Exercising Initiative: Exploring Innovation and the Innovation Process

A great deal of value is placed on being recognized or regarded as an innovator. Nearly every company, business or organization lays claim to being an innovative expert or leader. However, the terms "innovating" and "innovation" have become so overused that they have all but lost their meaning. Productive innovation is much more than promotional or marketing slogans. Innovative ideas or acts have little or no value until they are economically implemented or produced in a productive, efficient and timely fashion that meets or exceeds the customer's need and expectation. The innovation process is a proven method of bringing an innovative idea to fruition. The objective of this book is to identify and review the principles, best practices and implementation of the innovation process. The book describes the author's experiences and success in innovating new products, technologies and businesses utilizing the innovation process during his more than 40 year research and development career. The stories and descriptions were selected to illustrate the various aspects and characteristics of innovation and the innovation process. The book is a call to action. The status of innovation in the US, how and why it declined and the critical need for innovators to reestablish the US as the innovation leader in the world is summarized. . The nature if innovation and innovators is also explored. The book analyzes the nature of innovation and the innovation process. It examines the characteristics of innovators, what drives people to innovate and what is required to create and sustain a climate for innovation in the organization. Although the book was initially written for students participating in a course on the innovation process, it is also a useful reference and guide for those striving to productively exercise their initiative, and bring their innovative ideas to fruition.