Practical Innovation

Whether people want more government or less, everyone wants an efficient government. Traditional thinking is that this requires a government to be run more like a business. But a government is not a business, and this approach merely replaces old problems with new ones. In their six-year, five-country study of 77 government organizations—ranging from small departments to entire states—Alan Robinson and Dean Schroeder found that the predominant private-sector approaches to improvement don’t work well in the public sector.

Chaos and Creativity: How Disorder Sparked Innovation in Science, Art, Technology, and Philosophy offers a compelling exploration of how unpredictable forces shape the deepest currents of human innovation. This insightful guide shows that creativity does not emerge from perfect control or linear progress. Instead it grows out of dynamic interaction, subtle variation, and the hidden order that exists within apparent disorder. By drawing on the core ideas of chaos theory, this book reveals how small sparks lead to major breakthroughs, how novel patterns emerge from complexity, and how ...

Do you ever feel like your best ideas arrive randomly, or worse, not at all? In a world that demands constant innovation, the ability to generate valuable ideas on demand is no longer a luxury—it's a core professional skill. Yet, most of us are taught to believe that creativity is a mysterious gift reserved for a select few. We wait for inspiration to strike, only to feel frustrated and left behind when our minds go blank at critical moments. The Idea Factory demolishes this myth. Written by N.J. Parker, this practical, no-nonsense guide reveals that creativity is not magic; it’s a ...

Space entrepreneur turned innovation pioneer Peter H. Diamandis and award-winning science writer Steven Kotler document how progress in artificial intelligence, robotics, digital manufacturing synthetic biology, and other exponentially growing technologies will enable us to make greater gains in the next two decades than we have in the previous 200 years.

Building on his national bestseller The Rational Optimist, Matt Ridley chronicles the history of innovation, and how we need to change our thinking on the subject. Innovation is the main event of the modern age, the reason we experience both dramatic improvements in our living standards and...

"Engaging, thought-provoking, and surprisingly...fun!" - Dr. Fred Jones, professor, Supreme Court attorney, author and speaker Recent surveys of over 1,000 recruiters rank creative and strategic thinking at the top of their lists for both what they're looking for in candidates, and what they're having a hard time finding. This book, in a remarkably accessible, practical and entertaining way, equips readers to meet these needs, as well as to: •Think more clearly •Innovate more creatively •Manage life’s decisions with more confidence •Simplify complex and convoluted arguments •...

Espresso Evolution: The Machines, Masters, and Methods That Defined an Icon is a captivating journey through the history, science, and artistry of one of the world’s most influential beverages. From the first steam-powered brewers of the nineteenth century to today’s digitally precise espresso machines, this richly detailed book reveals how innovation, craftsmanship, and culture came together to create an enduring global icon. Discover the inventors who revolutionized coffee—Luigi Bezzera, Desiderio Pavoni, and Achille Gaggia—and the companies like La Marzocco and Gaggia that ...

Discover how your brain unlocks imagination, problem solving, and innovation. Have you ever wondered why brilliant ideas appear when you least expect them? Or why some people seem endlessly creative while others feel stuck? Wired for Wonder: The Neuroscience of Human Creativity and Innovation reveals the fascinating science behind imagination and shows how anyone can cultivate a more innovative mind. Drawing on the latest research in brain science, this book explores how creativity arises from the dynamic interaction of brain networks, neurotransmitters, and emotional states. You’ll learn...

The Muse in a Cup: Coffee’s Inspiring Role in Art, Music, and the Creative Mind explores how a simple beverage became one of humanity’s greatest sources of creative fuel. From the Enlightenment coffeehouses of Europe to the jazz clubs of New York and the digital cafés of today, coffee has inspired artists, writers, scientists, and musicians for centuries. Discover how great thinkers like Voltaire and Einstein, painters like Manet and Degas, and musicians from Bach to the Beat Generation all found focus, inspiration, and community through coffee. Each chapter reveals how caffeine’s ...

Discover the timeless wisdom of Peter Drucker, the father of modern management, and learn how his enduring ideas continue to shape organizations, leaders, and society in the twenty-first century. The Future Shaped by Management: Exploring the Enduring Ideas of Peter Drucker takes readers on a clear, insightful journey through Drucker’s most influential principles, from managing by objectives and developing knowledge workers to fostering innovation, decentralization, and ethical leadership. Whether you are a business professional, student, or leader, this book offers powerful insights you ...

Pathways to Prosperity: Exploring the Principles and Debates of Economic Development Theory offers a clear, comprehensive, and engaging journey through the major ideas that have shaped how nations pursue growth, equity, and stability. Written for students, researchers, policymakers, and curious readers alike, this book explains the history and evolution of development theory while showing how these debates remain relevant to today’s global challenges. From the optimism of modernization theory to the critiques of dependency and structuralism, from the rise of neoliberalism and the ...

Chaos looms over the beloved realm of Zemia. As Darkness and Light confront their greatest challenge, the Chosen – Aiden, Anthony, and Julia – wield newfound powers to combat the encroaching forces. With a blend of magic, cultivation, and strategic brilliance, the trio must revolutionize armor designs and unlock ancient enchantments.

Early Film Directing Pioneers: The Complete Guide to the Directors, Innovations, and Films That Shaped Cinema is an essential resource for film lovers, students, and anyone curious about the origins of the movie industry. This comprehensive guide explores the groundbreaking work of early cinema’s most influential directors—from Thomas Edison and Georges Méliès to Charlie Chaplin and F.W. Murnau. Through ten in-depth chapters and a curated list of 25 must-see films, readers will discover how the foundations of modern filmmaking were laid through silent film, montage theory, German ...

Break the Code, Be Part of the Inner Circle Imagine a world where you have the power to create anything you can dream of, where your ideas come to life with just a few lines of code. Welcome to the exciting and boundless world of programming! If you are looking to start your journey into coding, "Code Breakers: Understanding The Language of Computers" is the perfect guidebook to help you navigate this exhilarating landscape. The goal of this book is to introduce you to the fundamentals of coding in a fun, engaging, and accessible way. But why learn to code, you might ask? In today's digital...

Unlock the Future of Finance: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Decentralized Finance (DeFi) Dive into the revolutionary world of decentralized finance with "Decentralized Finance (DeFi) Demystified: A Practical Guide to Financial Freedom." Whether you're a crypto enthusiast or a newcomer, this comprehensive guide is your ticket to navigating the complex yet rewarding landscape of DeFi with confidence and clarity. What You'll Discover Inside: Understanding DeFi: Learn the foundational principles and technologies behind DeFi, including blockchain basics, cryptocurrency, and smart contracts. Setting...

Strategic Briefs: Mergers, Acquisitions, and Joint Ventures How Smart Deals Drive Growth, Innovation, and Competitive Advantage In today’s fast-moving business landscape, strategic transactions are no longer optional—they’re essential. Yet despite their promise, most mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures fail to deliver lasting value. This book offers a clear-eyed, evidence-based guide to navigating the high-stakes world of corporate deal-making, tailored for managers who aspire to MBA-level insight without the jargon or academic detours.Drawing on over 100 years of M&A history, ...

American Musical Theatre History 1995–2010: A Complete Guide to Broadway’s New Millennium explores one of the most transformative eras in Broadway history. From the rise of Disney as a theatrical powerhouse to the daring innovation of new composers and storytellers, this book provides an in-depth look at how American musical theatre entered the new millennium with boldness, resilience, and global influence. Spanning fifteen years of productions, cultural shifts, and technological breakthroughs, this comprehensive guide covers: The arrival of Disney on Broadway with The Lion King, Aida, ...

When you have an idea for a new product, it’s a pivotal moment. This device of yours will enhance the lives of the people who use it, earn you extra money, and have a significant impact on the world. However, there’s much more to a successful product than the quality of the original idea. Why do some products fly off the shelves and others not even reach the market? That’s what this book will explain.

Great leaders of innovation know that creativity is not enough. They succeed not only on the basis of their ideas, but because they have the vision, reputation, and networks to win the backing needed to commercialize them. It turns out that this quality - called "innovation capital" - is measurably more important for innovation than just being creative. The authors have spent decades studying how people get great ideas (the subject of The Innovator's DNA) and how people test and develop those ideas (explored in The Innovator's Method).

Pinball Innovation: A Complete Look at Late Solid State Machines (1985–1991) Step into the transformative years of pinball’s late solid-state era with Pinball Innovation: A Complete Look at Late Solid State Machines (1985–1991). This comprehensive guide dives deep into the innovations, gameplay breakthroughs, and cultural shifts that defined pinball’s resurgence during the mid-to-late 1980s and early 1990s. Explore how pioneering titles from Williams, Bally, and Data East integrated advanced electronics, multiball complexity, licensed themes, and physical feedback—creating ...