Leading Innovation, Creativity and Enterprise

Description

Drawing upon cutting edge research from academia but expressed clearly and concisely for the busy person seeking practical inspiration, Leading Innovation, Creativity and Enterprise will feature numerous case examples from companies such as Virgin, Pfizer, Roche and Fuji Film. The book deals with questions such as: What are the roots of creativity and imagination? * How can we create the physiological and mental states under which creativity happens naturally rather than having to rely on creative thinking tools? * What kind of leadership is required to make creativity and innovation business as usual behaviours in your enterprise? * What is the role of technique in engendering creativity within teams? What are the most effective and reliable recipes for team based creativity? * What ensures that creativity turns into innovation? What stops it? In exploring these questions, the book will show you how to produce and lead creative teams, as well as build an innovative company culture.

Peter Cook leads Human Dynamics, a worldwide creativity and innovation consultancy. He also delivers keynotes around the world blending business intelligence with parallel lessons from music via The Academy of Rock. Peter is author and contributor to 11 books which have been acclaimed by industry experts including Professors Charles Handy, Adrian Furnham, Harvey Goldsmith CBE and Tom Peters. A frequent writer for Virgin.com, Peter's ideas have been featured in the Financial Times, the Independent, The Guardian and USA Today, and he has appeared on the BBC and Bloomberg TV. Peter has an MBA, is a Chartered Chemist and FCIPD. He has spent almost 20 years teaching MBA's on creativity, innovation and leadership in academia and running his businesses.

Peter Cook writes with flair, authority and an infectious enthusiasm. You don't find many books that combine hard research findings with fascinating stories and examples on every page. This is one of them. A joy from start to finish. -- Dennis Tourish, Professor of Leadership and Organization Studies * Royal Holloway, University of London * Peter's new book is nothing less than an excellent, fascinating and illuminating study on how creativity helps to fuel individual leadership and organizational capability. -- Nigel Oliveira, President and Founder * Emerston Group * A perceptive and original work because Cook explores 'innovation' from such unusual angles. And he does so in a writing style that is always engaging. Recommended - he will make you think! -- Stephen Ashcroft * Lead: Complex Procurement EMIA, AECOM * In a world of wicked problems, this is a deeply insightful examination of the human and structural aspects of the topic, whatever part of the organisation you work in. Carefully structured as both a manual and an account and packed with anecdotes, it's a bible of practical advice of how to drive the organisation to high levels of creativity. Even if you have no intention of ever being creative in your entire career, it remains a must read -- Haydn Jones, Managing Director * Fujitsu * Peter has created a selection box of ideas and tools in this book that entice the reader to explore new concepts of innovation, creativity and enterprise as well as setting well known management and leadership ideas in the context of innovation. The book is lavishly illustrated with his own experiences and those of business leaders. As a text it's a great introduction to the breadth of writing on this important topic and would be ideal for those studying vocational qualifications in leadership and management. -- Christine Abbott, ILM Trustee and Board Director * Director of Centre for Action Learning Facilitation *