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This article showcases our top picks for
Books On Innovation At Work. We reached out to industry leaders and experts who have contributed the suggestions within this article (they have been credited for their contributions below).
We are keen to hear your feedback on all of our content and our comment section is a moderated space to express your thoughts and feelings related (or not) to this article
This list is in no particular order.
This product was recommended by Manuel Dreesmann from Atelier Madre – Manuel Dreesmann
I recently read The Lean Startup by Eric Ries and I think you’d love it too, especially if you’re into innovation at work. This book really changed the way I think about developing new products and building a successful business. Ries shows us how to learn quickly from experiments and adapt our ideas before it’s too late. It’s super practical and engaging, and I genuinely believe it could make a huge difference in your work life.
This product was recommended by David Zhang from Kate Backdrop
Good to Great is a must-read book for anyone looking to transform their work culture into an innovative and successful one. It offers valuable insights into developing the right mindset in your organization and making it thrive in a competitive market. Jim Collins’ well-researched study of 11 companies transitioning from good to great is invaluable for any aspiring leader. One important takeaway is the Hedgehog Concept, an operational framework for defining a company’s core purpose and capabilities—a must-read for any serious professional looking to drive innovation in their work environment.
This product was recommended by Nora Salama from Appareify
The Curve Ahead by Dave Power seeks to tackle questions about why a vast number of companies often fail to stop growing and how leaders can go about overcoming these barriers to success. In short, the book essentially offers readers a practical approach of how to effectively sustain long-term growth by building innovation into the rhythm of their business culture and daily operations. And it accomplishes this through the power of storytelling to illustrate the importance of using innovation tools like design thinking, business model design, prototyping, etc.
This product was recommended by Richard Mews from Sell With Richard
Design Thinking is an excellent choice for anyone interested in understanding how to leverage design principles to drive innovation and enhance customer experiences. The authors delve into the concept of design thinking as a problem-solving approach that combines empathy, creativity, and iterative prototyping. Through real-life case studies and practical frameworks, this book highlights how organizations can integrate design thinking into their processes to uncover unmet needs, create meaningful solutions, and differentiate themselves in the market. It’s a valuable resource for individuals and teams looking to foster a human-centered approach to innovation.
This product was recommended by Chris Looney from SporesMD
This book is a classic in the field of innovation and explores why successful companies often struggle to innovate and adapt to disruptive technologies. Christensen provides insightful theories and examples to help companies overcome this dilemma and thrive in the face of change.
This product was recommended by David Light from Landbrokermls
In the book, he looks at innovators with different backgrounds—from biologists to economists—and shows how they think about innovation. He also explores what happens when you have a group of people who are all trying to innovate together. He shows that companies can be great places for innovation because there are so many different types of people involved in its creation. But it’s not just about companies; he also talks about how innovators can be found in every field and industry. For example, he mentions that one type of innovator is a “landscape architect” who works with local government agencies to plan out new developments in their areas.
This product was recommended by Dan Barrett from Pacific Precious Metals
This book is a guide for organizations on how to apply lean principles to innovation and product development. The authors show how companies can use agile and lean methodologies to speed up innovation and improve customer satisfaction. The book suggests using three different horizons, and each needs management. The books tell us about the requirement of product development. It also highlights the wrongdoing with enterprise software.
This product was recommended by Megan Kriss from Hunting Mark
This book is written by the founders of IDEO, a leading design and innovation consultancy. It explores how anyone can tap into their creative potential and develop the confidence to bring their ideas to life. The book is filled with practical tips and real-world examples of innovative thinking in action. The book tells us that creativity is the imagination to create something innovative and different in the world. Creativity is only helpful when you are bold enough to act on it. When you have others to collaborate with, creativity is more fun and easy to implement.
This product was recommended by Vincent Zhu from ShineACS Locks
This book is the best helper for those managers who want to enhance the thinking and creativity skills of their team members. It benefits the manages with 55 exercises and activities that they can utilize to help their team members for creating innovative ideas a x work with collaboration.
This product was recommended by Vincent Zhu from ShineACS Locks
It helps all the managers and business owners that really want to implement innovation successfully at their workplace. Significantly it guides about the essential innovation elements, ranging from generating ideas to implementing them effectively. Most importantly you can get information about the past successful innovators and the strategies that they have followed.
This product was recommended by Monte Deere from Kizik
It is a must-read book on modern innovation. Building off his previous bestseller, “The Rational Optimist,” Ridley chronicles the history of innovation and how we need to approach it today. Ridley’s core argument states that we need to see innovation as an incremental, bottom-up, fortuitous process, not an orderly, top-down process laid out in advance by a complicated plan. In doing so, innovation blossoms organically, and we grow alongside it too.
This product was recommended by Derrick Hathaway from VEM-Medical
Tom Kelley’s The Art of Innovation examines IDEO’s innovation process. Kelley discusses IDEO’s creative and innovative methods. The book emphasizes collaboration, prototyping, and experimentation in innovation. Kelley offers practical advice on how to foster innovation and overcome obstacles. The book is useful for business innovators.
This product was recommended by Derrick Hathaway from VEM-Medical
Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne is a revolutionary book on strategy and innovation. The authors advise companies to create blue oceans of uncontested market space rather than compete in red oceans. They show how to find blue oceans by creating innovative products and services for non-customers. Anyone seeking to innovate and create new markets will benefit from the book.
This product was recommended by Tyler Seeger from Retirement Being
This classic and timeless book by Drucker is a seminal work that explores the nature of innovation and entrepreneurship and provides practical advice for individuals and organizations looking to foster innovation and create successful new ventures. Throughout the book, Drucker offers numerous examples of successful innovators and entrepreneurs and draws on his extensive experience as a management consultant and educator to provide practical insights and advice. He emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and improvement. He encourages individuals and organizations to embrace change and take calculated risks to achieve success, making it a must-read for everyone looking forward to learning more about innovation and how to embrace it.
This product was recommended by Jordan Adair from ShirtMax
This book is a memoir by the co-founder of Pixar Animation Studios and provides insights into how the company became successful through a culture of creativity and innovation. The book includes practical advice on how to foster innovation in any organization.
This product was recommended by David Reid from VEM Tooling
It explains design thinking and its business applications. Design thinking helps companies innovate and meet customer needs, according to the book. Empathy, prototyping, and iteration are taught in a variety of settings by the authors. Design thinking can boost innovation and customer satisfaction, and this book is a great resource.