These days, anyone wishing to praise a new product, process, or project will readily reach for the word "innovative." It sounds modern and dynamic and also a tad visionary. That said, only a very few innovations actually change the course of history, in the way in which the light bulb, microchip, printing press, and other similar inventions have done. On the other hand, it often takes little more than a few minor modifications to a product or its manufacturing process in order to gain that decisive competitive edge in the market. The prime example here is the fashion market, which each season oversees the launch of new products that do not differ at all, functionally speaking, from the previous year's garments. They help to keep you warm and, hopefully, look good. Nevertheless, subtle variations in the cut, the colors, and the material can make all the difference as to whether the collection is a commercial hit. In other words, innovation is what provides that crucial competitive advantage. And companies that neglect to work on tomorrow's products get left behind.