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Adaptors	persons that prefer to do things better
Adult and continuing education	Education provided to mature students, especially during their working lives.
Analogical reasoning	basic human reasoning process, based on a fundamental proceeding of human thinking, to remember similarities and to transfer them to a given problem or situation to find an adequate solution.
Analogy	correspondence, similarity, correspondence in function; relation existing between two things, situations, processes which go together in structure or function.
Analysis	analysis of statistical figures  The whole is described not merely in terms of its parts but most significantly by the pattern that connects them
Assess:	Certify the size, appraise
Attribute	essential, “normal” characteristic of a thing. For innovation we have to question those “normal” characteristics and we have to ask if other solutions (material, form, function) can substitute an attribute.
Audit	logistical or economical control, confirm or control of accounts
Batch Production:	Larger scale production runs where the operation can be broken down into separate activities or batches. Such production runs may be for a set number of items that serve a particular need - for example, the production of Easter eggs. Batch production allows for some flexibility in production - moulds for chocolate eggs could be used for white chocolate, milk chocolate or dark chocolate, for example.
Benchmarking	the continuous process of measuring producers, services, and practices against strong competitors or recognized industry leaders. It is an ongoing activity that is intended to improve performance and can be applied to all facets of operation.
Bionics	Discipline which examines elementary biological processes, structures and function regarding technical usability and systematic transfer to technical solutions.
Black Box Method	A tool which helps someone to specify the innovation needs of a business problem
Blockage of communication	external or internal obstacles of the individual that impede imagination; they can be of social nature (e.g. conformity), of methodological nature (e.g. rigidity of algorithms used before, premature criticism etc.) or of emotional nature (fear of making mistakes)
BoM (Bill of Materials):	A bill of materials (BOM) defines the products structure in terms of materials and provides an optional connection to plant resources such as machinery, tooling, and labour defined by a bill of routing.
Brainstorming	Method used to generate ideas. The method can be used individually or in-group. No criticism of ideas is allowed until the final of session.
Brainwriting	Like Brainstorming (see 4.2), a method for generating ideas. Ideas are written down by the participants, e.g. individually on small cards or in groups on a bigger sheet of paper – there are a lot of variations, see also 4.3 “Method 635”. After a set period of time, cards are collected, analysed and ideas are discussed.
Business Plan	The written document that details a proposed or existing venture. It seeks to capture the vision, current status, expected needs, defined markets, and projected results of the business.
CAD: Computer Aided Design	a technology that allows designers and engineers to use computers for their design work. Also termed CAID (industrial design), and CAE (engineering).
Collaborative learning	An instructional method in which students work together in small groups towards a common goal. The students may be responsible for each other’s learning.
Collaborative learning - (CL)	is a personal philosophy, not just a classroom technique. In all situations where people come together in groups, it suggests a way of dealing with people which respects and highlights individual group members' abilities and contributions. There is a sharing of authority and acceptance of responsibility among group members for the groups actions. The underlying premise of collaborative learning is based upon consensus building through cooperation by group members, in contrast to competition in which individuals best other group members.
Company culture:	is the values and practices shared by the members of the group therefore is the shared values and practices of the company's employees.
Concept Testing and Development	is the attempt to predict the success of a new product idea before it is marketed. It usually involves getting people’s reactions to a statement describing the basic idea of the product. As such, it is usually pass/fail, go/no go. As I will explain later, this is usually a very good way to kill a concept. A much more fruitful approach is Concept Development: the gradual refinement of new ideas into a form that is most likely to be accepted in the marketplace. It not only gives promising ideas a fighting chance, it provides guidance for the communication of benefits, uses, packaging, advertising, sales approaches, product information, distribution, and pricing.
Conducive environment	The desirable conditions for something to ameliorate
Copyright and Related Rights	Copyright is a legal term describing rights given to creators for their literary and artistic works. Normally, computer programmes and compilation of data are also protected under copyright. Related rights are rights granted to performing artists in their performances; producers of sound recordings (for example, compact discs) in their recordings; broadcasting organisations in their radio and television programmes.
Core competences	Durable and transferable cause for the competition advantage of an undertaking basing on resources and skills.
Course of action	A means available to the decision maker by which the objectives may be attained
Creativity	the potential capacity of a human being to make new correlations between the known elements, to offer new solutions to unsolved problems using other ways;
Creativity techniques	Creativity techniques are techniques that enable average thinking people to find solutions with a high degree of creativity.
Decision	The willful imposition of a constraint on a set of initially possible alternatives
Decision-Maker	A decision maker is a person, or group of people (e.g., a committee), who makes the final choice among the alternatives
Decision-Making	the process of acting upon the best information available to determine a single course of action for future direction.
Domain Name	the name that identifies a web site (like: W3Schools.com) FTP (File Transfer Protocol) - one of the most common methods for sending files between two computers
E-learning	Learning organised through the Internet.
E-tutoring	Tutoring taking place through the use of the Internet. In contrast to "normal" tutoring, the tutor and the student(s) are not in the same location.
Evaluation	a systematic (and as objective as possible) examination of a planned, ongoing or completed project. It aims to answer specific management questions and to judge the overall value of an endeavour and supply lessons learned to improve future actions, planning and decision-making. Evaluations commonly seek to determine the efficiency, effectiveness, impact, sustainability and the relevance of the project or organisation’s objectives.
Explicit Knowledge	This type of knowledge is quickly transferable between people as it can be easily expressed with text, formulas, images, etc. An example is a document containing all the necessary steps to implement a quality control process in a specific production machine. It is obvious that the management of explicit knowledge must be supported by information technologies and systems.
Facilitator	The facilitator is a person with organizational vocation, which leads the brainstorming session. The role of facilitator is to make people comfortable to express their ideas, "to facilitate" the ideas generation.
Feedback	Advice and commentary given by a teacher on examinations, coursework, or classroom activity. Can be oral or written and helps learners to understand their progress.
Feedback	response in the communication process.
Flow Production:	Large-scale volume output produced where the degree of standardisation of the product is greater (but not necessarily identical) and the demand for the product is consistent and long lasting. Such production tends to be characterised by highly capital-intensive methods.
Fused Deposition Modeling	In this technique, filaments of heated thermoplastic are extruded from a tip that moves in the x-y plane. Like a baker decorating a cake, the controlled extrusion head deposits very thin beads of material onto the build platform to form the first layer. The platform is maintained at a lower temperature, so that the thermoplastic quickly hardens. After the platform lowers, the extrusion head deposits a second layer upon the first. Supports are built along the way, fastened to the part either with a second, weaker material or with a perforated junction.
Gate	The decision point, often a meeting, at which a management decision is made to allow the product development project to proceed to the next stage, to recycle back into the current stage to better complete some of the tasks, or to terminate. The number of gates varies by company. (relates to Stage-Gate process)
Gatekeepers	The group of managers who serve as advisors, decision-makers and resource allocators in a stage-gate process. They use established criteria to review product development projects at each gate. This multifunctional group is generally most visible at these gate meetings. See: Stakeholders.
Globalisation	the process whereby trade is being conducted on ever widening geographical boundaries.
HTML (Hypertext Markup Language)	HTML is the language of the web. HTML is a set of tags that are used to define the content, layout and the formatting of the web document. Web browsers use the HTML tags to define how to display the text
HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol)	- the standard set of rules for sending text files across the Internet. It requires an HTTP client program at one end, and an HTTP server program at the other end.
Human Resources (HR)	Employees (potential) of an organisation. Also the term for organisation units which are wholly responsible for staff affairs.
Human resources development	Measures aimed at development and improvement of employees’ performance ability
Human Resources Management	Planning, organising, carrying out and checking all internal and external company activities that consider human beings as the most important resource in an enterprise. This includes, above all, an analysis of the status quo, the needs determination, acquisition, development, liberation, employment, guidance, costs of human resources including integrative fields such as staff marketing, controlling and staff information management as well.
Industrial Designs	Industrial design rights are rights granted for the exclusive use of the ornamental or aesthetic aspects of a mass-produced article of industry and handicraft. The design may consist of three-dimensional features, such as the shape or surface of an article, or of two-dimensional features, such as patterns, lines or color.
Ink-Jet Printing 3-D	Ink-Jet Printing refers to an entire class of machines that employ ink-jet technology. The first was 3D Printing (3DP), developed at MIT and licensed to Soligen Corporation, Extrude Hone, and others. The ZCorp 3D printer, produced by Z Corporation of Burlington, MA (http://www.zcorp.com/) is an example of this technology. Parts are built upon a platform situated in a bin full of powder material. An ink-jet printing head selectively deposits or "prints" a binder fluid to fuse the powder together in the desired areas. Unbound powder remains to support the part. The platform is lowered, more powder added and leveled, and the process repeated. When finished, the green part is then removed from the unbound powder, and excess unbound powder is blown off. Finished parts can be infiltrated with wax, CA glue, or other sealants to improve durability and surface finish. Typical layer thicknesses are on the order of 0.1 mm. This process is very fast, and produces parts with a slightly grainy surface. Machines with 4 color printing capability are available.
Innosupport	A Leonardo da Vinci pilot project Title: Internet Supported Module System for the Innovative Problem Solving Methods Duration: Oct 2003 - Sept 2005
Innovation	Translating ideas into new products, services or production methods. Use of new knowledge (technological or market) to offer new products or services that customers want.
Innovation Networks	Innovation networks means all forms of organisations which serve the exchange of information, knowledge and resources and which by suitable learning help to bring about innovations for  at least three partners.
Innovation strategy	Pattern of activities about when and how to use new knowledge to offer new products or services.
Innovators	persons that prefer to do things differently
Intercultural Competency	The ability to transfer and apply knowledge, concepts, processes and products within other cultural contexts.
Internationalisation:	a process for producing products that can easily be adapted for use in (almost) any cultural environment.
Internet	A world wide network connecting millions of computers. (See also WWW) Internet Explorer - a browser by Microsoft; the most commonly used browser today Multimedia - in web terms: A presentation combining text with pictures, video, or sound.
JIT:	Just in Time: A production system to make what the customer needs when the customer needs it in the quantity the customer needs, using minimal resources of manpower, material, and machinery. The three elements to making Just-in-Time possible are Takt time, Flow production, and the Pull system.
Job Production:	Production that caters for individual requirements, mostly small-scale production runs of unique or highly individualised products or services. Such production may be characterised by highly skilled, labour intensive methods.
Key word	a word or a word combination used to identify the contents of a text or document or to do a search for such contents, e.g., on the Internet or in a database.
Knowledge Management	Knowledge management is the management of the organisation towards the continuous renewal of the organisational knowledge base - this means e.g. creation of supportive organisational structures, facilitation of organisational members, putting IT-instruments with emphasis on teamwork and diffusion of knowledge (as e.g. groupware) into place.
Knowledge Management Audit	Knowledge Management audit is the all important first major phase or step of a knowledge management initiative and it is used to provide a sound investigation into the company or organisation’s knowledge «health». The audit is a fact-finding analysis, interpretation and reporting activity, which includes a study of the company’s information and knowledge policies, its knowledge structure and knowledge flow.
Laminated Object Manufacturing	In this technique, developed by Helisys of Torrance, CA, layers of adhesive-coated sheet material are bonded together to form a prototype. The original material consists of paper laminated with heat-activated glue and rolled up on spools. A feeder/collector mechanism advances the sheet over the build platform, where a base has been constructed from paper and double-sided foam tape. Next, a heated roller applies pressure to bond the paper to the base. A focused laser cuts the outline of the first layer into the paper and then cross-hatches the excess area (the negative space in the prototype). Cross-hatching breaks up the extra material, making it easier to remove during post-processing. During the build, the excess material provides excellent support for overhangs and thin-walled sections. After the first layer is cut, the platform lowers out of the way and fresh material is advanced. The platform rises to slightly below the previous height, the roller bonds the second layer to the first, and the laser cuts the second layer. This process is repeated as needed to build the part, which will have a wood-like texture. Because the models are made of paper, they must be sealed and finished with paint or varnish to prevent moisture damage.
Level of creativity	measures the capacity to create ("how creative are you?")
Lifelong learning	Defined by the Government as all post-16 learning, but applying specifically to the learning that takes place by adults who are already in the workplace and need special part-time provision, or to the learning that adults may wish to undertake to enrich their own lives. Often linked to just-in-time learning.
lingua franca	Originally the trade language used by numerous language communities around the Mediterranean in the Middle Ages to communicate with others whose language they did not speak. Generally artificial or natural language which serves as a communication tool between different language communities. Linguistic structure and vocabulary of the other communities transform the lingua franca. English nowadays is considered the lingua franca – a universal communication tool.
Market needs:	current needs of your markets
Media	includes the whole range of modern communications (media television, the cinema, video, radio, photography, advertising, newspapers and magazines, recorded music, computer games and the Internet)
Media-based Training (MBT )	teaching and learning trough the media (e-mail, discussion groups, chat, whiteboard, screen sharing, audioconferencing and videoconferencing)
Metaphor	a consistent design that models the structure and the appearance of the MBT solution on something familiar to learners
Method 635	A method for generating ideas. One of the most popular brainwriting variations. 6 participants note down 3 ideas in a period of time of 5 minutes 5 times. For details see component 4.3.
Methods for creativity stimulation	methods used in order to develop the creative spirit; they have as purpose on one hand to eliminate blockages and on the other the free association of ideas; e.g. brainstorming, sinectics, 6-3-5- method, Phillips 6-6 etc.
MRP II: Manufacturing Resource Planning II	is an information system that integrates all manufacturing and related applications, including decision support, material requirements planning (MRP), accounting and distribution. ERP: Enterprise Resource Planning is an integrated information system that serves all departments within an enterprise. Evolving out of the manufacturing industry, ERP implies the use of packaged software rather than proprietary software written by or for one customer. ERP modules may be able to interface with an organization's own software with varying degrees of effort, and, depending on the software, ERP modules may be alterable via the vendor's proprietary tools as well as proprietary or standard programming languages.
MRP: Material Requirements Planning	is an information system that determines what assemblies must be built and what materials must be procured in order to build a unit of equipment by a certain date. It queries the bill of materials (BoM) and inventory databases to derive the necessary elements.
Non-verbal information	information revealed through body movements or attitudes, without using words.
Open learning	Type of learning where no formal entry requirements are demanded, such as at an open university.
Optimizing:	try to make perfect the approaches and the economic development
Patents	A patent is an exclusive right granted for an invention. An invention may be a product or a process which provides a new way of doing something, or offers a new technical solution to a problem. The term “invention” is, however, understood in different ways in different patent systems.
Personalized learning	Learning is part of our everyday lives and, in fact, it's what keeps many of us actively productive for our entire lives. Why shouldn't we have the "best" learning experience possible-defined by ourselves? Some of the human elements of learning that computers are capable of handling very well are assessing our individual learning styles and preferences, generating learning appropriate to our abilities and our knowledge level, and, best of all, giving us that critical piece of information exactly when we need it.
Perspective view	a future possibility, a view in the future
Point Rating System	a system which allows comparison/evaluation of something according to defined evaluation criteria.
Prototype (refers to Rapid Prototyping)	A physical model or representation of the new product concept or design. Depending upon the purpose, prototypes may be non-working models or representations, functionally working, or both functionally and geometrically complete and accurate. Prototypes (physical, electronic, digital, analytical, etc.) can be used for the purpose of, but not limited to: a) assessing the feasibility of a new or unfamiliar technology, b)assessing or mitigating technical risk, c) validating requirements, d) demonstrating critical features, e) qualifying a product, e) qualifying a process, f) characterising performance or product features, or g) elucidating physical principles.
Quality circle	Small institutionalised groups, meeting regularly to obtain improvements in their field of work.
R&D (Abbr. for research and development)	The term research and development means activities and processes aimed at the production of new material and/or immaterial articles.
Rapid Prototyping	refers to various technologies such as stereolithography and selective laser sintering that can rapidly create parts for visualization, product mock-ups, or functional product prototypes or produce rapid tooling to manufacture small to medium volumes of parts. Rapid prototyping processes involve devices, ranging from office modelers to four-ton machines, that accept 3D CAD files, slice the data into cross-sections, and construct layers from the bottom up, bonding one on top of the other, to produce physical prototypes. More generally,it is the process of quickly generating prototypes or mockups of what a product system will look like. Rapid prototyping may be done with paper prototypes such as sketches, low-fidelity physical prototypes, CAD visualisation, rapid application development, or video prototyping.
Recycling rate:	The percentage by weight of a given product or material category that is recycled.
Recycling:	A series of activities, including collection, separation, and processing, by which products or other materials are recovered from or otherwise diverted from the solid waste stream for use in the form of raw materials in the manufacture of new products.
Reflection	The process whereby a learner takes time to consider an experience s/he has been involved in, or any new learning experience and reflect on how it has been done. It may likewise refer to teachers` consideration of their own work.
Reflective learning	Reflection has two meanings. One would be the process by which an experience, in the form of thought, feeling or action is brought into consideration (while is happening or subsequently) and the other the creation of meaning and conceptualization from experience and the potentiality to look at things from another perspective (critical reflection).
Roadblock to innovation	A barrier to innovation
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)	Developed by Carl Deckard for his Master’s thesis at the University of Texas, selective laser sintering was patented in 1989. The technique uses a laser beam to selectively fuse powdered materials, such as nylon, elastomer, and metal, into a solid object. Parts are built upon a platform which sits just below the surface in a bin of the heat-fusable powder. A laser traces the pattern of the first layer, sintering it together. The platform is lowered by the height of the next layer and powder is reapplied. This process continues until the part is complete. Excess powder in each layer helps to support the part during the build.
Solid Ground Curing	Developed by Cubital, solid ground curing (SGC) is somewhat similar to stereolithography (SLA) in that both use ultraviolet light to selectively harden photosensitive polymers. Unlike SLA, SGC cures an entire layer at a time. First, photosensitive resin is sprayed on the build platform. Next, the machine develops a photomask (like a stencil) of the layer to be built. This photomask is printed on a glass plate above the build platform using an electrostatic process similar to that found in photocopiers. The mask is then exposed to UV light, which only passes through the transparent portions of the mask to selectively harden the shape of the current layer. After the layer is cured, the machine vacuums up the excess liquid resin and sprays wax in its place to support the model during the build. The top surface is milled flat, and then the process repeats to build the next layer. When the part is complete, it must be de-waxed by immersing it in a solvent bath. SGC machines are quite big and can produce large models.
Stage	One group of concurrently-accomplished tasks, with specified outcomes and deliverables, of the overall product development process. (relates to Stage-Gate process)
Stage-Gate process	A widely employed product development process that divides the development effort into distinct time-sequenced stages or phases separated by management decision gates. Product teams must successfully complete a prescribed set of related activities in each stage prior to obtaining management approval to proceed to the next stage of product development. The framework of the Stage-Gate™ process includes work-flow and decision-flow paths and defines the supporting systems and practices necessary to ensure the process’s ongoing smooth operation.
Stereolithography (SLA):	Patented in 1986, stereolithography started the rapid prototyping revolution. The technique builds three-dimensional models from liquid photosensitive polymers that solidify when exposed to ultraviolet light. The model is built upon a platform situated just below the surface in a vat of liquid epoxy or acrylate resin. A low-power highly focused UV laser traces out the first layer, solidifying the model’s cross section while leaving excess areas liquid. Next, an elevator incrementally lowers the platform into the liquid polymer. A sweeper re-coats the solidified layer with liquid, and the laser traces the second layer atop the first. This process is repeated until the prototype is complete. Afterwards, the solid part is removed from the vat and rinsed clean of excess liquid. Supports are broken off and the model is then placed in an ultraviolet oven for complete curing. Because it was the first technique, stereolithography is regarded as a benchmark by which other technologies are judged. Early stereolithography prototypes were fairly brittle and prone to curing-induced warpage and distortion, but recent modifications have largely corrected these problems.
Strategic business units (Strategische Geschäftseinheiten (SGE))	A synonym for business units often is business fields (SGF). A SGE or SGF is a certain product-market combination with the aim of creating or maintaining of success potential. For reasons of reduction of complexity and also in order to assign responsibilities to individual SGEs/SGFs, an enterprise or the products/services of an enterprise are split into part markets and part products within the frame of strategic planning.
Style of creativity	the preferred stable way to produce change (“in what degree are you creative?” / “How does your creativity manifest itself?”); two individuals can be as creative but using different styles.
SWOT	Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats
Tacit Knowledge	It is associated with many unspecified factors like feelings, mental models, firm culture, etc. Polany who is considered to be the ‘’farther of tacit knowledge” said that we can realise the tacit knowledge’s existence if we think that we know more that we can tell’’. An example is how an experienced floor manager manages to face the every day people and time conflicts under great time pressures at work during production time. This is because of his experience to forecast problems and his ability to communicate very well with workers.
TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol)	a collection of Internet communication protocols between two computers. The TCP protocol is responsible for an error free connection between two computers, while the IP protocol is responsible for the data packets sent over the network
Trademarks	A trademark is a distinctive sign, which identifies certain goods or services as those produced or provided by a specific person or enterprise.
Training Needs Analysis (TNA)	A means of collating comprehensive data for training purposes.
URL (Uniform Resource Locator)	the standard way to address web documents (pages) on the Internet (like: http://www.w3schools.com/)
Usability Testing	focuses on understanding the user's experience with a product or process and gathering user feedback to improve product design. The immediate result of usability testing is a list of specific and general recommendations for improving the software/hardware, documentation, training and/or other collateral materials provided to end users. The longer-term benefit is a better understanding of how to design more usable and marketable products by increasing and managing user input throughout the product development cycle.
Variation	variation in innovation means systematic change of characteristics of a given structure. Singular elements, functions and/or surroundings of a system can be changed.
Virtual learning environments	Any creation of web pages on the internet designed for learning purposes.
Web Site	a collection of related web pages belonging to a company or an individual.
WWW (World Wide Web)	a global network of computers using the internet to exchange web documents. (See also Internet)

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