Hayagreeva Rao (Stanford Graduate School of Business professor) provides great thinking into innovation with a look at the past and peek into the future.  A must read for any entreprenuer, technologist or strategic planner.  Though I’ve yet  to read his book “Market Rebels” a recent article in Mckinsey Quarterly provides a summary view of his thinking.

Most compelling in this article is it’s pointed observation that”activists”, (both insurgents and rebels) can make or break innovation and the innovators need for a strong cultural sense for any business, management, or technology innovation to take off.  Particularly on the technology side, this cultural view is often ignored.  For marketers and communication practitioners it’s often the opposite problem.. there’s little true inventiveness thrown into the mix.

Check out Hayagreeva Rao’s full article here at McKinsey Quarterly.  His new book Market Rebels will surely be a good read.    CEO’s are taking note.. like John Lilly of Mozilla.

So which are you?  A rebel or an insurgent?  I’d tag myself on the insurgent side, like to connect with the rebels, keep a rather low profile but make big things happen.  Whichever you think you are, do take the time to read Hayagreeva’s article.  It will change or solidy how you think about innovation.