Innovation Engine

How to implement an innovation engine in any organization

Innovation is often sought and is in high demand today. At the same time it is often misunderstood and lacks committed sponsorship. Today, most teams at the top need an innovation capability in a manner that works in tandem with their performance/operations management. Packed with actionable ideas, references, links, and resources, Innovation Engine meets that need.

• Reveals how to develop strategy, road maps, and processes for innovation execution
• Provides high level implementation guidance on executing innovation, something companies are struggling with globally
• Explores how today's companies can create a long-term sustainable corporate culture by also using an innovation engine
• Explains how to use innovation to keep employees engaged and motivated
• Written for executives, business leaders, CFOs, and CIOs

Showing readers how to create a business case for innovation and a supporting innovation linked to business vision and goals, Innovation Engine clearly reveals how to reduce time-to-market, while expanding the "idea landscape" and building a pipeline of corporate innovators.

Preface xiii

Acknowledgments xv

Introduction 1

The New Duality: Performance Engine and Innovation Engine 1

Foresight 2

Getting Started 3

Barriers and Risk 4

The Game of Innovation 4

Innovation Scorecard 4

Driving Innovation 5

Notes 7

Part I Link Innovation to Business Strategy 9

Chapter 1 Develop a Clear Innovation Intent 11

The Vision 11

The Seismic Shift 14

Mechanical Engine versus Innovation Engine 15

Strategic Alignment for Innovation 18

Why Innovation? 20

Innovation Execution: Embedding Innovation 31

Conclusion 33

Notes 34

Chapter 2 Assess Innovation Readiness 37

Reasons Why Executives Want Innovation 38

Innovation Readiness 42

Factors of the Innovation System and Culture 44

Leading Innovation 47

Notes 54

Chapter 3 Creating an Innovation Strategy 57

Innovation Strategy 57

Innovation Management 66

Defining Innovation 68

Defining Innovation Objectives and an Innovation Goal 69

Notes 71

Part II Develop an Innovation Playbook 73

Chapter 4 Creating a Roadmap 75

Innovation Playbook 75

Notes 91

Chapter 5 Building Momentum 93

Momentum 93

Momentum Framework 95

Conclusion 109

Note 109

Part III Playing the Game 111

Chapter 6 Structuring for Innovation 113

Components of Organizational Structure 114

Types of Organizational Structures 116

Planning Your Innovation Structure 120

Four Major Types of Innovation Structures 121

Core Innovation Team Structure 128

Conclusion 130

Note 131

Chapter 7 Innovation Management Process 133

Finding and Generating Ideas 134

Managing the Innovation Funnel 142

Implementing or Commercializing Ideas 154

Innovation Scorecard 158

Conclusion 158

Notes 159

Chapter 8 Building Intrapreneurs 161

Intrapreneurship and Intrapreneurs 162

Entrepreneurs and Intrapreneurs 166

Conclusion 185

Notes 189

Chapter 9 Sourcing Radical Ideas 191

The Path: How Ideas Travel 192

Case Study: Energy Market 194

Five Power Skills to Source Uncontested Ideas 197

Conclusion 210

Notes 210

Chapter 10 The One Secret about Innovation 213

Story of Silicon Valley 214

The One Thing 218

Playful Independence 218

Final Thoughts 224

Notes 227

About the Author 229

Index 231

JATIN DESAI has been active in leadership and operating roles since 1983 when he cofounded The DeSai Group. The DeSai Group provides innovation execution and management services to Fortune 1000 and Global 2000 companies in the United States, Europe, and India.

"Innovation Engine will help you build a climate and culture of innovation."
—Vijay Govindarajan, coauthor of the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller Reverse Innovation

Innovation Engine
Driving Execution for Breakthrough Results

Innovation is in high demand today. At the same time, it is often both misunderstood and lacking in committed sponsorship. While methodologies like the balanced scorecard are applied with great success to monitor and manage the key performance drivers in organizations, today's teams need an innovation scorecard that effectively works in tandem with their performance/operations management. Balancing theory and practice with real-life case studies, Innovation Engine explores the process of innovation execution for organizations of any type and any shape.

Derived largely from author Jatin Desai's global experience using and teaching the DeSai body of knowledge over the past twenty-five years, Innovation Engine shows you how to prepare and grow your organization in a hyperdynamic and globally connected environment, through foresight and strategic innovation. Designed for C-suite executives interested in building a climate and culture of innovation, management, and corporate innovators/intrapreneurs, Innovation Engine demonstrates how to build a business case for innovation; create a clear innovation strategy designed to support the business strategy; and build your own playbook for innovation.??

Packed with actionable ideas, references, and resources in each chapter so you can easily explore the concepts and ideas immediately, Innovation Engine shows you how to:

• Link innovation to business strategy
• Develop clear innovation intent
• Assess organizational readiness for innovation
• Create a short-term and long-term road map
• Build momentum
• Implement and execute
• Structure for innovation
• Implement a formal management process
• Develop high-performing innovators
• Source radical ideas
• Innovate year after year

Innovation Engine can help rewire your organization's DNA to include innovation as a distinct core competence.