Universal Principles of Design, Revised and Updated

Not Invented Here

A bias against ideas and innovations that originate elsewhere.

The not invented here (NIH) syndrome is an organizational phenomenon in which groups resist ideas and inputs from external sources, often resulting in subpar performance and redundant effort (i.e., “reinventing the wheel”). Examples abound. When Phillips bought Sonicare, manufacturer of the very popular Sonicare toothbrush, Phillips decided to redesign and reengineer the product, though there was no compelling need to do so. A similar questionable redesign occurred with the American introduction of the Sinclair Spectrum computer, which Timex reengineered and released as the Timex 2068. The changes increased the computer’s capability, but the cost was a bland form ...