Week 3 Reading Reflection

1. The biggest surprise in the reading were the Corporate Innovator's Commandments. These commandments make it seem like corporate innovators have no one job. They should not focus just  on their job title, because in reality their job is to be the innovators. In order to do this, they must be able to be creative and think outside the box. I understand and agree with the commandments, but I did not expect to read anything like them in this textbook.

2. One part of the reading that was confusing to me was table 3.2 about sources and solutions to obstacles in corporate innovation. Some of the traditional management practices seem to me like very good ideas, but the book shows the adverse effects that can come from these practices. I was confused about how some of these practices could actually hurt innovation, even after reading this section.

3. If I could ask anything to the author, I would ask him to explain in more detail how large companies are using the techniques he explained in the book to become great innovators and stay in the forefront of their markets. Also, I would ask the author how corporate leaders can keep the structure of their companies while still being able to allow people to be creative and work outside of their primary job focus.

4. I agree with most of what the author wrote, but I do not think that companies are being as innovative as this book makes it seem. I believe that large companies are shifting their thought process to begin to be more innovative, and opened minded with their employees' ideas, but I do not think that they have made an extreme change. Overall, I think companies are still very structured around a normal routine, and I do not think that employees are given the freedom to think outside the box, and to work on projects outside of what they are normally working on.