Strategic Management of Innovation and Design

There is now widespread agreement that innovation holds the key to future economic and social prosperity in developed countries. Experts studying contemporary capitalism also agree that the battle against unemployment and relocations can only be won through innovation. But what kind of innovation is required and what is the best way to manage, steer and organize it? Grounded on experiences of innovative firms and based on recent design theories, this book argues that instead of relying on traditional R&D and project management techniques, the strategic management of innovation must be based on innovative design activities. It analyses and explains new management principles and techniques that deal with these activities, including innovation fields, lineages, C-K (Concept-Knowledge) diagrams and design spaces. The book is ideal for advanced courses in innovation management in industrial design schools, business schools, engineering schools, as well as managers looking to improve their practice.

'This timely study proposes an important new perspective on strategic management grounded in both empirical work and in the theory of design. It integrates research on knowledge and creative thinking to develop a radically different approach to the current challenges facing both managers and management researchers.' Ken Starkey, Nottingham University Business School, 'This book, which has been well translated from the original French would make an excellent text for a graduate level course in innovation management or for practitioners seeking new ideas and inspiration and is recommended reading for all with an interest in design research and practice.' Dorian Marjanovic, The Design Society Newsletter

Pascal Le Masson is Professor of Design, Innovation and Management at Mines ParisTech. He is a professor of the Chair of Design Theory and Methods for Innovation and the head of the Engineering Design and Management Curricula. His work focuses on the management of innovative design capabilities. He is working with leading companies in innovation management (such as Renault, STmicroelectronics, Dassault Systèmes, Saab Aerospace, Schlumberger, Vallourec–Mannesmann and Areva), in partnerships with a number of leading universities, including Chalmers University of Technology, Aachen RWTH, Stanford University, Carnegie Mellon and Tel Aviv University. Benoit Weil is Professor of Design and Management at the Centre for Management Science (CGS) at École des Mines, Paris. Armand Hatchuel is Professor of Industrial Design and Management and Deputy Director of the Centre for Management Science (CGS) at École des Mines, Paris.