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Hard Innovation is
organized R&D characterized by
strategic investment in new
product development or
improvement.
Soft Innovation is the
clever, insightful, useful
product ideas that just anyone
in the organization can think
up.
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'Hard'
innovation is based on extensive
and expensive research and
development (R&D).
'Soft'
innovation is 'street-smart',
intuitive, serendipitous type of
value innovation.
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![Soft Innovation vs. Hard Innovation - example Roller Coaster](../design_elements/selfmade/innovation-soft-vs-hard_ex-rollercoaster.jpg) |
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Soft Innovation vs. Hard
Innovation
Example: Roller Coaster
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![Soft Innovation definition and boosters](../design_elements/selfmade/innovation-soft.jpg) |
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Soft innovation is inspired by creative challenges and a
combination of life experiences, social intelligence, awareness,
smartness, cleverness, observation, imagination,
innovative thinking,
inventiveness, intuition,
entrepreneurial serendipity, and ingenuity. |
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The Value of Soft Innovation
‘Soft’ innovation is at least as important as 'hard'
innovation. Hard innovation without soft innovation
is rare, soft innovation without hard innovation is
common.
The two forms of innovation − hard innovation and
soft innovation − are often implemented together.
'Hard' (R&D-based) innovation is more successful
when it is implemented in combination with 'soft'
innovation. Non-technological innovation contributes
to a stronger competitiveness.
Leading companies that create an environment where
employees are encouraged and rewarded for making
contributions of their street-smarts in order to
fuel the company's soft-innovation efforts keep
inventing amazing customer experiences.
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