Innovation as a distinct management discipline is moving from an academic concept into real-world practice, as many companies progress from a project-by-project approach to a more holistic management system. For a company to grow and renew itself, it must move beyond incremental innovation and build a sustainable capability for innovation. But how do you get started?

In this audio conference, Dr. Gina O’Connor shares insights gained from 15 years of research on how to evolve from an ad hoc, hit-and-miss approach to innovation, to a portfolio of options tied to a company’s strategic intent. This presentation discusses ways to create a more strategic, systematic approach to innovation, and how to orchestrate innovation capacity in response to both favorable and constrained business conditions.

This audio conference covers:

• Why a common language for the front end of innovation is critical
• Elements of an effective innovation system
• Which competencies need to be developed in Discovery, Incubation and Acceleration
• How to recognize innovation system imbalances and set appropriate system-level metrics
• Why Incubation is the missing link, and the importance of reducing uncertainty in resource and organization areas, in addition to market and technical dimensions

About the speaker:

Dr. Gina O'Connor is the Academic Director for the Radical Innovation Research Project, Associate Director of the Severino Center for Technological Entrepreneurship and an associate professor in the Lally School of Management and Technology at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York (RPI). She is a recognized thought leader in the field of innovation.

Dr. O'Connor has authored numerous articles on the subject, and been widely quoted in publications such as The Economist and Fast Company. Her book Grabbing Lightning: Building a Capability for Breakthrough Innovation won the Strategy + Business Magazine Innovation Award as one of 4 most influential books for 2008. She also co-authored the book Radical Innovation: How Mature Companies Can Outsmart Upstarts. Her executive education experience includes programs with companies such as General Motors, IBM and Albany International.

Prior to joining RPI in 1988, Dr. O'Connor earned her Ph.D. in Marketing and Corporate Strategy at New York University, and before that worked at McDonnell Douglas and Monsanto Chemical.

Who should attend?

• Chief Scientists
• VPs and Directors of Innovation and Strategy
• VPs and Directors of Business Development
• VPs and Directors of R&D
• VPs and Directors of Marketing

*Please note: Each registration covers one line connected to the audio conference. Attendees dialing from separate locations are required to have separate registrations.