Extreme innovation is more than just offering new ideas for products or services. We all know that innovation is a new way to do something like providing a new computer product to the world. However, in extreme innovation companies are taking things a bit further. To understand extreme innovation, an example is needed.
Green cars or more appropriately hybrid vehicles were an extreme innovation when they were first released. The general public heard about the product, even thought it was a good idea, but were very hesitant to change over to the hybrid. Part of the hesitation did come from the expense of the first hybrids. The other part of not wanting to change to a hybrid was the “unknown.” No one knew much about them, how they worked, how easy it would be to maintain them, and whether they were as good as advertised.
Today hybrids are more popular. In business extreme innovation is needed to bring a product to consumers that they may not even realize they need. In other words, those who brainstorm an idea that seems a little farfetched usually have a product that becomes mainstream.
Consider cell phones as another example of extreme innovation. The very first cell phone was placed in a car. It was a huge device. Now we have tiny little devices that fit in our pockets and connect to the internet. In the 1990’s less than half the population had cell phones. Now, almost everyone has a cell phone to their ear.