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The Biggest Obstacles to Innovation in Large Companies

Harvard Business Review

It turns out that the word “innovation” is not a Harry Potter-esque magical incantation that, once spoken, renders companies more inventive, creative, and entrepreneurial. It can be emblazoned on the door to a new innovation center in Silicon Valley. Yes, even Toys R Us had a head of innovation.).

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Innovation Should Be a Top Priority for Boards. So Why Isn’t It?

Harvard Business Review

Corporate directors and executives alike recognize that today’s pace of change continues to accelerate and that firms need to innovate to stay ahead. But are boards doing enough to support innovation, as they should? We found that, overall, innovation does not rank as a top strategic challenge for the majority of boards.

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The Alchemy of Culture: 4 Key Ingredients from the Founder of Qor

Steve Farber

And that’s a good thing to keep in mind if you want to help build an innovative culture. And we know his latest venture, men’s sports apparel startup, Qor (pronounced “core”), is already achieving over 30% yearly growth in part because it’s replicating the Athleta culture of caring. Know that love matters.

Apparel 40
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Smarter Retailing via (Un)conventional Thinking

Harvard Business Review

So retailers manage their supply chains and overhead costs with a tight fist. The large UK retailer, owned by Wal-mart, lowered its 2010 expenses by over ÂŁ70 million ($110 million) through energy and waste reduction throughout its retail footprint of 500 stores. Consider Asda. The secret to the company's success at cost reduction?

Retail 15
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Luxury Brands Can No Longer Ignore Sustainability

Harvard Business Review

If I asked you to picture the consumer luxury market, you might imagine jewels, sports cars, watches, premium drinks, high-end shoes and apparel, and so on. But according to a new report, 2016 Predictions for the Luxury Industry: Sustainability and Innovation , that sustainability gap is closing fast.

Brand 8
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We Need to Ask How We Can Make Economic Growth More Inclusive

Harvard Business Review

Innovation abounds (especially in technology) and new value is being created hand over fist — yet the resulting wealth gains go to the few, while the many wind up financially worse off. This vexing global challenge causes me to wonder, “What if the world’s innovators turned their sights on solving this problem?

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Growth Needs to Come from the Entire Company

Harvard Business Review

Consider the sports apparel company Under Armour. In everything it does, the company pays as much attention to its growth engine — its ability to manage innovation and launch consistently valuable products — as in any particular garment or device it sells. One recent example is the collapse of SunEdison.