Innovation at Work

Introduction—What Is Innovation?

Innovation is necessary for survival. This statement is true for individuals as well as for organizations. In order for us to be competitive as individuals, as organizations, and indeed, as a nation, we need to constantly add more value for our clients, customers, and constituencies. We do this through innovation. The innovation journey is fraught with obstacles. Naysayers line the route with catcalls, such as “We tried that before” and “That will never work here.” Organizational potholes and boulders are strewn across the road. False starts and market shifts lead us down the wrong paths. Weariness from steep learning curves slows the process down.

The mountaintop is often enshrouded in the clouds of unending ...