Breakthroughs and the Long Tail of Innovation Case Solution And Analysis, HBR Case Study Solution & Analysis of Harvard Case Studies

Much of the misconception that it is impossible to predict the breakthroughs, there is a tendency to focus only on the break, while ignoring the iterative process of the invention and distribution of results. When all the inventors believe they show a very uneven distribution, in which almost all inventions are useless, some are moderate cost, and only very, very few of these breakthroughs. These discoveries are the "long tail" of innovation. If managers want to understand how those breakthroughs occur, they can not ignore the process that generates the entire distribution. In particular, they should bear in mind the following three measures of inventive success: shots on goal (the total number of inventions company generates), the average score (the average of the invention), and the maximum number of points (breakthrough inventions). Various factors can affect the output of the invention, including the presence of inventors who work alone, the type of collaboration between the inventors, who work in teams, the amount of team diversity and the extent to which the inventors applied science in the innovation process. A large team of diversity, for example, will help to generate more shots on goal, although, on average, these images will be less successful. But diversity also increases the variance of the result, so that failures and breakthroughs more likely. Thus, companies first need to determine how they want to improve their innovation process, and then take the appropriate measures to address any deficiencies. Only then can they improve their ability to innovate so as to make the best sense for your organization. "Hide
by Lee Fleming Source: MIT Sloan Management Review 8 pages. Publication Date: 01 Oct 2007. Prod. #: SMR265-PDF-ENG