Innovaro - Europe's Leading Innovation Consulting and Insight Firm - Publications - Reviews

Reviewed books: Organisation
	Innovation Curtis R. Carlson, William W. Wilmot This book is based strongly on the experiences of consulting company SRI International and the approaches that it has used successfully with a range of clients over the years. Not surprisingly therefore using examples from the likes of NHK, the BBC and Toyota, it addresses five key themes or disciplines that the authors see as being the key components to building an effective innovation organisation. Firstly is the need to focus on customers’ needs and market needs in tandem and then follow this with a focus on value creation. Using SRI versions of recognised techniques for these two, the book uses this as the basis for creating the concept, it then explores how to best deliver the innovation. The third theme is the role of the innovation champion which is examined from the perspective of remit as well as behaviour and this leads naturally into the arena of innovation teams – forming them, managing them and motivating them. Lastly comes the topic of innovation alignment and how to create continuous value creation. All in all, an interesting read that, although somewhat prescriptive, stands testament to its impact through the case studies.
	Leading Innovation Jeff DeGraff, Shawn Quinn Built on the foundation of methods taught at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business innovation program, this book also provides a step by step process to ‘jump start your organization’s growth engine’. This time there are seven steps which, in that convenient manner so liked by some authors, all begin with the same letter: Synthesize, strategize, socialize, supervise, synchronize, specialize and systemize collectively take you through the standard view of innovation but supported by questions to challenge the reader the think about their organisation at each stage. Examples from GE, Reuters, Coca-Cola, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and Eaton are used to highlight how this systematic approach has been used in varied companies that have worked with the University of Michigan over the years. More prescriptive than most, this book could be seen by some to be too generic but, given the claimed successes of some of the examples, may be worth a read as an additional source of reference when examining options for improving innovation performance.
	The Dynamics of Innovation and Intrafirm Networks Victor Gilsing This academic authored book is based on extensive analysis of two Dutch knowledge intensive industries, multimedia and pharmaceutical biotechnology. Using this as a foundation, it draws a number of interesting perspectives on how the two dynamics of competence and governance influence innovation and the associated networks between leading firms and their supply base. Although essentially an extended thesis, and hence not exactly a light read, the examination of the interconnection between these two dynamics provides some interesting insights as it brings together an analysis of the varied types of low and high density networks that are adopted by organisations with the influence of the institutions which variously choreograph, lead, facilitate or fund networks.
	The Ten Faces of Innovation Tom Kelley, Jonathan Littman The latest book from IDEO explores some of this design agencies approaches to innovation and how they might be applied in other organisations. Over the years IDEO has developed what it sees as ten distinct roles that people can play in helping to deliver innovation, each of which is outlined and supported by examples of use within and outside the design sector in companies such as P&G, Samsung and Kraft. These ten roles, most of which should be self-explanatory to most are the anthropologist, the experimenter, the cross-pollinator, the hurdler, the collaborator, the director, the experience architect, the set designer, the storyteller and the caregiver. More than the role descriptions themselves, what many may find more insightful about this book is the context within which they are individually used and how they work together to conceive, develop and deliver new products and services.
	The Company Culture Cookbook Kevin Thomson Just out in paperback, and inspired by River Café Cookbook, this is in essence a how to book, with a very creative and colourful look. The author presents us with the ingredients (inputs) of how to change your company culture and sees culture as a result of what people see, think, say and do. Changing your culture is considered to be about changing the inputs that focus on individuals, not groups, and on making change fun and inspiring. The book is complex in the way it is set up and, in our opinion, the metaphor of the cookbook sometimes gets in the way. However, this doesn’t mean that it doesn’t offer any practical, often very creative interventions. It is packed with interesting and easy to use methods to start stimulating people in your organisation in a different way – to come up with ideas, to change their perspectives, to treat each other differently. In short to start ‘changing the way we do things around here’. That said, this is a book that offers ready made solutions and therefore assumes all sorts of things about your current culture. Before using some of the approaches suggested, it may therefore be wise to develop an in-depth understanding of what the current culture is like in order to choose the most effective and appropriate interventions.
	The Hothouse Effect Barton Kunstler This new book sets out to address what makes a community or a company a hothouse – something that is seen an environment bursting with energy, ideas and creativity that leads to outstanding creative performance. Based on extensive interviews with a large number of companies, museums and institutions, it aims to bring lessons from both the practices within some of today’s leading companies and the factors that gave rise to some of history's most creative and intellectually rich cultures into contemporary business. So, inspired by historic communities like ancient Athens, the Bauhaus artists in Germany and New York in the 1940’s, the author explains the four dimensions of what he calls the Hothouse effect: Values/Mission – Ideas/ Exchange – Perception/ Learning – Social/Play. This book includes numerous interesting insights and parallels and makes an inspiring read, both from a historical perspective as well as from a business perspective. Uncovering the principles that underpin any hothouse – one can begin thinking about what it would take to for your organisation to start to operate in this way.
	Experimentation Matters Stefan H. Thomke Drawing extensively on research into the advantages of allowing for wider experimentation within the innovation process, this looks specifically at the potential of new technologies to enable this to happen effectively. Topics include computer modelling systems within the early stage of concept development that not only allow for a wider range of different concepts to be evaluated, but also enable the level of innovation to be raised and do so with shorter development times than would be usual. Examples include Bank of America, IDEO and BMW
	The Future of Work Thomas W. Malone This is a detailed yet accessible overview of how new business imperatives will shape the nature of the organisation and the way in which it is managed and led. It is focused around the theme of decentralised organisation structures – loose hierarchies, democracies, external markets and internal markets – that will be technology enabled but people centred. Based on twenty years of research at MIT, it highlights the opportunities, the challenges and a number of potential approaches that companies can consider for the future.
	Next Generation NPD Michael McGrath This provides an overview of what is seen by the author as an evolution in the way in which companies are developing new products. Portrayed as a step forward from the ‘time-to-market generation’, the ‘R&D productivity generation’ is defined as that which will improve R&D productivity based competition. Covering topics including resource management, project management, product strategy and portfolio management, it is focused on the larger technology-based firm looking for approaches to consider for improving R&D performance by reducing cost and increasing capacity.
	IDEO - Masters of Innovation Jeremy Myerson This is an updated profile of IDEO, one of the most prominent design and development firms. Using a mix of essays, case studies and interviews, this book tells the story of the growth from its beginnings as a design partnership into a global force in the development of new products for companies including Samsung, Nike, Apple and Prada. Especially interesting is the way in which IDEO has used its multiple engagements to build the internal knowledge to become a leading source of new technology advice in the consumer electronics arena.
	The Art of Innovation Tom Kelley The best innovation book of 2001 in our opinion, this uses the examples from IDEO, the leading US design group, to highlight some of the techiques that can be used to help build an innovative culture where creativity seems routine. Accessible, insightful and highly effective at bringing the practice of the design world to a larger audience.
	Understanding Organisations Charles Handy Although over 25 years since it was first published, this is still a key text on how organizations work. Written by one of the leading management thinkers of the 20th century, from culture, motivation and leadership to power and group dynamics, it provides a good introduction to all the key concepts and how they interact in all companies large and small
	Inspirational Leadership Richard Olivier This highly engaging book uses Henry V as a model for the discussion of what it actually takes to be an inspirational leader. Tracing the varied types of leadership displayed as he grew from a rebellious prince into one of the most praised figures in history, it provides a unique view into the different modes of leadership that have been and continue to be most effective in understanding, motivating and ultimately inspiring those around you. This brings home the most relevant elements of historical learning into a contemporary context for all aspiring leaders of today.
	Grass Roots Management Guy Browning This is an entertaining view of how to free your people to deliver the results you need. It uses the metaphor of a garden, its gardeners and the garden management to highlight a host of issues that impact the way in which organisations restrict and enable greater initiative and responsibility in their people. Full of pithy comments, especially about management style and the use of consultants, it brings home a host of familiar experiences. It is useful both in reminding of the importance of culture, people and motivation and in providing a selection of techniques that can be used to increase empowerment.
	Creativity at Work Jeff De Graff and Katherine Lawrence Looking at how different organisations stimulate, apply and sustain innovation, this identifies four key types of application under the headings of Incubate, Imagine, Improve and Invest: It is an interesting, albeit slightly academic take on the different ways of enabling and delivering creativity and innovation. Examples include Disney, eBay, Toyota and McDonalds.
	Guiding Growth Mark Lipton This is a good addition to the burgeoning library on the role of a clear and focused vision in driving the development of companies. It highlights how leaders are using visions (encompassing raison d’etre – the organisation’s purpose, strategy – how that raison d’etre will be achieved, and values – the attitudes and assumptions necessary for supporting the strategy) to sustained benefit. It proposes that a succinct and focused vision is an essential factor in building an innovative and scalable organisation. Examples include Microsoft and Oakley
	The Innovative Enterprise HBR This collection of articles from recent years of HBR includes eight definitive articles from the past twenty years from authors including Teresa Amabile, Peter Drucker, John Seely Brown and Ellen Peebles. All articles are insightful and still highly relevant. Covering topics from encouraging greater creativity, breaking out of the innovation box, managing the R&D machine and inspiring organisations This is an excellent introduction to the innovation arena and a good reminder of the key issues for the more experienced.
	Organizational Innovations Peter Clark Aimed at the MBA and postgraduate markets, this is a heavyweight academic book that seeks to address a wide range of issues but is ultimately difficult for the non-expert to access. Although therefore limited in its potential audience, it does however go into detail on such issues as diffusion of innovation, hybrid networks and the conventions of market societies and how they impact the ability of an organization to innovate.
	The Innovation Paradox Richard Farson / Ralph Keyes This examines the interactions that occur between success and failure. Arguing that it is not success or failure but success and failure that lead to genuine innovation, it looks at how those who succeed in society rarely set out to achieve what they do, but neither do those that fail have unrealistic ambitions. It is reasoned that true innovators, those that overcome this ‘innovation paradox’ are those that also overcome the odds and succeed after failure. This book provides several memorable thoughts on why, how and when innovators can benefit most from their mistakes.