Driven by Difference
How Great Companies Fuel Innovation Through Diversity
This book draws upon the latest research on cultural intelligence to describe how to leverage the power of cultural differences to drive innovation. Based on extensive research and filled with examples and case studies from around the world, learn how to create a strategy for culturally intelligent innovation.
Based on extensive research of more than 50,000 global professionals across 72 countries, Driven by Difference provides an innovative, scientific approach for how organizations can catalyze innovation and growth through the power of difference.
Despite the enthusiasm surrounding the value of diversity, diversity doesn’t always work out so great for many organizations. In fact, diverse teams underperform homogenous teams unless they have high levels of cultural intelligence or CQ.
Drawing on a vast body of research into creativity, innovation, and social psychology as well as success stories from Google, Alibaba, Novartis, IKEA, P&G, and many others, Driven by Difference explains how leaders can catalyze innovation and growth by developing a strategy for culturally intelligent innovation.
Learn how to:
- Create physical environments where focused thinking is fostered among diverse teams
- Learn to see things as others do, including customers from a variety of backgrounds
- Redesign the physical space to serve as an idea incubator
- Build trust among diverse colleagues and clients
- Generate new ideas from diverse teams, and select and pitch the most promising ones
- Design and test ideas for a diverse range of users
- Diffuse conflicts and build cohesive teams
Endorsements
Livermore makes a strong, science-based case for why diversity and cultural intelligence matter more than you think. Rooted in research and amplified with powerful case studies and examples, this book is an essential read for those hoping to leverage an increasingly diverse workforce to drive innovation
–— Daniel H. Pink, author of TO SELL IS HUMAN and DRIVE
In a globalised world, the importance of cultural intelligence is increasingly evident. This book provides a compelling and refreshingly practical account of how and when to use ‘CQ’ to drive higher levels of innovation performance.
–Paul Polman, CEO Unilever
This book is a must read for any leader wishing to develop more culturally innovative teams and organizations. Dr. Livermore’s in-depth research provides the missing link to diversity efforts that are not being fully leveraged.
–— Andrea Kelton-Harris, Sr. Diversity Leader, Harvard University
The futurist, Marshall McLuhan was right— “we now live in a ‘global village’. But few companies are able to embrace this complexity to create new value through innovation. Filled with numerous examples and straight talk on how to drive “culturally intelligent innovation” Driven by Difference should be mandatory reading for your entire team.
–David Butler, Vice President of Innovation, Coca-Cola
Despite the increasing prevalence of diverse teams, the value and possibilities of that diversity are often squandered. That result is no longer inevitable. Driven by Difference presents an intriguing, compelling, and thought-provoking approach to unleashing the creative and innovative potential of diverse teams.
–— Anthony Mayo, Director of Leadership Initiative, Harvard Business School
For more than two decades, there has been a discussion of the link between diversity and innovation. This book succeeds at advancing our knowledge of this link by providing the frameworks and practices that guide us to think and act culturally intelligent as we leverage diversity to innovate.
–Lynn Wooten, PhD, Associate Dean, Ross School of Business, University of Michigan
Through concrete research and real life examples from across the globe, David Livermore’s new book shows us how diversity can be consciously linked to innovation.
–— Anindita Banerjee, PhD, Renaissance Strategic Consultants, India