Abstract
Large firms, having a desire to achieve disruptive innovation, will need to rely on the inventive, innovative, and entrepreneurial spirit of the “hired” inventors they employ to do such work. This report traces the roots of the theories of motivation concerning the construct “inventor/innovator” from the time of the heroic individual inventor in the late 1800s until today, within the context of the evolution of the corporate R&D institution. Understanding the motivations and characteristics of the early “heroic” individual inventor as well as the evolving theory of appropriate R&D management strategy in large firms might chart a path to creating a better corporate environment for radical innovation (and better results). Characteristics observed over one hundred years ago align well with the current theories of the best way to enhance corporate employee creativity, leading to higher innovation rates, what Veblen called “the instinct of workmanship” parallels closely to what Amabile defines as “intrinsic motivation”.
Highlights
Ongoing academic research has reinforced the importance of the contribution of certain individuals in efforts to drive radical innovation programs to successful outcomes in large firms [1]
From 81% in 1901, the percentage of patents awarded to independent inventors/innovators dropped to about 20% by the 1980 and there continues to be debate about the meaning of such figures such as the time period industry differences in the desire to patent, for example, and great variations in their comparative quality, the trend seems clear: modern innovation has largely become an organizational endeavor [24]
The inventor’s motives and persona were more similar to that of an artist rather than our modern day image of a scientist. In addition to the latter, it is less clear, but there are indications that while the inventor/innovator obsessively innovates he or she needs a “business” partner who can relate effectively to the inventive personality and at the same time keep the commercial perspectives in sight
Summary
The Love of Inventing, from Veblen to Amabile: A Look at the Construct “Inventor/Innovator” from the Era of Edison to Today’s Corporate R&D Scientist. Quttainah MA1* and Cocco J2 1Kuwait University College of Business Administration, Kuwait 2Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Lally School of Management and Technology, New York
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