Phil McKinney’s job over the last 20 years, most recently as head of innovation for Hewlett-Packard, had been to make sure innovation is really happening. His book Beyond The Obvious: Killer Questions That Spark Game-Changing Innovation takes the approach he has come to rely on and packages it up for use in a workshop setting. What does he mean when he exhorts product developers to look “beyond the obvious”? It’s a call to question what appear to be clear design constraints and boundaries on the problem space they are addressing. By asking questions such as “What features of my product create unanticipated passion?” and “Who am I not selling to because I think they can’t or won’t pay?” he’s finding different angles of attack to dismantle people’s deeply held assumptions. Does this constitute a disciplined process for ideation? It has that reassuring appeal. But the strength of McKinney’s approach is not that it provides the scaffolding for creative thought. Its more about knocking it down. Read full review»

In this bright, informative debut, McKinney, Chief Technology Officer of Hewlett-Packard’s Personal Systems Group, writes that anyone can become an “idea person,” given the right approach and a willingness to work hard.” Read full review»

McKinney, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Hewlett-Packard’s Personal Systems Group, provides a thoughtful yet practical guide to consistently generating innovation. Arguing that ideas are a company’s most valuable currency.” Read full review »

An empowering new voice for business readers, Phil McKinney will change your Monday with his rule-breaking approach to harnessing the power of innovation.”

Human beings are creatures of habit, so getting ourselves and our teams to think beyond the obvious is a challenge we face all the time. Phil McKinney is an innovation expert, and his killer questions and hit-the-spot anecdotes provide a great way to get a out in front of opportunities we otherwise won’t see.”

Phil McKinney’s wonderful set of killer questions will jumpstart — or greatly enhance — your innovation efforts”

Product Innovation is a prerequisite to building great brands. Phil’s questions are a prerequisite to building innovative products.”

Many assumptions about our business ultimately turn out to be wrong, which is why it’s so important to ask the right questions at the right time. In Beyond the Obvious, Phil McKinney arms readers with the skills to ask razor-sharp questions that lead to better ideas and more effective innovations.”

Contrary to conventional wisdom that innovation is a rare act of creative genius limited to the gifted few, Phil McKinney lays out practical guidelines that any professional with passion and innate inquisitiveness can use to identify, nurture, and implement new business ideas. McKinney’s book contains valuable advice to aspiring innovators and is a refreshing and highly informative read for any entrepreneur.”