The Other Side of Innovation: Solving the Execution Challenge

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Companies can't survive without innovating. But most put far more emphasis on generating Big Ideas than on executing them--turning ideas into actual breakthrough products, services, and process improvements. That's because "ideating" is energizing and glamorous. By contrast, execution seems like humdrum, behind-the-scenes dirty work. But without execution, Big Ideas go nowhere. In The Other Side of Innovation, Vijay Govindarajan and Chris Trimble reveal how to execute an innovation initiative--whether a simple project or a grand, gutsy gamble. Drawing on examples from innovators as diverse as Allstate, BMW, Timberland, and Nucor, the authors explain how to: Build the Right Team: Determine who'll be on the team, where they'll come from, how they'll be organized, how much time they'll devote to the project, and how they'll navigate the delicate and conflict-rich partnership between innovation and ongoing operations. Manage a Disciplined Experiment: Decide how team members can quickly test their assumptions , translate results into new knowledge, and measure progress. Give innovation leaders a tough but fair performance evaluation. Practical and provocative, this new book takes you step-by-step through the innovation execution process--so your Big Ideas deliver their full promise.

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Vijay Govindarajan,(Winner: 2011 Breakthrough Idea Award) known as VG, is the Earl C. Daum 1924 professor of international business at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. He is one of the world’s leading experts on strategy and innovation. Govindarajan has published nine books including international bestsellers Ten Rules for Strategic Innovators and The Other Side of Innovation. His most recent book, The Other Side of Innovation focuses on how to turn an innovative idea into a successful commercial business. In 2008, Govindarajan took leave of absence from Tuck to join General Electric (GE) for 24 months as the company's first Professor in Residence and Chief Innovation Consultant. Govindarajan also worked with Jeff Immelt, GE’s CEO, to produce the Harvard Business Review article “How GE is Disrupting Itself” (September 2009). The article, written with Immelt and long-term collaborator Chris Trimble, introduced the concept of reverse innovation and is rated by Harvard Business Review as one of the ten big ideas of the decade, and is the title of his forthcoming book, (with Chris Trimble), to be published by HBR Press in April 2012. Govindarajan is also responsible for posing the question that sparked a global challenge to build a $300 house.