Innovation/Change Innovation vs. Change at Victoria University

Innovation/Change Innovation vs. Change at Victoria University Any system, organization, group, or other entity undergoes change, often on a continual if subtle basis. Innovations can also occur, though these are far less automatic and generally less frequent than typical changes. Discussing these two different concepts and applying them to real world situations requires first an initial definition of these concepts, which are perhaps not as clear and concrete as might be thought.

Change can be thought of as absolutely any alteration to the way things are, occurring for whatever reason and leading to whatever effects. With such a broad definition, it can be seen why change is so continuous for so many entities and organizations -- if anything occurs that alters times for processes, people involved in a situation, the way things look or feel, or any other alteration at all, then change is occurring.

Innovation, on the other hand, is a particular type of alteration or development: an alteration that is intentional and designed to lead to specific improvements in things. Clearly change and innovation are similar, as both involve alterations to things a the way they are. At the same time, change and innovation are quite different and have very important distinguishing features.

Most importantly, change might be intentional but it can also be completely random, and it can originate from within a given entity/company or be something that is done to an entity from external forces. Innovation, on the other hand, is always intentional and always originates from within, in a planned and conscious effort to produce specific and identified effects. Along the same lines, innovation is always intended to have positive effects, whereas change can be either positive or negative in its outcomes.

One recent alteration to the Victoria University campus is the Reading Room Cafe. In order to determine if this is an innovation or simply a change, all that is required is a basic analysis of what the Reading Room Cafe is and how it came to be. This new food service outlet has a different model for service than standard cafes and other food establishments on the Victoria University campus, and also provides easy access to study areas.

Not only does it accomplish all of these things, but the new Reading Room Cafe was also constructed with exactly these changes in mind, with the purpose of offering a unique food service option that also encouraged studying and greater degrees of involvement in academics. All of these elements mark the Reading Room Cafe as an innovation and not just a change: if it were simply a change, the plan would not have been put in place, and there would likely not be.