Executive Thought Leadership

There is no substitute for innovation. Organizations must always focus on the future and stay ahead of market transitions by developing and executing on ideas that look years, not months, ahead. I believe the best time to change, take risks, or innovate is during the good times. If you want to stay competitive, it is important to have the courage to innovate on a continual basis—during good times as well as times of dramatic change. You may not be able to predict the future, but you can certainly get the trends right and then innovate to be a leader in any area.

Some might look at the Internet and say it’s an old story. But what they miss is that we have barely scratched the surface of how the network will transform the way we live, work, play, and learn. New technologies and capabilities change everything from the way we conduct business, to how we are entertained, to our interactions with our families and in our communities. The opportunities for innovation are endless, and we are just beginning to understand what is possible.

Committing your organization to a culture of innovation is the best way to embrace the opportunities the future holds. In many cases, this involves careful self-examination and planned, holistic change. Fortunately, the network’s connectivity and collaboration capabilities make it possible to lead change within your business more effectively than ever before.

In this issue of the Executive Thought Leadership Quarterly, we offer perspectives on different aspects of innovation in an effort to help you as you make your plans for the future.

Dan Scheinman, senior vice president, Corporate Development, examines how leading companies find and develop their next great innovations by reaching out to their customers and partners.

Marthin DeBeer, vice president and general manager, Emerging Markets Technology Group, discusses the importance of complementing other important business growth strategies with internal technical innovation.

Michel Langlois, senior vice president, Network Software and Systems Technology Group, reflects on his experiences successfully leading change in large, established organizations.

Thomas Lam, president, Cisco Systems China, looks at the preparations China is making as it moves from a center of manufacturing excellence to a global leader in innovation.

George S. Day, Geoffrey T. Boisi Professor of Marketing at the Wharton School and co-director of the Mack Center for Technology Innovation, and Paul J. H. Schoemaker, PhD, founder, chairman, and CEO of Decision Strategies International, Inc., and research director of the Mack Center for Technology Innovation at the Wharton School, offer some guidance to help keep companies on the right track, especially during periods of rapid innovation.

Roger Farnsworth, executive editor, provides his perspective on the day-to-day opportunities for innovation in the business place.

I hope you enjoy this issue of the Executive Thought Leadership Quarterly .