Summary

Designed to meet the increasing number of courses in this vitally important area of business, Innovation Management is the first text to provide full course coverage of innovation management as its core theme. Drawing from his professional and academic experience, Allan Afuah shows the relationship between innovation, a management function, and profitability, a financial function. He creates a framework to encompass the basic questions of the who, what, when, and where of innovation, combining the latest theoretical discussions with abundant examples. Because of its integrative presentation, the text takes a unique multi-functional approach, covering the important contributions of economics, organizational theory, marketing, and finance to innovation management. This approach provides the student with a full presentation of appropriate management theory, as well as detailed coverage of practical concerns such as the role of government regulation, choosing a profit site, and the transfer of innovation. The impact of the public and international sectors are highlighted with chapters on globalization, innovation in emerging economies, and the role of government in promoting innovation. In addition to the strong analytical and theoretical foundation, Innovation Management offers many pedagogical examples. Most chapters conclude with short practice cases designed to supplement the numerous examples within each chapter. These cases are then followed by a list of key terms and questions to stimulate discussion. The author also includes an extended case on the Netscape Corporation. Because of the crucial importance of innovation, the key to gaining and maintaining a competitive advantage in the business world, Innovation Management is an ideal text for business school programs and provides guidance for executives and managers looking to understand the value of innovation.