Patterns in high-impact innovation

All innovations are not equal. Some have had extraordinary impact on economic growth, job creation or the standard of living, while others have had much less impact. Similarly, some innovations have been of great usefulness or value to the organizations in which they occurred, while others have been less useful in helping them to carry out their responsibilities. A few individuals have been major contributors to high-impact innovations, but most others have done work of substantially less impact or value. It is important to understand what distinguishes these high-impact key contributors from very good scientists and engineers. The present paper addresses this topic.