Closing The Innovation Gap
Judy Estrin?s new book Closing the Innovation Gap is the latest in a robust surge of books, papers, articles and pronouncements concerning the dire consequences of anemic innovation by U.S. business.
Closing the Innovation Gap. A book by Judy Estrin.
Estrin addresses what Andy Grove, cofounder of Intel describes as ?the level of short-sightedness surrounding us.? She offers the methods for ?reigniting the spark of creativity in a global economy.?
Highly qualified to write this book because of her been-there-done-that background, she cofounded seven technology companies, was chief technology officer at Cisco Systems, and serves on the boards of The Walt Disney Corporation and FedEx Corporation.
Her book comes alive with the flavoring of anecdotes and personal experiences that began in a family steeped in science. Her father was one of the founders of UCLA?s computer science department. Her mother got her Ph.D in electrical engineering, only the second woman in the country to earn such a degree. Her older sister is a doctor of internal medicine. Her younger sister is a professor of computer science.
Estrin contends that innovation grows from the interplay of three drivers of creative change?research, development, and application. She explains how these communities must work together to create sustainable innovation.
In order to take root, she says, innovation requires flexible, open, less hierarchical processes, with leaders who see their primary role as being supportive rather than directive. She quotes Google CEO Eric Schmidt as describing his company as poorly managed by design.
Bob Iger, CEO, The Walt Disney Company, said this about Estrin?s book:
?She has zeroed in on the lack of long-term thinking in business and culture that is one of the gravest problems we face today. Her urgent call to action is a must-read for anyone interested in fostering and accelerating innovation in their business or organization.