Professor Rosabeth Moss Kanter of Harvard Business School studies when companies make successful innovations and also when companies declare great intentions to innovate, but then rest on their laurels or even backslide. Brainstorming among diverse teams within a company – not just management – can produce ideas that seem small at first, but have massive impact upon development.

In an interview with Fast Company, Kanter offers examples of innovations that we’re all familiar with, such as the iPod or Google, but also lesser known ones, such as Proctor & Gamble’s modifications of their products to sell worldwide. She warns against defining innovations too big – not every innovation needs to be a blockbuster breakthrough. Sometimes, small and simple innovations can make all the difference.

Importantly, Kanter dispels the myth of the genius inventor, reminding us that “innovation takes an awful lot of teamwork.” Kanter recommends using the rapid prototyping method to find innovative solutions. Start with an idea, and then interact with some users to arrive at a product that is truly revolutionary and effective.