Johansson, F., The Medici Effect: Breakthrough insights at the Intersection of Ideas, Concepts and Cultures, Harvard Business School Press, Boston, 2004

Johansson has produced an interesting story here. It's interesting because it is provides a thesis (perhaps the wrong word) on how and perhaps why, innovation occurs or why some people are able to gain breakthrough insights and others not. It's not an academic text, but it does have a "folksy" type of appeal with its stories and approach, which kind of makes me feel that it doesn't have that "robustness" to make it a real solid contribution, although I also suspect many will find it useful. It is all a bit lightweight and has a "guru" type feel to it that always makes me a bit suspicious of the validity of some of the insights.

What Johansson proposes is that people who have breakthrough insights are for example well rounded, have experienced different cultures, different thought processes, perhaps well travelled, and so on. If they are a team, then it is the multi-disciplinary team that will more often succeed. It kind of flies in the face of that "study hard" and "work hard" ethic, although I don't think he denies this is required. The followers of TRIZ might also disagree!

This "intersection" is a conceptual "point" at which "breakthrough insights" occur. It is a sort of "zen" that when the conditions are right, the problem/issue exists, the right people can get to the right idea.

I guess if one was to regularly get outside one's comfort zone, intellectually and culturally, then the ability to look at a problem or issue from a different perspective would probably grow.

There is a quote on the back of the book that probably illustrates the "potential" impact this might have on someone:

As I look at the exploration of Mars through the lens "The Medici Effect" offer, I see pathways ahead that were previously invisible, and possibilities that we must consider. Any book that has this effect on anyone is far more than a good read. Let the sleeper awake!

Dr James Garvin, Lead Scientist, NASA's Mars Exploration Program

I am not sure it inspired me all that much, but I think it opened my eyes to the possibilities. Perhaps it is more about a reminder to think laterally more often.