Breakthrough! Innovation Management in Practice

This book provides insight, knowledge and tools on the process and craft of managing innovation projects and teams in public and private sectors. Organizations of all sizes - in commercial situations, government, academic institutions and non-profits - confront challenges to solve complex problems; design people-centric solutions; increase innovation skills; create new products and services; and implement new systems and technologies. Based on the author's 25+ years in research, analysis and practical experience on innovation projects throughout the world, this is an essential guide for overcoming the barriers to innovation and managing the process and resources required to launch breakthrough solutions and visionary business models. With examples from telecommunications, mobile operators, public transport, government and high-tech sectors, the book includes a seven-step model for managing the process of innovation, and provides a wealth of methods for innovation challenges such as transforming emerging ideas into new products and solutions; facilitating innovation teams and a healthy climate for innovation; encouraging "exploratory thinking"; managing innovation in government and smart cities; and integrating strategic planning with innovation management methods.

Jon Glasco is a freelance consultant and writer with a wide-ranging international background in business and government. His knowledge of innovation management principles is based on experience at strategic and tactical levels in Fortune 500 companies, start-up enterprises, government agencies and professional service firms. Since the early 1990s, Jon has held influential roles as an innovation consultant, planner, bid manager and technical writer in mobile operator, telecommunications, public transport and high-tech industries. This global experience includes multinational projects in Austria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Germany, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, the US and UK. Prior to forming an independent consulting practice, he served in executive roles in marketing, market research and strategic planning in telecommunications, information technology and fiber optics, and earlier in his career as an electronics engineer and operations research analyst. Jon is the author of more than 20 white papers, articles, and thought leadership publications on the topics of innovation, strategy and business communications. His qualifications include an MBA and Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering.