Innovate and innovate: how to stay on the cutting edge... without fraud

Innovation is a much-used word, and with good reason: innovation is what drives society, the economy, and technology forward. But, like anything important, innovation can be a victim or 'accomplice' in scams and fraud schemes. In this article, we will discuss how to stay on the crest of the innovation wave while avoiding fraud.

Talking about innovation means looking at all areas around us in different ways, not only technology, but also organisation, marketing, human resources management and many other areas of economic and social activity. Innovation can be defined as the process of developing new ideas, methods, products or services that lead to significant improvements over what already exists.

The most widespread interpretation of innovative behaviour is to be original, to seek 'the new and unexplored', to facilitate everyday life, work and, in general, to propose opportunities for 'well-being'. 

Change and experimentation is fundamental to developing new ideas and products, but they often have a dark face and are often underestimated by 'creatives' and 'innovators'.

If we think of developments such as the internet, contactless payments, home banking, online shopping... their development has been accompanied by bloody experiences on the skin of consumers. 

Innovation strokes the egos of its inventors who only care about marketing image and profitability to burn time. Little do they care if a cost is incurred for the use of their invention, which is often passed on to the user who is only offered adequate risk protection after he has been swindled, hacked, had his credit cards cloned, his identity stolen, and more.

What should accompany the pursuit of innovation, should be an ethical approach, in essence, companies should be forced into 'ethic-by-design' processes. The true innovation of a company that wants to stay on the cutting edge should be to create an 'ethical environment of innovation development' where, in addition to mere profit calculations, the social costs to be paid for being 'up-to-date' and always aligned with the latest 'release' of innovative products are assessed.