Innovation in Real Places audiobook cover - Strategies for Prosperity in an Unforgiving World

Innovation in Real Places

Strategies for Prosperity in an Unforgiving World

Dan Breznitz

★ 4.4 / 5(29 ratings)
Start ListeningDownload App
Categories:
EconomicsTechnology & the Future

If You're Curious About These Questions...

You should listen to this audiobook

Listen to Innovation in Real Places — Free Audiobook

Loading player...

Key Takeaways from Innovation in Real Places

Learning Tools

Reinforce what you learned from Innovation in Real Places

Mind Map

Innovation in Real Places
The Silicon Valley Myth+
Evolution of Manufacturing+
Four Stages of Innovation+
Strategy for Communities+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 6
Why did Atlanta's attempt to become a tech startup hub in the 1980s and 1990s fail to create lasting local prosperity?
  • A. It completely failed to attract venture capital or produce any successful tech startups.
  • B. Impatient investors and weak community ties led to profits and talent leaving the city.
  • C. Its focus on heavy manufacturing alienated modern tech entrepreneurs and knowledge workers.
  • D. The local government refused to offer tax breaks to incoming technology companies.
Question 2 of 6
According to the author, what is the reality behind the myth that venture capital (VC) is the best way to fuel local economic growth?
  • A. VCs typically prioritize stable, long-term development for local communities over quick profits.
  • B. VC funding is only available to companies in the novelty stage of innovation, leaving other stages unfunded.
  • C. Venture-backed startups tend to distribute their wealth evenly among all residents of a community.
  • D. VCs push companies toward risky, short-term growth for quick returns, often ignoring local economic stability.
Question 3 of 6
How does the author redefine the core meaning of 'innovation' compared to the popular, narrow understanding?
  • A. Innovation is strictly the invention of paradigm-shattering technologies and new gadgets.
  • B. Innovation is any action that improves products, services, or efficiency, often through mundane process improvements.
  • C. Innovation is the process of securing venture capital funding for a new business venture.
  • D. Innovation is the transition from a manufacturing-based economy to a purely service-based economy.
Question 4 of 6
What is the emerging, more innovative model of manufacturing recommended for communities in the globalized era?
  • A. Returning to the 'vertical integration' model used by historical companies like Ford and Bethlehem Steel.
  • B. Offering massive tax subsidies to lure large, multinational corporations back from Asia.
  • C. Specializing in regional capabilities tailored to specific stages of production rather than specific industries.
  • D. Focusing exclusively on the creation of high-tech 'unicorn' startups to replace lost manufacturing jobs.
Question 5 of 6
Which of the following best describes the third stage of innovation, as defined in the text?
  • A. The continuous, incremental improvement of existing products, such as boosting fuel efficiency or battery life.
  • B. The invention of blockbuster drugs and surprising new gadgets that grab media headlines.
  • C. The agile, high-volume assembly of millions of identical electronics on a massive factory campus.
  • D. The translation of vague concepts into manufacturable products through design and prototyping.
Question 6 of 6
Why did Apple struggle when it attempted to reshore some of its manufacturing to Austin, Texas?
  • A. The local community heavily protested the environmental impact of the new manufacturing plant.
  • B. The state government refused to provide the necessary tax incentives to keep the factory open.
  • C. Austin was too focused on the incremental improvement stage rather than the novelty stage.
  • D. The region had lost specialized capabilities and lacked expertise like tooling engineers.

Innovation in Real Places — Full Chapter Overview

Innovation in Real Places Summary & Overview

Innovation in Real Places (2021) argues that the prevailing Silicon Valley model of growth creation has failed most cities and regions. Rather than chasing the chimera of becoming the next tech hub, communities should focus on identifying their niche in the global production process and fostering innovation based on their existing strengths. 

Who Should Listen to Innovation in Real Places?

  • Anyone interested in learning more about innovation and sources
  • People interested in economic development and entrepreneurship
  • Citizens and policy makers wishing to advance policies promoting growth and prosperity in their region

About the Author: Dan Breznitz

Dan Breznitz is a Professor at the University of Toronto who studies innovation policy. He is the author of several acclaimed books on innovation and technology, including Innovation and the State, The Run of the Red Queen, and The Third Globalization.

🎧
Listen in the AppOffline playback & background play
Get App