key points of Part 1
• 9 Part 2: Invention
• 9 Part 2: Invention
• 10 Part 2: 1 How invention starts
• 10 Part 2: 1 How invention starts
• 10.1 What motivates individuals to invent?
• 10.2 Scientific or technical curiosity
• 10.3 Constructive discontent
• 10.3.1 Cats eyes and road conditions
• 10.4 Desire to make money
• 10.5 Desire to help others
• 10.6 What drives invention in organisations?
• 10.7 Business strategy
• 10.7.1 First to market
• 10.7.2 Follow the leader
• 10.7.3 Opportunist
• 10.8 Need to improve product or process
• 10.9 Opportunity offered by a new material, technology or manufacturing process
• 10.9.1 New materials
• 10.9.2 New technology
• 10.9.3 New manufacturing process
• 10.10 Government policy, legislation and regulations
• 11 Part 2: 2 How the process of invention works
• 11 Part 2: 2 How the process of invention works
• 11.1 Five steps to invention
• 11.2 Step 1 – identification of the problem
• 11.3 Step 2 – exploration
• 11.4 Step 3 – incubation
• 11.5 Step 4 – act of insight
• 11.5.1 Adaptation
• 11.5.2 Transfer
• 11.5.3 Combination
• 11.5.4 Analogy
• 11.5.5 Chance
• 11.6 Step 5 – critical revision
• 11.7 Characteristics of inventors
• 12 Part 2: 3 Technology push and market pull
• 12.1 Two models
• 12.2 Technology push
• 12.3 Market pull
• 12.4 Coupling model
• 13 Part 2: 4 Preparing for innovation
• 14 Part 2: 5 Self-assessment questions
• 14 Part 2: 5 Self-assessment questions
• 15 Part 2: 6 Key points of Part 2
• 15 Part 2: 6 Key points of Part 2
• 16 Part 3: Innovation
• 16 Part 3: Innovation
• 17 Part 3: 1 Overcoming obstacles to innovation
• 17 Part 3: 1 Overcoming obstacles to innovation
• 17.1 Getting the technology to work
• 17.2 Getting finance and organisational backing
• 17.3 Choosing appropriate materials and manufacturing process
• 17.4 Standards and their role in innovation
• 18 Part 3: 2 Diffusion of innovations
• 18 Part 3: 2 Diffusion of innovations
• 18.1 Introduction to diffusion
• 18.2 Characteristics of the innovation
• 18.2.1 Relative advantage
• 18.2.2 Compatibility
• 18.2.3 Complexity
• 18.2.4 Observability
• 18.2.5 Trialability
• 18.2.6 Encouraging diffusion
• 18.3 Characteristics of consumers and the market
• 18.4 MP3's diffusion depended on innovations in related areas
• 18.5 Government regulations and legislation
• 19 Part 3: 3 Sustaining and disruptive innovation
• 19 Part 3: 3 Sustaining and disruptive innovation
• 20 Part 3: 4 Phases and waves of innovation
• 20 Part 3: 4 Phases and waves of innovation
• Part 3: 5 Self-assessment questions
• 22 Part 3: 6 Key points of Part 3
• 22 Part 3: 6 Key points of Part 3
• Conclusion
• References
• Acknowledgements