Accidental Development

A discussion I was having with some colleagues occured at lunch revolving around someone's yogurt. We were discussing on how crazy flavours are developed. I firmly believe that most if not all products that are developed....by accident. This applies especially to products being developed in the mass production environment.

I envision the conversation going like this between 2 employees on the production floor:

Employee #1: Alright Boss, I put the Mango flavour extracts into Vat #1.

Manager: You did what!? Vat 1 contains the Strawberry yogurt!....Oh man, the boss is gonna kill me, this is the 2nd screw up this week! First the Blueberry in the Orange Vat...now this.

Employee #1: You got to be fucking kidding me?! Again!? I swear those Vats were labeled wrong. How am I supposed to know whats in 'em...Please don't fire me, I have kids in colle-

Manager: Ok 0k, let me think....THINK...Ok lets just get rid of these horrible...horrible mistakes, hopefully no one finds out.

Marketing Guy: Hey guys whats going on?

Employee #1/Future inventor of Strawberry Mango Surprise : Oh shit, I mean ...Hey! ...(eyes shift nervously)...We're just chilling you know...hanging out....

Manager: (points at Em#1) He just mixed the Strawberry and Mango Flavours together!! I swear I didn't know anything about it....Please don't tell corporate...I'm barely hanging on here, especially after that aquarium incident...They'll take my house and my wife she'll kill me, (starts sobbing)

Marketing Guy: Wait, wait slow down a minute...let me think...I think we can do something with this...

Voila!! Strawberry Mango Surprise!

I'm sure it doesn't get developed exactly like this but you get the idea. There are many significant products that were developed by accident such as Penicillin and Viagra. Viagra was to relieve heart conditions and blood pressure, with abnormal side effects of course. While it could be said that there is an experimental component of development of new flavours and products. I feel that it mostly combinations of existing ideas with modifications once the team realizes they have a great idea on their hands. The marketer's dream, turning everyday mishaps into multi million dollar ideas.

I'm out.

peace!