Seven Stimuli to Identify Opportunities of Innovation: A Practice of Training Innovative Engineers and Some Findings in China

Abstract

To transfer knowledge to companies by training engineers is directly related to identifying opportunities of innovation. This paper introduces the knowledge system of four levels and an interactive training model for innovative engineers. Training outputs of two classes as cases are analyzed in order to find some factors to affect the training activities. Seven stimuli to identify opportunities of innovation, which are implied in the knowledge system and the training process, are concluded from many face-to-face discussions with the engineers joining our classes. The application of the stimuli is also described, which should be applied in the future training process to improve the possibility to identify opportunities of innovation for innovative engineers.

Share and Cite:

R. Tan, "Seven Stimuli to Identify Opportunities of Innovation: A Practice of Training Innovative Engineers and Some Findings in China," American Journal of Industrial and Business Management, Vol. 3 No. 8, 2013, pp. 725-739. doi: 10.4236/ajibm.2013.38083.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1] T. D. Kuczmarski, “What Is Innovation? And Why Aren’t Companies Doing More of It?” Journal of Consumer Marketing, Vol. 20, No. 6, 2003, pp. 536-541.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/07363760310499110
[2] B. M. Sihem and C. D. Florence, “Enhancing Discontinuous Innovation through Knowledge Combination: The Case of an Exploratory Unit within an Established Automotive Firm,” Creativity and innovation Management, Vol. 17, No. 2, 2008, pp. 127-135.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8691.2008.00473.x
[3] P. L. Fan, “Catching up through Developing Innovation Capability: Evidence from China’s Telecom-Equipment Industry,” Technovation, Vol. 26, No. 3, 2006, pp. 359-368.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2004.10.004
[4] K. Z. Zhou, “Innovation, Imitation, and New Product Performance: The Case of China,” Industrial Marketing Management, Vol. 35, No. 3, 2006, pp. 394-402.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2005.10.006
[5] D. Pitta and E. Pitta, “Transforming the Nature and Scope of New Product Development,” Journal of Product & Brand Management, Vol. 21, No. 1, 2012, pp. 35-46.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/10610421211203097
[6] P. F. Drucker, “The Discipline of Innovation,” Harvard Business Review, Vol. 76, No. 6, 1998, pp. 149-157.
[7] S. Kaish and B. Gilad, “Characteristics of Opportunities Search of Entrepreneurs v. Executives: Sources, Interest, and General Alertness,” Journal of Business Venturing, Vol. 6, No. 1, 1991, pp. 45-61.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0883-9026(91)90005-X
[8] D. R. Detienne and G. N. Chandler, “Opportunity Identification and Its Role in the Entrepreneurial Classroom: A Pedagogical Approach and Empirical Test,” Academy of Management Learning and Education, Vol. 3, No. 3, 2004, pp. 242-257.
http://dx.doi.org/10.5465/AMLE.2004.14242103
[9] B. Bozeman, “Technology Transfer and Public Policy: A Review of Research and Theory,” Research Policy, Vol. 29, No. 4-5, 2000, pp. 627-655.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0048-7333(99)00093-1
[10] S. Bauernschuster, O. Falck and S. Heblich, “The Impact of Continuous Training on a Firm’s Innovations,” CESifo Working Paper Series, Munich, 2008, Paper No. 2258.
[11] Y. C. Bao, X. B. Chen and K. Z. Zhou, “External Learning, Market Dynamics, and Radical Innovation: Evidence from China’s High-Tech Firms,” Journal of Business Research, Vol. 65, No. 8, 2012, pp. 1226-1233.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2011.06.036
[12] C. L. Howard, S. L. David, and A. B. Marilyn, “Human Factors and the Innovation Process,” Technovation, Vol. 16, No. 4, 1996, pp. 173-186.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0166-4972(95)00046-1
[13] P. Koen, G. Ajamian, R. Burkart, A. Clamen, J. Davidson, R. D. Amore, C. Elkins, K. Herald, M. Incorvia, A. Johnson, R. Karol, R. Seibert, A. Slavejkov and K. Wagner, “Provding Clarity and a Common Language to the ‘Fuzzy Front End’,” Research-Technology Management, Vol. 44, No. 2, 2001, pp. 46-55.
[14] O. Toubia, “New Product Development,” In: H. Bidgoli, Ed., Handbook of Technology Management, Wiley, Hoboken, 2010, pp. 953-1092.
[15] W. C. Kim and M. Renée, “Blue Ocean Strategy,” Harvard Business School Press, Boston, 2005.
[16] C. M. Christensen, “The Innovator’s Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail,” Harvard Business School Press, Boston, 1997.
[17] T. David, “Applying Creative Thinking Techniques to Everyday Problems,” Journal of Consumer Marketing, Vol. 9, No. 4, 1992, pp. 23-28.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/07363769210037051
[18] A. B. Robert, “Opportunity Recognition as Pattern Recognition: How Entrepreneurs ‘Connect the Dots’ to Identify New Business Opportunities,” Academy of Management Perspectives, Vol. 20, No. 1, 2006, pp. 104-119.
http://dx.doi.org/10.5465/AMP.2006.19873412
[19] D. A. Gregoire, “Technology Market Combinations and the Identification of Entrepreneurial of the Opportunity Individual Nexus,” Academy of Management Journal, Vol. 55, No. 4, 2012, pp. 753-785.
http://dx.doi.org/10.5465/amj.2011.0126
[20] R. Blundell, L. Dearden, C. Meghir and B. Sianes, “Human Capital Investment: The Returns from Education and Training to the Individual, the Firm and the Economy,” Fiscal Studies, Vol. 20, No. 1, 1999, pp. 1-23.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-5890.1999.tb00001.x
[21] M. E. Porter and S. Stern, “National Innovative Capacity,” In M. E. Porter, et al., Eds., The Global Competitiveness Report, 2001-2002, Oxford University Press, New York, 2002, pp. 102-118.
[22] S. Vichet, “Strategic Integration of Training and Innovation: Significantly Connected,” Journal of Global Information Technology, Vol. 7, No. 1-2, 2009, pp. 7-20.
[23] H. Frazis, M. Gittleman and M. Joyce, “Determinants of Training: An Analysis Using Both Employer and Employee Characteristics,” United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Washington DC, 1998.
[24] P. Steven, “How GE Teaches Teams to Lead Change,” Harvard Business Review, Vol. 87, No. 1, 2009, pp. 99-106.
[25] R. Christian and B. G. Uschi, “High Quality Workplace Training and Innovation in Highly Developed Countries,” Economics of Education Working Paper Series, University of Zurich, Institute for Strategy and Business Economics, Zurich, Paper No. 0074, 2012.
[26] Z. Izyani, “Training and Innovation among Knowledge-Based Companies in Malaysia,” Journal of Economic Cooperation and Development, Vol. 33, No. 2, 2012, pp. 53-74.
[27] S. S. F. Shohreh, H. Jamal and S. M. Mirdamadi, “The Role of Training in Facilitating Innovation in Small Food Industries in Rural Iran,” African Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol. 5, No. 17, 2010, pp. 2332-2340.
[28] C. S. Anja and P. Igor, “How Internal and External Sources of Knowledge Contribute to Firms’ Innovation Performance,” Managing Global Transitions, Vol. 6, No. 3, 2008, pp. 277-299.
[29] C. Yannis, K. Ioanna and T. Aggelos, “Internal Capabilities and External Knowledge Sources: Complements or Substitutes for Innovative Performance?” Technovation, Vol. 24, No. 1, 2004, pp. 29-39.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0166-4972(02)00051-2
[30] G. J. Puccio, R. L. Firestien, C. Coyle and C. Masucci, “A Review of the Effectiveness of CPS Training: A Focus on Workplace Issues,” Creativity and Innovation Management, Vol. 15, No. 1, 2006, pp. 19-33.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8691.2006.00366.x
[31] A. B. VanGundy, “Techniques of Structured Problem Solving,” Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1988.
[32] S. David, S. Philip and D. Neil, “The Innovator’s Toolkit,” John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, 2009.
[33] J. J. Shah, “Experimental Investigation of Progressive Idea Generation Techniques in Engineering Design,” ASME DETC Design Theory and Methodology Conference, Atlanta, 1998.
[34] G. Altshuller, “Creativity as an Exact Science,” Gordon & Breach, Luxembourg, 1984.
[35] G. Karen, “TRIZ for Engineers: Enabling Inventive Problem Solving,” John Wiley&Sons, Ltd., Chichester, 2011.
[36] B. Kamal, L. Desmond and M. Wissam, “Evaluating the Impact of TRIZ Creativity Training: An Organizational Field Study,” R&D Management, Vol. 42, No. 4, 2012, pp. 315-326.
[37] T. Nakagawa, “Education and Training of Creative Problem Solving Thinking with TRIZ/USIT,” Procedia Engineering, Vol. 9, 2011, pp. 582-595.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2011.03.144
[38] E. N. Sickafus, “Unified Structured Inventive Thinking: How to Invent,” Ntelleck, Grosse Ile, 1997.
[39] Q. Jun and D. L. Shin, “TRIZ Propagation Strategies in SAMSUNG Electronics Co.,” 2013.
http://www.triz.co.kr/data/qcjun.pdf
[40] M. I. Imoh, P. David and P. Robert, “A Review of TRIZ, and Its Benefits and Challenges in Practice,” Technovation, Vol. 33, No. 2-3, 2011, pp. 30-37.
[41] J. R. Duflou and W. Dewulf, “On the Complementarity of TRIZ and Axiomatic Design: From Decoupling Objective to Contradiction Identification,” Prodedia Engineering, Vol. 9, 2011, pp. 633-639.
[42] M. Ogot, “Conceptual Design Using Axiomatic Design in a TRIZ Framework,” Prodedia Engineering, Vol. 9, 2011, pp. 736-744.
[43] R. Stratton and D. Mann, “Systematic Innovation and the Underlying Principles behind TRIZ and TOC,” Journal of Materials Processing Technology, Vol. 139, No. 1-3, 2003, pp. 120-126.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0924-0136(03)00192-4
[44] G. Cascini, P. Rissone, F. Rotini and D. Russo, “Systematic Design through the Integration of TRIZ and Optimization Tools,” Prodedia Engineering, Vol. 9, 2011, pp. 674-679. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2011.03.154
[45] R. H. Tan, J. H. Ma, F. Liu and Z. H. Wei, “UXDsDriven Conceptual Design Process Model for Contradiction Solving Using CAIs,” Computers in Industry, Vol. 60, No. 8, 2009, pp. 584-591.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compind.2009.05.019
[46] G. Pahl and W. Beitz, “Engineering Design—A Systematic Approach,” 2nd Edition, Springer, London, 1996.
[47] J. G. Sun and R. H. Tan, “Method for Forecasting DI Based on TRIZ Technology System Evolution Theory,” International Journal of Innovation and Technology Management, Vol. 9, No. 2, 2012, pp. 1250010-1-1250010-20.
[48] P. A. Koen, G. M. Ajamian, S. Boyce, A. Clamen, E. Fisher, S. Fountoulakis, A. Johnson, P. Puri and R. Seibert, “Fuzzy Front End: Effective Methods, Tools and Techniques,” In: P. Belliveau, A. Griffen and S. Sorermeyer, Eds., PDMA Toolbook for New Product Development, John Wiley and Sons, New York, 2002, pp. 2-35.
[49] H. Wilderich, “The Integration of Ideation and Project Portfolio Management—A Key Factor for Sustainable Success,” International Journal of Project Management, Vol. 30, No. 5, 2012, pp. 582-595.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2012.01.014
[50] R. H. Tan, L. H. Ma, B. J. Yang and J. G. Sun, “Systematic Method to Generate New Ideas in Fuzzy Front End Using TRIZ,” Chinese Journal of Mechnical Engineering, Vol. 21, No. 2, 2008, pp. 114-119.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3901/CJME.2008.02.114
[51] W. Q. Li, Y. Li, J. Wang and X. Y. Liu, “The Process Model to Aid Innovation of Products Conceptual Design,” Expert Systems with Applications, Vol. 37, No. 5, 2010, pp. 3574-3587.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2009.10.034
[52] K. O. Sarah, Y. T. Irem, K. Wood and C. Seepersad, “A Comparison of Creativity and Innovation Metrics and Sample Validation through In-Class Design Projects,” Research in Engineering Design, Vol. 24, No. 1, 2013, pp. 65-92. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00163-012-0138-9
[53] H. Yousef and S. Tamer, “Engineering Design Process,” 2nd Edition, Cengage Learning, Stamford, 2011.
[54] I. P. Daniel, L. Tritos, S. Amrik and B. I. Sakun, “Manufacturing Strategies and Innovation Performance in Newly Industrialised Countries,” Industrial Management & Data Systems, Vol. 107, No. 1, 2007, pp. 52-68.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/02635570710719052
[55] Y. Yamamoto and M. Bellgran, “Four Types of Manufacturing Process Innovation and Their Managerial Concerns,” Procedia CIRP, Vol. 7, 2013, pp. 479-484.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2013.06.019
[56] J. P. Lane and J. L. Flagg, “Translating Three States of Knowledge-Discovery, Invention, and Innovation,” Implementation Science, Vol. 5, No. 9, 2010, p. 9.
[57] O. Gassmann and E. Enkel, “Towards a Theory of Open Innovation: Three Core Process Archetypes,” R&D management Conference, Lisabon, 21-24 June 2004, pp.1-18.
[58] S. J. Ellspermann, G. Evans and M. Basadur, “The Impact of Training on the Formulation of Ill-Structured Problems,” Omega, Vol. 35, No. 2, 2007, pp. 221-236.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.omega.2005.05.005
[59] J. F. Voss, “Toulmin’s Model and the Solving of IllStructured Problems,” In: D. Hitchcock and B. Verheij, Eds., Arguing on the Toulmin Model: New Essays in Argument Analysis and Evaluation, Springer Netherlands, Berlin, 2006, pp. 303-311.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-4938-5_20
[60] S. D. Savransky, “Attributes of the Inventive Problems,” AAAI Spring Symposium on Search Techniques for Problem Solving under Uncertainty and Incomplete Information, Stanford, 22-24 March 1999, pp. 113-118.
[61] H. Michael, “Firm-Level Innovation Models: Perspectives on Research in Developed and Developing Countries,” Technology Analysis & Strategic Management, Vol. 17, No. 2, 2005, pp. 121-146.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09537320500088666
[62] R. H. Tan, “Eliminating Technical Obstacles in Innovation Pipelines Using CAIs,” Computers in Industry, Vol. 62, No. 4, 2011, pp. 414-422.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compind.2010.12.004
[63] R. H. Tan, “TRIZ and Applications,” High Education Press, Beijing, 2010.
[64] S. D. Savransky, “Engineering of Creativity,” CRC Press, New York, 2000.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1201/9781420038958
[65] G. Z. Cao, R. H. Tan and J. G. Sun, “Process and Realization of Functional Design Based on Extended-Effect Model,” Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering, Vol. 45, No. 7, 2009, pp. 157-167.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3901/JME.2009.07.157
[66] J. G. Sun, R. H. Tan and P. Jiang, “Model for Roadmapping Disruptive Innovation Based on Technology Evolution Theory,” Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering, Vol. 48, No. 11, 2012, pp. 11-20.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3901/JME.2012.11.011
[67] C. M. Christensen and M. Overdorf, “Meeting the Challenge of Disruptive Change,” Harvard Business Review, Vol. 78, No. 2, 2000, pp. 67-77.
[68] P. Jiang, P. Y. Luo, J. G. Sun and R. H. Tan, “Method about patent design around based on function trimming,” Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering, Vol. 48, No. 11, 2012, pp. 46-54.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3901/JME.2012.11.046
[69] R. H. Tan, “Process of Two Stages Analogy-Based Design Employing TRIZ,” International Journal of Product Development, Vol. 4, No. 1-2, 2007, pp. 109-121.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1504/IJPD.2007.011537
[70] J. H. Zhang, R. H. Tan, P. Zhang and G. Z. Cao, “Process Model of New Ideas Generation for Product Conceptual Design Driven by CAI,” Computer Integerated Manaufacturing Systems, Vol. 19, No. 2, 2013, pp. 284-292.
[71] D. Cavallucci and N. Leon, “Computer-Supported Innovation Pipelines: Current Research and Trends,” Compters in Industry, Vol. 62, No. 4, 2011, pp. 375-376.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compind.2010.12.011
[72] K. Rantanen and El. Domb, “Simplified TRIZ,” 2nd Edition, Auerbach Publications, New York, 2008.
[73] S. Kaplan, S. Visnepolschi, B. Zlotin and A. Zusman, “New Tools for Failure and Risk Analysis: Anticipatory Failure Determination,” Ideation International Inc, Detroit, 1999.

Copyright © 2024 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.

Creative Commons License

This work and the related PDF file are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.