[lit-ideas] Could an academic discipline do this?

[image: 
*]<http://blog.fastcompany.com/experts/rwatson/2007/12/innovation_lessons_from_the_bi.html>
Innovation
Lessons From 'The Big Apple'

Ten years or so ago Apple Computer was almost bankrupt. Fast forward and
Apple (the company no longer uses the word computer) is now regularly cited
as the most innovative company in the world. So what can we learn from the
comeback kid?

Rule #1
Orchestrate and integrate. Ideas can come from anywhere, including outside
the company. For example, the iPod was originally dreamt up by a consultant
and most of its parts were off the shelf.

Rule #2
Build products around the needs of users. This may sound obvious but too
many products are still designed by engineers or marketers for engineers or
marketers.
Thus Apple places the emphasis on simplicity (such as design) rather than
complexity. For example, the iPod wasn't the first digital music player into
the market but it was probably the first that was easy to use.

Rule #3
Trust your instinct. Don't allow the customer to dictate what you do. This
may seem contradictory to Rule #2 but customers can only tell you about what
already exists.
As Akito Morita (the founder of Sony) once said: "The public doesn't know
what is possible but we do." Also don't forget that as well as measuring
public opinion or tracking the latest trends you can create both.

Rule #4
There's no success like failure. Fail often, fail fast and fail well. In
other words, don't be afraid to make a mistake but always learn from your
mistakes – in Apple's case products like the Apple Lisa and Newton.

Rule #5
Safe is risky. Develop products that define new categories and markets
rather than products that compete in existing markets.


Seriously, could an academic discipline follow this advice? Especially a
discipline in the social sciences or humanities?


John

-- 
John McCreery
The Word Works, Ltd., Yokohama, JAPAN
Tel. +81-45-314-9324
http://www.wordworks.jp/

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