Innovative research

From CEOpedia | Management online

Innovative research is a search for new business and strategic techniques and methods. They develop and optimize well-known methodologies, enabling the implementation of new and better solutions[1].

Innovative research focuses on creating new ideas, analyzing problems, diagnosing them and identifying their causes[2].

Innovative research creates new business solutions, strategies, technologies and processes. They implement and observe modern, improved strategies, set research hypotheses and develop a methodology of key research objectives. Innovative research to the increase of effectiveness, increase of product quality and reduction of production costs. They focuses on optimizing manufacturing processes and creating new product ideas[3].

Innovation process

Innovative research is the first element of the innovation process and the following stages can be distinguished in the linear model of the innovation process:

  • Basic research - concerns theoretical considerations, which aim is to create new ideas,
  • Applied research - refers to finding practical solutions for the created projects,
  • Development work - leads to the creation of a prototype,
  • Implementation - consists in starting production activity in order to check the production technology,
  • Production - start of production,
  • Sales - start of sales.

Research and development centres

The basic activity of research and development centres is research and design, implementation and service activities. The other two groups play an auxiliary role for the proper functioning of the basic activity or serve the function of servicing some areas of production activity. For example, the auxiliary tasks in R&D activity in enterprises include the creation of industrial design, documentation design, analysis, research and analysis.

Characteristics of R&D centres

The whole research and development base, both domestic and foreign, can be divided into[4]:

  • Various types of industrial research centres (scientific and technical), research and development centres (OBR) and project centres,
  • Subdivisions and organisational units of enterprises, such as: development departments, design offices, experimental plants, laboratories,
  • Special institutes operating outside and beyond enterprises, serving entire sectors and fulfilling orders from selected industries, groups of enterprises and industry as a whole,
  • Independent research and development units (JBR) engaged in scientific-technical, design and construction activities, the results of which are made available only to interested companies (commercial activities) against payment,
  • Research and development units operating at the level of specific economic organisations, e.g. capital groups.

Research and design activities

The core business of industrial research and development centres is:

  • research on the state of technology and its development directions,
  • design of new products,
  • modernization of manufactured products,
  • research into purity and patentability,
  • the use of new unused or improved raw and improved materials,
  • continuous improvement of technological processes used in production,
  • development of new production technologies,
  • elimination of unnecessary or harmful production waste,
  • researching own prototypes and new products of competing companies,
  • gathering and deepening knowledge in a given field of production[5].

Apart from the basic activity closely related to the innovative undertaking, R&D centres should also deal with it:

  • conducting studies and pre-decision studies (diagnostic and forecasting) related to the needs of production, marketing and strategic planning,
  • acquiring, gathering and generating ideas and concepts for new innovative products (including inventions) and precise preparation of concepts and designs of new products (opinions, analyses, evaluation and selection of projects, etc.),
  • providing opinions on technical projects submitted by employees of enterprises,
  • evaluation and selection of technical projects before their implementation into production,
  • conducting basic research (usually to a minimum extent).

Particular importance in obtaining new information that may be a source of opportunities for innovation in the future is attributed to systematic research on the current state of the art and its development directions, as well as research on purity and patentability[6].

Examples of Innovative research

  • Design Thinking: Design Thinking is a creative, user-centered approach to problem-solving that looks at the big picture to understand the problem, identify possible solutions, and create a prototype. The process starts with research and then moves on to brainstorming, ideation, prototyping, testing, and refining.
  • Crowdsourcing: Crowdsourcing is a process in which a company or organization obtains services, ideas, or content by soliciting contributions from a large group of people, typically over the internet. It is a way of leveraging the collective intelligence of a large group of people to solve complex problems.
  • Data Mining: Data mining is the process of discovering patterns and insights from large sets of data. It involves using techniques such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, and statistical analysis to identify patterns and uncover trends and relationships.
  • AI and Machine Learning: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are technologies that enable computers to learn from data, identify patterns, and make decisions. AI and ML can be used to develop products and services that are smarter and more efficient, and can be used to automate processes, increase productivity, and improve customer experiences.

Advantages of Innovative research

Innovative research offers numerous advantages for businesses and organizations. These include:

  • Increased efficiency - By using innovative research, businesses can streamline their operations and processes, resulting in improved efficiency and productivity.
  • Cost savings - Innovative research can help businesses reduce costs associated with research, development, and testing, as well as providing access to new technologies.
  • Improved customer experience - By using innovative research, businesses can develop products and services that meet customer needs and expectations more effectively.
  • Increased market share - By using innovative research, businesses can gain a competitive edge and gain a larger market share.
  • Increased profits - By using innovative research, businesses can generate more revenue and profits.
  • Improved decision-making - By using innovative research, businesses can make more informed decisions that are better aligned with their strategic goals.

Limitations of Innovative research

Innovative research can be limited in the following ways:

  • The research process can be costly, time consuming, and require a lot of resources.
  • Due to the novel nature of the research, results may not be reliable or repeatable.
  • Innovative research is often subject to external factors such as politics or market conditions which can limit the impact or success of the research.
  • The research may require new technologies or equipment which can add additional costs.
  • It can be difficult to accurately measure the impact of the research if it is implemented in a real-world setting.
  • The research may fail to consider the needs of the target customers or stakeholders and as such, may not be accepted or adopted.

Other approaches related to Innovative research

Innovative research is not limited to the development of new techniques and methods. Other approaches related to it include:

  • Participatory research methods, which involve stakeholders in the research process. These methods include focus groups, interviews, and surveys, which aim to capture the perspectives of stakeholders in the research.
  • Action research, which involves active participation of stakeholders in the research process. This approach focuses on practical application of research results and aims to improve the problem-solving process.
  • Design thinking, which is an iterative process that combines creative and analytical thinking to tackle complex problems. This approach emphasizes user-centered design, experimentation and prototyping.
  • Ethnographic research, which involves studying cultures, beliefs and behaviors of individuals and groups. This approach seeks to understand how different factors affect people’s attitudes and behaviors.

In summary, innovative research is an approach that combines creative and analytical thinking to develop new and better solutions. It involves the participation of stakeholders in the research process and emphasizes user-centered design, experimentation, and prototyping. It also seeks to understand the cultures, beliefs, and behaviors of different individuals and groups.


Innovative research — recommended articles
Measurement of innovation — Functions of research — Product research — Creation of knowledge — Opportunity analysis — Technology scouting — Organizational innovation — Advantages of simulation — Productize

References

Footnotes

  1. ↑ J. Audet,G.d'Amboise(2001), p. 1-18
  2. ↑ J. Audet,G.d'Amboise(2001), p. 1-18
  3. ↑ J. Audet,G.d'Amboise(2001), p. 1-18
  4. ↑ T.H. Rubin,T.H. Aas (2015), p. 11-24,41-41
  5. ↑ T.H. Rubin,T.H.Aas (2015), p. 11-24,41-41
  6. ↑ G.Symon,C.Cassell (2000), p. 457-462

Author: Nicoletta Krzewińska

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