ABSTRACT
Advance forward incrementation occurs when an idea is “ahead of its time.” Although the field is moving in a certain direction, it is not yet ready to reach a given point. Someone has an idea that leads to that point not yet ready to be reached. The person pursues the idea and produces a work. Often the value of the work is not recognized at the time because the field has not yet reached the point where the contribution of the new work can be adequately understood. The creator accelerates beyond where others in his or her field are ready to go—often “skipping” a step that others will need to take. The value of the work may be recognized later than otherwise would be the case, or some other creator who has the idea at a more opportune time may receive credit for the idea.
