Invention is a flower, innovation is a weed

John Hagel and Seely Brown have an excellent article in Businessweek on the difference between invention and innovation. The article though written for a general reader is more accessible to people with managerial background. But nonetheless the arguments made in the article are quite excellent.The difference between the two is very favourite subject of mine, though me being a technically inclined I am very clearly focussed on the latter. Put simply invention is discovery of new things,creation of new knowledge. Innovation on the other is about economic value creation (exchange value)
The article reminded me of the famous quote made by Bob Metcalfe. “Invention is a flower, innovation is a weed”