You may have seen Robert Tucker, President of The Innovation Resource (http://www.innovationresource.com), on the Spring 2007 five episode series on CNBC entitled "The Business of Innovation" (fantastic series, BTW which you can watch at http://innovation.cnbc.com/), or through the four books that he's written, such "Winning the Innovation Game" (http://www.amazon.com/Winning-Innov-Game-Denis-Waitley/dp/0425115313) published in 1986 (and still VERY on key for modern innovation insight), or his most recent, "Driving Growth Through Innovation," (http://www.amazon.com/Driving-Growth-Through-Innovation-Robert/dp/1576751872/) published in 2003 and being revised this year to keep pace with the rapid growth in the "innovation movement."
I was lucky enough to "virtually corner" Robert, freshly back from consulting engagements in Russia and Europe and hot on the heels of the CNBC program, and the end result is a great 26 minute interview, where we discuss many topics, including the need to hunt down mavericks and misfits *as well as* those highly trained execution and operations-oriented business people, that business schools and MBA programs so frequently train.
How can you find "innovators" or "problem solvers?" Can you foster an environment that enables them to emerge from the shadows? Who "owns" innovation in organizations? Is upper management an enabler or a killer for innovation? Are you and your fellow employees ready to come in to work, fired up to make a difference, or get fired in the process?
Change doesn't just happen - it needs to be MADE to happen, and that does not occur accidentally these days!
Lots of ground covered here, and for my part at least, a great conversation with Robert that certainly helped me to further solidify my thinking on this topic, and of course raise new questions, which I'll continue to hunt down.
Listen in, and we would love to hear your comments. If you would prefer to call in comments, please dial 781-268-0716 and leave me up to a 2 minute message regarding this post. Enjoy!
Hi all!
Great book. I just want to say what a fantastic thing you are doing! Good luck!
G'night
Posted by: tovorinok | July 05, 2007 at 01:52 AM