JOURNAL ARTICLE

Precedents Thinking.

  • Published In: Harvard Business Review, 2025, v. 103, n. 2. P. 54 1 of 3

  • Database: Business Source Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Zenios, Stefanos; Favaro, Ken 3 of 3

Abstract

The article focuses on "precedents thinking," a method of innovation that involves framing a challenge, searching for relevant prior innovations (precedents), and combining them to create breakthrough solutions. It illustrates how major innovations—such as Henry Ford's assembly line, Netflix's business model, and DoorDash's delivery system—were developed by creatively recombining existing ideas from diverse fields. The approach is applicable to both startups and established companies, as demonstrated by Global Foods' corporate transformation addressing health-related stigma. The article emphasizes the importance of novel problem framing, broad and diverse precedent searches, collaborative combinatory play, and using precedents to guide execution for successful innovation.

Additional Information

  • Source:Harvard Business Review. 2025/03, Vol. 103, Issue 2, p54
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Business and Management
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:0017-8012
  • Accession Number:182913926
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