Recently, however, the buzz around innovation seems to have reached a
pinnacle. Some feel that the word has been overused. Others balk at its
ambiguity. As a result, the business world seems to be searching for the next
big thing. This shift is made more evident as shaky economic conditions
permeate virtually every industry ± swallowing up profits, forcing layoffs
and prompting serious restructuring initiatives. The result is that companies
have been moving away from innovation and the development of
breakthrough new products and services towards ``quick fixes'' and
short-term, bottom-line results.