Smart enterprises know that innovation is the holy grail of success, especially in the current technological landscape. It’s not enough to succeed on your current merits – you’ve got to redefine the industry you’re part of, redefine your product, or redefine your customers’ experience. And these ten articles helped redefine the innovation space in 2014. And in case you missed them, we’re sharing them here so you can start 2015 on the right foot!

1. 12 Innovation Lessons for 2014 (They’re Still Relevant) – All businesses can learn from understanding the latest innovation trends, especially when these trends are illustrated by real-world examples like Google, Phillips and more. Where do you want to be? Figure it out by following the lead of companies who are already there.

2. Data Science Handbook: 3 Tips for Becoming a Data Scientist – Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about data science in one place, from some of the field’s most prominent voices:

• DJ Patil, co-coiner of the term “data scientist” – “Data Science is a team sport”

• Michelangelo D’Agostino, formerly of Obama 2012’s data team – “[You have to] figure out how to push through and not be frustrated when something doesn’t work, because things just don’t work most of the time.”

• Clare Corthell, creator of “The Open Source Data Science Masters” – “In the end, the greatest reward … came from what taking a risk demonstrated about me.”

3. Running Your Company at 2 Speeds – “Digitization has led to bifurcated competition that challenges monolithic corporate structures. A two-speed approach to architecture will help companies navigate what’s likely to be a tricky period of transition.” Having trouble deciding what should be fast-tracked and what can wait? This will help.

4. Global Innovation Barometer Insights – How many executives believe that collaborative innovation activities drive revenue and profit? What are the barriers standing in the way? How many companies are executing key drivers they believe result in successful innovation? The answers to these questions (and more) are answered in this infographic by GE – and some of them may surprise you.

5. You Are Not Late – While it might seem like we are fully entrenched in our digitized lives, we are merely at the threshold of all that is possible. Innovators have an open playing field to create all that we’ll take for granted in the next few decades. Don’t waste the opportunity – it’s not too late. Promise.

6. Inside Shell’s Gamechanger Program – “An idea, like a ghost, must be spoken to a little before it will explain itself.” Shell’s Russ Conser quotes Charles Dickens to illustrate the general idea behind the Gamechanger program – which is to offer innovators the opportunity to “experiment” with their ideas in a safe place to discover if they have something worth pursuing further. “Some of the people who are most innovative and entrepreneurial just can’t help themselves when they get out of bed in the morning. They want to change the world… So we offer them a place to do that.”

7. How EBITDA Is Killing Enterprise Tech Innovation – Innovation requires a degree of risk, but taken too far could spell disaster for even the mightiest of companies. Tech is moving fast, but tech alone does not equal growth. Who will step up to lead this movement against EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization)? It should be you!

8. A Desirable-Future Haiku – Whatever future we envision for ourselves, it begins now with innovations we’ve yet to imagine. If you can’t quite see it, don’t worry – with a little help from some Twitter users, Kevin Kelly now can. He’ll tell you all about it.

9. Clayton Christensen vs. Jill Lepore and the Debate on Disruption – Is Innovation merely disruption of the status quo? And is this disruption a good, or bad, thing? The debate between Christensen and Lepore is like a reality show for innovation junkies…

10. Top 40 Innovation Bloggers. – And no top list would be complete without a nod to the innovation bloggers who create and share the content that keeps the conversation moving – and advancing. Check out the contenders for the Top 40 Innovation Bloggers of 2014 and then check out past years’ influencers while you’re at it!

Whatever your thoughts on innovation, it never hurts to look at things from a new angle – some would argue that’s how innovation happens – and see what shakes out. And listening to some of the greatest thinkers on the subject is never a bad idea regardless!

What inspired you to do something differently in 2014?

And check out this bonus article on how Cisco uses Brightidea to improve innovation across their business.

@gretchhof