IBM inventions and innovations

10190432_Nguyen Tung Anh_IC_A1.1
Word count: 3722
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Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................3
Main findings............................................................................................................... 4
I. Technological breakthroughs and innovations..................................................4
1. Inventions.........................................................................................................5
2. Innovations......................................................................................................6
II. Sources of innovations.......................................................................................6
III. Demand pull and technological push..............................................................7
1. Original Selectric.............................................................................................8
2. Selectric II and Correcting Selectric II..........................................................8
3. Selectric Composer..........................................................................................8
4. Selectric III......................................................................................................9
IV. Vision, leadership, culture shaped IBM and innovation dilemma................9
1. Vision, leadership and culture shaped IBM..................................................9
2. Innovation dilemma......................................................................................10
V. Competition between electric typewriter and electric typewriter product-
line.......................................................................................................................... 10
1. The S-curves..................................................................................................11
2. The performance of IBM..............................................................................11
3. The 4Ps of innovation of IBM.......................................................................13
4. Innovation funnel..........................................................................................14
VI. Task 6............................................................................................................... 15
1. IBMS success factors and ways to take the lead and maintain their
advantage...........................................................................................................16
2. The role of frugal innovation in IBM...........................................................16
Conclusion.................................................................................................................17
References.................................................................................................................. 18
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Introduction
The report will highlight the inventions and improvements of the typewriter.
Furthermore, different theories and models will be applied to further analyze those
improvements. At the same time, different types of innovation are distinguished and
applied to the International Business Machines company (IBM).
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Main findings
I. Technological breakthroughs and innovations
As the latest synthesis of scientific expertise and engineering capabilities to
create basis for new technological developments, Mr Martin (1984) defines
technological breakthrough inventions, or in other words, "hi-po" inventions. In the
other hand, innovations mean something else. In his definition as an innovation
process, Roberts (2007) also shared the same view: (1) information creation, (2)
concept generation for current goods, (3) idea development and (4) usage production.
Innovation can, however, be divided into two categories separate from innovation:
small/incremental innovations and major innovation (Christensen,1997).
A concise description with proof is given below to explain the distinctions
between these three concepts.
Inventions Minor Innovation Major Innovation
A new field of technology Improving existing
products’ features
(Christensen, 1997) but
small
Establish a new market or
exclude current products
(Colombo et al, 2015) and it
is revolutionary innovation.
Generate new ideas
and work with those ideas
Generating innovations from technologies – turn them into a
commercial or practical application
Commercialization ability
is not required
Commercialization ability is required
Among the three terms: invention, minor innovation and major innovation, there
are a variety of differences. Since the invention must follow two requirements, namely
creativity and technology, innovation does not cause it to be new. They are made from
current technologies and are then sold on the market. Another distinction is that
although the invention is not necessarily marketable while innovations are. There are
several variations between small and major innovations. Christensen (1997) applies to
small innovation to improve current product efficiency. Big products are in the
meantime considered to build new markets or also to replace current products
(Colombo et al, 2015).
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