How much of innovation is inspiration, and how much is hard
work? The answer lies somewhere in the middle, says management thinker Peter
Drucker. In this HBR classic from 1985, he argues that innovation is real work
that can and should be managed like any other corporate function. Success is
more likely to result from the systematic pursuit of opportunities than from a
flash of genius. Indeed, most innovative business ideas arise through the
methodical analysis of seven areas of opportunity.
Within a company or industry, opportunities can be found in
unexpected occurrences, incongruities of various kinds, process needs, or
changes in an industry or market. Outside a company, opportunities arise from
demographic changes, changes in perception, or new knowledge. There is some
overlap among the sources, and the potential for innovation may well lie in
more than one area at a time. Innovations based on new knowledge tend to have
the greatest effect on the marketplace, but it often takes decades before the
ideas are translated into actual products, processes, or services. The other
sources of innovation are easier and simpler to handle, yet they still require
managers to look beyond established practices, Drucker explains. The author
emphasizes that innovators need to look for simple, focused solutions to real
problems. Subjects covered include creativity, entrepreneurship, and
innovation.
This audiobook has 9 tracks, the first being the
Introduction and the last the principles of Innovation according to Peter
Drucker. The middle tracks are the 7 places to look for opportunities. 1.
Introduction: 7 Places to Look for Opportunities. 2. Unexpected Occurrences. 3.
Incongruities. 4. Process Needs. 5. Industry & Market Changes. 6.
Demographic Changes. 7. Changes in Perception and Mood. 8. New Knowledge. 9.
Principles of Innovation.
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