[lhpz]

There is one very important book missing from this list: Diffusion of Innovation by Everett Rogers (1). Most of the innovation teaching in business schools today, is directly inspired from this book, first published in 1962. You’d be surprised that the fundamentals of Rogers’ diffusion of innovations theory have not changed that much over the years but are still extremely useful today; only the communication channels have changed. The human psychology (early adopters/laggards) or the sociology remain the same. Most people adopt innovations only after they’ve seen the benefits in action in their close friends or relative circles. Hence the importance of social networks for the diffusion of innovations, not to be restricted to early 21st century Facebook style digital social networks.

This theory also explains why innovators should target niche markets, and then expand to larger markets, and not the other way around. It is much easier to overcome the inevitable resistance to change on a specialized niche market, and then the social network effect will help with adoption on larger and larger circles.

(1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everett_Rogers

[rramadass]

Thanks for pointing this out (had not known of this). I am generally prejudiced against most modern authors on innovation simply because i don't see broad sweep nor depth in their presentations; there are just one or two ideas which are unnecessarily dragged out to make a book. Hence i am always interested in going back to the classics/originals which had played a pivotal role in establishing the whole domain.

[lhpz]

If you're interested in the history of Innovation, there is another great reference to add to your list:

Technological Revolutions and Financial Capital: The Dynamics of Bubbles and Golden Ages, by Carlota Perez

This is a bedside book for any Venture Capitalist interested in the various phases a major innovation goes through. Investment bubbles being one of these phases.