Dimensions of innovation

As mentioned before innovation can be classified into many different classes and into two categories. Now we can continue to divide innovation to smaller dimensions. Francis and Bessant (2005) have invented how organizations can map innovations. Framework is called “The 4Ps of innovation space”. In that framework every innovation can be mapped somewhere in the four dimension space. Dimensions are process, position, product and paradigm. More about these dimensions is below. In picture 1 is a principle drawing about innovation space. The following is short explanation how to use it and how to map innovation.

According to Tidd and Bessant (2009) innovation dimensions can be divided into four different class. Dimensions are:

• product
• process
• position
• paradigm.

All dimensions are known also as innovation’s 4Ps. Tidd and Bessant (2005) has created the 4Ps of innovation space. Meaning of the space is to help organizations to understand innovations’ and the influences better.

Product innovation (first P of the 4Ps) is the easiest to understand. It means changes in the things which an organization offers.

Process innovation (second P of 4Ps) is also quite easy to understand. It means changes in the organization’s processes. In the other words it means changes in the ways in which organization is created and delivered.

Position innovation (third P of 4Ps) to understand needs some thinking and it is not as clear as the first two innovation types. It means changes in the context in which the products/services are introduced.

The last P is meaning for paradigm innovation. It is by far the hardest to understand. Meaning for that is changes in the underlying mental models which frame what the organization does.

First two dimensions, product and process, are the most common innovation dimensions that exist. On table 2. is added innovation dimensions. It is the same table where innovations where divided into two types radical and incremental.  There you can see for example that product innovation can be either incremental or radical.

Now we have explained that innovation can be radical or incremental and it has some kind of dimension which is taken from innovation space.

Last paragraph is meant to explain how organizations can use innovation space.

How to use innovation space?

First step for the organization is that they need to think what innovation type is. Is it incremental or is it radical?

Second step is to think what the dimension of the innovation is. That sounds quite easy but there are some innovations that can be in several dimension groups, for example jet-powered sea ferry. That innovation belongs both to a product dimension and a process dimension.

Third and last step is to map innovation to the innovation space.

In picture2. is shown example how innovations are mapped to the innovation space.  Examples are taken from table 2.

Hope you enjoyed reading about innovations! And hope you learned something from it!