In Built to Innovate, Ben M. Bensaou, a professor and former dean of Executive Education at INSEAD, offers a compelling blueprint for integrating continuous innovation into the heart of an organization. Alongside co-author Karl Weber, who has worked with notable figures like Jimmy Carter and Muhammad Yunus, Bensaou dives deep into the mechanics of innovation and how companies can develop the structures and mindsets needed to thrive in today’s fast-paced business landscape.
At a time when digital disruption and market shifts constantly challenge organizations, the book addresses a crucial question for business leaders: How can I create extra value for my company and its customers? Bensaou answers this by presenting nine essential practices adopted by some of the world’s most innovative companies, including industry giants like BASF, Marvel Studios, and Domino’s Pizza. Each practice is backed by practical, real-world examples of how these organizations have embedded innovation into their DNA.
The book is structured around a fundamental concept—balancing the execution engine and the innovation engine. While most organizations excel at the former, focusing on efficient delivery and operations, Bensaou emphasizes the need to build a robust innovation engine that drives forward-thinking strategies and keeps the company adaptable.
“Built to Innovate shows how leaders can create an innovating engine that mobilizes all the people who work for their organization. The book offers both a big-picture conceptual framework and a proven method developed through many years of academic research and practice. It is filled with interesting examples and is thought-provoking. It is a must-read.” - W. Chan Kim, BCG Chair Professor of INSEAD and World’s #1 Management Thinker by Thinkers50
The standout aspect of Built to Innovate is its holistic approach. Bensaou makes it clear that innovation isn’t just about breakthrough products or cutting-edge technologies. He broadens the lens to include everyday business processes such as customer service, finance, and talent development. Innovation, according to Bensaou, should permeate all layers of the organization, from top leadership to front-line employees.
A key section of the book highlights the importance of engaging everyone in innovation. Bensaou stresses that innovation isn’t the responsibility of a select few—every employee can and should contribute to the flow of ideas. By encouraging contributions from the front lines, companies can tap into a vast pool of creativity and insight. Bensaou’s focus on empowering coaches within organizations to foster a culture of experimentation and learning adds a unique dimension to the discussion. He advocates for establishing innovation coaches who can mentor teams, guiding them through the innovation process and helping to maintain momentum.
The book also introduces the three processes of innovation: idea generation, development, and realization. These processes are interlinked, with Bensaou providing actionable steps for each phase. By developing a pipeline that keeps ideas flowing, businesses can ensure a steady stream of innovative projects that align with long-term goals. This focus on structured innovation avoids the common pitfall of sporadic, unfocused efforts that may not lead to tangible results.
Bensaou’s insights are highly practical, offering tools and frameworks for implementing innovation at every level. The book serves as a hands-on guide for leaders looking to foster creativity, adaptability, and resilience in their organizations. His case studies—whether it's Marvel Studios reinventing the superhero genre or Domino’s Pizza embracing digital transformation—bring the concepts to life, showing how innovation can fuel sustained competitive advantage.
“Innovation is a core challenge for all leaders, and I am focused on it as governor of Japan’s No.1 industrial center, which is aiming to shape the world’s foremost and unparalleled startups ecosystem. Ben M. Bensaou’s Built to Innovate offers insights into the why, the how, and the who of innovating that leaders in business, the nonprofit sector, and government alike are sure to find compelling and powerful.” - Hideaki Ohmura, Governor, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
In conclusion, Built to Innovate is a valuable resource for business leaders, managers, and entrepreneurs seeking to embed innovation into their company’s culture and operations. Bensaou’s emphasis on creating an organization-wide commitment to innovation, coupled with his detailed breakdown of actionable practices, makes this book an essential read for those aiming to thrive in an era of constant change. It is not merely a theoretical exploration of innovation but a tactical playbook that helps leaders drive transformation from within.
Key takeaways:
Dual Engines for Success:
Companies need to build both an execution engine (operational efficiency) and an innovation engine (continuous innovation). The former focuses on delivering current business results, while the latter ensures future growth and adaptability.
Innovation Beyond Products:
Innovation isn't limited to product development or technological breakthroughs. It should be applied across all areas, including business models, customer service, distribution, finance, and talent development.
Nine Essential Practices for Innovation:
Bensaou outlines nine key practices used by leading innovative companies like BASF, Marvel Studios, and Whirlpool. These include building innovation processes, engaging everyone in the organization, and fostering an innovation culture.
Engaging Everyone in Innovation:
Innovation is not the sole responsibility of a specific department or leadership team. It should be democratized, with employees at all levels encouraged to generate ideas and participate in the innovation process.
Empowering Coaches:
Internal innovation coaches are crucial to fostering a culture of creativity and experimentation. These coaches mentor teams, help them navigate the innovation process, and ensure that ideas are nurtured and developed effectively.
The Three Innovation Processes:
The book emphasizes a structured approach to innovation with three main processes:
Idea Generation – Encouraging and collecting innovative ideas from within the organization.
Development – Turning ideas into workable concepts through testing and refinement.
Realization – Implementing and scaling the best ideas into successful products, services, or processes.
Creating a Culture of Innovation:
Building an innovation-driven culture requires leadership to be proactive, promoting a safe environment for experimentation and learning from failure. The goal is to make innovation a daily habit, not an occasional effort.
Generating Ideas from the Front Line:
Employees who are directly engaged with customers and day-to-day operations are often the best sources of innovative ideas. Bensaou stresses the importance of listening to and empowering these employees to contribute.
Catalyzing the Innovation Process:
Organizations must continually drive the innovation process forward. Leaders play a critical role in catalyzing innovation by removing obstacles, securing resources, and aligning innovation efforts with strategic goals.
Continuous Flow of Innovation:
To maintain a competitive edge, innovation must be ongoing. Companies should build systems that encourage a constant flow of ideas and ensure that innovation becomes a permanent, scalable part of their operations.
Real-World Examples:
The book provides practical case studies from companies like Domino's Pizza and Bayer, demonstrating how these organizations successfully wired innovation into their operations and achieved significant competitive advantages.
Innovation as a Response to Market Changes:
Bensaou highlights how innovation helps companies adapt to market disruptions, changing customer needs, and new competition. This proactive approach ensures resilience and long-term success in rapidly evolving industries.
The book is available for purchase on Amazon and other leading bookstores worldwide. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the essential practices for building innovation into your company's DNA. Click here to buy: https://tinyurl.com/bp7sdfjr
About the Authors:
Ben M. Bensaou is a distinguished academic and thought leader in the fields of technology management and innovation, currently serving as a Professor at INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France. He also held the position of Dean of Executive Education from 2018 to 2020. Over the years, his academic journey has spanned some of the most prestigious institutions worldwide. He was a Visiting Associate Professor at Harvard Business School (1998-1999), a Senior Fellow at Wharton School of Management (2007-2008), and a Visiting Scholar at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business (2013-2015).
Bensaou’s academic foundation is as impressive as his teaching and research record. He earned a PhD in Management from the MIT Sloan School of Management, complemented by an MA in Management Science from Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo. Additionally, he holds advanced engineering degrees from two of France's elite institutions, ENTPE Lyon and INPG Grenoble.
Renowned for his work on innovation, Bensaou's research focuses on how companies can develop the capabilities to become innovative at their core. He delves into organizational innovation, examining the processes that drive company-wide transformation and foster a culture of continuous creativity. His studies on building social capital within firms and exploring new organizational forms—such as networked corporations, strategic alliances, and joint ventures—are widely respected, particularly his comparative analysis of Japanese firms.
Bensaou’s accolades reflect his impactful work. His groundbreaking research on buyer-supplier relations in the U.S. and Japanese auto industries earned him the Best Doctoral Dissertation Award in Information Systems and a finalist honor for the Free Press Award for business strategy research. His teaching materials have also been recognized, with multiple Best-Case Awards at The Case Centre for his work on innovation. He has contributed extensively to top-tier journals such as Academy of Management Journal, Strategic Management Journal, and Harvard Business Review, and served on the editorial boards of several leading publications, including MIS Quarterly and Information Systems Research.
With a global perspective and deep expertise, Bensaou continues to influence how organizations approach innovation in the digital age.
Karl Weber is a writer and editor who specializes in business, politics, and social issues. He has worked with authors including former president Jimmy Carter and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus.
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