It conveys tunnel-vision, like a horse wearing blinders. Instead we need Thinkers , people who can perceive current limitations, detect emerging trends, anticipate possibilities, and heuristically re-tool themselves for the opportunities of tomorrow. Such workers are appreciating assets - they serve as a source of intellectual capital which can then be deployed to create competitive advantage. Yes, both measured and successfully used to set stretch goals. It's also vitally important, as exemplified by 3M, to provide employees with both the time and resources to engage in some 'Blue Sky' projects which are unrelated to their regular work.
Innovation is the most evolved stage in the development of knowledge management.
The first stage is data , the second is information , the third is knowledge , and the fourth is innovation .