The Science of Serendipity: How to Unlock the Promise of Innovation

Introduction The Real Heroes of Innovation

What could be more exciting than starting with a blank sheet of paper and creating something of real value? Making something out of nothing, pointing to something that's in the marketplace and saying ‘I did that’.

In life, there isn't much that's more exciting than this.

Being in the right place at the right time, seeing what no one else has seen, connecting the dots and having the perseverance to drive an idea all the way to launch and commercial success. This is the entrepreneur story that we know well.

But somehow this story has been stolen by the start-up. The word ‘entrepreneur’ or even ‘innovation’ has become synonymous with supercool, hyperintelligent and astonishingly young guys making millions.

I want to explore something that's equally as challenging as the startup story and – if you get it right – highly rewarding. I want to explore the story of innovation in large organisations where the need to refresh is ever-present. All companies were start-ups once and for many of them that spirit lies dormant, waiting to be reactivated.

This book gets under the skin of how you can make innovation really happen in organisations that have an embedded operational mindset. In my experience these are generally large organisations. I hope you find it a practical book, rich in the stories and lessons learned from the frontline of corporate innovation.

Established companies have their own rhythm and new suggestions are often met with crossed ...