The Ten Faces of Innovation: Ideo's Strategies for Beating the Devil's Advocate & Driving Creativity Throughout Your Organization

Jacket Description/Flap: "We've all been there. The pivotal meeting where you push forward a new idea or proposal you're passionate about. A fast-paced discussion leads to an upwelling of support that seems about to reach critical mass. And then, in one disastrous moment, your hopes are dashed when someone weighs in with those fateful words: '"Let me just play Devil's Advocate for a minute . . .'"What's truly astonishing is how much punch is packed into that simple nine-word phrase. In fact, the Devil's Advocate may be the biggest innovation killer in America today . . . "Why should you care? And why do we at IDEO believe this problem is so important? Because innovation is the lifeblood of all organizations . . . Today, companies are viewed less for their current offerings than for their ability to change and adapt and dream up something new. Whether you sell consumer electronics or financial services, the frequency with which you must innovate and replenish your offerings is rapidly increasing. ""The Ten Faces of Innovation is a book about innovation with a human face. It's about the individuals and teams that fuel innovation inside great organizations. Because all great movements are ultimately human-powered, the innovation personas described in this book each bring its own lever, its own tools, its own skills, its own point of view. And when someone combines energy and intelligence with the right lever, they can generate a remarkably powerful force. Together you can do extraordinary things" -from "The Ten Faces of InnovationThe author of the bestselling "The Art of Innovation reveals the strategies IDEO, the world-famous design firm, uses to foster innovative thinking throughout anorganization 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, Kelley claims. Over the years, IDEO has developed 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 A"nthropologist--the person who goes into the field to see how customers use and respond to products, to come up with new innovations; the" Cross-pollinator who mixes and matches ideas, people, and technology to create new ideas that can drive growth; and the" Hurdler, who instantly looks for ways to overcome the limits and challenges to any situation. Filled with engaging stories of how Kraft, Procter and Gamble, Safeway and the Mayo Clinic 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. Review Quotes: Advance Praise for "The Ten Faces of Innovation "Essential reading for every single person in your organization--even the CEO should read it! Each page contains a nugget that's worth the price of the entire book. Wow." --Seth Godin, author of "Purple Cow "A concensus is emerging that Innovation must become most every firm's 'Job One.' 'Hurdle One, ' however, is a doozer: establishing a Culture of Innovation. IDEO thought leader Tom Kelley offers a thoroughly original and thoroughly tested approach to creating that 'culture of innovation.' Rigorously applying his 'Ten Faces' will get the innovation ball rolling ... fast. Bravo!" -- Tom Peters Critical Acclaim for Tom Kelley's Previous National Bestseller "The Art of Innovation "Tom Kelley has unlocked the magic box of innovation for corporate America." --Bruce Nussbaum, "BusinessWeek "In light of all the books on the market about creativity, it takes a certain amount of chutzpah to call your book "The Art of Innovation. Yet Kelley makes a good case.... Practical, clearly written, and highly detailed." --"USA Today "On nearly every page, the story of some upstart invention is recounted in patter that's as good as a skilled magician's.... Almost like visiting an IDEO workshop in person." --"WiredReview Quotes: Advance Praise for "The Ten Faces of Innovation""Essential reading for every single person in your organization--even the CEO should read it! Each page contains a nugget that's worth the price of the entire book. Wow." --Seth Godin, author of "Purple Cow""A concensus is emerging that Innovation must become most every firm's 'Job One.' 'Hurdle One, ' however, is a doozer: establishing a Culture of Innovation. IDEO thought leader Tom Kelley offers a thoroughly original and thoroughly tested approach to creating that 'culture of innovation.' Rigorously applying his 'Ten Faces' will get the innovation ball rolling ... fast. Bravo!" -- Tom PetersCritical Acclaim for Tom Kelley's Previous National Bestseller "The Art of Innovation""Tom Kelley has unlocked the magic box of innovation for corporate America." --Bruce Nussbaum, "BusinessWeek""In light of all the books on the market about creativity, it takes a certain amount of chutzpah to call your book "The Art of Innovation." Yet Kelley makes a good case.... Practical, clearly written, and highly detailed." --"USA Today""On nearly every page, the story of some upstart invention is recounted in patter that's as good as a skilled magician's.... Almost like visiting an IDEO workshop in person." --"Wired"Biographical Note: 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. Marc Notes: Includes index.; Reveals the strategies a major design firm uses to foster innovative thinking throughout an organization and overcome the naysayers who stifle creativity. The role of the devil's advocate allows individuals to 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, Kelley identifies ten roles people can play in an organization to foster innovation and new ideas while offering an effective counter to naysayers.--From publisher description. Review Quotes: Advance Praise for "The Ten Faces of Innovation" "Essential reading for every single person in your organization--even the CEO should read it! Each page contains a nugget that's worth the price of the entire book. Wow." --Seth Godin, author of "Purple Cow" "A concensus is emerging that Innovation must become most every firm's 'Job One.' 'Hurdle One, ' however, is a doozer: establishing a Culture of Innovation. IDEO thought leader Tom Kelley offers a thoroughly original and thoroughly tested approach to creating that 'culture of innovation.' Rigorously applying his 'Ten Faces' will get the innovation ball rolling ... fast. Bravo!" -- Tom Peters Critical Acclaim for Tom Kelley's Previous National Bestseller "The Art of Innovation" "Tom Kelley has unlocked the magic box of innovation for corporate America." --Bruce Nussbaum, "BusinessWeek ""In light of all the books on the market about creativity, it takes a certain amount of chutzpah to call your book "The Art of Innovation." Yet Kelley makes a good case.... Practical, clearly written, and highly detailed." --"USA Today""On nearly every page, the story of some upstart invention is recounted in patter that's as good as a skilled magician's.... Almost like visiting an IDEO workshop in person." --"Wired"Publisher Marketing: The author of the bestselling "The Art of Innovation "reveals 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 A"nthropologist--"the person who goes into the field to see how customers use and respond to products, to come up with new innovations; the" Cross-pollinator" who mixes and matches ideas, people, and technology to create new ideas that can drive growth; and the" Hurdler," 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. Review Citations:

Ingram Advance 10/01/2005 pg. 68 (EAN 9780385512077, Hardcover)

Publishers Weekly 09/19/2005 pg. 57 (EAN 9780385512077, Hardcover)

Harvard Business Review 11/01/2005 pg. 4 (EAN 9780385512077, Hardcover)

Contributor Bio:  Kelley, Thomas Thomas Kelley runs the marketing side of the hugely successful industrial product design firm IDEO. His brother, David, started the company in 1977 in Palo Alto, CA. One of his earliest projects was designing the first mouse for Steve Jobs at Apple Computers. Contributor Bio:  Littman, Jonathan Jonathan Littman is the author of three previous books, including The Fugitive Game and The Watchman, and his articles have appeared in the Los Angeles Times Magazine, Forbes, the San Francisco Chronicle, and other publications. A former college soccer player (on Berkeley's nationally ranked NCAA playoff sqaud), he is the father of two young daughters. He lives in the Bay Area.