The Heart of Innovation: A Review

The authors of this book begin by paraphrasing Frederick Buechner: “being an innovator means being called to where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” They develop the argument that developers get stuck, and innovation fails often “because innovators pay too much attention to their deep gladness and not enough to the world’s deep hunger.”

At the heart of innovation is the focus on authentic demand, people buying and using something because it becomes part of their lives. For example, no one knew they needed a phone that could do everything until Steve Jobs led Apple to create one. Now no one can live without such a device. It has become part of our lives.

They identify three forms of innovation: Informative, Transformative, and Formative. Informative innovations provide more of the same with incremental change and some increased value. Transformative innovations change the user’s perception and the scope of usage. Formative innovations provide something new that changes the playing field.

The book provides interesting case studies but also tools for deliberate innovation. Although interesting and well-researched, the book will probably not speak directly to the usual business-oriented reader. It attempts to be practical but is probably out of reach of the typical organizational leader.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR,Part 255.

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