Portfolio management is challenging. Just a couple of examples I recently ran into, of well-intended innovation activities that stand no chance of success. Unfortunately, overcrowded pipelines are roads to nowhere, because too many projects make that none can thrive.
What is the difference between innovation, new service development, and research? Does it matter? There are differences between new service development, research and innovation in the professional services. And yes, these differences matter. As I found out the hard way, mixing up these terms can be utterly confusing.
What is disruptive innovation? Clayton Christensen defined it as a cheaper, inferior, niche product that in a short period of time upends the entire market. Larry Downes and Paul Nunes, have a different opinion. In their view, disruptive innovations do not have to start as inferior, nor are necessarily linked to technology, making disruptive innovations an even greater threat to even more industries than ever before.