Customer Reviews

The Manager's Guide to Fostering Innovation and Creativity in Teams (Briefcase Books Series)

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When I bought the book, I expected it to be just a reference guide describing how to generate new ideas and how to teach these techniques to my staff. Well, it turned out to be much, much better than I expected. Maybe I should just say this - This book is brilliant! I was very impressed with both content and the end results I was able to derive from it. I've never been able to solve problems as effectively as I can after reading this book. It really gets you to think differently. This book presents several frameworks that help you be more creative. It helps you come up with new ideas by challenging assumptions. It also talks about leadership, change management, and making innovation a part of the corporate culture. It talks about motivation; if you think you know how to motivate people, think again! It also talks about high performance teams. This book provides numerous examples supporting the various ideas presented in the book.

This is a great book for those people who want to go beyond an academic understanding of innovation to the creation of an organization built around innovation; an organization that enables their people to maximize individual and team creativity for the benefit of all.

Early in the book Dr. Prather makes the point that "there cannot be innovation without risk," then proceeds to teach the reader how to systematically create a culture of innovation that maximizes the opportunities available while managing the associated risks. Throughout he emphasizes the systemic nature of innovation, the recurring themes and human factors involved, the potential pitfalls, the research and experience based 'how-to's,' and the ways you can motivate in an innovative environment. (Those who have read Dr. Prather's previous work know that he has been studying and writing about intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation for years and he does a great job in this book helping the reader think about how to actually apply appropriate motivational strategies.)

Chapter 12 is worth the price of the book all by itself. Think about how many times you have heard someone say "our people are our most important asset?" And yet, it is very common to assume that capable people can do any task that may be assigned. Dr. Prather helps the reader understand how devastating this assumption can be and how important it is to ensure that people have responsibilities that match their skill set. The concept of "coping energy" described in this chapter is absolutely eye-opening.

This is a book that will stay on your desk rather than gather dust on your shelf.

Charlie's book on Innovation and Creativity for Teams is a pragmatic and rewarding book to read. I have seen Charlie in action and his book reflects the practical experience he has learned from his days at Dupont and since then. For a consultant in the innovation business, it provides a handy resource for any facilitator charged with making a business more competitive. This book can help you avoid the costly "coblabberation" meetings that often pass for brainstorming. With a penchant for process, and knowing what the keys to unlocking problem solving are, this book can help transform nearly any dedicated team into a productive, idea generating body with real results.

Charlie has done a great job of presenting and summarizing, in useful form, a lot of hands on practical advice on creativity, innovation, and teams. His many examples make this a "from day 1" useful book and not based on a lot of theory that really hasn't been used.

"The Manager's Guide to Fostering Innovation and Creativity in Teams" contains the antidote to the illness of recession with the specific processes and steps it lays out that will help you solve your most pressing problems in innovative ways. This book is truly what the title says, a manager's guide to helping the team become more innovative and creative. It is packed with real stories from real people and companies that highlight the points that Dr. Prather is making in his rather well-written text. The chapters on setting the environment for innovation, leading innovation and coaching for innovation are based on a deep understanding, plenty of solid research and years of practical experience. I personally found the chapter on finding the right job to be eye-opening and very useful; it's certainly made me take a step back and re-evaluate my own career plan.

Every person who has others reporting to him or her should read this book and put its teachings into practice. This is one book that is destined for your reference library since you are sure to refer to it from time to time as issues arise in your own shop.

There are few times when a book leaps ahead or stands out from the common wisdom and becomes the benchmark for figuring out and charting your own course in this case-innovation. Dr. Prather has obviuosly incorporated many years of wisdom into this "must have in your briefcase" book. The format permits one to scan the "contents" and quikly zero in on the issue of current importance, with an appropriate anecdote or supporting "true" story to back it up and make it clear. Then, you get the opportunity to explore the things you may have never thought of in other parts of the book in how to put your thoughts into action. The models and figures in the book are true "gems", they capture the essence of realtionships and driving forces and permit you to formulate your own plan, not somebody elses "prescription". You truly can chart your own course based on years of wisdom. This is truly a book for your briefcase, would be nice if the airlines had a stack of copies at the gate for your next business trip.

At Last! Let's hear it for the introverts and why typical brainstorming sessions don't tap into their ideas. Too often, slower thinkers need more time to offer their ideas - no small matter when group input is vital.

This well designed and easy format book is a practical guide to help management create exceptional teams. It's easy to see why author Charles Prather has Fortune 100 clients. His mission to create innovation as a core competency will still require more culture change in moving away from the heavy authoritarian model to group effort problem solving. Join the movement and keep this book handy at work.