SO-06 Imitate or innovate?

Dear reader,

During our Quest for the ‘right’ answer, some obstacles got in the way: the challenges. The first challenges, was difficult, as we had to search for definitions that are taken for granted and are not really out there. But I managed. Then the second challenge…I was at work, I stayed at work, I tried to concentrate at work and in the end produced some of the worst summaries ever. Is this our own fault?

Now back to the Quest:

I found this interesting quote of one of the greatest artists ever:
“Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing” Salvador Dalí
Interesting about this quote is the other side of our quest: imitation. My last blog was mainly about the innovations of Apple and Philips, saying that Apple is revolutionary and Philips a survivor. Both companies consider themselves innovative, but does this mean they do not imitate at all? If we have to believe Dali, they either imitate or produce nothing. When you think about it, innovations are simply reinventions, but then hopefully, better and stronger. Apple came up with the iPod, but we were already familiar with portable music and headphone (mainly from Sony). Philips, on the other hand, was involved in the invention of (amongst many product) the Audio Cassette. Are we mixing up invention and innovation? Is innovation then really an enhanced reinvention and thus an imitation? Is Dalí right? Are Philips and Apple positioning themselves wrong?

As you can see, I have more questions now then when I started. My best approach is to not only use articles, but to retrieve answers in the form of a survey amongst random selected people, active in different fields. I will predominantly try to find out what is considered when one talks about innovation, imitation, invention and reinvention. Literature can help me with that, so suggestions are welcome!

Quest-ioner,

O.T.