Traditionally, company experts and outside collaborators innovate by developing the knowledge map. Success or failure of incremental innovation hinges on this path. The Role of Creative Ignorance suggests the knowledge map should be abandoned and replaced with a new methodology, that of creative ignorance. With over 30 years of experience in international economics and entrepreneurship, Piero Formica explores the concept of creative ignorance in combination with path creation and its disruptive effect on entrepreneurship. Using narrative examples of innovators and companies worldwide, he introduces the characteristics of successful path creators that overstep the boundaries set by knowledge maps to open up new, unprecedented routes and connect them each other. In doing so, path creators reveal latent, unexpressed needs of consumers and drive innovation forward.

The potential of storytelling as a research tool for enhancing the understanding of knowledge creation, acquisition and conversion into innovation and innovative business activities is the methodological underpinning of this book's narrative approach. The subtitle comes from Lynceus, one of the Argonauts who accompanied Jason to Colchis in his quest to find the Golden Fleece, who was said to have excellent sight. Among the various interpretations of the meaning of the Fleece, one version highlights the importance of discovery to innovation by voyaging to 'terrae incognitae' (unknown lands). This book is a narrative of a fictional voyage to the 'terra incognita' of Innoland - the island of innovation and other mental travels that make sense of events and actions which spur innovation.Stories of Innovation for the Millennial Generation is written for Millennials willing to assimilate and grow dynamic, innovation-driven capabilities which lead to the creation of high-impact startups.