4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Wisdom of Sustainable Innovation, November 19, 2006
This review is from: Making the Invisible Visible: The Human Principles for Sustaining Innovation (Paperback)
In the crowded field of innovation books, this work stands out as a work of wisdom.
As the title suggests, it is a book that "reveals." What I find unique is that it reveals what is often profound in a manner that makes it seem self-evident.
Simply and with great lucidity, the book teaches the rarely touched on (and seldom researched) topic of the processes that sustain innovation. Given the extreme current emphasis on innovation yet the butterfly-like lifespan of most corporate innovation centers; sustainable innovation is a topic that must be considered of high importance.
What practices? The practices of taking what is "human" into account. By starting with the central role of human hopes and fears (pleasure and pain) to innovation, Rosenfeld unlocks a useful and fresh approach to solving the issues that result from the positive and negative relationships creators (and creative groups) have with their environment. In retrospect: it seems obvious that if solutions result from creativity, and creativity results from a certain "fearlessness;" then reducing fear and anxiety and increasing confidence will lead to an increase in the number of creative solutions. Yet few books on corporate innovation tackle this issue head-on.
By grouping eight essential principles into two sections (innovation essence and innovation environment), Rosenfeld lays a foundation for innovation as a dialogue between creator(s) and environment. Unlike innovation practitioners who focus on structures, Rosenfeld's emphasis on relationships and process provides a highly adaptable and more widely applicable model. But this is not a work of speculation. The author grounds the teaching in his rich personal experience (starting as founder of Eastman Kodak Company's Office of Innovation and continuing for another 25 years) and teaches with tangible examples.
Once a "feel" for the chapter topic is inspired by the illustrative examples, Rosenfeld reveals the underlying, invisible principle which will determine whether an innovation succeeds or fails at this stage. There are eight such principles which function as chapter titles.
The first part "The Innovation Process: Its Essence" takes the reader down the road of how to innovate. Principles covered in the first section are: "Innovation Starts When...You Turn...Problems Into Ideas," "Passion Is The Fuel And Pain Is The Hidden Ingredient," "Co-Locate For Effective Exchange," and "Leverage Differences." By the end of the first section, the book has focused the reader on the human needs at the heart of innovation.
The second part "The Innovation Process: Its Environment" covers what an organization must do to sustain and extract value from innovation: "The Elements Of Destruction Are Present At Creation," "Soft Values Drive the Organization," "Trust Is The Means And Love The Unspoken Word."
Regardless of whether you are a seasoned innovation practitioner or novice, I predict you will find yourself nodding agreement as you see one useful insight after another bound into in a single, coherent view of innovation as ecology. My particular favorite from many candidates: the importance and need for innovation "impresarios/champions" in the western corporation.
The final chapter -- given Rosenfeld's holistic emphasis -- naturally addresses "Putting It All Together."
In keeping with the intent of making the book useful in an ongoing manner, Rosenfeld supplies some especially practical Appendices, such as the Summary in Appendix A: which enables memory "jogging."
In summary, Bob Rosenfeld has crafted a work of wisdom and a useful tool for anyone wishing to enhance their own innovative potential, the potential of their organization and the ability of both to benefit.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Making the Invisible Visible captures essence of innovation, January 11, 2007
This review is from: Making the Invisible Visible: The Human Principles for Sustaining Innovation (Paperback)
Robert Rosenfeld's Making the Invisible Visible brilliantly captures the critical elements of successful and sustainable innovation. Whether you are a small business owner, company executive, employee in technical or business disciplines, this book will reveal and bring to life important principles and tools critical to long term success through creative change and innovation.
Making the Invisible Visible showcases Rosenfeld's extensive professional experience and thoughtful research. He seamlessly factors human, environmental, and scientific innovation components to develop an insightful model that differs radically from what most consultants teach today. In doing so, he relies on quantitative tools such as Kirton Adaptation-Innovation Inventory as well as intangible elements such as trust, values, and even love. His masterful ability to bridge the intangible with the tangible or the "invisible with the visible" is what makes this book a tour de force.
In my own 30 years experience in this field, I have found innovation to be easily accomplished in "bursts". That is, there is a corporate edict or initiative dictated by management- innovation is important and must be funded. These times are exciting; budget, people, support, and visibility are provided to an often-unappreciated endeavor. Unfortunately, management changes, company strategy, or even physical moves can destroy innovation in small and big companies alike. Rosenfeld's emphasizes understanding the innovation "system" involving people, culture, processes, and environment that will outlive the specific program du jour or today's corporate attention deficit. It is during these delicate times when innovation is not strongly supported, that other drivers such as passion, persistence, and human relationships must take the baton. In addition to cyclical or wavering institutional support, Chapter 7 insightfully points out that every successful initiative, idea, or company has innate destructive forces. Rosenfeld brilliantly develops this gem of a concept and suggests how plans can be developed early to avoid future disaster. After all, innovation takes a long time to come to fruition- it cannot be sporadic, short-lived, or lack follow-through.
Rosenfeld has added to my insight and "tool-kit" by laying out a powerful framework using a soft yet engaging literary style. In addition to the many gems cited in his examples and principles, the reader takes away a grander message that transcends collections of facts or anecdotes. It is this unique spiritual and human element of innovation that Rosenfeld has put within our reach through Making the Invisible Visible.
Jose Mir
Director of Innovation, Infotonics Technology Center
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Great framework, great human touch, March 9, 2007
This review is from: Making the Invisible Visible: The Human Principles for Sustaining Innovation (Paperback)
This book does a fantastic job of defining a framework for helping companies increase their level of innovation. It's an easy read which is very straight forward without a lot of fluff.
Mr. Rosenfeld hit the nail on the head by defining innovation as inherently "a human thing". This insight will benefit companies greatly as they work to understand how to foster innovation.
If you are looking to improve/increase innovation within your company, this is a "must read".
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