No matter what the industry, the innovation process can often become a confusing one. At the forefront of this confusion is a communications gap between day-to-day activities and executive decisions. In an effort to close this gap, a rising number of companies are realizing the importance of keeping the lines of communication and collaboration open across the corporation.

Electrolux, for instance, a producer of home appliances, has announced the selection of Sopheon's Accolade to connect the gaps in worldwide collaboration and "to remain on the cutting edge of innovation." Electrolux will deploy the system under an enterprise-wide agreement that covers company locations throughout Europe, the Americas, and the Asia-Pacific region, encompassing all product areas including "major," "floor care" and "small appliances." Access initially will be provided to approximately 1,400 users.

More important, Electrolux says this investment represents part of a broad initiative by the company to change the way it develops new products. Johan Hjertonsson, director of Electrolux's consumer innovation program says the tech investment will also help Electrolux "make the right front-end decisions on which product ideas to invest in, and enable us to increase the speed, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the processes we use to move those product ideas from the drafting table to the marketplace."

India's largest biotechnology firm, Biocon, also is bolstering its product innovation strategy. OK, that's an understatement. The company is completely re-vamping its business model to one that exudes a focus on product innovation, a far cry from its prior image as a generic drug maker. Like Electrolux, it sounds like Biocon's innovation strategy involves a nice mix of people, process and technology. Chief operating officer Arun Chandavarkar says the company's innovation strategy was built on in-house capabilities, proprietary technologies and a broad array of licensing and alliance partners the world over.

And here's an interesting report that also suggests that a larger degree of "openness" will encourage innovation efforts with the U.S. and other world economies. Released by the Committee For Economic Development, the 72-page downloadable report concludes that intellectual property law and business practices designed for the trade of physical goods threaten economic development and innovation in digital information product markets such as software. It recommends several specific steps aimed at helping public policy makers promote openness, innovation, and economic growth including open standards, open source software and open innovation.

If the CED report isn't enough reading for you, there's also a new book, called "What Customers Want", coming out — set on debunking the traditional line of thought behind innovation. Author Anthony Ulwick Strategyn has this to say about his innovation:

Contrary to popular belief, innovation is not a random, unpredictable process. Although the process appears to be an intangible art form, it is in fact a measurable science that can be replicated given the proper inputs. I wrote this book to educate executives and product managers about a more effective approach to innovation. Companies have lived in a world of unchallenged myths for far too long. It is time to break convention and to think about innovation differently.

How is your company thinking about innovation differently?