Two Experts Publish Book Listing Key Concepts in the Emerging New Field of Innovation in Business and Industry

    SAN DIEGO, CA, October 06, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Innovation has become a key driver in the global economy and a rapidly emerging field of study in business and engineering schools worldwide.

Its key terms and concepts are frequently mentioned in business, in the media and in politics, and innovation research has now become a popular area of academic interest.

Now two experts in the field of innovation have published a complete list of concepts in the field by connecting the business and engineering approaches to innovation, a connection that had heretofore been missing from the classroom and the workplace.

Zunaira Munir and Hamsa Thota are the authors of "Key Concepts in Innovation," published by Palgrave McMillan and available at major booksellers online.

The 326-page volume is the latest in the Palgrave Key Concepts series of books available from the publisher.

"The purpose of the book is to create a comprehensive list of key concepts that bring together both business and engineering approaches to innovation, and to clear up the confusion about their meaning and about the context in which they are used," said Munir. "In business schools, innovation is taught by management and marketing faculty. In engineering, it is taught by engineering faculty, who focus more on the design and management of technology.

"Our book clarifies and codifies the innovation terms used in these fields, and it is a valuable addition to current textbooks used for innovation," said Munir. "To our knowledge, this is the first systematic attempt to integrate the key concepts in innovation."

The book offers a number of features that make it a reference tool:

- The glossary simultaneously integrates both engineer and business approaches to innovation;
- Entries are cross-referenced throughout the book; and
- Concepts are organized alphabetically for ease of use.

The book is an ideal companion for both students learning about innovation and entrepreneurs and other practitioners who are already actively involved in the field.

Most of the entries in the new book are taken from other books or journals and in a few cases from long-established websites.

The book includes practical examples of innovation in the corporate world along with individual glossary references to demonstrate the conversion of theory into practice by leading organizations.

"We are confident that our readers who are innovation practitioners will draw inspiration from such examples, and become motivated to apply the relevant concepts to the benefit of their own organizations," said Munir.

About the Authors
Zunaira Munir is managing director of Strategize Blue based in San Diego, California (www.strategizeblue.com). She is a senior member of the Global Blue Ocean Strategy Network, and has consulted with a number of Fortune 500 companies, including Intel Corp., CocaCola Co., Hewlett Packard Co. and Pfizer Inc.

Hamsa Thota is president of Innovation Business Development Inc. (www.innovationbd.com). He is a senior fellow at the Kellogg Innovation Network at Northwestern University and was a member of the National Innovation Initiative of the Council on Competitiveness.

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