HOW TO USE ANALOGIES FOR BREAKTHROUGH INNOVATIONS

Cornelius Herstatt () and Katharina Kalogerakis ()
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Cornelius Herstatt: Institute of Technology and Innovation Management, Hamburg Institute of Technology, Schwarzenbergstraße 95, 21073 Hamburg, Germany
Katharina Kalogerakis: Institute of Technology and Innovation Management, Hamburg Institute of Technology, Schwarzenbergstraße 95, 21073 Hamburg, Germany

International Journal of Innovation and Technology Management (IJITM), 2005, vol. 02, issue 03, 331-347

Abstract: Analogies can trigger breakthrough ideas in new product development. Numerous examples demonstrate that substantial innovations often result from transferring problem solutions from one industry or domain to another. For instance, the designers of the new running show generation of Nike, "Nike SHOX", use the same suspension concept like the technologies applied for formula 1 racing cars, or the biological Lotus-effect leading to the evelopment of various self-cleaning surfaces. Academic research on analogical thinking has been so far heavily influenced by general theoretical work from cognitive psychology or systematic inventing. Only a small number of studies have investigated the application of analogies in the specific context of breakthrough innovation projects. This paper focuses on the question on how analogies can be systematically used in the early innovation phases of new product development and which factors influence the successful use of analogical thinking in innovating companies. Special attention is paid to organizational facilitators and the requests on people involved in this process.

Keywords: Analogies; breakthrough concepts; innovation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2005
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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DOI: 10.1142/S0219877005000538

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