In THE OTHER SIDE OF INNOVATION by Vijay Govindarajan and Chris Trimble, you’ll learn that companies are what I call “genetically predisposed” to operate and not innovate. Companies must learn how to execute innovation as a process to get beyond that predisposition. That is what will lead them to success!
Have you ever worked for a company that spent so much time, effort, and money on seeking “breakthrough” ideas that everyone was spending and couldn’t execute? Then, after a brief respite, they’re off to repeat the same cycle. Ever seeking that holy grail while under the misguided notion that innovation is synonymous with creativity?
Ideas are only the beginning. To be successful, one must learn to cultivate those ideas into “something” that can be executed for the company’s benefit.
This book is a MUST READ for anyone in leadership! I rate this one 5/5!
2023 Update on The Other Side of Innovation
Just for giggles, I asked ChatGPT to summarize this book, and here is the result. I did use Grammarly to clean up the response.
“The Other Side of Innovation: Solving the Execution Challenge” is a book by Vijay Govindarajan and Chris Trimble, published in 2010. The book focuses on the challenges companies face in implementing and executing innovative ideas within their organizations. Here’s a summary:
- Innovation as a Process: The authors emphasize that innovation is about generating and effectively implementing new ideas within the organization. They argue that many companies struggle with the execution phase of innovation.
- The Three-Box Solution: Govindarajan and Trimble introduce the concept of the “Three Box Solution,” which involves managing three boxes simultaneously: Box 1 represents working the present, Box 2 involves selectively abandoning the past, and Box 3 focuses on creating the future.
- The Execution Gap: One of the key points of the book is that there is often a significant gap between generating ideas and implementing them. Companies may excel at innovation but falter when it comes to execution.
- Overcoming Resistance to Change: The authors discuss the challenges of overcoming resistance to change within organizations. They provide strategies for creating a culture that fosters innovation and embraces change.
- Building Innovation Capabilities: Govindarajan and Trimble emphasize the importance of building innovation capabilities within the organization. This includes developing processes, systems, and structures that support innovation.
- Case Studies and Examples: Throughout the book, the authors provide numerous case studies and examples of companies that have successfully navigated the challenges of innovation execution. These examples illustrate the principles and strategies discussed in the book.
Overall, “The Other Side of Innovation” provides valuable insights and practical advice for organizations looking to improve their innovation processes and successfully implement new ideas. It highlights the importance of not only generating innovative ideas but also effectively executing them to drive business success.
You can find more reviews in my Review Archives.