Innovations on thin ice

Sport is becoming increasingly important in contemporary society and has grown into a multi-billion dollar business. This paper analyzes improvements in performance in one particular sport, speed-skating, and compares the results with theories used to describe or characterize innovations in a commercial industrial environment. The Henderson and Clark architectural methodology is particularly suited to speed skating because improvements in performance in the sport are the result of a combination of the skater's ability, the equipment used and other 'environmental' factors. The klapskate, skinsuit, artificial ice and indoor rinks can all be identified as components and factors having a quantifiable effect in the 'market'. Because of their full penetration into the market, they can be categorized as 'dominant designs', referring to the concept introduced by Abernathy and Utterback. Based on statistical analyses of world records, we distinguished four innovation sub-processes that were additive to a long-term improvement process. The analysis shows that there is still considerable potential for improvement in performance levels in speed skating through innovation.