Innovation vs. Improvement

Was adding the lion to the side-car of an old jalopy an innovation or just and improvment to the exisiting feat? I argue that it was just an improvment. Innovation entails creation of new types of problems. While adding the lion in the side-car created new problems for the operators, it did not create a new type of problem. Thus, this can not be regarded as innovation. What do you think? Tweet me with your thoughts.  

Innovation as New Problem Creation

"Innovation is distinct from improvement in that it causes society to reorganize. It is distinct from problem solving and is perhaps more rigorously seen as new problem creation." (Group Partners)

Carol Rozwell of Gartner wrote in her blog:

Innovating is a little easier if we look for the opportunity in change rather than the threat.

The opportunity that Carol alludes to, of course, comes from the new problems created by innovation.

Source(s):

Group Partners. (n.d.). Innovation. Retrieved January 1, 2010, from Group Partners Wiki: http://www.grouppartnerswiki.net/index.php?title=Innovation