«Serendipity » or the art of making fortuitous,
unexpected and useful discoveries, by accident or by error.

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iscoveries and inventions are not always the exclusive outcome of intelligence and human creativity. Numerous products, technical procedures and scientific principles have been discovered by chance or by error. This phenomenon of the creative accident is known as Serendipity.

Here are some well-known examples : the principle of making champagne (Dom Pérignon), pasteurisation (L. Pasteur), penicillin (A. Fleming), X-rays (W. Röntgen), the vulcanisation of rubber (Ch. Goodyear), post-its (A. Fry at 3M), as well as Coca-Cola, cornflakes, Zyban and Viagra.

Much like Christopher Columbus, who discovered America while looking for the western route to the Indies, these products were discovered quite unexpectedly. They are serendipitous accidents.

For managers, the phenomenon of serendipity is interesting for a host of reasons:

1First of all, it reminds us that we are surrounded by opportunities that we are unaware of. 

2And it is not as if they don’t exist, simply because we don’t see them…

3Errors and unforeseen circumstances can be important sources of progress. They allow us to question habits, certainties and the usual norms and standards. 

4Innovation can happen anywhere, and anyone within the company can be a source of change. 

5Trying to achieve the perfect plan or a voluntary optimisation of all the management parameters is an illusion. Reality always takes the upper hand on managerial desires and is able to introduce incredible bifurcations in a market or industry. Serendipity is a random phenomenon. It is not subjected to human desires. It has given rise to hundreds of techniques, products and ideas without which life would be nothing like it is today!

The phenomenon of serendipity invites us to be surprised