A Dearth of Profitable Ideas?

What are these companies lacking that Google and Apple are not?

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Vision. Obscured by greed.

Greed is one thing. Providing a sense and atmosphere of openness and freedom to be innovative is another. Look at how long Apple and Google have been at the process of being innovative. Apple specifically HASN'T always been right. They have taken their lumps for making bad decisions, but they get up and come right back. So, the lesson to be learned from here is to learn from mistakes, be given time to recover vs being canned for producing less than stellar ideas and rewarding the good. And that something that is different, wonderful or wild just may be what is needed. If the idea is good, work on it, make it better. Use the definition of Kanban - continual improvement. Specifically, Rome nor Apple was created in one day. It takes time, effort and sometimes luck to get the product or process that everyone wants.

A Boston Consulting Group survey shows that corporate execs place priority on innovation but are dissatisfied with financial returns from funds allocated to innovation

I've boldimicated the words that cause the problem...

Maybe they should try creating something ?

Let's not neglect creative accounting. Just think of where Enron would be today if their top execs had no imagination.

Execs place priorty on ROI & their bonus package.

Talk of innovation is just that, talk.....

Reasearch/knowledge/innovation always pays off. It just doesn't always pay off in the way that you expect; nor does it pay off immediately (for the most part).

"Corporate execs" however, are 5 year olds, that expect instant gratification.

There is no dearth of profitable ideas, just executives that recognize them. See www.createthefuturecontest.com for some examples.