Over time, the word innovation seems to have become ubiquitous.

As a result, innovation has come to mean different things to different people. One area of confusion is the belief that innovation and creativity are synonymous. At Idea Connection Systems, we see these two activities as complementary, but very distinct. The following are the definitions we use for creativity and innovation:

Creativity: the generation of new and/or novel ideas. Innovation: a creative act or solution that results in a quantifiable gain.

THE INNOVATION CONTINUUM

We view the goals of innovation on a continuum, ranging from Revolutionary to Evolutionary.

REVOLUTIONARY IDEAS
Redefine problems, break boundaries, and create new paradigms. They provide completely new and sometimes disruptive ideas. The first flight and the personal computer are examples of revolutionary ideas. Steve Jobs and Thomas Kuhn are good examples of Revolutionary Innovators.

EXPANSIONARY IDEAS
Challenge the current problem definitions. They answer the question: How can we do things differently? An example is a product line extension, such as Apple introducing its iPhone which uses much of the same technology as other smartphones combined with previous iPod products. The iPhone pulled in new customers and expanded the market. As an Expansionary Innovator, Tom Peters would tell you to continue doing what you are good at.

EVOLUTIONARY IDEAS
Seek solutions by using existing concepts. They question: How can we do things better? These ideas can be very process-driven, such as Lean Six Sigma, which uses the Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control (or DMAIC) methodology. William Edward Deming, the father of the quality movement, is an excellent example of an Evolutionary Innovator.

All individuals innovate, and all types of innovators are necessary to successfully sustain innovation. To make innovation happen, start by answering these three questions:

1. What does innovation mean to your organization? What quantifiable gains are measured and recognized? 2. Where do your innovation goals fall on the Innovation Continuum? 3. Who in your organization prefers working on Revolutionary projects? Expansionary projects? Evolutionary project?

Ideation is the creative process of generating, developing, and communicating new ideas, where an idea is understood as a basic element of thought that can be either visual, concrete, or abstract.[1] Ideation is all stages of a thought cycle, from innovation, to development, to actualization.[2] As such, it is an essential part of the design process, both in education and practice

Methods of innovation
Methods of innovation include:[4]

Problem solution This is the most simple method of progress, where someone has found a problem and as a result, solves it. Evolutionary idea Evolutionary ideas derive from somewhere else, taking something that already exists and improving on it. Symbiotic idea A symbiotic method of idea creation is when multiple ideas are combined, using different elements of each to make a whole. Revolutionary idea A revolutionary idea breaks away from traditional thought and creates a brand new perspective. For example, Marxism (an evolutionary form ofHegelianism), or the writings of Copernicus (a development of classical Greek thought). Serendipitous discovery Serendipitous solutions are ideas which have been coincidentally developed without the intention of the inventor. For example, the discovery ofpenicillin. Targeted innovation Creating a targeted innovation deals with a direct path of discovery. This is often accompanied by intensive research in order to have a distinct and almost expected resolution. For example, linear programming. Artistic innovation Artistic innovation disregards the necessity for practicality and holds no constraints. Philosophical idea The philosophical idea lives in the mind of the creator and can never[citation needed] be proven. This type of idea however can still have vast residual effects. For example, the idea of eternal recurrence. Computer-assisted discovery This uses a computer in order to widen possibilities of research and numeric possibilities.