Table of Contents
Business Innovation For Dummies®
About the Author
Dedication
Author’s Acknowledgments
Contents at a Glance
Table of Contents
Introduction
About This Book
Conventions Used in This Book
Foolish Assumptions
How This Book Is Organized
Icons Used in This Book
Where to Go from Here
Part I: Making Your Mark as an Innovator
Chapter 1: Taking an Innovative Approach to Work
Tapping Into Your Own Creative Force
Constructing Your Creative Place
Introducing Creative Practices to Your Daily Routine
Seeking Broader Experience
Becoming a Leading Innovator
Chapter 2: Creating an Innovative Career Path
Seeing Your Career as an Adventure
Counting Up Your Transferable Skills and Experiences
Seeking Opportunities to Innovate
Moving Toward Growth
Inventing Your Next Job
Chapter 3: Leading with Creative Vision
Visualizing the Possibilities for Innovative Leadership
Getting to Know Yourself as a Leader
Developing Your Leadership Skills
Projecting a Positive Attitude
Putting All Your Leadership Skills Together
Chapter 4: Innovating in Sales and Marketing
Making an Inconspicuous but Powerful Impact
Assessing (And Violating) the Norms
Committing to a Creative Approach
Narrowing Your Focus to Find Sources of Creative Advantage
Chapter 5: Being an Innovative Strategist
Thinking Big by Planning to Re-create Your Business
Ensuring a Healthy Strategic Cycle
Investing in a Family of Innovations
Managing Your Product Portfolio
Seeking Strategic Partnerships
Mastering the Art of Change Management
Part II: Stimulating Your Creative Side: Thinking in New and Different Ways
Chapter 6: Getting Juices Flowing in Brainstorming Sessions
Identifying Opportunities for Group Creativity
In or Out?: Issuing Invites to the Brainstorming Session
Planning the Creative Process
Preparing for Your Role as Facilitator
Mastering the Core Brainstorming Methods
Being a Brilliant Participant
Chapter 7: Mastering Advanced Brainstorming
Going the Distance to Cash In on Creativity
Focusing Your Brainstorming in Creative Ways
Visualizing for Creative Success
Maximizing the Power of Team Thinking
Chapter 8: Going Beyond Brainstorming
Using Customer Input for Inspiration
Redesigning Processes
Taking Advantage of E-Mail
Crowdsourcing for New Ideas
Going Deep for Intuitive Insight
Chapter 9: Turning Problems into Opportunities for Innovation
Seeing Problems with a Fresh Eye
Applying Analytical Problem-Solving
Engaging Your Creative Dissatisfaction
Chapter 10: Going Shopping for Innovations
Exploring Your Industry’s Trade Shows
Crossing Boundaries for Good Ideas
Benchmarking Industry Innovators
Sourcing from Innovative Suppliers
Going to the Experts for Help
Chapter 11: Coming Up with Creative Combinations
Finding Inspiration in Successful Creative Combinations
Finding Innovative Combinations of Your Own
Combining Problems with Solutions
Getting Resourceful in Your Search for Combinations
Seeking Unusual Information
Trying Unusual Forms
Part III: Applying Creativity and Innovation to Daily Challenges
Chapter 12: Delivering Fresh Presentations and Proposals
Building the Credibility You Need to Be Creative
Finding Your Unique Insight
Making Your Point with the Five Tools of Creative Presentation
Branding Your Message with an Appropriate Look and Style
Chapter 13: Negotiating Creative Win–Wins
Turning Conflicts into Creative Opportunities
Assessing Everyone’s Conflict Styles
Bridging the Gaps to Form an Ad Hoc Problem-Solving Team
Transitioning to Solution Brainstorming
Identifying and Refining Win–Win Ideas
Chapter 14: Innovating to Save Costs
Avoiding the Creative Frost Effect
Focusing on the Biggest Cost Categories
Learning from Others
Using Savings-Creation Methods from Idea to Implementation
Part IV: Implementing a Major Innovation
Chapter 15: Managing the Development of an Innovative Idea
Planning the Innovation Process
Innovating in Teams
Building Development and Implementation Networks
Launching the Innovation
Chapter 16: Spreading the Word to Diffuse Your Innovation
Strategizing to Spread Your Innovation
Designing Your Media Mix for Maximum Diffusion
Priming the Pump with Freebies
Chapter 17: Protecting Intellectual Property
Determining and Keeping Track of Your Intellectual Property Assets
Copyrighting As Much As You Can
Protecting Your Brands through Trademark
Pursuing Patent Protection
Protecting Trade Secrets
Keeping Your Records, Writings, Plans, and Designs Secure
Chapter 18: Building a Business Around Your Innovation
Doing Your Development Homework
Writing a Winning Business Plan
Funding Your Innovative Venture
Selling Your Inventions
Part V: The Part of Tens
Chapter 19: Ten Creative Ways to Boost Your Career
Look for Opportunities to Stand Out
Share Your Enthusiasm for Innovative Ideas
Look for Emerging Problems You Can Help Solve
Look for Emerging Opportunities You Can Surf
Do Something You Really Enjoy
Consider Working on Commission
Build Two Careers at the Same Time
Study
Volunteer
Champion Someone Else’s Good Idea
Chapter 20: Ten Tips for More Innovative Meetings
Ask for Original Information and Ideas
Reorganize Your Meetings, Not Your Staff
Re-solve Old Problems
Use a “Sideways Thoughts” Board
Pay Close Attention to Body Language
Control Routine Topics Tightly
Control or Exclude Spoilers
Brainstorm at Least Once a Month
Ask for Multiple Alternatives
Meet Somewhere New and Different
Chapter 21: Ten Ways to Stimulate Your Creative Genius
Persist, Persist, Persist
Work on BIG Problems
Eat Ideas for Lunch
Work on Your Self-Talk
Correct Your Mental Biases
Nurture a Secret Project
Cross-Train in Art
Do Art Projects with Your Kids
Start or Join an Inventors’ Club
Chapter 22: Ten Tips for Better Implementation of Your Ideas
Develop Your Team First
Plan for the Worst
Account for Each Project Separately
Document Failures
Differentiate Owners from Workers
Communicate
Avoid Burnout
Resolve Conflicts (Don’t Avoid Them)
Know When to Persevere
Know When to Quit
Index
