Book description
Innovation is a key source of competitive advantage, but it remains
frustratingly elusive for many organizations. Too many organizations try
to improve innovation by focusing on one element at a time, particularly
in the area of new products and services. They train individuals, hire
more creative people, or create specialized innovation departments. Yet,
for most organizations, these investments yield only disappointing
results. They have not had sustainable solutions-practical and reliable
programs that deliver long-term, predictable results. Instead, they have
had an endless array of partial answers. They are left with an alarming
innovation gap.
Innovative Intelligence answers the question: How can we close
the innovation gap by making individuals and organizations
systematically and sustainably innovative? The key to systematic
success is to ensure that organizational practices and culture
genuinely foster innovative thinking. Innovative Intelligence
presents the case for a new focus for leaders centered on innovative
thinking, and demonstrates how leaders can maximize the innovative
capacity of their employees and teams. It shows how to embrace a
culture of innovation and have it permeate throughout the
organization, at every level.
Innovative Intelligence gives readers a clear roadmap and
practical tools to make their cultures more supportive of innovation,
identify and tap into the innovative intelligence in their workplace
and develop leaders who can close the innovation gap for greater
business success.
Praise for Innovative Intelligence:
"Innovative Intelligence is the most comprehensive,
concise and systematic handbook I've seen on how to succeed at
innovating for individuals and organizations. This is an indispensable
road map for leaders who want to cultivate a winning culture of
innovation or organizations who want to re-invent themselves to scale
the next height."
Arkadi Kuhlmann, President & CEO, ING DIRECT USA
"Innovative Intelligence is a breakthrough book that
redefines what innovation really means. The authors present a
compelling view, grounded in psychosocial and organizational theory,
rather than trendy quick fixes. Their approach to constructing,
shaping, and sustaining a culture of innovation within an organization
is rigorous, but practical and systematic. It requires rejecting
conventional wisdom and shedding narrow perspectives for the promise
of previously unforeseen and implementable solutions to the challenge
of innovation."
Dr. Catherine Zahn, President & CEO, Centre for Addiction and
Mental Health (CAMH)
"The time is right for a book of this scope. The authors address
the challenges created for organizations today by the complexity of
change. They offer a step by step, practical systems approach to
innovation. They wisely consider the individual, the teams they work
in, the culture and the organization environment that's needed to
support them, as well as the leadership required to take on these
complex challenges. A very useful book for leaders who want to
increase the level of innovation in their organization."
Stanley S. Gryskiewicz, Ph. D., Founder and Board Chair,
Association for Managers of Innovation, Author of Positive Turbulence
"Innovative Intelligence is an important and significant
book. It asks a simple question which has a profound impact on any
organization. The question is 'how can we make individuals and
organizations systematically and sustainably innovative?' The
practical and disciplined approach to 'asking the right questions,'
finding innovative answers, and helping groups build structures for
sustainable innovation is nothing short of brilliant. Innovative
Intelligence is a must-read for all leaders."
Paul Alofs, President & CEO of The Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation
"Innovative Intelligence provides a detailed yet very
practical guide for growing and embedding innovation in your
organization today and in the future. It is a must-read for the
forward-thinking leader."
Corey Seitz, Vice President, Global Talent Management, Johnson
& Johnson
Dr. David S. Weiss is President and CEO of Weiss
International Ltd., a firm specializing in innovation, leadership, and
Human Resources consulting. Previously Chief Innovation Officer in a
multinational consulting firm, David's current university positions
include Affiliate Professor at the Rotman School of Management of
University of Toronto, and Senior Research Fellow of Queen's
University. David is a sought-after keynote speaker who has presented
at over 200 conferences and is the author or co-author of four
best-selling business books: Leadership Solutions (2007),
The Leadership Gap (2005), High Performance HR (2000),
and Beyond The Walls of Conflict (1996). For more information,
visit www. weissinternational. ca.
Claude P. Legrand is the founder and President of Ideaction
Inc., a consulting firm which specializes in sustainable innovation.
For over 20 years he has been one of North America's leading experts
in practical innovation and is an acclaimed and frequent conference
presenter. He leads a team of experienced consultants who help
organizations become innovation-capable and deliver major innovation
projects. In 2007, he was the founding Program Director of the Centre
of Excellence in Innovation Management at the Schulich Executive
Education Centre. For more information, please visit www. ideaction.
net.
