The Innovation Wave: Meeting the Corporate Challenge

Sink or swim - Introduction.

1. Gauging the sea - understanding where we are.

What do we mean by innovation?

The importance of innovation.

The current status of innovation - a view from the Innovation Exchange.

Change is the only constant.

Drivers of change.

Anchor points.

2. Rising tides - establishing an urgency.

The rapids of change - Gary Hamel, Strategos.

Anchor points.

3. Fishing where the fish are - the need to focus.

Strategy and vision.

Throwing a brand a lifeline - P-Y. Gerbeau, former CEO of the Millennium Dome in London.

Context and constraints.

Walking on water - how to win by breaking the rules - Costas Markides, London Business School.

The role of communication.

The issue of measurement.

Anchor points.

4. Riding the wave - how to make it happen.

Where ideas come from.

Freak waves - make the most of them - Gareth Jones, formerly Head of Human Resources at the BBC

The role of market research.

From concept to implementation.

A note on processes.

Approaches to infusing innovation.

Keeping innovation afloat - innovation as a cycle of tension and tranquillity - Stephen Moon, GlaxoSmithKline, and Ben Bryant, London Business School.

Anchor points.

5. Riding on the crest of the wave - how to stay on top.

The role of leadership.

Culture.

Finding the fish and aligning the fleet - making innovation an everyday capability - Jens Maier and Ian Owen, Zurich Financial Services.

The role of the human resource (HR) department.

Work environment.

Anchor points.

6. Endless as the sea - innovation challenges.

Innovation paradoxes.

Future innovation challenges.

Final comment.

Suggested reading.

References.

Index.