Innovation and Technology Management - Essay Example

? Innovation and Technology Management Currently, the situation of commerce dealings has become highly compound in nature. Acute competitions in almost all the business sectors in the market have forced the firms to promote their quality and quantity of business procedures. A mere rise in the revenue or profit of a firm is not the principal business target. The firms try to gain competitive rewards in the market, either in the form of technical creativity or in the manner of enhanced quality. However, it should also be measured that the public authorities in the economies are highly active in exploiting the welfare of the society and checking on the privileges of the clients and the manufacturers in the market. This essay will be interacting on three such related topics. The context of the essay would deal with concepts like, Total Quality Management, Intellectual Property Rights and Sustainable Innovation. Introduction In the contemporary world, the state of business affairs has become highly composite in nature. Acute competitions in almost all the business segments in the market have forced the firms to upgrade their quality and quantity of business operations. In the modern world, a mere rise in the revenue or profit of a firm is not the primary business target. The firms try to gain competitive advantages in the market, either in the form of technical creativity or in the manner of enhanced quality. However, it should also be considered that the public authorities in the economies are highly active in maximizing the welfare of the society and checking on the rights of the consumers and the producers in the market. This essay will be elaborating on three such related topics. At the first instance, the researcher would explain about the elements of Total Quality Management Philosophy (TQM). It would emphasize on the impact of this management on the working of a university or a college by focusing on its benefits. In the second case, the essay will throw light on the types of intellectual property rights available to the companies. The essay would use at least three illustrations for each type of property right. Property rights are indispensible business facts today as they are the norms that protect the competitive rights of the companies in the market. Finally in the last context, the essay will analyze the rapid growth of technological advances of companies that often tend to favour them, but not the individuals of the society. It would not be possible to achieve such perilous economic growth in today’s world without the essence of technological improvement. The learnt from the essay will help to analyze the evolution and modernization of the state of economic affairs in the contemporary commercial world. Situation Analysis Question 1: Discuss all elements of ‘The TQM Philosophy and its possible impact of each element to your university or college? What might be the benefits? Total Quality Management Approach is a special management segment that primarily concentrates on the quality-related attributes of an organization. It is also based on the participation of the individuals in an organization for long term success. For a corporate organization, quality management can be achieved by attaining customer’s satisfaction and maximizing the society’s welfare. In the current epoch, TQM philosophy is related to the task of managing a commercial or a non-commercial organization in a manner that the concern can effectively and efficiently cater to the satisfaction of the stakeholders without altering the ethical values. The primary elements that are involved in TQM are factors that are related to customer-focusing, employee involvement, process-centred, integrated system, strategic, systematic, continual improvement, fact-based decision making and communications. In this era of ‘consumerism’, the ultimate decision makers to analyze the nature or quality of an organization are the customers. Regardless of improvements made by a firm in terms of its different factors of production, the ultimate determining factor is the satisfaction derived by the consumers. The course of business operations of an organization largely influences the workplace motivation of the employees. It should be noted that proper motivation of the employees in an organization is crucial for its long-term growth. It should be analyzed that if all the employees of an organization work for the common goal, then the workplace quality is bound to improve. Self managed working operations in an organization are the best mode of empowerment for the concern’s quality. However, the most fundamental aspect that must be considered in TQM is the focus of process thinking. Process thinking includes all the basic steps that a business firm must look into in order to check the overall quality of work. Right from the purchase of raw materials from the suppliers to the final sale of the output, they are all included under the business process (Kwan, 1996). Different departments of an organization carrying out different business functions might be vertically segregated. However, it should be considered that actually all the different business segments are interconnected with each other horizontally. TQM focuses on this horizontal linkage of firm’s different business segments. This element states that the functions of a business firm must always be monitored and controlled. After all, the ISO 9000 standards are only achieved by the organizations with integrated business. It is believed that only an integrated business organization can meet the requirements of the stakeholders correctly. A strategic and systematic approach of achieving an organization’s task is also included in the concept of TQM. This element states that strategic management in business is a subset of TQM that deals with the various approaches that helps an organization to improve its nature of business services in the long run. It is also true that an organization must be creative and analytical to become more effective and competitive in nature and meet the requirements of its stakeholders. This concept of TQM is referred as continual management. The fact-based decision making system explains that an organization must use appropriate data and facts to analyze its business. For instance, the Lean and the 6 Sigma process, introduced by the corporate companies of Toyota and Motorola, are generally introduced technical tools that help to analyze the business manufacturing quality. It helps to reduce the level of business production defects in every 1000 units of output produced. The final element that TQM deals with is related to communication. This fact explains that the communication methods of a business firm are very important for determining its long terms success. Good communication activities carried out by a firm with its employees helps to upkeep the motivation of the employees in the workplaces. Moreover, efficient communication methods used by a firm to communicate with its stakeholders helps it to improve the overall quality of business operations. For example, social media communication methods have become substantially useful for enhancing a company’s brand value and economic returns in the market. Thus, all the elements of TQM deal with the different facts that help an organization to grow in the long run by enhancing its working quality (ASQ, 2013). In the recent years, it is found that TQM is substantially useful for the purpose of university and school management. It has been stated the different institutions with TQM have shown improvement in overall quality of work. The elements that are to be followed in a TQM process create positive impacts on a college or a university. Similar to the employees of an organization, the TQM in college or university helps to actively involve the staffs in the various operational programs of the institution. The universities have removed the barriers of teamwork and the staffs of the organization are ready to work in teams across the different departments. Educational sector differs from the management sector in terms of focus aspects; these are processes, inputs, outputs and objectives. Thus, the elements of TQM are highly beneficial for the improvement of the management of an educational institution. By applying the corporate norms of TQM, the teachers of an educational institute can not only teach effectively, but also integrate the students-teacher unity. TQM helps to develop effective teaching strategies in the educational institutes. The quality of lessons taught and the knowledge shared are also enhanced. As stated in the previous context, the TQM helps to make the staffs of an educational institute more efficient and productive in their work. Thus, although a very small link exists between commercial manufacture and education, yet it can be claimed that TQM in a higher educational organization helps to produce brilliant and skilful students who can be effective corporate managers in future (Kwan, 1996). Question 2: Discuss the main forms of intellectual property protection available to companies USING ATLEAST three illustrations for each. In the current competitive market, business firms experience cut-throat competition with each other. However, it should be noted that protection of the intellectual property is crucial for the long-term progress of an organization. Intellectual properties are the special properties that are created uniquely by an organization and can generate competences or economic benefits for the same. It should be noted that the protection of the intellectual properties depends on its type. Depending on the precise nature of the business property to be protected, the intellectual property protection can be in the form of a patent, trademark, copyright or types of plant variety protection. The types of the protection to be used for each type of the property are decided by the government. The major three types of the intellectual property protection that would be analyzed in the context of the essay are patents, copyrights and trademarks (Wisys, 2013). Patents A patent is a special type of a right granted to the innovator of a corporate organization for a limited period of time in the exchange of the public revelation of the intervention. The property of a business concern that can be protected with the help of a patent may be in the form of an innovative technological solution or product or a process of business operations. The paper will be considering three cases or illustrations related to patent in the current market. Facebook, the giant social networking company, is one of the organizations that have been granted with a new patent for its news feed. This patent is primary related to the unique technology used in the news feed. The patent covers the auto-generation of the user’s different activities in the social networking site. The patent was claimed by the company long back in 2006, when it had first introduced its News Feed feature (Parr, 2012). There are infinite cases of patent infringement in the market. Infringement of a patent occurs when the patented rights of a patent holder is intervened by some other concern. Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics are undergoing a series of different lawsuits regarding the design of their smartphones and computers. The two companies are fighting legal wars with each other through more than 19 lawsuit cases, going on in almost 9 countries across the world (Phillips, 2013). However, it has been recently recorded that, after winning over Samsung in one of the cases, the company has won a sum of about US $190 million as patent infringement damage concession. It should also be noted that in the market, patents are often used by the companies not for the purpose of simple market competition, rather for enjoying monopoly concentrated market power. It was noted that Microsoft, from 2008 to 2012, have achieved many patents regarding the software and operating systems of its business in order to enhance its position in the market and threaten the potential market entrants (Wortham and Chozick, 2012). Copyrights Copyright is another form of intellectual property right that is granted to an organization for any of its unique invention. This legal protection is also granted for a limited period of time. It is mostly related to the use and distribution of the innovated item. Similar to patents, copyrights encourage a company to make new innovations for the future. Unlike the patents, copyrights are exclusive rights allocated to a particular expression or a work. For example, Procter and Gamble is a famous company that engages in the production of health and hygienic products. The company has its website and other official internet sites. The users are allowed to visit the sites but they are subjected to the copyright terms and conditions related statements. Another illustration of copyright can be the recent copyright acquired by Samsung Music that will come into effect from 2014. The company would be compiling songs of Bob Dylan and the album would be named as the “50th Anniversary Collection” (Kozinn, 2013). Strict copyright would protect the piracy of the album and it would be available only in a few record shops of Sweden, Britain, Germany and France, after Christmas. There are many situations where the copyright of a company have been breached by another illegal institute. For instance, a prominent venture capitalist of New York, Fred Wilson, claimed that the Time Warner Cable did not show its games because of some contract related disputes. However, within a few minutes, he took the help of internet and downloaded the game illegally by streaming online. This was a case of violated copyright of the company, which was breached by the venture capitalist. Trademarks A trademark is a special type of a recognizable design that helps to segregate the product or service of a company from the other similar products or services in the market. A trademark can be derived of a company or an individuals or a business organization. Trademarks also help to elaborate a corporate identity of an organization. For example, the famous corporate company of Nike sponsors various sport teams and athletes with the help of its highly recognized trademarks in the form of its Swoosh Logo or business catchphrase, “Just Do It” (World Press, 2012). Thus, it is obvious that the trademark of a company helps to enhance its business brand value in the market. It is also true that a company’s revenue can significantly increase if it can monitor its trademark infringers. For example, Adidas’ sales in China are considered to be the second largest in the world after the company have started to take strict legal controls on its infringers. It was analyzed by the company that most of the Chinese consumers were not aware about the essence of the company’s actual products due to the widespread distribution of its counterfeited products with infringed trademarks. It has also been noted that the software giant, Microsoft, have joined hands with the mobile companies of HTC, Sony Ericson and Nokia in order to challenge Apple Inc. for its European trademark. It has been claimed by these companies that the trademark used by Apple Inc. should be dismissed as it is too generic in nature (The Register, 2013). Question 3: Many innovations today are associated with companies as opposed to individuals. Why is this, and what does it tell us? Human cultural development has taken place with the improvement in the state of technology. It has been claimed by many scholars that a powerful force which facilitates evolution of civilization is technology. Without the essence of technological innovation, commercial activities of companies could not attain its zenith in the world market. However, it is a matter of concern that by solely focusing on the economic surplus and profits, innovations in the current epoch are often harmful to individuals, even though useful to the companies. There have been technological innovations that have turned the business operations to be highly capitalistic in nature. With the rapid usage of capital intensive modes of production, the companies are substantially benefited owing to the cost reductions. Capital intensive modes of production are related to the use of technologically-advanced machines in the production process (Trevelyan, 2008). However, it should be considered that the rapid use of innovative capital intensive modes of production is actually practiced at the cost of the labour intensive methods of manufacture. This is the reason for the fall in employment opportunities in the world. The companies seem to realize that understanding machines is much easier than training skilled labour force in the organization. For instance, earlier, the companies needed to employ large numbers of sales executives and employees for promotional proposes of its products or services, but today, the companies are conducting a large part of its marketing activities on the online social media sites, like, the Coca Cola Refresh Project. Without the help of internet and its social networking sites, this could not have been possible. Many developing nations like, India, has generated large employment opportunities in its primary, agricultural sector. The main mode of cultivation for the country was traditional (labour intensive). However, since the inception of Green Revolution, the Indian agricultural sector is seen to use more of modern methods for farming that involves less labour. The individuals’ social and economic benefits are also harmed due to intensive practices of unsustainable (non-eco-friendly) technological innovations. For instance, the famous automobile companies like, Nissan and Tesla, are manufacturing electric or hybrid cars that claim to be highly beneficial for environmental protection and preservation. However, it has been found that the C02 emissions from these cars are harmful and causes severe health hazards like, chest congestions in individuals (Halila and Rundquist, 2011). The interest of a company is cushioned by its strong economic returns and the interests of each of the individuals of the society are backed by ethical and moral non-economic values. The companies encourage many technical innovations that are often destructive for environment and the individuals, but are beneficial to the financial surplus of the organizations. The decision making powers of the public authorities are often controlled and manipulated by the wealthy corporate companies. Therefore, the public authorities often encourage innovations that are harmful for the individuals and advantageous for the vested interests of the companies. Conclusion It can be concluded that the state of business affairs in the modern days have changed to a large extent. The contribution of TQM has been priceless in the commercial field. Business firms have benefited from TQM elements to such an extent that the managers of the educational institutes are also willing to govern on the basis of the primary elements of TQM. It is believed that quality management in the higher educational institutes would help to nurture efficient individuals, who would facilitate the promotion of the growth in the economy’s commercial sector. Today, the business firms have highly developed in terms of business operations, but this progress is largely boosted by the protection of the intellectual property rights. These are the rights that encourage firms to spend substantial amounts for the purpose of research and development. However, the public authorities as well as the companies should be active in reducing the degree of infringement of these property rights. Innovation is crucial for the development process but destructive impact of innovation is harmful for the environment. It should be understood that the interests of the individuals should be given the highest priority, even over innovation. Innovations should be made to ultimately improve the living standards of the individuals. Thus, the public authorities of the countries must check that the innovative initiatives should not go against the interests of the individual. After all, this is a great way which helps to maximize the social welfare in a nation (Thomas, 1999). Reference List ASQ, 2013. Total Quality Management — Primary Elements. [online] Available at: [Accessed 11 December]. Halila, F. and Rundquist, J., 2011. The Development and Market Success of Eco-Innovations: A Comparative Study of Eco-Innovations and “Other” Innovations in Sweden. European Journal of Innovation Management, 14(3), pp.278 – 302. Kozinn, A., 2013. Sony Issues Dylan CDs to Extend Copyright. The New York Times, 7 January. Kwan, P. Y. K., 1996. Application of Total Quality Management in Education: Retrospect and Prospect. International Journal of Educational Management, 10(5), pp.25 – 35. Parr, B., 2012. Facebook Secures Patent for News Feed. Mashable, 26 February. Phillips, M., 2013. Apple vs. Samsung: A Patent War with Few Winners. The New Yorker, 22 November. The Register, 2013. Microsoft, Nokia, HTC Fight Apple's 'App Store' Trademark. [online] Available at: [Accessed 11 December]. Thomas, C. C., 1999. Individuals and enterprise: developing entrepreneurs for the new millennium. Industrial and Commercial Training, 31(7), pp.258 – 261. Trevelyan, R., 2008. Optimism, overconfidence and entrepreneurial activity. Management Decision, 46(7), pp.986 – 1001. Wisys, 2013. Types of Intellectual Property Protection. [online] Available at: [Accessed 11 December]. World Press, 2012. My Trademark.Net: 2012-03-28 Adidas IPR Strategy in China. [online] Available at: [Accessed 11 December]. Wortham, J. and Chozick, A., 2012. The Piracy Problem: How Broad? The New York Times, 8 February. Read More