Critical Philosophy Of Innovation And The Innovator

The major innovations which have occurred between the end of the 20th and the beginning of the 21st century represent a fresh challenge to the responsibility of innovators. Innovators have disrupted, and continue to disrupt the world through the growth of technology, DNA sequencing, genetic engineering, the management of large databases, different forms of intrusion into our private lives, etc. It is up to them take full responsibility for their actions, and question what they are accomplishing, why they are accomplishing it, to what end and with what means. Such questionings are those found in a practice conducted by Ancient philosophers: spiritual exercises. These were internal or external discourses, enabling individuals to act, think, to know how to behave and how to master oneself. It is surely toward these practices innovators of today should turn in order to innovate with wisdom.

The major innovations which have occurred between the end of the 20th and the beginning of the 21st century represent a fresh challenge to the responsibility of innovators. Innovators have disrupted, and continue to disrupt the world through the growth of technology, DNA sequencing, genetic engineering, the management of large databases, different forms of intrusion into our private lives, etc. It is up to them take full responsibility for their actions, and question what they are accomplishing, why they are accomplishing it, to what end and with what means. Such questionings are those found in a practice conducted by Ancient philosophers: spiritual exercises. These were internal or external discourses, enabling individuals to act, think, to know how to behave and how to master oneself. It is surely toward these practices innovators of today should turn in order to innovate with wisdom.

A new classic, cited by leaders and media around the globe as a highly recommended read for anyone interested in innovation. In The Innovator’s DNA, authors Jeffrey Dyer, Hal Gregersen, and bestselling author Clayton Christensen (The Innovator’s Dilemma, The Innovator’s Solution, How Will You Measure Your Life?) build on what we know about disruptive innovation to show how individuals can develop the skills necessary to move progressively from idea to impact. By identifying behaviors of the world’s best innovators—from leaders at Amazon and Apple to those at Google, Skype, and Virgin Group—the authors outline five discovery skills that distinguish innovative entrepreneurs and executives from ordinary managers: Associating, Questioning, Observing, Networking, and Experimenting. Once you master these competencies (the authors provide a self-assessment for rating your own innovator’s DNA), the authors explain how to generate ideas, collaborate to implement them, and build innovation skills throughout the organization to result in a competitive edge. This innovation advantage will translate into a premium in your company’s stock price—an innovation premium—which is possible only by building the code for innovation right into your organization’s people, processes, and guiding philosophies. Practical and provocative, The Innovator’s DNA is an essential resource for individuals and teams who want to strengthen their innovative prowess.

For fifty years, innovations have taken on a new dimension: the Internet, DNA sequencing, genomic manipulations, advances in transhumanism, nanotechnologies ... and much more. These recent innovations are not without addressing new issues whose consequences are as important as irreversible. The innovator, of whom Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg are emblematic contemporary figures, appears as a personality as brilliant as he is destructive, who aspires to change the world regardless of the violence that may ensue. With this then, emerges the need to establish responsible innovation, in which the innovator should be accountable for his actions and review his position as a hero. To establish this new ethic, philosophy is a necessary recourse, since it questions, among other things, the self-control of the Stoics, the prudence of Aristotle, respect of Kant, the will power of Nietzsche and the power of Foucault.

In the space of a century, technologies have acquired unprecedented power. The result of these developments is a new form of the world. These transformations test our capacities and generate new crises with multiple issues at stake. Drawing on the lessons of a long history, Philosophies of Technologies examines the continuities and disruptions brought about by the power of contemporary technical systems, without reducing them to the digital age. It draws together 13 authors from different schools of thought and proposes tools that combine productive technology with sustainability, innovation and responsibility. This book wagers that, in the face of the sprawling and ever-changing deployment of technologies, philosophy is able to respond to the changes that offer so many opportunities to shape our future. Today, technologies need a philosophical moment.

Communication is a crucial issue in our complex societies tinted by distrust. It is the core of democratic life and almost all human and social actions. Therefore it is essential for communication to be responsible. But responsible communication cannot only be conceived as a deontological issue, framed by ethical compliance requirements or good practices promotion. It should be considered with all the virtualities of communication, from conversation to consideration, going through narrative, interpretation and argumentation. Indeed each of these communicational capacities has its properties, assets, complementarities and limitations. They constitute different ways to be responsive. This book offers a contribution to the debate of Theory of Deliberative Theory (TDD), reexamined here within its different inspiration sources, notably the opposition between communicational turn and system, the fact of moral pluralism and the public reason.

The Tao of Innovation is the first book to blend Eastern philosophy with tried-and-true innovation strategies. It presents a holistic, intuitive and practical approach to developing game-changing innovation. Having over 30 years of real-world global corporate, entrepreneurial, and consulting experience, and more than 10 years of teaching innovation and entrepreneurship to thousands of students in the East and West, the authors have distilled the most influential thinking on innovation into a holistic set of nine key innovation questions that every innovator must answer throughout the innovation cycle. These provocations apply to any business or organization and illuminate fundamental principles and practices of successful innovation. The Tao of Innovation's use of nature's fundamental elements and the yin-yang's balance of opposing forces as metaphors, provide simple ways to navigate the complexities of business and innovation. They blend art, science, and Eastern and Western philosophies of what it takes to be an innovator. This book is written for individuals who have a passion for initiating change but struggle to find a process or methodology that helps them translate their dream into practical action steps that will get them through implementation. It aims to help organizations of all types proactively stay ahead in a rapidly changing world and change the world for the better. In short, this book is a fresh East-meets-West approach to innovation, helping readers develop a strategy to implement real change and ultimately achieve their innovation dream. Contents:How is the Nature of Your Business Going to Change?How Do You Know When There is an Opportunity for Innovation?How Do You Compete to Outsmart Established Players?How Do You Move Beyond the Status Quo?How Do You Put Yourself in the Right Place at the Right Time?How Do You Craft a Strong and Lasting Go-to-Market Strategy?How Do You Know Whether Your Idea Can Survive in the Real World?How Do You Scale Successfully?What is the Deeper Purpose that Drives You to Innovate? Readership: General readers interested in innovation strategy, business and management. Key Features:Synthesizes multiple theories into a practical framework to serve as a roadmap for innovationAddresses the complexities of real-world implementation and how to overcome organizational resistance to changeThe full-color layout and graphics will help readers grasp complex concepts quickly, perform educational exercises, and thus, learn by doingKeywords:Innovation;Strategy;Business;Management;Innovation Culture;Business Redesign;Design-ThinkingReviews: "This unusual and useful workbook patiently takes readers from evaluating an opportunity to scaling a business ... The authors take readers through a complex process, sprinkling hints and do-it-yourself exercises throughout each chapter ... anyone willing to try a new flavor of business innovation will be richly rewarded." Publishers Weekly "The Tao of Innovation offers a fresh East-meets-West perspective on how organizations and individuals can live up to their creative best." Tom Kelley Partner, IDEO best-selling author of The Art of Innovation and Creative Confidence "Dr Teng-Kee Tan and his co-authors, Dr Hsien Seow and Sue Tan Toyofuku have a powerful grasp on what it takes to become a highly successful innovator. For those who have the courage, commitment and passion to innovate, this book will support them on their journey to transform the world." Tom Bloch Former President and CEO of H&R Block, Inc. Co-Founder, University Academy "This is an excellent business and innovation book using a simple and intuitive framework to capture nine key questions all innovators must ask. The authors identified important dilemmas in each innovation question and proposed solutions to help reconcile the dilemmas we often face in the world of innovation. They talk about 'Innovation with Purpose' which deals with what drives and sustains innovation which I think is very important to advance human civilization in our global environment. I strongly recommend this book for learners, doers and enablers of innovation." Henry W Bloch Co-Founder, H & R Block "Drawing on his decades of experience in business and education, Dean Teng-Kee Tan shows the way to innovation. This is an invaluable read from a remarkable individual." Robert L Virgil Retired Partner, Edward Jones Dean Emeritus, John M Olin School of Business, Washington University in St. Louis "This remarkable book deals with using 'human centered — design thinking' as an important innovation process and mindset to help develop consumer insights and identify higher order needs which is often unarticulated. It is a must read for entrepreneurs, startups, innovators from all industries, for profit or non-profit enterprises. I strongly recommend it." Shuming Zhao Chair Professor and Honorary Dean, School of Business, Nanjing University, China “The insights provided by The Tao of Innovation are transformative and indispensable. It is a superb textbook for innovation management courses.” Dr Michael Song Ranked as World's No. 1 Innovation Management Scholar “This is an expression of Teng Kee's vision for incorporating design thinking and experiential learning in innovation that has attracted attention from all disciplines of higher education and corporations.” Steve McDowell President BNIM Architects AIA Award Winner “This book reconciles real-world tensions in innovation that can be applied immediately.” Charles Hampden-Turner Senior Research Associate, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge

Innovation is almost always seen as a "good thing". Challenging the Innovation Paradigm is a critical analysis of the innovation frenzy and contemporary innovation research. The one-sided focus on desirable effects of innovation misses many opportunities to reduce the undesirable consequences. Authors in this book show how systemic effects outside the innovating firms reduce the net benefits of innovation for individual employees, customers, as well as for society as a whole - also the innovators' own organizations. This book analyzes the dominant discourses that construct and reconstruct the assumptions and one-sidedness of contemporary innovation research (generally known as the pro-innovation bias) by focusing on consequences of innovation, distinguishing between intended and unintended as well as desirable and undesirable consequences. Contributors illustrate how both the discourses of innovation and the consequences of innovation permeate all levels of society: in policy discourse, in academic discourse, in research funding, in national innovation systems, in the financial sector, in organizational and work contexts, and in environmental pollution. The volume offers a critical, multidisciplinary, and multinational perspective on the topic, with authors from diverse academic fields examining and making comparisons between a variety of national contexts.