The Evolution of Idea Generation, Funding, and Development Systems

Abstract

In the last chapter, I looked at how the innovation systems of eight companies evolved from 1984 to 1995. I focused on overall structures and workflows, and identified two evolutionary paths that these companies followed. Single product-line companies in relatively stable industries focused on increasing innovation system efficiency, rationalizing the innovation process and developing Focused systems. Companies that wanted to diversify, particularly those exploring unstable or new industries, focused on increasing diversification capacity. They found ways in which to proliferate the number and types of project they could deal with. In the process, they developed Flexible innovation systems.