ABSTRACT

This chapter focuses on innovation, beginning with a thinking enterprise called IDEO, championed by Tom Kelley. A wider view is presented by Hage, at which point the master of innovation by the name of Peter Drucker, makes an appearance with his seven sources of opportunity. At that point, the “attacker’s advantage” notion of Foster is presented. “Top Six” innovations are cited along with this author’s short list for comparison. This is followed by an overview of innovators as addressed by Isaacson. The attributes of Israel in terms of innovation are then examined and then the three corporate standouts of Bell Labs, Xerox Parc, and Johns Hopkins’ Applied Physics Lab are briefly explored. A list of our most innovative companies is cited, followed by a short comment regarding innovation at universities. The chapter closes with a “strategy for American innovation” from the White House in 2015.