The Circle of Innovation: You Can't Shrink Your Way to Greatness [Paperback]

 

 

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THE CIRCLE OF INNOVATION is written in slide book form. This is the form that consultants use for seminars. Each exhibit that the seminar attendees will see is included, along with a page of script that covers the content of the exhibit. The result is highly enjoyable, as you vicariously imagine being in the room with Tom Peters, the world's most sought-after business speaker. The exhibits are wonderfully funny and evocative, and use all kinds of visual tricks to get and keep your attention. I had people all over the plane looking over my shoulder to see them, as I read the book on a recent flight. Tom Peters also walks his talk, and really lives with passion -- which strongly comes through in this book. His interpretations of the world are almost always tied to quotes from important thinkers and business leaders, which gives the book a relevance and immediacy that a more cerebral book would have lacked. I found this book to be very satisfying to read. It affected me at a very fundamental level, so I could tell that I was "getting" the message. The result is a most impressive example of a way to communicate through books. The principles seem to be sound in most cases (although not all markets are dominated by women purchasers -- such as boxing gloves -- but many are such as cars), and they should stimulate your thinking to expand the scope of the innovations you think about. The book could have been improved with a consideration of processes that work better than others for getting the innovation work done. For that assistance, you will have to look elsewhere. In the meantime, do read, think about, enjoy, and apply the lessons of THE CIRCLE OF INNOVATION.

A book about innovation has to be innovative.This is.In style and wisdom. And clarity.
I have used the basis in several seminars and managers have found real value in the key points.In a world of management overkill its great to have the courage to spell out a corporate atlas so lucidly and ,as usual ,so passionately.

CIRCLE OF INNOVATION is TOM PETERS book on how power of ideas can transform businesses. He moved far away from orthodox models of business management to talk about "white collar" workers driving globalization revolution. In this radical proposition repairs, patching and sometimes unnecessary incubation were better jettisoned for new structures called `wow' factor or `brand'.
After dismantling the organization structures each employee becomes a boss. Dozens of mistakes are allowed in this process. But the ultimate are innovation, creativity and imagination.
The publication wears a crazy format with summary boxes. The author proposes replacement rather than repairs. He said: "Observe the dress styles of your high ranking executives. They all look the same, don't they? How can you expect such people to bring you different ideas? How can they understand new technology, and the world it is shaping?" Difference cannot emerge from uniformity.
However, the author did not deal with the problem of negative perception from critics about jetisioning all structures. Since these are proposals he cannot be more realistic than a 'corporate Billy Graham.'
Because the world has become a huge shopping center distance has been abolished. Individual intelligence creates value in a transparent competitive world with "big heads" like Bill Gates. However, today's experts in new technology (video games etc) are children. "MD=BREAKER", is necessary to reinvent your universe.
The author abhors sitting on the fence. Become radical innovator or hate it. " Welcome to companies without staff, without partitions, without finicky checks and without frontiers .. where such close links have been made with customers and suppliers that `they' are now indistinguishable from `us'.
"Circle of innovation means: CONSTANTLY TRYING TO REACH THE NEXT LEVEL IN PAIN OF DEATH FROM INFECTIONS BANALITY".
Competition for new markets even if "creative chaos" appear it would ultimately result into strong growth. Disorder can be creative; Thomas Edison knew this fact.
Successful companies are transforming their departments into subsidiaries for efficiency. Microsoft buys talent for any price! In 1995 Gates had no interest in the internet. He later reconsidered his position and became a guru. Eraser according to the author is the most useful product! RUBBING OUT=FORGETTING. Today we have to forget every thing we knew! It's more difficult than learning. Gas competed with electricity companies. While gas was improving its product electricity took over.
Be awake to these realities:
The whole world is being shaken up by new technologies and the information age. You live in a gigantic shopping center. You have 6 billion neighbors. The big heads (Bill Gates) have taken power. The white collars are having revolution. Your employees are the bosses. There are no more intermediaries. Companies are invisible. The children understand what is happening more than you do. Every thing is changing with extra-ordinary speed.
Send the most indispensible staff to the other side with a mission to bring back discoveries. Don't let your employees to resemble each other. Get rid of duplicates. Every one becomes one person company. At San Francisco Ritz-Carlton, the groom and the porter can/must spend $2000 on the spot without formal authorization.
Let failure not frighten you for it precedes all the greatest discoveries. Brilliant ideas are close to madness than to reason.
SECRETS OF SUCCESS ACCORDING TO SILICON VALLEY - they tolerate failure and betrayal; risk-taking and change; promotion on merit; collaboration and diversity of style. Become your own brand through talent: ME.
"Kellam's law" named after American consultant: "If you cannot say in what way you bring something positive to your company, you are done for". World leaders (Ghandi, Luther King Jr, Mandela) did not wait for power to succeed. Their successes came from their mission, vision and their unfailing will. POWER=STATE OF MIND +MENTAL STRENGHT.
Think of women customers special attention desires, dreams and passion. Virgin Air now sells entertainment and relaxation. Judy George MD of Domain Home Fashions says: "we are selling dreams not furniture".

Circle of Innovation: You Can't Shrink Your Way to Greatness

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3.0 out of 5 stars The unsunstanable lightness of reason
What to think about a book on management with more photos or images than text ? Well, if you think that management is for managers that work like «artists» with a little bit of... Read more

Published on 8 April 2002 by Pedro Fernandes

1.0 out of 5 stars Very American style !
The books is really only 500 pages of unfounded pep-talk, statements, pictures and slogans. The sparse text doesn't give any background or explantion for the statements.

Published on 11 Aug 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars It will scare the hell out of you, and turn you upside down.
After the first 50-60 pages I almost ditched the book because it was so very different from every thing else I've read. It wasn't written like a book usually is. Read more

Published on 17 Oct 2000 by Klaus Bjarner

5.0 out of 5 stars Tom Peters hits the nail on the head again!
Not satisfied with rightfully beating all us businessmen up about the importance of quality and service, Tom now wraps the whole parcel talking of the critical importance of... Read more

Published on 6 April 2000

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