I have talked about one of my favorite books several times, recently I brought it up in the podcast interview with Phil Windley at Technometria. The book is by Peter Drucker and is titled Innovation and Entrepreneurship. I read this book some time ago and I recently decided to buy a replacement copy, I found it on Amazon for .73 cents. The shipping was significantly more than the book. The bookâhowever is invaluable. Here is an intro to one of the chapters to just whet your appetite:
The Practice of Innovation
Innovation is the specific tool of entrepreneurs, the means by which they exploit change as an opportunity for a different business or a different service. It is capable of being presented as a discipline, capable of being learned, capable of being practiced. Entrepreneurs need to search purposefully for the sources of innovation, the changes and their symptoms and indicate opportunities for successful innovation. And they need to know and to apply the principles of successful innovation.
Read this carefully. Very carefully. Innovation as a practice? This is uncommon thinking. He even blows away any traditional notion of entrepreneurship. I have added a lot to it but I strongly recommend it to anyone doing development. Gee, I think that would include a few of us eh?