Innovation vs. Technology

Jaymin J. Patel and Robert DiMarco 

January 2010

Rob DiMarco and Jaymin Patel met during their first year at Tepper. While experiencing the corporate recruiting process first hand, both were amazed to see many flaws in the system which resulted in many of their classmates, and in some cases even themselves, getting overlooked for positions. Late one night while working on a case competition, Jaymin and Rob began discussing innovative technology applications to fill in the gaps created by the current recruiting system.

For months, they met regularly to discuss what this technology solution would be what it wouldn’t be and how to take it to market. Ultimately, they concluded that the mission of the company was simple: Right People, Right Jobs. Today, over a year later, Rob and Jaymin plan to pilot their idea at the Tepper School of Business next year. Their goals include having all of the top B-schools and recruiters adopt their system to allow students an opportunity to land their dream job and for recruiters to find the right talent to fill their leadership pipelines.

Following is their debate on whether innovation drives technology, or technology leads to innovation.

INNOVATION BEFORE TECHNOLOGY  

By Jaymin J. Patel

Innovation introduces the core about which a foundation of technology can be created. Throughout history, it is evident that innovative minds have asked questions of “What if…?” that have encouraged technological transformations to change the way we live our lives.

Technology can be broadly defined as the practical application of science in both the physical and social worlds. Innovation is simply a new way of doing something—a new idea. And so it almost seems basic that innovation precedes technology: if innovation is a new idea (the what), then technology is the practical application (the how) of that idea. But here lies the rub: innovation isn’t always a new idea of what, but also how, when, where and sometimes why. Taking a technology and applying it differently can be “innovation,” but this is not categorized within the context of how innovation is traditionally viewed.

Innovation requires an understanding of existing processes or markets and introduces new concepts which enhance such processes or result in improving users’ experiences by making something in the market quicker, easier, cheaper, safer, etc. Innovation also creates new markets that never existed before. When a new idea or opportunity is identified, the application of science allows for technology to be the conduit of its dissemination to the masses.