Where specialists dig deep and generalists reach wide: the two ways to create inventions
In the vast realm of innovation, I perceive two distinct types of inventions, each stemming from unique competences: The Specialist and The Generalist.
Exploring the Specialist's Depth
Picture a technical specialist—an individual who has immersed themselves in a specific subject, honing expertise over several years. When these specialists tackle technical problems, their solutions often manifest as incremental enhancements, boasting significant technical and business value. The patents that emerge from their endeavors typically dwell on a detailed level.
Consider a specialist's work in the context of a technical standard, such as the 3GPP standard, the standard defining the 4G and 5G wireless communication protocols in your smartphone. Their patent might delve into a specific detail within a protocol crucial for two devices to communicate, subsequently enhancing data rates. Another example, rooted in smartphone technology, could be an efficient implementation of a component, like a Power Amplifier, in a radio transceiver, strategically designed to achieve high power efficiency.
A fitting metaphor for a technical expert is envisioning them as individuals digging deep holes in the ground, each hole representing their specialized area of work. A company, with its expansive business coverage, may have multiple holes with experts diligently digging in each one, unearthing solutions to specific problems within their respective domains. In this context, new and detailed inventions are unearthed the deeper one digs.
The Generalist's Broad Horizon
Now shift your focus to the technical generalist—a versatile individual with competence spanning a broader area. Unlike specialists, their detailed knowledge of specific subtopics within their competence area may not be as profound. Patents originating from generalists typically take a more conceptual approach, offering solutions on a system level.
To be a technical generalist, one often collaborates closely with several technical experts, each covering a specific topic within the generalist's competence area. This collaboration is crucial for gaining the necessary knowledge to comprehend principles and problems within various technical areas and, most importantly, to establish personal connections with the experts. This interpersonal aspect is pivotal, as the generalist relies on the specialized competence of experts to fuel the invention process. Again, referring to wireless communication, a patent created by a generalist may cover an entire radio transceiver architecture designed for low power consumption for instance.
Imagine a generalist as someone digging small holes adjacent to the large holes excavated by specialists. However, in their quest to systematically understand the entire competence area, the generalist strategically places all soil from their small holes (i.e. knowledge of respective expert area) in one location, forming a hill. After digging a sufficient number of small holes and forming this broad hill of competence, the generalist can ascend to gain a helicopter view of the landscape—the entire competence area. Armed with this panoramic perspective, the generalist can identify new conceptual directions, envisage groundbreaking solutions, and collaborate with specialists to develop new inventions and patents on a system level.
The Quest for New Inventions
So, where do we find new inventions? They lie both in the meticulously dug holes, representing incremental improvements to current techniques, and on the strategic hills, housing the seeds of conceptual innovation. It's the delicate balance between depth and breadth that fuels the engine of invention, with specialists and generalists each playing a crucial role in shaping the technological landscape.
