It’s become a drinking game. Any time a conference keynote speaker says the word “innovation,” you take a sip of beer. And any time he or she declares that a company that isn’t innovative can’t be competitive, you have to down a shot of tequila (lime and salt, optional).
But what’s really required to create an innovation culture? Do digital-first companies like Google—celebrated for its glasses, self-driving cars and other “moonshots” — always have the edge? In my discussions with IT leaders I discovered common qualities that have made innovation thrive at companies like Google, Nordstrom, Johnson & Johnson and Lego.
