Innovate to Survive

The book Global Innovation by Ned Hamson and Robert Holder is a skillfully packed starter kit for integrating global innovation principles into your business.  This is not a book that laments about the complexities of the global market system, rather it uses plain language and sound ideas to drive home the point that anyone can understand the keys to innovation.  The most successful corporations are those who understand the rules governing the global marketplace.  This book delivers an informative punch with examples from some of the great corporations of the 21^st century and the top thinkers in this realm.

            
     One may align their business efforts to coincide with what the times have in store.  Knowing the political and technological landscape surrounding your industry is key.  Examples from those who have mastered this process, like the 700 plus year old Swedish Stora Company are useful and refreshing.  The Stora is a Swedish timber company who has navigated over seven centuries of change.  They are still in operation and their ability to successfully innovate is the main reason.  They began mining copper, moved on to timber, and eventually to making pulp for paper. 

Hamson and Holder (2002) bring to light the connectivity of the global markets.  Globalization is creating a spider web effect throughout the world linking large and small countries, economical powerhouses to emerging markets to third world countries.  This creates opportunity and innovation brings new chances to capitalize.  Services that were once limited to those residing in such places as China or Brazil are now available to the world.  Not only is there money to be made but there are problems to solve, poverty, hunger, and lack of basic health care.  Philanthropists are using this connectivity to create positive change, and Bill Gates agrees that, "Innovation provides the key to this effort" (O'byrne & Rawson, 2012).

           I don't think Global Innovation will provide you  every bit of knowledge your business will need to innovate on a global scale.  I found it a well crafted and informative snippet of information from a vast and daunting subject.  It's a compact pillar of wisdom that will leave you with a clear sense of awareness and direction.


O'byrne, B., & Rawson, M. (2012, June 04). Bill gates speaks about poverty, innovation. The Stanford Daily. Retrieved from http://www.stanforddaily.com/2012/04/05/bill-gates-speaks-about-poverty-innovation/


Hamson, Ned & Holder, Robert. ( © 2002). Global innovation.[Books24x7 version] Available fromhttp://common.books24x7.com.dml.regis.edu/toc.aspx?bookid=5352.