The journey of innovation is necessary for survival. This statement is true for individuals and for organizations. In order for us to be competitive as individuals, as organizations, and indeed, as a nation, we need to constantly add more value for our clients, customers and constituencies. We do this by innovation.
The innovation journey is fraught with obstacles. Naysayers line the route with catcalls like “we tried that before” and “that would never work here.” Organizational potholes and boulders are strewn across the road. False starts and market shifts lead down the wrong paths. Weariness from steep learning curves slows the process down. The mountaintop is often enshrouded in the clouds of unending details, stops and starts. Distractions of the trees that are part of the day-to-day job shift our focus over and over again.
Besides the necessity of the journey, some practices of innovation keep us going. Keeping close to the customer is central in this journey. Creating an open culture is important for ongoing innovation efforts. Holding a mindset of openness and inquiry is helpful for developing and building on ideas. Creative collaboration is essential for moving teams forward toward market introduction.
Each chapter of this book examines one of the important arenas of innovation:
Chapter 1: “Background” examines the definition and importance of innovation.
Chapter 2: “Innovative Mind” discusses varies mindsets which facilitate innovative thinking.
Chapter 3: “Building a Culture for Innovation” shows how to create an organizational environment that moves innovation forward.
Chapter 4: “Customer Focus” looks at the customer as the center of innovation efforts.
Chapter 5: “Process of Innovation” examines processes through which ideas become marketable products and services.
Chapter 6: “Creative Collaboration” lays out ideas which will aid groups in making innovation happen.
Chapter 7: “Future of Innovation” predicts new arenas in innovation.
Besides the texts, examples, and concepts of innovation, each chapter has these four additional sections:
• “Try This”: Gives you homework you can try to create innovation.
• “Resource”: Gives you the names of additional books or videos that explore the chapter’s central concept.
• “Key Points”: Summarizes five to ten key points from the chapter.
• “How Do You Rate”: Provides a series of questions to ask yourself in order to evaluate your own or your organization’s performance around the central concept of the chapter.
May you improve your own life and the lives of others with the ideas in this book!