Accidental Innovations

Accidental Innovations

            Entrepreneurs’ success in breakthrough ideas is considered as a number game. Entrepreneurs need to apply experiment, and test efficiently; because breakthrough should be short-term and rapid experimentation. Many ideas will not result in execution, because, people are afraid to fail and failure is due unsuccessful risk management in the execution of the plan in producing the product or services. In reference to the authors, startups should be “fast and cheap,” (Davila & Epstein, 2015).  Rapid deployment of the idea will require minimizing major risks for cost control, use results to execute invention, and learn from experiments fast for rapid final innovation (Davila & Epstein, 2015). 

            One example of accidental breakthrough is an entrepreneur who has failed many times, and accidentally realized that providing websites services to people who have rentals while he was posting his own property for rent. This entrepreneur’s web-based company controls 100% of its equity now. The company has expanded to 100 cities worldwide. (Davila & Epstein, 2015)

            After many failures of the entrepreneur, the driving force behind his success is the goal to not fail again.  Another force is the market demand for meeting the needs of rental property owners in connecting with renters and real estate needs. The goal-driven force of creativity to penetrate a competitive market. There are several factors that can lead to successful startups such as a stimulus or an inspiration that force people to initiate breakthrough ideas beyond a set of boundaries and communicate the inspirational vision. (Davila & Epstein, 2015)

            Accidental digital innovation happened quite often due to randomness and unpredictable characteristics in the system. According to the authors, “we must acknowledge that digital technology can sometimes accommodate appropriate variation to help makers explore beyond the foresight allowed by current predictive logics,” (2012, September). Accidental innovation in digital technology happens due to manipulation of the system in minimizing deviations. (Austin, R., Devin, L, & Sullivan, E. (2012, September)

            Whether the innovations are incremental or breakthrough, there are various forces that can drive accidental or intentional innovations. The challenge in executing breakthrough innovation is the management of unseen and unpredictable outcomes. The rapid execution of the ideas will provide experimental results that can be utilized for the next experimentation. In most cases, the idea becomes a “no go,” because; the future is always mysterious. In most cases, breakthrough startups are entering an unknown market that increases the uncertainties of the project. Markets and economics are common forces that drive breakthrough and incremental innovations. Execution of breakthrough startups may require a combination of several elements for successful performance such as incentives, effective leadership and strategies, and organizational culture. (Davila & Epstein, 2015)

            When the Father of Penicillin, Alexander Fleming, discovered the named antibiotic accidentally when a mold was dropped unintentionally into the sample. The accidental discovery of penicillin has changed the medical industry since 1928. The antibiotic has saved thousands to million lives since Sir Fleming’s accidentally discovered the medicine. Curiosity and the desire to explore unpredictable outcome becomes the driving force to accidental innovation. Other products that were discovered accidentally are corn flakes, aspartame, anesthesia, stainless steel, PVC, Teflon, Viagra, vulcanized rubber, X-ray, and the list goes on (Austin, Devin, & Sullivan, 2012). The uncertainties in using technology and consumers’ needs continue to serve as the driving force in digitized innovations. The agile characteristic of a system becomes an influence to changes and processes that generate experimentation and innovation. Sometimes, the benefit from the design came from the application of randomness and unintended results from deviations. The authors quoted, “We suggest ways that digital technology might be deployed to manage the costs of integrating accident into a process that seeks originality,” (2012). (Austin, Devin, & Sullivan, 2012, September).