Business Innovation For Dummies

Success in business demands constant creativity. Generating fresh solutions to problems and the ability to invent new products or services for a changing market are part of the intellectual capital that gives a company its competitive edge.

Business Innovation For Dummies gives you practical, easy-to-follow information for generating new ideas, using creativity to boost sales, solving problems creatively, mastering the art of invention, honing creative thinking skills, and identifying new opportunities.

• Advice on how to apply creativity to the workplace
• Ideas for spicing up presentations
• Shows you how innovation leads to more productive business

Business Innovation For Dummies is a must-have guide for anyone in business who is looking to harness their creativity to boost productivity and revenue!

Introduction 1

Part I: Making Your Mark as an Innovator 9

Chapter 1: Taking an Innovative Approach to Work 11

Chapter 2: Creating an Innovative Career Path 33

Chapter 3: Leading with Creative Vision 45

Chapter 4: Innovating in Sales and Marketing 67

Chapter 5: Being an Innovative Strategist 79

Part II: Stimulating Your Creative Side: Thinking in New and Different Ways 99

Chapter 6: Getting Juices Flowing in Brainstorming Sessions 101

Chapter 7: Mastering Advanced Brainstorming 121

Chapter 8: Going Beyond Brainstorming 143

Chapter 9: Turning Problems into Opportunities for Innovation 159

Chapter 10: Going Shopping for Innovations 171

Chapter 11: Coming Up with Creative Combinations 183

Part III: Applying Creativity and Innovation to Daily Challenges 197

Chapter 12: Delivering Fresh Presentations and Proposals 199

Chapter 13: Negotiating Creative Win–Wins 219

Chapter 14: Innovating to Save Costs 231

Part IV: Implementing a Major Innovation 245

Chapter 15: Managing the Development of an Innovative Idea 247

Chapter 16: Spreading the Word to Diffuse Your Innovation 261

Chapter 17: Protecting Intellectual Property 275

Chapter 18: Building a Business Around Your Innovation 295

Part V: The Part of Tens 309

Chapter 19: Ten Creative Ways to Boost Your Career 311

Chapter 20: Ten Tips for More Innovative Meetings 317

Chapter 21: Ten Ways to Stimulate Your Creative Genius 323

Chapter 22: Ten Tips for Better Implementation of Your Ideas 331

Index 339

"... takes you through steps to executing a good idea... advice on offer is practical and easy to follow." (Management Today, November 2010) Alexander Hiam is the author of more than twenty popular books on business, including Marketing For Dummies and Marketing Kit For Dummies. Formerly a professor at the business school at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, he has had many Fortune 500 firms and large U.S. government agencies as his clients. Channel your creative prowess to boost your success in business

Fresh solutions and new products and services are the intellectual capital that gives a company its competitive edge. This practical guide gives you easy-to-follow steps for using creativity to solve problems, boost sales, master the art of invention, and identify new strategic opportunities.

• Think outside the box — learn how to tap into your creative energy and apply it to every area of the business milieu

• Take the reigns — make your mark as an innovator and discover how creative thinking can lead your company (and career) to greater heights

• Brainstorm your worries away — find out how to run a successful idea-generating session, from whom to invite to which brainstorming techniques to apply

• Turn crisis into progress — discover how creative thinking can turn problems into opportunities for innovative progress

• Get the word out — show your team how to trade in old ways of thinking to bring innovation to life

Open the book and find:

• The importance of refreshing your sales and marketing functions

• Advice on breaking down barriers to change

• How to identify your leadership style

• Ways to introduce creative practices to your daily routine

• Tips on writing a creative brief

• Innovative branding strategies and web promotions

• How to profit from the product life cycle

• Brainstorming ideas to get the creative juices flowing

Learn to:

• Harness creative thinking to boost productivity and revenue

• Give your company its competitive edge through fresh thinking

• Invent new products or services for a changing market

• Combine existing ideas or products into a new design