These top Jeanne Liedtka’s books are a great source of information on innovation and design thinking.
Design thinking books continue to be a popular topic on our blog, as many find them a useful way to learn about innovation and how to apply these techniques to organizational or personal challenges. We believe this literature can help you discover new practices and tools that may supercharge your efforts to innovate or think about something in a new way. Professor Jeanne Liedtka is an American author and Professor of Business Administration at the Darden School of the University of Virginia who has written a range of design thinking and innovation books we find valuable. Today, we’ll highlight her current selection of innovation books with information on how to purchase them.
Designing for Growth: A Design Thinking Tool Kit for Managers
This design thinking toolkit has many useful tools and techniques for applying design thinking in practical business applications. Co-authored with Tim Ogilvie, the guide explores the connection between design and growth, and teaches managers how to exploit design’s potential. Find it here on Amazon.
The Designing for Growth Field Book: A Step-by-Step Project Guide
This project guide is a stand-alone workbook with a step-by-step framework for applying the Design for Growth process to a particular project. Readers will learn to identify an opportunity, draft a design brief, conduct research, brainstorm, develop concepts, make prototypes, and run learning launches. Find it here on Amazon.
Experiencing Design: The Innovator’s Journey
“Go deep with design” in this more advanced guide by Liedtka, along with Karen Hold and Jessica Eldridge. Drawing on decades of research, the authors show how to create deep experiences at every stage of the design thinking journey and the mindset shifts needed to be achieved. Find it here on Amazon.
Design Thinking for the Greater Good: Innovation in the Social Sector
Social sector organizations can learn how and why to use new tools to reframe problems, ideate solutions, and iterate toward better answers. Real world examples pave the way for a practical roadmap to implement these tools. Find it here on Amazon.
Solving Problems with Design Thinking: Ten Stories of What Works
If you want real-world examples of managers using design thinking to solve problems, this book is for you. Hear from established brands like Toyota as well as entrepreneurial start-ups and government and social sector organizations. This advice is for you, no matter where you are in your own journey. Find it here on Amazon.
The Physics of Business Growth: Mindsets, System, and Processes
Learn how to create growth in today’s business environment. The book’s three step formula is easy to understand and has been proven to guide leaders in creating the right mindsets, building a growth system, and putting in place processes that identify opportunities and launch experiments. Find it here on Amazon.
Innovation Assessment
Liedtka and her team of collaborators also have a design thinking assessment that builds on the years of research and analysis provided in both her role and books. The assessment can help you figure out where you are in terms of design thinking competency. The report will identify current areas of strength, blind spots that are holding you back, and behavior changes that may be necessary to innovate. It will also provide a personal development plan you can use to kickstart your own innovation efforts.
Learn more about this assessment in the video below.
You can learn more about the Innovation Impact assessment or just take it using this link here.
Conclusion
These design thinking and innovation books are great additions to your reading list! For more resources and advice, be sure to check out our blog. If you are interested in learning more or getting help developing a custom innovation workshop or design thinking training session, Innovation Training can help. Contact us online today to learn how to get started.