Emphasizing the Innovation: A Study of the Definitions, Academic Models and Applicability to an Example of Social Housing in England

Throughout history the subject of innovation has been thought of, conceived, defined, interpreted and
understood in different ways. It is important to examine this subject to ask the question what is
innovation? This chapter looks at the subject of innovation and tries to provide a background and
starting point to understand this subject. The chapter starts with a brief history of innovation and how
it has developed through time. It then looks at a range of definitions that have been put forward by
writers, academics and thinkers of innovation. These definitions have been obtained from the wealth
of literature written about the subject. Drawing from the definitions of innovation that have been
discussed the author develops a composite definition of innovation and this is presented in the
chapter. From this composite definition key components such as the creative process and academic
models of creativity are assessed and analyzed. The practical application of innovation is then
examined in this chapter. This is undertaken by highlighting and assessing two academic research
studies that were carried out using Social Housing Providers (SHP) in England as the organizations to
research the application of innovation. The studies looked at the application of innovation on the
practical operations of the SHPs within the research through a two processes, Firstly, a twodimensional
typology of social innovation they had identified innovation being applied to new services
and improvements to existing services. Secondly through a classification system. The chapter
concludes by bringing together the earlier discussion regarding innovation and the findings from the
two studies regarding the application of innovation to practical operations within organizations. The
subject of innovation has been portrayed through multiple definitions and academic models as being a
process which itself develops and can be applied within organizations. It can be identified with the
creation of a new product or service or an improvement of an existing product or service. There is
considerable scope for further research relating to innovation and its application to processes within
organizations.