Imitation beats Innovation

Imitation beats Innovation is the title of Dr Christian Stadler's latest blog on the Harvard Business Manager website, the German version of the mighty Harvard Business Review.

"Breakthrough innovations are over-rated" he claims, arguing that the lack of interest by customers in trying something new, or lack of confidence of others who need to adopt new technology to make an innovation accessible and useful to customers, are to blame for the high level of innovation failures. Innovation has to rely on often complex 'dependencies' which cannot be foreseen.

Impersonators - those who produce something very similar to the initial and truly innovative product, but who learn lessons from its failure - are generally those who will win success in and profit from the market. As he concludes, "In many cases, the impersonators gain, not the innovator."

If you wish to discuss, refute, or confirm Dr Stadler's blog, click here or on the link below.