The theory of user-driven innovation comes from MIT professor Eric von Hippel, who proposed that when tools are placed directly in the hands of people who have the most pressing needs for answers, innovation happens, because there is no longer a need to transmit requirements from one person (or group) to another.

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Its foray into autos raised concern about the driver distraction implications of its Terminal mode head unit device, an innovation that is right-on, in theory, but poorly executed.

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What all three have done, in differing degrees, is to swap innovation for execution, which should, in theory at least, lower risk and make it quicker to get to market.

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The history of innovation bears out Mr. Jobs's theory.

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School choice, at least in theory, opens doors to much more innovation than the traditional model.

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The theory (which I support) is that innovation rarely takes place in any formal setting.

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