Tech Manager—Invention, Innovation, and Improvement
Tech Managers, and those that use the tech they manage, come up with new ideas and ways of doing things all the time. The good tech users and managers do not stand still and continue to use the same tools in the same way. They modify, mold and mix things together in a way that increases productivity, reduce errors and improve output. Creating, customizing, or configuring – it all starts with an idea.
But when you do something new, or in a new way, are you being inventive, innovative, or improving the process or tool? It may not seem like it matters, but I think you move between all three. That is what this article is about.
Invention
Invention is defined by EPAM SolutionHub as, “…creating something entirely new, for example, the first light bulbs or the telephone.” This is the simplest definition of the term, and it is a good place to start. Stefan F. Dieffenbacher, Founder and CEO of Digital Leadership, defines it a more exactly as, “…the initial creation of a product or the introduction of a process, marking its first occurrence. It is the conception of an idea that holds the innovation potential.” He goes on to say, “Invention refers to the occurrence of a completely new idea for a product or process that has never been created before.”
The point is that it is something brand new. Something not done before. In the tech world it seems to happen all the time. Many tech tools we now use every day were considered inventive at the time of introduction.
Innovation
Going back to SmartHub, they define innovation as, “…the process of improving the existing creations or finding new applications for them. A typical example could be the transformation of smartphones from basic communication devices into powerful pocket computers.” Mr. Dieffenbacher states it this way: “…introducing new things, ideas, or ways of doing something,” and continues with, “Innovation involves the implementation of an idea for a product or process that is being introduced for the first time.”
Here, we have the process of taking something that exists and applying it is such a way that it can actually be used. It is taking something out of the lab, or proof of concept phase and moving it into the adoption phase.
Improvement
Wikipedia defines improvement as, “The process of a thing moving from one state to a state considered to be better, usually by a change or addition that improves.” It is making adjustments that may seem incremental but make things better. It is tweaking things so that they are more efficient or used in a more efficient way. It does not really introduce something new but takes what is used and making it more productive. It is like moving the plotter closer to the production team, so they don’t have to walk so far to pick up their prints.
So, What?
Is it all just semantics? Does it really matter what you call the process that is used? It really does not, but I just want to point out that you probably do all three and move from one to another all the time.
Most of us do not usually invent things. Having a brand new, unique idea and making it workable does not happen every day. Just having an idea does not mean you are inventing anything. It must move to the tangible. It cannot just exist in your head. I have had a lot of “ideas” that never went anywhere… until someone else made it happen. How many times have you complained about a tech hole that no one is filling, framed an idea of what was needed, and then realized it is more work than you want to put in or it is not possible for you to work it out? You may have ‘ideated’, but nothing concrete was invented.
You do innovate – and you do it a lot. Every time you upgrade from one version to another, you are innovating. You are implementing a new version you are being innovative. You are taking something that others have invented, and you are making it a reality for your firm. When you research a new tool and bring it into your firm for the first time, you are innovating.
You probably improve things the most. You may never stop improving. Those small tweaks you do all the time. That is improvement. If you tried to list all the improvements you have made, the list would be pretty long. Improvement is in your blood. You can’t help but see how to improve things. It may be just moving the coffee machine in the break room to be closer to the sink so cleanup is easier, you just always see improvements that can be made.
So, whether you are inventing, innovating or improving, you are making your firm more efficient and output more stable. You are setting the environment on productivity. I have not mentioned elimination. You may also get rid of old tech so that people move forward.
The next time have a thought, and idea, revelation or make a change, don’t stop to think what word best describes what you are doing. Just make it happen. No matter what word you hang on it. You are making things better. Keep it up.
