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Innovation refers to improving existing ideas, processes or concepts by making changes that benefit users or the environment.

Currently, there are different classifications of innovation. The main types of innovation are those related to process innovation, product or service innovation, business model innovation, design and marketing innovation, and social innovation.

However, in reality there are many types of classification for innovation as an activity. They depend on, for example, the performer of the activity, the activity being performed, the speed of its implementation, etc.

How is innovation classified?

One classification, for example, could refer to the part of the production process in which the novelty arises. For example, Schumpeter classifies innovation in 5 particular cases according to this approach:

- Introduction into the market of a new good or service that consumers are not familiar with.

- Introduction of a new production method or organizational methodology.

- Creation of a new source of supply of raw materials or semi-finished products.

- Opening of a new market in a country.

- Establishment of a new structure in a market.

Another classification could refer to when the innovation arises by chance (a famous example is the discovery of penicillin) or after a systematic search, e.g., through research and development.

Metodología Playbook

There are numerous ways and methodologies for innovating; however, we came across an interesting guide developed by researchers William Cockayne (Stanford University, USA) and Antti-Jussi Tahvanainen (Lappeenranta University of Technology, Finland), together with Innovation Leadership Board LLC. Playbook for Strategic Foresight and Innovation, brings together a series of tips, methods, step-by-step instructions, case studies, etc., presented in a practical guide that can be used by independent learners who are responsible for innovation management in a company.

Playbook is intended to be a reference and a resource for those responsible for the strategic management of innovation in organizations, to help them in the task of innovation development and planning that they had been entrusted with.

The contents of the guide are designed self-learning and are practical, which means that anyone can use it, regardless of industry, country or type of organization. This is because the methods have been deliberately designed to solve the problems involved in addressing radical innovation in an economic framework and have been put into practice in a variety of companies and institutions around the world.

"It is not possible to solve today's problems with yesterday's solutions"

- Roger Van Oech

Innovation must be present in our projects, companies and in the mind of each individual. Therefore, it is necessary to learn the best strategies and methods that are being applied today. A free course on innovation is available on the e4you platform which will provide you with several tools and the possibility of obtaining an Innovation Management BLOC© Certificate from the General Foundation of the University of Salamanca, BISITE Group and AIR Institute.

Registration is open until January 10th: https://e4you.org/es/moocs/avances-en-innovacion