Innovation . The word might make you think of Silicon Valley. But innovation isn't the sole province of start-ups.

They didn't invent it, and they're not always the ones from which we can best learn. As Matt Kingdon argues in The Science of Serendipity , it's corporate innovators battling within large, established organisations who are the field's real heroes. Tapping into 20 years of experienceon the front lines of innovation--bringing new products and services to market and helping organisations become more creative--Kingdon dissects the ways in which corporations are continually reborn.

He looks at the anatomy of innovation, asking: How do time-pressed executives go about taking risks? How do they prepare to see--and seize--opportunity? And how do you place humans, with all of their fears and foibles, at the heart of commercial success? In a conversational, jargon-free style built on a practitioner's observations and anecdotes, The Science of Serendipity traces the dilemmas that executives in a wide variety of firms face. It details the steps taken to overcome the issues and get great ideas across the finish line.If you're looking for a guide inyour fight against the corporate machine, this is the business book for you. Matt Kingdon is the Co-founder, Chairman, and Chief Enthusiast of What If! Innovation Partners.

For 20 years, What If! has partnered with the world's most successful, forward-looking companies--businesses such as Barclays, Four Seasons, Google, PepsiCo, Pfizer, and Virgin -- to galvanise innovation and deliver impact. Its 250 inventors work across the Americas, Europe, and Asia.