The Innovator's Toolkit explains all the fundamental tools and concepts anyone involved in innovation should be familiar with--especially methods and strategies for improving products and services and developing new ones. This book is written in an easy-to-use reference format that helps readers understand why, when, and how to apply each tool. The tools and techniques in this book are organized around a four-step innovation methodology--define, discover, develop, and demonstrate--that takes readers through problem identification, then flows into idea generation, idea selection, and, finally, idea implementation. Constant innovation is a necessity for business success today; The Innovator's Toolkit presents an effective plan for achieving it.
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Book Description
An innovation guide for business leaders, managers, and new product developers
Editorial Reviews
Review
"This is a well-written, confident and comprehensive volume that should form partt of any forward-thinking business leader's library." (Quality World, June 2009) "...this book offers a valuable bonus. It outlines the curriculum of a training programme that can be readily adapted" (Edge, June 2009)
From the Inside Flap
Growing a company isn't easy—and it's even more difficult to do on a sustainable basis if you don't have a system for innovation built into your organization. The Innovator's Toolkit explains more than fifty fundamental tools and concepts that anyone involved with innovation should know—including methods and strategies for improving products and services and techniques for developing new ones.
INCLUDES FREE DOWNLOADABLE FORMS AND TEMPLATES
Success with organic growth, the authors reveal, takes a lot more than ideas, or even great ideas. It takes a base of managers and employees who can skillfully apply all the necessary techniques and tools of innovation—not just the creative ones.
This book offers a practical framework for making innovation predictable and sustainable in any organization, with techniques—from basics like "imaginary brainstorming" to "axiomatic design." The tools and techniques are organized around a four-step innovation methodology—define, discover, develop, and demonstrate—that takes readers through problem identification, then flows into idea generation, idea selection, and, finally,idea implementation.
Written in an easy-to-use reference format that helps readers understand why, when, and how to apply each tool, The Innovator's Toolkit provides the means to move an innovation mountain in your organization, making rebirth and invention an everyday event—not an unexpected surprise.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book presents many useful tools for Innovation with many of them focusing on the front end of innovation. However, one should have a broad understanding of the innovation process before applying these tools. For example, applying six-sigma to the front end of innovation would result in total failure as was noted by I believe it was GE.
This book is well organized by tool types, but again I would only recommend applying these tools if you have a firm and strong understanding of the innovation process, because I have came across in the book many occasions were they recommend a tool but I would not. I would recommend buying because it is a great reference!
Brian Glassman
Ph.D in Innovation management from Purdue
Innovation Management
Commercialization
Amazon
This book is well organized by tool types, but again I would only recommend applying these tools if you have a firm and strong understanding of the innovation process, because I have came across in the book many occasions were they recommend a tool but I would not. I would recommend buying because it is a great reference!
Brian Glassman
Ph.D in Innovation management from Purdue
Innovation Management
Commercialization
Amazon
19 of 22 people found the following review helpful
By Rolf Smith
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
A real Innovator's Toolkit that should be in the backpack of anyone who fancies themself a facilitator or change agent. Chocker-block full of both well-known tools and as well as new ideas and concepts on how to apply them. The why (theory) and how (application/techniques) of each of the of the 50 tools is clearly explained step-by-step. A first-class extra for innovation practitioners and facilitators are the downloadable blank versions of forms for many of the tools at [...] The authors give some excellent models of how people solve problems by describing four "classes" of problems: (1) Well-defined problems; (2) Well-defined - but unclear and requiring exploration; (3) Solution clear but the problem is fuzzy -new applications for existing solutions; (4) problem and solutions both undefined - unknown territory. Taking how people PREFER to solve thoses classes of problems to the next level, the authors provide some insights into cognitive style in the context of both of individuals and teams. An overview of KAI (Kirton Adaption-Innovation) theory helps explain differences between more adpative and more innovative problem solving styles. Tools and techniques range from simple, easy to use to the more complex that require more time and skilled facilitation (i.e., deeper knowledge and understanding).
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By clanke
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I found the book useful as a general reference. It covers a lot of tools for innovation, but in a very general sense. If I need/want details, I can look up other refs.
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By BlackCepia
Format:Hardcover
Innovation is a subject that attracts a lot of attention now that companies struggle to size a shrinking market and consumers with less buying power than previous years. The idea of a compendium of the Innovation tools and techniques is very interesting for people tasked with the creation of new sources of revenue. The book comes from that foundamental idea, but the content is too shallow to even support a deep exploration into any of the methdologies. No comparative analysis between methodologies or use case scenarios, no best fit or recommendations; just a simple description (and sometimes less than that). It would be close to impossible to achieve expert skills from a single book, but a guidanece for further exploration is not new for many subjects. Great idea, poor execution.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Rene Kapik
Format:Hardcover
This is an excellent summary of innovation tools. I did feel that many of the tools were repackaged TRIZ concepts, but despite that it is an excellent introduction, as well as a great reference on how to perform many important tools. I did appreciate their comments on several tools where it would be best to have a expert facilitate using the tool.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Brian Watson
Format:Hardcover
The day after I received "The Innovator's Toolkit" I was already putting the concept of "Jobs to be Done" to good use while facilitating a team meeting. As the authors mention in the preface, there is a dearth of actionable Innovation books in the market and this book succeeds in filling that void. The Innovator's Toolkit, authored by the CEO and Chief Innovation Officer at Breakthrough Management Group, is yet another example of this consulting firm's track record of fulfilling the unmet needs of forward thinking leaders in the private and public sectors. I highly recommend "The Innovator's Toolkit".
Format:Hardcover
If you are wanting to innovate then the Innovator's Toolkit book needs to be on your list. Clear, concise with great diagrams & illustrations, this book takes you through the key tools required for innovation. In addition to describing the latest innovation techniques, the authors describe why so many companies have problems innovating, where to look for creativity and how to go beyond the job to be done. It is good to be reminded that innovation is not something magical but is a process and should be the concern of everyone in the business.
By Myron Hosea
Format:Hardcover
As a person whose job duties have transformed - more than once - to respond to my organization's needs in a shifting industry, the possibility of being an innovator has been seemed to be an opportunity just out of reach. What does it mean, after all, to be innovative? I've found most of the people I know have a variety of answers to that question. My own ideas on the subject have drifted with each input.
The Innovator's Toolkit provided me stability on the subject. It gives a sound perspective on what innovation is and should be for companies. The examples add depth and help my understanding of the subject.
The techniques - which fill the majority of the book - represent a great resource. It's like the toolbox I found in my great uncle's garage many years ago. There were tools that I recognized and some I had not seen much less used. The important thing is there were lots of tools.
The Innovator's Toolkit resembles that toolbox. There are tools familiar (Stakeholder Management is one this former PR manager recognized) and new (Morphological Matrix - wouldn't have thought of that one). The important thing is there are lots of tools.
I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for a fresh perspective on innovation as well as a resource of tools that can help in a variety of situations.
The Innovator's Toolkit provided me stability on the subject. It gives a sound perspective on what innovation is and should be for companies. The examples add depth and help my understanding of the subject.
The techniques - which fill the majority of the book - represent a great resource. It's like the toolbox I found in my great uncle's garage many years ago. There were tools that I recognized and some I had not seen much less used. The important thing is there were lots of tools.
The Innovator's Toolkit resembles that toolbox. There are tools familiar (Stakeholder Management is one this former PR manager recognized) and new (Morphological Matrix - wouldn't have thought of that one). The important thing is there are lots of tools.
I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for a fresh perspective on innovation as well as a resource of tools that can help in a variety of situations.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very helpful for me
The book describes many techniques that are instantly applicable to many businesses. I found it quite helpful. Read more
Published 23 months ago by John C. Dunbar
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Innovator's Toolkit
I have many books on Innovation and product development and this one has many great tools that guide you down the path of creating a great new product or service. Read more
Published on May 17, 2011 by Douglas Von Feldt
4.0 out of 5 stars
Practical Guide to Innovation
This is a wonderful book on creativity and idea generation. This book is based upon statistical analysis of various innovation tools, so some right brained people might find the... Read more
Published on March 16, 2011 by Arun Thaploo
4.0 out of 5 stars
tactics for innovation
It has a lot of technics in order to bring new ideas, morph them and obtain concepts with well defined attributes. Read more
Published on April 16, 2010 by John Lenis
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent set of tools to challenge anyones creative needs...
Excellent book in filling a much needed void between tranditional " pie in the sky" definition of Innovation....and linking it hand and hand with Operational Excellence. Read more
Published on April 16, 2009 by L. D. Adanti
5.0 out of 5 stars
Innovation for Everyone!
Many consider Innovation as something that just "magically happens". That's just not true, innovation is a process! Read more
Published on April 11, 2009 by Larry Kosta
5.0 out of 5 stars
Roll up your sleeves to read the Innovator's Toolkit
This is the most practical and useful innovation book I have read. Innovation is presented as a systematic methodology that can be applied in large or small scale efforts for... Read more
Published on April 6, 2009 by W. J. Gaul Jr.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Great Book
I have read a handful of books on innovation, and I have found that they are invariably heavy on theory and light on real life techniques and tools. Read more
Published on April 6, 2009 by M. Pappalardo
