1.3.3 Systems of Innovation I: Summary Models of SOI Health and Pathologies
Bruce C. Beihoff, William D. Schindel · INCOSE International Symposium · 2012
Abstract Innovation is critical to viability in changing environments. In living ecosystems, innovation adapts to changes by predators, prey, and the rest of the environment (e.g., geology). For engineered systems, innovation exploits market interests in new capabilities, creates new markets, develops competitive advantage, and adapts to changes in technologies, infrastructure, regulations, and commercial environment. In all these domains, the process of innovation may itself be described as a system—the System of Innovation, and studied by natural scientists, engineers, and technologists. The relative effectiveness of different systems of innovation impacts the competitive viability of the resulting series of innovated systems. Modeling pathologies improves understanding of healthy systems, assessment of effectiveness, and ability to prevent or correct pathologies. “System pathologists” are found in medicine, field support and maintenance organizations, agriculture, the natural sciences, and other domains. This work is concerned with modeling Systems of Innovation, including characterizing their pathologies and health.