Wolcott, Robert and Mohanbir Sawhney. 2007. Eight Innovation Myths. Peking University Business Review. 37
Home Faculty and Research Robert Wolcott
Robert Wolcott
TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY MANAGEMENT; ENTREPRENEURSHIP & INNOVATION
Lecturer of Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Executive Director of Kellogg Innovation Network
Professor Wolcott is Lecturer of Entrepreneurship & Innovation at the Kellogg School of Management. He teaches corporate innovation and entrepreneurship in Evanston and for Kellogg’s Executive MBA Programs in Hong Kong (with HKUST) and Miami. In 2002 and 2005, he served as Visiting Professor at the Keio Business School (Tokyo).
Professor Wolcott's article, Four Models of Corporate Entrepreneurship, with collaborator Dr. Mike Lippitz, appeared in the Fall 2007, issue of the MIT Sloan Management Review. His article with Mohan Sawhney and Inigo Arroniz, Twelve Different Ways for Companies to Innovate, was the most downloaded article of 2006 from the MIT Sloan Management Review.
In 2003, Professor Wolcott co-founded (with Mohan Sawhney) and directs the Kellogg Innovation Network (KIN), a network of senior executives dedicated to driving sustainable innovation. Members include Cargill, Cisco, PepsiCo, IBM, DuPont, FedEx, Chamberlain Group, Microsoft, Motorola and SC Johnson, among others.
He also co-founded and serves as Managing Partner of Clareo Partners LLC, a corporate strategy and innovation management consultancy. Clients include ABN Amro, Kraft, Microsoft, ADT, Herman Miller, HP, Chamberlain, Ricoh, TKH Group (Netherlands), Rio Tinto Iron Ore, SAP and Motorola. Clareo partners with clients, both global corporations and entrepreneurs, to build plans for and launch new businesses. Dr. Professor Wolcott also consults to the Pentagon as an adjunct of the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), Alexandria, VA.
Through 2001, Professor Wolcott served as Director of Innovation Process at XL Tech Group (xltg.com), a publicly traded firm (UK) located in Melbourne, Florida, building new technology-based businesses. XLTG owns a $1 billion+ portfolio of firms traded on the public markets in addition to its private holdings.
Entrepreneurship
Innovation
Small Business Management
Professor Wolcott's article, Four Models of Corporate Entrepreneurship, with collaborator Dr. Mike Lippitz, appeared in the Fall 2007, issue of the MIT Sloan Management Review. His article with Mohan Sawhney and Inigo Arroniz, Twelve Different Ways for Companies to Innovate, was the most downloaded article of 2006 from the MIT Sloan Management Review.
In 2003, Professor Wolcott co-founded (with Mohan Sawhney) and directs the Kellogg Innovation Network (KIN), a network of senior executives dedicated to driving sustainable innovation. Members include Cargill, Cisco, PepsiCo, IBM, DuPont, FedEx, Chamberlain Group, Microsoft, Motorola and SC Johnson, among others.
He also co-founded and serves as Managing Partner of Clareo Partners LLC, a corporate strategy and innovation management consultancy. Clients include ABN Amro, Kraft, Microsoft, ADT, Herman Miller, HP, Chamberlain, Ricoh, TKH Group (Netherlands), Rio Tinto Iron Ore, SAP and Motorola. Clareo partners with clients, both global corporations and entrepreneurs, to build plans for and launch new businesses. Dr. Professor Wolcott also consults to the Pentagon as an adjunct of the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), Alexandria, VA.
Through 2001, Professor Wolcott served as Director of Innovation Process at XL Tech Group (xltg.com), a publicly traded firm (UK) located in Melbourne, Florida, building new technology-based businesses. XLTG owns a $1 billion+ portfolio of firms traded on the public markets in addition to its private holdings.
Areas of Expertise
Corporate EntrepreneurshipEntrepreneurship
Innovation
Small Business Management
- Recent Media Coverage
Advertising Age: True Marketing Doesn't Just Sell the Story - 9/2/2009
Vital Speeches: Innovating Your Life - 8/1/2009
Wall Street Journal: Playing Well With Others - 6/22/2009
BusinessWeek (Podcast): Innovation of the Week: The Key to Corporate Longevity - 5/12/2009
See all Kellogg in the Media
- Recent Kellogg News
Donald Jacobs named ‘Master Entrepreneur’ - 6/3/2008
See all Kellogg News
Education
PhD, 2001, Industrial Engineering & Management Science, Northwestern UniversityMS, 1997, Industrial Engineering & Management Science, Northwestern UniversityBA, 1991, European History, Northwestern University
Articles
Wolcott, Robert and Michael J. Lippitz. 2007. The Four Models of Corporate Entrepreneurship. MIT Sloan Management Review. 49(1): 75-82.
Sawhney, Mohanbir, Robert Wolcott and Inigo Arroniz. 2006. The 12 Different Ways for Companies to Innovate. MIT Sloan Management Review. 47(3): 75-81.
Sawhney, Mohanbir and Robert Wolcott. 2004. The Seven Myths of Innovation. Financial Times.
Book Chapters
Conley, James Gerard and Robert Wolcott. 2006. "Scaling from Prototype to Production: A Managed Process for Commercial Offerings." In Scale-up in Education: Ideas in Principle, edited by Barbara Schneider and Sarah-Kathryn McDonald, vol. 1, 103-122. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.
Cases
Conley, James Gerard, Robert Wolcott and Eric Wong. 2006. AstraZeneca, Prilosec, and Nexium: Case Supplement. Case 5-404-753 (KEL335).
Conley, James Gerard, Robert Wolcott and Eric Wong. 2006. AstraZeneca, Prilosec, and Nexium: Marketing Challenges in the Launch of a Second-Generation Drug. Case 5-404-775 (KEL336).
Conley, James Gerard, Robert Wolcott and Eric Wong. 2006. AstraZeneca, Prilosec, and Nexium: Strategic Challenges in the Launch of a Second-Generation Drug. Case 5-404-752 (KEL334).
Wolcott, Robert and Michael J Lippitz. 2007. BP's Office of the Chief Technology Officer: Driving Open Innovation through an Advocate Team. Case 5-407-752 (KEL366).
Wolcott, Robert and Michael J Lippitz. 2008. From Low Cost to Global Leadership: Computime Leads Through Innovation. Case 5-208-254 (KEL340).
Wolcott, Robert and Michael J Lippitz. 2007. Innovation in Government: U.S. Department of Defense. Case 5-207-251 (KEL346).
Wolcott, Robert. 2007. PTC: Launching an Entirely New Product Platform. Case 5-405-752 (KEL316).
Sawhney, Mohanbir and Robert Wolcott. 2006. Thomson Financial: Building a Customer-Centric Firm. Case 5-405-753 (KEL237).
Full-Time / Part-Time MBA
Corporate Innovation & New Ventures (ENTR-903-0)This course addresses the emerging practice of "corporate entrepreneurship," also called "intrapreneurship," broadly defined as the application of entrepreneurial capabilities to the development of new ventures within an existing firm. In this course, we will examine intrapreneurship from the perspective of corporate strategy; relate intrapreneurship to other functions such as corporate venturing, new product development (NPD), research and development (R&D) and corporate labs; examine entrepreneurship for clues to the successful practice of intrapreneurship; explore actual intrapreneurial ventures with practicing executives; and develop an “intrapreneurial toolset.” Although there are no textbooks required for this course, Peter Drucker’s "Innovation & Entrepreneurship" is recommended for context. All readings will be included in the course pack, including a summary article of Drucker’s book from the HBR.
Corporate Innovation & New Ventures (ENTR-903-B)
This course counts toward the following majors: Entrepreneurship & Innovation
This course addresses the emerging practice of "corporate entrepreneurship," also called "intrapreneurship," broadly defined as the application of entrepreneurial capabilities to the development of new ventures within an existing firm. In this course, we will examine intrapreneurship from the perspective of corporate strategy; relate intrapreneurship to other functions such as corporate venturing, new product development (NPD), research and development (R&D) and corporate labs; examine entrepreneurship for clues to the successful practice of intrapreneurship; explore actual intrapreneurial ventures with practicing executives; and develop an “intrapreneurial toolset.” Although there are no textbooks required for this course, Peter Drucker’s "Innovation & Entrepreneurship" is recommended for context. All readings will be included in the course pack, including a summary article of Drucker’s book from the HBR.
Kellogg TechVenture (TECH-918-0)
This course counts toward the following majors: Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Technology Industry Management.
Kellogg TechVenture, a survey course for all students, is designed to provide a deep understanding of emerging technologies that are reshaping our lives and businesses. The course combines conceptual frameworks, hands-on research and a weeklong visit to Silicon Valley that offers first-hand exposure to small and large technology companies. Topics covered may include wireless, digital multimedia, outsourcing, biotechnology and nanotechnology, among others.
Students will develop expertise in a specialized domain and gain experience and skills writing a publishable-quality research paper, while gaining primary knowledge of emerging companies and technologies. Students' final papers, in an area of their choosing, will be published in a new book called "Kellogg on Technology," which will leave a legacy for future classes and help build the Kellogg brand in technology. TechVentures also provides students the opportunity to make key contacts in the technology industry.
The course will be divided into three phases -- classroom sessions with lectures and guest speakers from industry, team presentations, and, finally, the weeklong research expedition to Silicon Valley during the first week of Spring Break (March 12 to March 17, 2006).
Executive MBA
Innovation Strategy & Management (MGMTX-450-0)The course will focus on innovation within business entities, from the typical technology and product innovation programs, to broader, process, marketing and other forms of innovation. The course will address innovation as a holistic strategic management imperative not limited to Research & Development or New Product Development. While the course will provide a theoretical foundation, the focus will be on real world issues, products and systems.
CONTACT INFO:
PHONE: 847-467-5507
FAX: 847-467-5505
PHONE: 847-467-5507
FAX: 847-467-5505
OFFICE:
Jacobs Center Room 5250
Jacobs Center Room 5250
