Innovation and Design Thinking

What this page covers

This page collects material on innovation, from basic definitions to how ideas become products and services. The notes in Introduction to Innovation Pt1 separate invention from innovation: an invention is a new idea, while innovation is its successful commercial use. Other resources look at types of innovation, sources of ideas, the culture of innovation, and the traits of innovative people.

Where to start

Begin with the basics. Open the notes Introduction to Innovation Pt1, then the mind maps DEFINING INNOVATION and Types of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Next, try Innovation as a Process in Business and MODELS OF INNOVATION PROCCESS, which lays out the generations of models, from technology push and need-pull to coupling and integrated approaches.

Then move to doing

The Prototype mind map covers ways to test an idea, such as making a mock-up, building a model or getting feedback. An Introduction to Design Thinking and the Design Thinking maps fit well after it.

Using quizzes and maps together

Read a map first, then take a quiz to see what stuck. Entrepreneurship and Innovation VII asks about demand and supply and the technology acceptance model. Innovation Questions and MIP: Managing the Innovation Process give more questions to try. If a quiz shows a gap, go back to the matching map and read that branch again.

A real case

The Rickshaw Bank mind map, with a matching note, follows a social innovation from the way the idea was born to its business model and sustainability. It's a useful example to compare with the models you have studied.

Where it sits

This unit belongs to the strand Ideas, Creativity and Innovation in the subject Entrepreneurship. It suits university students and teachers looking for classroom-ready material.

Pick one map today, take a quiz on it, and then make your own summary in your own words.