Innovation for the Fatigued - (Kogan Page Inspire) by Alf Rehn (Paperback)

About the Book

Get innovation back on track in your company with this antidote to fads and incrementalism by refocusing on getting ideas to take root using courage, empathy and imagination.

Book Synopsis

How many presentations on innovation have there been recently? Thousands? Millions?

We are experiencing 'innovation fatigue': we feel cheated by the endless rounds of consultants who come into our organizations, deliver conceptual models that don't stick with the realities of business and then leave again. Companies and teams are left feeling more deflated than before, and with not one idea that's impacted the bottom line. Innovation for the Fatigued argues it is worth fighting for the concept and study of innovation in organizations.

Business leaders are always looking over their shoulders for the next Uber moment to overtake them, and they recognize that innovation needs to be a top priority. But how does one innovate? This book is the antidote to the empty promises that pervade the innovation industry. By designing a company culture that nurtures ideas, but also defends against incrementalism and fads, we can rediscover the powerful basics of imagination, empathy, play and courage, which are all instrumental in delivering real impactful innovation. Innovation for the Fatigued will detail where companies have got innovation wrong, whilst celebrating and studying the ones that lead the way. With unique, relatable and varied examples, renowned innovation and creativity professor Alf Rehn provides a practical model for getting innovation back on track, and instilling change at speed with real concern for market demands.

Review Quotes

"More than ever, innovation has become a prime success factor, yet we all have experienced some kind of fatigue as the term has become a cliché. In this book, Alf Rehn looks critically at the evolution of innovation practices throughout the past decades and teaches us new techniques on how to embrace innovation 4.0. An absolute must-read for anyone who wants to succeed, or just survive, in today's world."-- "Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez, author of 'The Project Revolution' and 'The Focused Organization', and named World's Leading Champion of Project Management by Thinkers50"

"Now that the global innovation hype bubble is bursting, the world desperately needs a dose of straight talk. It's time the clichés were put up against the wall and out of their misery. Alf Rehn brings his no-nonsense, shelve-the-bullsh*t style to this refreshing reset on what innovation is, what it can do, and how organizations might finally realize its value. He shows innovation isn't just about desire or a popular process, but requires deeper cultural intervention and an embedded mindset."-- "Scott Smith, world-leading futurist and founder of Changeist"

"Some innovation is a quick fix, some takes a lifetime of dedication. Some new ideas are new products or services, while other new ideas bring revolutions in the way people live or think. In this important book, Alf Rehn urges leaders to reject wasteful stereotypes of creativity and to embrace the truths needed to deliver powerful real-world innovation. If innovation is deviance in practice, then Rehn is a most practical deviant."-- "Max McKeown, author of 'The Innovation Book'"

About the Author

Alf Rehn is a noted thought leader in the fields of innovation and creativity. Having appeared on Thinkers50 Guru Radar in 2016, he is currently professor of innovation, design and management at the University of Southern Denmark. He is a popular international strategic adviser and professional speaker who has delivered close to 1,000 keynotes worldwide, advised Fortune 500 companies and is one of the few Westerners to keynote on innovation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.