I really like Jim’s illustration of the birth of a big idea:
This schematic picture is not only a great – because of it’s simplicity – explanation of the (at least one-person) innovation process it also describes the differences between data, information and knowledge according to Helmut Willke.
But in this context there is no knowledge till the solution. ??? Sorry – to fast. So one step back because to my mind this description is worth to know. There is some data – after you’ve extracted the problem out of it, you call it information. So it’s data that has relevance for you. In the next step you “mix it up” with existing information in your memory and ….. now you have the solution. This combination with other relevant information is called knowledge.
So – enough academic drivel for today 
