INTRODUCTION
Some ideation is spontaneous.
Other ideation results from focused effort.
For inventors and entrepreneurs
who typically exist more as isolated “human” islands during the early stages of
a future new venture, reliance is placed on their accumulated knowledge,
skills, and past experiences.
Invention and innovation occur
within large organizations (e.g., 3M, IBM, etc.) as a result of highly
formalized processes that harness the collective abilities of their scientists
and engineers.
Regardless of the source of
invention and innovation, a process that helps to systematically enable consistent
thought is valuable to those wishing to become an entrepreneur.
A SUGGESTED
PROCESS FOR IDEATION, INNOVATION, AND INVENTION
No matter what a person’s level
of expertise is there are ways to diligently think about a problem or
opportunity, starting with understanding the landscape and environment of the
area of interest (AOI) to identify problem(s) and develop the vision. An overview of an ideation process is provided
in Figure
1 Of course, there may be many innovation
processes—this is but one approach.
STEP 1
|
SELECT AN AREA OF INTEREST
(AOI)
|
The inventor or entrepreneur should be inspired and passionate about the AOI and have supportive knowledge and
skills.
|
STEP 2
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IDENTIFY UNSOLVED PROBLEM OR
OPPORTUNITY
|
Both primary and secondary research can be used to
identify existing solutions and unsolved problems and opportunities for new
products and services.
|
STEP 3
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DEVELOP YOUR VISION
|
Your vision drives the creative processes needed for
innovation, invention, and intellectual property development.
|
STEP 4
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RESEARCH & DISCOVERY
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Existing technology, patents, products, and services
must be diligently researched and understood with a view towards identifying
what new technology, innovations, and inventions need to be developed.
|
STEP 5
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INNOVATION
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The “eureka” moment occurs when something new and
useful is invented.
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STEP 6
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INVENTION
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The innovation or idea must be captured in the form
of an invention and initial patent positions and trade secrets established.
|
Figure 1 Ideation, Innovation, and Invention Processes
Problem or opportunity discovery is facilitated through primary research in
which information and data are acquired directly from other parties in
discussions at technical conferences, interviews with technical experts, and
informally in a variety of settings in which conversations with others may
occur. Of course, the point of this research is to collect useful information
from others and not to disclose information about what you, the inventor, may
be thinking. Thus, information flow is strictly one-way. Secondary research—information
collected from public documents (including the Internet)—is also useful and
necessary to provide as complete a view of the landscape as possible.
The processes of creating ideas (e.g., ideation)—and yes, there are processes—start
with a keen awareness of a target AOI and the environment, both of which are
essential to achieving deeper insights. Critical questions must be asked and
answered. What are the problems within the AOI? What would be achieved if a
different solution were available? What are other companies delivering now?
What would the world look like if X or Y could be achieved? In other words:
“What is your vision?”[1]
Vision, in the context of
entrepreneurship, is the ability to clearly
see a future based on the implementation of an innovation. Vision includes naturally an
appreciation for the impact on society if the new venture is successful. This
vision is typically not necessarily easily shared, but it can eventually be
shared among a founding team and, later, a new venture and the people within
the funded company. This vision drives the entrepreneur to push forward with
passion and purpose.
Necessarily, the inventor or
entrepreneur becomes the “vision holder,” that person who is driven the
most to succeed, persevere, and deliver the solution to society. Every company
needs a vision holder, and the less developed the underlying new venture or
company is, the more the will and desire of the vision holder needs to be at
the forefront.
Vision drives the need to be
creative, a necessary prerequisite to developing the underlying idea and
innovation. Creativity is achieved often in seemingly random ways, but it can
be also be brought forth or encouraged through research and discovery. Sometimes,
the idea does not immediately have an identifiable product and market, in which
case additional thought must be devoted to the idea and its applications.
Ideally, the idea results in innovation and an invention for which a product
and target market is readily identifiable.
Naturally, inventors and
entrepreneurs hope to achieve that “eureka” moment, when it is realized that an
innovation has been discovered—an innovation that has, at first glance, not
been invented or disclosed elsewhere. At that point, it is critical that the
innovation be preserved in the form of an immediate provisional
patent application (followed by a regular patent
application within a year).
That’s it—I have personally used
this process and found it to be very useful.
Hopefully, it will be for you also.
***
Rocky
Richard Arnold provides strategic corporate and capital acquisition
advice to early-stage companies founded by entrepreneurs wishing to
successfully commercialize high-value-creation opportunities, ideas, and/or
technologies. More information about
Rocky can be found at www.rockyrichardarnold.com. His book, The Smart Entrepreneur: The book
investors don’t want you to read, is available for purchase on Amazon
at http://tinyurl.com/pv248qq. Financial software for use by startups can be
purchased on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K2KPSI2. He posts articles about entrepreneurship on
his blog at http://thesmartentrepreneur.blogspot.com. Connect
with Rocky on Twitter @Rocky_R_Arnold; Facebook at www.facebook.com/rocky.r.arnold;
Google+ at www.google.com/+RockyArnold01.
[1] At the
earliest stages, the invention may not have been developed or the innovation
not obvious. This vision may be called a dream or a goal or, most
appropriately, an emerging passion. But this vision sparks the creative
impulses within each of us.
[2] At the
earliest stages, the invention may not have been developed or the innovation
not obvious. This vision may be called a dream or a goal or, most
appropriately, an emerging passion. But this vision sparks the creative
impulses within each of us.
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