Creating the Innovation Culture
Frances Horibe

Most organizations want people to conform to the organizational culture, to follow the rules, and perhaps most importantly, to not rock the boat. People are supposed to subordinate their desires, and ideas to those of their superiors. The problem is that this doesn't get the organization anywhere. It will keep on doing the same things over and over.

By definition people that want to do things differently disagree with the status quo. All too often this disagreement is seen as dissent, and is suppressed by the organizational norms. The organization that says it wants innovation, yet suppresses dissent is doomed to failure.

Ms Horibe thoroughly covers many aspects of dissent in this enjoyable book. She starts by discussing the need for innovation, and the dichotomy between innovation and organizational efficiency. She moves on to the need for and nature of dissent in an organization. How people discourage dissent, and how to manage an appropriate level of dissent are covered. Lastly she deals with identifying hidden dissent, bringing it into the open, and moving your organization toward being an innovative culture.

There are lots of dialogue examples, and they aren't simplistic. She fully recognizes the difficulties involved in confrontations involving dissent. Each chapter has a summary, and a listing of the main points. The book has an extensive index.

This is a very good book. It's clear, well organized, and well written. Excellent reading for managers.

John Wiley & Sons 2001
ISBN 0-471-64628-8