It is impossible to measure the full economic and psychological benefits of the sewing machine, the polio vaccine, or the Internet. What we know is that these products have changed our lives for the better, generating net benefits well beyond the metric of corporate profits. As forces such as financial market volatility and fragmented markets demonstrate the fragility of the global economy, the imperative to develop products and services that contribute to the well-being of the many—rather than the few—is more pronounced than ever. In this book, A. Coskun Samli explores this imperative of an “innovation culture” and how it can be encouraged at all levels, from the individual to the nation or region. He argues that without a global innovation culture, committed to generating socially valuable products, we are likely to face a deteriorating quality of life, as wealth is concentrated at the top. Integrating insights from management, economics, policy, and psychology, Samli demonstrates how creativity can be channeled into innovation and innovation can be channeled, in turn, toward economic development. He discusses how national policies can be oriented toward encouraging such socially beneficial innovations as sustainable energy, communication technology, and medical discoveries. The aim is to promote the development of products and services that improve quality of life and generate profits for those who invest in them. He argues that all innovations, whether radical or incremental, must demonstrate social value in order to be truly profitable.

A guide for mining the imagination to find powerful new ways to succeed. We need imagination now more than ever—to find new opportunities, rethink our businesses, and discover paths to growth. Yet too many companies have lost their ability to imagine. What is this mysterious capacity? How does imagination work? And how can organizations keep it alive and harness it in a systematic way? The Imagination Machine answers these questions and more. Drawing on the experience and insights of CEOs across several industries, as well as lessons from neuroscience, computer science, psychology, and philosophy, Martin Reeves of Boston Consulting Group's Henderson Institute and Jack Fuller, an expert in neuroscience, provide a fascinating look into the mechanics of imagination and lay out a process for creating ideas and bringing them to life: The Seduction: How to open yourself up to surprises The Idea: How to generate new ideas The Collision: How to rethink your idea based on real-world feedback The Epidemic: How to spread an evolving idea to others The New Ordinary: How to turn your novel idea into an accepted reality The Encore: How to repeat the process—again and again. Imagination is one of the least understood but most crucial ingredients of success. It's what makes the difference between an incremental change and the kinds of pivots and paradigm shifts that are essential to transformation—especially during a crisis. The Imagination Machine is the guide you need to demystify and operationalize this powerful human capacity, to inject new life into your company, and to head into unknown territory with the right tools at your disposal.

With chapters by eight management thinkers and practitioners from around Australia, the subjectof innovation is approached from a variety of angles and perspectives. The theme underpinning all chapters however is the role of the manager in leading innovation and nurturing imagination and creativity. One of the main premises of the book is that innovation is driven by people and their creativity, not research and development. It encompasses all aspects of managing innovation, from recognizing the need and desire to be innovative, using imagination to add value, developing systems that encourage and implement corporate creativity, through to future gazing and scenario building.

Today's unprecedented pace of change leaves many people wondering what new technologies are doing to our lives. Has social media robbed us of our privacy and fed us with false information? Are the decisions about our health, security and finances made by computer programs inexplicable and biased? Will these algorithms become so complex that we can no longer control them? Are robots going to take our jobs? Can we provide housing for our ever-growing urban populations? And has our demand for energy driven the Earth's climate to the edge of catastrophe?John Browne argues that we need not and must not put the brakes on technological advance. Civilization is founded on engineering innovation; all progress stems from the human urge to make things and to shape the world around us, resulting in greater freedom, health and wealth for all. Drawing on history, his own experiences and conversations with many of today's great innovators, he uncovers the basis for all progress and its consequences, both good and bad. He argues compellingly that the same spark that triggers each innovation can be used to counter its negative consequences. Make, Think, Imagine provides an eloquent blueprint for how we can keep moving towards a brighter future.

When imagination becomes habit, it can transform your work and your life The best corporations know that innovative thinking is the only competitive advantage that cannot be outsourced. The best schools are those that create cultures of imagination. Now in paperback, Imagination First introduces a wide-variety of individuals who make a habit of imaginative thinking and creative action, offering a set of universal practices that anyone can use to transform their life at work, home, and play. These 28.5 practices will enable anyone to become more imaginative and to teach others to do so as well?from corporate executive to educator to platoon sergeant. Bonus content includes Winning "practices" submitted by the public Guidelines for educators who want to cultivate creativity in their classrooms Expanded resource section The book is filled with illustrative stories of creative leaders, teachers, artists, and scientists that clearly illustrate the original practices and new material that shows how to bring imagination to life.

Research-based techniques that show everyone how to expand creativity and increase productivity Harvard psychologist Shelley Carson?s provocative book, published in partnership with Harvard Health Publications, reveals why creativity isn't something only scientists, investors, artists, writers, and musicians enjoy; in fact, all of us use our creative brains every day at home, work and play. Each of us has the ability to increase our mental functioning and creativity by learning to move flexibly among several brain states. Explains seven brain states or "brainsets" and their functions as related to creativity, productivity, and innovation Provides quizzes, exercises, and self-tests to activate each of these seven brainsets to unlock our maximum creativity Your Creative Brain, called by critics a ?new classic? in the field of creativity, offers inspiring suggestions that can be applied in both one?s personal and professional life.