A very interesting interview appears in the BusinessWeek On-line Innovation section. Titled “A Life in Invention”, the interview features the commentary of Xerox scientist Robert Loce. Some interesting themes emerge from the discussion.
One theme raised by Loce is that inventions should create value for the company. This is a point that has been made here in recent posts. Innovation is about creating value.
Loce’s comments also reaffirm that having a purpose can help lead us to better innovations. While great ideas can sometimes come from unexpected sources, working with product teams to resolve specific, identifiable problems is a terrific way to focus innovation and frame ideation efforts.
Even with 100 patents under his belt, Loce recognizes the challenges of our every narrowing scope of specialization and the related need to reach out beyond our area of expertise. If we don’t look for creative solution outside of our comfort zone, we will miss many high-value opportunities.
I highly recommend looking at the full interview.
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