The technology is a key-driver for the innovation. In the midle of an innovation workshop on smart-grid I suddenly realizes that what is now happening to this industry with smart-metering is the same as what happened to the telco's with smart phones. Actually one of the guys in the workshop expressed it like this: The utility industry needs a Steve Jobs. And I think he is right, but not only him for his industry but for all industries. But I do not think we need one Steve Jobs, I think we all need to be a litle bit more Steve Jobsier in our attitudes to how we solve our work tasks every day. Because I remembered as we were discussing this observation, what happended when I came back from San Francisco with the brand new iPhone to Norway. Entusiasticly (beeing a litle bit Steve Jobbis I hope) I went to one of my clients and said, look at this this is so cool, we should start investigating how this will innovate your business model. The respons was, no I do think it is just another phone. My imediate respons was; I think you have never been more wrong. And well, to my account history speaks for itself. And based on reasont changes in the utility industry - who want to be a litle bit more Steve Jobies here ?
For a more academic insight into this topic check out the reasons Warton Blog Post on this:
http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article.cfm?articleid=2860
