Wernher Von Braun in the Quote, Research

Wernher Von Braun

In the quote, research is what I'm doing when I do not know what I'm doing, Dr. Wernher Von Braun is saying that the elements of discovery, non-linear thinking, creativity and unstructured analysis can be even more powerful than a more thoroughly defined, dogmatic and highly constrained approach to primary research. The intent of this paper is to explain who the kind of research described in the quote can be helpful to science, and that the advantage in research that is more directed and purposeful can lead to more efficiency surrounding the process yet also limit the potential to find entirely new, unthought-of solutions to complex problems.

The essence of successful innovation is in finding associations or links between two or more disparate concepts, theories, frameworks or structures that combined deliver significant, often disruptive innovative value over time (Antonelli, Franzoni, Geuna, 201). An analysis of patent flows throughout global regions of the world show that the non-linear, incremental gains made through free association of concepts are orders of magnitude more effective than the highly structured, deliberate strategies of intentional, even forced, innovation (Kumazawa, Gomis-Porqueras, 4755). The need for organizations and institutions to concentrate on the non-linear aspects of innovation are just as critical as those that are highly centric on procedures and measuring progress along the way towards a goal (Kumazawa, Gomis-Porqueras, 4755). What Dr. Von Braun was referring to was this dynamic of how highly organized research is galvanized around a well-defined, and well-quantified research goal. In exploratory research, the goal is to find what is not known. Testing for hypotheses and conditions is the most valuable when a frame of academic inquiry has been created first and conditions have been clearly defined (Bhattacharya, Packalen, 603).

This is precisely the state of research that Dr. Von Braun is striving for in the context of his quote. He is saying that it is extremely difficult to get to that level of precision regarding research without first focusing on the aspects of preliminary inquiry and analysis first. he is also saying that the purest form of primary of exploratory research must be unstructured and open to creative, agile inquiry paths and direction. Only then will actual discovery occur and innovation happen. Studies of disruptive innovation point to these factors being critical to entirely unforeseen connections being made between two or more potentially divergent concepts or frameworks (Antonelli, Franzoni, Geuna, 201).