The Ten Faces of Innovation

The author of the bestsellingThe Art of Innovationreveals the strategies IDEO, the world-famous design firm, uses to foster innovative thinking throughout an organization and overcome the naysayers who stifle creativity. The role of the devil's advocate is nearly universal in business today. It allows individuals to step outside themselves and raise questions and concerns that effectively kill new projects and ideas, while claiming no personal responsibility. Nothing is more potent in stifling innovation. Drawing on nearly 20 years of experience managing IDEO, Kelley identifies ten roles people can play in an organization to foster innovation and new ideas while offering an effective counter to naysayers. Among these approaches are the Anthropologistthe person who goes into the field to see how customers use and respond to products, to come up with new innovations; theCross-pollinatorwho mixes and matches ideas, people, and technology to create new ideas that can drive growth; and theHurdler, who instantly looks for ways to overcome the limits and challenges to any situation. Filled with engaging stories of how companies like Kraft, Procter and Gamble, Cargill and Samsung have incorporated IDEO's thinking to transform the customer experience, THE TEN FACES OF INNOVATION is an extraordinary guide to nurturing and sustaining a culture of continuous innovation and renewal.

TOM KELLEY is the general manager of IDEO and the author of the bestselling business classic, The Art of Innovation. As a leading speaker, he addresses scores of business audiences on how to use innovation to transform a business’s culture and strategic thinking. He lives in Silicon Valley.

JONATHAN LITTMAN is a contributing editor at Playboy and author of several books on business, crime, and sport.