Journal 4 - By Lyric

Summary

According to Jon Gertner in his article “True Innovation,” published in The New York Times on Feb. 25, 2012, innovation is not only the idealized form, but also has some different styles with which we may not be familiar. The popular understanding of innovation in America’s present culture is the pursuit of fast changes and huge developments. However, in more practical situation, innovation has better performance caused by the accumulation of detailed improvements in interdisciplinary communication. This processes include expedite idea exchange, freedom and selflessness of research atmosphere, and the unlimited questions.

Do you believe that the way Bell Lab works is good for business? Explain one specific part of Kelly’s philosophy that you agree or disagree with, explaining why. In what other kinds of businesses would this philosophy work?

Indeed, in a short period, it is rare to see the achievement of business from the way Bell Lab works. Because the unlimited and interest-oriented research is difficult to satisfy the business requirement immediately, the short-sighted enterpriser would not put this method in an important position. However, from the long period, the benefits of this way can be displayed.

The unlimited interdisciplinary communication discussed in this article provides a necessary atmosphere for the researchers. Put scientists and engineers of different concentrations together, the collision of the knowledge through the communication would let them enlarge the database in their brain. The pressure caused by the boundaries of disciplines releases. The combination from different domains would make the incredible breakthrough later.

The interest-oriented habit enhances the motivation of researchers. People always would like to do what they really want. They dislike the limitations or insistencies, especially for the researchers who have high confidence in their concentrated fields. The interest-oriented habit lead to a win-win situation for both the Bell Lab and the researchers. Bell Lab is strong enough to hire researchers who is outstanding in their own disciplines; meanwhile, the researchers can follow their interests and generate more meaningful ideas.

The freedom and the environment of helping each other motivate researchers to study more detailed and expand their fields. Most of people pursue freedom in their common life. They consider freedom is in a significant situation for human being. Less limited environment provides researchers a place to think more, to speak more, and to achieve more. The inclination of helping each other also supply researchers more assistance in their domains.

The more ideas that researchers proposed, the more chance one of them can offer a big business opportunity for the enterprise. As the accumulation and development of the innovations, finding some meaningful market-oriented ideas from them and expend them is the main goal for companies, and definitely, the popularity and profit would satisfy the business requirements.

Thank you for reading.