Inventing Solutions - Essay Example

Inventing Solutions by Thomas Edison 1st, November, Introduction Undeniably, businesses find it difficult to maintaina competitive edge in the 21st century. This is so especially, where the business does not have the expertise to invent new differentiated products in the market. In today’s market, businesses require expertise that can observe a need in the market, develop a solution to it to meet the demand in the market. Such goods must display superiority to others in the same market, and have the potential to appeal to different segment of clients.

Therefore, the process of invention starts with identifying a market, developing valuable ideas to fill up the gap between the need and the available products, and actual production of goods and services. Thomas Edison is a great inventor who did not have existing systematic approach to use for his invention and thus had to use trial and error. This paper will examine the work of Thomas Edison, his approach of need, solution and market demand, and his laboratory. Thomas Edison’s Work Edison approach to his work related to the approach of need, solution, and demand in various ways.

All his works started by conceiving an idea, then he will read about everything that has to do with his conception from his vast library and establish past accomplishments. Later he would consider literature about experiments made about this subject and then delve into it, producing many other experiments (Dyer & Martin, 2005). He had the ability to deal with complex changes because of his ability to put down a sketch of conceived ideas, which he would manipulate on a paper. He was patient enough to use trial and error in absence of adequate theories.

Edison’s first work started as early as 1877 when he invented a phonograph, which is a device for playing and recording back sound. He sold the earliest machines to people who travelled the country showing phonograph concerts and demonstrating the device at a fee. His attention shifted to electric lighting until a decade later when he revisited improving the phonograph. In 1889, Edison introduced some wax cylinders that would offer music entertainment for at least two minutes, laying the industry standard.

Later, he invented brown wax cylinder that included fittings of attachments that allowed users to make their own recordings. The attachment allowed starting of the phonograph, stopping, skipping back when recording and playing back. Phonograph invention did not go easy all along because Edison distributors duplicated his work and sold it other than selling the original productions. However, this did not deter him from further development of the same. In 1902, Edison introduced Edison Gold Molded Records that had a larger useful life in terms of the number of times it could be played before expiring.

On and on, Edison demonstrates a man who wanted to make life easier and better through his inventions. Edison inspired himself with his famous quote “I have not failed; I have found a thousand that do not work” (Dyer & Martin, 2005). Cohen quotes Edison as a man who did rush from one fascination to another. Instead, he focused on one problem for years until he had a solution to it despite the problems that he encountered along the way. In addition, Edison did not just solve technical problem of the product.

He involved himself in ways of making the product gain public interest and sell in the market. At one point, he was quoted saying that he has found out what the world needs meaning that a particular need drove his inventions (Cohen, 2006). In this regard, Edison had a laboratory where he did all sorts of experiments of the conceived ideas. According to MU website, research is the voyage of discovery that seeks to solve mysteries of the world (“MU,” N.d). Like many researchers, Edison had to rely on existing theories, nullify some, and modify others.

From Lab Space website Edison spent more than 12 months exploring about incandescent light bulb before he could put in his hands a first working prototype. When he at last came up with the bulb, it worked but was so complicated to work than other bulbs that were produced later. He understood the problem well enough to give a reliable bulb that required less light (“Lab Space,” N.d). Conclusion Thomas Edison approach to invention can inspire many companies to follow his footsteps. Many years later, GE electric is a beneficiary of Edison’s inventions.

He established the need, a solution to it, and a market demand for all the products he made, an approach quite necessary in today’s market. Therefore, to remain at a competitive edge companies need to look for employees who can create differentiated products in the market. In addition, Like Edison, we should not tire until we get the product from our conceived ideas. References “Lab Space,” (N.d). “How To Process Invention Works.” Retrieved From, http://labspace.open.ac.uk/mod/resource/view.php?id=349880 “MU.” (N.d) “Educational Research,” Retrieved From, http://www.mu.ac.

in/myweb_test/ma%20edu/Research%20Methodology%20-%20III.pdf Cohen, D. (2006). “Inside The Box: Leading With Corporate Values to Drive Sustainable Business Success.” Canada, John Wiley & Sons. Dyer, F., & Martin, T. (2005). “Edison: His Life and Inventions” Egypt, Library of Alexandria.