Another week and another collection of interesting ideas from around the internet.
As always, thoughts and/or comments are greatly appreciated.
- Patent Volume Isn’t the Best Innovation Gauge [BusinessWeek: Innovate]
Patent volume isn’t necessarily a valid proxy for innovation. A study by the Patent Board, an intellectual-property consultancy, shows there are other—and better—ways to quantify innovation. Ranked by sheer volume, Honda Motor is No. 1, with 54. That’s almost twice second-place Panasonic, which has 28. Ranked by other metrics, though, Honda isn’t a leader. - The Downside of Seeking Common Ground [strategy+business]
People’s tendency to find common ground in conversation by focusing on what’s familiar can stifle the most innovative thinkers. - Is America Losing Its Mojo? [Newsweek]
Innovation is as American as baseball and apple pie. But some traditions can’t be trademarked. - Innovation relies on synthesis [Innovate on Purpose]
We often talk about the importance of combining disparate skills or capabilities when innovating, or holding two diametrically opposing ideas and finding the happy medium. What should be obvious is that one of the most important skills from an innovation perspective is the act and insight of synthesis.