The Inside and Outside View of Innovation

Two recent books by innovation scholars focus on different aspects of innovation — within and outside the organization.

ALDEN M. HAYASHI

“INNOVATE OR DIE” has become the mantra for many companies. But how, exactly, should businesses innovate? To be sure, much has been written on the subject, yet many executives are still uncertain how to proceed with respect to a number of fundamental issues. How, for instance, can they ensure that a promising initiative receives the necessary resources when the core business dominates the organization? And why do so many brilliant inventions fail while other seemingly mediocre offerings succeed? Such basic questions are the subject of two recent books — Unrelenting ...