Corporate Innovation in the Fifth Era: Lessons from Alphabet/Google, Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Microsoft

234 Pages·2017·3.286 MB·English

by  Matthew Le Merle, Alison Davis

PRAISE FOR
CORPORATE INNOVATION IN THE FIFTH ERA
“Le Merle and Davis have really hit the mark with Corporate Innovation in
the Fifth Era – they have managed to capture the essential dynamics that got
us here and the innovation imperative that we must all embrace to move
forward, particularly the notion that the C-team must view and act on
innovation as a must-have priority. In 20+ years of working with top teams
throughout Silicon Valley and the world, I’ve seen again and again that it is
the mindsets and orientation of senior executives that catalyze change in the
systems they lead. Not only do they understand this and the challenges
associated with it, they thoughtfully lay out a process for how to do it.”
Andrew Blum, CEO/Managing Partner Trium Group
“This book is a truly stimulating narrative that creatively connects the dots
and contextualizes human behavior. It is a must-read for any business
student, CEO or general public (it’s a fun, fast whirlwind of a read) interested
in the effects of technology (both digital and biotech) on our world. It
inspired me to not only think differently about the local and global worlds we
live in, but possible ways of thinking about their connectivity, as we actively
participate as engaged citizens in the creation of our future.”
Cari Borja, Anthropologist
“Must-read for corporate executives and individuals focused on creating
wealth by leveraging breakthroughs in technology innovation in the ‘Fifth
Era.’ Provides practical, actionable, tools and techniques for instilling a
sustainable internal innovation strategy and culture in corporate
environments, as well as a comprehensive toolkit to access and leverage
external innovation.”
Patrick Byrne, Investor/Board Member,
Former Senior Partner Accenture/A.T. Kearney
“One of those rare business books that is consistently thought-provoking
while also being pragmatic in suggesting actions that corporate leaders can
implement straight away. And it is an easy and fun book to read too.”
Ranjana Clark, Bay Area President/Head of Transaction Banking
Americas Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group
“Matthew and Alison’s immersion in entrepreneurialism as investors,
advisors and board members over 20+ years affords them unique insights into
the strategies companies must embrace to prepare for and leverage disruptive
innovations that will emerge from the confluence of digital and
biotechnology.
Coupled with empirical evidence from top innovators including Apple,
Google/Alphabet and Microsoft, Corporate Innovation in the Fifth Era
provides pragmatic guidance relevant to everyone from entrepreneurs,
investors and business leaders to those seeking strategies to participate in this
next phase of unprecedented growth and value creation.”
Shirley Foster, VP Mobile Engineering
American Express
“The secret sauce that makes a consistently successful innovative company is
one of the most explored and least understood questions the business elite is
confronted with when preparing for the digital revolution. This is now
changing with this book: in 250 pages it gives them – and you - the insights
they would pay millions of dollars for.”
Dr. Roman Friedrich, Managing Director AlixPartners
“Le Merle and Davis draw on their wealth of experience to produce a book
that synthesizes how and why companies succeed, and fail, in today’s
innovation-centric economy. A book that should be widely read by all those
attempting to navigate the Fifth Era.”
Tim Jenkinson, Professor of Finance
Oxford University
“An excellent job of presenting what the subtitle calls ‘lessons from the most
innovative companies’. The book is comprehensive providing societal and
geopolitical perspectives as context for specific examples and suggestions for
corporate leaders to drive innovation.”
Philipp Jung, Chief Strategy Officer HP Inc.
“The authors have been focused on innovation for most of their working
careers. They clearly outline the lessons they have learned as investors,
advisors and board directors and share pragmatic suggestions for ways that
leaders can take action.”
Aliza Knox, COO Unlockd, Formerly VP AsiaPacific Twitter
“If you are looking for a blueprint to support your company’s innovation
strategy—this book is it. It delivers a powerful one-two punch because it
provides context and perspective into the cultural drivers that shape change
and enable growth. It also delivers the specific necessary steps leaders need
to adopt to compete. This book should be required reading for MBA students
and current business leaders.”
Debbie Kristofferson, VP Marketing Drip Drop Hydration,
Former VP Peets/Walmart.com
“How could any business person not be interested in learning the lessons of
the most innovative and most valuable companies in the world? This book is
full of pragmatic suggestions for readying companies for a new world of
disruptive innovations.”
Janet Lamkin, Bank Executive
“In a world of continuous, convulsive change, Le Merle and Davis cut
through the fog with a compelling assessment of the big change drivers and
how they will shape the new challenges and opportunities ahead. This tour de
force is a must-read for anyone who wants to succeed in a confused and
troubled world.”
Paul Laudicina, Chairman Global Business Policy Council,
Chairman Emeritus, A.T. Kearney
“This book contains a great selection of lessons learned by some of the
world’s largest and most profitable companies. Learning how and why those
lessons lead to successful innovation is the key – and this book is a front row
seat.”
Dan’l Lewin, Corporate Vice President Technology/
Civic Engagement Microsoft
“The authors paint a compelling and provocative picture of the next era for
business, when compounding innovations fundamentally disrupt the world.
Fasten your seatbelts for when Generation C (those born digital after 1990)
take charge. Le Merle and Davis provide an easily readable and practical
guide to the wild ride ahead.”
Lenny Mendonca, Retired Senior Partner McKinsey and
Company
“This book offers business leaders a well-defined, articulate toolkit for
cultivating corporate innovation. It takes a refreshing, long-term look at
humanity’s innovation, combining business and case studies with the authors’
experiences and observations of broader trends.”
Christopher Pencavel, GM Zesty
“Le Merle and Davis have given us that most precious of commodities – a
book that genuinely makes you sit back and think. Yes, it probably has great
value in the world of corporate finance. The zeitgeist of corporate innovation
is both seductive and compelling, but it has equal value for policy makers. It
highlights that, in the move to a Fifth Era, the train with carriages marked
‘global connectivity,’ ‘automation’ and ‘corporate wealth creation’ has left
the station. And that dealing with the social challenges of wealth
(re)distribution, of mass unemployment in traditional labor markets, and of a
global shift in the geo-strategic economic power base is the political
challenge of the 21st century.”
Lieutenant General Nick Pope, Deputy Chief of the General Staff,
British Army
“This book persuasively shows the risk to companies that fail to innovate,
and the importance of embedding innovation deeply in corporate strategy. It
also goes further, providing tools and pathways that can help companies
design and execute innovation strategies. While the term innovation is over-
used, its importance is growing as economic change accelerates. Le Merle
and Davis provide a service by distilling the process to its essentials, and
presenting it in a practical and highly accessible narrative.”
Sean Randolph, Senior Director Bay Area Council Economic
Institute
“Alison Davis and Matthew Le Merle bring three critical credentials to this
authoritative and accessible handbook on how to explore and exploit in the
era of disruption, the power of empirical evidence with numerous case
studies to authenticate their insights, the virtue of their location which is the
world’s game-changing centre of gravity, and their parentage of five splendid
Generation C(licker)’s.
For the corporation making better bets on the future this is a must-read;
likewise for humankind wanting to speed date this future.”
Ruth Richardson, Principal Ruth Richardson [NZ] Ltd, Former
New Zealand Minister of Finance
“At Alphabet and Google, we work with companies of all sizes around the
world. The desire to enable and capitalize on innovation is a unifying theme
for all of them. This book will help senior executives and board members
lead their companies in this new era of faster change and innovation.”
Allan Thygesen, President Americas Google,
Lecturer Stanford Graduate School of Business
“Even the most innovative companies usually stagnate and then die as scale
and complexity come to defeat their innovative capacities. Corporate
Innovation in the Fifth Era provides a deep analysis of the barriers to
innovation and most importantly the strategies for overcoming those barriers.
Le Merle and Davis have given every business leader concerned with
innovation in large organizations a powerful set of tools for driving that
innovation to fruition.”
Peter Schwartz, SVP Strategic Planning Salesforce
“Le Merle and Davis have been focused on innovation in Silicon Valley for
30 years. This book shares with everyone the lessons they have learned as
investors, advisors and board directors. Very insightful and pragmatic
suggestions for readying companies for a new world of disruptive
innovations.”
Carola Wahl, CTMO AXA Switzerland,
Member of the Board AXA Strategic Ventures
“Thought-provoking and entertaining. A ‘must-read’ for any C suite
executive or board member interested in innovation!”
John Wilson, President Hyannis Port Capital, Former COO Gap
and President Staples International
Also by Matthew C. Le Merle and Alison Davis
Build Your Fortune in the Fifth Era
© Copyright 2017
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means,
including scanning, photocopying, or otherwise without prior written permission of the copyright
holder.
First Printing 2017
ISBN: 978-0-9861613-7-7 (paperback K)
ISBN: 978-0-9861613-8-4 (hardbound)
ISBN: 978-0-9861613-9-1 (paperback X)
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.
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Cover design: Katherine Masters
Interior design: Sue Balcer