Peter Drucker's innovative 7

Peter Drucker suggested seven areas where companies should look for opportunities to be innovative. The first four are internal to the company; the last three are external:

1 The unexpected success that is rarely dissected to see how it has occurred.

2 Any incongruity between what actually happens and what was expected to happen.

3 Any inadequacy in a business process that is taken for granted.

4 A change in industry or market structure that takes everybody by surprise.

5 Demographic changes caused by things like wars, migrations or medical developments (such as the birth-control pill).

6 Changes in perception and fashion brought about by changes in the economy.

7 Changes in awareness caused by new knowledge.