Innovator's Values
It is the year 1720. You, a traveler, arrive in the Italian town of Cremona in search of the best violins made. You look on the street of the violin shops. At the mouth of the street, immediately to the left, you see the shop of the Guarneri family. In its window is a very large sign with majestic calligraphy: Best Violins in All of Italy. Farther down on the right you see the shop belonging to the Gagliano family. In its window is an even grander sign: Best Violins in the Whole World. Down at the end of the street, tucked in the shady cul-de-sac, you find a small shop belonging to the Stradivarius family. In its window there is a small card. You have to lean over and squint to read the handwritten message: Best Violins on This Street (Denning, 379).
Denning's books starts you down the innovation path: first learn for yourself. Then bring what you know to your community, your company. Only then do you start thinking about global excellence. He and Dunham lay out the steps.
Reference
Denning, Peter J. and Robert Dunham. The innovator’s way: essential practices for successful innovation. The MIT Press. 2010.