The Human Side of Managing Technological Innovation: A Collection of Readings [Paperback]

Ralph Katz (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 6, 1997 | ISBN-10: 0195096940 | ISBN-13: 978-0195096941

Organizations competing in today's rapidly changing technological markets are faced with the challenges of "dualism," that is, operating efficiently in the present while innovating effectively for the future. Managers and leaders within these organizations not only have to focus on current market success and profitability, but must also introduce the next generation to technical advances and product or service attributes that will sustain and even augment their continuing global competitiveness. Designed for courses within business, engineering, and executive education programs, The Human Side of Managing Technological Innovation provides a variety of approaches and perspectives on issues critical to the effective leadership of technical professionals and crossfunctional teams throughout the innovation process. The articles represent the thoughts and ideas of researchers and practitioners seeking a richer understanding of the complex interplay between the specialized knowledge and skills of creative professionals and the realistic pressures and constraints required by successful business organizations. Organized into six sections comprising 17 chapters, this text consists of 15 new and 36 previously published articles that cover topics such as motivating professionals, measuring productivity, organizing and leading crossfunctional development teams, enhancing creativity, developing human resource capabilities, and using technology as a strategic resource. It can be used for advanced undergraduate or graduate courses as well as organizational workshops and seminars that focus primarily on how managers, individual professionals, project teams, and functional groups deal with problems and issues related to the management of technology-based innovation. The collection can also be used as a complementary text for any course that emphasizes product, process, organizational, or technological innovation. The Human Side of Managing Technological Innovation provides a unique collection of articles that not only increases the sensitivity and understanding of individuals who must manage innovation or change process within organizations, but also offers new ideas, tools, and insights for problem-solving both to practicing managers and staff professionals.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ralph Katz, Professor of Management, Northeastern University's College of Business Administration and Research Associate, Sloan School of Business.

Product Details

• Paperback: 640 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (March 6, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195096940
• ISBN-13: 978-0195096941
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,054,265 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The only book of its kind out there, but it needs editing, August 1, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Human Side of Managing Technological Innovation: A Collection of Readings (Paperback)

I had to read this book for a class in Business School, and though I found most of the articles interesting, about 25% were either a) a little dated or b)heavy on the "Well, Duh" factor. The book is organized into 6 sections. dealing with the management of professionals, project teams, technical professionals, professionals in innovative organizations, processes and technological innovation.

There really is no other book out there that is as good a compilation of writings concerning this important topic, but the book could be improved by tossing some of the articles which, while innovative at the time, have been accepted by the business world already.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic class book to keep on your bookshelf, October 4, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Human Side of Managing Technological Innovation: A Collection of Readings (Paperback)

Ralph is a Genious as a professor. I had him a few years ago at MIT Sloan in a course on Managing the Human Side of Technology. We used articles from the book as case studies in our class.
Still today I take his book to read on cases which help me to understand my daily struggles in managing engineers and understanding better the soft factors in organisations.

Since this book is a collection of papers, it is great if you have already have some knowledge about the topics but maybe it is a bit to 'heavy' for beginners.