The Innovation Zone: How Great Companies Re-Innovate for Amazing Success

by Thomas M. Koulopoulos

Overview

Invent less. Innovate more. And join the next generation of successful global players.

Innovation has become a mantra for organizations facing unprecedented market pressures and worldwide competition. But can it be taught or developed as a core competency? Are there rules for turning great ideas into breakthrough innovations that alter behavior and culture, change the company—customer relationship, and carve out a path to global business success? Profiling dozens of today's most innovative organizations, The Innovation Zone delivers a new playbook for creating a structured business model of innovation that focuses on process, not products, to generate sustainable value and competitive dominance.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781857885798
Publisher:	Mobius
Publication date:	06/16/2011
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	228
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Thomas Koulopoulos is president of The Delphi Group, an Inc. 500 technology management and advisory company whose client list includes the Mayo Clinic, FBI, NYSE, Air France, CitiCorp, Apple, IBM, Microsoft, HP, Oracle, and others. A noted expert and author on business and technology innovation, he also is currently Executive Director at the Center for Business Innovation at Babson College and a frequent contributor to Forbes, BusinessWeek, NPR, and CNN.

Table of Contents

Preface xi

Acknowledgments xvii

About the Author xix

Introduction: Innovation in an Era of Uncertainty xxi

Chapter 1 Unexpected Possibilities 1

Chapter 2 Building an Innovation Process 27

Chapter 3 Leading Innovation 45

Chapter 4 Innovation 2.0 67

Chapter 5 Open-Minded Innovation 85

Chapter 6 The Seven Lessons of Innovation 105

Chapter 7 Measurement and Technology in Innovation 135

Chapter 8 Globalization and a National Innovation Agenda 151

Epilogue 171

Appendix 177

Notes 195

Index 197

Editorial Reviews

Innovation is a critical ingredient of any growth strategy, and it's implicit in the business model of all smart enterprises. Koulopoulos dissects what it takes to innovate, so that others can learn from the rich examples in this book—James Champy, Chairman of Consulting, Perot Systems; coauthor, Reengineering the Corporation

Koulopoulous's distinctions between innovation and invention are fascinating. An important read for anyone looking to build and foster a culture of innovation within their company.—Colin Angle, CEO and cofounder, iRobot

Takes the mystery out of innovation. Moves innovation from something secret, behind the curtain, sequestered in the laboratory to a real-life, practical approach of freeing staff to generate ideas and work the ideas through a rigorous process that produces results.—Janice M. Abraham, president and CEO, United Educators

Innovation is not about serendipity and chance. It's a skill and discipline that can be taught and refined. The Innovation Zone will teach you how the best, brightest, and most innovative companies have done just that - and it will change the way you look at innovation!—Chris Chollecci, Vice President, Research Ventures & Licensing, Partners Healthcare

With so much hype and hope hanging on the spirit and value of innovation in these trying times, it is no small wonder that many articles and books are being written about this topic. Fortunately, The Innovation Zone is one of those about hope, not hype, and is critical reading for anyone or any group serious about understanding and applying innovation ideas and concepts to generate value.—Eugene S. Meieran, Senior Fellow, Intel

Innovation is not a commodity. The Innovation Zone absolutely does not fall into this trap. It provides stories of how the best companies re-invent themselves, how they re-innovate. It emphasizes the processes they have gone through in making re-innovation a reality. Implement similar processes - appropriately - in your organization, and you're also on the road to success.—Bob Galliers, Provost, Bentley University; Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Strategic Information Systems

The Innovation Zone challenges conventional wisdom that innovation is something special and unique. There is no creative class in the Innovation Zone, only people who bring their experience, ideas, passion, and willingness to learn. Koulopoulos shows you how to take these and create the new solutions that drive and sustain performance and productivity.—Mark P. McDonald, Group Vice President, Gartner Executive Programs

Koulopoulos debunks the myth that innovation is only done by geniuses in blinding flashes of inspiration. Through story and example he explains how ordinary people achieve innovation through a reasoned process, inside a supportive environment, with extraordinary results. he doesn't lecture, but draws conclusions from interesting stories of companies that have successfully innovated. The result is a book that is both engaging and inspiring.—John Thomas, President, Parsons Development Corporation

In The Innovation Zone, Koulopoulos defines and explains that most ephemeral and essential of all human qualities - the ability to create something that's a significant departure from what's come before. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to understand how we got to where we are today and how we'll get to wherever we end up tomorrow.—Geoffrey James, Sales Machine Blogger, CBS Interactive

From the Publisher