1. Unsuccessful Innovation Management
focussed on Felix Wankel‘s rotary engine

2. Overview Introduction Development of innovation
Comparison between USA, Europe and Japan
Reasons why innovations fail
Felix Wankel‘s rotary engine
Conclusion

3. Introduction
For much of the 20th century there was a tendency to give efficiency a priority over innovation
in the 1970s it began to alter
today innovation is surpassing efficiency for deciding the most appropriate form of organization
Clark, P.; Staunton, N.: Innovation in Technology and Organization. London and New York: Routledge 1989

4. Development of innovation
From implicit focus upon efficiency, with innovation as the deviant case
To innovation as the crucial focus, with efficiency as a necessary adjunct
Clark, P.; Staunton, N.: Innovation in Technology and Organization. London and New York: Routledge 1989

5. USA Americans are best at medium-batch production
Real strength was in distribution and marketing (railways, telegraph, retail, mail order) rather than in manufactoring
Formerly strength: Economy of scale
Clark, P.; Staunton, N.: Innovation in Technology and Organization. London and New York: Routledge 1989

6. Europe
Innovations take more time, because the Europeans do not want to risk their success with the recent product
Formerly strength: Economy of scope

7. Japan
Was penetrating the North American markets through high sales in automobiles and electronic consumer goods
Speed of market response to new products is very high
Developed extensive skills in design and development rather than in research and development
Blends scope and scale whilst investing research and development in the next cluster of innovation rather than on outgoing cluster
Clark, P.; Staunton, N.: Innovation in Technology and Organization. London and New York: Routledge 1989

8. Reasons why innovations fail
The reaction of the consumer
The dilemma of investment and sale

9. Felix Wankel‘s rotary engine
History
Benefits
Disadvantages
The future of a 50-year-old innovation

10. History
Felix Wankel opened his own research establishment in 1930, at the age of 28
In 1951 he began working with the research department of the NSU Motorenwerk AG at Neckarsulm
In 1955 he completed the design of a rotary-piston engine
In 1963 Mazda began to develop the world‘s first mass production rotary engine
On May 30th, 1967, Mazda began selling the world‘s first two-rotor rotary engine car, the Cosmo Sport

11. Rotary Engine vs. 4-stroke piston engine
intake, compression, combustion and exhaust take place in different sections of its housing
No linear motion to convert. Pressure is contained in chambers created by different areas of the housing and convex faces of a triangular rotor. As combustion occurs the rotor is immediately made to turn thus reducing vibration and increasing potential engine revs.
one cylinder does four different jobs: Intake, compression, combustion and exhaust
Expansion pressure created by burning of the fuel-air mixture forces pistons to move back and forth inside of cylinders. Connecting rods and a crankshaft then convert this linear movement into rotational motion required to drive the car.

12. Benefits Lighter weight Smaller size Lower vibration Higher power
Higher reliability

13. Disadvantages
Yet no diesel-driven engine possible
High emissions

14. The future of a 50-year-old innovation
In 2003 Mazda presented the RX-8 with a new rotary engine called RENESIS and won the Engine of the year award 2003
In February 2003 the Wankel Super Tec GmbH (WST) was established in Cottbus
WST is about to develop a rotary engine which is driven by diesel fuel
AUTOStraßenverkehr, Heft 6, 12. März 2004, p

15. Conclusion Some innovations have to wait until their time has come
The more flexible the consumers get, the faster may the introduction of an innovation take place