The pace of change today is faster than ever before which means that no matter how well you do things now, if you keep doing them the same way you are going to be left behind. Everyone knows that innovation is important. We're always being told to 'think smarter'. The problem is that nobody tells us how to actually do it.
From 2004 to 2011 James O'Loghlin hosted 'The New Inventors' on ABC-TV, and worked with over a thousand Australian inventors and innovators. James spent those eight years trying to work out what innovators do differently from the rest of us; how they are able to solve problems that the rest of can't, and take advantage of opportunities that the rest of us miss. In this book, James outlines a step-by-step process that leads to the production of more and better ideas, and explains how to grow ideas into something real. He outlines practical steps we can all take to enable us to step back from the day to day busyness of everyday life and be more innovative in what we do. Some organisations are able to ensure that everyone from the CEO to the receptionist knows that innovation is part of their job, and are able to harvest ideas from them all. But most organisations struggle to do this. They undervalue and underuse the creative potential of their people.
This book addresses: * how organisations can get everyone to constantly be thinking about how they can do things better. * the steps organisations can take to quickly build a culture that values and encourages innovation from everyone. * how organisations can harvest and use their people's ideas.
By:
James O'Loghlin
Imprint: Wright Books
Country of Publication: Australia
Dimensions:
Height: 216mm,
Width: 142mm,
Spine: 18mm
Weight: 240g
ISBN: 9780730324393
ISBN 10: 0730324397
Pages: 232
Publication Date: 19 February 2016
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
General/trade
,
Undergraduate
,
ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
About the author ix Preface xi Introduction: What is innovation and why do we need it? 1 Part I: A process for innovation 7 1 Think 9 Prioritise thinking 10 What do you think about? Identifying opportunities for innovation 13 Processes and systems 15 Interactions with people 16 Notice when you feel bad 17 A method for innovation 18 Habitual thinking 21 Eight ways to break out of habitual thinking 26 1. Question everything 27 2. What assumptions are you making? 30 3. Technology is not always the answer 36 4. Reframe the question 39 5. The solutions might be right in front of your eyes 42 6. Is the answer in your data? 45 7. Think like a customer or client 51 8. Plan for failure 65 Four reasons why we don't think enough 68 'I don't have time' 68 'I'm just not creative' 70 'Innovation isn't part of my job' 72 'Thinking is hard!' 73 What if you're stuck? 79 2 Value 85 Ideas are like balloons 88 Hold the phone 89 Listen sometimes, don't listen sometimes 90 3 Use 93 Do the next thing 94 Find the end point of each idea 95 Bring in other people 97 Sometimes you need to persist 98 4 How to pitch an idea 101 Why a pitch is important 101 Who should pitch? 102 What are you trying to achieve? 102 What you say 104 How you say it 107 Respect the fact that a good pitch is hard 107 Nervousness 108 Verbal ticks 110 If it's important, say it like it's important 111 PowerPoint 112 Fill the room 112 5 Innovation in your own life 117 Think 118 Value 118 Use 119 What about you? 119 Think it all through 119 Give your ideas value 121 Use your ideas 122 Part II: Creating an innovative organisation 125 6 How success and growth can discourage innovation 127 The role of management 130 Outsourcing creativity 131 7 How do you get people to think? 137 Make it clear it's part of the job 138 Quantity not quality 139 8 If you think innovation is important, act like it's important 145 Innovation campaigns 146 Tell people what you want them to do 146 How much direction do you give? 149 What if someone says 'I can't'? 150 9 Valuing ideas 153 Pitch ideas to a person, not an email address 154 Thank people for bad ideas 156 10 Using ideas 159 Set up a process 160 Ideas that are going further 163 Ideas that are not going further 164 Commit! 165 Find the end point of each idea 166 11 Reach right down 169 Conclusion: The adventure of innovation 175 Notes 177 Acknowledgements 183 Index 185
