From Continuous Improvement to Continuous Innovation

In this paper Cole explores many concepts, including continuous improvement, continuous innovation, discontinuous innovation, incrementalism, exploitation, and exploration. He reviews the many benefits of continuous improvement, as it is defined in traditional quality programs. Cole discusses many organizational challenges arising from hypercompetition, working at an accelerated pace, uncertainty, the infusion of new technology, and the impact of software and information technology. Above all, he focuses on alternative ways to creatively build quality improvement through continuous innovation into the development process. His chosen vehicle is the probe-and-learn process and bow it can lead to higher quality and shorter product development cycles.Three commentators further explore Cole's theses. Finster examines how continuous innovation is related to the creative process. Melton discusses the role of learning in continuous improvement and continuous innovation. And Weston explains how both continuous improvement and continuous innovation are necessary for business survival.