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Title: 24/7 Innovation: A Blueprint for Surviving and Thriving in an Age of Change by Stephen M. Shapiro ISBN: 0-07-137626-7 Publisher: McGraw-Hill Trade Pub. Date: September, 2001 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $29.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.45 (11 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Building continuous change.
Comment: Titles can be deceptive, particularly when chosen with an eye to capitalizing on fashionable jargon. 24/7 Innovation is primarily about building a climate of continuous organic change and is more about change management and organizational learning than innovation in the commonly used sense of product and service innovation. However, as the author rightly points out, change and innovation in all its forms tends to be seamless, and success depends on embedding a system of goals, relationships, attitudes, processes and technology that work together to support continuous challenge to the status quo in support of superior customer service.
Shapiro argues for what others have called a 'tight-loose' structure, one within which a limited number of well articulated principles allow for substantial freedom of action at all levels and locations, with carefully selected measures and incentives to link endeavour to the core goals. The author's preferred metaphor is jazz, which encourages creativity within simple structures.
He claims that his approach differs from others - particularly reengineering and TQM - in seven respects. While the attributes are not all as uncommon as he implies, they are worth quoting, as they are all important:
" It is strategic. Innovation is targeted at the critical parts of the business that differentiate it from its competitors.
It is pervasive ... permeat[ing] every aspect of an organization ...
It is holistic, acknowledging the ... interdependence of all aspects of the business
it is focused on creating value ... not ... cost cutting and streamlining without regard for the impact they have on customers and other stakeholders ... and customers in particular.
It emphasizes governance ... referring to the leadership of a business that sets the standard ...
It uses technology as an enabler, rather than an answer.
It recognizes the critical role of people. Innovation is carried out by people for people. Success comes from an uncompromising commitment to an organization's people."
A strength of the book is the structured way in which the elements required for success are set out and explained. This is a 'how to' - a blueprint - but not the simplistic 'seven step' framework that so many authors offer. It works logically through the various capabilities and attributes needed, with guidance on how to build them.
Rating: 4
Summary: Packed with useful information
Comment: This is not another innovation book with techniques for generating new ideas. 24/7 Innovation is about creating a culture of innovation within large companies. It addresses the issue of how to change the structure of an organization in order to brings out the best in its employees. There are a number of excellent examples throughout. My favorite is Koch Industries, a very anti-bureaucratic company.
Many business books cover only one topic (e.g., performance measures) and could be summarized in 20 pages. The rest is filler of sorts. Not this book. 24/7 Innovation covers a wide range of topics such as culture change, performance measurement, simulation, processes, and technology. And each is covered quite satisfactorily (some more than others), which means there is a lot to digest.
In many respects, this book deserves 5 stars. It is well written and insightful. The reason for giving it 4 stars is that, as other reviewers have mentioned, it was obviously written by a consultant. As such, it does have some jargon. However, it was easy to read and at times entertaining.
The combination of examples, frameworks, and techniques makes this a pragmatic book. But more importantly, this book makes you think differently.
Rating: 2
Summary: Filled with consultant hype
Comment: Shapiro provides a number of interesting examples. These constitute the primary utility of the book.
The structure of the book does not hang together. For example: "Capability" seems to be a major concept, but Shapiro never provides a clear definition.
The material in the chapters does not relate well to the chapter titles. Shapiro claims the chapters outline a framework for understanding and generating innovation. Beyond his assertion, there is nothing to substantiate that claim.
One finds lots of grandiose claims for insightful analytical frameworks which go unfulfilled. Very disappointing.
Shapiro sounds like a consultant hawking his wares.
As W. Edwards Deming noted well and often, experience without theory is meaningless. Shapiro not only displays a lake of theoretical perspectives to organize and highlight insights in his examples, he seems to be unaware of such theories and their relevance.
The book jacket, which I assume he wrote, indicates that Shapiro is "...recognized as one of today's most influential consultants in the area of process capabilities." If true, this, once again, demonstrates the dearth of talent in the consulting arena.
If you know the theories, you can pull some interesting material from this book. The value will come from your knowledge and efforts not from those of the author.
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Title: Weird Ideas That Work: 11 1/2 Practices for Promoting, Managing, and Sustaining Innovation by Robert I. Sutton ISBN: 0743212126 Publisher: Free Press Pub. Date: 30 October, 2001 List Price(USD): $26.00 |
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Title: Thinkertoys (A Handbook of Business Creativity) by Michael Michalko ISBN: 0898154081 Publisher: Ten Speed Press Pub. Date: November, 1991 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: The Seeds of Innovation: Cultivating the Synergy That Fosters New Ideas by Elaine Dundon ISBN: 0814471463 Publisher: AMACOM Pub. Date: 15 June, 2002 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: The Art of Innovation : Lessons in Creativity from IDEO, America's Leading Design Firm by Tom Kelley, Jonathan Littman, Tom Peters, Tom Peters ISBN: 0385499841 Publisher: Currency Pub. Date: 16 January, 2001 List Price(USD): $29.95 |
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Title: Leading for Innovation: & Organizing For Results by Hesselbein, Marshall Goldsmith, Iain Somerville, Frances Hesselbein ISBN: 0787953598 Publisher: Jossey-Bass Pub. Date: 15 October, 2001 List Price(USD): $27.95 |
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