The Innovation Equation: Building Creativity and Risk Taking in Your Organization

Necessity is the mother of invention, everyone says. In business, though, it's not good to wait around for the most compelling necessity to assert itself, according to the authors of this new book, both Minneapolis-based consultants. The creativity and risk taking essential to innovation can be stoked through a process that Byrd and Brown outline in an easy-to-grasp format, illustrated with plenty of mini-cases, checklists, questionnaires, and simple charts. In a nutshell, their Innovation Equation relies on four steps: aim, assess, activate, and apply. The best ideas often come outside office hours, but companies looking to put more structure on their idea-sharing process may find the step-by-step format a practical way to get the ball rolling.