This book examines the results of a major study of innovation in organizations, calling into question most of the explanations of the innovation process that have been proposed in the past. The authors find that the innovation process is neither sequential and orderly, nor is it a matter of random trial-and-error; rather it is best characterized as a nonlinear dynamics system. They explain that the innovation journey involves motivating and coordinating people to develop and implement ideas by engaging in transactions with others while making the adaptations needed to achieve desired outcomes within changing organizational contexts.

"The Minnesota Innovation Research Program, on which this book is based, involved over 30 researchers who undertook longitudinal studies that tracked the development of 14 diverse innovations in real time and in their natural field settings. Studying its results, the authors find that the innovation journey is neither sequential and orderly, nor is it a matter of random trial and error; rather it is best characterized as a nonlinear dynamic system."--BOOK JACKET.

This volume brings together empirical and conceptual papers that go beyond questions of idea generation to account for the dynamics of idea development, judgement, and dissemination – processes which are at the heart of organizing for innovation.

Wi-Fi has become the preferred means for connecting to the internet - at home, in the office, in hotels and at airports. Increasingly, Wi-Fi also provides internet access for remote communities where it is deployed by volunteers in community-based networks, by operators in 'hotspots' and by municipalities in 'hotzones'. This book traces the global success of Wi-Fi to the landmark change in radio spectrum policy by the US FCC in 1985, the initiative by NCR Corporation to start development of Wireless-LANs and the drive for an open standard IEEE 802.11, released in 1997. It also singles out and explains the significance of the initiative by Steve Jobs at Apple to include Wireless-LAN in the iBook, which moved the product from the early adopters to the mass market. The book explains these developments through first-hand accounts by industry practitioners and concludes with reflections and implications for government policy and firm strategy.

This book shows that sustainable development should be analysed and managed as an innovation journey in which social, technological, political and cultural dimensions become aligned. The ‘journey’ aspect captures the open and uncertain nature of sustainable developments and highlights the agency dimension, with actors navigating, negotiating, groping and struggling their way forward (and sometimes backward). The book addresses the following research questions: What are the key processes and micro-dynamics of innovation journeys? Which policy lessons can be drawn for managing sustainable innovation journeys? To conceptualize the multi-dimensional nature of innovation journeys the book draws on insights from industrial economics, evolutionary economics, sociology of technology, political science and cultural studies. The book develops several new conceptual frameworks that make different crossovers between these disciplines. These frameworks are empirically tested with case studies on biofuels, onshore wind power, low energy housing, photovoltaic solar cells, biomass and fuel cells. The empirical studies are also used to derive several robust lessons as to how policy makers can influence sustainable innovation journeys. This book was published as a special issue of Technology Analysis & Strategic Management.

Innovation may be the hottest discipline around today, in business circles and beyond. And for good reason. Innovation transforms companies and markets. It is the key to solving vexing social problems. And it makes or breaks professional careers. For all the enthusiasm the topic inspires, however, the practice of innovation remains stubbornly impenetrable. No longer. In this book the author draws on stories from his research and field work with companies like Procter & Gamble to demystify innovation. He presents a simple definition of innovation, breaks down the essential differences between types of innovation, and illuminates innovation's vital role in organizational success and personal growth. This unique hybrid of professional memoir and business guidebook also provides a powerful 28-day program for mastering innovation's key steps: (1) Finding insight, (2) Generating ideas, (3) Building businesses, and (4) Strengthening innovation prowess in workforces and organizations. Using several illustrative case studies and vignettes from a range of companies around the globe, this playbook teaches people how to turn themselves or their companies into true innovation powerhouses.

“Finally! A book that lays out a thorough yet workable path to collaborative innovation! With a highly readable style and using great examples, Frederich and Andrews describe the process by which IBM makes collaborative innovation work from a process, company, and customer standpoint. By following the guidelines in this book, those with aspirations of collaborative innovation can learn from the lessons of IBM and maximize their probability of success. A+!” –Gregory S. Dawson, Ph.D., Assistant Professor at W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University and former Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers “Innovation Passport goes directly to the heart of how companies can speed up the transition from research to revenue. This book’s combination of insight and actionable detail–derived over a dozen years–provides a roadmap for companies to accelerate the commercialization of ideas and technologies. Moreover, this best practice is based on collaboration with external partners, an approach that is even more critical given strained economic times.” –Keith O’Brien, VP, Best Practices Research, Frost & Sullivan Get Inside IBM’s Breakthrough FOAK Program for Delivering Profitable Innovation! Learn from one of the world’s most successful innovation initiatives Align researchers, clients, and partners behind innovation that matters Get the right innovations to market fast How can you promote innovation that delivers real, profitable business value–again and again, year after year? For 14 years, IBM’s FOAK program has done just that. In Innovation Passport, FOAK’s leaders share the powerful lessons they’ve learned. Through actual project examples, you’ll discover how to craft more effective processes for making innovation happen...encourage collaboration...manage innovation portfolios...protect intellectual property...and systematically improve the chances of marketplace adoption. Whatever your role in innovation, this book will help you do it better, faster, and more profitably.