How easy it is to believe that the only thing needed for a successful NPD&C process is assets, money, people, time, capabilities, market position, and so on, but how often is it that the real innovations emerge from places where these benefits are absent.

On those occasions, the element that makes it all possible is insight.

Apple, Google, Amazon, Zappos, Intel, Skype, Hewlett Packard, Cochlear, et al all evolved from a position of great insight by passionate people, and little else. 

So which is the most important component, the core of innovation?

Passionate insight, by a mile.