Why Innovation Lists are Worthless

Ranking lists of the most innovative firms are often flawed because there are so many ways to measure innovation and it's difficult to compare firms in different dimensions. Many lists are created simply to validate the egos of the companies listed, and they tend to only include large, well-known firms rather than the smaller firms that may be doing more consistent and innovative work. Additionally, many disruptive innovators are smaller, new entrants rather than large, existing firms. Lastly, many lists tend to focus on firms that may be past their prime of innovation rather than forecasting what they are likely to do next.