John Bessant

Originally a chemical engineer, John has been active in research, teaching, and consultancy in technology and innovation management for over 30 years. He currently holds the Chair in Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Exeter University where he continues to work on a variety of research topics including humanitarian innovation, user-led innovation in healthcare and enabling high involvement innovation across organizations. John is the author of over 30 books and monographs and many articles on the topic and has lectured and consulted widely around the world. His most recent books include “Managing Innovation” (John Wiley, now in its 5th edition), “Innovation and Entrepreneurship” (John Wiley, 3rd edition) and “Creativity for Innovation Management” (Routledge). You can find out more and read his blog at www.johnbessant.org.

John's Posts

The Innovation Manager

How crisis-driven innovation can help your organization

A note from the author: I first wrote this blog as the basis for a talk in the UK last year when the only thing worrying...

How Do You Create an Innovation Culture?
People & Culture

How Do You Create an Innovation Culture?

This is the second part of a two-part series in building an innovation culture. Make sure to read Part 1: What You Need ...

What You Need to Know Before Creating an Innovation Culture
The Innovation Manager

What You Need to Know Before Creating an Innovation Culture

Raise your hand if you don't want an innovation culture in your organization.

Innovation and the Goalkeeper’s Fear of the Penalty
The Innovation Manager

Innovation and the Goalkeeper’s Fear of the Penalty

Some football-related thoughts as the world turns its attention to the 2018 FIFA World Cup over the next few weeks. Ther...

The Power of Problem Exploration
The Innovation Manager

The Power of Problem Exploration

"‘Houston, we’ve had a problem here." John Swigert’s famous words, delivered in a voice as calm and clear as the mountai...

How the 'Not Invented Here' Syndrome Impacts Innovation Success
People & Culture

How the 'Not Invented Here' Syndrome Impacts Innovation Success

Getting past the 'corporate immune system' Imagine the scene. A warm summer’s day. The tree-lined slopes of gentle hills...

How to Use Crowdsourcing for Humanitarian Efforts
Ideation & Collaboration

How to Use Crowdsourcing for Humanitarian Efforts

That old saying - "many hands make light work" - takes on a particular meaning in the world of innovation. Faced with op...

How 3 Companies Sustained Innovation Success
Strategy & Alignment

How 3 Companies Sustained Innovation Success

  Next time you switch on your TV or computer display, spare a thought for the company who probably produced the liquid ...

How Continuous Improvement is Dependent on the Details
The Innovation Manager

How Continuous Improvement is Dependent on the Details

 The Tour de France is a gruelling race, clawing your way up mountains, pounding along mile after mile of roads – and al...

Flirting with ideas
Ideation & Collaboration

Flirting with ideas

Vienna. 1926 and Slawa Duldig was looking forward to a pleasant Sunday walk in the gardens of the Kunst Historisches Mus...

What is Free Innovation?
Trends & Future Thinking

What is Free Innovation?

Kittihawk, 1903.  Wilbur and Orville Wright, up at an insanely early 5am, listening to the wind singing in the wires of ...