Breaking Away

March 15, 2011
Executive-search officer Stevenson and corporate-executive Kaafarani explain that innovation is a business imperative to achieve sustainable growth and drive shareholder value. They describe what creates breakthrough innovations and the leaders who champion them, noting, Leadership is the essence from which true innovation is conceived, but without the right cultural environment, the seeds of innovation cant bloom into commercial reality. CEOs present their vision, determine the best course of action, including how to use their employees talents, and then lay out a plan. Stevenson and Kaafarani offer four types of innovation: transformational, which changes society and life as we know it and provides benefits to our culture and communities; marketplace innovation, which is driven by competitive market needs and is defined by new features or benefits; category innovation, which is driven by customer needs and involves breakthrough of applications instead of invention; and operational innovation, which creates or changes organizational structure and processes, and improves work life and financial performance.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)